Lauren Moran creates interdisciplinary projects that are often participatory, collaborative and co-authored. They aim to experiment with and question the systems we are all embedded in by organizing situations of connection, openness and non-hierarchical learning. They are interested in developing sites for accessibility, collaboration with all dif…

In this episode, we chat with Madeline Kovacs on affordable housing and Portland's future. Show Note Links: The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein Madeline Kovacs is the coordinator of Portland for Everyone at 1000 Friends of Oregon. Portland for Everyone is a local coalition of affordable housing providers, community based and environmental organiz…

In this episode, Alexis and Steph talk with Dawn Jones Redstone and Luann Algoso about how Gabby Antonio has been smashing the Imperialist, White Supremacist, Capitalist Patriarchy. Dawn Jones Redstone is an award-winning gay, Latinx filmmaker best known as director and co-writer of the acclaimed, dramatic short film, Sista in the Brotherhood. Her …

The Portland-based Minidoka Swing Band was formed in September 2007, as a tribute to Japanese Americans interned during World War II and to highlight the music popular in the Internment Camps. In this episode, Alexis and Steph interview four members of The Minidoka Swing Band.By Why Isn't Anyone Talking About This?

How do self-policing in public spaces, Blackness, and transportation advocacy relate? Learn stories on the intersections of these issues and more in our most recent discussion, with Tamika Butler & Keyonda McQuarters. Tamika Butler is the Executive Director of the Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust. In her current role she grows healthier, safer, …

Why is youth organizing important, and what are the unique qualities of youth organizing? In this episode, we talked with Jennifer Phung, a community organizer working with Youth Environmental Justice Alliance (YEJA) and OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon. Jennifer Phung is a community organizer born and raised in Oakland, California, and leads OPAL…

What does it mean to be Two Spirit, and what has the Two Spirit movement's role been in protection of basic rights. We spoke with Candi Brings Plenty and Court Morse about their path, which led them to Standing Rock as water protectors. Candi Brings Plenty, Oglala Lakota Sioux is a National Queer Cysgender Indiginous Woman and has worked for over t…

How does race factor into the choices and opportunities involved in homeownership? We explored the answer to this question and many more with researcher C. Aujean Lee from Los Angeles. C. Aujean Lee is a doctoral candidate at UCLA in the Department of Urban Planning. She received her Master's of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Urb…

On April 29th, over 100 White people came to 82nd Ave in Portland, Oregon, chanting "USA", "Go back to where you come from", and other racist and anti-immigrant sentiments. A few days later , staff from APANO met with Mayor Ted Wheeler, APANO joined with partners to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. A portion of 82nd Avenue sits with…

In this episode, we will be talking with Vivian Satterfield with OPAL about the Portland People’s Climate Movement March. Vivian is second-generation bilingual Chinese American, born and raised in inner city Chicago. She believes in the power of organizing, the efficacy of people-centered public policy, and the therapeutic benefits of a long bike r…

The National Mobilization Against Sweatshops (NMASS) is a multi-trade, multi-ethnic workers center where working people unite across industry, race, nationality and gender to fight for the changes needed in workplaces, communities and lives. JoAnn Lum, Karah Newton, and Kai Wen Yang from NMASS joined us from their headquarters in New York City to d…

"There must exist a paradigm, a practical model of social change that includes an understanding of ways to transform consciousness that are linked to efforts to transform structures.” - bell hooks The MultiCultural Collaborative is a people-of-color-led consulting firm based in Portland, OR empowering communities to build capacity in local governme…

Vision Zero and Campaign Zero are two platforms describing a path to safer streets. If you’ll remember, we were lucky to have Tamika Butler and Keith Benjamin in Episode 5 to talk about the importance of a racial justice lens in Vision Zero work. In this episode, we will build on the 'why' racial equity should be central to this policy (or any poli…

Every four years we tune in to the excitement, passion and drama of the Olympic Games. It’s hard not to get wrapped up in all the the anticipation and celebration, for one of the most widely watched events in the world. Each successive Olympics seem to be a bigger spectacle than the last, with dramatic and expensive changes to the city itself. What…

Where did our housing and homelessness crisis come from, and how do we create solutions as a city and country? How are people talking about housing and homelessness, and how should that narrative change? Join Street Roots Executive Director, Israel Bayer; Welcome Home Coalition Executive Director, Jes Larson; and "Why Isn't Anyone...?" co-hosts Jus…

Diane Jones of DesignJones, LLC has engaged in planning and design efforts related to the rebuild and recovery of the Lower Ninth Ward, the cypress forest restoration in the Bayou Bienvenue Wetlands Triangle, the dismantling of the I-10 freeway and regeneration of Treme within the Claiborne Avenue Corridor, and rebuilding and restoring the Historic…

Every other year, the Oregon Legislature meets for a short session—35 days—to discuss budgets and other timely issues. This year was a whirlwind for housing advocates and others looking to squeak through some laws. For this episode of "Why Isn't Anyone...?" Team members Justin Buri and Vivian Satterfield are joined by Kristina Narayan from the Asia…

In 2012, members of Portland's local National Federation of the Blind Chapter organized an event called, "It's Not Scary to Be Blind: Walk With Me!" as part of Walktober. Folks during this event talked about aspects of our transportation environment that are both helpful and possibly not so helpful for the blind and low vision. For this episode of …

“What Is Equity?” Everyone uses this word. What does it mean, how is it used, and where should we be going with it? This is such a big word that we will be exploring this as a special two-parter series. Here we have Part 2. In the studio for this episode, we have four of the 10-person team at Why Isn’t Anyone Talking About This—Adonia Lugo, Alexis …

Vision Zero is a street safety campaign that seeks to reduce the number of traffic fatalities in a local jurisdiction to zero by a set time period. The idea that people shouldn’t die when occupying the right of way isn’t a new one - in fact, it is nearly as old in the United States as cars themselves. Because gun violence, drug overdoses, and traff…

Today we will be talking about “What Is Equity?” Everyone uses this word. What does it mean, how is it used, and where should we be going with it? This is such a big word that we will be exploring this as a special two-parter series. In the studio for this episode, we have four of the 10-person team at Why Isn’t Anyone Talking About This—Vivian Sat…

The methods of placemaking aren't new, but its popularity with non-profit funders is. What is the goal of placemaking? As neighborhoods at risk of gentrification and displacement become home to placemaking projects, will they be around long enough to reap the benefits? Why Isn’t Anyone Talking About This? hosts Alexis Gabriel and Heidi Guenin —spok…

Does urban planning have a racism problem? Joy Alise Davis hosts a conversation with Dr. Marisa Zapata and Dr. Lisa Bates about racism, equity, and the role—past, present, and possible—of urban planning. Roll Credits: Today’s show was produced by Joy Alise Davis; edited by Eric Klein, and hosted by Joy. Music is by Breuss Arrizabalaga Quintet. You …

On September 15, 2015, the Community Alliance of Tenants— Oregon’s statewide tenant rights association—declared a Renter State of Emergency. How can Portland remain home to the people who live here, and what does the future look like? “Why Isn’t Anyone Talking About This” host Mychal Tetteh—joined by fellow hosts Alexis Gabriel and (myself) —spoke …