Western States Center is proud to be a founding member organization of EMERJ, a national movement building initiative to grow and strengthen the reproductive justice movement. EMERJ was founded to increase the coordina-tion, collaboration and strategy of reproductive justice groups across the country.

Member organizations represent diverse communities and a broad set of strategies. Together, these leaders and organizations will transform the way we think, talk and act on reproductive justice issues. EMERJ promises to provide visionary leadership, shape policy and grassroots campaigns, and build strategic alliances to advance reproductive justice. For more information about EMERJ, contact Moira Bowman or Aimee Santos-Lyons.

RADIO MOVIMIENTO
A"Radio Revolution" Comes to Woodburn, Oregon - KPCN FM

Radio is the mass medium of choice in the immigrant Latino community, as evidenced by the huge role Spanish-language radio stations played in the 2006 May Day rallies. After the mass marches, people remained hungry for varied, engaging, challenging, topical and relevant programming—and Radio Movimiento in Woodburn, launched by Oregon's farmworker union (PCUN), arrived at an ideal time to fill this void.

A grand celebration late last year publicly inaugurated KPCN's programming, produced by about two dozen volunteers. Local shows come in all formats, including music, call-in, interview and commentary, with Spanish titles that translate as “The Naked Truth”, “Come Out of the Closet” and “Tell Us Who You Are.”

KPCN’s broadcast area reaches over 300 square miles, even though its signal operates on only 31 watts, thanks to flat geography in the North Willamette Valley and the placement of an antenna 145 feet above ground on top of Woodburn’s municipal water tower.

As a people’s mass medium, Radio Movimiento will magnify and catalyze the union’s power by boosting recruitment and mobilization for events, strengthening identification with the labor and immigrant rights movement, raising consciousness and sharpening critical thinking. Congratulations, PCUN!

ON THE MOVE
Western States Center Staff and Board Changes

Welcome Trainer/Organizer Aimee Santos-Lyons – Aimee joined the Center's Gender and RACE programs in May. She brings twelve years of U.S. and international experience in both social development and humanitarian concerns, with a special emphasis on gender equity, reproductive health and gender-based violence. Educated in the U.S. and the Philippines, Aimee holds a Masters in Public Health from Columbia University.

Welcome Board Member George Cheung, Seattle WA – George is Founder and CEO of Lopez & Cheung, Inc., a public affairs consulting firm specializing in social science research, demographics and civic engagement. George founded and served as first Executive Director of Equal Rights Washington, the state's largest LGBT advocacy organization. Prior to his consulting work, George served as a civil rights investigator for several state agencies and completed a Masters in Public Policy at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

Goodbye New Voices Fellow Kayse Jama – The Center wishes a fond farewell to Kayse Jama, who served for two years on our staff as a New Voices fellow. Kayse will be joining the staff of the Center for Intercultural Organizing (CIO) as their Interim Executive Director, where he will continue his immigrant and refugee rights work.

TOOL OF THE MONTH
Framing Tools on Immigration Reform: Promoting Opportunity for All

Begun in 2004, The Opportunity Agenda works to ensure that the United States lives up to its promise as the land of opportunity for every person who lives here. Through an integrated strategy of communications, research, and advocacy, The Opportunity Agenda works with social justice organizations and leaders to connect with core American values and expand the constituency for opportunity in the United States. They have produced a set of tools for framing the immigration debate that may be helpful to groups struggling with how to talk about this divisive issue.

Immigration Talking Points (pdf)
Sample Op-Ed
Sign Up for Immigration Updates

WEB SITE OF THE MONTH
Headwaters News

As the Internet becomes more and more clogged with news sources, finding the sites that present the stories that really matter is priceless. Headwaters News is not only priceless, it’s free! Focusing on the news of interest to Rocky Mountain Westerners, Headwaters News presents the region’s top stories, commentary and analysis. Western States Center Executive Director Dan Petegorsky relies on Headwaters to stay on top of regional trends: “I'm busted,” Dan admits, “Now folks will see where I get so many of my good news clips!”

DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER FOR CSTI!
Registration Deadline: June 29, 2007

Community Strategic Training Initiative (CSTI) 2007 is just around the corner. Don't miss your opportunity for a "radical sabbatical" this summer!

CSTI - August 3-5, 2007
Reed College
Portland, Oregon

Click Here to View Workshops
Click Here to View Trainers
Click Here for Online Registration
 

BUSINESS UNUSUAL
Western States Center Announces Partnership with NAU

Western States Center recently entered into a unique relationship with a new progressive clothing company called NAU, which has pledged to donate 5% of their sales (yes, that's sales, not profits) to selected environmental, humanitarian and social change organizations. Not only is NAU leading the industry in changemaking philanthropy, all of their clothing is conscientiously produced from both environmental and humanitarian perspectives. NAU may represent only a drop in the market share bucket, but we hope their sustainable and responsible business model sends ripples throughout the textile industry.