ORA Spotlight: Mitch Wolgamott
Highlighting the stories of ORA leaders.
Mitch has been part of ORA for 10 years and currently serves as a Board Member and Board Chair. His experience includes about 30 years in environmental work, most of which was done in Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality. He served several years in management, ending as acting Administrator of the DEQ Eastern Region. Mitch’s experience working for the State of Oregon and extensive knowledge of regional environmental issues has been critical to ORA’s environmental and agricultural work. He lives on a ten acre wood lot near Summerville, OR with his McNab Border Collie, Mollie.
When did you first become interested in community organizing?
I became interested in organizing during the last few years of employment with the state. I realized that while all the statewide polls indicated broad support for protecting water and air quality, that did not translate into vocal local citizen support for local protection efforts in rural eastern Oregon. I knew that this did not indicate lack of interest/concern, but more likely that citizens didn't know how and when to get involved. And, unlike the westside, there didn't appear to be organizations that were helping local citizens organize and know when and where to focus efforts.
What is your “why”? Why is this work important to you?
This work is important to me because I am very much aware that the government agencies (state, local and federal) that nominally have responsibility for environmental stewardship simply cannot successfully do the work without citizen support. Without that, politics will play an outsized role. I want all people to have a voice.
What changes would you like to see in your local community?
I would like to see our communities in rural eastern Oregon to be able to come together and have productive conversations about mutual interests and how we can work together to both have a healthy economy and protect our shared resources. And I think that can be done, relatively easily, if we would stop screaming at each other and talk about shared interests.
What’s something bringing you joy at the moment?
Joy at the moment? It has been a rough year or more for all of us, what with political divisions and COVID control issues. On top of that are all our usual personal family/ health issues. When I start to get down, what brings me joy, is when my dog, Mollie, comes to me and demands that I get up and throw the damn ball.
ORA Newsletter: The Power of Community Organizing
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What an election week. What a year. The challenges have been many. And in the midst of these challenges or perhaps because of them - I have become even more convinced in the power of community organizing, the important role ORA offers in rural eastern Oregon and our mission - to promote social justice, agricultural and economic sustainability, and stewardship of the region’s land, air, and water.
In Rural Oregon Rising, ORA’s 5-Year Plan (2018 - 2022), we committed to “focus on building a permanent, multi-issue, diverse and inclusive membership-based organization.” We affirmed our history and accomplishments, ORA’s unique role, and the importance of rural community organizing.
Community Organizing “enables people to turn the resources they have into the power they need to make the change they want” (Marshall Ganz)
There is power and leadership in community organizing. I don’t fully understand this power - but we’ve seen it in action this year. Even with the additional challenge of working virtually - we had one-on-one conversations, engaged new networks and built new relationships and resources, and elected 5 new Board members from Union, Umatilla and Morrow. We’ve made progress toward our goal - strengthening our organizational capacity to support and sustain people organizing locally.
In the midst of a pandemic that’s exacerbating long-term inequities we’re seeing new organizing opportunities. To engage in addressing racial and public health inequities as well as food security, and energy and jobs, stay updated, and join us in advancing our mission in 2021.
In partnership,
Kristin Ostrom, Executive Director
Qué semana de elecciones. Qué año. Los desafíos han sido muchos. Y en medio de estos desafíos o quizás debido a ellos, me he convencido aún más del poder de la organización comunitaria, el importante papel que ofrece ORA en las zonas rurales del este de Oregon y nuestra misión: promover la justicia social, la agricultura y la sostenibilidad económica administración de la tierra, el aire y el agua de la región.
En Rural Oregon Rising, el plan quinquenal de ORA (2018 - 2022), nos comprometimos a "centrarnos en la construcción de una organización basada en membresía permanente, de múltiples temas, diversa e inclusiva". Afirmamos nuestra historia y logros, el papel único de ORA y la importancia de la organización de la comunidad rural.
La organización comunitaria “permite a las personas convertir los recursos que tienen en poder necesitan hacer el cambio que quieren ”(Marshall Ganz)
Hay poder y liderazgo en la organización comunitaria. No entiendo completamente este poder, pero lo hemos visto en acción este año. Incluso con el desafío adicional de trabajar virtualmente, tuvimos conversaciones personales, entablamos nuevas redes y construimos nuevas relaciones y recursos, y elegimos a 5 nuevos miembros de la Junta de Unión, Umatilla y Morrow. Hemos avanzado hacia nuestro objetivo: fortalecer nuestra capacidad organizativa para apoyar y sostener a las personas que se organizan a nivel local.
En medio de una pandemia que está agravando las desigualdades a largo plazo, estamos viendo nuevas oportunidades de organización. Para participar en abordar las desigualdades raciales y de salud pública, así como la seguridad alimentaria, la energía y el empleo, manténgase actualizado y únase a nosotros para avanzar en nuestra misión en 2021.
En asociación,
Kristin Ostrom, directora ejecutiva
Obdulia “Abby” Muñoz joined the ORA Board of Directors in April 2019. She is currently the Migrant Education/Parent Involvement Specialist for the InterMountain Education Service District in Umatilla. Abby’s direct service experience and work with over 500 families have been invaluable to ORA’s campaign to amplify crucial COVID-19 related information to Spanish and indigenous language speaking families in Umatilla and Morrow counties.
Read Abby’s full interview here.
Obdulia “Abby” Muñoz se unió a la Junta Directiva de ORA en abril del 2019. Actualmente , ella es Especialista en la Educación Migrante / Participación de Padres para el Distrito de Servicios Educativos InterMountain en Umatilla. La experiencia del servicio directo de Abby y el trabajo con más de 500 familias han sido invaluables para la campaña de ORA y para ampliar la información crucial relacionada con el COVID-19 para las familias de habla hispana y de lenguas indígenas en los condados de Umatilla y Morrow.
Lea la entrevista completa de Abby aquí.
Upcoming Events
HOPE, HEALTH and OUR PLANET
Stream On Your Time (Nov 27th - 29th); Join the Conversation (Nov 30th)
Watch it and discover a movement to build healthy soils and practice regenerative agriculture (a climate change solution right under our feet). Stream an inspiring new film Kiss the Ground and then Join ORA’s national network of affiliates - the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) - for a hopeful conversation about organizing for healthy food and our planet.
The full-length film is now streaming on Netflix, also available for free November 27, 28, 29 for those without a Netflix subscription. For more information and to register follow this link: "KISS THE GROUND” VIRTUAL SCREENING AND SOIL HEALTH PANEL DISCUSSION
Life Story Legacy Retreat
November 14th, 10 am- 3 pm / Online
Stories are powerful organizing tools. Story of self, story of now, and the story of us. Local pastor and storyteller Laura Elly Hudson is holding a retreat to learn about telling your story of self, in order to forge deeper connections with yourself and others. Marshall Ganz, teaches that, “Stories are how we learn to make choices. Stories are how we learn to access the moral and emotional resources we need to face the uncertain, the unknown, and the unexpected mindfully. Because stories speak the language of emotion, the language of the heart, they teach us not only how we “ought to” act, but can inspire us with the “courage to” act.”
Register here: https://form.jotform.com/202668509047157
Oregon Community Food Systems Network Annual Convening
Tuesday, November 17th, 1-5pm (optional welcome and intro session from 12 -1pm) Wednesday, November 18th, 9am-1pm
A Food System includes all of the steps, inputs and relationships that take place between food production and consumption. It is how people, policies, culture, and natural resources come together for human nourishment. OCFSN will be hosting Oregon Food Charter Presentations that center Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and Immigrant and Refugee communities. They will share their vision and priorities for a more just and resilient food system. Please join OCFSN in re-shaping the narrative of a monolithic white rural agricultural landscape.
You can find the agenda here. Tuesday: Register Here Wednesday:Register Here
ORA Spotlight: Abby Muñoz
Highlighting the stories of ORA leaders.
Obdulia “Abby” Muñoz joined the ORA Board of Directors in April 2019. She is currently the Migrant Education/Parent Involvement Specialist for the InterMountain Education Service District in Umatilla. Abby’s direct service experience and work with over 500 families have been invaluable to ORA’s campaign to amplify crucial COVID-19 related information to Spanish and indigenous language speaking families in Umatilla and Morrow counties.
When did you first become interested in community organizing?
I’ve done community organizing through my work. I’m the Parent Involvement Specialist for the Migrant Education Program. I talk to parents about their needs, empower them to find resources, and organize events for the community. Community organizing isn’t new to me, but being a board member of a nonprofit organization is new.
What is your “why”? Why is this work important to you?
I love helping others, I love helping my people find resources and guiding them to the right person. I just want people to feel comfortable knowing that I’m here to help them in whatever I can.
When you first came to the United States, did you have people that helped you?
I grew up with my grandparents in Mexico. After my grandpa passed away it was just grandma and I. My aunts decided we couldn’t stay in Mexico by ourselves since we didn’t have a male figure at home, so we moved here. When I first came here [to the United States], it was towards the end of 5th grade, I was part of the migrant program since my aunts were farmworkers.
What changes would you like to see in your local community?
I’m passionate about justice. We have a lot of families that need food. We live in a rural community where resources are limited and the resources that are here have too many regulations or barriers that limit access. For example, we have a lot of families who don’t have a car to go pick up food from the food bank. Anything that can better the system and can better programs for our families - I’m all for it.
What’s bringing you joy at the moment?
I think it’s a combination of everything - I have two daughters, one is 21 and married and has an almost six month old girl, which is my joy right now. She is in her last year at Portland State University. My youngest just graduated from high school; it's her first year at Western Oregon University. Those are the main people that bring me joy, plus my husband. And overall, my work brings me joy - being able to help others, and organize events with ORA and Ana Elisa - being there for the community, and connecting families to resources. Through my work, I organize resource fairs where we collect used clothes and put tables out on the school parking lot for parents to come in and pick up what they need, and I work with agencies to deliver food to families. It’s all rewarding.
Obdulia “Abby” Muñoz se unió a la Junta Directiva de ORA en abril del 2019. Actualmente , ella es Especialista en la Educación Migrante / Participación de Padres para el Distrito de Servicios Educativos InterMountain en Umatilla. La experiencia del servicio directo de Abby y el trabajo con más de 500 familias han sido invaluables para la campaña de ORA y para ampliar la información crucial relacionada con el COVID-19 para las familias de habla hispana y de lenguas indígenas en los condados de Umatilla y Morrow.
¿Cuándo se interesó por primera vez en la organización comunitaria?
He organizado la comunidad a través de mi trabajo. Soy la Especialista en participación de padres del Programa de Educación Migrante. Hablo con los padres sobre sus necesidades, los capacito para encontrar recursos y organizo eventos para la comunidad. La organización comunitaria no es algo nuevo para mí, pero ser miembro de la mesa Directiva de una organización sin fines de lucro, sí lo es.
¿Cuál es tu "por qué"? ¿Por qué es importante este trabajo para ti?
Me encanta ayudar a los demás, me encanta ayudar a mi gente a encontrar recursos y guiarlos hacia la persona adecuada. Solo quiero que la gente se sienta cómoda sabiendo que estoy aquí para ayudarles en todo lo que pueda.
Cuando llegó por primera vez a los Estados Unidos, ¿tenía personas que lo ayudaron?
Crecí con mis abuelos en México. Después de la muerte de mi abuelo, solo éramos mi abuela y yo. Mis tías decidieron que no podíamos quedarnos solos en México ya que no teníamos una figura masculina en casa, así que nos cambiamos para aquí. Cuando vine por primera vez aquí [a los Estados Unidos], fue hacia el final del quinto grado, yo era parte del Programa Migrante ya que mis tías eran trabajadoras agrícolas.
¿Qué cambios le gustaría ver en su comunidad local?
Me apasiona la justicia. Tenemos muchas familias que necesitan comida. Vivimos en una comunidad rural donde los recursos son limitados y los recursos que están aquí tienen demasiadas regulaciones o barreras que limitan el acceso. Por ejemplo, tenemos muchas familias que no tienen coche para ir a buscar comida al banco de alimentos. Cualquier cosa que pueda mejorar el sistema y mejorar los programas para nuestras familias, estoy totalmente de acuerdo.
¿Qué te trae alegría en este momento?
Creo que es una combinación de todo: tengo dos hijas, una tiene 21 años, está casada y tiene una niña de casi seis meses, que es mi alegría en este momento. Está en su último año en la Universidad Estatal de Portland. Mi hija menor se acaba de graduar de la escuela secundaria; es su primer año en la Western Oregon University. Esas son las principales personas que me traen alegría, además de mi esposo. Y en general, mi trabajo me da alegría: poder ayudar a otros y organizar eventos con ORA y Ana Elisa, estar allí para la comunidad y conectar a las familias con los recursos. A través de mi trabajo, organizó ferias de recursos en las que recibimos ropa usada y colocamos mesas en el estacionamiento de la escuela para que los padres entren y recojan lo que necesitan, y trabajo con agencias para entregar alimentos a las familias. Todo es gratificante.
Newsletter: As Cases Rise, ORA Reaches Out in Collaboration with Community Organizations
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During the first week in October, OHA reported an additional 95 COVID-19 cases in Umatilla county and 8 in Morrow. As cases continue to rise in these northeast rural counties, Oregon Rural Action organized multiple PPE and free OHA-testing events this past weekend with community partners in Hermiston, Boardman Irrigon.
On Friday, October 16th, ORA distributed masks, sanitizer and COVID-relief information in Spanish in Irrigon alongside a public health vaccination event hosted by the Morrow County Health Department.
On Saturday, October 17th, a drive-thru PPE and OHA COVID-testing event was organized in Hermiston at Mirasol Family Health Center. Community partners included Euvalcree, Doulas Latinas, The Tree Institute, Migrant Education Harvest of Hope, United Farm Workers Foundation, and the Hermiston School District - distributing PPE, information and wrap-around services.
Most of these organizations came together again for a second drive-thru event with free OHA COVID-testing on Sunday, October 18th in Boardman at the Columbia River Health Clinic. Participating organizations included Euvalcree, Doulas Latinas, The Tree Institute, RAICES, Migrant Education Harvest of Hope, United Farm Workers Foundation, Rural Equity Allies, Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides, Oregon Child Development Coalition.
In Union county, CHD reported 6 new cases October 22nd. Weekly, CHD is hosting collaborative conversations with community organizations offering information and wrap around services to people impacted by COVID in Union County. Organizations include Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, Northeast Oregon Network, COFA Alliance National Network and Euvalcree. Here is an earlier article in The Observer highlighting the work- CHD lends a hand to virus-affected individuals
Union County COVID Wrap Contact Information:
541-962-1610
covidwrapsvcs@union-county.org
Newsletter: ORA Meets with Governor Brown
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We are Hispanic leaders in rural eastern Oregon. We are parents, farmworkers, social service professionals and volunteers - working to improve and protect our communities.
On Wednesday, October 7th, ORA Board members Obdulia “Abby” Munoz and Ana Maria Rodriguez met with Governor Brown to deliver an important message.
“Our families and communities have already lived with 3 decades of water pollution from corporate agriculture - allowing another mega dairy can do more harm without fixing the problem.”
ORA met with the Governor and her staff as a member of a statewide coalition working to enact a moratorium on new and expanding mega-dairies in Oregon, until the state has policies to protect our air and water, climate, public health, family farms, and rural communities.
Board member Ana Maria Rodriguez, who lives in Boardman and has worked in the area’s agriculture and processing plants, highlighted the ongoing problem, “while some cities have spent money to treat the water, there are people who do not have extra money to buy bottled water, and they drink well water, which can be contaminated.”
Abby Munoz, a long-time resident of Umatilla discussed how Umatilla and Morrow counties have been hard hit “This pollution hurts us on top of the climate crisis and the wildfires of the past few weeks. My family had to be evacuated from the fire in Umatilla. This is on top of COVID. We’ve each had COVID, my cousins and some of neighbors have had it too.”
Abby concluded, “We need to invest in our rural communities. We should not have to continue to choose between good jobs, water, air and our health. But we can’t add more harm.”
The Governor expressed her concern, especially noting the additional impact in eastern Oregon of the recent flood, fires and the ongoing pandemic. The Governor thanked the members of the coalition and agreed to review the concerns raised.
ORA se reúne con la Gobernadora Brown
Nosotros somos líderes hispanos en las zonas rurales del este de Oregon. Somos padres, trabajadores agrícolas, profesionales de servicios sociales y voluntarios, que trabajamos para mejorar y proteger nuestras comunidades.
El miércoles 7 de octubre, los miembros de la Mesa Directiva de ORA, Obdulia “Abby” Muñoz y Ana María Rodríguez se reunieron con el gobernadora Brown para entregar un mensaje importante.
“Nuestras familias y comunidades ya han vivido 3 décadas de contaminación del agua por la agricultura corporativa, permitir que otra mega lechería pueda hacer más daño sin solucionar el problema inicial”
ORA se reunió con la Gobernadora y su personal como miembro de una coalición estatal que trabaja para promulgar una moratoria sobre las mega-lecherías nuevas y la expansión en Oregon, hasta que el estado tenga políticas para proteger nuestro aire y agua, el clima, la salud pública, las granjas familiares, y comunidades rurales.
Los miembros de la Mesa Directiva Ana María Rodríguez, quien vive en la ciudad de Boardman y que ha trabajado en las plantas agrícolas y procesadoras de la zona, destacó el problema actual, “si bien algunas ciudades han gastado dinero para tratar el agua, hay personas que no tienen dinero extra para comprar agua embotellada, y beben agua de los pozos, la cual puede estar contaminada ".
Abby Muñoz, residente de la Ciudad Umatilla desde hace mucho tiempo, habló sobre cómo los condados de Umatilla y Morrow se han visto afectados. “Esta contaminación nos duele, además de la crisis climática y los incendios forestales de las últimas semanas. Mi familia tuvo que ser evacuada del incendio en Umatilla. Esto se suma al COVID. Todos hemos tenido COVID, mis primos y algunos vecinos también lo han tenido ".
Abby concluyó: “Necesitamos invertir en nuestras comunidades rurales. No deberíamos de tener que seguir eligiendo entre buenos trabajos, agua, aire y nuestra salud. Pero no podemos agregar más daño ".
La Gobernadora expresó su preocupación, especialmente al señalar el impacto adicional en el este de Oregón de las recientes inundaciones, incendios y la pandemia en curso. La gobernadora, agradeció a los miembros de la coalición y acordó revisar las preocupaciones planteadas.
ORA Spotlight
Highlighting the Stories of ORA Leaders
Norm Cimon- La Grande
Norm is a founding member of Oregon Rural Action and has served as chair of the board for our regional organization, Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC). He has worked for the EPA, the US Forest Service and is currently self-employed as a systems analyst. Norm is passionate about clean energy and a strong advocate for distributed generation of locally produced renewable power.
Click the link below to read the full interview!
In Memory of Bill Whitaker
Join us in our commitment to amplify rural voices in Oregon and build collective power in our local communities.
ORA Spotlight: Norm Cimon
Highlighting the stories of ORA leaders
Norm is a founding member of Oregon Rural Action and has served as chair of the board for our regional organization, Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC). He has worked for the EPA, the US Forest Service and is currently self-employed as a systems analyst. Norm is passionate about clean energy and a strong advocate for distributed generation of locally produced renewable power.
When did you first become interested in community organizing?
I was friends with an organizer for the Service Employees International Union local in Las Vegas. I've worked on political campaigns in Nevada and Oregon. We were involved in the effort to prohibit any additional nuclear plants in Oregon until such a time as there was a nuclear waste repository. For a long time, I've been part of many different organizing efforts to develop responsible and ecologically sound policies for managing public lands, as well as the air we breath, and the waters that plants and animals depend on, including the human animal.
What is your “why”? Why is this work important to you?
All important social changes happen from the ground up. It's only when endless pressure is applied where people live that real change happens.
What changes would you like to see in your local community?
La Grande is a different place than when we first moved here. Understandably for a mountain valley that can feel very isolated in the wintertime, the political and economic landscape were closely held when we first arrived in 1980. The politics have become more open, and decisions are more likely to be scrutinized these days. There still needs to be a recognition on the part of our political leadership that they need to reach out to everyone in the community on an ongoing basis to confirm their decision making. That is especially true for decisions that will affect the economic and social well-being of residents.
What’s something bringing you joy at the moment?
Bike riding! The town is very quiet right now and it's enjoyable to cruise along the streets. Everyone seems very considerate also. Maybe a result of the thought we have for our fellow citizens these days?
Newsletter: Oregon Rural Action Organizing for Clean Water in Rural Communities
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As another large corporate dairy seeks a permit to operate near Boardman, ORA members raise concerns about the ongoing and cumulative impact of large scale agriculture on the water and health or rural communities in Morrow and Umatilla counties.
On August 21st, in public comment before the state’s Environmental Justice Task Force (EJTF), ORA Board Chair Mitch Wolgamott wrote, “For decades, our area has been known to regulators to have elevated nitrate levels due to massive water and fertilizer applications on the dry and porous soils in the area.” “We experience, and I have seen first hand, how the agricultural industrial complex has disproportionately affected our minority, low-income, and tribal communities in rural Eastern Oregon.”
In response, the Environmental Justice Task Force passed a resolution calling on the Oregon Department of Agriculture to extend the public comment period in the permitting process for Easterday Farms to allow directly impacted residents, including Spanish and indigenous-speaking community members, the full opportunity to be heard.
In the coming weeks, as a part of a statewide coalition effort, Oregon Rural Action’s Board members Obdulia “Abby” Munoz and Ana Maria Rodriguez will speak directly with the Governor. Eastern Oregon needs economic investment and good jobs, but not by causing additional harm and adding to the decades-long problem.
Your signature counts. Join us by signing our petition to urge Governor Brown to protect our rural communities' clean water and long-term health by denying the permit for Easterday Farms.
Oregon Rural Action está organizándose para tener Agua Limpia en las Comunidades Rurales
Como otra gran empresa lechera busca un permiso para operar cerca de Boardman, Los miembros de ORA están preocupados acerca del impacto continuo a gran escala en la agricultura en el agua, la salud en nuestras comunidades rurales de los condados de Morrow y Umatilla.
El 21 de Agosto, en los comentarios públicos ante el grupo de trabajo de Justicia Ambiental (EJTF) del estado, el presidente de la junta de ORA, Mitch Wolgamott, escribió: “ Durante décadas, los reguladores han sabido que nuestra área tiene niveles elevados de Nitratos debido a los suelos secos y porosos de la zona”.
“ Experimentamos, y he visto de primera mano, como el complejo agrícola industrial ha afectado de manera desproporcionada a nuestras comunidades minoritarias, de bajos ingresos y de las tribus en las zonas rurales del este de Oregon.
En la respuesta, en relación al grupo de trabajo de Justicia Ambiental, se aprobó una resolución pidiendo al departamento de Agricultura de Oregon, que extienda el periodo de los comentarios públicos, para permitir a los residentes, incluidos los miembros de la comunidad de habla hispana e indigena, que tuvieran la oportunidad de ser escuchados.
En las últimas semanas, como parte de un esfuerzo de la coalición en todo el estado de Oregon, los miembros de la Junta de Oregon Rural Action, Obdulia “ Abby” Munoz y Ana Maria Rodriguez hablaran directamente con la gobernadora. El este de Oregon necesita inversión económica y buenos empleos, pero no causando daño adicional o antes de solucionar el problema de décadas.
Su firma cuenta. Únase a nosotros firmando nuestra petición para instar a la gobernadora Borwn a proteger la salud de nuestras comunidades rurales negando el permiso a la productora de leche Easterday.
ORA Spotlight
Highlighting the stories of ORA leaders
Jan was recently elected to the ORA Board at the Annual meeting in April. She owns Almosta Farm in Cove, OR, where she lives with her wife and two children. Jan has a passion for food systems and teaching people how to grow their own food and offers a unique perspective on urban/rural life.
Click the link below to read Jan’s full story!
Oregon Rural Action- Spotlight
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ORA Spotlight: Jan Marrs
Highlighting the stories of ORA leaders
Jan was recently elected to the ORA Board at the Annual meeting in April. She owns Almosta Farm in Cove, OR, where she lives with her wife and two children. Jan has a passion for food systems and teaching people how to grow their own food and offers a unique perspective on urban/rural life.
When did you first become interested in community organizing? I have worked in various aspects of community organizing and citizen lobbying for over 30 years.
What is your “why”? Why is this work important to you?
I was born and raised in rural Oregon but spent most of my adult life in metropolitan areas in the Northwest, Midwest and Southeastern United States. My family decided to return to a rural community to enjoy our retirement and to raise our children. The disparity in the urban experience versus rural has highlighted the importance of lifting the voices of rural Oregon.
What changes would you like to see in your local community?
I would like to see more collaboration between all impacted parties on the critical issues facing us. There seems to be a significant amount of polarization with a lot of people with strong opinions but not very many people who want to listen to understand the issues and then collaborate to solve them.
What’s something bringing you joy at the moment?
Wow so much joy! My kids and wife bring me great joy as does the work we do on our small farm. We host guests here, both through Airbnb and through Harvest Host and I get great joy introducing guests to all aspects of our farm- milking goats, harvesting their own food, making cheese, harvesting honey. The importance of locally sourced food and food distribution systems is very important to me and every guest who is here gets to learn first hand why we think it is important!
ORA Newsletter
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Oregon Rural Action Teaming Up with Local Community Organizations to Distribute PPE to Farmworkers
Without essential farmworkers every single person in America would have a hard time feeding themselves and their families. During COVID-19 we have seen that Farmworkers are at a greater risk for contracting the virus.
In collaboration with local organizations Raíces, United Farm Workers, Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides and Uprooted & Rising, we distributed hundreds of bags containing masks, hand sanitizer and food to local Hermiston residents. This is a continuation of our work partnering with Oregon Health Authority to support the communities most impacted by COVID-19. Eastern Oregon is still experiencing high rates of the Coronavirus and the Hispanic community is at higher risk as they continue to work as essential workers. To learn more about our work within Spanish speaking communities in eastern Oregon please visit our website or facebook page, or contact our bilingual, Spanish-English, Community Organizer Ana Elisa Wilson at anaelisaw@oregonrural.org.
In addition, if you find yourself trying to figure out how you can help essential farmworkers stay safe- you can support our work! Funding for this work goes directly to PPE and information distributions via paper hand outs and through radio in Spanish and English and Mayan Mam.
La Grande Farmer's Market turns 40 this year!
The market was started in 1980 by a group of community members that wanted a place to buy and sell local produce. There is still one producer at the market that has been there since the beginning, Mia! You may know her by her beatiful Dhalia selection and create your own bouqet style.
A big thank you to Nella Mae's Farm that has highlighted this important anniversary and started a fundraiser for the La Grande Farmers Market. Here is the link:
How to get Involved!
Sign our Petition to Urge The Governor to Deny the Easterday Farms Permit.
Stand Up to Factory Farms Coalition that is urging Kate Brown to deny an operational permit to a large Dairy operation (Easterday Farms) in the Boardman area.
ORA Wants to hear from you!
We are learning how to connect digitally in the time of social distancing. Take control of your activist journey and join us in fighting for rural people and working towards the interests of your community.
Upcoming Events
Accion Rural Hispana weekly radio show on Radio La Ley- Sunday September 6th
COVID-19 Response: Umatilla and Morrow Counties
Over the past couple months, COVID-19 has begun to severely impact the most rural parts of the state, and eastern Oregon has been no exception. As of now, there are two active outbreaks in Umatilla and Morrow counties, both of which are linked to warehouses and factories. Right now, the cases of COVID-19 in Umatilla county are more than 5x the statewide average, and Hispanic people make up 40% of all COVID-19 cases in Oregon, according to the Oregon Health Authority.
Since the formation of our radio show, Acción Rural Hispana in March, we have continued to form relationships with Hispanic and medical leaders throughout the state, and have become a community partner of Oregon Health Authority. Through this partnership, ORA not only continues our weekly radio series, Acción Rural Hispana, but has distributed hundreds of bags filled with face masks, hand sanitizer and COVID-19 related information for the Spanish speaking community in Morrow and Umatilla counties.
This is needed now more than ever as Oregon has exceeded over 20 outbreaks throughout the state. We also know from studies conducted since the beginning of the pandemic, that Hispanics and BIPOC are particularly at risk nationwide.
Here is a graphic from a study conducted in early July 2020 by the New York Times:
And here is a sobering quote from that same article: “Latino and African-American residents of the United States have been three times as likely to become infected as their white neighbors, according to the new data, which provides detailed characteristics of 640,000 infections detected in nearly 1,000 U.S. counties. And Black and Latino people have been nearly twice as likely to die from the virus as white people, the data shows.” You can read the article in full here.
On Friday, July 24th, Morrow and Umatilla team members packed hundreds of bags with PPE, hand sanitizer and informational materials on COVID-19 for distribution across both counties. On August 2nd, in collaboration with Hermiston based organization, Raíces and the Northwest chapter of United Farm Workers, we hosted a drive-thru event where we continued to distribute PPE, sanitizer, informational materials and food to the Hispanic community in Hermiston.
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Check out photos from both events below:
7/24: Umatilla & Morrow county team members ready to get to work!
7/24: The team filled hundreds of bags with PPE, hand sanitizer and COVID-19 educational materials.
8/2: ORA board member with our partners from Raíces!
