In this issue:
Calendar of events / Forest Defense Team / Energy Justice Team / Arts Team / Book Club / Washington County Team / 350PDX Reminders: seeking new digs + Take Action page + join our Slack!
With City Council elections coming up, attempts to divert Portland Clean Energy Benefits Fund dollars, and our Energy Justice team taking on building emissions and more, there’s a lot happening! So we’re starting this newsletter with a mini-calendar of upcoming events. Check out team news below for more events and actions.
Mark Your Calendars
Join us this Thursday for a Rumble on the River focused on the impacts of heat and what solutions (trees! shade!) are possible. We’ll also premier 350PDX’s new mini-documentary about shade equity; work that our coalition has been leading since 2022. Lineup: 5:00 PM tour of the new Bird Alliance site, 5:30 PM tabling, 6:30 PM panel.
Did you know that the only cross-region climate week in North America happens right here in the PNW?! This is a week of community-powered events happening across 7 cities in our region with the mission to transition to an equitable, climate-positive bioregion. The PNW Climate Week kickoff event happens at Lewis & Clark on Monday, July 13. Fall in Love with the Future. Empowering Local Climate Action: Education, Policy and Practice.
If you would like an accessible option for the biking or walking tours, email: [email protected]
Forest Defense Team
The Forest Defense Team brings our beautiful state forests to the city. Stop by the Redwood at 7915 SE Stark in Montavilla to see our latest art installation!
Join us Thursday July 16 for our Annual Shade Equity Lents to Laurelhurst Pedalpalooza Ride! The Action Night will begin at 6:00 PM in the SE corner of Lents Park, near SE 92nd & Steele, with speakers, candidates, networking and refreshments, followed by a 7:00 PM ride. This will be our 5th annual ride focused on bringing joy, curiosity, and thoughtful attention to our urban canopy and its inequities which fall along lines of historical racism and income disparities. We will also celebrate all the newly-planted trees receiving establishment care as a result of community organizing. (Not prepared for a hot bike ride? Join us for the 6:00 – 7:00pm Action Night!)
Energy Justice Team
Our team works on a variety of important campaigns, from fighting data centers and transitioning the CEI Hub, to advocating for reducing emissions from our buildings and transportation, and defending PCEF. We meet every 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 6:00 PM. Reach out to Dineen and Cherice if you’d like to join the team: [email protected], [email protected].
Speak Up and Show Up to Reduce Emissions from Buildings
Did you know that buildings account for 53% of Portland’s greenhouse gas emissions? Portland is hoping to reduce building emissions through a new policy: Climate and Health Standards for Existing Buildings, which will be proposed this summer!
The policy is for large buildings (>20,000 square feet), and it lowers emissions while ensuring rents stay affordable through tenant protections. Methane “natural” gas lobbyists will likely oppose, so we need to show support!
Councilor Avalos is hosting a community workshop to learn about the policy and share your perspective:
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When: Tuesday, July 14, 6:00-8:00pm
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Where: East Portland Community Center, 740 SE 106th Ave
Volunteer and Learn about Reducing Building Emissions
As part of learning more about building emissions reduction and to build community, the Energy Justice Team will be volunteering on a home energy retrofit project with Community Energy Project. It’s one step in the PCEF-funded Energy Friendly Homes project. The team would love for others to join the fun! If you are interested, learn more and sign up.
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When: Saturday, August 15, from 8:00am-12:30pm (includes lunch)
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Sign up here, space is limited so make sure to sign up soon!
Update: Ballot Measure to Divert 25% of PCEF to Police
We’ve recently made progress on climate justice issues because of the ballot measure we helped pass—the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). Now it’s facing its greatest threat yet: an effort by the Portland Police Association (PPA) and other wealthy special interests to raid PCEF. On Monday, after a signature gathering effort plagued by controversy, the PPA has turned in more than 62,000 signatures. The initiative is likely to qualify for the November ballot.
350PDX is part of a coalition fighting back, and we’ll need your help. Learn more at HandsOffPCEF.com and sign up to get involved!
Arts Team
Photo: John Mullen
Can you join us for the July 350PDX art build on Sunday, July 12, 1:00 – 4:00 PM, 3639 N Mississippi?
We have a gang of Billionaire puppets to create for rallies this fall, and we need to make inspirational screen printed posters, too.
Help us please! Strong climate justice work needs all levels of artists, from level 0 to level 10. Email Donna at [email protected] if you can make it on July 12!
Book Club
The 350PDX Book Club meets every month on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM. Every other month is in person and the others are virtual. Reach out to [email protected] with any questions or to join our list, and please RSVP so we can inform you of any meeting changes.
Our next meeting is on Wednesday, August 5, 6:30 PM for our next fiction in-person meeting. We’ll discuss Hum by Helen Phillips, an urgent and unflinching portrayal of a woman’s fight for her family’s security in a world shaped by global warming and rapid technological progress. This novel just won the 2026 Climate Fiction Prize. RSVP at [email protected].
Save the date for our other upcoming discussions:
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No meeting in July
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Wednesday, September 2 at 6:30 PM (Google Meet) – Book to be selected in August
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Wednesday, October 7 at 6:30 PM (In Person) – Book to be selected soon
Do you like to talk about books and climate justice? We are seeking volunteers to help facilitate! Contact [email protected] to learn more.
Washington County Team
The Washington County Team is cohosting the Westside Sustainable Living Fair July 18, 9:00 – 1:00 PM, at the Hillsboro Saturday Market. Enjoy interactive exhibits, games, giveaways, prize drawings, and local resources focused on clean energy, electric vehicles, water conservation, urban forestry, waste reduction, watershed health, wildlife-friendly gardening, and more. The Fair is adjacent to the downtown Hillsboro Farmers Market which features fresh local produce and goods, prepared food, and sustainable products. Visit PGE’s Ride & Drive experience on 3rd Avenue between Main and Washington Streets in the Heritage Bank parking lot where you can learn about and test drive a number of electric vehicle options.
Hosted by the City of Hillsboro, Westside Planet Alliance, and 350 Washington County, with support from the Hillsboro Farmers’ Market and sponsorship from PGE.
Our next gathering will be in person for a summer picnic in conjunction with the July 18 event. See details on our Facebook page or check in with [email protected].We always welcome newcomers to our events and to our (mostly) monthly online meetings (6:30 PM on the second Tuesday of the month). For the link, join us here or contact us at [email protected]
Before closing our newsletter, a few reminders:
- 350PDX is still searching for a wonderful, new home. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have ideas for a space where we can have meetings and our arts team can create show-stopping puppets and more!
- Check out our Take Action page which we update regularly. It includes actions that may not be in our newsletter, such as the opportunity to comment on Multnomah County’s Draft Climate Justice Plan.
- If interested in joining the 350PDX community Slack channel, reach out to [email protected] and we can add you to our community chat.
