Archives: Forums/Lectures
Upcoming Forums: Online/Virtual
Economic Challenges, Opportunities on the Oregon Coast
January 15, 2021
As the new year dawns, communities throughout the Oregon Coast face unique economic challenges and opportunities. On the one hand, as recently detailed by the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis, rural Oregon—including the Coast—has lost a smaller share of jobs than urban Oregon since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. …
Upcoming Forums: Online/Virtual
Implicit Bias: In the Schools, In the Courts, and in Society
January 8, 2021
The recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many other unarmed African Americans have heightened awareness of systemic racism and its foundation, implicit bias. Implicit biases are unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that can manifest in criminal justice systems, workplaces, school settings, and healthcare systems. Implicit biases are based on …
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Gifts to the City – December 2020
December 18, 2020
Even those who believe Eugene is a practically perfect place to call home occasionally see a gap where an asset should be. What that gap seems to be depends on where they are standing. What constitutes the right asset to fill it depends on their understanding of community. In this …
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Election 2020: What Happened and Why
December 11, 2020
The Election of 2020 will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the most unique exercises in American democracy. Over 150 million voters voted by mail or came to the polls to render verdict on who and what party should lead the nation over the next your years. This …
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Covid-19: Where We Are, Where We Are Going
December 4, 2020
As feared, the combination of colder weather and “pandemic fatigue” is producing a spike in Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in Oregon and around the country. As daily infection figures in Oregon soared above 1,000 for the first time, Governor Kate Brown issued a two-week “freeze”— effective November 18, 2020—with …
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
(Re)Writing Oregon’s History
November 20, 2020
Who wrote Oregon’s history and how accurate is it? What can we learn that will correct the myths?
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Fire on the River (Part 1 of 2)
November 13, 2020
On the night of Sept. 7, 2020 the Holiday Farm Fire ignited near milepost 47 on Oregon 126, along the banks of the McKenzie River. By Sept. 9, the US Forest Service Incident Command reported, “Red Flag conditions have caused explosive fire growth over the past two days on the …
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Reimagining Monuments
November 6, 2020
In this first City Club program after the 2020 elections, presenters clarify and challenge mainstream notions about “monuments” and “memorials.” We think of these as public structures intended to convey a message. In recent years, we have watched or read about the destruction of monuments whose messages have been rejected. …
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Evaluating Candidates Through an Equity Lens
September 18, 2020
How can voters select candidates who work for equity? In this City Club of Eugene program, three speakers address aspects of equity and political candidates.
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Transparency & Accountability in Local Law Enforcement (Part 1)
July 24, 2020
The death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 set off a series of protests across the United States and around the world, prompting greater public attention to excessive use of police force, as well as concerns about police oversight and accountability. Several other deaths, primarily of Black Americans, including …
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Should Citizens Choose Their Legislators or Legislators Choose Their Citizens?
July 17, 2020
In 2020, a citizen initiative proposed to change the way that legislative districts are determined. Although the petition did not reach the ballot, this program has helpful information on gerrymandering, how other states decide on redistricting, etc.
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Creativity: BEST After School Program
July 10, 2020
Forging new cooperative relationships and fostering creative problem solving are central to City Club’s mission. The BEST After School Program is one of Eugene’s premier examples of meeting challenges by weaving together resources from our rich array of community institutions. When the coronavirus closed schools, those institutions pivoted creatively to …
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Reopening for Business in Eugene: Are We There Yet?
June 26, 2020
How are Eugene businesses faring with opening/closing during the COVID-19 pandemic? This mid-2020 program explains the difficulties in several business segments.
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Gun Violence: A Public Health Crisis
June 12, 2020
What if we approach gun violence as a public health issue, not a binary “gun rights vs. gun control”? Our speakers explore the topic from various perspectives.
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
What We Know (and Don’t Know) About Post-Coronavirus Employment
June 5, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has deeply impacted some segments of employment, focusing on those that typically carry minimum wage salaries. This mid-2020 program looks at their status pre-COVID and their current status.
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
The Lasting Impact of the Internment of Japanese Americans
May 15, 2020
The World War II-era forced internment of Japanese-Americans impacted those imprisoned and their families as well as their descendants. Learn about Lane County’s round up, how the camps affected people, the nation’s wartime mood, and the art that resulted from a child who was imprisoned.
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Short-Term Rentals: Good or Bad for Eugene?
March 6, 2020
Cities and neighbors want more regulation of Airbnb, VRBO and other short-term rentals, but what is fair to the owners of these units?
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Going to Prison to Learn
January 10, 2020
Many universities teach college-level courses to inmates within prison walls, but UO’s Prison Education Project—Inside-Out—is different. It brings UO students into the Oregon State Prison to learn with the inmates. The UO program is the largest in the world and includes common readings, lectures, workshops, mentoring, and more. In the …
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
What Seismic Policy Can Tell Us About the Climate Crisis
October 25, 2019
Maybe we don’t have to wait until after a disaster to take action on the climate crisis. Policies to address the challenges of the climate crisis face many of the same challenges as seismic safety policy. In both cases, we must use scientific models and predictions to understand the risk …
Archived Forums: Online/Virtual
Suicide as a Public Health Emergency
October 11, 2019
Lane County has a high suicide rate. We’ll learn more about triggers and prevention from experts and a suicide survivor.
