Activist Alert 6-2-2016

• Reality Kitchen, a nonprofit bakery that employs young adults with learning disabilities, is holding its inaugural “Dough Raiser” 3 pm Sunday, June 5, at Rye restaurant, 444 E. 3rd Ave. Reality Kitchen founder Jim Evangelista says the fundraiser will include a raffle and live music, as well as free hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine. For more info, call 541-337-1323 or email realitykitchen@gmail.com.

• Representative Lew Frederick and the Director of Civil Rights for the Oregon Department of Justice, Erious Johnson, will join Eugene Police Chief Pete Kerns and Eugene attorney Marianne Dugan for a panel on Police Accountability and Force, which will include a discussion of proposals for the 2017 Legislature. The event is 7 pm Wednesday, June 8 at the EWEB Community Meeting room at 500 E. 4th Avenue. Eugene NAACP president Eric Richardson will moderate. Presented by Eugene NAACP and We the People-Eugene, with the support of Oregon Humanities. For more information call (541) 937-3034.

• The Lane County Parks Division is seeking public input on the Buford Park draft Habitat Management Plan until June 30. According to Friends of Buford Park & Mt. Pisgah, “more than 1,000 acres would benefit from habitat management.” The group says that “to guide and prioritize future restoration, we have long supported the development of a park-wide habitat management plan.” Find more info at Bufordpark.org/habitat-stewardship/habitat-plan or on the Lane County website.

• To amplify youth voices and creativity, 350 Eugene will host two-week long Climate Art day camps for 7-12 graders beginning June 20. South Eugene high graduate and former student body president Phacelia Cramer and other local youth leaders will work with writer-artivist Mary DeMocker at a 10-acre private home to make art, music and videos for the planet and grow leadership skills. Campers will work with youth activists from Oregon and, on one afternoon, 22 youth activists from Europe. The camps are free/by donation to include kids passionate about climate justice and the arts, regardless of ability to pay. For more info, contact phaceliacramer@gmail.com or register at facebook.com/climatejusticecamp.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!