Events

An intimate portrait of Toni Morrison, Nobel- and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, editor and cultural force, from her upbringing in Lorain, Ohio, to the front lines of activism. Stay for a rich discussion led by COCC English professor/Humanities chair Stephanie André

Oregon Natural Desert Association’s High Desert Speaker Series continues as we uncover the dynamic geologic forces that created eastern Oregon’s stunning landscapes. Dr. Ellen Bishop, author, photographer and geologist, will discuss a recent geological discovery linking the formation of Oregon’s high desert rock formations with the Yellowstone hotspot. Come learn more about how iconic high desert sites…

Streams and their surrounding lands are critical to Central Oregon’s plants and animals, from trees and flowers to elk and the tiniest bugs. This is just one reason the Deschutes Land Trust has a deep focus on caring for and restoring the streams and meadows on lands that we’ve protected. Join our own Restoration Specialist,…

Join acclaimed author and speaker Ijeoma Oluo for a powerful keynote conversation on transforming the world through everyday action. Drawing from her latest book, Be a Revolution, Oluo will challenge us to reimagine activism—not as a distant ideal, but as a daily commitment to respect, dignity and liberation. This event will celebrate the transformative power of…

This Raise the Deschutes seminar explores the basics of how water flows through Central Oregon, from precipitation and winter snowpack to rivers, groundwater, farms, and municipal systems. We’ll break down the differences between surface water and groundwater, why timing matters as much as volume, and how seasonal conditions shape water availability across the basin. Designed…

An inspiring dinner event honoring the strength, brilliance and legacy of Black women whose resilience continues to move communities forward. Curated and emceed by COCC Afrocentric students.

We’re holding a public hearing to tell the Oregon Public Utility Commission to protect families from a big gas rate hike proposed by Cascade Natural Gas. Cascade wants to raise home gas bills by 17.4%, which could push the average winter bill up to $135, right when people need heat the most. At a time…

The final event of Oregon Natural Desert Association’s High Desert Speaker Series features Dr. Diane Teeman, an archaeologist, scholar and tribal elder of the of the Wadatika’a Band of Northern Paiutes. Dr.…

Join the Deschutes Land Trust and Amy Bowers Cordalis (Yurok)—attorney, author of The Water Remembers, and Executive Director/Co-Founder of Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group—for a talk on the largest…