13 results for author: Sam Pape

Remembering Stonewall in 2025

56 years ago this month, history was written outside a small bar in Lower Manhattan known as the Stonewall Inn. At the time, discriminatory raids at Stonewall and other LGBTQ-friendly establishments were routine. But on June 28, 1969, patrons had enough. Over 500 demonstrators gathered in the streets that night to stand up to the systematic oppression of marginalized communities—and the following night, that number nearly doubled. The Stonewall uprising marked a turning point in the gay rights movement in the United States, and around the world. It brought the LGBTQ community’s longtime oppression into the spotlight, and opened the door for a ...

New Staff Q&A: Ben Brint

OEC is excited to announce our new Senior Climate Program Director, Ben Brint! Ben brings a deep knowledge of climate policy and a wealth of experience in a variety of sectors to the role. After working at various tech companies in the private sector—including at Lyft, where he supported a first-of-its-kind electric vehicle ride sharing program—he found his calling for climate advocacy, and returned to school to get his Masters of Public Policy from UC Berkeley. He is dedicated to propelling OEC's climate initiatives forward, and protecting our state from environmental threats for generations to come. Look out for Ben's work on climate ...

Celebrate Earth Month with BottleDrop Give!

Happy Earth Month! Obviously, this is our favorite time of year at OEC. It’s an opportunity to go on a favorite hike, connect with your community, and reflect on the beauty and bounty of our one and only planet. However, this season isn’t just about celebration: it’s also about looking ahead, and standing up for the future of our home. With ever-mounting threats from the federal administration, and the impacts of climate change continuing to escalate, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But that doesn’t mean we're ready to throw up our hands and give up: it means now is the time to act. With all of us working together, our collective actions ...

Are Electric UTVs the Future of Agriculture?

What comes to mind when you hear the word “EV”? Sleek, shiny sedans plugged into charging stations across the urban landscape? Monochromatic motor vehicles whirring down the highway in near silence? The clean future of commuter culture? If “rugged terrain,” “agriculture”, and “farm work” aren’t words that spring to mind, you aren’t alone. But OEC – and plenty of others – envision a future for electric vehicles that spans far beyond that city-centric view of them that so many of us hold. Meet: the Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic. From a distance, these enclosed four-wheelers might look like the average UTV you’d find on any ...

New Staff Q&A: Crystal Weston

OEC is excited to introduce our new Environmental Health Program Director, Crystal Weston! Crystal hails from California originally, but has been a proud Oregonian since 2003. Throughout her time here, she has worked in all corners of the public health sphere – from the Oregon Health Authority, where she addressed nitrate contamination, to the University of Oregon, where she focused on substance abuse prevention and harm reduction. Her wide-ranging experience in identifying solutions to environmental health concerns in our state make her the perfect person for the role at OEC. Look out for Crystal’s work to address PFAS (aka “forever ...

Oregon Clean Grid Summit: Q&A With Attendees

Last month, OEC, Renewable Northwest, and our partners in the Oregon Clean Grid Collaborative (OCGC) joined in person with a diverse group of clean energy stakeholders from across Oregon for the first annual Oregon Clean Grid Summit. The summit brought together 120 community leaders, industry experts, and federal and state officials for a dialogue about how to reliably, equitably, and affordably deliver clean energy to households and businesses in Oregon.  This all-day, in-person event offered insights into the role of regional energy market and transmission development in achieving Oregon’s 100% clean energy mandates, delivering energy afford...

New Staff Q&A: Max Light-Pacheco

OEC is excited to introduce our new Community Engagement Manager, Max Light-Pacheco! Since graduating from U.C. Davis (in his home state of California), Max has worked for Americorps, the Nature Conservancy, the Phoenix Zoo, and one•n•ten, a nonprofit serving LGBTQ+ youth in Arizona. His work is driven by a lifelong love of nature, a passion for community, and a deep understanding of where the two intersect. This knowledge of people and planet makes Max an invaluable addition to our team. Give Max a warm welcome the next time you see him out in the world representing OEC! In the meantime, read all about his love of mountain lions, Sabrina ...

New Staff Q&A: Kristopher Fortin Grijalva

OEC is excited to introduce our new Transportation Program Director, Kristopher Fortin Grijalva!  Hailing from Southern California, Kristopher grew up connected to his community by transportation, walking, biking, and bussing his way around town from elementary school through college. This experience – coupled with a deep love for writing – led him to a 13-year career in journalism and transportation advocacy in the Greater Los Angeles area. His background spent fighting for clean, equitable transportation options made him the perfect person for the role. To learn all about Kristopher – from his love of local corner stores, to career ...

New Staff Q&A: Tatiana Cardoza

OEC is excited to introduce our Communications and Marketing Script intern, Tatiana Cardoza! From her start in early June, Tatiana is already helping OEC elevate our environmental work. Tatiana recently graduated from Portland State University, where she double majored in Business Marketing and Business Analytics. With this background and expertise, she joined OEC’s Communications team to help us parse data, explore trends and develop strategies to enhance our environmental impact. Her fresh outlook and ability to organize complex information into actually digestible reports has been a highly welcomed addition to our team. We’re beyond ...

Member Q&A: Lesley Atlansky

How we choose to fight for the future of our planet is a deeply personal decision. Beyond the obvious actions – giving public comment, reducing our own carbon footprints, or supporting organizations like Oregon Environmental Council – there are any number of other ways to make a difference. You can make art that beautifully portrays the splendor of the natural world, promote literature on climate and environmental issues to your community…  Or, if you’re Lesley Atlansky, you can do both! Lesley is an artist and longtime OEC member based in Portland, OR. She works as a comic colorist for publications big and small, and creates stunning, ...