Latricia Tillman has been tapped as Portland’s first Chief Equity Officer, the city announced Wednesday, putting her in charge of the Office of Equity and Human Rights. She is slated to start in the new role on Monday, May 11.
City officials say Tillman rose to the top after a competitive national search and brings more than 16 years of executive experience in government, public health, healthcare and the nonprofit world. In a press release via Portland.gov, Tillman said, "I am passionate about demystifying governmental processes," and emphasized that her focus will be on measurable outcomes for communities that have historically been excluded from government.
A Government And Public Health Track Record
Before coming to Portland City Hall, Tillman served as Washington County’s first Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer and previously led equity teams at the Oregon Health Authority and Multnomah County, according to Washington County. Her biography also highlights a master’s degree in public health from Boston University and long experience building equity programs inside government institutions.
What The New Role Will Do
The Chief Equity Officer position was created after a citywide review that concluded Portland needed a single leader to set an equity vision and build accountability frameworks. As outlined by the City’s Equity Project, the Chief Equity Officer will oversee the Office of Equity and Human Rights and help embed equity into decisions, day to day operations and policies across all city bureaus.
According to city officials, Tillman brings hands on operational experience, having overseen budgets as large as $54 million and led divisions with up to 275 employees. The city’s announcement credits her with system level outcomes such as increasing state investment in health equity and helping secure Medicaid reimbursement for doulas, community health workers and interpreters.
Tillman’s appointment lands at a time when Portland is wrestling with tight budgets and growing demands for concrete improvements in services for underserved communities. City leaders say they expect her office to connect high level strategy with on the ground results that show up in how policies are written and how services are delivered in the months ahead.
