Friends and family, are you wondering why you haven't seen me around much in the last couple months? Well, I've been working my tail off as Board President of Oregon Walks, the state's walking advocacy organization. I can't say enough about our cohort of board members who have been doing some insanely awesome heavy lifting to make sure our nimble, scrappy organization is well-poised to continue our twenty years of history of adding a needed voice to the region's active transportation advocacy scene. Between our letters on projects like the CRC and SW Barbur, to our work out in Washington County to partner with Adelante Mujures and empower Latina women to document their unsafe streets in their neighborhood, to the fantastic Walktober programming that somehow coincided with this gorgeous autumn weather, I consider myself truly lucky to have stumbled into this position and to be afforded the opportunity to see our organization continue to thrive into the future. It's not always been easy, but it's certainly been emotionally satisfying and personally gratifying work, and it resonates strongly with my personal politics and interests.
The craziest part of all this? We've been writing letters, organizing programming and planning our annual fundraiser without an Executive Director! Just imagine how much we'll be able to accomplish when we are able to reinstate and rehire new staff that will be tasked with the near-impossible task of filling the shoes of a one Steph Routh.
This is where you come in! :)
The Weston Awards are this next Saturday, October 26. It's our annual fundraiser, and I wouldn't be on facebook grovelling for your money and volunteering opportunities if I didn't sincerely, truly believe we're on the precipice of an important, unprecedented opportunity to forge new partnerships between active transportation, local economic development, public health and social equity activisms, and if I didn't truly believe that you digging into your wallet wouldn't sincerely make a difference in our ability to stand up for the right to roam. I've thrown my heart into the cause, and it'd mean the world to me if you were able to buy a ticket and attend next week. Early Bird rates on tickets expire tonight; go ahead and buy one this evening! I mean, do it right now! If you can't make it next Saturday (especially if you'll be busy watching the Timbers clinch the Supporters Shield, which HOW THE HELL ARE THESE EVENTS OVERLAPPING, THE TIMBERS WILL WIN THEIR FIRST PIECE OF HARDWARE AND I WON'T EVEN BE WATCHING, THAT'S HOW COMMITTED I AM TO THIS CAUSE) any donation, from $50 to $5, would warm the cockles of my heart.
Hope to see you there. You're all wonderful. Onward, Rose City.
http://wpcwalks.givezooks.com/events/the-2013-weston-awards/
20.5.13
Why I'm voting for Fluoridation tomorrow.
"But as Slate points out, the anti-fluoridation movement is not driven by science as much as an ascendant knee-jerk anti-establishment politics that sanctifies "personal choice" over all. This attitude unites the extreme left and extreme right in a weird nexus of alternative medicine, Infowars-type conspiracy theories, and environmental activism that results in both your high school friends and your aunt spewing the same articles from NaturalNews all over your Facebook wall."
-http://gawker.com/quacks-of-all-political-persuations-fight-fluoridation-508884755
I'd also add that much of the anti-fluoride pseudoscience skepticism seems to come from an ardent, irrational provincialism that seems to be the lynchpin of everything amazing and frustrating about our town and our local political process. Our forefathers in the seventies fought for and established an "Oregon Exceptionalism" brand of politics that espoused moralistic and borderline-religious language to demand protection for our natural resources and landscape from waste and destruction, and an awful lot of the things I admire and cherish about this state (public beaches, recycling, the UGB, local food) are the eventual outgrowths of this raucously independent experiment in political innovation.
Yet now, in a troubling manner, I see these well-meaning tropes of Oregon Exceptionalism espoused by friends and colleagues to demand the "purity of Bull Run water" (or, even more infuriating, fluoride-free microbreweries), as though a public health initiative undertaken in literally every other major city across the country that has tremendous benefits to our city's most disadvantaged young folks is somehow a threat to the political underpinnings and identity of our state.
It's not surprising that a rhetoric and political worldview written forty years ago for a sparsely populated, staggeringly middle class and homogeneous Western state dependent on natural resources is showing its cracks; Oregon in general and Portland in particular are none of those things anymore. And yet, on the eve of an election, I'm watching otherwise smart folks falsely-equivocating a social justice initiative that will largely help young children of color as an attack on "clean water" due to the imposition of "chemicals," or something, as though its an affront on our Oregon values to prudently monitor and utilize our natural resources to make our communities healthy and prosperous.
Regardless of the outcome tomorrow, I'm troubled by the development of this eery, navel-gazing, borderline-nativist politics rooted in moralistic "protection of the environment" that stands to marginalize the folks who have most recently joined us in Tom McCall's Eden, and who have worked hardest to get this bill to the ballot. I'm voting yes for Fluoride, and hope you do the same.
-http://gawker.com/quacks-of-all-political-persuations-fight-fluoridation-508884755
I'd also add that much of the anti-fluoride pseudoscience skepticism seems to come from an ardent, irrational provincialism that seems to be the lynchpin of everything amazing and frustrating about our town and our local political process. Our forefathers in the seventies fought for and established an "Oregon Exceptionalism" brand of politics that espoused moralistic and borderline-religious language to demand protection for our natural resources and landscape from waste and destruction, and an awful lot of the things I admire and cherish about this state (public beaches, recycling, the UGB, local food) are the eventual outgrowths of this raucously independent experiment in political innovation.
Yet now, in a troubling manner, I see these well-meaning tropes of Oregon Exceptionalism espoused by friends and colleagues to demand the "purity of Bull Run water" (or, even more infuriating, fluoride-free microbreweries), as though a public health initiative undertaken in literally every other major city across the country that has tremendous benefits to our city's most disadvantaged young folks is somehow a threat to the political underpinnings and identity of our state.
It's not surprising that a rhetoric and political worldview written forty years ago for a sparsely populated, staggeringly middle class and homogeneous Western state dependent on natural resources is showing its cracks; Oregon in general and Portland in particular are none of those things anymore. And yet, on the eve of an election, I'm watching otherwise smart folks falsely-equivocating a social justice initiative that will largely help young children of color as an attack on "clean water" due to the imposition of "chemicals," or something, as though its an affront on our Oregon values to prudently monitor and utilize our natural resources to make our communities healthy and prosperous.
Regardless of the outcome tomorrow, I'm troubled by the development of this eery, navel-gazing, borderline-nativist politics rooted in moralistic "protection of the environment" that stands to marginalize the folks who have most recently joined us in Tom McCall's Eden, and who have worked hardest to get this bill to the ballot. I'm voting yes for Fluoride, and hope you do the same.
31.12.12
2012, in review.
It's that time of year again.
Memorable trips in 2012 include February's excursion to DC, May's to St. Louis, June's to Seattle, July's to Smith Rock and Manzanita, the epic Papa Brown/Aaron Brown trek to Ecuador and Argentina in September, and my visit back to the Twin Cities this December.
2012's highlights include painting the city of Portland's flag on the speed bump outside my house, a raucous weekend in Latacunga, the Sunset-at-Rocky Butte Pedalpalooza Ride, following the trials and tribulations of local and national politicians of varying degrees of trustworthiness, my first podcast appearance, a few too many nights of karaoke, spending entirely too much time on the internet, organizing the third incarnation of a pub crawl that's sprawled out of control, and of course, David Horst's goal against the Seattle Sounders.
The year ends much as 2011 did, in which I reflect on a wicked awesome year of good times with good friends, both old and new, in a tiny little town on the Willamette that continues to reveal itself in new ways with every passing year. Every month seems to open my Portland-bubble world to a new bike route, an undiscovered coffee shop, a new set of friends who live in those new apartments, a new scrappy nonprofit working on some awesome cause that intersects with my own, another stakeholder advisory committee for me to join and another reason to feel warmly about my continued commitment to attempting to live out my own little paradise here in Portland. I definitely found enough things to do with my time this year. I spent considerable amount of time out in East Portland with my job, spending time with some inspiring young students at David Douglas High School who are already, inevitably, growing up and shaping their own Portland bubble. I also spent a full year in North Portland, learning quite a bit about everything from how much people love automobile parking to how many people I care about all seem to live within a ten minutes walk. Yet, just like the year before it, the year comes to an ending at an awkward time. I may be pumped about my community and the ways in which I'm engaged in it, but I'm saddled with the continued frustration of underemployment, drizzly winters, underperforming soccer teams and the feeling that maybe it's time to get out and explore somewhere else. My trip back to Minnesota, first since I graduated, revealed to me just how many good friends I've accumulated across the entire country, and how many new friends are out there awaiting for me to jump on a train and start somewhere new.
Special thanks to The Alabama Shakes, Real Estate, First-Aid Kit, John K. Sampson, The Helio Sequence, Two Door Cinema Club, Hey Rosetta!, AU, Dana Buoy, Onuinu, Frank Ocean, Lost Lander, The Lower 48, Tennis, Sharon Van Etten, and Youth Lagoon for writing music that I listened to quite extensively in the past calendar year.
(2011) (2010) (2009) (2008)
life in boxes, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
good morning from michigan haus, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
dc brau, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
WOULD YOU TRUST THIS MAN WITH A BICYCLE, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
michigan haus, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
16, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
Memorable trips in 2012 include February's excursion to DC, May's to St. Louis, June's to Seattle, July's to Smith Rock and Manzanita, the epic Papa Brown/Aaron Brown trek to Ecuador and Argentina in September, and my visit back to the Twin Cities this December.
2012's highlights include painting the city of Portland's flag on the speed bump outside my house, a raucous weekend in Latacunga, the Sunset-at-Rocky Butte Pedalpalooza Ride, following the trials and tribulations of local and national politicians of varying degrees of trustworthiness, my first podcast appearance, a few too many nights of karaoke, spending entirely too much time on the internet, organizing the third incarnation of a pub crawl that's sprawled out of control, and of course, David Horst's goal against the Seattle Sounders.
The year ends much as 2011 did, in which I reflect on a wicked awesome year of good times with good friends, both old and new, in a tiny little town on the Willamette that continues to reveal itself in new ways with every passing year. Every month seems to open my Portland-bubble world to a new bike route, an undiscovered coffee shop, a new set of friends who live in those new apartments, a new scrappy nonprofit working on some awesome cause that intersects with my own, another stakeholder advisory committee for me to join and another reason to feel warmly about my continued commitment to attempting to live out my own little paradise here in Portland. I definitely found enough things to do with my time this year. I spent considerable amount of time out in East Portland with my job, spending time with some inspiring young students at David Douglas High School who are already, inevitably, growing up and shaping their own Portland bubble. I also spent a full year in North Portland, learning quite a bit about everything from how much people love automobile parking to how many people I care about all seem to live within a ten minutes walk. Yet, just like the year before it, the year comes to an ending at an awkward time. I may be pumped about my community and the ways in which I'm engaged in it, but I'm saddled with the continued frustration of underemployment, drizzly winters, underperforming soccer teams and the feeling that maybe it's time to get out and explore somewhere else. My trip back to Minnesota, first since I graduated, revealed to me just how many good friends I've accumulated across the entire country, and how many new friends are out there awaiting for me to jump on a train and start somewhere new.
Special thanks to The Alabama Shakes, Real Estate, First-Aid Kit, John K. Sampson, The Helio Sequence, Two Door Cinema Club, Hey Rosetta!, AU, Dana Buoy, Onuinu, Frank Ocean, Lost Lander, The Lower 48, Tennis, Sharon Van Etten, and Youth Lagoon for writing music that I listened to quite extensively in the past calendar year.
life in boxes, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
good morning from michigan haus, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
dc brau, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
WOULD YOU TRUST THIS MAN WITH A BICYCLE, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
michigan haus, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
is spring coming?, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
16, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
Food Carts, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
St. Louis, MO, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
pedalpalooza 2012 begins, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
Reunited with Surly Furious, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
nopo transportation, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
Ginger Ride, Portland Oregon, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
There's beauty in the tiniest of things., originally uploaded by _ambrown.
Not a bad day at the office., originally uploaded by _ambrown.
Sharat Ganapati, ULTRA., originally uploaded by _ambrown.
Next time you see us, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
is there anything people won't pull by bike in pdx?, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
The scots, reunited at last, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
390932_3632367695067_2045212070_n, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
66589_3793040471786_691684882_n, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
BA Bookstore, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
Palermo, Buenos Aires, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
scan139770, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
scan139776, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
St. John's on a lazy Sunday, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
Minneapolis., originally uploaded by _ambrown.
The Midwest is best., originally uploaded by _ambrown.
@firenzian and some local urban wildlife on the Yellow Line #trimet, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
Seriously, what a mysterious, charming and magical town I live in., originally uploaded by _ambrown.
Good morning., originally uploaded by _ambrown.
7.11.12
Keep Up the Fight.
The internet has been wonderfully inundated with many overused cliches (and some awesome memes) about how satisfying it is to wake up in a country that has reaffirmed a commitment to rewriting a more progressive social contract, but I wanted to add my own two cents about last night. As Obama spoke, and positive results for important social and economic causes continued to trickle in, my mind drifted to the countless hours that many of my friends and colleagues and I have spent fighting for progressive politicians and progressive causes in a litany of stakeholder advisory committee meetings, late night data entry sessions, or crunch-time phonebanking. I've written previously how I only get really motivated around matters of local significance; it's a lot easier for me to personally get worked up about the need for Immersion Program funding at my own neighborhood school or support for safer streets than blandly supporting "Team Blue" in their quest to get more pots of money for these things I like from byzantine bureaus and agencies.
But Obama's remarks last night echoed his call in 2008 to rebuild America "block by block," a deliberate phrasing that has a particular resonance to anyone who has ever stood out in the rain in an unknown neighborhood with a clipboard and wet socks, looking up addresses, sizing up doorbells and angry dogs. It's also particularly resonant to anyone who lives in a city, on a Cartesian grid of similarly looking houses and apartments, where the end of the block is marked by that new business with the owner you like and not an empty cul-de-sac or facade of endless garages. Barack Obama's speech was laced with these direct, references to his own explicit experiences on the South Side and a need for continued, persistent presence of citizen participation in the democratic process; I don't think it's a stretch to say that the guy is America's first Community Organizer-in-Chief. It might have been the beer, and a smug need of a self-pat-on-the-back, but you know, I found myself thinking, we're up to some good things. I'm so tremendously impressed by some truly amazing people that are standing up and fighting for their community, however they define "standing up," however they define "fighting," and however they define "community." From marriage rights to climate change, safe streets to equitable communities, Occupy to the Ballot Box and GOTMFV. I hope others are basking in the warm glow of last night's victories as I am, and I hope others awoke today as I did with an extra spring in their step, and a feeling that all our little work in our little block-by-block neighborhoods adds up to something pretty fucking remarkable: an awesome american democracy. keep up the fight!
But Obama's remarks last night echoed his call in 2008 to rebuild America "block by block," a deliberate phrasing that has a particular resonance to anyone who has ever stood out in the rain in an unknown neighborhood with a clipboard and wet socks, looking up addresses, sizing up doorbells and angry dogs. It's also particularly resonant to anyone who lives in a city, on a Cartesian grid of similarly looking houses and apartments, where the end of the block is marked by that new business with the owner you like and not an empty cul-de-sac or facade of endless garages. Barack Obama's speech was laced with these direct, references to his own explicit experiences on the South Side and a need for continued, persistent presence of citizen participation in the democratic process; I don't think it's a stretch to say that the guy is America's first Community Organizer-in-Chief. It might have been the beer, and a smug need of a self-pat-on-the-back, but you know, I found myself thinking, we're up to some good things. I'm so tremendously impressed by some truly amazing people that are standing up and fighting for their community, however they define "standing up," however they define "fighting," and however they define "community." From marriage rights to climate change, safe streets to equitable communities, Occupy to the Ballot Box and GOTMFV. I hope others are basking in the warm glow of last night's victories as I am, and I hope others awoke today as I did with an extra spring in their step, and a feeling that all our little work in our little block-by-block neighborhoods adds up to something pretty fucking remarkable: an awesome american democracy. keep up the fight!
31.12.11
two thousand eleven, in review.
Unsurprisingly, I find myself closing out yet another year wishing I had blogged more, taken more photos, and did an all-around better job of chronicling the day to day of my attempts at practicing adulthood. I am left with this smattering of photos highlighting 2011's greatest, from the numerous day trips with katherine anne, to timbers game days and seattle/vancouver away, and all-around enjoying the fair, cultivated culture of Portland Oregon for the first time as a true resident. From neighborhood association meetings to midnight bike rides, food carts to rain, 2011 was a good reintroduction to my hometown after a couple of years gallavanting around the Midwest (reoregonizing, if you will!) With any luck, 2012 will bring about nothing but more of the same. (decent jobs for Kate and I would be nice, too.)
just a hipster in a sea of bikes, originally uploaded by katesokol.
Most relevant albums of 2011:
just a hipster in a sea of bikes, originally uploaded by katesokol.
mississippi street fair, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
king of clubs, originally uploaded by _ambrown.
by katesokol.
1) Bon Iver - Bon Iver
2) An Argument with Myself - Jens Lekman
3) Motopony - Motopony
4) Prison Boxing - Cataldo
3) Motopony - Motopony
4) Prison Boxing - Cataldo
5) A New Kind of House - Typhoon
6) Departing - Rural Alberta Advantage
7) Cape Dory - Tennis
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