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)
Truth and Lies in Mass Media
03/18/2018
Michael Tyler
In an age of fragmented mass media, messages are often sent out regardless of their truth value. Michael Tyler discusses lying and gullibility in news reporting. He argues that deceit can be reduced using reasoning, science, and good-faith. Tyler is a technology business executiven and has served as faculty at New York University and MIT.
Writing for Social Change
03/11/2018
Jenny Chu
Since 1999, “Write Around Portland” has brought their workshop into communities often having the least access to writing. Jenny Chu discusses this work as a tool for social change. “Write Around Portland” was founded in 1999 and provides participant-centered, creative writing workshops in hospitals, schools, prisons, and community centers.
Radicalization of Muslims
03/04/2018
Arif Humayun & Shirin Elkoshairi
Presentation by Arif Humayun and Shirin Elkoshairi. While almost all Muslims are opposed to Al Qaeda and ISIS, there are some who, through radicalization, wage war and terrorize innocent people. Our speakers explain what Muslims believe and why a small number of them are leaving the fold to follow a path of terror. Humayun was born in Pakistan, is a U.S. citizen, a practicing Muslim, and a student of comparative religion. He manages an intellectual property licensing business. Elkoshairi is a community volunteer who seeks to help people understand one of the world’s most misunderstood religions. He serves on the board of the Islamic Society of SW Washington.
Engaging North Korea
02/25/2018
Mel Gurtov
Presentation by Mel Gurtov. Public discussion of the nuclear issue has focused on ways to deter, contain, or punish North Korea. South Korea’s efforts to create dialogue with the North point to another approach: engagement. This talk assesses North Korea’s objectives, the differing U.S. and South Korean responses, China’s often misunderstood role, and the outlines of an engagement strategy. Gurtov is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Portland State University. From 1966 to 1971 he was on the staff of the RAND Corporation where he was a co-author of the Pentagon Papers.