The City of Portland has appointed equity and inclusion leader Latricia Tillman as its first Chief Equity Officer, a newly created role aimed at strengthening the city’s efforts to advance equity in policies, operations and public services.
Tillman will lead the Office of Equity and Human Rights and is scheduled to begin the position May 11. City officials said she was selected following a competitive national search.
Tillman brings more than 16 years of experience leading equity initiatives across government, public health, health care and nonprofit sectors. Her previous roles include Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer for Washington County, director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion at the Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division director for Multnomah County and equity manager at Oregon Housing and Community Services.
City Administrator Raymond Lee said Tillman’s leadership experience positions the city to build on its existing equity efforts.
“I am impressed by Latricia’s ability to lead teams, build trust, and create meaningful change,” Lee said. “With her leadership, Portland is positioned to accelerate our progress as an equitable workplace and city.”
In her previous roles, Tillman oversaw budgets of up to $54 million and led divisions with as many as 275 employees. Her work has included increasing state investment in health equity, advancing policies aimed at reducing disparities and expanding access to services, including Medicaid reimbursement for doulas, community health workers, peer support specialists and interpreters.
City officials said the Chief Equity Officer role is intended to ensure that equity and inclusion are integrated into decision-making across all city bureaus, with a focus on improving outcomes for historically underserved communities.
Tillman said her approach centers on making government processes more accessible and inclusive.
“I am passionate about demystifying governmental processes and jargon so that people and communities that have been excluded from or made marginal by government are motivated to engage, feel welcomed and respected, and help the City of Portland thrive,” Tillman said. “Ultimately, my goal is that individual, bureau-specific and city-wide anti-racism and equity efforts result in measurably better outcomes for all Portlanders.”
Tillman is a fourth-generation Oregonian with longstanding ties to Portland. She holds a master’s degree in public health from Boston University and serves as a trustee of the Collins Foundation.
