Q. What single political issue is the root cause of every
policy challenge facing America? Why does the will of the people lose out every time to the interests of big industry? What political movement has the support of 80% of US voters and has been called “the most dynamic (and undercovered) movement in America?

WHEN
May 04, 2014 at 12pm – 5pm
WHERE
Portland State University – Hoffman Hall
1833 SW 11th Ave
Portland, OR 97201

Hosted by OSPIRG
Sponsored by Oregon Democracy Coalition

Confirmed Speakers:

• John Nichols – Author of Dolloracracy

• Kate Titus – Common Cause OR

• David Delk – Alliance For Democracy

• Dave Rosenfeld – OSPIRG

• Lloyd Marbet – Democracy Activist

• Amanda Knief – Author, The Citizen Lobbyist

• Jim Forbes – Attorney, member of Wolf-PAC

• Michele Sutter – Money Out Voters In

• John Wellington Ennis – Filmmaker, Pay 2 Play

• And special musical appearance by Catherine Feeny

And more to come…

Register and more information: Here

Syria: Six Alternatives to Military Strikes

ACTION IN PORTLAND:

Sunday, 9/8 – 8pm No War With Syria – OLB/PDX Action

Monday, 9/9 – 4pm NO War in Syria PDX – Surround the Federal Building

NOW: Write Your Congressional Representative

Meet tomorrow, Aug. 24 at 10 am. at Chapman Square, downtown, for music and the march to the South Waterfront Park. More music, speakers and chants will be at 1 pm.

Occupy Portland is currently in the process of organizing a communal ride share for anyone interested in coming to and from the event. We are using Sharetribe to connect with the larger Occupy community. But it’s not just for groups; individuals can find mutual aid, too! Check out Sharetribe today.

Decolonize the 99%

Call on the Department of Justice to File Civil Rights Suit Against George Zimmerman
End Racist Violence!
End the New Jim Crow!
No Justice, No Peace!

MORE: facebook

Take action:

Portland Campaign to End the New Jim Crow

New Jim Crow PDX – Campaign to End the New Jim Crow
is on Facebook

Dream Defenders

“The reservoirs will be under occupation/guardianship of, by, and for the people.”

Friday 7/12/2013 5pm
Mt. Tabor

MORE: Camp Cascadia on facebook

OCCUPY MT. TABOR/CAMP CASCADIA, Bike Swarm & Flying Water Caravan!

MORE: on facebook

What: Rally and hearing about R2DToo and R2S lawsuit against the City of Portland.

When: Thursday July 11… rally outside at 8:15am and then in the courtroom starting at 9:00am.

Where: Multnomah County Courthouse

Right to Dream Too:

Since its inception in October of 2011, Right To Dream Too’s (R2DToo) primary mission has been:

1. “…provide emergency shelter facilities for otherwise homeless individuals, using temporary and/or mobile structures to provide the conditions and environment for safe, uninterrupted sleep for up to twelve hours.” and;

2. “…to create a safe, clean, self-governed community environment for economically distressed residents of the State of Oregon, through establishment of an open-air place where people living on the streets can have their basic needs met in a stable, sanitary environment, until they are able to access another form of housing more in keeping with said resident’s personal goals and aspirations.”

In order to attain these goals, R2DToo has created a model of self governance and accountability that has provided much more than a traditional shelter normally does. This model incorporates some of the following guidelines:

1. People [Dreamers] can stay for one night or as long as it takes to find housing.
2. Dreamers agree to honor the rest area as a drug and alcohol free zone.
3. Among other rules of the rest area, Dreamers are asked to:
a. Keep each other safe.
b. Maintain cleanliness in the rest area including regular cleaning of bedding.
c. Redistribute extra food and clothing.
d. Support each other in navigating the social service maze.
e. See to the safety and security of the rest area’s perimeter.
f. Become active in advocating for their own rights and the rights of other underserved or exploited members of the community.

There are volunteers who assist R2DToo in providing peer-based support services with regard to housing, education and work, and to enter into collaborative partnerships with certain private, religious, and professional agencies or groups in the furtherance of these ends. However, these efforts are not charity, but instead are support for Dreamers in attaining a healthy self confidence that will provide the tools for independence that will lead to a transition to regular housing, jobs and other goals for their personal success. The following statistics confirm that
this model works:

Total number served since October 2011- 25,000
Number of people that found housing- 49
Number of people who found jobs- 55
Number of people who have maintained housing- 48
Number of people who have maintained jobs- 53
Number of people going to school- 5
Number of incidents requiring police intervention- 0

It is important to recognize that these successes have been accomplished on a shoestring budget that is based on mostly small donations and grants. Even with city and privately funded shelters and other homeless services, every night there is an average of almost 1900 individuals in Portland without a safe and relatively comfortable place to sleep. The city has made it clear that it does not have the funding to deal with what has become an epidemic problem. Until there are sufficient resources available to eliminate houselessness, the R2DToo model is an essential part of the responses to homelessness in Portland.

MORE: facebook

Since May 1, 2012, Alicia Jackson has lived quietly and productively in her N.E. house. She is still engaged in a battle against the banks who illegally stole her home in the first place and a part of that battle involves having no water service for that thirteen month period. We want to call people to come out, make contributions to a plan to resolve this problem, and enjoy some great live edutainment and good people! Bring a dish to share, a blanket, some chairs, and let’s build community! This event is being called for by Housing is for Everyone (HIFE). HIFE: Housing Is For Everyone is continuing the fight for quality of life and access to clean water at Alicia Jackson’s home.
MORE: facebook

“On Thursday, May 30th, Occupy Portland had its Fifth Thursday assembly as a broad forum to discuss several topics – summer outreach, revitalization of past/defunct groups, and our evolving niche in the political sphere. While not meant to be a decision-making body or networking meeting, an important proposal has been brought to consensus.

“For many months, we have had a schedule where General Assembly (GA) and SpokesCouncil would alternate every Thursday evening. However, we have been noting on the downwards trend in attendance in our SpokesCouncil since last winter. We could not deny that many groups weren’t showing up, and while attempts have been made to reconnect with our offshoots, we have learned that there was no urgent need at this time to continue with the current SpokesCouncil model, for all parties. And we certainly did not desire having meetings for the sake of meetings.

“With this, Occupy Portland has decided to have GA regularly only and only have SpokesCouncil when the time rises, even possibly incorporated into GA. We will have GA every Thursday at 7 pm. at our summer location at Terry Schrunk Plaza, downtown through late August. As always, your body and voice will equally count to everyone else’s.

“The sun won’t be out for long. Let’s make some trouble together.”

MORE: Solidarity with the People of Turkey