From left: Eric Rosewall, Depave; Robyn Thorson, USFWS; Rob Nathan, Northwest Earth Institute; Mel Huie, Metro; and Rose High Bear, Wisdom of the Elders
Three cheers for our Intertwine heroes. Congratulations again to the
2016 Force of Nature Award winners, celebrated Oct. 18 at
The Intertwine Alliance Fall Summit at the Oregon Zoo. This coalition is truly honored to count you among its collaborators and inspirations.
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service -- Outstanding Organizational Achievement, Large Organization
- Depave -- Outstanding Organizational Achievement, Small Organization
- Wisdom of the Elders -- Equity & the Environment
- Rob Nathan, Northwest Earth Institute -- Outstanding Young Professional
- Mel Huie, Metro -- Lifetime Achievement
The Summit itself was lively and informative, showcasing the creative thinking of 15 organizations and initiatives working toward equity in the environmental sector. Thank you to everyone who made it such a motivating day of learning, fun and networking.
Some of the many USFWS staff and retirees involved with The Intertwine -- 25 years of history in the making. Photo Mike Houck.
Partner up. The Intertwine Alliance rejoices this month to welcome the
Portland Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon and the
Blueprint Foundation as new partners. Dedicated to the enjoyment, conservation and study of Oregon's native plants and habitats, the NPSO Portland chapter holds meetings, field trips and work parties. The Blueprint Foundation prepares Black youth in the Portland metropolitan area for careers in environmental science and green building through project-based mentorship and environmental stewardship. So excited to collaborate with you both!
Focus on health. Our coalition is energized and enthusiastic about its ongoing health & nature work, one of The Intertwine Alliance's 11
focus areas. Don't miss the next chance to join in this effort bridging the environmental and health sectors: the Fall 2016
Health & Nature Forum is set for
Wed, Nov. 16, at Kaiser Permanente Town Hall in North Portland. Greg Wolley (at right), training & workforce manager with the City of Portland Bureau of Development Services, will deliver a keynote about social disparities related to health outcomes and nature. Former Kaiser pediatrician Phil Wu and Tia Henderson Ho, research manager with Upstream Public Health, will present on current health & nature research and how access to nature relates to our region's larger concerns. We'll wrap up with a facilitated discussion and structured networking session. Registration and coffee starts at 8:30 a.m., with the program from 9 a.m. to noon. The event is free; please
RSVP today!
Looking down-ballot. With Election Day less than a week away, we remind you of three measures with significant benefit to our region’s network of parks, trails and natural areas. The many Alliance partners supporting these campaigns ask you to vote YES on:
- Measure 26-178 to provide cleaner water, wildlife habitat preservation and opportunities to connect to
nature across Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties without raising existing taxes.
- Measure 34-269 to create a permanent tax levy for the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District, providing services needed to protect the water, soil, and other natural resources in Washington County.
Measure 99 to ensure Outdoor School for all fifth- and sixth-grade students in Oregon.
Knock knock. Who's there? Can you make a little time this weekend? If so, Protect Our Natural Areas and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters invite you to join them this Saturday, Nov. 5, at 10 a.m. in Southeast Portland for its last campaign event before election night. House Speaker Tina Kotek and Governor Kate Brown will talk before the group heads out to knock on doors to ask voters to support cleaner water and wildlife habitat.
'Tis the season. Willamette Week's
2016 Give!Guide is out this week, and, as always, a whole bunch of Intertwine Alliance partners made the handpicked list of 141 nonprofits housed under one easy digital fundraising roof. Please check it out and consider supporting an Alliance partner with your year-end giving. The next two
Big Give Days are this Thursday, Nov. 3, for a chance to wine a Portland Trail Blazers package, and Thursday, Nov. 10, for a Powell's Books spree.
Getting there. Metro is seeking public input on the 2018 Regional Transportation Plan. Help decide how $33 million will be spent on projects to improve walking, biking and moving freight. Cities across the Portland region have submitted projects to compete for these federal funds;
find out about the proposals and comment on them through
Monday, Nov. 7.
Leafy green WOW! Portland Parks & Recreation Urban Forestry and more than 1300 volunteers have surveyed and mapped nearly every planted street tree in Portland – almost 220,000 in all, covering all 96 of the city’s neighborhoods. Trees were also measured, identified and each one's health rated. The effort will inform how Portland’s urban forest is managed. Curious about the findings? Head to the
2016 Tree Inventory Summit, a free public event on
Saturday, Nov. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Southeast Portland. Learn more and register
here.
Map quest. Intertwine Alliance Program Manager David Cohen is looking for a volunteer to help with a mapping project, estimated at 10 to 20 hours. GIS knowledge not required. Interested in learning more? Email David at david@theintertwine.org.
Step Outside.
The past month our partner blog
has been all
about investments in a green future, with local farmer Lyle
Spiesschaert
making the case for Measure 34-269 to provide a stable tax base for the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District, and Metro Councilor Carlotta Collette
urging YES on Measure 26-178 to Protect Our Natural Areas.
Outside Voice showcases the ideas, opinions, concerns and projects of Alliance partners. Please direct your ideas or submissions to tara@theintertwine.org. You can also sign up to receive blog posts by
email.
Other headlines from around The Intertwine:
- The 15th Annual Urban Ecology and Conservation Symposium -- better known as UERC -- is set for Monday, Feb. 6, at Portland State University. Registration is under way, and the call for abstracts is open through Friday, Nov. 18. Please note that "climate change"has been added to the list of key words for abstracts.
- Don't miss the next Metro Quarterly Trails Forum on Monday, Nov. 21, from 1 to 3:15 p.m. at Metro Regional Center, 600 NE Grand Ave., Portland.
- Portland State University researchers are trying to better understand transportation behaviors. Help them out by taking this 30-minute survey about your commuting experiences by Friday, Dec. 16.
- Instead of participating in the Black Friday shopping frenzy, join REI and its community partners to #OptOutside the day after Thanksgiving.
Mark your Calendar
Highlights of the months ahead. See the Intertwine calendar for more. Please note that you can add your events to the new website with no log-in required.
Sneak peek. Head to Discover Rock Creek this Saturday, Nov. 5, to access a Happy Valley natural area usually closed to the public. Register here for the educational event and work party presented by Clackamas County Water Environment Services, the Clackamas River Basin Council and SOLVE.
- Weeds. We all have 'em. Join the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District on Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. for a workshop identifying the most common garden and landscape weeds, along with some of the other more notorious plant invaders of the region. Get some simple yet effective tips for gaining the upper hand without synthetic herbicides. Free; preregistration required.
It's all connected. The World Forestry Center and Carpe Diem West are bringing together a panel of experts -- including Bobby Cochran of Alliance partner Willamette Partnership -- for a conversation about the connection between forests, water quality and human health on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Cost is $5 for students and $10 general admission; register here.
