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Friends and Neighbors,
Upcoming Events
Community Conversation with Senator Sollman
Join the Senate District 15 Team on Saturday, January 7th, at 10:00-11:30am, for our first Community Conversation of 2023. Come in person at the Cornelius Library, or attend virtually, via Zoom. We will spend the first 30 minutes doing a tutorial of the Oregon Legislative Information System, or OLIS, so that you can follow along with bills of interest in the upcoming session. We will share our 2023 session priorities and share opportunity to hear your questions and concerns. We look forward to seeing you there!
Register for the Zoom link here.
Computer Science Education Updates
Computer Science Implementation Plan
In May 2022, Governor Brown directed the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) to develop a statewide implementation plan for computer science education, which would provide access to comprehensive computer science education opportunities to every public school student in this state by the 2027-2028 school year. As part of this process, ODE and HECC are reaching out to partners and the community to conduct broad engagement and ensure this plan is developed with Oregon voices and addresses the current inequities that exist in Computer Science Education. Learn more here. In the 2023 Session, I have a bipartisan bill relating to Computer Science Education that will be ready to address any gaps in the plan implementation. It is important today that we address preparing our students with skills for the technology jobs of tomorrow. #ComputerScienceForAll
Your Voice Matters!
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) are hosting engagement sessions in the coming months to discuss and share ideas on the 2022 Governor’s computer science directive. We are hoping to hear from educators, career connected partners, students, families, community members from across the state. Please share these invitations with your communities.
The purpose of this engagement is to:
Provide information about Governor Kate Brown’s computer science directive. Learn about the stories, perspectives, and ideas of those interested in creating equitable opportunities for computer science for all students across Oregon.
Registration:
Upcoming Engagement Sessions with a Focus for Students, Families, and Community Members:
- Tuesday, January 10, 2023 6:00 - 7:30 PM (Facilitated in Spanish) – Registration Link
Upcoming Engagement Sessions with a Focus for Career Connected Partners:
More information on ways to engage can be found here.
Computer Science For All - Grant Opportunities
Shared from Portland Metro STEM Partnership
We are proud to announce Portland Metro STEM Partnership has received a grant from the state of Oregon for $870,000 with the intention of increasing access and inclusivity in Computer Science, so that historically underserved students feel a sense of belonging. Currently there are two opportunities for both 5th grade teachers and middle school elective teachers to participate in paid PLC. Let us help integrate computer science into your classrooms, design professional development plans uniquely tailored to your teachers, all while learning from other leaders and educators! Visit our new Computer Science for All webpage!
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Out and About in Senate District 15
New Bureau of Labor and Industries Commissioner Stephenson Swearing In Ceremony
What an honor last week as I watched Christina Stephenson take her BOLI Oath of Office from the honorable Justice Adrienne Nelson at Hillsboro High School (Hilhi) in the Hillsboro School District. Christina is a proud Spartan alum and wanted to be sworn-in at the school she graduated from, with Career Technical Education students, labor partners and community leaders present. What a great affirmation Commissioner Stephenson displayed for students interested in apprenticeships and career technical education.
Light Up Hillsboro
The community celebrated the first night of Hanukkah together at Light Up Hillsboro, presented by the Chabad Jewish Center of Hillsboro. I appreciated the Rabbi's message that kindness matters, why the Festival Of Lights is an honored celebration, and the songs.
Visit https://www.chabadh.com/ to learn more about the Chabad Jewish Center of Hillsboro.
Habitat for Humanity - New Home for the Briggs Family!
Welcome home, Briggs Family! The West Tuality Habitat for Humanity organization believes that "every one deserves a safe and decent place to live" and they provide opportunity to make that happen. This past Sunday was a great day to take part in a home blessing for its new owners in Forest Grove. Congratulations to all involved in providing a new home for a Forest Grove family.
Annual Holiday Reading to Students
I look forward every year to reading Dr. Seuss', How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and other holiday classics, to students across Senate District 15. What a fun afternoon on their last day before Winter Break of smiling, singing and Grinching! Thank you Indian Hills Elementary for inviting me to read to students for their Winter Break send-off!
Community Outreach
Severe Weather Shelter Activation from 12/21/2022 (4 p.m.) until at least 12/24/2022 (12 p.m.)
From Washington County
Due to forecasted freezing temperatures, Washington County has activated severe weather shelters that will open their doors to anyone seeking shelter through the winter weather event. These beds supplement the Washington County shelter program which provides 320 shelter beds for individuals and families. Unhoused people seeking shelter should present in person at the locations listed below:
Shelters will remain open 24 hours throughout the severe weather event. Hot meals are provided for guests, no one will be turned away and pets are okay (be prepared to work with shelter staff as locations individual pet policies may vary).
If someone outside is unsheltered and whose life appears to be in danger, call 9-1-1. Otherwise, if you see someone about whom you are concerned during cold weather call the police non-emergency number at 503-629-0111 and request a welfare check.
Inclement Weather Shelters may activate beds in coordination with Multnomah County and accept participants when:
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Forecasted temperature of 25° F (-3.9° C) or below; or
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Forecasted snow accumulations of 1.0 inch or more; or
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Forecasted temperature at or below 32° F (0° C) with driving rain of 1.0 inch or more overnight.
If forecasted weather continues to require activation of the Severe Weather shelters, up to date information can be found here: wcor.us/SevereWeatherShelter
Inclement Weather Shelter Volunteers Needed
Volunteer ALERT! The cold weather is getting colder this week and volunteers are needed to help provide a safe, warm place for our unsheltered friends. Please consider signing up with me. Email volunteer@phcwc.org for more information.
Trimet Considering a Fare Increase
Shared from Trimet
We’re considering a fare increase for 2024, and we want to know what you think about the proposal.
The proposal calls for Adult 2 ½ Hour tickets and LIFT Single Ride tickets to increase by 30 cents to $2.80. Honored Citizen and Youth 2 ½ Hour tickets would increase by 15 cents to $1.40. Adult Day passes would go up by 60 cents to $5.60, and Honored Citizen and Youth Day passes would go up by 30 cents to $2.80. It calls for no change to monthly or annual fares.
Our Board is expected to vote on the proposal in May. Go to trimet.org/fareproposal to tell us what you think. We’ve also posted a list of upcoming open houses where there will be more opportunities to provide feedback.
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Happy Holidays
Information shared from Britannica.com
Happy holidays! For many, the winter holiday season is a time for family and friends, festivity, and joy. As we celebrate this season I wanted to take the time to recognize the rich diversity in celebrations and traditions we see during this time:
Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, is the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights that takes place between late November and late December. This holiday reaffirms the ideals of Judaism and commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem by the lighting of candles on each day of the festival. Eight candles symbolize the number of days that the Temple lantern blazed; the ninth, the shamash, is a helper candle used to light the others.
Kwanzaa is an annual holiday celebrated primarily in the United States from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu on the final day. This weeklong celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture. During Kwanzaa, a seven-branched candle holder called a kinara lights up the festivities and represents the seven main concepts of the holiday: unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
Christmas was traditionally a Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus, but in the early 20th century, it also became a secular family holiday, observed primarily on December 25 by Christians and non-Christians alike. Billions of people around the world participate in some of the most popular Christmas traditions, many of which have no origins in Christianity. These customs include decorating trees—or, in India, mango or bamboo trees; feasting (picnics and fireworks are popular in warm climates), and exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
¡Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo! Para muchos, la temporada de vacaciones de invierno es un momento para la familia y los amigos, la fiesta y la alegría. Mientras celebramos esta temporada, quería tomarme el tiempo para reconocer la rica diversidad en celebraciones y tradiciones que vemos durante este tiempo.
Janucá, que significa “dedicación” en hebreo, es conocida como la Fiesta de Luces. Esta fiesta siempre cae a finales de noviembre o en diciembre. Es una festividad judía de ocho días que reafirma los ideales del judaísmo y conmemora la reedificación del Segundo Templo de Jerusalén. Las velas se colocan en la Menorá de derecha a izquierda cada día de la fiesta. Ocho velas simbolizan el número de días que la linterna del Templo ardió; la novena, la shamash, es una vela auxiliar utilizada para encender las otras.
Kwanzaa es una fiesta seglar de la cultura afroamericana celebrada en los Estados Unidos entre el 26 de diciembre al 1 de enero. El último día culmina en una fiesta comunal llamada Karamu. Esta celebración de una semana honra la herencia africana en la cultura afroamericana. Durante la Kwanzaa, un candelabro de siete ramas llamado kinara ilumina las festividades y representa los siete conceptos principales de la fiesta: Unidad, autodeterminación, responsabilidad colectiva, economía cooperativa, propósito, etc. creatividad y fe.
La Navidad era tradicionalmente una fiesta cristiana que celebraba el nacimiento de Jesús, pero a principios del siglo 20, también se convirtió en una fiesta familiar secular, observada principalmente el 25 de diciembre. Miles de millones de personas en todo el mundo participan en algunas de las tradiciones navideñas más populares, muchas de las cuales no tienen orígenes en el cristianismo. Estas costumbres incluyen la decoración de árboles, o, en la India, árboles de mango o bambú; festejos (los picnics y los fuegos artificiales son populares en climas cálidos); e intercambiar regalos en Nochebuena o en mañana de Navidad.
 In any way that you celebrate, I wish you a peaceful and joy-filled holiday season.
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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