Dear friends of ORA,
This past year has brought incredible opportunities for ORA to grow as we live out our mission to promote social justice, agricultural and economic sustainability and stewardship of eastern Oregon’s land, air and water.
Like it did for so many others, COVID-19 interrupted our lives, deeply impacted our communities, and highlighted many long-term inequities we have historically sought to address.
Yet these very challenges offered new opportunities for ORA to strengthen our capacity and expand our organizing work. We welcomed 5 new board members, hired 2 full-time Community Organizers and recruited new members - initiating a Spanish-language communications campaign, expanding community partnerships on food security and continuing our work for environmental justice.
Health Equity
In March, new ORA members in Umatilla and Morrow counties quickly identified the need for COVID-19 related information in Spanish and Mesoamerican Indigenous languages to reach many essential farmworkers and their families. In response, ORA launched a communications campaign to amplify vital COVID-19 information through radio and social media. In partnership with Radio La Ley, we developed the weekly radio series, Acción Rural Hispana, that features interviews with public health and community leaders and a weekly OHA update. We also partnered with community-led organizations to expand our capacity to provide PPE and COVID-relief information on the ground and supported free OHA-testing events.
Food Security
Building on historic work, Oregon Rural Action partnered with the Oregon Food Bank, regional organizations and community members to begin to address an increased need for food in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch for opportunities in 2021 to participate in FEAST community conversations in Union, Umatilla, and Morrow counties to build a more sustainable food system and strengthen our network of leaders in rural Oregon.
Environmental Justice
We continued our work to protect the environment as a member of the statewide coalition, Stand up to Factory Farms. The coalition is seeking a moratorium on new and expanded mega-dairies in Oregon until the state acts to protect our environment, family farms, and the health of rural communities. ORA testified before the state Environmental Justice Task Force and members living in the impacted areas met with Governor Brown to highlight the long-term environmental harms of large industrial agriculture and stress the importance of protecting the drinking water and health of rural communities.
Looking to 2021
As we look forward to 2021, with its ongoing challenges, ORA’s strengthened capacity can support even more opportunities for local organizing throughout the region.
With your support, ORA will continue building a critical hub for community organizing in Eastern Oregon for many years to come. Your donations make up an important part of our annual budget, providing greater flexibility and funding initiatives for which foundation support is not readily available.
Your contribution also communicates powerfully to decision-makers and grant funders that members and supporters are leading the vision - to build rural prosperity for all. Click here to support our continued work together.
Thank you for all you do for Oregon Rural Action, and have a very happy new year!
-Oregon Rural Action Team