Workshop | How Community Power Built a Model for Equity-Centered Government Investment

In 2018, more than 65% of Portland voters approved the creation of the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), the first climate fund in the United States created and led by communities of color. This historic ballot measure emerged from years of grassroots organizing by frontline communities that have been disproportionately impacted by climate change and systematically excluded from clean energy programs and sustainability investments.

Today, PCEF generates $150–200 million annually through a surcharge on large retailers. These funds support community-led climate solutions focused on clean energy, green infrastructure, regenerative agriculture, workforce development, and transportation decarbonization. Administered by the City of Portland, PCEF prioritizes investments that benefit low-income residents, communities of color, and people living with disabilities.

This workshop will highlight how a community-led vision became a city-administered, equity-driven fund, and how public sector staff are embedding DEI into the daily work of government. Attendees will explore strategies for inclusive engagement, grantmaking, and strategic programs through real examples from PCEF’s grantees and partners.

Participants will also engage in a structured, small-group activity designed to spark reflection and discussion on key equity challenges in public service, including barriers to community participation, use of disaggregated data, inclusive procurement practices, and internal decision-making. The activity will promote peer learning and help participants identify one practical step they can take to strengthen equity in their own roles or departments.

Wendy Serrano manages community engagement and equity for PCEF. She has built her career around advocacy, community engagement, and outreach as well as policy development with various nonprofits, government leaders and public agencies in efforts to engage the communities closest to the challenges these organizations aim to solve. Some of her previous work includes serving as Equity Manager at the Portland Bureau of Transportation and working for the German Federal Foreign Office through a Bosch Fellowship exchange program for American leaders.

Wendy grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico but has called Oregon home since the early 2000s. Her Mexican-American roots have instilled in her a passion for working to address injustices and its causes. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time outdoors with her family, dancing to cumbia music and baking with her toddlers.

Hamdi Ali is the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF), where she has spent the past year leading community engagement strategies and supporting climate justice initiatives. She brings extensive experience in nonprofit administration, grant writing, strategic planning, and community engagement. Hamdi holds a master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on social innovation and has secured millions in project funding for Oregon-based nonprofits through her work as a business consultant. Her involvement in the development of the Climate Investment Plan deepened her commitment to climate justice and equitable clean energy solutions.

Hamdi previously worked in the Office of Global Diversity and Inclusion under the Vice President at Portland State University, supporting equity-focused campus initiatives. She later served at a local nonprofit where she led programs supporting African immigrants and refugees.

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, to a Somali refugee family, she has called Portland home for the past 15 years. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, and experiencing Portland’s vibrant food scene. Her lived experience and deep connection to the city fuel her dedication to creating sustainable, inclusive systems that serve all communities.