Activistas

Paid Family Leave Call-In Playdate Saturday 6.14.08

The local grassroots group Parents for Paid Leave is working hard to get this important issue in the hearts and on the minds of our state and federal representatives.  And they need your help!  Tomorrow!  Even if you're at the Laurelhurst Garage Sale, or a T-ball game.  Or driving to the coast.  All you need is a cell phone and the handy call-in script to participate in this "call-in."  Make it a group playdate or just call from wherever you happen to be.   I love this group!  How easy could they make it? 

Come to the play date at 10 AM Saturday 6.14.08 at Urban Grind East (NE 22nd & Oregon St - 2 blocks north of Sandy Blvd).  Bring the kids - they have a great play space full of toys.  And bring your cell phone, if you have one.  We'll be making 3 quick calls, but would love to chat a bit about the progress of paid family leave in Oregon, too, if you're into it.  Details here.

Can't join us?  No worries.  Make a call from, well, anywhere:  We'd love to see your paid leave supporting self, but if you can't make the play date, not to worry!  Because you can call from anywhere.  Just visit this site and get everything you will need to call on your own (a call script and phone numbers).  Best if you can do it sometime tomorrow, but if you can't, any other day will work too.

This is the time mamas.  With a federal bill in committee and one in the works in Oregon, we have a sneaking suspicion that this is finally going to happen! Please, make your calls, show your support, and continue to track the progress of paid leave here.

Read on for the call scripts and call numbers for Oregon Senators and Congresspersons.

2nd Pdx Reading for The Maternal is Political

If you missed the Powell's reading a few weeks back, as I did, never fear.  You can head for In Other Words on Wednesday, June 25th @ 7 PM and catch local mama Shari MacDonald Strong read from the new anthology she edited, The Maternal is Political.  I've only made it through a few of the pieces, but I'm impressed so far.  Shari's piece, Raising Boys In A Time of War, is definitely worth a read, both for its style and content.  In fact, that's the piece we'll  start our online discussion series next week.  We aim to read an essay a week (or so) and talk about it here on Activistas.  As a teaser, here's how Shari starts her piece:

During the summer before the 2004 election, I taught my children to call out "Peace!" when I asked, "What do we want?" and "Now!" when I prompted "When do we want it?"

Info on all her readings is posted on LiteraryMama, where she's a senior editor.  See you on the 25th!

Reminder! Playdate for Climate Change Wednesday 5.28.08

Got some free time @ 10 AM Wednesday????  Great - then grab the kids and join Eric Miller for a playdate for climate change.  They'll be downtown on Wednesday, 5.28 @ 10 AM sharp  - at the World Trade Center 2 on the Mezzanine Level, to be exact (not coincidentally, Senator Gordon Smith's office is there).  Eric and his kids (1 and 3) are participating in a media event to raise awareness about the Climate Security Act, a bill that congress is scheduled to vote on next week.

Eric tells us this is the most powerful global warming legislation to come to vote in Washington, and we need all of our leaders behind it. Let's send a strong message to our Washington representatives that we parents really do care about this.  Our children's future is at great risk from global warming, and this is an opportunity to pressure our leaders to move forward on this issue.  E-mail Eric with questions or to meet up.  He's got a waterfront picnic in mind after the event. 

The Maternal is Political: Read It, Hear It

We've discussed before how becoming a mother transforms us.  And as I recently overheard, it does so instantly, completely, and forever.  Agreed, mamas, agreed.  And we've read Guestivista Kristin's article on the important role of women  - most of whom are mamas - in politics.  Now we have another opportunity to read the impressive words of a local mama on this topic. It's Shari McDonald Strong's upcoming book, The Maternal is Political, sure sounds on point, huh?  You might know Shari's writing from Literary Mama and Mother Talk.  We're  planning to review it and interview her right here on Activistas in the coming weeks.

If you're like me with far too little time to read, head over to Powell's on Hawthorne Thursday 5.29 @ 7:30 for a reading.  Shari and four of her contributors will be there to read excerpts from the book.  And grab a copy, while you're at it.  I can't wait to have a look - even if it takes me 40 weeks to get through the 40 essays!  If anyone's interested in jointly tackling an essay a week and discussing it here, e-mail us.  We're game if you are. 

Here's a quick description of the book, from the editors - so very much of this sounds familiar, doesn't it? 

Playdate for Climate Change ~ 5.28.08

Eric, our resident environmentalist, is doing something about global warming  - with his kids - and invites you to join up.  He writes:

There is a bumper sticker on a car in my neighborhood that I really love: One People, One Planet, One Future.  It highlights the fact that all people are more similar than dissimilar, and that we have limited and dwindling resources moving into the future.  It is ironic that this bumper sticker is on a V8 Land Rover SUV (surprise!).  You know, one of those tanks on the road that gets maybe 12 MPG rolling downhill - with a tailwind - and 10 MPG idling in the driveway?  I point out this irony not to point fingers or guilt trip anyone who owns an SUV, but to show how difficult it is for us humanoids to change our oil-thirsty ways. 

I'm guilty--I live in one of those old bungalows with no insulation and a 120-year-old furnace and I pay what feels like $1,000 a month in heating.  I would bet that every single one of us have more than a few things we could do to Act Locally in order to match our Think Globally mindset.  Well, here is one simple local act we all can do that will have a powerful effect nationally, as well as globally. 

Join Eric, Liam (3) and Kai (1)!  They'll be downtown on Wednesday, 5.28 @ 10 AM sharp  - at the World Trade Center 2 on the Mezzanine Level , to be exact (not coincidentally, Senator Gordon Smith's office is there).  Eric and his kids are participating in a media event to raise awareness about the Climate Security Act, a bill that congress will vote on the following week.

Wanna See More Green Streets in Portland?

This just in via Community Nonprofit Resources Group - I'd be so out of the loop without them! 

Are you interested in seeing more Green Streets around the city?  Attend the Friends of Green Streets (FrOGS) Community Meeting this Wednesday, May 21 at PSU. FrOGS is a team of PSU Community Development Students working with the Community Watershed Stewardship Program (BES). For the past six months the FrOGS team has been exploring various ways in which citizens can get involved to plan, create and maintain Green Streets.

Learn more about the process of building Green Streets, costs, project funding, and ways to get involved. Meet fellow Portlanders excited about Green Streets and find out how you can help to move this project forward.

Friends of Green Streets Community Meeting

Location: Urban Center PSU 2nd Floor Gallery (506 SW Mill St)

Date: Wednesday 5.21.08

Time: 6:00-7:30pm

Bus Lines: 1, 8, 9, 19, 44, 12

Wanna Know More?  They've got a blog, natch! 

Obama @ Waterfront Park 5.18 ~ See You There?

It might be hot, but I'm gonna be there.  I just love being so important in all this - way out here in Oregon.  Plus, my 2-year-old got to hear him back in April when he spoke at the Coliseum, so it's only fair that my 5-year-old get his chance, right?  Andrea, a fellow Activistas and devout Obamamama, sent us this reminder:

I had the privilege of seeing Obama speak at the Coliseum a few months back.  You know, when he got that important endorsement from Bill Richardson.  It was great, but it left me wanting to see more of him.  I mean, as far as I'm concerned, you can never have enough Obama.  If you're like me, or if you missed him last time, you're in luck!  He's having an event Sunday, 5.18 that is open to us all.  Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is strongly encouraged.  Admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis, so get there early and bring your water and sunscreen!

Where: The Bowl @ Waterfront Park.  The Bowl?  Who knew it had a name!?  It's the huge grassy area at the corner of SW Columbia St. and SW Naito Pkwy (a wee bit south of the Hawthorne Bridge), where all the geese hang out.

When: Doors open at 12:30 pm

Special Guest Performance by: Colin Meloy, Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, Nate Query, and John Moen.

Should be inspiring, and a positive political experience for my 5-year-old son.  His friend (also 5) said to him today over banana muffins and fruit: 'There's no way Hillary's gonna win.'  He was so pleased to be able to say: 'Yeah, Obama's going to be such a great President.'  Can't you just hear it? 

The Portland Plan: Add Your Voice to the Mix

Thanks to Central Portland Families for reminding us that this huge effort is underway and there are loads of public input opportunities this month - from Monday 5.12 to Saturday 5.31 - all across the city.  And they even invited the kids!  A great opportunity to inject the family angle - whatever yours may be - into this process to create a family-friendly Portland in the next several decades.  Here's the scoop, in the city's words:

Pushing the planning envelope and building its visionary urban design legacy, the City of Portland is taking the lead on sustainable, equitable and economically viable long-range planning.  Over the next three years, the Bureau of Planning will be updating its 1980 Comprehensive Plan and the 1988 Central City Plan in an effort called the Portland Plan. 

The Portland Plan is an inclusive, citywide effort to guide the physical, economic, social, cultural, and environmental development of Portland over the next 30 years.  The plan will build on the work the community did through visionPDX, which captured and fleshed out our shared values of sustainability, equity and accessibility, and community connectedness and distinctiveness.

Get Involved.  Stay Involved.  Attend a meeting, join a committee, whatever works.  At the very least, stay informed without lifting a finger.  Yup, you can RSS the Portland Plan.  What can't you RSS these days?

Women for Hillary Rally & Stroller Parade ~ 5.10.08

I know, I know, it seems like an Obama-mama-rama around here these days.  Now for something completely different.  Mama may rhyme better with Obama, but Senator Clinton has the mamas on the mind and there's nothing wrong with that.  Everything right with that, in fact.  I love that a Presidential candidate so clearly sees where we mamas fit into this whole thing.  While I am undoubtedly an Obamamama, If Hillary pulls it out I'll for sure be working to get her into that Oval Office.  She has a terrific track record and long history supporting women and children.

So bring your completed ballot the Women for Hillary Rally & Stroller Parade this Saturday and mail it with loads of other Pdx women for Hillary.  And don't forget your stroller, mamas, and of course your children, too.  There'll be a kids area, face painting, balloons, and famous people saying important things and singing, too.  All part of a healthy democracy!  Actually, there are some very impressive women who'll be there - mostly long-time advisors to Senator Clinton.  You'll hear from Ann Lewis, Senior Advisor, Ellen Malcolm, Emily's List Founder, and our very own incredibly impressive Judge Betty Roberts.

Details. It's this Saturday,5.10 @ Matt Dishman Community Center in inner NE Portland - 77 NE Knott.  RSVP via e-mail or just show up.  Loads of event info on Clinton's campaign website.  And if you've got friends in Ashland... this show is playing again this Sunday from 2:30-4.

It Takes a Village - So Spread the Word.  Wasn't it Senator Clinton who wrote that book?  Well, here's your chance to live it out: download the event flyer and post it here, there, and everywhere.  But be warned: it is seriously pink.  Download email_flyer_portland__in_color_final32.pdf

Power In Numbers - And We Got Numbers, Mamas. I like the idea of mailing my ballot with a bunch of other women who are into this election like no other.  And marching for a candidate I believe in with my stroller and my kids - a great way to show how many of us mamas are actively voting for progressive policies that benefit families.  Because there's power in numbers, mamas.  If they don't see or hear how many of us really care about this stuff, we won't make the front burner, mamas.  There's a lot of competition for that front burner, mamas, and I plan to be on it.  Right there, right in front, getting what we need.

I Heart Sandra Steingraber

It's hard to weave a beautiful tale of a first pregnancy with the hard science of toxicology, but Sandra Steingraber did it so very well in her 2001 chronicle of her own pregnancy, Having Faith: An Ecologist's Journey to Motherhood.  Why I dared read it while pregnant I'll never know, but I'll never forget it.  I was moved by her ability to capture so many of the tremendous emotions I felt, and because she was so very informed about the many fears I had around the potential for environmental harm to reach my unborn child (and by the end of the book, everyone else's unborn children, too).  Heavy stuff, all of it.  The booksellers description hits the nail on the head - especially when they call it both a lyrical celebration and passionate call to arms:

Sandra Steingraber, brilliant writer, first-time mother, and respected biologist, explores the intimate ecology of motherhood. Full of beauty and mystery, this month-by-month story of her own pregnancy and childbirth weaves into its telling new discoveries about genetics, the intimate unfolding of embryonic organs, the architecture of the fetal brain, and the astonishing transformation of the mother’s body as it prepares to nourish and protect the new life. At the same time, Steingraber reveals the alarming extent to which environmental hazards—from industrial poisons found in amniotic fluid to the toxic contamination of breast milk—now threaten each crucial stage of infant development.