PORTLAND, Ore.–With perceptions of the city of Portland in the news with President Trump alleging there are “fires all over the place” and that there are “fights” and “violence” taking place, and with the president attempting to deploy the National Guard in the city over allegations the protection is necessary to quell violence around an ICE detention facility, it was only natural this week with credit unions meeting in town that the issue was the subject of jokes, some concerns about safety and frustrations expressed by Portlanders over how their city is perceived—and a defense of the town by the state’s governor.
“Portland is a city that has seen disruption and doubt over the years, but instead of retreating, Portland has reinvented a new chapter of resilience, and through people helping people,” said Troy Stang, president and CEO of the GoWest Credit Union Association, which is hosting its annual MAXX Conference here.
The city, he said, has been “stepping up and leaning in and refusing to quit or let others define the headlines for the city, and that includes the credit unions in this very room,” Stang told the meeting. “You’re not just weathering this storm, you’re leaning into it, you’re helping people lead. You’re a part of that transformation each and every day and you show all of us that example of what leadership looks like in times of challenge. In those moments of uncertainty the real question isn’t what are we going to do, but rather, who are we going to become. Because in those challenging times it doesn’t just test systems and our norms, it exposes our character.”
What True Leadership Is
True leadership, added Stang, isn’t about perfection but persistence, and not so much about having all the answers but instead a willingness to speak up and speak out.
“Portland has been through it all—it’s been through public safety concerns, it’s been through economic disruption, housing insecurity—and again, the headlines are questioning its own future,” Stang said. “But this city isn’t dead and won’t ever retreat.”
