Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

What and where is Portland’s Walk of the Heroines?
Who is a heroine?
How do I honor a heroine?
Does my heroine have to be from Portland or Oregon?
How will the biographies of each heroine be created?
How will you ensure that women from our many diverse communities are honored?
How will you ensure that women who have made significant public contributions in Oregon are honored?
How many women will be honored on the Walk?
What is the difference between the Educational Kiosk and the Walk of the Heroines website?
Will people with limited means be able to participate?
How will donors be recognized?
What will my contribution support?
Has Portland State University provided support for the Walk of the Heroines?
When will the Walk of the Heroines be completed?

What and where is Portland’s Walk of the Heroines?

On the Portland State University campus, adjacent to the South Park Blocks and in the heart of Portland’s University and Cultural Districts, the Walk of the Heroines will celebrate and honor women who have illuminated our lives. Visitors will enjoy the changing landscape, lovely garden beds, a spirited fountain and meandering stream, sculptural artwork, a stage for lively performances, and benches for quiet reflection. The Walk of the Heroines is a full city block long and leads up to Hoffmann Hall, one of the University’s busiest centers for campus and community events.

Who is a heroine?

Any woman—mother, sister, partner or friend, artist, athlete, educator or scientist, political, business, religious or community leader, living or deceased—may be honored. An educational kiosk on the site will feature stories and photographs of the women honored as will the Walk of the Heroines website www.woh.pdx.edu.

How do I honor a heroine?

The Walk of the Heroines offers a myriad of very special honoring opportunities. Individuals, families, groups, or organizations may contribute at a variety of levels of support to honor their heroine. All women honored will be recognized in an artful and respectful manner.

Does my heroine have to be from Portland or Oregon?

Not at all. Heroines on the Walk will be women who have inspired the donors honoring them. The Walk is a community-based project and we expect that most donors will come from the metro area. However, the Walk is open to any donor who wants to honor a heroine.

How will the biographies of each heroine be created?

We have a working format for the entries in the computer display. The Walk of the Heroines staff will help contributors create an entry that is consistent with other entries. Within this general format, entries may vary in length and tone and will express the individuality of the women being honored.

How will you ensure that women from our many diverse communities are honored?

The Walk of the Heroines was developed by individuals of varied cultural traditions. Leaders from diverse communities serve on the Walk of the Heroines Honorary Council and are guiding our strategies. Through contacting community leaders and organizations, through utilizing their networks and their advice about how to reach their communities, we are bringing word of the project to every corner of the metro area.

How will you ensure that women who have made significant public contributions in Oregon are honored?

We are confident that individuals and groups in our community will come forward to honor women who have made significant public contributions. In addition, we are compiling a list of women of achievement who have been mentioned as heroines to be recognized for the consideration of potential donors.

How many women will be honored on the Walk?

The design incorporates approximately 1,600 honoring opportunities. Once all of these names are engraved on the granite walls, it will still be possible to add heroines to the Educational Kiosk and the Walk of the Heroines website. Eventually, we expect to extend the Walk east to the Park Blocks which will allow for more naming opportunities on site.

What is the difference between the Educational Kiosk and the Walk of the Heroines website?

Stories of each of the heroines named can be accessed on the site at two computer display terminals in the Educational Kiosk. When visitors use the computer displays in the Educational Kiosk to learn about heroines who are named on the Walk, they will in fact be accessing the website. This website will contain, in addition to the stories of the heroines and prominent recognition of the donors who have honored them, a rich array of additional educational resources and virtual exhibits.

The stories will be categorized and grouped enabling research to be conducted on different aspects of women’s lives and achievements. For example, if a visitor wants to know about the women from a particular generation, they can search the site by birth date, if they want information about women who were active in public service or education or science, they can search the site by that category.

Will people with limited means be able to participate?

The minimum contribution to honor a heroine is $200. Contributions can be made through a pledge that can be fulfilled through small contributions over as long a period of time as necessary. Groups of friends or family members may also join forces to honor a woman.

How will donors be recognized?

Each heroine biography in the Educational Kiosk will also include recognition of the donor(s) honoring her. If more than one person has honored the heroine, the donor recognition may be phrased as “honored by her family” or “honored by her friends,” however, this phrase will link to a full list of all of the individuals who contributed to honoring the heroine. Additionally, major contributors will be highlighted in the Educational Kiosk and further acknowledged on a permanent display within Portland’s Walk of the Heroines.

What will my contribution support?

Whether choosing to honor a heroine or not, gifts, in any amount, to support the project in general will be gratefully received! In addition to the actual construction, and unless otherwise specified, a portion of all contributions to the Walk of the Heroines will support a fund to maintain and repair the site and a permanent Educational Fund. The Walk of the Heroines Educational Fund will support free lectures, workshops, and other educational events for the campus and the community, as well as a scholarship program for students majoring in Women’s Studies.

Has Portland State University provided support for the Walk of the Heroines?

Indeed! The University donated the land for the Walk of the Heroines, valued at $1.2 million. The University Facilities Department funded the early project development costs, including the professional services of PSU Architect Barbara Linn, Project Manager and Designer from 1998–2002. The Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences initially contributed $10,000, and continues to support fundraising efforts through the College’s Director of Development. In addition, PSU students recommended to the Oregon University System that $200,000 be allocated to the Walk project from the 2001-2003 Student Building Fee Capital Construction Budget. With this allocation, the landscape architectural firm Mayer/Reed was engaged to complete the Master Design Plan. This plan was unanimously approved by City of Portland Design Review Commission in December 2002.

When will the Walk of the Heroines be completed?

We are breaking ground on January 31, 2008, and hope to celebrate the grand opening of Portland's Walk of the Heroines by this summer.