[Libs-Or] A new season of Civics for Adults. And, so much going on!

Sun Aug 22 15:28:11 PDT 2021

Civics for Adults Update, Aug 22, 2021 [workshop info and useful civic
information (lower down)].

2022 mid-term elections, redistricting, and the continued battles against
misinformation, among other things, will make the 21-22 Civics for Adults
season quite exciting! Reserve your library's or local organization's spot
for virtual workshops - or, in person, when our health crisis improves. 

Civics for Adults Pre-Conference at the Public Library Association
Conference, spring 2022. "Fostering a Stronger and More Inclusive Democracy
Through Library Programming". 

Tigard Public Library will be sponsoring all four workshops starting in
October.

Workshops 

Misinformation, Fake News and Political Propaganda

*	Mainstream press and "fake news"
*	Social Media posts
*	Email clickbait
*	Propaganda
*	Language / terminology
*	Deepfakes
*	Survey / poll questions
*	Economic data
*	Graphs and charts
*	Finding good information

Citizen Activism 101 - Making Change Happen

*	Historical perspective
*	Types of advocacy
*	Examples of successful advocacy
*	Choosing your battles
*	Who makes the rules?
*	Tools / strategies for change
*	Engaging with government / lobbying for influence
*	Tracking civic / political issues and legislation

The Constitution: Fulfilling Democracy's Promise? Democracy, the
Constitution and Representation in Congress.

The Constitution's creation, major changes to its interpretation, and
examination of structural limitations. 

*	Status of democracy
*	Early America
*	Forming a country
*	Bill of Rights
*	Structural issues / representation
*	Interpreting the Constitution
*	Changes to the Constitution 

Elections and Campaign Finance

*	Right to vote?
*	Election security
*	Voter suppression 
*	Voter turnout / getting more people to vote
*	Redistricting / gerrymandering
*	Electoral College
*	Alternative voting systems
*	Campaign financing issues and tracking

Selected Civics for Adults Facebook posts:

If you live in the greater Albany, Oregon, area and know some folks who need
assistance regarding evictions, Linn County Law Library can help! What a
great idea! 

<https://kpic.com/newsletter-daily/with-the-eviction-moratorium-extended-a-l
aw-library-in-linn-county-is-answering-questions-08-07-2021?fbclid=IwAR0mIQQ
Q1Uv5Ntn9pGFv5WVGkgF-8C7CZV8jEf1IdY3q1AJkqmv8T1e3Djs>
https://kpic.com/newsletter-daily/with-the-eviction-moratorium-extended-a-la
w-library-in-linn-county-is-answering-questions-08-07-2021?fbclid=IwAR0mIQQQ
1Uv5Ntn9pGFv5WVGkgF-8C7CZV8jEf1IdY3q1AJkqmv8T1e3Djs 

For Portland: Hot off the press:

"Portland Housing Bureau to Launch Eviction Legal Defense Program 

On August 18, Portland City Council authorized PHB to contract with the
Oregon Law Center for an Eviction Legal Defense program for low-income
renters. Through this program, income-eligible renters with a termination
notice, proposed termination of their housing subsidy, or eviction court
papers will be able to access a lawyer. The Oregon Law Center was selected
as the program provider after a public Request for Qualifications process. 

Renters whose landlords have filed an eviction court case against them can
call the Eviction Defense Project at 888-585-9638 to seek legal help or
email  <mailto:evictiondefense at oregonlawcenter.org>
evictiondefense at oregonlawcenter.org  . Renters should leave a message on the
intake line or send an email including their name, date of birth, and
eviction case number." 

For Multnomah County:

In Multnomah County, renters are protected from an eviction for non-payment
of rent if they have applied for rental assistance. This safe harbor
provision will last 90 days from when they provide proof of application to
their landlord. 

More information about renters' COVID-19 eviction moratorium-related
protections is available:
<https://www.portland.gov/phb/rental-services/helpdesk/covid-19-landlord-ten
ant-policy-changes>
https://www.portland.gov/phb/rental-services/helpdesk/covid-19-landlord-tena
nt-policy-changes  

To apply for rental assistance, contact 211. A full list of partner
organizations with rent relief funds is available at
<https://www.portland.gov/phb/rent-relief/multnomah-county-rent-assistance>
https://www.portland.gov/phb/rent-relief/multnomah-county-rent-assistance 

**

Here are some fascinating charts on economic inequality. Some of the
founders of our country worried about concentrated wealth. I wonder what
they would think if they saw these charts. 

<https://inequality.org/great-divide/11-charts-tax-wealthy-corporations-ineq
uality/?emci=77749054-9ee8-eb11-a7ad-501ac57b8fa7&emdi=c9530fda-bbe8-eb11-a7
ad-501ac57b8fa7&ceid=3931590&fbclid=IwAR2xV8gm8atf_6QHyiuPJqD-UB2YNYmeuVpfYt
2cPJUYNOwQqlVUcSxjib0>
https://inequality.org/great-divide/11-charts-tax-wealthy-corporations-inequ
ality/?emci=77749054-9ee8-eb11-a7ad-501ac57b8fa7&emdi=c9530fda-bbe8-eb11-a7a
d-501ac57b8fa7&ceid=3931590&fbclid=IwAR2xV8gm8atf_6QHyiuPJqD-UB2YNYmeuVpfYt2
cPJUYNOwQqlVUcSxjib0 

**

Oregon Health Authority held virtual townhalls to discuss COVID health
guidelines for schools and Governor Brown's mandates. One was in English and
one in Spanish. 

 <https://www.facebook.com/OregonHealthAuthority/videos/310523874157137>
https://www.facebook.com/OregonHealthAuthority/videos/310523874157137 

**

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently issued
a new, bombshell, report.

<https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/?fbclid=IwAR2-efUEyeKV6ScLUBqZYDxO7uImum
lPontwZ39ftXrlL6LsdQoly2S43IM>
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/?fbclid=IwAR2-efUEyeKV6ScLUBqZYDxO7uImuml
PontwZ39ftXrlL6LsdQoly2S43IM 

**

Redistricting is going to be a huge issue starting - right now! Learn the
basics at this forum co-sponsored by multiple organizations [including the
nonpartisan League of Women Voters], to bring people up to speed! Free.

<https://www.lwvor.org/redistricting-in-oregon?fbclid=IwAR2jU3d6P1J5vFOcQ3Ie
dVKL46nz27IzyYx6HdML4GbaCEymWErEK28hPDo>
https://www.lwvor.org/redistricting-in-oregon?fbclid=IwAR2jU3d6P1J5vFOcQ3Ied
VKL46nz27IzyYx6HdML4GbaCEymWErEK28hPDo 

**

If you missed the first hearing of the House Select Committee to investigate
the January 6 attack on the Capitol, I encourage you to watch at least some
of it. All four witness were law enforcement officers and their testimony
is, at times, riveting.

<https://www.c-span.org/video/?513434-1/capitol-dc-police-testify-january-6-
attack&fbclid=IwAR1ProdVjC5uworxXeRN-SbH_DVBAIMW0Mx26jLTqq_ZgKIY7ddEWsgMWXQ>
https://www.c-span.org/video/?513434-1/capitol-dc-police-testify-january-6-a
ttack&fbclid=IwAR1ProdVjC5uworxXeRN-SbH_DVBAIMW0Mx26jLTqq_ZgKIY7ddEWsgMWXQ 

**

Busting Coronavirus Myths. AP Factcheck [Associated Press]. Latest update
July 29, 2021.

This is a global approach.

 <https://factcheck.afp.com/busting-coronavirus-myths>
https://factcheck.afp.com/busting-coronavirus-myths 

**

Here is a report from the Brennan Center for Justice on the threats to
election officials that is causing many to leave the profession. This is not
the sign of a healthy democracy.

<https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/BCJ-129%20Electio
nOfficials_v7.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2pDuU2KlJpZzVEWIuJhU6XVgPs_UIkFxRlQbcH1ghLuA2kb
fkgNOvqBuU>
https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/BCJ-129%20Election
Officials_v7.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2pDuU2KlJpZzVEWIuJhU6XVgPs_UIkFxRlQbcH1ghLuA2kbf
kgNOvqBuU 

Here is a related Factsheet:
<https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/BCJ-130_Election%
20Officials_fact%20sheet.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0Hi906sZJZAcGgfC8gvVVCopHV6fO2qQWQzU
Z1DKZY2ygLLjzXR8euRFk>
https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/BCJ-130_Election%2
0Officials_fact%20sheet.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0Hi906sZJZAcGgfC8gvVVCopHV6fO2qQWQzUZ
1DKZY2ygLLjzXR8euRFk 

**

Journalist's Resource published an interesting article to explain the
journalistic issues around reporting on what is happening concerning
statements and actions vis-a-vis "CRT" ["Critical Race Theory"]. Among other
things the article gives reporters some tips, e.g. journalists should seek
answers to these questions:

Do the people speaking out for and against CRT actually understand what it
is?

How did this issue become a news story?

Do any schools or school districts in the U.S. - including in local
communities - teach CRT or have they in the past? 

Which individuals' or groups' opinions and experiences are missing from news
coverage of this issue?

What are teachers and school district administrators saying?

Asking the right questions is key to journalism - and acquiring any new
knowledge, I might add!

<https://journalistsresource.org/education/critical-race-theory-school-racis
m/?fbclid=IwAR0VnJsFZw0gvEOyEZdZzxN3GMCn6lTjhqTUgI9aVUWmKicLh_6GSVWwukk>
https://journalistsresource.org/education/critical-race-theory-school-racism
/?fbclid=IwAR0VnJsFZw0gvEOyEZdZzxN3GMCn6lTjhqTUgI9aVUWmKicLh_6GSVWwukk 

More at  <https://www.facebook.com/Civics-for-Adults-1490728887922036>
https://www.facebook.com/Civics-for-Adults-1490728887922036 

Ask your local library or community group to sponsor a workshop! Thanks. 

Flyer describing workshops:
<https://static.s123-cdn.com/uploads/2516289/normal_5fe8c854352d5.pdf>
https://static.s123-cdn.com/uploads/2516289/normal_5fe8c854352d5.pdf 

Donna was interviewed on OPB's Think Out Loud in October!
<https://www.opb.org/article/2020/10/30/civics-educator-aims-to-enhance-know
ledge-and-engagement-in-political-process/>
https://www.opb.org/article/2020/10/30/civics-educator-aims-to-enhance-knowl
edge-and-engagement-in-political-process/ 

Donna

Donna L Cohen, MLIS, MEd

Portland, Oregon

503-737-1425

dcohen at hevanet.com <mailto:dcohen at hevanet.com> 

Civics for Adults - and Others - Workshops: To Enhance Civic Knowledge and
Inspire Political Engagement

Webpage www.civicthinker.info <http://www.civicthinker.info>  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Civics-for-Adults-1490728887922036/

"My philosophy is very simple. When you see something that is not fair, not
right, not just - stand up, say something, speak up!" Rep. John Lewis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6lzPpqc2WY 

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