September has arrived at a full sprint. Are you able to choose a few ways to take action this month? Maybe send an email, write a comment, invite a friend, show up in person, or all of the above! Here are some ways to get involved:
Sept 8 – It was powerful to see so many of us join together in Salem for the Data Center Moratorium Lobby Day & Rally! Over 170 of you showed up! Together, we’re making it clear that bold action against data centers is a political necessity – Governor Kotek even (finally) escalated her position on this at the rally yesterday by saying she supports a moratorium. Did you know that 75% of Americans oppose data center development? It’s time for the Oregon legislature to listen up!
Photo Credit: Eli Imadali, OPB
Sept 12 – 13: Forest over Profits AND 350PDX Art Build
We are hosting a 2-day forest defense conference this weekend, including an Art Build Sunday (9/13) afternoon from 1–4 PM.
Join forest defense advocates from across the PNW to build community, power, and momentum against the exploitation of forests and public lands for extractive logging, data center development, and mining. This event precedes the World Forestry Center’s annual forest commodity conference. We know that investing in the care of living forest ecosystems is an actual climate solution. So, join us! See website for details. Lunch will be provided. Space is limited, RSVP today!
Sept 13: Sunday Parkways in Downtown
Join us downtown at Sunday Parkways from 11 AM – 4 PM. It’s the last Sunday Parkways of the summer and a fun event to get to talk to lots of Portlanders. 350PDX’s booth is in Pioneer Courthouse Square on the SW corner of 6th and Morrison – come find us!
Sept 13: Chasing Chimeras Film Screening
The Tomorrow Theater (3530 SE Division St.) is screening local filmmaker Barbara Bernstein’s film Chasing Chimeras: The Lure of Deceptive Climate Solutions. Learn why “renewable” fuels are not the answer. A panel discussion will follow the film. Get your tickets here. 7 PM.
Sept 16: No Secret Deals for Data Centers Resolution
Final vote on this resolution will happen at Council, with another opportunity for public testimony. Submit written comments here, and come and help fill the room to show your support for this resolution from 6–9 PM.
Sept 17: CEI Hub Work Session
This is a long-awaited moment in our year-long policy process on this issue, where members of our coalition will be presenting to City Council about how to make the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub safer. Submit written comments now (we have talking points here) and come show up in red at City Hall to show your support. 2 – 5 PM
Sept 19: Peak bird migration begins
Learn about healthy nighttime urban ecosystems from our friends at the Bird Alliance of Oregon.
Sept 21: Comment deadline – Stop Repeal of the Roadless Rule.
One of the most successful forest safeguards of all time needs our voices! Comment through OregonWild. Learn more at MoreThanJustParks. Since 2001, the Roadless Rule has protected nearly 2 million acres of Oregon’s forests and 45 million acres nationwide from destructive logging and development.
Sept 22: No Immunity for Big Oil Resolution
The City Life Committee of Portland City Council will hear a resolution saying we don’t want to let big oil companies off the hook for the damage they have caused to our climate and public health! Send a message to city council in support.
Sept 30: Rumble on the River: Protecting Our Region From Its Most Perilous Threats
Come and learn more about the CEI Hub, data centers, nuclear power, and the proposed refinery at Port Westward’s Columbia River Estuary. St. Luke Lutheran Church (4595 SW California St.) Doors & Info Tables 5:30 PM, Panel 6:30 PM.
All of September is STEPtember!
It’s like Pedalpalooza for walking! Oregon Walks dedicates the month of September to promote walking as a fun, healthy, ubiquitous activity. Grab a friend, pick some events to attend, and let’s get to walking!
Voter Guide and Scorecard:
350PDX’s 2026 Voter Guide and Scorecard is now available online and as a downloadable PDF! 32 candidates from Portland City Council Districts 3 and 4, the Portland City Auditor, and candidates for Multnomah County Chair and District 2 submitted statements.
Candidate Forums:
Save the dates for our big Climate Justice Candidate Forums this October:
Multnomah County has a new Climate Justice Plan!
August 27 the Board of Commissioners adopted the strategy to guide long-term community and local government action. Thanks to everyone who supported this epic project!
Forest Defense Team
Priority Tree Planting Areas Announced
If you have friends in the following low-canopy neighborhoods, let them know it’s time to sign up for PCEF-funded street trees: Argay, Centennial, Creston-Kenilworth, Cully, East Columbia, Foster Powell, Glenfair, Hayden Island, Hazelwood, Lents, Mill Park, Montavilla, Mt. Scott-Arleta, Parkrose, Parkrose Heights, Powellhurst-Gilbert, Russell, South Tabor, Sumner, Sunderland, and Wilkes.
Model public land tree opportunity map released: Thrive East PDX used a PCEF mini-grant to hire a GIS student to create a StoryMap prioritizing 10 publicly-owned parcels ready for immediate street tree planting to shade popular pedestrian routes. Check it out!
The 350PDX Forest Defense Team meets every first and third Monday of the month. Join us.
Energy Justice Team
Next in person meeting, Sept 22nd, 6 – 8 PM at the 350PDX office. Get plugged in with the 350PDX campaign team that works on everything from fighting data centers, Zenith, and the CEI Hub to advocating for PCEF and transportation justice! RSVP to [email protected] and [email protected].
Art Team
Last month the Arts Team led an enthusiastic workshop at Oregon Wild’s Rabble Rouser on the powerful political activism of art and puppets.
Book Club
The 350PDX Book Club meets every month on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30PM. 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.
Join us on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:30PM for our next nonfiction in-person meeting. We’ll discuss Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Gardenby Camile D. Dungy, in which the poet and scholar recounts her seven-year odyssey to diversify her garden to reflect her heritage, expanding how we talk about the natural world and the environment. RSVP at [email protected].
Save the date for our other upcoming discussions:
Wednesday, November 4 at 6:30PM (Google Meet) — Book to be selected in October
Milwaukie Advocates for Climate Justice
Do you live in Milwaukie and want to take action for climate justice with your neighbors? The Milwaukie Advocates for Climate is hosting their kick-off movie event on October 10th from 3:30-4:30, at the Ledding Library Community Room.
We will be watching the 350’s How to Reduce Fossil Fuels movie and having a facilitated conversation with the SW Neighborhood Team lead, Pat Kaczmarek.
Washington County Team
The 350PDX Washington County Team 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].
Southwest Team
The 350PDX Southwest Neighborhood Team includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. We work together to raise awareness of the climate emergency. Our monthly meetings happen on the third Monday of the month. To get involved, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at [email protected].
Before closing our newsletter, a few reminders:
- Check out our Take Action page, which we update regularly. It includes actions that may not be in our newsletter.
- Join the 350PDX community Slack channel! This is a great way to stay connected on an ongoing basis. Contact to [email protected] and we can add you.
- 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, our arts team can create show-stopping puppets, and more!
Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter. We hope to see you soon!
With gratitude,
Cherice, Dineen, Jessica, Maeve, and Noelle
