Agora

This month, three experts discuss investigation and prosecution of human trafficking in American and abroad. Brad Avakian, the Oregon Commissioner of Labor and Industries, will discuss his office’s investigations into human trafficking. Gregory Moawad, deputy district attorney in Multnomah County, specializes in prosecuting human trafficking cases. Mike Hogan is the Pacific Northwest Regional Director of Church Mobilization for International Justice Mission (IJM).

In January 2010 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in the Citizen’s United v. the Federal Election Commission case that seems certain to intensify corporate influence in our democracy to an unprecedented degree. The Court struck down restraints on how corporations may spend money on political ads, reasoning that corporations can exercise first amendment rights like any natural person. Oregon will likely feel a greater effect from this ruling than many other states because of its initiative process.

Alexandra Howard, a Project Coordinator with the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, will discuss lessons learned from the structure and design of recent city plans completed in Sydney, Australia and New York City and how those lessons are being applied in the Portland Plan development process. For more information on the Portland Plan, check out www.pdxplan.com.

RSVP Requested to amy@pdxcityclub.org or 503-228-7231 x110

What role do prisons serve in our country? Is it possible to have a country where people are safe, secure and accountable to the laws without relying primarily on a prison system? Walidah Imarisha, author and adjunct professor in Portland State University’s Black Studies Department will present a brief multimedia history of prisons and alternative justice systems. She will then lead a conversation in which program participants will explore what they know about prisons and discuss alternatives to incarceration.

This just-published thriller revolves around a post-9/11- type airliner crash outside of Portland and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators, known as “crashers,” who work on it. Suspecting terrorism and sabotage, the NTSB team works frantically to prevent future terrorist acts. Haynes details the fascinating forensic work done by characters who include a pathologist, technical wizards, an exotic ex-spy, former lovers and a computer nerd from Beaverton. This book, with its realistic depictions of blood and gore, is not for the faint of heart.

Speaker Bill Hillar, whose personal story inspired the movie Taken, is known as the "Human Traffficking Guru." His passion to end this atrocity has caused him to devote years to working against trafficking and educating others - in college courses, law enforcement trainings and inspirational talks - about how others can work against trafficking as well. Come learn how you can make a difference, and why you should.

The global fair trade movement builds equitable and sustainable trading partnerships and creates opportunities to alleviate poverty. Learn about Fair Trade and find out how you can help promote economic justice, reduce global poverty and protect the environment by being an informed consumer.

Cheryl Juetten

How did they plan the future of Sydney?  London? New York City?

Throughout 2010, City Planners are polling Portlanders via surveys and workshops to help create the new Portland Plan. What will our city and our region look like in 2035? How will it function? Other cities have been through this process. What can we learn from them? How can Portland capitalize on the process and progress of others? Key city planners will present a tale of three cities as examples for group discussion.  Come be a part of this informative and timely conversation!

America's food, health and environment are coming to a state of crisis. Ingredients, a locally made, feature-length documentary, introduces people who are leading the movement to bring good food back to the table and health back to our communities. This film illustrates how people around the country are working to revitalize the connection between food and the land; celebrates the the farm-to-table movement with vibrant cinematography; and explores solutions for creating a community based on seasonal food.

The film will be followed by a panel discussion with:

Do the failures of modern governance and politics have more to do with a crisis of leadership or a crisis of citizenship? What can we as citizens do to improve the political discourse and the quality of public life? 

This is the focus of "Of the People or for the People: Getting the Government We Deserve,” a free conversation with Jeff Golden, former host of Jefferson Public Radio’s Jefferson Exchange.