Reappoint Karim Hassanein to the Open Signal Board for term to expire November 30, 2023

As Mayor and Commissioner-in-charge for the Office of Community Technology, we request Council confirmation of the following reappointment to the Open Signal Board: Reappointment Term Karim Hassanein December 1, 2021 - November 30, 2023 Respectfully submitted, Mayor Ted Wheeler Commissioner Carmen Rubio Statement of Interest: Serving on the board of Open Signal is a true privilege. As someone committed to addressing the root causes of systemic injustice and oppression in our society, I believe that organizations like Open Signal serve a critical role as catalysts of profound systemic change. But building equitable access to communications and information infrastructure in the 21st Century requires hard work -- sustained work. It requires a willingness to challenge the dominant cultural paradigms that strip agency from both staff and community members. Without this willingness, organizations like Open Signal simply cannot do the transformative work of centering disinherited and marginalized communities in the media landscape. My work as board chair has been focused on exploring and supporting systems change within Open Signal, cheering on the victories and commiserating with the disappointments of staff as they build a more equitable structure for themselves, and in turn are able to align around the needs of communities that have been chronically underserved. It is the learning experience of a lifetime, and I am committed to working alongside this incredible team for as long as they want me around. Bio: Karim Hassanein is a multidisciplinary designer and artist who has served on the board of Open Signal since 2018. He spent his formative years outside the US, living in Egypt before moving to Oregon in 2007 to study Landscape Architecture. Since then, he has worked as a landscape designer, architectural marketing professional, and freelance creative consultant. Karim is passionate about amplifying civic engagement, particularly in the urban environment. He loves cities and believes in the power of community media to positively impact Portland's social, political, and physical landscape. Karim is motivated to serve the Open Signal community, supporting citizenship as a visible, vocal, active process. Karim Hassanein has been the Open Signal Board Chair since February 2020.