By Emilia González Clements
[emiliagonzalezclements@gmail.com]
Fifth Sun Development Fund
Emilia González Clements
The PNWLPO, formed at the 2011 annual SfAA meeting, continues to organize. Members come from the Pacific Northwest region of Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, western Montana, Idaho and northern California. To date, 48 practitioners and students have joined and will help define the organizational structure and activities.
Portland Meeting: Co-founder Kevin Preister is leading the process of planning the first gathering. Given the geography of the region and the work commitments/locations of members, our biggest challenge is finding meeting times and places. We agreed to begin in Portland.
Collaboration with Portland State University: Co-founder Emilia Gonzalez-Clements is serving as the “Portland contact” and focusing on developing a collaboration with Portland State University. After a very successful meeting with PSU faculty and leaders of student groups, Dr. Jeremy Spoon (assistant professor of anthropology), Michael Myers and Rob Duren (student group leaders) volunteered to represent PSU in the LPO. We are planning training workshops, practitioner presentations and other activities. The two official student groups have offered to sponsor LPO meetings on campus. The PSU contingent includes about 30 individuals, who all plan to join the LPO.
Local Contacts: Please contact either Kevin or Emilia with any ideas, and to offer to serve as a local contact for your area.
Baltimore Forum: Look for information about the PNWLPO Open Forum at the annual meeting (March 27-31, 2012). Members and interested persons will meet to talk about interests, work, concerns, and opportunities. Join us!
