Avel Gordly facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Avel Gordly
Portrait of Avel Gordly by Richard E. Brown.
Member of the Oregon Senate from the 23rd district
In office 1997–2009
Preceded by	Ron Cease
Succeeded by	Jackie Dingfelder
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 19th district
In office 1991–1996
Preceded by	Ron Cease
Succeeded by	Jo Ann Bowman
Personal details
Born	(1947-02-13) February 13, 1947 (age 78) Portland, Oregon
Political party	Independent (since 2006)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (until 2006)
Residence	Portland, Oregon
Alma mater	Portland State University
Occupation	Activist, community organizer, educator

Avel Louise Gordly, born on February 13, 1947, is a remarkable activist, community organizer, and former politician from Oregon. She made history in 1996 by becoming the first African-American woman elected to the Oregon State Senate. She served there from 1997 to 2009.

Avel Gordly's Early Life

Avel Louise Gordly was born in Portland, Oregon. Her father, Fay Lee Gordly, worked for the railroad and as an auxiliary police officer. Her mother, Beatrice Bernice Coleman Gordly, was a homemaker and worked part-time. Avel grew up in a mostly African-American neighborhood in Northeast Portland. She had an older brother, Tyrone, and a younger sister, Fayetta.

Family Influences

Avel's grandmothers were very important to her. Her maternal grandmother, Alberta Louise Randolph, was a community leader. She helped start the Oregon Federation of Colored Women's Clubs and the Harriet Tubman Club. Her paternal grandmother, Lessie Gordly, worked as a domestic helper and in shipyards during World War II. Both women taught Avel important lessons early in her life.

School Days and Activism

Avel attended Girls Polytechnic High School. She was one of only about 20 Black students there. She pushed to take academic and business classes instead of just vocational ones. When she was 16, in September 1963, Avel joined a civil rights march in Portland. This march was a response to a bombing in Alabama. This event helped her understand more about political and social justice.

College and Early Career

After high school, Avel worked for five years. Then, she went to Portland State University. She studied the Administration of Justice. At college, she learned about African American literature. She also joined a program called Operation Crossroads Africa. In 1970, she traveled to Nigeria, which was a life-changing experience for her. Avel earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 1974. She was the first person in her immediate family to graduate from college. After graduating, she worked as a counselor for women in the Oregon Department of Corrections.

Faith and Community

Avel grew up in the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church community. She was active in youth groups and community programs. The church helped her develop her values of leadership and service. Faith remains a big part of her life. She stayed involved with Portland’s Black church community throughout her political career.

Avel Gordly's Political Career

Avel Gordly began her political journey in 1991. She was appointed to the Oregon House of Representatives. She then won elections for the seat, serving three terms. She represented parts of north and northeast Portland. In 1996, she was elected to the Oregon State Senate. This made her the first African-American woman to serve in that important role. She served as a senator from 1997 to 2009.

Party Affiliation Change

Avel was originally a member of the Democratic Party. However, in 2006, she changed her party affiliation to "non-affiliated." She decided not to run for re-election in 2008.

Key Achievements in Legislature

During her time as a lawmaker, Avel Gordly worked hard for social justice, civil rights, and education reform. She also focused on improving mental health services. She led trade missions to countries like South Africa and Zambia. She also visited South Korea. As a senator, she co-chaired a task force for Governor John Kitzhaber. This group focused on racial and ethnic health issues.

Recognizing Juneteenth

In 2001, Avel Gordly sponsored Senate Joint Resolution 31. This resolution officially recognized Juneteenth in Oregon. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.

Important Ballot Measures

In 2002, Avel was a key supporter of two important ballot measures. Measure 14 removed old, racially discriminatory language from the Oregon Constitution. Measure 25 raised Oregon's minimum wage. It also made sure the minimum wage would increase each year based on the cost of living.

Expanding Educational Opportunities

In 2005, Avel sponsored Senate Bill 300, also known as the Expanded Options Bill. This bill helps Oregon high school students. It gives them chances to take college-level courses while still in high school.

Environmental Justice

In 2007, Avel Gordly sponsored SB 420. This bill created Oregon’s Environmental Justice Task Force. This group advises the Governor on environmental justice issues. It was renamed the Environmental Justice Council in 2022.

Community Impact and Centers

In 2008, while Avel was still a senator, Oregon Health & Science University opened the Avel Gordly Center for Healing. This center provides mental health services that are sensitive to different cultures. It especially helps members of the Black community. Her childhood home now houses the Gordly Burch Center for Black Leadership and Civic Engagement. This organization works to preserve the history of Oregon's Black leaders. It also helps promote new Black leaders in the area.

Avel Gordly's Personal Life

Avel Gordly has one son, Tyrone Wayne Waters, born in 1966. He is a Navy veteran and works to support mental health. Avel has shared publicly about the challenges of balancing being a mother, dealing with mental health, and having a public career.

Recent Work and Legacy

After leaving the legislature, Avel Gordly became an associate professor at Portland State University. She taught in the Black studies Department. She also co-authored her memoir, Remembering the Power of Words, with historian Patricia A. Schechter. The book was published in 2011.

Honoring Her Legacy

To honor her work, Dr. Schechter and Dr. Carmen Thompson created the Avel Louise Gordly Scholarship for Oregon Black Women. This scholarship helps Black female high school graduates from Oregon. It supports them if they attend an Oregon college or a historically Black college or university.

In 2017, Portland State University awarded Avel Gordly an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. The City of Portland declared March 30, 2022, "Avel Louise Gordly Day." This was to recognize her many years of public service.

See also

• List of American politicians who switched parties in office