Hello and Welcome to House District 48!

Xin chào và Chào mừng đến với House District 48!

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Constituent Coffee, Saturday November 4th!

Representative Nguyen loves talking to her constituents in person! She hosted a great constituent coffee event on October 7th in Damascus! These constituent coffee events have had great engagement and enthusiasm from the public that Rep. Nguyen has decided on the first Saturday of every month she will be hosting a constituent coffee with YOU! 

Hearing from both Multnomah and Clackamas counties are important to Rep. Nguyen. That's why she will be switching every other month between counties. Our good friends at Bow and Arrow Coffee House and Division Midway Alliance have agreed to provide venues to host us and get to know you!

Details for the Rep. Nguyen’s November Coffee Day:

When: November 4th, 2023 @ 1pm - 2pm

Where: Division Midway Alliance, 11721 SE Division Street, Portland, OR 97266

RSVP Here!

 

Latinx Heritage Month Events

Latinx Heritage Month is important because it's a time when we celebrate and honor the cultures, traditions, and achievements of people from Latin American backgrounds. It's like a special month-long party where we learn about their history, the great things they've done, and how they've helped make our country better! By celebrating Latinx Heritage Month, we show respect for their contributions and help everyone understand and appreciate the diversity that makes our country so special. It's a time to learn, share stories, and be proud of the wonderful things Latinx people have brought to our communities.

Shout out to Midway Business Alliance for putting together Latinx Heritage Month events in our community! Rep. Nguyen and staff turned out to two the their events to support our community! 

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White Lotus Foundation’s Mid-Autumn Moon Festival

On Sept 30, Rep. Nguyen’s office was invited to The White Lotus Foundation’s Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. This event is a traditional harvest festival celebrated in many Asian countries, including China, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

During this festival, families come together to give thanks for the harvest and to pray for good fortune. One of the key customs involves appreciating the full moon, which is a symbol of unity and completeness in Chinese culture. 

The festival holds great cultural and social significance, emphasizing family reunions, traditional foods, and the appreciation of nature's beauty, particularly the full moon. 

At this event, Rep Nguyen, along with my Chief of Staff, Sam Phan, was given the opportunity to “awaken” a new lion for White Lotus Foundation’s Lion Dance program. 

Awakening a lion for lion dancing is a symbolic and ritualistic process in traditional culture. Before a lion dance performance, the lion's eyes, ears, and mouth are symbolically awakened or brought to life. In Rep. Nguyen’s situation, we dotted the eyes, ears, mouth, all the way down to the feet of the lion with red paint. 

The ritual is not only a physical act but also a spiritual one, believed to imbue the lion with positive energy and bring it to life. It is performed to honor and invoke the spirit of the lion, which is traditionally considered a symbol of courage, strength, and good luck in Chinese culture.

Thank you, White Lotus Foundation for the opportunity! 

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Bright Futures Parrott Creek Groundbreaking

A new youth treatment center broke ground in Oregon City on October 20th. Rep. Nguyen and her office had the honor of being invited to the ground breaking ceremony!

Parrott Creek’s expanded center will focus on helping children impacted by the criminal justice system, and those struggling with addiction and mental health.

The 22,000-square-foot facility will be able to provide behavioral, mental health and substance abuse treatments for up to 40 kids.

A quote from Fox12 News spoke with Anyeley Hallova, the founder of the real estate development company for the project about how the building itself will help with that mission. “On the Parrott Creek site, the youth are really connected to nature and so the buildings have a very much indoor-outdoor feeling,” Hallova said. “And really providing the space that Parrot Creek needs to effectively do their mission as an organization. And a lot of that deals with the connection to nature and their cultural ecology program and providing a safe and welcoming space for youth to have treatment and see a brighter future."

According to a study done by OHSU, Oregon has one of the highest needs for substance abuse treatment in the country, but some of the lowest accessibility rates.

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SEIU Protest

On October 5th, Rep. Nguyen joined her Clackamas County Colleagues, Representative Janelle Bynum and Senator Mark Meek, to support our medical care workers in their strike for better pay. 

Rep. Nguyen is elated to hear that Kaiser listened to the workers represented by SEIU 49 who constantly put their patients and community first. This agreement signifies a positive step towards fair and just working conditions for healthcare workers. The better our workers are taken care of, the better care our community receives! 

Details of the landmark agreement include:

• Addressing the staffing crisis by raising wages by 21% over four years to better retain current healthcare workers
• Establishing a new healthcare worker minimum wage –$23/hour in in Oregon and Washington Protective terms around subcontracting and outsourcing, which will keep experienced healthcare workers in jobs and provide strong continuity of care for patients

• A wide variety of initiatives to invest in the workforce and address the staffing crisis, including streamlining hiring practices, increased training and education funding, mass hiring events, and a commitment to upskill existing workers and invest in the training of future healthcare workers. 

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Full Cellar Farm Tour

On Friday, October 13th, Rep. Nguyen and the team had the honor of being invited by the Oregon Coalition of Land Trusts to tour Headwaters Farm in Gresham! 

Some information about the farm: Headwaters Farm is the site of the District's exciting Headwaters Incubator Program, which seeks to aid the development of new farm businesses by providing affordable access to land and farm resources. The 60-acre property on the outskirts of Gresham is owned and managed by EMSWCD. In addition to making land available to start-up farm businesses, the Headwaters Farm also contains 15 acres of area lining the North Fork of Johnson Creek, which has been put into our StreamCare program to conserve and improve soil and water quality. This interface between active agricultural production and vibrant natural environments is a critical component of Headwaters Farm. In order to ensure that agriculture and the surrounding environment can both thrive, Headwaters Farm also serves as a site for research and demonstration of conservation agriculture practices and stewardship.

 

 

Native American Heritage Month

November is National American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of Native Americans. As we reflect on the important significance of this month, we must also consider what kind of action we would like to see in our future and community when supporting our Indigenous community members. Whether you choose to take action by reading books by Indigenous authors, businesses, or charities, it’s important to recognize that Indigenous communities face on going challenges, from preserving their languages to advocating for their rights. We encourage you to learn more about these issues and consider supporting indigenous organizations working towards positive change.

Here are some Native owned businesses in the Portland Metro area to support!

Alberta: Score some fresh denim at Ginew, a Native-owned denim clothing line that incorporates elements of their Ojibwe, Oneida, and Mohican heritage into their designs.

Cully: Get your java fix at Bison Coffeehouse, Portland’s only Native-owned coffeehouse that serves a carefully curated roster of Native and local roasters, locally sourced beverages, and a selection of house-made baked goods.

Columbia Corridor: Exercise your green thumb at Wombyn’s Wellness Garden, which provides site-based hands-on supportive space and experience for beginners in gardening and farming, focused on natural grow practices, permaculture gardening.

Division/Clinton: Check out Coral Story Beauty, an organic makeup and Green beauty store with a large selection of natural, clean brands. Find your inner hippie with Kyle Porter Creations, who produces high quality tie dye apparel for the Pacific Northwest lifestyle.

Hawthorne: Get some fresh ink at Tattoo 34, a tattoo studio that specializes in both flash art and high quality, custom drawn pieces.

Lloyd: Find the latest styles at Cultural Blends, a clothing store specializing in local brands, rare vintage clothing, and sneakers.

Midway: A Bead Source carries sterling silver jewelry; both Native American-style and contemporary. They also feature tumbled stone, crystal specimens, crystal spheres and points, Tarot/Oracle decks, crystal books, greeting cards, and more.

Multnomah Village: Warm up with some hot tea from Aesthete Tea, an organic loose leaf tea and herbal blend brand and teahouse. Get a new do at Revive Organic Salon, an organic, ammonia free, eco-friendly hair salon specializing in hair, skin, and nails.

Overlook: Stay well with Seven Circles Natural Medicine, who integrates Naturopathic medicine, Chinese medicine and Primary Care medicine and has an on-site pharmacy with tinctures, salves, topicals, and supplements.

Portland International: Check out No End Of (NEO), a clothing brand that combines Neo-Contemporary and traditional Indigenous designs to create androgynous pieces for all.

Williams District: For all of your naturopath health and holistic skin care needs be sure to check in with Peach Skin Portland Healthcare.

Online: Rose Alchemista is a skincare apothecary that offers perfumes, bath soaks, body polish, balms, and more. 

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November Legislative Days

• Representative Nguyen goes back to Salem on November 6th - November 8th! Her office has been working really hard on legislation that she is excited to share in the near future with you all! In the meantime, while she is there she will continue working on the House Education Committee, Human Services and Early Childhood Committee, and the Sub Joint Ways and Means Committee.

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Community Resources

Apply by November 3 for Employment Related Day Care 

Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) helps families who are working, getting TANF, or in school pay for child care. If you think you might qualify for ERDC, learn more by visiting Oregon.gov/delc/erdc and apply by 11:59 p.m. on November 3, 2023. You can apply for ERDC at Benefits.Oregon.gov, by visiting or calling your local DHS office, or by dialing 1-800-699-9075.

ERDC will close enrollment and open a waitlist after November 3, 2023 because of increased demand and limited funding. If you are getting ERDC now, the waitlist will not affect you. You will continue to receive benefits.

For more information: English | 繁體中文 / Chinese (Traditional) | Русский / Russian  | Español / Spanish | Tiếng Việt / Vietnamese

 

 

Oregon Hate & Bias Hotline

Report Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents at 1-844-924-BIAS (2427)

Hate crimes and bias incidents have been on the rise, both in Oregon and nationally. It is up to all Oregonians to make sure that everyone is safe in their community. If you have been the victim of or witness to a bias crime, the victim-centered Bias Response Hotline is here to help you understand your options, make choices about next steps, and receive support in the aftermath of experiencing or witnessing bias. 

When you call the Bias Response Hotline, you will be connected with trauma-informed hotline advocates who are trained in crisis intervention and can provide bias response advocacy, including assistance in reporting a bias crime to law enforcement. 

The Oregon Hate and Bias Hotline can be reached at 1-844-924-BIAS (2427) from 9am – 5pm Monday through Friday, or online at StandAgainstHate.oregon.gov. 

 

New Mental Health Line for Farmers and Ranchers: Call or Text 833-987-2474

Did you know the rate of suicide among farmers is 3.5 times higher than the national average?

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) launched the AgriStress Helpline, a free confidential crisis and mental health resource to support farmers, farm workers, rachers, fisherman, foresters, and their families.

People can call the AgriStress Helpline when they are in a crisis, need resources, are concerned about a loved one or just need someone to talk to. The helpline’s crisis specialists understand the culture, values, stressors and lived experiences of agriculture, forestry and fishing workers. They can also offer local mental health resources specific to these industries.

The Oregon AgriStress Helpline is available 24/7. If you or someone you love is struggling, call or text (833) 987-2474. The phone line can be accessed in up to 160 languages with the help of interpreters, and the text line offers English, Spanish and Vietnamese. 

New Resource to Find Addiction Recovery Services: RecoveryNetworkOfOregon.org 

The Recovery Network of Oregon, available at RecoveryNetworkOfOregon.org, is a website that serves as a central hub connecting Oregonians to the services and people they need to recover from alcohol and drug addiction. It also serves as a direct intake portal and referral system to Certified Recovery Mentors throughout the state that offer culturally relevant support. 

On the site, users can search a directory of support services, providers, peers, and meetings designed to assist people with their recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Visit https://recoverynetworkoforegon.org/ to learn more and find support near you. 

 

Find Resources with 211 Info

Whether you’re in need of food, childcare, or utilities assistance, 211info is a great place to start to find resources. For resources in your area, call 211, text your zip to 898211, email help@211info.org, or visit 211info.org.

 

Tips to Speed Up Your Claim When Applying for Paid Family & Medical Leave 

Oregonians who need to take time off work to care for important personal life events can apply for paid family and medical leave. Employees can apply for benefits online by visiting tinyurl.com/PaidLeaveOregon. 

Employees can apply for the following reasons:

• To care for themselves or members of their family during the birth of a child, or to bond with a child after birth, adoption, or placement of a child in their home through foster care; 
• To care for themselves during a serious health condition; 
• To care for a family member when they have a serious health condition; 
• If they or their child experience sexual assault, domestic violence, harassment, or stalking.

If you plan to apply for benefits, you can speed up your claim by: 

• Informing your employer about your leave before you apply;
• Using the “What You Need to Apply for Benefits Checklist” and making sure you upload the correct documents for your type of leave;
• Checking your Frances Online account regularly for action notices and messages;
• Making sure to put the employer's name on your claim as it appears on your W2 or paystub

If your claim has incorrect information or if you don’t notify your employer, your claim may be delayed. Please use the Paid Leave Oregon checklist or check out the Apply on Frances Online video to help you get ready to file your claim!

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Paid Leave Oregon using this contact request form. Detailed information for employees, including eligibility requirements, tutorial videos, a benefits calculator, and much more, is on the Paid Leave website at paidleave.oregon.gov. 

 

Stay safe in your job search. Watch out for scams!

With the rise in online employment scams, it's important to stay vigilant in your job search. The Oregon Employment Department (OED) wants Oregonians to always remember: 

• Genuine employers won't ask for money: Never pay fees, buy equipment, or cash checks for potential employers.
• Double-check offers: If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Research the company and contact them directly through official channels to verify.
• Guard your personal info: Be cautious when sharing personal details, especially Social Security numbers or financial information.

By being informed and cautious, you can protect yourself against fraud. For more detailed tips and resources on identifying and avoiding job scams, visit OED’s Job Offer Scams webpage.

 

Order Free COVID-19 Tests

People can now order more free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government. Each household can order four tests at COVIDtests.gov, and the tests will arrive via U.S. Postal Service. These tests are in addition to any free tests previously ordered from the federal government.

If you still have unused at-home COVID-19 tests, whether you bought them at a store or ordered them from the government, check the expiration dates. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extended the expiration dates on many COVID-19 tests beyond what is printed on the box. Check this FDA webpage and search for your test’s brand and lot number to see if the FDA extended the expiration date. If your tests have expired, throw them away with the regular trash.

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Stay Connected! 

• Facebook @RepHoaNguyen
• Instagram @Rep.HoaNguyen
• Twitter @Rep_HoaNguyen
• TikTok @StateRepHoaNguyen

You can get in touch with me directly by visiting or connecting through: 

• My Legislative Website
• Email at Rep.HoaNguyen@oregonlegislature.gov
• Call our office at 503-986-1448
• Visit my office in the House Chambers on the fourth floor, H-473

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Trong cộng đồng,

In Community,

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1448

Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-281, Salem, OR 97301

Email: Rep.HoaNguyen@oregonlegislature.gov

Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/nguyen

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