Listening to Lead: MACG Launches Community-Wide Listening Season in Portland

In a time when too many voices go unheard, the Metropolitan Alliance for the Common Good (MACG) is making sure that Portland’s residents are not just heard—but empowered to shape the future of our city.

This month, MACG is launching a citywide Listening Season, a powerful initiative to engage hundreds of community members in deep conversations about the issues that matter most. Through house meetings, one-on-one conversations, and gatherings in faith communities, unions, and neighborhood groups, MACG leaders will be listening to the hopes, concerns, and challenges of everyday Portlanders.

Why This Matters

Portland is at a crossroads. Housing affordability, economic justice, public safety, climate resilience, and equity are just some of the pressing issues our communities face. But too often, policies are made without real input from the people most affected by them.

That’s why MACG’s Listening Season is so important—because real change starts with listening. By bringing people together across differences and building relationships rooted in shared concerns, we’re not just collecting stories; we’re building power.

What Happens Next?

Hundreds of conversations across Portland will surface key concerns and shared priorities. MACG will analyze the results and identify common themes that will shape our collective action. By fall, community members will gather to set a powerful agenda for change—one driven by the voices of the people, not just policymakers.

This isn’t about "being heard"—it’s about taking action. It’s about turning personal struggles into public solutions, transforming isolation into collective power, and ensuring that Portland’s future is shaped by those who live and work here.

How You Can Get Involved

• Host or attend a listening session—bring your voice to the conversation.

• Join MACG as a leader and help drive solutions forward.

• Spread the word—the more people involved, the stronger our impact.

  
  

Portland’s challenges won’t be solved by a handful of decision-makers behind closed doors. They’ll be solved when everyday people come together, speak out, and organize for the common good.

The Listening Season is just the beginning. Let’s build a stronger, more just Portland—together. 

Click here👉 www.macg.org to get involved!