by BRU Organizer Orlando Lopez Almost four years ago, I walked into the OPAL office to interview for the Community Organizing position here at OPAL. About ten folks were sitting around the table. I must admit that it was the most intimidating interview that […]
A Movement of Movements was a huge success! Thank you to all our sponsors, all the attendees, and everyone involved in making the event our biggest, most inspiring annual event ever. On a balmy July evening, more than 400 people crowded into Revolution Hall […]
Objective: Strengthen and expand access to a basic human right for all immigrant communities. Issue: Environmental Justice communities, which includes our immigrant and refugee neighbors, are currently denied access to a driver licence. This inhibits transportation for these individuals, stifling a basic human right. 80,000 to […]
OPAL Hour on March 13th was a huge success. We gathered with food, friends, wine and beer, and a fierce determination to build power for our communities. The real reason the OPAL Family gathers at OPAL Hour is to hear the OPAL Top Ten, […]
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 […]
Today, on civil rights leader Rosa Parks birthday, we celebrate her work and Transit Equity Day, a collaborative effort among several organizations and unions to promote access to public transportation as a civil right and a strategy to combat climate change. Access to YouthPass […]
It’s time to train the next cohort of the OPAL Organizing Fellowship! We are accepting applications now for the next group of movement leaders. The cohort will begin their training on July 5th, and will be organizing with OPAL for 20 hours monthly, for […]
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 […]
By Orlando Lopez Bautista, BRU Organizer Last week, I attended a workshop convening of organizations from across the country who are working on improving transportation systems locally. TransitCenter, a national partner to OPAL, convened this gathering so that organizations could cross-pollinate policy ideas, strategies, […]
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 […]