Pat Taub
My Brilliant Web Designer
This week I had one of my periodic meetings with my brilliant web designer, Edwige Charlot. When I started WOW two years ago I knew virtually nothing about designing a blog or pitching it. Working closely with Edwige we settled on a design I love and one that continues to receive many compliments. She’s also been invaluable in helping me to refine my outreach. We often get sidetracked into a discussion of progressive politics, which may be inevitable when two politically concerned women get together. Edwige’s millennial perspective has greatly enriched my own.
Edwige in her office
Poor Texas!
My heart breaks for all the Texans who lost their homes and even family members. Like Katrina, Harvey has proved especially difficult for low-income families, many of whom do not have hurricane insurance. I’ve been heartened by the stories of people helping one another, both locally and across the country. They are a reminder that compassion, in spite of #45’s mean-spirited executive orders, is very much with us. I donated relief money to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.
Street Sighting of An Interesting Older Woman
I’m becoming more comfortable stopping older women I don’t know to ask if I can photograph them for my blog. Usually they are flattered, but other times they refuse and hurry along without offering an explanation. I suspect they don’t feel good about their aging selves, which saddens me. This week though when I approached Jill, a visitor from Manhattan, she was quick to agree to being photographed. As a fan of polka dots I was in polka dot heaven over her ensemble. Hopefully she’ll will it to the Polka Dot Museum
Jill from Manhattan in downtown Portland
Co-Leading A White Privilege Discussion Series
My Portland church, The United Church of Christ, asked me to co-lead a discussion series on white privilege. One of my friends finds this amusing since I live a privileged life. True enough, but as a lifelong activist, I want to understand white privilege and do my part to help others increase their awareness of how being born white has opened doors usually not available to people of color. Wednesday evening over pizza, my co-facilitator, Alyssa Lodewick, Associate Director of BTS (Bangor Theological Seminary) and I met to map out the six-week series, which starts mid-October. We’re off to a good start and humbled about the enormity of our undertaking.
Alyssa and I after our first planning session
