Ross Island sits mid-Willamette just south of downtown Portland, and has a history of being built up and exploited by men, but today it is ruled primarily by nature. From Friendly House, Mike Houck, Director of the Urban Greenspaces Institute, will present his vision of how it can serve as one. Mr. Houck has been a leader in urban nature issues since 1980 when he founded the Urban Naturalist Program at the Audubon Society of Portland. He has co-founded Coalition for a Livable Future (CLF); The national Coalition to Restore Urban Waters (CRUW); The Intertwine Alliance; and The Nature of Cities forum.
Video of Programs (search and sort)
Insights From A War
09/14/2025
Dr. Gordon Orians
In the early 1970s, at the Vietnam war's height, Dr. Orians traveled to Vietnam with a fellow scientist to consider what the war was doing to the biological environment of the country. What they encountered there was not only the devastating destruction of biological diversity but also of livable habitat and food supplies. Additionally, they drew some fascinating insights into news reports and what was actually happening on the ground. Orians is an HGP favorite, a U. Washington Professor Emeritus of Biology, has served as its Director of Environmental Studies, and has served on National Academies.
Science: https://www.science.org/toc/science/168/3931
Connecting the Dots: A New Paradigm for Solving Homelessness
09/07/2025
Dr. Sharon Meieran
People often wonder why, despite spending so much money, local governments’ efforts to end homelessness have resulted in a worsening of the public health, safety, and humanitarian crisis on our streets. Although the problem of homelessness is complex, the solutions are more straightforward than we might expect. Join retired Multnomah County Commissioner Dr. Sharon Meieran as she returns to take us on a journey behind the scenes of local government to understand the real challenges that brought us to our current state, and how, together, we can address them and move forward on a better path.
Understanding & Challenging Anti-Democracy Movements
08/31/2025
Dr. Joan Braune
Numerous ideological factions present within the current administration and adjacent networks see leaders as above law, rather than subject to it. Dr. Joan Braune presents some of the far-right ideologies and movements (including fascism and Christian nationalism) influencing current policies, and how people are counter-organizing against authoritarian hate. Dr. Braune is Lecturer in Philosophy at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, and invited expert speaker on hate groups and far-right movements. Her publications include Understanding and Countering Fascist Movements: From Void to Hope (Routledge 2024), a co-edited volume on the ethics of researching the far right.
Discussion: Being A "Good Citizen" in Today's World
08/24/2025
Anand Atre
HGP member Anand Atre conducts a thought-provoking conversation about good citizenship in today’s world. Drawing from Richard Haas’ “The Bill of Obligations,” which inspired the PBS documentary “A Citizen’s Guide to Preserving Democracy,”, we’ll briefly view and then explore Haas’ suggested essential habits for strengthening democracies and building resilient communities. In an era of increasing polarization, these habits face new tests. We’ll examine how modern pressures challenge good citizenship and undermine democratic norms. This open discussion is an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, share perspectives, and discuss actionable ideas for positive civic engagement.