July 2, 2025

Does Nature Have a Purpose in Our Lives? Exploring Our Relationships to the Land

Oregonians have long struggled to balance cultural, political, and values-based differences tied to our use of land and resources. As we enter an age of accelerating environmental change and scarcity, it is important to understand what drives these differences. In this conversation we will explore our attitudes and assumptions about the purpose of the environment in our lives and consider how those attitudes and assumptions shape our perception of environmental issues and policies.

Register for this free online program.

10:00 a.m. Pacific, Virtual Event, statewide

July 7, 2025

Summer Reading Program: Junior Conservationists

During the four Mondays in July—July 7th, July 14th, July 21st, and July 28th—the Yachats Library Children's Program will be hosting a series of Junior Conservationists. The conservationist will present to groups of children ages 9 to 12. The topics of presentations will vary from urban gardening to native plant and coral reef preservation. The conservationists are Katherine Rose, Jeremy Ouja, Harley Finberg, and Shannon Loucks. To register, please contact the Yachats Library. These events are supported in part by an Oregon Humanities Mini Grant for Rural Libraries.

1:30 p.m., Yachats Public Library, Yachats

July 13, 2025

Studio Series Poetry Reading and Open Mic with Ellen Waterston

Oregon Poet Laureate Ellen Waterston will be featured at the July 13, 2025 Studio Series Poetry Reading and Open Mic hosted by Leah Stenson at the Ross Island Grocery & Cafe. The event is free and open to the public, and attendees are welcome to read at the open mic after Ellen Waterston's reading.

7:00 p.m., Ross Island Grocery and Cafe, Portland

July 14, 2025

Summer Reading Program: Junior Conservationists

During the four Mondays in July,  the Yachats Library Children's Program will be hosting a series of Junior Conservationists. The conservationists will present to groups of children ages nine to twelve. The topics of presentations will vary from urban gardening to native plant and coral reef preservation. This program is made possible in part by a grant from Oregon Humanities.

1:30 p.m., Yachats Public Library, Yachats

July 17, 2025

Community Conversations: Who are We?

The first in a three-part series, this is a conversation about the history of the city of Toledo, including the Toledo Incident and the effects of the railroad and timber industries on the community of Toledo. We will reflect on the questions of who we are and what made the city of Toledo what it is today. Part Two, Community Conversation: Where are we going? will be in August, and the series will end with a resource/volunteer fair in September. This event is made possible in part by a grant from Oregon Humanities.

6:00 p.m., Toledo Public Library, Toledo

July 21, 2025

Facilitation Training for Libraries

Oregon Humanities will present three trainings in 2025 for staff, board members, volunteers, and program partners of Oregon libraries of all types (public, academic, school, and tribal). These trainings will help people involved with libraries strengthen their skills in leading conversations about vital issues and ideas across differences, beliefs, and backgrounds. With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence as a jumping off point, participants will learn about facilitation and reflective conversation, practice new skills and techniques, and learn to design and facilitate conversations that allow people and groups to learn more about themselves and each other.

This training will take place at Hillsboro Public Library, Brookwood (2850 NE Brookwood Parkway, Hillsboro) over the following days:

• Day 1: Monday, July 21, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Day 2: Tuesday, July 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

To register for the July training, click here.

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Hillsboro Public Library Brookwood Branch, Hillsboro

July 21, 2025

Summer Reading Program: Junior Conservationists

During the four Mondays in July,  the Yachats Library Children's Program will be hosting a series of Junior Conservationists. The conservationists will present to groups of children ages nine to twelve. The topics of presentations will vary from urban gardening to native plant and coral reef preservation. This program is made possible in part by a grant from Oregon Humanities.

1:30 p.m., Yachats Public Library, Yachats

July 22, 2025

Conversation Project: Can We Parent Together?

Like many aspects of life in the United States, parenting is increasingly done in isolation. American adults report spending 30 percent less time doing face-to-face socializing than they did twenty years ago. (Teenagers report spending almost 50 percent less time.) This conversation provides an opportunity for parents and caregivers to reflect on how we engage with friends and community and how social connectedness and community support affect parenting and caregiving. How does the presence or absence of extended family affect how we raise children? Can there be nontraditional extended families? Join Catherine Feeny to explore the conventions and norms that prevent us from building intimacy and experiencing mutual support and consider strategies for building connections to support families and others in our communities.

RSVP for this free online event.

4:00 p.m., Virtual Event, statewide

July 27, 2025

Estacada 120th Celebration: How Our Library Was Made

In 2006, the Estacada Public Library moved from its cozy home in city hall to a new building on a two-acre site on the other side of the Clackamas County town. David Bugni, the current president of the Friends of the Estacada Public Library, will share his inside scoop on the long process of bringing this dream into fruition. This program was made possible in part by a grant from Oregon Humanities.

6:00 p.m., Estacada Public Library, Estacada

July 28, 2025

Summer Reading Program: Junior Conservationists

During the four Mondays in July, the Yachats Library Children's Program will be hosting a series of Junior Conservationists. The conservationists will present to groups of children ages nine to twelve. The topics of presentations will vary from urban gardening to native plant and coral reef preservation.

1:30 p.m., Yachats Public Library, Yachats