Judith Rodin emphasizes that future preparation requires building better cities. Dozens of global cities, from New York to Dhaka, have recently endured large-scale catastrophes, including natural disasters, conflicts, and disease. In our interconnected world, these events harm vulnerable individuals, destabilize communities, and threaten entire societies.

Facing increasing city-wide risks, we must improve our ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Dr. Judith Rodin, President of the Rockefeller Foundation and author of *The Resilience Dividend*, offers groundbreaking research. She guides individuals, companies, and societies in averting disaster by fostering more dynamic, resilient urban environments.

Rodin's work explores critical questions, such as lessons from Japan's 2011 tsunami and Haiti's humanitarian aid. Her book, *The Resilience Dividend*, is available for order.

Joni Lane, a LEED Green Associate with a Master's in Sustainable Design Studies from Boston Architectural College, is passionate about creating valuable, sustainable, and regenerative solutions. She believes great design has the power to change the world.

Her work focuses on healing the built environment with bio-based materials, specifically Hempcrete. She addresses indoor contaminants and their health effects, striving to advance education and awareness to promote safe and healthy buildings.

On October 23, 2009, City Club welcomed former Oregon Board of Higher Education members Kirby Dyess, John von Schlagell, and Donald Blair.

Appointed by Governor Kulongoski in 2004, they served until 2008, tasked with creating an innovative, entrepreneurial system to stabilize university income and costs. They discussed their experiences and how outdated organizational structures reportedly hindered their ability to achieve these higher education goals.

A local news story provides further context: Higher Education Leaders Say Structures Hindered Goals.

The Oregon Values & Beliefs Study, conducted every decade by DHM Research, presents its latest findings. This year's study was sponsored by the Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon Public Broadcasting, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), and Oregon State University.

Join Adam Davis, founder of DHM Research, and Dr. John McConnell from OHSU's Center for Health Systems Effectiveness, with Think Out Loud host Dave Miller. They will discuss how Oregonians value education, healthcare, the environment, and other key issues. Davis brings over 30 years of public opinion research expertise, while Dr. McConnell is a distinguished health economist.

Kim Shukla, Executive Director of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance, was interviewed by Edgar Winters of the Oregon Agriculture & Food Rural Consortium (OAFRC) and COO of Natural Good Medicines. Winters sought to learn from Canada's advanced industrial hemp industry as Oregon develops its own market, recognizing hemp's crucial role in rural economic development.

The interview took place at the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA) National Hemp Convention, "Hemp 2014: Paving the Way," held November 16-19, 2014, in Delta Winnipeg. Barry Heidt filmed the session.

This solution tackles pollution, water waste, and aesthetic problems of surface parking lots in Portland, Oregon. Inspired by NPR's "Building Sponge City" concept (January 2015), the content was curated by Ruth Ann Barrett of EarthSayers.tv.

A multidisciplinary team developed this initiative, including Mary Vogel of PlanGreen (Regenerating Communities), Kelli A. Grover of Firwood Design Group (Surveying, Engineering, Planning), Maria Cahill of Green Girl Land Development Solutions (Cost-Effective Storm Water Infrastructure), Suenn Ho of Resolve Architecture (Architectural and Urban Design), and Marianne Zarkin (Landscape Architects).

David Bronner, head of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, advocates for supporting American hemp farmers. His company, which uses non-psychoactive hemp in its products, questions why funds are continually directed to Canadian suppliers instead of domestic ones.

This statement was published on September 17, 2012.

Upon moving to Portland's Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood in April 2014, I observed numerous buildings marked "U" for unsafe, two within a single block. This area reportedly has the city's highest concentration of such structures, a regrettable situation for a city proud of its built environment.

A December 2014 update includes a presentation on Unreinforced Masonry Buildings (UMB), available here.

This panel will address challenges in redeveloping historic buildings within Portland's Old Town Chinatown, an area home to two National Historic Districts. It will explore financial tools, incentives, and streamlined processes to attract private investment and restore these vital structures.

Speakers include Brian Emerick (Emerick Architects), Julie Garver (Innovative Housing), Jeff Joslin (City and County of San Francisco), Peggy Moretti (Restore Oregon), and Ethan Seltzer (Portland State University). Chet Orloff (Pamplin International Collection of Art & History) will moderate.

Published on June 24, 2014, by the City Club of Portland.

This publication, from the City of Portland's Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, offers a brief introduction to Portland's diverse neighborhoods.

It highlights the unique character of each area.

Originally posted in December 2014.

NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports confirmed that last year was Earth's warmest on record. Their analysis also shows that, with the exception of 1998, the ten warmest years have all occurred since 2000.

Since record-keeping began in 1880, Earth's average surface temperature has risen by approximately 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degrees Celsius). This warming trend is primarily attributed to increased carbon dioxide and other human-caused emissions into the atmosphere.

Every city has its unique social fabric. Dave Troy visualizes Twitter data from his hometown, Baltimore, to reveal these hidden lines—who talks to whom and who doesn’t. His work explores what online sharing tells us about urban communities.

TEDTalks provides daily video podcasts featuring leading thinkers and doers from the TED Conference. These talks cover a wide range of topics, including Technology, Entertainment, Design, science, business, and global issues. Find closed captions and translated subtitles here.

Earlier this month, Congress passed a measure within the 2015 defense bill to transfer sacred American Indian lands in Arizona to a foreign company.

Bill Moyers interviewed Robert A. Williams Jr., a professor of American Indian law, who explained how such land deals continue a tragic history of dispossession for American Indians.

Published on December 26, 2014.

Doug Fine is a best-selling author, comedic investigative journalist, and solar-powered goatherder. He has reported from five continents for major outlets including the Washington Post, New York Times, Wired, and NPR. A former New Yorker, he now lives at the Funky Butte Ranch in Silver City, New Mexico.

At TEDx ABQ in September 2013, Fine discussed the "I-gene," our indigenous connection to nature. He emphasized the importance of getting outdoors to awaken this gene, enabling us to thrive in both the natural and digital worlds.

Anndrea Herrmann, President of the Hemp Industries Association, was interviewed by the Investing News Network on May 16, 2014. She discussed hemp regulations and the challenges her organization faces.

Herrmann elaborated on hemp regulations in the United States and globally, addressing difficulties in public education. She also provided an overview of hemp's many interesting uses.

This spirited interview features U.S. Hemp Industry pioneers at the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance (CHTA/ACCC) National Hemp Convention, "Hemp 2014: Paving the Way," held November 16-19, 2014, in Delta Winnipeg.

Interviewer Edgar Winters (Oregon Agriculture & Food Rural Consortium & COO of Natural Good Medicines) speaks with Anndrea Hermann and Doug Fine. Hermann, President of the Hemp Industries Association and Oregon State University professor, discusses building a "solid legitimate industry" through agronomy and global partnerships. Journalist and hemp advocate Fine highlights sustainability and a community-based tri-cropping blueprint from his book, Hemp Bound. This essential conversation should not be missed.

Published on January 11, 2015, this video documents a presentation given on January 6, 2015, in Salem, Oregon, USA.

An author, journalist, and hemp advocate addressed the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The video was produced by Barry Heidt.

Streamed live on January 9, 2015, this forum on "Healthcare & Homelessness" discussed City Club's new report and critical community issues.

The event explored how to maximize health benefits for Multnomah County's homeless population through healthcare reform and Oregon Health Plan expansion. Homelessness is a complex public health challenge where the struggle for stability often overshadows health needs, exposing deep fault lines in our current healthcare system.

Panelists included Crista Gardner, David Labby, Leo Rhodes, and Rachel Solotaroff.

An upcoming forum will address what's working, what's not, and potential improvements for homelessness by next year. Panelists include Multnomah County Chair-Elect Deborah Kafoury, Portland City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, Suzanne Hayden (Citizens Crime Commission), Traci Manning (Portland Bureau of Housing), Matt Morton (Native American Youth and Family Center), and Leo Rhodes (Street Roots). KGW's Reggie Aqui will moderate.

This initiative builds on past efforts, such as Nan Roman's (National Alliance to End Homelessness) April 4th presentation on causes and solutions. A City Club research committee is also studying how Multnomah County's homeless population can benefit from healthcare reforms, with results due in January. The City Club of Portland has dedicated 2014 to finding practical solutions to end local homelessness through research, advocacy, and public forums.

Portland is experiencing an unprecedented architectural boom, impacting citizens across many neighborhoods. While the city's Design Review process evaluates new buildings, its most stringent oversight applies only to downtown and a few inner districts.

A panel will explore how Design Review functions, its effectiveness, and potential expansion city-wide. Experts Michael McCullouch, Guenevere Millius, and John Russell will share insights, with Randy Gragg moderating the discussion.