Shows
Think Out LoudOregon bill would again allow foster kids to be sent out of stateA foster care bill in the Oregon legislature is controversial, but unlike other hotly contested issues, it’s not one that breaks along party lines. House Bill 3835 would allow kids in the child welfare system to be sent out of state to receive services — a practice Oregon stopped several years ago after documented incidents of abuse. Democratic governor Tina Kotek has publicly spoken in favor of the bill, and it’s sponsored by Rep. Rob Nosse, D - Portland. But Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin, D - Corvallis, is among those in her party who vehemently oppose it. We hear from bo...2025-05-2929 minThink Out LoudMarion County’s move from incineration to landfill illustrates the problems with both methods of trash disposalSince the mid-1980s, Marion county has been sending its trash to an incinerator, now known as Reworld Marion Inc. It’s the only one in the state, and the county has partnered with it from the beginning. The company recently filed objections with Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality around environmental regulations the state passed aimed at improving human health by reducing toxic emissions from the facility. Several months ago Reworld announced it would be closing its Oregon facility and would not be accepting any more trash as of Dec. 31, 2024.
The county had to turn instead to the...2025-01-0719 min
CrosstabsOregon Senate Democrats Do the Leadership ShuffleBryan and Reagan discuss common mistakes made during summer campaign season, more “Hamas” this time from the Portland teachers union, and the Senate Democrats shuffling their leadership.Lawmakers discussed in this episode: Ben Bowman, Elizabeth Steiner, Kate Lieber, Rob Wagner, Wlnsvey Campos, Lew Frederick, Sara Gelser Blouin, Chris Gorsek, Kayse Jama, James Manning, Mark Meek, Deb Patterson, Floyd Prozanski, Janeen Sollman, Kathleen Taylor, Aaron Woods, and Vikki Breese Iverson.Links Portland teachers union links to lessons urging students to pray to Allah, write Biden to stop funding IsraelIn Portland, the Intifada...2024-06-131h 03
Benton County Public PodcastEvacuation Collaboration Improves Safety in Oak Creek Valley - Episode 8The Benton County Commissioners hosted a recognition and tour for a new wildfire evacuation route in the Oak Creek Valley at the Kalapuya Building in Corvallis on Jan. 24 to thank partners and highlight a successful collaboration that could save lives.The inspired partnership has addressed a critical public safety concern in the Oak Creek area of northwest Corvallis. Oak Creek, surrounded by dense woodlands, faces a heightened risk of wildfires. Compounding the danger was the fact that its 1,300 residents and visitors relied on a solitary entrance and exit point, Oak Creek Drive, leaving them vulnerable in the...2024-02-2850 min
Benton County Public PodcastEpisode 8 - Evacuation Collaboration Improves Safety in Oak Creek ValleyThe Benton County Commissioners hosted a recognition and tour for a new wildfire evacuation route in the Oak Creek Valley at the Kalapuya Building in Corvallis on Jan. 24 to thank partners and highlight a successful collaboration that could save lives.The inspired partnership has addressed a critical public safety concern in the Oak Creek area of northwest Corvallis. Oak Creek, surrounded by dense woodlands, faces a heightened risk of wildfires. Compounding the danger was the fact that its 1,300 residents and visitors relied on a solitary entrance and exit point, Oak Creek Drive, leaving them vulnerable in the...2024-01-2950 min
Hiding In Plain Sight Podcast14. (Part 2) Interview with State Senator Sara Gelser-BlouinMorning to-do list:* Make coffee* Balance civil rights of students with workforce development for Oregon* Get 3 major education bills passed* Respond to xxx emails* Breathe, it’s 10 a.m.I spoke again with Democratic Senator Sara Gesler-Blouin, pictured here seated at her desk in the State Capitol in Salem, Oregon. Above, I imagined what her morning to-do list may look like during Oregon’s 82nd Legislative Session which started on January 17th. I had never heard of Senator Gelser-Blouin prior to tracking Senate Bill 819 which she...2023-04-1111 min
Medical MotherhoodCaregiver's Break Time Blitz: The eternal struggle between productivity and restWhen Lenore Eklund, our fabulous Medical Motherhood editorial cartoonist, sent over this month’s edition of Where is the Manual for This?! I literally laughed out loud. I feel this HARD. My to do list is as long as my arm and somehow even when I get a surprise break I still don’t know what to do with myself. The tension between “rest” and “productivity” is particularly strong. Productivity usually wins but rest would sure be nice…What do you do when you get a surprise break? What do you want to do? Let us kno...2023-04-0910 min
Medical Motherhood'We did it. It worked.' Watch the senate hearing on paid parent caregiver bills in OregonMedical mothers wear many different hats. We are therapists and nurses and referees and dieticians and housekeepers and laundresses.One of the many hats I wear is journalist. Another, lately, has been political activist.Last Monday, Feb. 6, I wore that latter hat to a hearing of the Oregon Senate Committee on Human Services. The committee was hearing testimony two bills that could lead to paid parent caregivers in our state. The first, Senate Bill 646, is a broad measure, developed by Sen. Tim Knopp of Bend in partnership with parent leaders. The second, Senate...2023-02-1917 min
Unraveling AdoptionWhat's the Big Deal About Birth Certificates? with Ann Weaver-Melendy - Ep 77In this week’s Safe Home Podcast, Beth talks with Ann Weaver Melendy from Oregon, a baby scoop era adoptee who was taught by her adoptive family to not speak about her adoption and to not ask questions. Well that backfired big time, because not only is she now sharing her story on this public podcast and elsewhere, but she is also an adoptee rights advocate. Ann is particularly bothered that adoptees’ vital records often don’t include the true data about their birthdate, birth parents, and more. She has fought for her own birth certificate to list the correc...2023-01-2337 min
Medical MotherhoodThe 'special needs' cost multiplier“We must dissent from the indifference. We must dissent from the apathy. We must dissent from the fear, the hatred and the mistrust. We must dissent from a nation that has buried its head in the sand, waiting in vain for the needs of its poor, its elderly, and its sick to disappear and just blow away.” — Justice Thurgood MarshallThe second Sunday of every month Medical Motherhood publishes Where Is the Manual for This?!, an editorial cartoon by Lenore Eklund.Medicalized equipment always costs five times more than I think it will! Can you relate...2022-07-1011 min
Wilderness Therapy & Residential Treatment Center JourneySpecial Episode: Our Treatment Programs Need Your Help!In this special episode, Andy Goldstrom shares that our treatment programs are being threatened by celebrities, lobbyists and older recipients of treatment. As a result, for those who care about our kids and their parents, we need to act. Write an email imploring these governmental leaders to help our programs, not further restrict them or take them down. If they do, this will be a real tragedy.Email addresses are:Utah State Senator Michael McKell – mmckell@le.utah.govOR State Senator Sara Gelser Blouin – sen.saragelser@orgeonlegislature.govCA Congressman Ro Khan...2022-05-2211 min
Medical Motherhood'For Some Oregon Children—Including Mine—Public Schools Haven’t Reopened' hits Willamette Week“What we’re looking at is a complete rollback to the idea that children are entitled to a free and appropriate public education.” — Sen. Sara Gelser Blouin (D-Corvallis)COVID-19 changed so many policies, but I would argue schoolchildren have experienced some of the biggest policy impacts. Children in special education even more so. A few weeks ago, I wrote an allegory for how it felt trying to regain access to brick-and-mortar school for my twins with disabilities. Since then, we have found a new school home with an online public charter and the...2022-03-1320 min
Oversight MattersOregon State Senator Sara Gelser BlouinThe views expressed on Oversight Matters do not necessarily represent the views of Wayne State University or Wayne State Law School.2022-03-0323 min
Medical MotherhoodPDX Parent: Parents of disabled children as 'changemakers'“There’s such pain and agony in parenting these kids with personal challenges. I had to make the struggle count for something. It had to matter.” — County Commissioner Sonya FischerI have wanted to do this story for a long time — ever since I met these three strong female politicians here in Oregon. State Senator Sara Gelser Blouin, County Commissioner Sonya Fischer and former Representative Julie Parrish all know what it’s like to raise children with extra needs and they used that experience to propel them towards policymaking. Thank you to PDX Paren...2022-02-0622 min
The Bridge by OR360Wrapping Up 2021! Building OR360, Reflecting on Incredible Guests, Favorite Episodes, and Looking Forward!Alex, Ben and Buddy wrap up 2021 and reflect on some of the highlights of the podcast thus far! With some of our favorite guests like Alek Skarlatos, Sara Gelser, Katherine Gehl, Tobias Read, Val Hoyle, Jessica Gomez, Dirk Vanderhart, The Knopp Family, and many many more, OR360 had nothing short of a successful foundation year, and the team is looking forward to all that is soon to come, including what is sure to be one of the most competitive gubernatorial races in Oregon history!
2022-01-0529 min
Coffee with CascadeQP: Public School Closures Are Hurting Oregon StudentsFull Text: The public school shutdowns have gone too far.
Once reserved only for emergencies and dangerous weather, shutdowns at Oregon public schools have become commonplace for disciplinary reasons, adult staffing shortages, and lesson planning.
In November, Reynolds Middle School canceled in-person learning for three weeks because of fights and disruptive behavior. After two years of online learning, many students are finding it difficult to socialize and learn in person. But the last thing the school district should have done is shut down the school for behavior caused by shutting down the school.
...2021-12-0102 minThe Bridge by OR360A mind-blowing conversation with Sen. Sara Gelser | Ep. 16There is no one else in the Oregon legislature like Sen. Sara Gelser. Over the last decade, she has been at the center of some of the most important issues in Oregon politics. She has received national recognition (e.g. Time Person of the Year during the #MeToo movement) -- and she occasionally criticizes her own party and leadership. She has long been a legislative warrior on child welfare issues in Oregon, and this episode includes some wild stories.
This is a fascinating conversation that covers a lot of ground: the significant power vested in the House...2021-08-0455 min
The BridgeA mind-blowing conversation with Sen. Sara Gelser | Ep. 16There is no one else in the Oregon legislature like Sen. Sara Gelser. Over the last decade, she has been at the center of some of the most important issues in Oregon politics. She has received national recognition (e.g. Time Person of the Year during the #MeToo movement) -- and she occasionally criticizes her own party and leadership. She has long been a legislative warrior on child welfare issues in Oregon, and this episode includes some wild stories.This is a fascinating conversation that covers a lot of ground: the significant power vested in...2021-08-0455 min
TroubledPieces of Victory: "Realistic Hope" with Jeneen MillerTW/CW: Season 2 EP2 was recorded between Jeneen Miller of Pieces of Victory and Miranda Sullivan from Troubled, shortly after they met in Missouri during the November Right to Rights Rally. Mental Health and technical difficulties have kept this long awaited treasure from you, minimal updates to the content are included in the Outro.
Pieces of Victory is a Show on YouTube that features many of our Survivor friends and Heroes. Jeneen's book (which is unfortunately totally true) is also available, and we highly recommend it.
Everything is on the table, getting dished and dissed.
...2021-04-181h 29
Soul Force Ones11. Politicking and Policy Making feat. Senator Sara GelserIn this clip from Soul Force Ones, co-hosts Jon Stoll and Colin Cole talk with politician, Oregon State Senator Sara Gelser about reaching across the aisle and the Thanksgiving dinner table to talk and work with people we disagree with. She shares about the paradox of leading and listening and the seemingly paradoxical decision for a disability advocate to close the Oregon School for the Blind. Senator Gelser, named one of Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” Silence Breakers, explains what VP Kamala Harris in the White House means for our country and Jon''s children. She shares about relations...2020-11-231h 00
TroubledNYRA “Troubled Teen Industry” PanelOn 10/3 the National Youth Rights Association (www.youthrights.org) held a conversation about the successes the anti- "Troubled Teen Industry" movement has had shutting down abusive behavior modification facilities and the steps we can take to coordinate more closely between the various groups involved, including survivors, lawyers, state legislatures, and organizations focused on intersecting issues such as LGBTQIA+ rights.
Content warning: This panel may include mentions of child abuse, cults, brainwashing, homophobia, ableism, transphobia, sexual assault, and death.
GRATITUDE to Brian Conner for hosting this panel. To hear more from him directly, checkout NYRAs episode on Troubled.
Panelists: Wayne Besen: LGBTQI...2020-10-231h 10
TroubledMeet NYRA: Age of YouthIntroducing Margin Zheng and Brian Conner of NYRA (National Youth Rights Association)!
We found two more humans alleging that youth have rights in these Un-united States of America. We tried to let them down easy, yet they insist, so much so that they're hosting a virtual conference on these "youth rights" next week so make sure you grab your Tickets so you don't miss Miranda on the Troubled Teen Industry Panel.
Conference signup: ageofyouth.eventbrite.com
Speaking of which, some of your other favorite advocates will be joining us...2020-09-2737 min
The John Erickson ChannelShowdown over foster careOregon foster children with intellectual disabilities have been placed in out-of-state institutions that don't meet Oregon standards--and legislative leaders want to know why. We listen in on a hearing involving State Sen Sara Gelser and Oregon DHS Director Fariborz Paksererht.2019-04-2608 min
Pigeonhole Podcast – Who Am I To Stop ItPigeonhole Podcast 12: After FairviewListen to this post: In 2010, Representative Sara Gelser wrote a guest column describing the history and horrors of Fairview Hospital and Training Center. Please note: her column contains graphic descriptions of abuse and quotations from Fairview survivors and staff. Representative Gelser’s column appears alongside photos of the site after it was closed, if you […]2018-11-0506 minPigeonholePigeonhole Podcast 12: After FairviewListen to this post: In 2010, Representative Sara Gelser wrote a guest column describing the history and horrors of Fairview Hospital and Training Center. Please note: her column contains graphic descriptions of abuse and quotations from Fairview survivors and staff. Representative Gelser’s column appears alongside photos of the site after it was closed, if you […]2018-11-0506 minWho Am I To Stop ItPigeonhole Podcast 12: After FairviewListen to this post: In 2010, Representative Sara Gelser wrote a guest column describing the history and horrors of Fairview Hospital and Training Center. Please note: her column contains graphic descriptions of abuse and quotations from Fairview survivors and staff. Representative Gelser’s column appears alongside photos of the site after it was closed, if you […]2018-11-0506 min
Women In Government PodcastCareer Planning and Credentialing for People with DisabilitiesWomen In Government Podcast
Career Planning and Credentialing for People with Disabilities
Moderator:
Maryland State Delegate Sheree Sample-Hughes
Featured Guests:
Oregon State Senator Sara Gelser
Dr. Joe Ashley, Assistant Commissioner for Grants and Special Programs, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services and Director for Virginia’s Rehabilitation Services Administration funded Career Pathways for Individuals with Disabilities Project
Judy Mortrude, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success at The Center for Law and Social Policy(CLASP)
Dr. Scott Solberg, Professor of Counseling Psychology and Applied Human Development at Boston University
For more information, please visit www.womeningovernment.org2017-08-0958 min