Jobs and Economy

U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici stopped by Adelante Mujeres for the final farmers market of the season, which coincided with live music and painted faces for Day of the Dead celebration. She toured pre-kindergarten classrooms, the garden where students grow some of their own meals, and the kitchen where families in the Produce Rx program take cooking classes.

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D—Oregon, visited Century High School in Hillsboro on Wednesday, Oct. 26 to speak with faculty and students involved in the new Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program.

The program has been in the works for a few years, acting as a career pathway for students to get into manufacturing jobs. They are trained in classrooms at the school, then paired with actual businesses in and around Hillsboro to get on-the-job training over the course of two academic years.

During the meeting with Dr. Jackson and Bonamici, Founding Artistic Director Scott Palmer made it clear to those in attendance that Bag and Baggage came within 3 months of disappearing as an organization. The Pandemic made it financially impossible for organizations like theirs to survive. One year without a live audience could have been managed, but 3 years have all but devastated the arts in so many American cities. Palmer was on the record that the Federal assistance they received made the difference between life and death.

National Endowment for the Arts Chair Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson met with Oregon arts leaders this week to discuss the need for more access to art in the state.

Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici organized the listening and learning tour.

"I planned this visit to showcase all of the work that we're doing and also to have a conversation with the community about how we can promote equity, engagement, especially in more rural communities," says Bonamici.