BREAKOUT SESSION #1
Thursday, June 8th
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PST
"Pesticidas y Salud Comunitaria"
Ana Elisa Wilson
Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides
*This presentation will be in Spanish*
Description: In the past few years, NCAP has been steadily growing our Spanish programming. One of our main campaigns in this area is our Farmworker Education Project, where we bring resources, materials and education opportunities to latino communities in Central and Eastern Oregon counties. Through our strong partnerships with grassroots organizations and community leaders we have been able to reach these communities with necessary resources to have open conversations about community health, pesticide exposure, and the Climate Crisis. Since we began including Climate Resilience as a main topic in our workshops, we have seen an increase in awareness around this issue. Rural communities are in the first line of our agricultural production system, which means they are most vulnerable to the dangers of mass production as well as the effects of the climate crisis. Heat waves and smoke, being the main climate-related effects they experience, have been our focus areas for these communities. The latino community is disproportionately affected by these effects, due to a lack of oversight and protections from the authorities. These people and their families are not only unjustly exposed to hazardous amounts of chemical pesticides and climate-related disasters, but also are not offered any protections or care. Through our work with partner organizations we have been able to reach these communities, have open discussions about the tribulations they face daily, hand out materials in Spanish and address people’s concerns around the issue. These partnerships are vital to strengthen our reach with the community and be able to deliver culturally sensitive resources to the people that need it most.
"Using Futures Thinking to Find Our Place:
Portland's Just Transition"
Cynthia Carmina Gomez
Portland State University
*This presentation will be in English*
Description: On June 14th and 15th, 2022, Portland State University (PSU) convened leaders from the Portland, Oregon metropolitan region as part of the Latiné Futures Initiative. Latiné Futures Vision: By investing in healthcare, education, sustainability, and digital literacy initiatives, Portland can become a leader in promoting community resilience, Latiné representation and leadership, and building a sustainable and equitable future for all its residents.
-Culturally responsive healthcare and education programs
-Community resiliency programs, localized food systems, and sustainable transportation
-Latiné political representation and leadership
-Policies that promote diversity and inclusivity in government
-Net zero emissions and sustainable agriculture practices
-Digital literacy programs and technology ambassadors
We hope to build on this vision to guide Portland’s Just Transition from an extractive economy to a regenerative one. To do this, participants will develop a vision for collective wealth-building and well-being in this session. We use foresight tools to balance a focus on real challenges in our everyday lives with a long-term view of the future. The goal of the initiative is to build a plan for a just and sustainable recovery by drawing on the deep wisdom and excellent work happening in many areas across the community, and to seek ways to support and amplify these efforts.
"Seasonal and Health Equity for All: What the Latinx/e Community is Screaming For"
Yina Arias, Dana Hellman, Dr. Vivek Shandas
Northwest Family Services & CAPA Strategies
*This presentation will be in English*
Description: Northwest Family Services (NWFS) would like to offer an informational presentation on the effects of extreme heat in Latino/x/e and BIPOC communities in the Portland metro area. The session will begin with an overview of historical conditions and policies that disproportionately expose Latino/x/e and BIPOC communities to heat, presented by Dr.Vivek Shandas of Portland State University and Advisor to CAPA Strategies, a climate change consulting firm located in Portland, OR. Following Dr.Shandas’ overview, Yina Arias (NWFS) and Dr.Dana Hellman (CAPA Strategies, will summarize findings from a regional ‘heat mapping campaign’ and community survey that describes the ways that low-income and Latino/x/e families served by NWFS are exposed to and cope with summer heat. Attendees of this presentation will learn more about heat exposure in the region, about where Latino/x/e communities might need support with extreme heat, and how to tailor support according to their specific needs and demographic data.