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.
Understanding & Challenging Anti-Democracy Movements
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.
Presenter :
Dr. Joan Braune
Date:
Sunday, August 31, 2025