Oregon Needs a Green New Deal. The urgent moment calls for climate action that comes directly from frontline communities, transitions our energy systems, ensures workers’ security, cleans up our air, holds polluters accountable, addresses the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and directly funds […]
By Shanice Clarke In early November, Black people in the environmental justice movement organized together to co-create solutions for liberation in Detroit, MI for the Black 2 Just Transition Training & Assembly. Within environmental justice movements, Black people often experience erasure and invisibility, while […]
OPAL is a part of the 100% Renewables Network, working with national partners to develop clear pathways to 100% renewable energy in our regions. Representatives to the Network gather in local areas (having visited Buffalo, NY and Portland, OR previously) and tours the sites […]
This article is part three of a series by Community Engagement Coordinator Shawn Fleek. Read Part 1 here. Read Part 2 here. Day 6 – If We’re Not Prepared to Govern, We’re Not Prepared to Win Today is the actual summit, Solidarity to Solutions, which is […]
In 2018, Oregon’s new majority showed itself. A near-supermajority of the electorate showed up to defend immigrants, women, and good government. A near-supermajority of Portlanders voted to tax major corporations to fund the clean energy future. Oregon’s legislature now has a supermajority of elected […]
This article is part two of a series by Community Engagement Coordinator Shawn Fleek. Read Part 1 here. Day 4 – What The Hands Do, the Heart Learns The morning began with Indigenous communities local and international celebrating. So many songs, prayers, and hearing from […]
Since the 2017 state legislative session, which brought new investments in mass transit, OPAL has served on the Public Transportation Investment Plan to represent the concerns of youth and bus riders in how funds are spent. Last Friday, the exhaustive process came to a […]
OPAL develops the leadership of low income people of color to dismantle racism, classism, and other systems of oppression. But this is everyone’s movement, and there is an important work to be done by people with race and class privilege. Do you believe in self-determination […]
OPAL is proud to present our 2017 Annual Report! This year, we decided to create a consolidated publication to share our many victories from the past year with our community. OPAL tackles many different issues around Environmental Justice, but in this one place you […]
Family separation. Anti-Muslim policy. Right to work. Racist gerrymandering. Corporate handouts. Environmental mismanagement. You’d be lucky not to know about all the many ways the US Government is not only failing to protect marginalized communities, but actively attacking rights we’ve defended and won over centuries. Many […]