Building The Legacy of Tomorrow
On September 12, 2024, Self Enhancement Inc. (SEI) and Community Development Partners (CDP) came together to celebrate the grand opening of the Dr. Darrell Millner Building, a development honoring the legacy of Portland State’s emeritus professor.
Dr. Darrell Millner dedicated his life to revealing the history of Black people in Oregon, cementing himself as a pioneering educator since the 1970s. His legacy lives within the walls of the classrooms he taught in and will now live in the heart of North Portland.
A Symbol of Preservation
For SEI CEO Trent Aldridge, it was a clear answer to have the building named after Dr. Millner. “In 2023, I was in the Executive Team meeting at SEI, and we were discussing candidates for the naming of our 5020 Project. The first name that came to mind for me was Dr. Millner,” shares Aldridge. “Once we agreed on the name, I felt deeply honored to have the opportunity to recognize a person who had such a significant influence on our community and to acknowledge his contributions while he could still appreciate them. Thank you, Dr. Millner.”
The name honors the legacy of Dr. Millner — a symbol of resilience and community. From teaching others the history of African-Americans in the western movement to serving as the Director of Multicultural Education for Portland Public Schools, Dr. Millner’s teachings have preserved the presence of Black people in Oregon history books and his advocacy has supported underserved youth in reaching their potential.
The Millner is a physical embodiment of Dr. Millner’s efforts, nurturing the shared vision of creating a flourishing Black community in the town where it belongs. “This is more than just a building — it’s a symbol of our commitment to ensuring that Portland’s Black community not only survives but thrives in neighborhoods they helped build,” shares Tony Hopson Sr., founder of SEI.
Impact and Restoration
The Millner is the third major development spearheaded by SEI and CDP with the support of architect Carleton Hart Architecture and general contractors, LMC Construction and ALMAR Contracting. It also forms part of the Alberta Alive vision, an initiative dedicated to nurturing and strengthening Portland’s historically Black North and Northeast neighborhoods. The six-story complex will house 63 apartments, 2,500 square feet of commercial space, an outdoor play area, a community garden and residential parking. Units are reserved for residents with generational ties to North and Northeast Portland, also known as Portland’s North and Northeast Preference Policy, and to those earning up to 60 percent of the area's median income.
The Millner will be located at 5050 N. Interstate Ave. in the Overlook neighborhood, an area where Black families have historically been displaced as a result of urban renewal and gentrification. With its locational significance, its intentional layout, and affordability, The Millner Building is a testament to SEI’s and Dr. Millner’s shared effort of restoring and nurturing a thriving Black community in the Portland area.
“Realistically, you’re never going to rebuild a Black community like the one that existed in Portland in the 20th century,” states Dr. Millner. “And so I think what you have to address is not trying to rebuild that past, but to create a future in which everybody has the opportunities to be successful.”
Looking Into The Future
Continuing with the Alberta Alive vision, SEI and CDP will further their partnership with the development of the Strong Family Apartments, which will open in the Winter of 2026. Located on the intersection of N. Alberta Street and N. Williams Avenue, the Strong Family Apartments will honor the City’s Preference Policy and help nurture the growth of a new community in a location previously overcome by gentrification and past renewal. Groundbreaking for the Strong Family Apartments will begin on October 22, 2024.