Unite & Rise: Standing Up for Our Community
A Panel Discussion
The live panel will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
About the Program
“We the people must fight back.” – League of Women Voters of the United States
From the start of the second Trump administration, the nation has endured a relentless wave of illegal deportations, defiance of judicial orders, and attacks on voting rights. For many, this constitutional and humanitarian crisis has led to defeatism. The Portland region, however, has stood out for the number of people and organizations rising up to fight for democracy on multiple fronts.
Panel Speakers
The League’s April Community Education program will focus on three local women who are leading efforts to protect our community’s most vulnerable neighbors against the ongoing attacks on democracy, justice, and basic humanity.
- Reyna Lopez, President/Executive Director of Piñeros y Campesinos del Noroeste (PCUN), Oregon farmworkers’ Union, building a stronger voice for all Latinx working families to stand up for their rights and build political power.
- Marirose Piciucco, board member of the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC), whose mission is to uphold the U.S. Constitution by taking action to protect vulnerable immigrants from ICE arrests and detentions.
- Emma Jenson, Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator for Portland City Council President Jamie Dunphy. Emma has over a decade’s experience in voter education to empower unregistered, low turnout, and underrepresented voters.
The panelists will speak about the challenges they face and the actions they have undertaken, while providing listeners with the tools to unite, rise, and stand up for the community in Portland and beyond.
About the League’s Community Education Programs
This virtual webinar is held free of charge and open to the public. The program will be recorded for rebroadcast by MetroEast Community Media and will be available by video and podcast from our website.
Catch up on our March 4 program about Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy.
Funding for the production is provided by the League of Women Voters of Portland and funded by the Carol and Velma Saling Foundation.
