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Friends and Neighbors,
Happy Spring! It is good to be able to reach out again, now that the Primary Election has passed. I hope that you and yours have stayed healthy and are doing well. I look forward to continuing my weekly newsletter and sharing updates on Interim work and community outreach with you, until the next blackout period, 60 days prior to the General Election. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to my office at any time, with questions or concerns.
Upcoming Events
Join me at BJ's Coffee in Forest Grove for my 89th Community Conversation. This is a great opportunity to gather informally and share your questions and concerns. Hope to see you there. Let's support a local Senate District 15 small business!
Legislative Updates
June Economic and Revenue Forecast
Oregon's quarterly Economic and Revenue Forecast was released this morning in a joint meeting of the Senate and House Finance and Revenue Committees, of which I am a member. You can watch the playback here and see the slide presentation here. Key takeaways include:
- Oregon's economy is running strong, leading the nation on the road to recovery.
- We need to make sure that Oregon's strong economic growth extends to every community and family in the state.
- Our strong budget reserves are an added security. We will continue to plan a budget for today and tomorrow-to make sure Oregon's recovery stays strong.
See past forecasts and the schedule for upcoming forecasts at the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis here.
Virtual Legislative Days: June 1-3
During Legislative Days in June, committees will meet remotely to hear updates on Interim work and hold Informational Hearings. Along with the previous committees I served on during the Legislative Session, I was recently appointed as Co-Chair of the Joint Emergency Board Subcommittee on General Government. Follow along with my committee hearings virtually, by using the links below. Agendas and meeting times will be posted in the coming weeks.
Education Updates
Computer Science Education in Oregon K-12 Public Schools
This week (May 14th-22nd) is Oregon STEM week and it got a wonderful boost from Governor Kate Brown last Friday. I was happy to join my colleagues, Representative Nancy Nathanson and Senator James I. Manning Jr., at Connected Lane County's SparkLab in Eugene for a tour, where Gov Brown announced a $5 million dollar investment in STEM Education for Oregon kids and directed the Oregon Department of Education and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to develop a statewide implementation plan for computer science education. This is a huge win for Oregon students! (See my statement below). Learn more about Oregon STEM Week here, a state-wide movement to raise awareness, celebrate and engage in activities involving Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM). Read the Governor's full press release here.
 
Oregon Provides Historic Investment in Financial Aid for Tribal Students, Encourages Students to Apply
From the Higher Education Coordinating Comission (HECC)
Earlier this month, The HECC announced a press release that the application is now open for the Oregon Tribal Student Grant for 2022-23, a new state financial aid program supported by the Oregon Legislature’s 2022 historic investment in equitable college access and success for tribal students. The Oregon Tribal Student Grant is expected to pay for most or all public college-related expenses—including tuition, housing, books, and other costs not covered by other grants—for eligible students who are enrolled members of Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes. It can be applied toward undergraduate or graduate study at Oregon public colleges and universities as well as eligible private non-profit institutions, where award amounts can go up to the public institution maximum level, in the upcoming 2022-23 school year. Please help us to share the news on this program! A communication toolkit is available on our website here. Learn more in the press release here. The priority application deadline is August 1: https://oregonstudentaid.gov/oregon-tribal-student.aspx
COVID-19 Updates
3rd Round of Free COVID-19 Tests Now Available
Residential households in the U.S. are now eligible for another order of free at-home tests on USPS.com. Here's what you need to know about your order:
- Each order now includes #8 rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
- Your order of #8 tests will come in #2 separate packages (#4 tests in each package), each with its own tracking number
- Packages will ship free
Need help placing an order for your at-home tests?
Community Outreach
Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Month. All month long, we come together to celebrate friends and neighbors in our community, and the important contributions they have made. Senate District 15 is home for a growing number of Asian American and Asian Pacific Islander community members with 11% of our District population being represented by our AAPI neighbors. Here are some resources to help celebrate and learn more:
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Asian and Pacific Islander Day with the Oregon State Capitol: Join us for a cultural exploration of the Asian Continent and the Pacific Islands, and broaden your awareness of the cultures that permeate the state's landscape. We will host music, dancing and activities that are fun for the entire family. The presenting sponsor of this virtual event is the Oregon State Capitol Foundation.
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AsianPacificHeritage.gov: The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success.
- Ignite National: Four TED Talks to watch for AAPI Heritage Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
In May, we also celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month. Let us uplift the contributions of our Jewish American neighbors and community members, and celebrate their culture, heritage and important place in our community. Below are some resources to help celebrate and learn more:
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- Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
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Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History: In May 2022, more than 120 organizations around the U.S. have joined together to help Americans of all backgrounds discover, explore, and celebrate the vibrant and varied American Jewish experience from the dawn of our nation to the present day. Join us!
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JewishHeritageMonth.gov: The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Jewish Americans who helped form the fabric of American history, culture and society.
The City of Hillsboro is Hiring!
From the City of Hillsboro
Your Next Job Is With Us! 25+ Opportunities Currently Available
Do you want to serve your community & work close to home? If you said 'Yes!', the City of Hillsboro has full-time & part-time jobs available:
Librarian, Lifeguard, Recreation Instructor, Parks Maintenance Worker, Electrician, Inspector, Code Compliance Officer, Police Officer, Interpreter, Project Manager, Financial Analyst, Grant Administrator & more.
Explore jobs for you — or someone you know. Visit here for more information.
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Opportunity for Educators from Portland Metro Stem Partnership
 Many students, especially Learners of Color, are not afforded spaces where they have voice, choice and agency over their own math learning. This lack of agency negatively impacts students’ math identities, as well as students’ view of the importance of math in their daily life.
These institutes aim to provide educators an opportunity to examine inclusive, culturally-responsive practices in math teaching, as well as grow in their own math identities, so they may better support students to grow in theirs.
With the support of facilitators and colleagues, educators will:
- Gain the skills and knowledge to modify or create mathematics lessons centering equity, student experience, and student voice.
- Receive a $1000 Stipend.
- Have access to no cost professional learning that connects student math identity and agency, integrates social justice and mathematics, and explores ways to facilitate joyful math learning
- Collaboratively design and walk away with math focused lessons/units for the classroom.
- Earn 24 PDUs (college credit may be possible based on interest).
These courses are open to ALL K-5 Educators and Instructional Leaders from:
Banks School District, Beaverton School District, Forest Grove School District, Hillsboro School District and Portland Public Schools.
Priority will be given to teams of 3+ educators from schools serving culturally diverse and/or under-resourced communities, with highest priority to teams that include an administrator.
Courses will begin mid-August (dates TBD) and run from September - November/early December. More details regarding workshop hours can be found here.
**Applications are Due by June 17th** Seats are limited so submit your application ASAP!
Questions? Contact Leah.Plack@pdxstem.org
Additional Resources
Senate District 15 Links
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Food and Housing Assistance
Many know the story of beloved community member Ralph Brown. Monday, May 16th marked the one year anniversary since he went missing and my thoughts are with his family and loved ones, as his vehicle and remains were located just a few days prior.
In this last year, because of Ralph, I have sought to make change to the Silver Alert system here in Oregon with possible legislation. The goal is to better alert law enforcement, and the public, of missing or endangered persons. Together, with the Oregon State Police and the Oregon Department of Transportation, the work began to update our policies regarding Missing and Endangered Person Alert (MEPA). As a result, a new tool is available to any law enforcement agency in the State of Oregon for ODOT’s state highway variable message boards. This updated policy information, which has now been shared with law enforcement across the state, helps to share resources and have broader communications between agencies and jurisdictions.
I am thankful to the two agencies, especially to Captain Stephanie Bigman of OSP and Mike Kimlinger of ODOT, for their leadership and work to put this in place and hopeful that it will be used for positive outcomes in future cases of missing and endangered persons across Oregon. Ralph Brown touched so many lives across Senate District 15 and all across Oregon. He continues to make positive change for others. He will always be in our hearts, in our minds and his longtime public service will be a shining example of goodness.
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Be good to yourself and each other. ❤
Onward & Upward,
 Senate District 15 lies on Kalapuya land. The Atfalati were the northernmost band of the Kalapuya that lived along the Tualatin River in present day Washington County. Many of the Atfalati descendants are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon today. The Indigenous Peoples of this land experienced a painful history of colonial violence, sickness and removal from their land. The Atfalati are the foundation of Oregon’s past and we must honor them well into our future.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-207, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
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