Date: March 7, 2014 Speaker: Brad Avakian, Josh Lehner, Jessica Nelson, Sunny Petit & Roberta Phillip-Robbins. Moderated by Nichole Maher. Politicians and pundits across the nation are engaged in almost daily debate about these issues and their impact on the economic vitality of our communities and country. Join our discussion with Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian, Sunny Petit and Roberta Phillip-Robbins of the Oregon Council on Civil Rights, Jessica Nelson from the Oregon Employment Department, and Josh Lehner from the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis. Nichole Maher, president of the NW Health Foundation will moderate. Brad Avakian, Commissioner, Oregon Bureau of Labor & Industries, was elected as Oregon's Labor Commissioner in 2008. Prior to his election, he served in the Oregon Senate. In the private sector, Avakian managed a successful civil rights law practice for 15 years. He has degrees from Oregon State University and the Lewis & Clark Law School. Sunny Petit is executive director of the Center for Women, Politics and Policy at Portland State University and Chair of the Oregon Council for Civic Rights. She was appointed to serve as chair on the Oregon Council for Civil Rights after formerly chairing the Oregon Commission for Women. She previously served as regional director for an organization battling human trafficking in South Asia where she ran programs in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. Roberta Phillip-Robbins is co-chair of the Oregon Council on Civil Rights, and the current AA/EEO Specialist in Multnomah County's Office of Diversity and Equity. She has also served as Senior Policy Advisor to Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen, and Director of Policy and Programs for the National Crittenton Foundation, whose mission is to empower girls, young women, and their families. That mission aligns with Roberta's personal goal to strive for equity for the vulnerable and marginalized in our community. As an economist with the Office of Economic Analysis, Josh Lehner develops the quarterly state economic forecast, including projections for employment, personal income and wages. He earned a B.A. in economics from the University of Colorado and an M.S. in economics from Portland State University. Jessica Nelson has served as an employment economist at the Oregon Employment Department since 2005. She studies and reports on economic trends, with a focus on workforce issues including employment rates, wages, vacancies, outlook and education. She has a Master of Public Policy degree from Oregon State University. Nichole Maher was named president and CEO of Northwest Health Foundation in 2012. Previously, she served as executive director of the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) in Portland for over 11 years. She holds a masters in public health from the Mark Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University and two bachelors of science, one in public health and another in American Indian studies from Oregon State University. She serves on the City Club board of directors.

• published: 08 Mar 2014
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