How a crisis moment (and some very passionate organizers) spawned an enduring rural movement for human dignity in rural and small town Oregon. In this audio slideshow, Rural Organizing Project (ROP) founder and Executive Director (1993-2011) Marcy Westerling, tells the story of how ROP came to be.
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Dancer Davis – Being out in rural Oregon
Being “out” in rural Oregon: Dancer Davis describes the reception that she and her partner, Jeri, received upon moving to Bridge, Oregon in 2000.
Billy Russo – The Portland Picket
When human dignity leader and Ruby House founder Billy Russo learned that Portland officials had cut Douglas County and other rural areas out from the state application for federal Ryan White funds in support of HIV services, he organized a picket targeting Bob McAlistair and his colleagues.
Roots & Wings speech by Marcy Westerling
ROP founder, Marcy Westerling, shares the story of her own journey to grassroots organizing at ROP’s 2010 Roots and Wings Celebration.