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Character Work: Homelessness, Activism, and Hope in Portland
03/29/2026
Paul Susi

 

Portland's social safety net is more profoundly compromised than ever, with no accountability for the compounding trauma and wastefulness. Recent data indicates that over 7500 Portlanders are living on the streets–over 1400 entering homelessness every month–with only 1500 beds after the Mayor's aggressive defunding of outreach and supportive programs. Since the 70s, Portland's mayors have promised to end homelessness. How do we show integrity and care while effectively managing resources? Paul Susi draws from over 25 years of experience in nonprofits attempting to address this slow-motion humanitarian disaster, sharing insights and experiences and a template for positive action.

 

See: www.paulsusi.wordpress.com

 

Help! My Family Member/Friend is a Creationist
03/22/2026
Dr. Jon Peters

 

Should you engage creationists in contentious discussions about evolution and origins? What are the trade-offs? Is there a productive approach? Dr. Jon Peters has spent 50 years intermittently debating creationists. As a retired biology professor and physician, he has been interested in promoting science and accurate history. An evangelical for a few years in his teens, his graduate-level education in biology exposed him to both sides of the debates and the religious foundations of fundamentalist creationist objections. Even in today's political climate of Christian Nationalism, many of the issues are grounded in the scientific battles with creationists.

 

Portland Clean Air & tribute to Carolyn Tomei
03/15/2026
Greg Bourget

 

Greg Bourget, Executive Director and Lead Researcher of the non-profit Portland Clean Air, explains how the non-profit measures air quality variation within the Portland area using the world's most advanced mobile monitors: the MiniWRAS diesel particulate monitor, and the Tiger XT VOC monitor (purchased through HGP-raised funds). Bourget finds Portland industries impacting human health and what can be done about them, and will update us on ending corporate donations to politicians in Oregon, which is a very hot topic as the Oregon legislature decides to scrap or keep their word about Senate bill 4204.

 

With tribute to Carolyn Tomei and war protest song by Anne Henderson

 

The Normalization of Anti-minority Rhetoric in US Politics
03/01/2026
Maneesh Arora

 

Once-fringe anti-minority comments have become typical campaign appeals from many mainstream politicians, indicating that the boundaries of acceptability are fluid and socially enforced. In "Parties and Prejudice", Dr. Maneesh Arora offers a framework for this new political terrain, arguing that social norms and party politics determine the political consequences, varying with the targeted minority group and the intended audience. Arora examines the distinctive ways that norms have developed—within each party—for different minorities, explaining Trump’s rise to power, the modern conservative agenda, and threats to the development of a multiracial democracy. Maneesh teaches Political Science at Wellesley College, and is involved in the Reimagining Democracy program at Harvard Kennedy School.

 

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