This Tuesdays at 2 topic is presented as an interactive workshop in which students work together to gain an understanding of what cultural appropriation is and how it affects our communities. 

The differences between assimilation, appreciation, and appropriation will be explored, and the upcoming modern celebration of Halloween will serve as a poignant talking point. Students will receive a short, 2-question survey before October 8, to be completed before the presentation.  

 Presenter: 

Christy Walker (she, her, ella) is the Dean of Equity and Belonging at COCC. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Equity and Well-Being serves the College by: 

 

• Promoting the implementation of the College's Principles of Community 

• Providing Education opportunities for students and employees 

• Planning cultural events and activities 

• Developing strong recruitment and retention programs for students and employees that have been historically underrepresented 

• Advocating for student groups that have been underrepresented and under served 

• Providing advice and support to enhance student success 

• Connecting students to resources that assist them in meeting their educational goals 

• Leading the campus community in the achievement of the goals and outcomes of the Diversity Plan 

As the coordinator of sustainability across all 4 of COCC’s campuses, Noelle Copley is a leader in local initiatives – and an encyclopedia of tips and tricks on how to incorporate sustainability into everyday life. 

Presenter: 

Noelle Copley, COCC’s sustainability coordinator, manages sustainability efforts across the college’s four campuses. Among other initiatives, she has helped bring Bee Campus USA and Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus designations to COCC; greatly expanded recycling programs; introduced a residence hall move-out donation program to reduce waste; created a staff sustainability training; and is overseeing a greenhouse gas inventory as part of COCC’s recently signed “carbon commitment,” a national climate pledge for higher education institutions. Copley was named a 2023 recipient of the Environmental Center’s Sustainability Award. 

It is likely that grey wolves eventually made their way across the Bering land bridge into North America upwards of 18,000 years ago. Known for their ability to disperse long distances from their birth sites, wolves are now back in Central Oregon. Aaron Bott, regional wolf biologist for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, will present the status of wolves in Central Oregon, his work with wolf populations in Oregon and the American West, and his decades of work with Canus lupus.

Presenter

Aaron Bott is the regional wolf biologist for Central Oregon, employed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Bott is a doctoral candidate at Utah State University, studying wolves across the American West - predicting spatial and behavioral patterns on an anthropocentric landscape to promote human-carnivore coexistence. Bott and his wife live in Prineville and have four children, a 4-year-old and 2-year-old triplets. He joked in an interview with the Nugget News that “having three, 2-year-olds is much scarier than wolves.”

Commute options in Central Oregon

Presenter

Brian has lived in Central Oregon since the year 2000 and loves to ride bicycles and work with community. Working for Commute Options since 2008, Brian has learned many techniques for outreaching and engaging community in Central Oregon. Brian works with Oregon Safe Routes to School, ODOT, City of Bend, City of Redmond. He is passionate about creative change and promoting community health, active transportation and a vibrant local economy. 

Agriculture drives Jefferson County’s culture, economy, and land conditions. How can agriculture stay viable as temperatures rise while water supplies decrease and become more erratic? This presentation features a diverse panel of stakeholders in the conversation about drought and agriculture in Central Oregon, all of whom are involved with the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District. The conversation about drought conditions affects everyone in Central Oregon. Participants will hear about the state of water throughout our area and learn about the struggling agricultural economy of Jefferson County and its relationship tothe greater Oregon economy and beyond. 

Presenters:

Ellen Hammond, Conservation Specialist, Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District 

Brad Klann, Farmer. Owner, Brad Klaan Farms and Co-Owner of Mecca Grade Estate Malt, Madras 

Rob Galyen, Farmer. Farm Manager at S&L Farms, Madras 

Jacob Kimiecik, Program Manager, Deschutes River Conservancy, Bend 

Josh Bailey, General Manager, North Unit Irrigation District, Madras 

Wildfires have become a regular – and oftentimes destructive – part of summer months in the West. The presentation by Emily Curtis of Discover Your Forest will examine the role of fire in the Deschutes National Forest ecosystem, what influences spread and intensity, and how forest management methods can be used to maintain ecosystem health.  

Presenter 

Emily Curtis is the Wildland Fire Education Coordinator for Discover Your Forest, the non-profit partner of the Deschutes and Ochoco National Forests and Crooked River Grasslands. Emily and her team work side-by-side with these agencies in support of education, volunteerism and conservation of our region’s special places. Having worked for state and federal forestry agencies, Emily is keenly interested in natural and social systems and their relationships to communities. 

“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”   Jane Goodall 

This presentation is about lowering your impact on our planet and being a part of the solution to the climate crisis. Learn what you can do to reduce the greenhouse gases you generate each day (your carbon footprint) while improving the health and safety of your home and lowering your energy and food costs.  Topics include home electrification, electric vehicles, food choices, food waste and how to prioritize actions that will work for you. The speaker will also discuss the consensus on the science and impact of climate change. 

Presenter 

Since retiring from a career in regulatory toxicology and environmental consulting, Lynne Haroun has been pursuing her interests in sustainability and climate change. She holds a master’s degree in the areas of environmental health sciences and public health and over the last several years, has participated in climate courses offered by former Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project, Southern Oregon Climate Action Now, and online webinars and classes related to home electrification and the impacts of the food system on the planet. Cooking has been of her lifelong interests, leading to her niche at the intersection of sustainability, climate, and the food system. She has given presentations on the science and impacts of climate change, sustainability in the home and kitchen, and using federal tax credits available under the Inflation Reduction Act to go electric and lower home energy bills.   

As of 2024, there are more than 2000 public monuments, including over 650 statues of varying size, commemorating the Confederate States of America or its prominent leaders.  COCC professor Murray Godfrey will discuss the "Lost Cause" interpretation of Civil War history that largely inspired the construction of these monuments, its lasting legacy, and the efforts in various parts of the country to remove them. 

Presenter 

Murray A. Godfrey is Professor of History at Central Oregon Community College where he has taught since 2012. He received a Master of Arts degree in History from Texas State University specializing in the history of the Atlantic World, Military history, and the political economy of early America.  Prior to coming to Central Oregon, Murray previously taught for Austin Community College in Austin, TX and Alamo Community College District in San Antonio, TX.

Topic TBA

Presenter 

Kathleen Rafiq left a career behind as a broadcast producer and print journalist, moving to Afghanistan as a civilian shortly after 9/11. Primarily working in the health sector, she managed humanitarian aid reconstruction projects and helped to build capacity amongst local villagers. Many times, this was coupled working alongside NATO, U.S. miliary troops, and the International community. After more than a decade living in a warzone, Kathleen returned to a more quiet and serene life here in Central Oregon but continues to remain engage in veteran affairs and in particular the changing face of Afghanistan and the Middle East.