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)
President’s Claim to Power
08/05/2018
James Westwood
James Westwood discusses the United States Constitution and the limits of the President’s power. Mr. Westwood has spent forty years as an appellate lawyer in federal and state courts in Oregon and elsewhere.
Opioid Epidemic
07/29/2018
Dr. Cat Livingston
Dr. Cat Livingston discusses the opioid epidemic, addiction, treatment options, and public health strategies to combat the epidemic. Livingston is a family physician with an interest in preventive medicine and health care policy.
HGP Scholarship Winners
07/22/2018
Kay Byerly
Winners of Annual Humanist Essay Contest speak. The topic for this year's essay is: “At times when our nation seems sharply divided, how can Humanist values of scientific inquiry, reason, and critical thinking promote social harmony?”
Why Theater?
07/15/2018
Allen Nause
Allen Nause discusses the importance of theater in our fast paced world of instant entertainment. Can this ancient, low tech art form survive in the twenty-first century? Mr. Nause is resident artist at Artists Repertory Theatre where he served as Artistic Director for 25 years.