Kay Toran Oral History Interview

Kay Toran begins the interview by reflecting on the importance of growing up in a close, Black neighborhood, as well as the values that her parents raised her to have. She then goes on to recount her time in grade school and high school, particularly the importance student government had in her life. She explains her reasoning for attending the University of Portland and recalls her time there. She then describes the time she spent living in Germany, especially the impact it had on her and the experience of being Black in Germany. Toran then discusses her involvement with the Civil Rights Movement in her youth. She goes on to describe her parents, including their missionary work as well as her parents’ experience starting and running a hair salon - the first Black-owned business in Portland that had been built from the ground up. She then recounts her early career and how she was often dissatisfied with the kind of work she was doing, which led her to pursue her Master’s degree. She then describes her career in detail, discussing her work in local government and the circumstances that led her to climb the ranks so quickly. She also talks about her relationships with the Governor at the time, and goes into detail about her work revitalizing the Children’s Services department.

Toran then discusses her tenure as the CEO of Volunteers of America Oregon, including the history of the organization and the work she has done in her time there. She goes on to talk about her views on retirement before discussing her personal life. Here, Toran reflects on her experience with two divorces and raising her kids as a single mom. She also talks about her social life and hobbies, including her circle of friends, and her social life as a young adult dancing in clubs. She also briefly talks about how she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Portland in recognition of her service to the school and her community. Toran then discusses her faith and church before recounting her perceptions of the Civil Rights Movement and its impact on her life. Toran finishes the interview by comparing the state of human rights at the time of the interview and throughout her lifetime.

Kay Toran was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1943. When she was three, her family moved to Portland, Oregon where she was raised along with her three siblings. Toran attended the University of Portland, where she majored in sociology with minors in psychology and philosophy. After stints as a caseworker in public welfare and Director of Special Services for the Girl Scouts, Toran returned to school, completing a Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in Public Administration from Portland State University. She then became a Branch Manager for the Public Welfare Office, and quickly rose through the ranks to become the Deputy Director of Field Operations. Having noticed her work, the governor of Oregon recruited her to be the Director of Affirmative Action for the state of Oregon. After doing this job for over seven years, Toran moved on to a position in the purchasing division of the state government for three years. She was then recruited into a position working for Children’s Services, where she quickly rose through the ranks to become the director of the department. After six years working in this capacity, she was recruited to be the CEO and President of Volunteers of America Oregon, where she had been working for twenty years at the time of the interview.