Our Chapter Meeting Speakers include:

•  Samantha Hernandez (she/her) is the Healthy Climate Program Director at Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility. Her efforts are focused on supporting campaigns and coalitions advocating for climate justice and a just transition. Samantha works to support coalitions such as Stand Up To Oil, Build/Shift, and Oregon PSR’s Healthy Climate Action Team. She graduated from Lewis & Clark College with a bachelor’s degree in Hispanic studies and environmental studies. After Hialeah, FL, Samantha considers Portland to be a second home. The enriching friendships she has made while interning at local organizations like Portland Harbor Community Coalition, Portland VOZ, and Growing Gardens have greatly informed her perspectives on the importance of frontline community-led action. 

• Melanie Plaut MD retired from her OB/GYN practice in 2016.  She has worked since then on issues related to the climate crisis, especially where climate and health intersect.  She works with 350PDX and Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, as well as other organizations.  Favorite quote: "Everything we burn, we breathe."  - David Wallace-Wells.

• Ann Turner MD (she/her) is the Co-Interim Executive Director of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility.  She retired primary care physician with a career in community health.  In Oregon, I worked at Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, caring for migrant farmworker and other low income and vulnerable families.  Since retirement, I have been a volunteer with Oregon Physicians for Social Reponsibility's Healthy Climate Action Team, working on the intersection of climate, health and environmental justice.  When I feel discouraged, I read this quote from Rebecca Solnit:  “They want you to feel powerless and to surrender and to let them trample everything and you are not going to let them. You are not giving up, and neither am I. The fact that we cannot save everything does not mean we cannot save anything and everything we can save is worth saving."

Climate Lessons and Climate Fairs

The education team is in their busiest time of the year doing climate lessons and climate fairs in Portland area middle and high schools. 

CRP-Portland legislative committee founder and chapter advisor Karen spearheaded a tabling event at Patagonia Portland that was full of joyful climate education and action for both kids and adults.

Current Chapter Chair Helena was part of  a panel discussion for the Intergenerational Climate Workshop at PSU.

And our legislative committee has submitted testimony for almost 30 bills so far this session and asked climate questions at their representatives’ town halls. Our 2025 legislative committee priorities are up on our website. Click here for our action alert showing how you can write and submit a comment for the Climate Superfund bill!

Chat from the March Chapter Meeting presentation on Prebunking Climate Disinformation prepared by Tom Coleman and Bruce Mainzer from CRP Chicago Chapter was full of “Wow!” “Fantastic slides!” “Such great information!” If you missed the meeting, you can Watch the pre-bunking presentation on our YouTube Channel.

TAKE ACTION 

Please Support the polluters pay Climate Superfund bill (SB 1187) to create a Climate SuperFund. The opposition is out in full force, and your voice is needed! The bill directs the state to collect  money from fossil fuel companies based on their greenhouse gas emissions, and use that money for state resiliency plans that help Oregonians adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. Written public comments deadline is April 9 at 3 pm. Get our sample letter, more information, and how you can submit your testimony today here Support SB1187!

Family Friendly Social May 17th

Save the Date! May 17 Climate Reality Project - Portland Chapter in person social.  Family and friends welcome! Saturday, May 17 at the Elephant House covered picnic area in Washington Park.  It's located beside the Portland Rose Garden playground.  Exact time TBA— we have the space reserved for the whole day.

Please vote: would you prefer a lunch or dinner potluck picnic?  If you have a preference, please email Events Lead [email protected] and vote for either a noon start time, or a 5:30 pm start time.  Our park service permit requires us to clean up and vacate by 9 pm.

We’ll share public transit information, carpool organization,  potluck sign up (including dietary needs) and organized events closer to the date.

Choose Our Next Presentations 

Katherine Brann Fredricks, CRP-Portland’s 2025 Events Lead, has brought a rainbow of ideas and wants your input on what you’d most like to hear about. Please weigh in soon! Take 2 minutes to read the options and fill out this poll

New Committee 

Lynne Haroun is regenerating the Climate-Friendly Foods Committee! Email [email protected] to join!

Regenerating a Committee on Climate-Friendly Foods and Food-Waste Reduction

Hello. My name is Lynne Haroun and I recently joined the Climate Reality Project Portland Chapter. I am interested in re-establishing a committee focusing on climate-friendly foods and food-waste reduction. It's time for a focus on the climate and environmental impacts of the foods we eat and the food we waste to take its rightful place beside the focus on electrification, clean energy, and electric vehicles. When looked at in its entirety, the Food System contributes approximately 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions.   

Please join me in working to increase public awareness of the importance of these issues. Small changes in diet and food-waste reduction are simple actions that people can take that will actually save them money AND have a big impact. I would also like to work with the legislative group to identify and support legislation related to the Food System, including food packaging.

Email Lynne Haroun at [email protected] to get started!

PS– did you know next week is Food Waste Prevention Week? Check it out here for webinars and other events! 

We have a Linktree!

Have limited time but want to keep up with quick actions and events in between newsletters? Bookmark our Linktree page: https://linktr.ee/climaterealitypdx

Share Your Climate Story or Event

So many of us are working with multiple groups in different neighborhoods! If you’d like to share what you’re doing for climate action and climate justice, we’d love to highlight it in an upcoming newsletter! Email to [email protected] for inclusion.