Happy 4th of July! Today marks the day 244 years ago that 56 delegates signed the Declaration of Independence declaring separation from Britain. No longer were we a colony, but a separate nation. We celebrate with family and friends, usually with parades and concerts of patriotic songs and family [...]
Beyond Tokenism: Starting with Education During this time of demonstrations and protests over race relations in the US, businesses and corporations are talking about adding diversity to their workforces. Will their moves have an actual impact, or are these nice-sounding words just more lip service? For example, five years [...]
The coronavirus pandemic is still with us. Many states, including our own, are in the midst of measured reopening. Oregon has hit a momentary pause due to a recent uptick of cases. Some say that the uptick is due to more testing and more people getting out and about. [...]
People marching, people demanding change. I’ve seen this before. I was in LA when there were riots and protests when the court decisions about police officers’ conduct towards Rodney King came down. I lived just blocks from Compton, and my dental staff traversed the troubled areas to come to [...]
I am horrified by the tragic murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. This should never happen, and African Americans should never have to fear that something similar could happen to a loved one. The standard for encounters of citizens with law enforcement is that citizens remain safe, the police [...]
Feeding Our Community—Part 2 By Selma Pierce Vulnerable businesses Food is one of the main ways that we connect with people. We celebrate special days with food and fancy spreads. The Governor’s executive orders to limit gatherings of people and to limit the serving of food and beverages on-premises [...]
Feeding Our Community—Part 1 By Selma Pierce (with additional information from MPFS and United Way) Introduction--Vulnerable populations Food is one of most basic needs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the stay-at-home orders did not stop our local non-profits from helping our most vulnerable populations get food. With [...]
What if Home Isn't Safe? By Selma Pierce (with additional information from Liberty House, a Child Abuse Assessment Center) April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Before the coronavirus pandemic, every April, a tree near the Capitol is covered with blue ribbons. Each ribbon stands for a confirmed case of [...]
Stressed Out About COVID-19? You're Not Alone By Selma Pierce with Dr. Satya Chandragiri, a Salem-area psychiatrist The COVID-19 pandemic is causing stress for all of us. The disruptions of our daily lives, workplace, and community is evident everywhere. We have never faced anything like this before, and it [...]
Coronavirus and the upcoming special legislative session Tomorrow (April 7, 2020) at 6:30 PM, I will be hosting a live, interactive town hall event over the phone to discuss recent developments related to the Coronavirus and what Oregon Legislature is planning to do about this pandemic. My husband, Dr. [...]
