This is for 350pdx newsletters.

2026 March Newsletter!

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It’s March, and we want to pause and acknowledge that there are numerous and immense tragedies happening locally and globally.

We also want to share some sorely needed positive news. Yesterday, the Oregon Senate passed HB 4134, the “1.25% for Wildlife” bill. “This landmark legislation is a labor of over a decade, and its success positions Oregon as a national leader in addressing species and habitat decline,” said Sristi Kamal, Deputy Director at Western Environmental Law Center.

Thank you to all who helped make this happen.

Before jumping into policy and team updates, we do have some sad news about our workshop space in the Rebuilding Center. After making it our home for the last 5 years, we just learned that the building is being sold and we will have to leave by June. We’re so grateful for the many, many, many amazing art builds, Action Nights, meetings, and parties we had in this space, and are now onto our next chapter. We’re looking for a new space in inner/central Portland (near transit) for Action Nights, art builds, a roost for our puppets and community gatherings.We’re on a nonprofit budget and love sharing space with aligned groups.

Have a lead? We’d love to hear from you. Reply to this email or reach out to us at Jessicavaughan@350PDX.org. Let’s build our next home for climate justice!

Climate Justice Policy

No Immunity for Big Oil Petition 

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While we’re working with the Make Polluters Pay campaign to pass a Climate Resilience Superfund bill here in Oregon, some Big Oil lobbyists and members of Congress are trying to preempt these efforts and give fossil fuel companies total legal immunity from any laws or lawsuits that could hold them accountable for their role in the climate crisis.

The American Petroleum Institute — the largest oil and gas trade lobbying group in the U.S. — has announced that stopping state climate lawsuits and climate superfund laws is one of their top legislative priorities in 2026.

Sign this petition to tell our Oregon Congresspeople to protect our right to hold fossil fuel companies accountable!

Final Week of the Legislative Session

We’ve been keeping you updated with weekly emails about actions you can take in Oregon’s short legislative session. We’ll send out an end-of-session wrap up email next week. For now, check out our 2026 State Policy Priorities page to see what you can do to encourage positive climate bills this session.

Some PCEF Threats Thwarted…for Now

We can celebrate this month because PCEF supporters won a lawsuit, and Portland City Council approved community-driven PCEF funding choices! Should PCEF funds be used for Moda Center renovations? Not really, but that’s something we may have to address. Read more here!

Forest Defense Team

Coffee + Public Engagement Art

The Forest Defense Team has created an art exhibit of gorgeous state forest photos that can travel to coffee houses. To see the first installation, stop by Rose City Coffee Company (3370 SE Milwaukie Ave, Portland, OR 97202). The goal is to raise public awareness and remove timber companies’ social license to clearcut 100-year old state-managed forests – critical for habitat, carbon management, and human health. Visit the exhibit and tell your friends!  About the exhibit: photos were taken by 350PDX Arts Team volunteer Zoe Foxe on 2025 in the Clatsop State Forest near Astoria. Volunteers thrifted frames, and drafted prose to accompany the pieces. If you have an idea of where this exhibit should travel next, reach out to Tyler@350pdx.org

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Interested in learning more about the clear cutting done on state forest land? Join the Forest Defense team on Sunday, March 22nd at 9:00am for an easy 1 mile walk through the mature forest on Powell Butte. This is a mostly flat trail, suitable for kids or those less keen for a hike. Meet at the Powell Butte Trailhead for the Dogwood and Huckleberry trail near SE Gladstone Street and SE 148th Avenue. More info on the 350PDX calendar.

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

Our next meeting is in person at the 350PDX office on Tuesday, March 10 at 5:30pm. Join us to learn about our campaigns to fight for a drawdown of fuels at the CEI Hub and to fight the expansion of energy-hungry data centers. RSVP to the meeting by emailing Dineen: dineen@350pdx.org.

Rumble on the River: Rigged for Ruin – Methane: An Accelerating Threat to Health and Climate

The 29th Rumble on the River community forum is happening on Tuesday, March 24 at the Portland Association of Teachers Office (345 NE 8th Ave).

For the past two decades, communities in the Northwest have defeated fracked gas export terminals. Despite these successes, the “natural” gas industry continues to push their product. Come learn about methane’s many harms and alternatives to its use.

Doors and Info Tables at 5:30pm, Panel at 6:30pm. No need to RSVP, just come and join us!

Earth Day Celebration! 

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Save the date for Portland’s cornerstone celebration of planet earth: the Earth Day Celebration and Parade! Saturday, April 25  at Sunnyside Environmental School.

Join 350PDX, Making Earth Cool, Sunnyside Environmental School, SOLVE, and others for a vibrant, inclusive, and impactful day. We will begin with a gathering on the grounds of Sunnyside Environmental School for music, speakers, tabling, action stations, face painting, and a costume competition!  Then we parade: a colorful procession winding through the Sunnyside neighborhood, featuring giant puppets, marching bands, singing, and dancing. Sign up to volunteer to help make this event another huge success!

Arts Team

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photo: Irene Tejaratchi Hess

On February 17, the 350PDX Arts Team, Puppets for Climate Justice, and 50 wonderful puppeteers took to the streets to parade for climate justice and awareness in North Portland’s Mardi Gras parade. See pictures and video here!  The crowd cheered on our heron, beavers, butterflies, salmon, new spotted owls, and a giant white owl. Our trees danced and the river puppet zigzagged in an epic celebration of our Earth.

And there will be more, of course. If you come to our Sunday Art Build on March 8, 1:00-4:00pm, you can see how we can use art to create awareness of climate issues. We’ll finish some puppets, do maintenance on others, and begin new important projects for the Earth Day parade on April 27.

Please let Donna know if you can attend Sunday’s Art Build: Murph1949@aol.com

Book Club

The 350PDX Book Club meets every month on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm. Every other month is in person and the others are virtual. Reach out to books@350PDX.org with any questions or to join our list, and please RSVP so we can inform you of any meeting changes! Note: We are not meeting in March. See you in April! Details below.

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Join our next gathering on Wednesday, April 1 at 6:30pm at the 350PDX Office. We’ll discuss Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver.

Save the date for our next meetings:Wednesday, May 6 at 6:30pm (Virtual) – Book to be selected in April

 

350PDX Washington County Team

Our next gathering will be our regular monthly online meetup at 6:30pm on Tuesday, March 10. We’ll be reporting on bills in the 2026 Oregon Legislature and are in conversation with the City of Hillsboro with regard to putting on a second Electrification and Sustainability Fair in Hillsboro/Washington County in July.

We always welcome newcomers to our events and to our monthly online meetings (6:30pm on the second Tuesday of the month). For the link, join us here or contact us at 350washco@gmail.com.

Some Extra Cheer! 

Celebrate: heat pumps in new homes!

Thanks in part to our advocacy in 2023 with the Building Resilience coalition, the building code was just upgraded to require heat pumps for heating and cooling in all new homes in Oregon. We’re making a difference together! Read more!

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Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter. We hope to see you soon!

With gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica, and Noelle

p.s. If you couldn’t make it to last week’s Action Night: The Dangers of Tear Gas, you can read about it here!

2026 February Newsletter!

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On February 17, 350PDX’s illustrious puppets will march down Mississippi Avenue in the Portland Mardi Gras parade, sharing information about climate justice and bringing joy to our community. On February 25, we’ll gather for a very different kind of event, an Action Night that takes a look at the use of tear gas in Portland. You can learn more about Action Night here and watch a trailer for the short film we’ll be screening that night here.

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Now, let’s jump into our newsletter which features updates on: Oregon’s legislative session, fossil fuel resistance, forest defense, PCEF defense, arts team, book club, volunteer spotlight, and neighborhood teams.

Oregon’s Legislative Session

And so it’s begun! Oregon’s 2026 Short Legislative Session started on Monday. We have just over a month to make some meaningful changes for the state, so let’s do it. 350PDX’s Legislative Priorities can be found here. Included on this list are the top bills we’re focusing on this session and how you can take action to advance these priorities. This page will be updated on a regular basis, so keep the link handy to find ways to participate in this legislative session with us.

Top priorities this week: 

    • Thursday (2/5) at 1:00pm: Climate Resilience Superfund Bill (SB 1541) hearing. Join us and the Make Polluters Pay coalition down in Salem or virtually to support this bill as it heads to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire. The deadline to submit written testimony on this is Saturday, February 7, at 1:00pm. Testimony toolkit & info on how to submit testimony here.

    • Wednesday (2/14) at 3:00pm: The 1.25% for Wildlife Bill (HB 4134) has a hearing in the House Revenue Committee. The deadline to submit testimony is February 6 at 3:00pm. Testimony toolkit & info on how to submit testimony here.

    • Monday (2/16): RSVP for the Make Polluters Pay Advocacy Day in Salem

    …and more! Check out the Legislative Priorities page for info about other bills we have our eyes on, such as a balcony solar bill, nuclear energy study bill, and a couple of bills designed to increase transportation accountability.

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

Last month we helped put on the “What’s the Deal with Data Centers?” Rumble on the River Community Forum, the 28th Rumble in the ongoing series. Nearly 250 people attended! Here is the recording of the forum. Join us in jumping into action about this topic by urging your legislators to say NO to a corporate land grab that would bring 1,700 acres of world class farmland in Hillsboro inside the Urban Growth Boundary so it’s available for industrial development, likely for building new data centers.

The Fossil Fuel Resistance Team meets again on Tuesday, February 10 at 5:30pm on Zoom. New members are welcome; reach out to dineen@350pdx.org for the link to join or for an orientation.

Forest Defense Team

Thanks to everyone who sent in comments about the draft State Forest Management Plan last month. The Forest Defense Team, along with other environmental groups, made a successful pitch to OPB; read April Erlich’s story about our concerns.

Join the Forest Defense Team at 11:00am on Saturday, February 21 for a 2 mile walk around Mt. Tabor. We will talk about the importance of forests, how Oregon state forests are managed, and ways to get involved. Meet at the base of the Mt. Tabor Stairs near SE 69th Street and SE Yamhill Street. More details in the 350PDX calendar!

Invite a friend to Slough Fest! 350PDX is joining other groups in hosting a series of early spring events to introduce more Portlanders to the hidden habitat treasures of the Columbia Slough, February 28-March 8. These experiences are designed to grow public awareness about the City’s upcoming Environmental-Zone remapping process. Tentative date: Sunday, March 1, 1:00-3:00pm at Wilkes Park; check the 350PDX calendar later this month for details.

Reach out to Tyler@350pdx.org to join an upcoming Monday evening meeting. 

Defend PCEF from being Diverted to Police

WHAT: Oral arguments in defense of PCEF, wear green!

WHEN: Friday, February 13, 1:00pm

WHERE: Multnomah County Courthouse, 1200 SW 1st Ave, Portland

We’re showing up in solidarity for oral arguments challenging a ballot measure to divert 25% of PCEF to the Portland Police. Can you join us?

The Portland Police Association and a wealthy downtown developer want to raid the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), redirecting 25% of funds to pay for more cops—to the tune of about $200 million/year! This is a gross misuse of PCEF, which is a first-of-its-kind investment in climate resilience and community benefit for Portlanders most impacted by climate change.

The police union is attempting to place an initiative on Portland’s November ballot asking voters to undermine PCEF’s purpose. 350PDX and our partners, including the Coalition of Communities of Color, oppose this misguided and likely unconstitutional initiative. Several of our partners filed a legal challenge in December to stop this measure from reaching the ballot. Join us in defending PCEF!

Team Updates

Arts Team

The 350PDX Arts Team needs puppeteers to give life to climate puppets, and march them one mile down N Mississippi St on Mardi Gras, February 17, 5:30-8:00pm! We have lots of puppets: trees, spotted owls, mushrooms, a heron, a river spirit, butterflies, beavers; and so far we only have twelve puppeteers. So — we need you!

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photo: Irene Tejaratchi Hess

Last year’s Mardi Gras Parade puppets brought climate awareness to the cheering crowd and also gave a voice to our animal and plant world.

If you’d like to help drive puppets from 350PDX to the starting point of the parade, we need you too!

Also, consider helping at Artbuild this Sunday, February 8, 1:00-4:00pm. We’ll do finishing touches on our new puppets, and add parade lights to our bigger puppets.

If you can puppeteer or drive puppets or would like to help at Artbuild, reach out to Donna at murph1949@aol.com.

Thanks, the Arts Team – Donna, Lauren, Dannika, Allison

Book Club

The 350PDX Book Club meets every month on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30pm. Every other month is in person and the others are virtual. Reach out to books@350PDX.org with any questions or to join our list, and please RSVP so we can inform you of any meeting changes! 

Join our next gathering on Wednesday, February 4 at 6:30pm. UPDATED LOCATION: Google Meet (click here to join). We’ll discuss The Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis, by Osprey Orielle Lake.

Save the date for our next meetings:

  • Wednesday, March 4 at 6:30pm (Virtual) – Book to be selected in February

  • Wednesday, April 1 at 6:30pm (350PDX Office) -TBD fiction book; voting starts soon!

  • Wednesday, May 6 at 6:30pm (Virtual) – Book to be selected in April

SW Team

The Southwest Neighborhood Team includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. We work together to raise awareness of the climate emergency.

Our street corner demonstrations continue weekly in February, every Friday from 3:00-4:00pm at SW Multnomah & SW 35th Avenue. We gain attention with our climate action signs in a highly visible location. Street parking is available or reach us via bus or bike. We have extra signs to share!

GET CONNECTED: Join our monthly Zoom meeting on Monday, February 16th, from 6:30-7:30pm.  We’ll be discussing new ideas for outreach efforts in 2026. To get involved, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at patk5@msn.com.

 350PDX Washington County Team

Our next gathering will be our regular monthly online meetup at 6:30pm on Tuesday, February 10. We’ll be tracking and supporting a number of bills in the 2026 Oregon Legislature and are considering putting on a second Electrification and Sustainability Fair in Hillsboro/Washington County this summer.

We always welcome newcomers to our events and to our monthly online meetings (6:30pm on the second Tuesday of the month). For the link, join us here or contact us at 350washco@gmail.com.

Volunteer Spotlight

Scott Killops

When Scott retired from Intel in 2021 after a 30-year career ending in a long stint in Software Program Management, he knew he wanted to spend some of his time “doing something about climate change.” He eventually found his way to the 350PDX Forest Defense Team where he discovered a super warm and welcoming group doing good work. He has stayed ever since.

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Over the last three years, Scott has been involved in each of the team’s campaigns, but he currently spends most of his time on the State Forests campaign. It turns out that being a former Software Program Manager is a good fit for attending hours-long Board of Forestry meetings on Zoom, reading Forest Management Plans that run into the hundreds of pages, and writing and submitting comments on stuff like Forest Carbon Accounting. Who knew?

Beyond 350PDX, Scott takes his dog Maisie and his daughter’s dog Juno hiking in the Columbia River Gorge almost every day. He’s also an old-time fiddler and can be found in a jam at the Portland NW Hostel most Thursday nights. And he enjoys spending lots of time with his three grandkids.

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter. We hope to see you soon!

With gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica, and Noelle

2026 January Newsletter!

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It’s 2026, and we’re looking forward to a year of gathering in community, taking action, and creating joy in the climate justice movement.

Now, let’s dive into news, actions, and team updates!

Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub Policy Project

On December 16, Portlanders showed up with amazing energy, creativity, and powerful testimony for the CEI Hub Policy Project rally and hearing at the Planning Commission. Thank you to everyone who attended, sent in comments, and helped make the rally fun and informative! To learn more about the CEI Hub, click here.

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Next steps: From January 13–23, the Planning Commission will be opening up the comment period again. Send in a comment or add to what you’ve already said! This talking points document includes info and links to submit comments.

Forest Defense

The Forest Defense Team enjoyed a break between December’s atmospheric rivers to visit the Middle Big Noise Creek area in the Clatsop State Forest east of Astoria. This forest, with many trees exceeding 50 inches in diameter, is an example of complex North Coast forest habitat that the Board of Forestry and the Oregon legislature pledged to preserve over a decade ago. Like so many forests of its kind, Middle Big Noise is slated for clear cutting.

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Join other Oregonians in helping the Oregon Department of Forestry align agency actions with its pledge to protect the remaining 14% of these legacy forests. Public comment will be accepted through January 31 on a draft Forest Management Plan. For info about January public hearings and a comment portal through Bird Alliance click here.

In coming months, the Forest Defense Team is planning to host several state forest tours to help people in the Metro area connect with these places of beauty and rich habitat that serve as critical carbon sinks, so rare in the western United States.  Reach out to Tyler@350pdx.org to join an upcoming Monday evening meeting.

Make Polluters Pay (MPP)

During Oregon’s legislative session, 350PDX will focus on the Oregon Make Polluters Pay coalition, advocating for the Climate Resilience Superfund bill, which would make multinational fossil fuel corporations pay for climate damages they’ve caused in Oregon. To learn more about MPP, click here.

On January 22, we’re excited to host a MPP Action Night as part of a National Week of Action! Join us on January 22 at the 350PDX workshop (3639 N Mississippi Ave) and get involved with this exciting movement! Please note, our new Action Night time: 6:30–8:30pm.

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Other ways to take action:

  • Sign the Oregon Make Polluters Pay petition

  • 1/27: Attend a virtual Storytelling Training on the MPP Oregon bill. To register, click here.

  • 2/16: Oregon Make Polluters Pay Advocacy Day in Salem. More info soon!

Speak Up for Justice, Trees, and a Thriving Climate-Friendly Economy: Economic Opportunities Analysis (EOA) Hearing

On Tuesday, January 13, 4:00–8:00pm, join us at the Planning Commission (1900 SW Fourth Ave, Portland) for a hearing on the EOA. We recognize many are still working at 4:00pm, so please come when you’re available. This policy impacts many of the areas we work on relating to equity, public health, ecosystem health, and climate impacts from all of these. You can attend the hearing virtually or in person. To learn more about the EOA, sign up to give testimony, or submit written comments, click here. Later this week, we’ll be sending an email with suggested talking points!

Team Updates

Arts Team

Trees, mushrooms, beavers, and the Sun showed up last month at the CEI Hub rally and hearing!

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Coming up – we have an artbuild to prepare for February’s Mississippi Street Mardi Gras parade, and you are invited!

Join us on Sunday, January 11, 1:00-4:00pm at 350PDX’s workspace (3639 N. Mississippi). We’ll be making mushrooms and owl puppets to swoosh over the parade crowds. The Mississippi Street Mardi Gras is a wonderful way to spread the word about climate in a fantastic, joyful way. It also draws in more climate work supporters and puppet makers. Can you join in the fun by being a puppeteer that night? (February 17, 5:00pm-7:00pm, a one mile march down N. Mississippi that ends near 350PDX.)

If you can puppeteer or if you will join Sunday’s artbuild, please let Donna know! Email: murph1949@aol.com

Book Club

Join our next gathering on Wednesday, January 7 at 6:30pm on Google Meet. We’ll discuss A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers, a cozy and short novella about a robot and a monk exploring the question, “What do people need?”

Save the date for our next meetings:

Reach out to books@350PDX.org with any questions, RSVPs, or to join our list. See you soon!

 

350PDX Washington County Team

Our campaign to encourage the Washington County Board of Commissioners to adopt a long-overdue climate action plan has succeeded! Here it is! We are super grateful to Oregon League of Conservation Voters and other partners for helping us to push Commissioners to action.

We had a festive holiday potluck gathering in December, and our traditional new year’s day walk at Fernhill Wetlands where we saw an amazing number of birds and wildlife.

Our next gathering will be online at 6:30pm on Tuesday, February 10. We’ll be tracking and supporting a number of bills in the 2026 Oregon Legislature, and considering putting on a second Electrification and Sustainability Fair in Hillsboro/Washington County.

We always welcome newcomers to our events and monthly online meetings (6:30pm on the second Tuesday of the month). For the link, join us here or contact us at 350washco@gmail.com.

SW Team

The Southwest Neighborhood Team includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. Our street corner demonstrations continue weekly in January, every Friday from 3:00-4:00pm at SW 35th & SW Multnomah Blvd. We gain attention with our climate action signs in a highly visible location. Street parking is available or reach us via bus or bike. We have extra signs to share!

Join our monthly Zoom meeting on Monday, January 19th, from 6:30-7:30pm.  We’ll be discussing new ideas for outreach efforts in 2026. To get involved, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at patk5@msn.com.

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter. We hope to see you at our first Action Night of the year – January 22! More info soon!

With gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica, and Noelle

2025 December Newsletter!

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What a year it’s been – filled with change, challenges, and important victories. If you’d like to revisit highlights, check out our news page for moments that have helped define our work.

Before we dive into team updates, we’d like to remind you that there are many ways to get involved with 350PDX – from volunteering to attending Action Nights. And while we are a couple of days past Giving Tuesday, there’s still time to donate!

Thank you for being such a strong, supportive, and compassionate member of our community. Together we’ll continue creating the beautiful city and world we want.

Upcoming Events

Note, some of these have more info/actions in our Team Updates. You can also check out our calendar for details!

  • December 7  – Hike Middle Big Noise timber unit sale
  • December 16 – Rally, Party, and Comment CEI Hub Policy Project
  • January 7 – Rumble on the River – Data Centers. You will have the opportunity to hear from speakers who will provide information and ways to take action. 5:30pm tabling and snacks, 6:00pm speakers, free to the public at Havurah Shalom, 825 NW 18th Ave, Portland
  • January 13 – Testify Portland Tree Code

Team News

Forest Defense Team

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Join the Forest Defense Team to experience Middle Big Noise, a timber unit sale of mature forest near Astoria.

December 7, 10:30am-1:30pm. This is a great way to get to know 350PDX members and talk about state forest protection in light of the Governor’s Natural & Working Lands and Waters Resilience directive, EO 25-26, signed in October. Find RSVP and Carpool info here.

Save the date! January 13, 5:00pm! There will be an opportunity to provide testimony in support of applying Portland Tree Code to heavy industrial areas to cool adjacent communities, improve air quality, abate noise, and more. The Economic Opportunities Analysis is one of several related projects that will affect the long-term health of our communities, waterways, and economy.

The 2025 Portland Urban Forest Plan is now available! Sincere thanks to everyone who submitted written and oral testimony in support of shifting street tree care responsibilities to the City and removing barriers to long-term cooling for low-middle income community members in low-canopy neighborhoods.

Would your neighborhood café be willing to feature a forest photo display?  The Forest Defense team has printed several beautiful images of the Middle Big Noise timber unit in the Clatsop State Forest and is looking for potential installation locations to raise awareness. Contact noelle@350pdx.org to arrange.

Good news: 

  • Scientists report that the positive effects of Klamath dam removal are occurring faster than anticipated

  • Governor Kotek issued EO 25-29, assigning state agencies responsibility for implementing Oregon Energy Strategy.


GET CONNECTED: Join the Forest Defense Team meetings on the first and third Monday of each month from 6:00-7:30pm.  Contact volunteer team leads Felice Kelly (felice.kelly@gmail.com) or Tyler Gilmore (tyler@350pdx.org) to get involved.

Climate Policy Team

Make Polluters Pay

Our Oregon Make Polluters Pay (MPP) coalition is gaining momentum! Check out the new Oregon MPP website. Mark your calendar for January 22, 6:00–8:00pm. Our January Action Night will be an opportunity to learn more about the MPP bill and get involved so it can pass the Oregon legislature in February!

We’re still scheduling “house meetings” to educate people about this bill. Do you have friends you’d like to invite to learn about this bill? Can you host a small (8–12 people) gathering? Contact Cherice Bock (cherice@350pdx.org).

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

We sued the City about the Zenith LUCS—and won!

In March, we let you know we were suing the City of Portland, along with Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC), Willamette Riverkeeper, and 18 Portland residents over the City’s recent approval of a Land Use Compatibility Statement (LUCS) for Zenith Energy, which gave the Texas-based fossil fuel company a green light to expand operations in Portland.

On November 13, we found out we won! In a major procedural victory for environmental and community advocates, the Oregon Court of Appeals reversed the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) decision. Read more here and here’s an article from The Mercury.

The Danger of Data Centers. Opportunity to comment. 

While we’re trying to reach our state’s goal of 100% clean energy, data centers are adding massive energy loads, and we’re paying the bill in our utility costs. Right now, we have the opportunity to speak up about data centers, making sure they will pay their fair share. Due to the POWER Act, a bill we helped pass in the 2025 legislative session, we can comment on UM 2377.  Starting with PGE, this case will become the template for how data center customers are charged for energy costs for all of Oregon’s for-profit utilities. Comments are due by December 15. Modify and send this one-click email or use these talking points to write your own comment.

Rally + Party + Public Comment: CEI Hub Policy Project Planning Commission Hearing

Thanks to you, over 850 comments were submitted to Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) in October regarding the CEI Hub Policy Project! The next step is that BPS has released a proposed draft, which will be evaluated by the Planning Commission at a hearing on December 16. The proposed draft includes a drawdown of liquid fuels (fossil and otherwise) stored at the CEI Hub, which is what we asked for!

We need to show a groundswell of community support for:

  • removing these toxic fuels from their location near the river

  • drawing down the use of greenhouse gas-emitting fuels as we transition to clean  energy—starting now.

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So, we invite you to come together for a fun and festive rally on December 16, then head in to offer our comments to the Planning Commission! There will be music, speakers, hot drinks and snacks, and huge holiday energy for taking care of our people and land together!

When: rally at 3:00pm, hearing from 4:00-8:00pm

Where: 1900 SW Fourth Avenue, Portland

Submit written comments by December 19. Sign up to give verbal testimony December 16.

Join the Fossil Fuel Resistance team

If you’d like to get involved with Fossil Fuel Resistance team’s campaigns, join us at our next meeting on Zoom on Tuesday, December 9th at 5:30pm. Please reach out to Ben Platt for the Zoom link: benplatt59@gmail.com.

Arts Team

The big news for the 350PDX Arts Team is the amazing shelves we now have for storing lumber, puppets, fabric, paint and posters! So let’s use our materials, and let’s make stuff! We’re focusing on our appreciation of insects with new puppets: bees, more dragonflies and butterflies. What insect would like us to make and puppeteer? Let us know at our next Artbuild, December 14, 1:00-4:00pm, at our new neat and tidy workshop space!

Coming up, we need lots of puppeteers for the December 16 CEI Hub festivities and rally.

And Save the Date – – February 3, 2026 is the Mississippi neighborhood Mardi Gras and they want us there again!

Our team needs lots of help, and it’s fun work!  We hope you can join us at our next Artbuild. Let us know! Donna, Lauren, Dannika, Allison

Email: murph1949@aol.com

Book Club

Want to learn more about climate issues, envision creative solutions and alternate worlds, and relax with fellow humans in a casual setting? Join the 350PDX Book Club! We meet on the first Wednesday of each month, alternating between in-person and virtual meetings and between fiction and nonfiction. Bring snacks or drinks to share, or just your wonderful personality. All are welcome, regardless of whether you’ve read all, some, or none of the book.

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Join our next gathering on Wednesday, January 7 at 6:30pm on Google Meet. Our virtual meetings are less structured and more responsive to the group’s conversations of the previous month; we’ll pick our January book at the December 3 meeting. Email books@350PDX.org to get the book title and meeting link.

Save the date for our next meetings:

Reach out to books@350PDX.org with any questions, RSVPs, or to join our list. See you soon!

Volunteer Spotlight

Rosie Sharrard

Rosie came to 350PDX in fall of 2023, looking for ways to make change on a broader scale and combat her climate anxiety. She attended the “Who Will Own the Forest” conference protest and was motivated by the speakers and movement building. She jumped right in with the Forest Defense Team. Since then she’s been involved in the Ax Drax and biomass campaigns, helping coordinate this year’s Pedalpalooza and Shade Equity Action Night, and liaising with other groups as part of the Defend Forest Park coalition, working to stop PGE from logging 5 acres of Forest Park.

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Rosie also enjoys helping with Action Nights and getting crafty with the 350PDX Arts Team. She loves the community she’s found in the Forest Defense Team, and values the perspective and insight that comes from volunteering with a wide breadth of ages and tenure in the climate justice movement.

Outside of her volunteer work, Rosie enjoys wandering through the forest, identifying plants and fungi, tending to her garden and picking up new hobbies.

 

 

350 Washington County Team

We are participating in a campaign to encourage the Washington County Board of Commissioners to adopt a long-overdue climate action plan. If you are in Washington County and would like to support the campaign, please reach out to us. December 16 looks to be the date that the Climate Planning Update is set to be discussed at a BCC work session. Let us know if you are available to give testimony in person or online! The meeting is set to begin at 6:30pm, with public comment at the beginning and end of the meeting.

Our next gathering will be on Saturday, December 13 from 1:00 to 3:00pm. We’ll do potluck and enjoy whatever conversational topics we choose. Please rsvp here so we’ll have a helpful headcount, and let us know, if possible, what potluck dish you plan to bring. Looking forward to seeing you there!

We plan to start the New Year with an outdoor hike, rain or shine. We always welcome newcomers to our events and to our monthly online meetings (6:30pm on the second Tuesday of the month). For the link, join us here or contact us at 350washco@gmail.com.

SW Team

The Southwest Neighborhood Team includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. We work together to raise awareness of the climate emergency.

Our street corner demonstrations continue weekly in December, every Friday from 3:00-4:00pm. at SW Terwilliger & SW Taylors Ferry. We gain attention with our climate action signs in a highly visible location. Street parking is available or reach us via bus or bike. We have extra signs to share!

GET CONNECTED: Join our monthly Zoom meeting on Monday, December 15th, from 6:30-7:30pm.  We’ll be discussing new ideas for outreach efforts in 2026. To get involved, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at patk5@msn.com.

 

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter. And don’t forget that this December you can find some lovely handmade items and artwork by 350PDX Arts Team members and other artisans at the Rebuilding Center.

With gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica, and Noelle

2025 November Newsletter!

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From Zohran Mamdani’s historic win to the passage of Proposition 50 in California, it’s clear that so many Americans are eager for major change! We’re also excited that here in Portland, the parks levy has passed. As we navigate a very difficult period in our nation’s history, let us take a moment to breathe, feel hope, and gather strength for the work that lies ahead.

For this month’s Action Night, we invite you to join us at Rumble on the River on November 20. Riverkeepers of the Willamette, Tualatin, and Columbia will hold an evening of stories, strategy, and shared purpose. Hear updates on the work each organization is leading—from local restoration projects and community programs to collaborative policy efforts that defend clean water and healthy habitats across the region.

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Team News

Forest Defense Team

City Council adopted the amended 2025 Urban Forest Plan! Thank you to everyone who wrote, testified, and showed up to support passing this important climate justice document. See the October 22 Resolution to read all the amendments to help assure that low-canopy, low-income parts of Portland are centered in green infrastructure climate retrofits. The agenda includes details on how your Councilors voted; the spirited discussion starts at minute 2:52. Please consider sending a thank you note to your Councilors. The final Urban Forest Plan will be available in mid-November.

On October 23, the Forest Defense team partnered with Thrive East PDX for a Green Infrastructure and Shade Equity Social at the Center Powered by Y.O.U.T.H. in outer SE Portland. Community members and representatives from 20 organizations came together to learn about pathways toward green jobs, and PCEF-funded investments to bring street trees to District 1 through programs with Urban Forestry and Friends of Trees. We look forward to sharing the report soon, and collaborating on a career fair in February that will help prepare young people to apply for seasonal jobs.

Middle Big Noise Walk

The Forest Defense team postponed our adventure to the “Middle Big Noise” timber units in the Clatsop State Forest due to weather. Keep an eye on social media for when we announce the new date.

 

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

CEI Hub

Thank you to the record number of people (over 1,000! ) who sent in public comments about the CEI Hub Policy Project Discussion Draft. An overwhelming majority of comments asked Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability to propose an “Alternative 4 plus more” solution to draw down the amount of flammable and toxic liquid fuel stored at the CEI Hub and to prioritize our public and ecological health and safety.

Save the Date! On December 16, the Planning Commission will hold a hearing on the CEI Hub Policy Project. Along with partner organizations, we will hold a rally before the hearing, and there will be an opportunity to share your comments virtually, in person, or in writing. The rally starts at 3:00pm, the hearing will be from 4:00-8:00pm, at 1900 SW 4th Ave. Stay tuned for more details!

Data Centers + Electricity Costs

350PDX supported the passage of the POWER Act in the 2025 Oregon legislative session, along with other energy justice advocates led by our friends at Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board (CUB). The bill is designed to hold data centers accountable for their own energy costs.

This fall, regulators are considering a new framework for how PGE divides costs for its different customer groups — including a new data center customer category. This case will become the template for how data center customers are charged for energy costs for all of Oregon’s for-profit utilities. We need your help to eliminate any new data centers’ energy costs from going onto the bills of our homes and small businesses, starting with PGE.

Submit your comments by December 1 for the biggest impact! Modify and send this one-click email from CUB, or use this talking points toolkit to craft and send your own message to the Public Utility Commission on Docket UM 2377.

Host a House Party! “Make Polluters Pay” Bill

Do you want to be part of a movement to make polluters accountable for the damage they have caused to the climate, environment, and public health? We’re building a grassroots campaign to support a “Make Polluters Pay” bill in Oregon, following the successful passage of similar bills in Vermont and New York.

Along with other partner organizations, we’re helping organize house parties across the state in the next few months, to educate people about this bill and to prepare them to take action during the legislative session in February. Can you host a small (8–12 people) gathering in your home or other location? If so, please contact Cherice Bock (cherice@350pdx.org) for more information.

The best way to get involved in the Fossil Fuel Resistance Team is to join us at our next meeting on Zoom: Tuesday, November 11 at 5:30pm. Please reach out to Ben Platt for the Zoom link: benplatt59@gmail.com. You can also sign up to volunteer and receive updates on the CEI Hub campaign using this form: https://350pdx.app.neoncrm.com/forms/38

Arts Team

The 350pdx Arts Team went all out for October’s No Kings rally! Forty puppeteers showed off our puppets representing climate justice issues and threats to species, waterways, and democratic government. Highlights included new puppets grieving these losses, and a new Statue of Liberty.

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Photos: Kyla Yeoman
And we have plans for more! This upcoming Sunday, November 9, 1:00-4:00pm at 3639 N Mississippi, we begin a new round of puppets, insects mostly. Please join us for paper mache fun and for planning our new storage system with our new storage shelves! And just so we’re sure we have enough materials and snacks, please let Donna know if you will be there. We hope you will! Email: murph1949@aol.com

 

Book Club

Want to learn more about climate issues, envision creative solutions and alternate worlds, and relax with fellow humans in a casual setting? Join the 350PDX Book Club! We meet on the first Wednesday of each month, alternating between in-person and virtual meetings and between fiction and nonfiction. Bring snacks or drinks to share, or just your wonderful personality. All are welcome, regardless of whether you’ve read all, some, or none of the book.

Join our next gathering on Wednesday, December 3 at 6:30pm at the 350PDX Office (3639 N. Mississippi Ave.). This month, we’re reading The Overstory by Richard Powers, “a moving tale of the profound relationship between people and trees, and the consequences of ignoring that relationship” (source).

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Save the date for our next meetings:

  • Wednesday, January 7 at 6:30pm (Google Meet) – Book TBD

  • Wednesday, February 4 at 6:30pm (350PDX Offices) – Nonfiction Book TBD


Reach out to books@350PDX.org with any questions, RSVPs, or to join our list. See you soon!

Washington County Team

We have been active in showing up for democracy in our communities around Washington County. The City of Hillsboro has invited us to plan our next Electrification/Sustainability Fair with them in summer of 2026.

We are participating in a campaign to encourage the Washington County Board of Commissioners to adopt a long-overdue climate action plan. If you are in Washington County and would like to support the campaign, please reach out to us!

Our next online meeting will take place at 6:30pm on Tuesday, November 12. For the link, join us here or contact us at 350washco@gmail.com. Our general activities include tracking government at multiple levels around climate and environment, connecting with the Beaverton and the Tigard Climate Action teams, stewarding our Pollinator Garden at Bagley Park in Hillsboro, and more! We always welcome newcomers to our events and to our monthly online meetings (6:30pm on the second Tuesday of the month).

 

Thank you for reading our newsletter!

With gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica, Noelle

2025 October Newsletter!

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September brought a wave of climate-focused events alongside intense political developments, both locally and globally.

On September 21, 350PDX and several other climate organizations participated in Sun Day, a national day of action to celebrate clean energy and share strategies for transitioning away from fossil fuels. Before our incredible puppets took to the streets and dazzled onlookers, several speakers—including Senator Jeff Merkley and Senator Khanh Pham—addressed the crowd. They spoke about clean energy, climate change, the ongoing genocide in Gaza, ICE activity, and recent government cuts to healthcare and food assistance. As the connections between these issues grow clearer, we hope more people will be inspired to take collective action—for justice, for the planet, and for one another.

Photos of Sun Day here!

Team News

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

The Fossil Fuel Resistance team is hard at work on several new campaigns. We’re in the thick of pushing the City of Portland to transform the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub, and we’re laying the groundwork for campaigns focused on “Make Polluters Pay” and keeping data centers fueling AI from destroying our energy and water infrastructure.

It’s a great time to join the Fossil Fuel Resistance team and make an immediate impact in our ongoing work or help strategize for these future campaigns! Take the actions below, then join us at our next online meeting on Tuesday, October 14 at 5:30pm, or our next in-person meeting on October 28 at the 350PDX office. Please reach out to Ben Platt for the Zoom link: benplatt59@gmail.com.

You can also sign up to volunteer and receive updates on the CEI Hub campaign using this form: https://350pdx.app.neoncrm.com/forms/38

“Make Polluters Pay” National Petition

350PDX is part of a national campaign organizing to pass “Make Polluters Pay” bills in as many states as possible. At the state level, we’re bringing back a bill from last session. Sign this Make Polluters Pay national petition to show that people all over the country want to see big oil companies held accountable for the damage they’ve caused. Send a message to our members of Congress and other elected officials. This will help support our state level work and show a groundswell of support.

Comment on the CEI Hub Policy Project Discussion Draft, Webinar 10/12

Portland’s Bureau of Planning and Sustainability has released a “discussion draft” with suggested alternatives for the future of the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub, the 6-mile stretch of toxic fuel tanks lining the west side of the Willamette in North Portland (where Zenith Energy stores its fuels). This is a crucial moment in which Portland gets to decide: will we continue putting our community in grave danger by “business as usual” alternatives that maintain or increase toxic fuels at the CEI Hub, causing a major disaster in the event of the inevitable Cascadia earthquake? Or will we begin drawing down the fuels stored at this site and transitioning our region away from toxic and climate-harming fuels?

Join us this Sunday, October 12, from 1:00-2:00pm for a CEI Hub comment writing workshop in partnership with Oregon Sierra Club. You’ll learn about the CEI Hub Policy Project Discussion Draft, have an opportunity to ask questions, and begin writing your public comment.

Not available to attend the webinar? Submit your own comment here by October 17. Use these talking points if you’d like, or modify this one-click email

Forest Defense Team

The Portland Urban Forest Plan (PUFP)

The PUFP is heading to the full City Council for a vote on October 15. This is a long-term cooling plan for our city — and more. You can participate by sending a letter to encourage your City Councilors to vote “yes.”

To help ensure the plan is actionable, 350PDX and allied organizations worked with Councilor Kanal and bureau staff to introduce amendments (incorporated by the Climate, Resilience, and Land Use Committee) that establish timelines for plans to shift responsibility for public street tree care, and street tree-related sidewalk repair, from the adjacent property owner to the City. (These are two root causes of Portland’s heat/tree canopy disparity.)

See the Executive Summary to explore habitat, health, and other aspects of this plan. Retrofitting our neighborhoods for a warmer future may be a challenge, but 50 years from now Portlanders will thank us for it!

Shade Equity Social

Join Thrive East PDX and 350PDX for an evening of laying down connections and building pathways toward tree canopy infrastructure retrofits, green jobs, and a more resilient East Portland. 

Thursday, October 23, from 6:00-8:00pm at The Center Powered by Y.O.U.T.H 16126 SE Stark Street, Portland OR 97233

Middle Big Noise Walk

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Join the Forest Defense team on Saturday, October 25 for an adventure out to the “Middle Big Noise” timber units in the Clatsop State Forest.

We will walk through this legacy forest full of western hemlock and Douglas fir, talk about state forestry management, and share ways to get involved with our state forests. More information and RSVP here.

Photo: Zoe Foxe

 

Arts Team

At our many September Artbuilds, we created two identical, massive, panoramic murals that turned Extinction Rebellion’s firetruck into a float for the Sun Day celebration in downtown Portland. Thank you to the many people who showed up to create a reminder of the climate justice world we want to live in, and to the puppeteers who gave life to our puppets, danced with Inca dancers, and made the downtown parade so memorable.

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The work goes on! October 12 is our Second Sunday Artbuild, 1:00-4:00pm at the 350PDX workshop. We’ll be finishing up another round of puppets who’ll make their debut at the No Kings rally, October 18. Help us, if you can! We need help building at the Artbuild, and also puppeteering our parade of huge puppets. Let Donna know if you can help: murph1949@aol.com

SW Team

The 350PDX Southwest Team includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. We meet monthly on Zoom to plan for in-person actions, presentations, and discussions in our communities. Our next online planning meeting is Monday, October 13 at 6:30pm. Or you can join our weekly street corner demonstrations. Reach out to Pat at patk5@msn.com to learn more.

Team members will be waving signs at SW Multnomah and SW 35th on Fridays at 4:00pm thru October. In November, we will be at SW Terwilliger and SW Taylors Ferry. Come join us, we have extra climate action signs to share!

 

Volunteer Spotlight

Ben Platt

Ben is a writer and educator who grew up in the Mountain West and has come to call Portland his permanent home. Between the food and fermentation scene, the abundant opportunities to get outside and connect with the more than human world and, most importantly, the wonderful community of people wanting to make the world a better place, Ben is happy to have found a place in Portland.

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When looking for a place to get involved in long-term organizing in Portland, Ben started by helping with mutual aid and meal distribution projects before hearing about 350PDX from a friend who happened to be a volunteer. After attending a month-long youth climate organizing workshop put on by 350PDX and coalition partners, he joined the Fossil Fuel Resistance team and hasn’t looked back. He now calls 350PDX his organizing home.

Ben has now spent two years volunteering with 350PDX and has become one of the core volunteers on the Fossil Fuel Resistance team. He appreciates how much 350PDX is able to connect people and organizations throughout our Portland communities and bring them together to advocate for an environmentally just future for all, no matter their background or interests.

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Before we say close this newsletter, a reminder that this Friday, Rumble on the River and Public Grids present Portland’s Future: It’s in Our Hands, an evening of music and ideas for building a Portland that provides and cares for everyone with new public investment in public goods. We hope to see you there!

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica

PS Much thanks to 350PDX volunteer Joaquin Moore who created the beautiful puppet logo at the top of this email!

 

 

 

 

 

2025 September Newsletter!

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While summer lingers in the air, we can feel the gentle tug of autumn. 350PDX has been in quite a state of transition–making it through our financial crisis and reimagining the ways we should go forward. It is such an exciting time, and the change of season feels appropriate.

We have so much to be grateful for, especially our community and amazing volunteers. You rallied around us and helped save 350PDX with your time, donations, art, advice, and words of support. Thank you. At our next Action Night, we want to show our appreciation and share our vision for a new, more inspiring and impactful 350PDX. Save the date: September 18, and look for an email with more info soon!

Also, we hope to see you at Sun Day, September 21, a national day of action that will celebrate the sun power revolution and bring us together to stand up to people and policies aiming to stop the clean energy transition. Sun Day PDX is one of 215 events happening nationwide! There will be speakers from Ecotrust, Oregon State Senate, Union of Concerned Scientists and more, a parade/march across the Hawthorne Bridge, and a “Sun Ball” from Making Earth Cool! More info here! And please see our Arts Team section below, they need folks to help with our magical puppets!

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Team News

 

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

The 350PDX Fossil Fuel Resistance Team spent the summer learning together about different campaigns we can focus on, and we’re excited to have made decisions and rolled up our sleeves to get to work! These campaigns include: Transitioning the CEI (Critical Energy Infrastructure) Hub, Make Polluters Pay, and Fighting the Energy Impacts of Data Centers & AI. If any of these topics interest you, now’s a great time to join the team!

We’re also getting ready and excited for the 25th Rumble on the River Community Forum on Thursday, September 25th and would love for you to join us.

Rumble on the River 25 – What Can We Do About The CEI Hub?
Come learn about what’s behind and ahead with the on-going CEI Hub Policy Project and celebrate the 25th in our series of Rumble on the River community forums.

Thursday, September 25th at 1241 Lloyd Center
5:00pm The Unpresidented Brass Band performance
5:30pm Rumble Co-Sponsor Tabling & 25th Rumble Celebration
6:30pm Rumble Community Forum
More info here!

We also invite you to join us at two upcoming film screenings for the documentary Chasing Chimeras: The Lure of Deceptive Climate Solutions, happening at Cinema 21 on Wednesday, September 24 at 7 PM and at St Johns Twin Cinemas on Wednesday, October 15 at 7 PM.

JOIN THE FFR TEAM: Our next meeting is on Zoom on Tuesday, September 9 at 5:30pm. Please reach out to Team Lead Ben Platt for the Zoom link: benplatt59@gmail.com. After that, our next meeting is in-person at the 350PDX office on Tuesday, September 23.

Forest Defense Team

The Forest Defense team is continuing our work on two major campaigns: (1) increasing the tree canopy in Portland, focusing on shade equity (2) pushing for climate-smart management of the state forests through preserving legacy forest on state lands and lengthening logging rotations on plantation forests on state lands.

In the shade equity campaign we are encouraging the city to approve a strong Urban Forest Plan. The Climate Resilience and Land Use Committee will review a draft plan on September 11th. 

In the state forest campaign, we are working to raise awareness about the upcoming timber sale of a legacy forest near Astoria. If this sale, known as Middle Big Noise, goes through, 100 acres of mature, diverse forest in the Clatsop State Forest will be clear cut. We think it should be preserved for carbon storage, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat. This fall, the team is planning a hike in the Middle Big Noise area and would love to have you join us!

We are also asking Governor Kotek to appoint a new state forester who will consider climate change and ecological management as top priorities. The governor will nominate the new state forester, a position that is currently empty.

GET CONNECTED: Join the Forest Defense Team meetings on the first and third Monday of each month from 6:00-7:30 pm.  Contact volunteer team leads Felice Kelly (felice.kelly@gmail.com) or Tyler Gilmore (tyler@350pdx.org) to get involved.

Arts Team

Throughout July and August and into September, the 350PDXArts Team is turning the “World on Fire” truck into a huge float for Sun Day, September 21. The float showcases Portland’s natural resources and the many successful renewable strategies humans use for energy.

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To do that, we work at the 350PDX workshop (3639 N Mississippi) 4 days a week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, from 1:00-4:00pm. We’ll continue to do so until the float is finished or until September 21, whichever comes first. Some puppets also need finishing: the dragonfly and the powerful new Mourning Mothers puppets showing grief for the changes in our world since fossil fuels. We also need a small army of puppeteers for the Sun Day rally and parade.

Please join us! Let Donna know if you can help: murph1949@aol.com. No experience necessary!

350 Washington County Team

We presented our first Electrification and Sustainability Fair in Hillsboro on August 9. Six months of planning in partnership with the City of Hillsboro and local allies came to beautiful fruition! Attendance numbers were near 500, there were more than 40 exhibitors, and lots of electric vehicles to check out. Oregon’s climate activist and 2025 Kid Governor Rosie Lanenga spoke to attendees and tried out e-bikes and scooters.

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There were tons of fun activities for the whole family and free ice cream treats as well. Door prizes included a STIHL electric lawn trimmer, a two burner induction cooktop, pool parties, and more.  The event was a huge success.

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Our summer potluck on August 24 was well-attended and we got to have a chat session with special guest Senator Janeen Sollman (district 15).

Our next online meeting will take place at 6:30pm on Tuesday, September 9. For the link, join us here. Our general activities include: tracking government at multiple levels around climate and environment, connecting with the Beaverton and the Tigard Climate Action teams, stewarding our Pollinator Garden at Bagley Park in Hillsboro, and more! We always welcome newcomers to our events and to our monthly online meetings (6:30pm on the second Tuesday of the month).

SW Team

Welcome to the Southwest Neighborhood Team, which includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. We work together to raise awareness of the climate emergency.

Our street corner demonstrations continue weekly in September, every Friday from 4:00-5:00pm at SW Multnomah & SW 35th Avenue. We reach hundreds of commuters with our climate action signs in a highly visible location. Street parking is available or reach us via bus or bike. We have extra signs to share!

Join our upcoming outreach event. We will be promoting our Climate Action Now yard signs at the Hillsdale Farmers Market from 8:30am to 1:oopm. on Sunday, October 5. To sign up for a 2-hour shift please contact Pat at patk5@msn.com.

GET CONNECTED: Join our monthly Zoom meeting on Monday, September 15th, from 6:30-7:30pm. To get involved, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at patk5@msn.com.

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350PDX is  excited to welcome the Portland chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) to the 350PDX Workshop! DSA shares many of our commitments to justice, community power, and art as a tool for liberation. We’re proud to build partnership and solidarity while also stewarding our space and resources wisely. Welcome to the workshop—we’re glad you’re here!

As we make the space more welcoming, we’re on the lookout for a few things to help warm up the vibe—barstools to increase our seating options, and especially floor lamps or string lights (because fluorescent lights are not friends with coziness)! If you’ve got any of these items to spare, we’d love to hear from you.

With so much gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica

2025 August Newsletter!

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We’ve got plenty of exciting updates to share—starting with a special Forest Defense Team spotlight on July’s Pedalpalooza & Action Night, a vibrant summer tradition that puts Shade Equity front and center in a most joyful way.

Before we dive in, please consider that we’re in the final crucial days of our Save 350PDX campaign. So much gratitude to all who have donated and sent in testimonials (more about that below). If you haven’t yet done so, we’d love your support to get us through the finish line.

Save the Dates!

We do not have an Action Night in August. Take time to rest, then get ready for some sizzling September action!

September 18 Action Night

September 21 Sun Day – a national day of action celebrating solar and wind power, and the movement to leave fossil fuels behind. Our puppets will be attending the Portland rally and dazzling folks in the march! Check out our Arts Team update below if you’d like to get involved.

More info soon!

Team News

Forest Defense Team

Shade Equity:

On Thursday evening, July 17, bikers rolled out of Lents Park to take to the streets and observe differences in tree canopy by neighborhood, from the very under-canopied Lents to the tree-filled and cool Laurelhurst.

At the start of the ride, we heard from David Grandfield (Portland Clean Energy Fund) about the equitable tree canopy program, and from Gena Gastaldi (PBOT) who is heading the “Trees In the Curb Zone Pilot Project”. Our route included the stretch of SE Duke between 82nd & 94th where pavement has been removed and trees have been planted! On streets like Duke, where there is no existing space for public trees, this innovative project is the best way to increase shade and livability.

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 All Pedalpalooza/Action Night photos: Dana Schott

As we biked west, we saw more space for trees in the public right of way and many larger trees lining the roads, culminating in a cathedral of neighborhood trees as we neared Laurelhurst Park–where the 350PDX Action Night was ready to receive bikers.

At Laurelhurst Park we shared food and drinks donated by several local businesses, including Dove Vivi, Level Beer, Secret Pizza Society, Mississippi Pizza, and Straightaway Cocktails.

We had a silent action with donations from Clever Cycles, SymbiOp Garden Shop, Sparrowhawk Native Plants, Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe, Oaks Park Amusement Park, Pips Doughnuts & Chai, BikeTown, and Cascade Solar. Speakers from our partner organizations (including GreenMe, Neighbors for Clean Air, Trees for Life Oregon, and Friends of Trees) shared the importance of shade canopy and ways to get involved.

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We celebrated the recent success of the Shade Equity Coalition’s campaign for the city to plant and care for 1,400 street trees starting this winter. Participants wrote postcards to city councilors, thanking them for standing up for our urban trees during the recent budget discussions, and urging councilors reviewing the Urban Forestry Plan to push for fortifying our urban forests now, ensuring the plan’s metrics and performance tracking are even more robust.

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It was a wonderful summer evening, and a great reminder of the power of community and the importance of our urban forest.

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State Forest:

On Sunday, July 27, the Forest Defense team took a trip out to the “Middle Big Noise” timber units in the Clatsop State Forest. This is 192 acres of primarily Western Hemlock and Douglas Fir slated to be clearcut and sold for timber in 2026. We measured trees, identified plants and wildlife, snacked on wild berries, and discussed how we can get involved to protect the trees, habitat, and watersheds in our forests.

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Forest Photos: Zoe Foxe

GET CONNECTED: Join the Forest Defense Team meetings on the first and third Monday of each month from 6:00-7:30 pm.  Contact volunteer team leads Felice Kelly (felice.kelly@gmail.com) or Tyler Gilmore (tyler@350pdx.org) to get involved.

Climate Policy Team

Climate Justice Policy in City Hall

We’ve been active in Portland City Hall this month, advocating for policies more aligned with climate justice. Here are some highlights:

  • With strong assistance from Councilor Morillo and alongside partner groups, we helped pass a Flood Hazard Amendment that retains affordable flood insurance, and that better protects endangered salmon and other species in Portland Harbor. Requirements for planting trees and vegetation help reduce climate harm.

  • At our Shade Equity Ride and Action Night, we collected over 100 postcards in support of a strong Urban Forest Plan. We then dropped them off (and talked) with members of the Climate, Resilience, and Land Use Committee. The draft plan was heard last week and there will be opportunities for public comment in September.

  • Advocates from our team met with Councilor Green to discuss climate overlaps with transportation.

  • We held a District 4 climate chat with Councilor Clark.

We’ve also been tabling at events around Portland and visiting neighborhood associations and community groups. If you’re part of a group that would like us to come share about our work/bring an info table to an event, please reach out to Cherice Bock (cherice@350pdx.org)!

Thank you, summer climate policy interns!

We had the joy and honor of hosting five summer climate policy interns, thanks to generous stipends from Lewis & Clark College, Reed College, and University of Portland. Thank you so much Abyan Osman, Charlie Welling, Emma Johnson, Lyra Meyers, and Max Hanley for your good work!

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Interns boldly dove into an array of tasks this summer, from attending lobby days in Salem to City Council meetings in Portland, from reaching out to neighborhood/community groups in each Portland district to helping host Action Nights. They helped lead trainings, attended coalition meetings, created info sheets, and met with legislators and city councilors. Interns also updated our 2024 Climate Justice Platform. 350PDX created the platform so candidates for city council and mayor could endorse our goals. Through the efforts of interns and partner groups, we will share our updated Climate Justice Platform in September, noting exciting progress as well as next steps for some areas we’re still working on.

Arts Team

Last month, 350PDX’s Arts team members presented a puppet building artbuild at an Oregon Wild fundraiser. We have now plunged into turning the familiar World on Fire Firetruck into an amazing float of hope for September’s Sun Day rally and parade. That event happens September 21, which means we have six weeks to complete this task! Yikes! Can you help?

We’ll have extra art builds planned to please everyone’s schedule, and a range of  activities for every art ability. The first planned art build is August 10, 1:00-4:00pm, in our air conditioned workspace, 3639 N Mississippi. There will be many more, some on weekdays, some in the evenings. Watch the 350pdx calendar for the art build schedule, and let us know if you can make it please. (Reach out to Donna murph1949@aol.com).

Last November, Donovan Zimmerman from Paperhand Puppets came to help our 350PDX Arts Team reimagine how we can provide visual support to 350PDX’s climate campaigns. Last month, tropical storm Chantal flooded Paperhand’s North Carolina warehouse, bringing a  firsthand awareness of our climate crisis. Please watch the following video and help them as you are able.

Paperhand Needs Your Help to Recover From a Climate Crisis

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

Our team is currently planning and voting on our top campaigns that we’ll be focusing on for the next year, so it’s a great time to join! The next Fossil Fuel Resistance team meeting is on Tuesday, August 12, at 5:30pm on Zoom. To RSVP and get the link, email Dineen at dineen@350pdx.org.

Volunteer Spotlight

Kami Gould

Kami Gould is proud to call Portland her life-long home. She is an illustrator, tattoo artist, and educator who has been passionate about climate justice for as long as she can remember. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, she found it easy to form a deep connection to the natural world and its overwhelming beauty. As a member of Gen Z, she can’t remember a time she wasn’t aware of the looming spectre of climate change.

Kami has been volunteering at 350PDX for a little over a year. She first heard about 350 as a student at Sunnyside Environmental School, and followed the organization as the Portland chapter grew. While she was in between jobs, Kami decided to check it out for herself, and was delighted to find a vibrant, long term community. She quickly started working with the Arts Team, helping occasionally with the Storytelling team, and became the Co-Facilitator of the 350 Bookclub.

One of the things Kami finds most impressive and valuable about 350PDX is its ability to offer volunteers a wide variety of areas where they can help. This allows people to play to their strengths and interests, find like-minded people, and invest in a niche they feel excited about. 350PDX has offered a consistent, dependable, and open place to talk with other people who care about climate justice. At the 350PDX Action Night following Trump’s election, Kami remembers how invaluable it felt to be surrounded by others who were devastated by this blow and yet still showed up. 350PDX offers so much to its community and gives so many opportunities to be useful in a fight far too big to take on alone.

 

350 Washington County Team

We will launch our first Electrification and Sustainability Fair in Hillsboro on August 9; lots of planning is coming to fruition in partnership with the City of Hillsboro and with local allies. Tons of fun activities for the whole family, and free Kona ice cream treats for the first 100 guests. Door prizes include STIHL electric lawn trimmer, a two burner induction cooktop, pool parties, and more. Oregon’s climate activist 2025 Kid Governor Rosie Lanenga will be on hand to meet attendees. We still need volunteers for the event! If you’d like to volunteer, please check out the opportunities here, and you can email 350WashCo@gmail.com with any questions.

We will not have an August online meeting, but we invite everyone to our summer potluck picnic at 11am on Sunday, August 24 in Hillsboro. Drop us a note if you’d like to join us! Our general activities include: tracking government at multiple levels around climate and environment, connecting with the Beaverton and the Tigard Climate Action teams, stewarding our Pollinator Garden at Bagley Park in Hillsboro, and more! We always welcome newcomers to our events and to our online meetings.

SW Team

Welcome to the Southwest Neighborhood Team, which includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. We work together to raise awareness of the climate emergency.

Our street corner demonstrations continue weekly in August, every Friday from 4:00-5:00pm at SW Garden Home & SW Olsen Road. We reach hundreds of commuters with our climate action signs in a highly visible location. Parking is available in the Garden Home Community Center lot, or reach us via bus or bike. We have extra signs to share!

GET CONNECTED: Join our monthly Zoom meeting on Monday, August 11th, from 6:30-7:30pm. To get involved, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at patk5@msn.com.

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It’s been absolutely inspiring to see the support pouring in from our community over the past 2 months, both in the form of donations and from inspiring, moving testimonials about what 350PDX means to you all. Here’s another favorite of ours:

“350PDX is my antidote to climate anxiety! It gives me hope, empowerment — and, above all, community. 350PDX works to bring people together to grow the climate movement and do the critical work of protecting our shared home. There are so many ways to get involved, whether you are a lifelong activist or just starting to learn, and the campaigns make a real difference in state, local, and regional policies. 350PDX is like no other community, and I feel so fortunate to have found such a passionate and active group of diverse folks. Please join me in becoming a monthly donor, or make a one-time donation to keep the momentum going!” – Elizabeth

Aw, we’re blushing! If you’re feeling inspired to give in these final days of our campaign, we’d be so grateful.

With so much gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica, Katie

July 2025 Newsletter!

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Welcome to our July newsletter! Before we share exciting campaign updates and sizzling summer events, we want to express our gratitude for the incredible support and generosity from our community over the past several weeks. We’ve now passed the halfway mark of our goal, and testimonials from volunteers and donors are coming in daily, all expressing what 350PDX means to them and why we all need to step up to support. (Check them out here – it’s an inspiring read!)

We’re starting the first day of the month with an exciting announcement: two committed 350PDX supporters have joined up to create a $35,000 matching fund because they believe in our work and in you. Starting today and for the next 10 days, all donations to 350PDX will be doubled, up to $35,000!

DONATE TO 350PDX

 

Upcoming Events

Summer’s in full swing and July is a busy month! Stay up to date on all the ways to get involved with 350PDX on our calendar. Here’s some big events we’re especially excited about:

Wednesday, July 16 – Rabble Rouser: a Training in Joyful Resistance and Collective Action (feat. Pattie Gonia)! Our 350PDX Arts Team will be hosting a Puppet Workshop as part of this event, along with many other useful trainings in grassroots organizing, lobbying, mutual aid, and more. Dinner is included, too! If you want to attend and help table for 350PDX, you can get in for free. Reach out to dineen@350pdx.org for more info!

Thursday, July 17 – 350PDX July Action Night & Pedalpalooza Ride! Join us for a two-part Action Night that you won’t want to miss! We will be focusing on bringing joy, curiosity, and thoughtful attention to our urban canopy and its inequities which fall along lines of historical racism and income disparities.

6:00 pm Urban Shade Equity Pedalpalooza Ride  – Meet at Lents Park (SE Corner Lents Park near SE Steele St & SE 92nd Ave) We will ride by the newly constructed Trees In the Curb Zone Pilot Project and experience the differences in shade canopy as we make our way to Laurelhurst Park. Kids welcome, though they should be able to keep up with a pace that’s casual for adults. It’s a one-way (not a loop) ride ending at Laurelhurst Park.

7:30 pm Action Night – Laurelhurst Park – Picnic Spot A (Near SE Oak St & SE 35th Ave) We will meet up with the riders for refreshments, speakers, and information from partner organizations. We’ll take some time to celebrate recent shade equity wins and take action to support a more equitable urban forest. There will also be a very exciting SILENT AUCTION raising funds for 350PDX with prizes from local businesses (SymbiOp, Clever Cycles, Oaks Park, Alder Creek Kayaks, and more). 

RSVP (not necessary but helpful for planning).

Come to both the bike ride and Action Night, or just Action Night!

TEAM NEWS

Forest Defense Team

Shade Equity:

The forest defense team is hosting the 4th annual Urban Shade Equity Pedalpalooza Ride! See info above!

Starting this month, City Council will be reviewing the Portland Urban Forest Plan – which is critical for protecting, preserving, restoring, and expanding the urban forest in an equitable and sustainable way. Stay tuned for if/how we will get involved.

State Forests:

Our state forests are primarily managed as production forests. To shed light on what this state forest management actually looks like beneath the canopy, our team is going to be following the “Middle Big Noise” timber sale. The coast range is very productive and efficient in carbon fixing, which is important for ecology, habitat, and water quality, but also for offsetting global climate change. As we track this sale, we will be heading out to the land, bringing awareness, and demonstrating what State Forest management means on the ground.

Protecting Forest Park:

PGE has appealed the city council’s decision, which prevented them from clearcutting almost five acres of Forest Park for new energy transmission lines. Crag Law Center is supporting 3 environmental groups defending the city’s decision, and will present their case to the Land Use Board of Appeals.

Industrial Biomass: 

Two big wins in the industrial biomass industry:

First, the various proposals from Mike Less to sell off public lands have been struck down. If this went forward, it would have cleared the way for Drax and other climate villains to turn our forests into wood pellets to be shipped overseas. Second, our allies fighting biomass plants in California have defeated Golden State Natural Resources — which proposed to build two industrial-scale wood pellet plants and a storage and export terminal in Northern California. Read the press release here.

GET CONNECTED: Join the Forest Defense Team meetings on the first and third Monday of each month from 6:00-7:30 pm.  Contact volunteer team leads Felice Kelly (felice.kelly@gmail.com) or Tyler Gilmore (tyler@350pdx.org) to get involved.

Climate Policy Team

State legislative session concludes.

Oregon’s legislative session finished up with a flurry of activity late Friday night, passing several of our priority bills. Concerningly, the session did not result in large-scale progress on climate justice priorities, and it ended without the approval of a transportation package that’s needed to fund the Oregon Department of Transportation for the next 8 years.

That said, several of the bills we advocated for did pass, and none of the bills we opposed moved forward. Bills that passed included HB 2081 (requires the Treasury to analyze and manage climate risk in our state’s PERS investments), as well as several bills related to a more efficient electrical grid and to utilities oversight and affordability. Farmworker disaster relief received a bit of funding as well. Read more about the results for our priority bills here.

Though this was a difficult budget year amidst a challenging political situation at the federal level, we are disappointed our lawmakers chose to delay necessary actions to transition to a more sustainable social and economic system. Putting off climate justice today will only become more costly tomorrow. Thank you for working together as a community to speak up about these important topics!

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

June was a successful month! We finished the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) comment period and submitted thousands of comments against Zenith’s Air Contaminant Discharge Permit. In the final days of the comment period we personally delivered 3,095 handwritten comments to the DEQ! Now we await DEQ’s decision. 

We also co-hosted a fantastic Rumble on the River at Green Anchors, along the banks of the Willamette. It was the 24th Rumble community forum in our series, with over 100 people in attendance! Thank you so much for joining us.

GET CONNECTED: The Fossil Fuel Resistance Team meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 5:30 pm, rotating between meeting in-person and virtually on Zoom. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, July 8 at 5:30pm and is virtual. It’s a great time to jump in! Please RSVP to dineen@350pdx.org for the Zoom link. New to the team? Our team leads can also meet with you 1:1 before our meeting for an orientation, if you’d like! Just reach out to dineen@350pdx.org

Community Development

The 350PDX Book Club meets Wednesday, July 2nd, for our virtual meeting from 6:30-8:00pm. Our July book choice is We Will Be Jaguars by Nemonte Nenquimo. If you’ve read the book, or just want to join for an enriching conversation about climate justice and resistance movements in the Global south, feel free to attend!

We’ll meet in person on August 6th at the 350PDX office to discuss The Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang.

More info about both meetings and RSVPs can be found on the 350PDX Book Club page.

Volunteer Spotlight

Lizy Johnson

Lizy has been involved with the 350PDX Book Club since early 2024 and is now one of its three volunteer coordinators.

Lizy came to 350PDX seeking opportunities to learn and build community around issues of climate justice, but she was so new to the field that she didn’t know where to start. She tried out a few teams but found a home in the Book Club. Her professional background is in museums, which has shaped her belief in the power of inclusive learning spaces. Stories can be that entry point for individuals, regardless of background, to gain exposure to new knowledge and perspectives and to build the confidence to talk with others about difficult topics like climate change.

Lizy also loves how the Book Club brings together folks across 350PDX and how the wandering discussions help give visibility into all the incredible work happening. For example, in our last discussion, about “Climate Optimism” by Zahra Biabani, the group celebrated the amazing successes of this group over the past year, shared by those who were hands on in those campaigns.
Lizy invites you to join an upcoming Book Club meeting–whether or not you’ve read the book! The Book Club meets on the first Wednesday of the month, alternating virtual and in person.

350 Washington County Team

We’ve been working on a big new project to put on an Electrification and Sustainability Fair in Hillsboro on August 9; lots of planning is happening in partnership with the City of Hillsboro and with local allies. We have tabling opportunities for green energy and environmental advocate groups – let us know if you are interested. And we need volunteers for the event! If you’d like to volunteer, please check out the opportunities here, and you can email 350WashCo@gmail.com with any questions.

Our team tracked the legislative session and are glad that a few bills got across the finish line! We fought a losing battle to keep the County Sustainability Office funded; the last staff member is gone.

Our next online meeting will take place at 6:30pm on Tuesday, July 8. For the link, join us here. Our general activities include: tracking government at multiple levels around climate and environment, connecting with the Beaverton and the Tigard Climate Action teams, stewarding our Pollinator Garden at Bagley Park in Hillsboro, and more! We always welcome newcomers to our events and to our monthly online meetings (6:30pm on the second Tuesday of the month).

SW Team

Welcome to the Southwest Neighborhood Team, which includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. We work together to raise awareness of the climate emergency.

Our street corner demonstrations continue weekly in July, every Friday from 4:00-5:00pm at SW Garden Home & SW Olsen Road. We reach hundreds of commuters with our climate action signs in a highly visible location. Parking is available in the Garden Home Community Center lot, or reach us via bus or bike. We have extra signs to share!

GET CONNECTED: Join our monthly Zoom meeting on Monday, July 21st, from 6:30-7:30pm. To get involved, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at patk5@msn.com.

DONATE TO 350PDX

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter, and for being part of the 350PDX community. Before we close our July newsletter, we’d like to remind you of our matching fund. A $50 donation now becomes $100 to power climate justice organizing when we need it most. We know it’s a tough time for many — and that’s why this opportunity is so powerful. Your gifts now go twice as far, starting today and until July 10. 

With so much gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica, Katie

Check us out on XRAY FM’s The Commons.

Did you know we are now on Bluesky? Please follow for news, events, action alerts, and more!

June 2025 Updates and Events

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We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the donations and testimonials we’ve received after launching our Save 350PDX campaign just 2 weeks ago. We’re moving closer to our goal every single day. If you’ve already donated, thank you so, so much. Here are just a few of your wonderful testimonials:

“As someone who was there when 350PDX was just 6 or 7 people around a kitchen table, I am wowed by all it has accomplished and how big and respected it has grown to be. When we started, the climate crisis wasn’t on the City’s consciousness or agenda. But now we can thank 350PDX for this and so much more, including the Portland Clean Energy Fund and the fabulous art at rallies and parades. I am proud to call myself a founder and donor to 350PDX.”

– Sandy

“350PDX has been the heart of the climate movement for over ten years. These folks are the connective tissue that binds so many pieces of our movement together into a working whole. They recruit, educate, and mobilize like no other organization in this town. We can’t lose them right when we need them the most to turn our long-standing community priorities into law. Please give generously and ask others to do so as well so we can be there for 350PDX when they need us most.” 

– Nick

“When I moved to Portland I wanted to get involved in the climate movement. One call to 350PDX was all it took and I was immediately welcomed into an incredible community and connected to truly meaningful volunteer opportunities. 350PDX is an essential hub for climate action. Without it, we lose the collective power and the communal joy of our movement. Please donate to save 350PDX.” 

– Rory

 

We are working hard to Save 350PDX from an unfortunate financial crossroads, with a goal to raise $150,000 before August 1 to keep our organization alive. If we are unable to meet this goal, we will be forced to make dramatic decisions, such as leaving our beloved workshop space, laying off staff members, or closing the organization entirely. We’re doing everything we can do to avoid this, and are so grateful for this community’s immediate support in the first 2 weeks.

Donations can be made here. If you have any questions, thoughts, or ideas, you can share them with our team at info@350pdx.org. Thank you, thank you!

Team News

Fossil Fuel Resistance Team

Great work to all who came to and testified at the DEQ hearings on Zenith’s air permit application last month. Over 60 people testified between the two hearings, and all were unanimously against Zenith. That’s incredible! Not even a single industry representative bothered to show themselves and testify in front of all of us. Too scared, maybe? We’ll take it. (You can listen to the recording of the big May 12 hearing on KBOO’s Locus Focus here.)

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We’re keeping up the fight on this comment period until the official deadline on Sunday, June 15 at 5:00pm. All comments must be submitted by that time. You can submit comments online here, or you can send a longer-form comment directly to NWRAQPermits@deq.oregon.gov. We also have gathered many handwritten comments throughout this comment period, and we plan to deliver them together to the DEQ on Friday, June 13 at 1:00pm at the DEQ office (700 NE Multnomah).  Please RSVP to dineen@350pdx.org to join this in-person comment delivery, it’s going to be fun!

How to get involved: The Fossil Fuel Resistance Team meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 5:30 pm, rotating between meeting in-person and virtually on Zoom. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, June 10 at 5:30pm and is virtual. Join us at this meeting to learn more about an emerging Public Power campaign that we’re excited to get more involved in together. Please RSVP to dineen@350pdx.org for the Zoom link.

Community Development

Interested in getting involved with 350PDX? We are a volunteer-led organization and the movement needs you! There will be an orientation on Thursday, June 12th at the 350PDX office. Click here for more info and to RSVP.

The 350PDX Book Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month, alternating between virtual and in-person at our office. The next Book Club meeting is happening virtually on Wednesday July 2nd, from 6:00-8:00pm (Book TBD). Click here to sign up for the group mailing list.

The Arts Team

In May, our arts team, puppeteers and puppets marched through the streets of North Portland in the St Johns Parade. We walked near the railroad that carries Zenith oil cars, and were greeted by cheering crowds of people, many saying how much they appreciated us being there. They loved our Zenith capitalist puppet riding on our snake and oil car puppets!

Our next artbuild is June 8, 1:00-4:00pm, at 350PDX, 3639 N Mississippi. That Sunday we’ll finish puppets, make more, and clean up our work space. Can you join us for the fun? Email Donna! Murph1949@aol.com

We also need people/puppeteers for the Everything Under the Sun puppet parade in Sellwood on June 14 (yes, that June 14!) at 2:00pm in Sellwood. If you can join us, let Donna know! We hope to see you this summer!

350PDX Arts Team leads: Donna, Lauren, Allison, Dannika

Climate Policy Team

County Climate Justice Plan

Multnomah County has been working with community and environmental justice groups for the last three years to develop a Climate Justice Plan that centers community and equity. The draft plan is now open for public comments. Review the plan and submit your comments by June 29. The county’s Office of Sustainability is facing possible budget cuts and can really use strong community support right now, so even a few sentences showing support for their efforts is meaningful.

Help move state climate and environmental policies over the finish line!

The Oregon legislative session is in its final month! We are waiting to see which of our environmental and climate justice policy priorities will get funding allocated by the Ways & Means Committee. Remind legislative leaders and Ways & Means co-chairs that climate and environmental priorities have broad community support by sending this email today! See our 2025 legislative priorities page if you want to take more actions.

Welcome summer interns!

We’re excited to host five summer interns this year, supported by generous stipends from Lewis & Clark College, Reed College, and the University of Portland. Join us in welcoming the following climate policy assistants, two of whom also worked with us during the school year: Abyan Osman, Charlie Welling, Emma Johnson, Lyra Meyers, and Max Hanley. They’ll be updating our 2024 Climate Justice Platform with action steps, deepening our district organizing, and helping with the final push for the legislative session.

 Join the Climate Justice Policy Team

Contact Cherice (cherice@350pdx.org) if you’re interested in helping track the city council and its new committees, helping us implement our Climate Justice Platform, or simply want to stay more informed and up-t0-date about climate, sustainability, and environmental justice issues at the city, county, and state levels.

Washington County Team

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We’re working on a big new project to put on an Electrification and Sustainability Fair in Hillsboro on August 9; lots of planning is happening in partnership with the City of Hillsboro and with local allies. We have tabling opportunities for green energy and environmental advocate groups. And we need volunteers for the event!

Please email 350WashCo@gmail.com if you are interested!

We’ve fought a losing battle to keep the County Sustainability Office funded; the last staff member is gone. It’s great to know that Multnomah County may see better results. Washington County Commissioners oversight has resulted in a budget shortfall of $20.5 million in the general fund, and their priorities apparently don’t include all of the essential work that has been carried out by the Office of Sustainability since 2012.  Our team is tracking and regularly submitting comments on bills moving through the busy state legislative session.

Our next online meeting will take place at 6:30pm on Tuesday, June 10. For the link, reach out to debbygactivism@gmail.com. Our general activities include: connecting with the Beaverton and the Tigard Climate Action teams, stewarding our Pollinator Garden at Bagley Park in Hillsboro, and more! We always welcome newcomers to our events and to our monthly online meetings (6:30pm on the second Tuesday of the month).

Volunteer Spotlight

Heather Ikeler

Heather started volunteering with the 350PDX Arts Team in the spring of 2019. At that time, the team was working on 13 giant puppets of presidents (Kennedy through Trump) for an event taking place in tandem with the 9th Circuit Court hearing on Juliana v. United States, also known as Youth v. Gov.

Heather could see how the art that she and the team created helped communicate the worthiness and urgency of the litigants’ case.

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Heather's requested portrait!

Heather has been involved in activist and/or mutual aid communities for most of their life (with a few longish breaks along the way) and they continue to be impressed with how 350PDX provides structure and opportunities to engage in meaningful action that can be sustained over time. Heather is currently on the Forest Defense Team, and also helps out at monthly Action Nights. If they find that they have more time or energy on any given week they can easily plug in to other teams or local allies. Heather hopes to see you at the next Action Night!!

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter, and for being part of the 350PDX community. Hope is a practice, and it will take each of us to get us through the current state of things. Donate to 350PDX today.

With gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica, Katie