Friday Forum Archive

Redesigning Portland's Public Schools

Carole Smith
Betsy Hammond
Date: 
March 5, 2010 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Carole Smith, superintendent, Portland Public Schools
Speaker(s): 
Betsy Hammond, journalist, The Oregonian

With only 63 percent of students who enter Portland high schools graduating in four years - and just 35 percent of African American students on track to do so - there is little question that Portland's public high schools struggle with both achievement and equity. Following months of community discussions, Portland Public Schools superintendent Carole Smith recently proposed a high school redesign plan that she claims will narrow the achievement gap, raise graduation rates and boost declining enrollment.

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Census 2010: Who Counts?

Who Counts?
Census 2010
Date: 
February 26, 2010 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Deborah Kafoury, Multnomah County commissioner District 1
Speaker(s): 
Michael Burns, Deputy Regional Director, U.S. Census Bureau
Speaker(s): 
Marc Levy, CEO, United Way of Columbia-Willamette

The 2010 census will determine Oregon’s share of more than $400 billion in federal funds for schools, hospitals, job training and more. Census data also provides facts that help with research and advocacy on topics ranging from disease prevention to disaster preparedness.

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Humans, Earth and Energy

Green Markets and Environmental Entrepreneurship
Margie Gardner, CEO, Bonneville Environmental Foundation
Date: 
February 19, 2010 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Margie Gardner, CEO, Bonneville Environmental Foundation

Environmentalists have historically used preservation and regulation as their two primary tools for solving environmental problems. More recently, the use of markets – which often reduce costs and stimulate innovation – have been added to their tool kit.

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State of the County

With Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler
Chair Ted Wheeler
Date: 
February 12, 2010 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler

On February 12, Ted Wheeler will speak about the state of Multnomah County. He will discuss how the county protected human and community services during an economic crunch and will share ideas about how community partnerships can help the county address future problems. He will also discuss current challenges in maintaining public safety.

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State of the City

With Mayor Sam Adams
Mayor Sam Adams
Date: 
February 5, 2010 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Mayor Sam Adams

During the first year of his four-year term, Mayor Sam Adams was subject to scandal and a failed recall effort. Supporters, however, point to the creation of programs that have benefited public school students, small businesses, bicyclists, and the arts, as well as the Mayor’s active involvement in community sessions for the Portland Plan and the advancement of a five-year economic development strategy for the city.

With the City of Portland’s persistently high unemployment rate and a subsequent recall effort underway, what does the future hold for Mayor Adams — and for the city he oversees?

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The Politics of Immigration, Labor and Food

Paul Apostolidis
Date: 
January 29, 2010 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Paul Apostolidis, Judge and Mrs. Timothy A. Paul Chair of Political Science, Whitman College

Mexican immigrants have endured both physical and emotional trauma to cross the border into the United States, only to find themselves working in some of America’s most dangerous industries, like meatpacking.

On January 29, Paul Apostolidis will examine American immigration reform through the stories of immigrant meatpackers. He will explain how these immigrants protected themselves during hazardous factory work, how they democratized their union, and how, in partnership with local consumers concerned about food safety, they made the slaughterhouse safer for workers and consumers alike.

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Sustainability and Environmental Justice

Why Race (Still) Matters
Robert William Collin and Robin Morris Collin
Date: 
January 22, 2010 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Robin Morris Collin, Professor of Law, Willamette University
Speaker(s): 
Robert William Collin, Center for Sustainable Communities, Willamette University

Portland prides itself on its status as one of America's most sustainable cities - but the benefits of living in a sustainable city are not distributed equally among its residents. When compared with its white population, Portland's minorities tend to live in areas with poorer air quality and higher asthma rates. Minorities are also more likely to live in neighborhoods where the land is contaminated by past use and where it is harder to access natural areas.

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2010 Economic Forecast

Tom Potiowsky
Tim Duy
Date: 
January 15, 2010 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Tom Potiowsky, Oregon State Economist
Speaker(s): 
Timothy Duy, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Dept. of Economics, University of Oregon

Though no longer officially in a recession, Oregon continues to struggle with high unemployment, a sluggish housing market and – depending on the outcome of the votes for Measures 66 and 67 – a potential $700 million dollar hole in the state budget.

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Ballot Measures 66 & 67 Debate

Pat McCormick
Steve Novick
Date: 
January 8, 2010 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Steve Novick, Policy Analyst, Vote Yes for Oregon
Speaker(s): 
Pat McCormick, partner, Conkling Fiskum & McCormick, and spokesman, Oregonians Against Job-Killing Taxes

In 2009 the Oregon Legislature passed two bills as part of an effort to address the state’s fiscal crisis: one raising taxes on high income earners; the other increasing the state’s corporate minimum tax and levying new taxes on corporate revenue. In response, critics of the legislation gathered a sufficient number of petitions to qualify two referenda – Measures 66 and 67 – for a January 26, 2010 special election allowing the electorate to decide the fate of these tax increases.

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Wine Down for the Holidays

Oregon Wine Logo
Date: 
December 18, 2009 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Susan Sokol Blosser, Founder, Sokol Blosser Winery
Speaker(s): 
Lynn Penner Ash, Founder, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars
Speaker(s): 
Pat Dudley, President and Marketing Director of Bethel Heights Vineyard

Only somebody who really takes the time to understand Pinot’s potential can then coax it into its fullest expression. Then… oh, its flavors, they’re just the most haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle and ancient on the planet.
       ~Miles Raymond, character from the 2004 movie Sideways

Oregon wines – particularly its Pinots – are rising stars in the wine world. But locally, these romantic grapes are responsible for some very down-to-earth numbers: Oregon’s 300-plus vineyards annually contribute nearly a billion net dollars to the economy and provide close to 10,000 jobs. At City Club’s December 18 Holiday Friday Forum, three local vintners will discuss the Oregon wine industry.

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What Really Matters to Oregonians

Adam Davis
Date: 
December 11, 2009 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Adam Davis, partner, Davis, Hibbitts, & Midghall, Inc.

Three years ago, pollster Adam Davis described public opinion in Oregon as a “perfect storm,” in which an uninformed and disconnected public was unable to hold politicians accountable in any meaningful way for campaign promises. Today, with a weakened economy and government budget problems, has anything changed?

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Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Oregon's Persistent Unemployment Problem
Art Ayre
Date: 
December 4, 2009 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Art Ayre, Employment Economist, Oregon Employment Department

With joblessness over eleven percent, Oregon’s unemployment rate is among the highest in the nation. But even in years of rapid job growth, unemployment in Oregon often remains above the national average.

On December 4, City Club welcomes Oregon State Employment Economist Art Ayre, who will elaborate upon the numerous reasons why Oregon faces such consistent employment challenges.

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The Skidmore Prizes

Recognizing a Younger Generation of Non-Profit Leaders
Date: 
November 20, 2009 - 12:15pm

Since 2004, the Skidmore Prizes have honored exceptional leaders under 35 who work in nonprofits and make under $35,000 a year. On November 20, City Club will host the 2009 Skidmore Prizes, which will be presented by City Commissioner Nick Fish.

This year's winners are Fowzia Abdulle of Bradley Angle House's Healing Roots Center, which provides emergency shelter and healing options for African and African-American women and children escaping domestic violence; lawyer Jennifer Gilmore of Child Centered Solutions, which gives a voice to children in divorce and custody cases; the Pixie Project's Executive Director Amy Sacks, whose organization provides animal adoption and affordable spay and neutering services; and Brandi Tuck, Executive Director of Goose Hollow Family Shelter, a winter emergency shelter that allows homeless families to stay together.

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Economic Recovery Through Innovation

With Congressman David Wu
Congressman David Wu
Date: 
November 13, 2009 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Congressman David Wu
 
In February, 2009 Congress passed a $787 billion economic stimulus measure that prevented America’s collapse from recession into depression. Having averted this economic catastrophe, the United States must rebuild its path to economic stability and prosperity — but how?
 
On November 13, City Club welcomes Congressman David Wu, who will argue that Congress must focus its attention on spurring long-term, high-value economic growth.
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A Fine Line

Appraising the Region's Urban Growth Boundary
Michael Jordan
Jerry Willey
Date: 
November 6, 2009 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Michael Jordan, Chief Operating Officer, Metro
Speaker(s): 
Mayor Jerry Willey, City of Hillsboro

Portland’s population is expected to experience extraordinary growth in the coming years. Planning for this unprecedented growth is a fine balancing act: can the region’s planners preserve the urban growth boundary to protect farmland, forestland and outdoor recreation opportunities while ensuring that there will be enough land to accommodate new residents and businesses?

On November 6, City Club welcomes Michael Jordan, chief operating officer at Metro, and Mayor Jerry Willey of Hillsboro who will appraise the strengths and restrictions of Portland’s urban growth boundary. They will discuss the delicate balance the region is working to achieve as Portland’s urban planners move toward decisions about the next 50 years of land needs. They will also offer alternative perspectives on the best way to manage the region’s projected population growth while maintaining its quality of life.

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The State of Black Oregon

State of Black Oregon report
Date: 
October 30, 2009 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Marcus Mundy, President and CEO, Urban League of Portland
Speaker(s): 
Charles Hopson, Deputy Superintendent of District-Wide Programs, Portland Public Schools
Speaker(s): 
Karen Gibson, Associate Professor, PSU, Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning

Published for the first time in 17 years, the State of Black Oregon report starkly exposes a persistent gap in living standards between black and white Oregonians - one which is growing wider as a result of the economic downturn. Published by the Urban League of Portland, this report reveals that African Americans in Oregon have significantly higher infant mortality rates, are more likely to live in poverty, have higher levels of unemployment and are far more likely to die of diseases such as diabetes than their white counterparts.

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Can a Private Business Model Work for Public Universities?

Date: 
October 23, 2009 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Kirby Dyess, OR Board of Higher Education, '04-'08
Speaker(s): 
John von Schlagell, OR Board of Higher Education, '04-'08
Speaker(s): 
Donald Blair, OR Board of Higher Education, '04-'08

In 2004, Governor Kulongoski wanted to create an innovative and entrepreneurial system of administration that would stabilize income and costs for Oregon’s public universities. To accomplish this, he appointed a number of prominent businesspeople to the Oregon State Board of Higher Education. In 2008, three of these appointees completed their terms and have since claimed that outdated organizational structures prevented their ability to make the fundamental changes necessary to achieve the Governor’s higher education goals.

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Urban Ecology

The Social, Economic and Environmental Benefits of Trees in Cities
Kathleen L. Wolf
Date: 
October 16, 2009 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Kathleen L. Wolf, Research Social Scientist, College of Forest Resources, University of Washington

The Pacific Northwest is known around the world for its natural physical beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. But it is easy to overlook "nearby nature" in our communities and its importance to the everyday health and well-being of the people who live, work, play and learn in cities. Urban greening, also known by names such as urban forestry and sustainable landscaping, offers an array of advantages that extend far beyond aesthetics and are profoundly important to quality of life.

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Healthy Eating and America’s Youth

Date: 
October 9, 2009 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Deborah Kane, Vice President Food & Farms, Ecotrust
Speaker(s): 
Kristy Obbink, R.D., Director of Nutrition Services, Portland Public Schools

This fall, just as children were settling back into the school routine, USDA announced a new national initiative to teach children where their food comes from and create opportunities for local farmers to provide their harvest to schools. Similar efforts, known as “farm to school” initiatives, have been underway in Oregon for several years. In fact, Oregon is the only state in the nation with two full time positions dedicated to advancing farm to school programs within its Departments of Agriculture and Education.

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Swine Flu

Causes, Impact and Control
H1N1 Target
Date: 
October 2, 2009 - 12:15pm
Speaker(s): 
Lillian Shirley, Director, Multnomah County Health Department
Speaker(s): 
Mel Kohn, MD, Assistant Director for Public Health - State Public Health Officer
Speaker(s): 
Gary Oxman, MD, health officer for Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties
Speaker(s): 
Jean Baker, President, Alliance of Portland Neighborhood Business Associations

In April 2009, Oregon identified its first case of H1N1 virus, also known as Swine Flu. By September, the virus had hospitalized 85 Oregonians – and taken nine lives.

Swine Flu presents a unique threat. It travels quickly between humans, its severity and long-lasting effects are difficult to predict and, unlike the seasonal flu, children and young adults are the most at risk.

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