‼️Please note: We have canceled this meeting and will try our best to reschedule the guest presentation for a later date.‼️
Chris Reavis will explore the neuroscience of stress and how it affects both employee and family engagement. He will introduce empathy-driven strategies to diffuse fight/flight responses and activate new neural pathways, empowering individuals to better handle future stressors. Chris is the bestselling author of Boost Your BS Resilience At Work and Unleashed: What a Child with Autism Can Teach You.
Lane Thompson, Student Loan Ombudsman from the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation, will discuss navigating student loan repayment options, the role of a student loan ombudsman, and resources available to help Oregonians manage the second-largest form of consumer debt nationwide.
Kaylee Chrystal, the Community Engagement Coordinator for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Oregon, is focused on expanding the program to every county in the state. The Imagination Library sends a free, age-appropriate book each month to children from birth until age five, regardless of family income. In her presentation, “Expanding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Across Oregon,” Kaylee will share updates on the program’s growth and how community members can help bring books to children across Oregon, nurturing a love for reading from an early age.
Rotarian Ron Herring will share the inspiring story of Project Flourish, a Rotary global grant initiative led by the Lake Oswego Rotary Club in 2022-23. This project supported MAIA, an Indigenous-run high school in Guatemala, by developing a gap year program to prepare graduates for higher education and workplace success. The program has yielded outstanding results, with all 80 participants passing university entrance exams, and many securing scholarships, jobs, or international opportunities. Ron will highlight the program’s impact and future opportunities for Rotary clubs to support this transformative work.
Jim Urquhart from the Donkey Sanctuary of Oregon will present on Caring for Special Needs Donkeys at Oregon Donkey Sanctuary. Since 2006, Jim and his wife Rhonda have transformed their 40-acre farm into a sanctuary for neglected and abused donkeys. They established Oregon Donkey Sanctuary Northwest in 2021, providing lifelong care for special needs donkeys with the help of dedicated volunteers. Each donkey has a unique story and personality, and the sanctuary aims to educate people on proper care and advance the status of donkeys. The ultimate goal is to create an equine therapy program named Pearl's Place, in memory of their beloved matriarch Pearl.
Tiffany Bolstad-Cox, board member of Wilsonville Community Sharing, will provide an overview of this vital organization. Wilsonville Community Sharing supports individuals and families through programs like food assistance, utility help, and housing resources, fostering stability and well-being in the community.
Jeannine Murrell is the Rotary District 5100 Governor for 2024-25. The district follows the Oregon-Washington border from the Pacific Ocean to Idaho, covering a northern slice of Oregon and a southern slice of Washington, including the major cities of Portland, Salem and Vancouver. The District Governor visits all clubs, each on a designated date, during the course of the year, to give updates on Rotary from the district and international perspective and to inspire clubs and members to higher success.
Tommy Reeder and Zach Morse, Parks Lead Maintenance Specialists and Certified Playground Safety Inspectors for the City of Wilsonville, will share insights on Wilsonville's inclusive playgrounds and how Universal Design is shaping accessible spaces for children of all abilities. They will discuss the benefits and challenges of designing inclusive play areas and highlight key locations like Boones Ferry Park, Murase Plaza, and the nature play area at Memorial Park, which feature accessible surfaces, companion swings, and natural play opportunities.
Allison Brinkhost, Love Jonson, and Charlie Collier from PDX Housing Solidarity Project will discuss their work redistributing wealth to address racialized disparities in homeownership. Their presentation will explore Portland’s history of exclusionary housing policies and highlight real stories of how their initiative has helped Black and Indigenous first-time homebuyers. Since 2021, their efforts have leveraged over $1.7 million, supporting 18 homebuyers and gaining recognition from OPB, Trusthout, and The Philadelphia Citizen’s “Ideas We Should Steal” list.
