Portland, OR—Governor Tina Kotek pledged to take urgent action addressing community safety and livability issues, and in her first week in office, she delivered on multiple fronts.

On her first full day, Gov. Kotek declared a homelessness state of emerge… and signed two additional executive orders to address Oregon’s housing crisis.

On Saturday – less than a week after her swearing in – she and First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson joined U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and other community members in a community clean up event, picking up trash and helping clean up a neighborhood park in East Multnomah County.

Gov. Kotek has a long history of community service. She began her career as an advocate for Oregon Food Bank and for years, she volunteered at her church's food pantry.

In her inaugural address, Gov. Kotek announced that she and her team would participate in a community cleanup to mark the service of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose life is celebrated today. She urged other Oregonians to do volunteer work of their own.?

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. challenged our nation to live up to its highest ideals, and today we can honor his life and legacy through acts of service," Governor Kotek said. "It will take all of us, doing what we can, to build the Oregon we want to live in."

Dozens of volunteers joined Saturday's clean-up and picked up 563 pounds of trash, according to SOLVE, the nonprofit that hosted the event.

“The community clean up was about being in community with Oregonians and doing our part to make things better,” Governor Kotek said. “I loved seeing so many people show up to help – it was inspiring.”

State Sen. Kayse Jama and State Reps. Andrea Valderama and Zach Hudson also welcomed volunteers to their home districts and joined the clean-up event.