Being Black in Portland Where It’s Really White

Sarah Mensah, Nike's Vice President/General Manager for Sportswear in Asia Pacific/Latin America will be the speaker on a free Zoom meeting on June 17 - "Being Black Where It's Really White." The meeting, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., is open to the public. Join the event at https://thelinkllc.com/events. 

"The past few weeks have been painful and exhausting. At the same time they’ve also been inspiring and promising giving hope that lasting systemic change and social justice for African Americans is possible. What will this look like for those of us in Portland?

"My beloved town has a deeply troubled history that has stalled our progress making the everyday experience of being Black here hard.

"I’m looking forward to straight talk on June 17 regarding what one of the whitest places on earth can do to make our city experience better," said Mensah. 

Sarah Mensah currently serves as Nike’s Vice President/General Manager for Sportswear in Asia Pacific/Latin America. She is responsible for the lifestyle segment of Nike’s business in Japan/Korea/Mexico/ South East Asia/ India and Latin America. Prior to serving in APLA, she was the North American general manager for the Jordan Brand overseeing all product categories, sales, operations, finance, marketing, sports marketing, brand, and human resources.

Prior to Nike, Mensah worked for 19 years for the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers where she served as COO. She oversaw all of the day to day management of the team’s business operations, and revenue and brand management. Mensah is regarded as one of the highest-ranking women in professional sports, credited for her success in contributing to the rebranding and revitalization of the Trail Blazers brand and financial viability. 

Sarah Mensah has been recognized as a Women in Sports Business Game Changer by the Sports Business Journal, as one of the 50 Most Influential Portlanders by Portland Monthly, as a Top Executive in Marketing and Advertising by Black Enterprise magazine, as a Woman of Influence/Orchid Award by the Portland Business Journal, and with the Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Day Award. With a passion for equal opportunities for all people, she is a dedicated advocate for underrepresented communities and individuals, with an emphasis on children and on Autism.

From The Link for Women:

As an organization, we have pledged to do better in the fight against racial injustice. To start, we are committed to amplifying Black voices in our community and will feature Sarah Mensah as our next Zoom speaker. Join us for a night of listening and learning. Join the event at https://thelinkllc.com/events.