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Firefighters Volunteer at Opportunity Village <br />When members of the Lane Professional Firefighters Association (LPFA) saw a need in the homeless community, they <br />decided to volunteer their time, money and skills at Opportunity Village. <br /> <br />On Monday, Jan. 27, firefighter/paramedics from LPFA <br />constructed and painted two bungalows from materials they <br />purchased using $1,000 donated by the union membership. <br />LPFA is comprised of firefighters and paramedics from Eugene <br />Springfield Fire Department, South Lane Fire & Rescue, Lane <br />Fire Authority, Western Lane Ambulance, Oakridge Fire <br />Department and Crescent Fire District. <br /> <br />Opportunity Village Eugene is located at 111 Garfield Street in <br />Eugene, and consists of several single room bungalows and <br />Conestoga-like structures that are designed to temporarily <br />house one to two people while they make the transition into a <br />more permanent home. <br /> <br />For more information on Opportunity Village, visit <br />http://www.opportunityvillageeugene.org/. <br /> <br />Community Conversation: “Why Aren’t There More Black People in Oregon?” <br />Oregon has a history not only of Black exclusion and discrimination, but also of a vibrant Black culture that helped sustain <br />many communities throughout the state—a history that is not taught in schools. To learn more, join author and educator <br />Walidah Imarisha for “Why Aren’t There More Black People in Oregon?”- a community <br />conversation on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m., at the Downtown Eugene Public Library. <br /> <br />Imarisha will lead participants through an interactive timeline of Black history in Oregon <br />that speaks to issues of race, identity, and power in this state and the nation. The group will <br />explore how history, politics, and culture have shaped—and will continue to shape—the <br />landscape, not only for Black Oregonians, but all Oregonians. <br /> <br /> <br />Walidah Imarisha has taught in Portland State University’s Black Studies Department, <br />where she created classes about topics as diverse as the history of the Black Panther Party, <br />race and the history of prisons, Hurricane Katrina, and hip hop as literature. She has <br />facilitated writing workshops for students in third to twelfth grade, community centers, youth detention facilities, and <br />women’s prisons. Imarisha also filmed and co-directed “Finding Common Ground in New Orleans,” a documentary about <br />Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath. <br /> <br />This free event is co-sponsored by the Oregon Humanities Conversation Project and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. <br />Participants will receive free museum passes to see the exhibit, “Emancipating the Past: Kara Walker’s Tales of Slavery and <br />Power,” at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. For more information, contact the Eugene Public Library at 541-682-5450 <br />or www.eugene-or.gov/library. <br /> <br />Nearby Nature Stewards Urban Greenspace <br />Given life’s everyday obligations and distractions, it’s easy to <br />forget how valuable spending time in nature can be. The <br />success of Eugene Park Stewards (EPS) relies, in part, on <br />strong partnerships with community-based, non-profit <br />organizations. Together, they provide ways for all residents to <br />explore Eugene’s urban greenspace. EPS partners with Nearby <br />Nature in volunteer support and tool-sharing to foster an <br />appreciation of nature and ecological living. They are a model <br />for park adoptions, working independently, with big results <br />throughout the year. Whether it is with service learning or <br />outdoor community events, Nearby Nature is dedicated to <br />maximizing the outdoor experience at Alton Baker Park for the <br />benefit of all community members, human and otherwise. <br /> <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 <br />February 13, 2014 <br />