Celebrating our 2021 Gala
Last week we were honored to gather with our community and celebrate the victories we’ve had over the last year, and the 15 years of work that got us here.
Kelie McWilliams, executive director of the Rural Engagement Project, spoke about the work we did in partnership to hold Mike Nearman accountable earlier this year, and the needs that House District 23 faces after years of Nearman’s ineffective representation and grandstanding. We’re looking forward to continuing our work with REP to ensure
that residents of HD23 are heard in the legislature, and that Nearman never holds that seat again.
Ashton Simpson, Metro council candidate and executive director of Oregon Walks, shared how he found his political home with us after growing up in a proud union family and moving to Oregon. He also spoke about his experience as our first standalone legislative candidate, running for office in the time of COVID and the importance of accountability in the capitol.
Reyna Lopez, executive director of PCUN and co-chair of Oregon WFP, spoke about her pride in serving as the party’s first Latina chair and working alongside our first Black director. Reyna outlined how we can build a multiracial alliance of working people to take back Oregon's economy for all of us, and how Oregon can begin treating farmworkers as truly essential, starting with farmworker overtime.
Longtime WFP champion Secretary of State Shemia Fagan talked about the impact the policies we fight for can make, her agenda to make our government more efficient and accessible, and how we can continue making our states’ democracy open and equitable. She also made a compelling case for investment in rural broadband, as connectivity issues prevented us from recording her remarks.
Special thanks to our MC Julianne Jackson of Black Joy Oregon, and our event sponsors Rural Engagement, SEIU Local 49 and SEIU Local 503. We’re excited to keep building an Oregon that works for all of us, together.
We still have one week left to meet or exceed our goal of raising $10,000. We’re only $800 away. Will you support our work by making a $15 donation at the link below?
