iSector Board Member Margaret Carter Named History Maker by the Oregon Historical Society

Last week, iSector Board Member Margaret Carter was honored as a Trailblazing Public Servant at the Oregon Historical Society’s 2022 Oregon History Makers Awards recognizing individuals who have positively shaped the history, culture, and landscape of Oregon. As the first Black woman to be elected to Oregon state legislature in 1984, and the first Black woman to serve as president pro tem of the Oregon State Senate in 2005, Margaret Carter has played a pathbreaking role in Oregon and her contributions inspire us to work harder in building partnerships that can achieve better outcomes to issues all Oregonians are facing.

See below a portion of the awards ceremony showcasing a video put together by KGW, as well as Margaret’s acceptance speech accompanied by a song.

Margaret first came to Oregon in 1967. While raising five daughters she earned degrees from Portland State University and Oregon State University before becoming a counselor and faculty member at Portland Community College. Margaret served the Oregon State House of Representatives for fourteen years and the Oregon State Senate for eight. She has served as President and CEO of the Urban League of Portland, and in 2006 served as President of the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women. She also served as Deputy Director for Human Services Programs at the Oregon Department of Human Services.

In addition to her recent honor as a History Maker, Margaret holds many other awards such as the 2010 Legislator of the Year Award from the Oregon Library Association, 2010 OSU Alumni Fellows Award, and in 2020 she was honored as one of ten Oregon “Women of the Century” by USA Today and the Statesman Journal. Margaret has a long history in supporting economic development in underserved populations and she is highly focused on enhancing community engagement. She continues to serve the community, volunteering at the Albina DHS and at Portland Community College in their area skills center, now named the Margaret Carter Skill Center.

Congratulations Margaret!