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Voices of the Houseless – Video

Watch the LWV of Portland panel discussion with four speakers who have experienced homelessness. The panel members talk about what it was like to be without shelter, how they found solutions for themselves, and what they think can be done to help others who are homeless. The speakers are Damian Blakley, an artist, photographer and advocate for the homeless; Melissa Castor, a resident of Hazelnut Grove tent community, which is now building tiny homes for residents; DeWanna Harris, a manager at Transition Projects, which provides services to help people end their homelessness; and Lisa Larson, a resident of Dignity Village, Read more…

By Margaret Noel, ago

“Promoting Civil Discourse” Review

By Amber Nobe  This season, as we mingle at parties or visit far-away loved ones, discussions of politics could heat up and spiral down—fast!  How can we create bridges to encourage civil civic discourse? At the November Civic Education forum, three experts on free speech and building consensus offered their take. Mat dos Santos (ACLU of Oregon), Michael Mills (PSU National Policy Consensus Center and Oregon Solutions Project Manager), and Wendy Willis (National Policy Consensus Center and Oregon’s Kitchen Table) shared keen insights on the state of current political dialogue, posed questions for us to consider, and provided advice on Read more…

By Margaret Noel, ago

Promoting Civil Discourse – Video

How can we create civil discourse as we exercise our constitutional First Amendment rights? How can we find common ground and solve problems together in times of great polarization? View the recording of a discussion with Mat dos Santos (ACLU of Oregon), Michael Mills (Oregon Solutions), and Wendy Willis (Kitchen Table Democracy). This recording will also be broadcast on Comcast channel 21 and Frontier channel 32 (11/23 @ 12 pm, 11/25 @ 5 pm, 11/27 @ 2 pm) and on Comcast channel 29 and Frontier channel 37 (11/26 @ 1 pm).

By Margaret Noel, ago

Make your voice heard in the Oregon Legislature – View recordings

Our October 10 event, open to the public, offered practical advice on effectively making your case in Salem. Panelists included a state legislator, a LWV lobbyist, and a citizen who successfully lobbied for mothers’ rights – all speaking about what works to persuade legislators. Listen to the recordings of this discussion to learn how to make your voice heard on important legislation. Thanks to the Multnomah Bar Foundation, the program was recorded for future broadcast and online streaming by MetroEast Community Media. The recording is now available for online streaming. A shorter video with highlights from the program is also Read more…

By Margaret Noel, ago