Community Talk with Tommy

18/01/2021

Today we honor a great soul. A man who embodied the greatest ideals of our country. Radical and steadfast. Selfless and dedicated. Gentle and powerful. A true American hero. In loving memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 👑❤️✊

19/12/2020

Join Tommy as he and Yahaira Padilla discuss how what started off as her getting 10 care packages together became a huge community supply drive helping hundreds of survivors of the Almeda Fire.

You can listen here: https://anchor.fm/tommy-letchworth/episodes/Episode-9-Yahaira-Padilla-and-El-Tapatio-ensbhv

To help the survivors of the Almeda fire donate to Yahaira's GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/ffd4528b
or to the Venmo

13/12/2020

One local coffee stand is stepping up this holiday season, to give back to people who lost everything in the Almeda Fire. Jackson County Dutch Bros locations and the Dutch Bros Foundation, made a surprise donation of almost $290,000 today.The money is going to the Phoenix-Talent Fire Relief Fund, to...

12/12/2020

Join Tommy as he continues his talk with John Lehman, Nick and Merissa Rogers as they discuss the Logger Militia and how they came to protect their community of Butte Falls. In this episode they explore the ways that bureaucracy both helped and hindered their efforts, and the inspiring story of how the community set aside any differences and worked together to save each other's homes. This is part 2 of 2.

You can listen here: https://anchor.fm/tommy-letchworth/episodes/Episode-8-John-Lehman--Nick-and-Merissa-Rogers---the-Logger-Militia-continued-enjcmp

05/12/2020

Join Tommy as he talks with John Lehman, Nick and Merissa Rogers as he learns about the Logger Militia and how they came to protect their community of Butte Falls. In this episode they discuss how they saved their community and forest through their herculean effort and banding together. This is part 1 of 2.

You can listen here: https://anchor.fm/tommy-letchworth/episodes/Episode-7-John--Nick--Merissa-and-the-Logger-Militia-Part-1-emvomd

04/12/2020

Even this little kitty played a part in fighting the South Obenchain Fire, serving as a personal space heater for the folks napping between shifts 😸. Tune in tomorrow to hear the first half of the full story. Trust us, you don’t want to miss it!

04/12/2020

The Logger Militia: If you’re looking for a great story, look no further! Make sure you tune in to this weeks episode to hear about how Nick Rodgers, Merissa Rodgers and John Lehman (among others) fought the South Obenchain Fire for 8 days, without government approval, and helped save the town of Butte Falls. It’s a WILD ride and one we can’t wait to share with all of you! 🌲🔥🚜

27/11/2020

This young man, a member of our community, was shot and killed the other night for allegedly playing his music too loud. 19 years old. We can do better. We must do better.

Rest in power, Aidan Ellison. You deserved safety and love in our community, not this. Your life matters. Black lives matter.

More info: www.kdrv.com/content/news/TALENT-MAN-IN-CUSTODY-AFTER-FATAL-SHOOTING-OUTSIDE-ASHLANDS-STRATFORD-INN-573187871.html

21/11/2020

Join Tommy as he interviews Tía Laída Fé, also known as Candace M. Younghans. Tia is a 10 year community member of Ashland, Oregon, a performance artist, and true nature advocate. In the wake of the fire, Tia founded the Longer Term Secure Short Term (LTSST) housing effort. The LTSST housing effort works to identify and match families whose homes burned down with available, unused and under-utilized livable spaces such as AirBNBs, guest homes and in-law flats.

You can listen here: https://anchor.fm/tommy-letchworth/episodes/Episode-6-Ta-Lada-F-Longer-Term-Secure-Short-Term-Housing-LTSST-emhhkn

Learn how you can support her efforts to help those who have found themselves houseless right before the winter due to the fire: https://www.ltssthousing.org/

Tia's Performance Art Page: http://www.onespace.us/

21/11/2020

Today was a huge day at the Phoenix-Talent fire relief station! Keep coming by to get what you need, donate supplies, and volunteer. We’re open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 12PM-6PM.

Sign up to volunteer: bit.ly/fireaidvolunteer
Donate online: bit.ly/rvfirerelief or bit.ly/rvaidwishlist

20/11/2020

Well over two months after the Almeda Fire devastated the Rogue Valley, the fire relief center in Phoenix at The Shoppes at Exit 24 is still going strong, and still in need of regular support. With the winter months fast approaching, site organizers are requesting donations of heavier clothes and bl...

19/11/2020

JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. – The deadline has been extended for southern Oregonians seeking federal aid in the wake of the Almeda and South Obenchain Fires. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s deadline to apply for disaster assistance was originally scheduled to end Monday, November 16. However,...

17/11/2020

The state of Oregon announced Monday it will provide free fire debris cleanup for all homes and businesses hit by September fires. FEMA also extended loan applications to Nov. 30.

17/11/2020

From Rogue Climate: You can help support families impacted by the Almeda Fire, like the Garcias, by donating to the Rogue Valley Relief Fund today: bit.ly/rvfirerelief

What your donation can do:

$25: Buy groceries for people displaced by fire.

$50: Buy a tank of gas for a family displaced by fire.

$100: Buy a Visa gift card for personal articles, as well as a night at a hotel.

The fund was founded in the wake of September’s wildfires to get food and assistance to people affected by the Almeda fire. The fund is among the beneficiaries of The Oregonian/OregonLive's 2020 Season of Sharing campaign.

15/11/2020

Join Tommy as he sits down with Michelle Glass, Co-founder and Director of Rogue Action Center to discuss her work in the immediate aftermath of the Almeda Fire and what she and Rogue Action Center are doing to help rebuild the community stronger using collective action. You can listen to the episode here: https://anchor.fm/tommy-letchworth/episodes/Episode-5-Michelle-Glass-and-Rogue-Action-Center-emd4ou

If you'd like to learn more please visit www.rogueactioncenter.org to learn how you can contribute, get involved or how they can help you!
These are some of the organizations that Michelle and Tommy discussed other than Rogue Action Center
https://www.soequity.org/
https://rogueclimate.org/
https://www.sohealthe.org/
http://sorisingtide.org/

08/11/2020

Our fourth episode is live! This week on Community Talk With Tommy we interview Teresa Cisneros, Indian Education Facilitator for the Southern Oregon Education District and Interim Equity Director for Mi Valle Mi Hogar. Check out the episode here: https://anchor.fm/tommy-letchworth/episodes/Episode-4-Teresa-Cisneros-Indian-Education-Facilitator-and-Mi-Valle-Mi-Hogar-elsv26
You can support the work she’s doing by donating to myvalleymyhome.org and/or soesd.k12.or.us and specify Indian Education or Migrant Education with your donation.

01/11/2020

31/10/2020

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for all the support you've given us so far, we really appreciate it! Our third episode is live and ready for a listen. This week Tommy sits down with Ashland Police Chief Tighe O'Meara to discuss the response of the Rogue Valley's First Responders on the day of the fires as well as how Jackson County law enforcement are dealing with the challenges facing them in trying to rebuild the community while attending to matters of equity.
https://anchor.fm/tommy-letchworth/episodes/Episode-3-Tighe-OMeara-and-the-Ashland-Police-Department-ektlce

24/10/2020

Our second episode is live! On this episode of Community Talk with Tommy we interview Phoenix City Council member Sarah Westover, where we dive into the short, medium and long term plans for rebuilding the City of Phoenix post fire. Check out the episode here: https://anchor.fm/tommy-letchworth/episodes/Episode-2-Sarah-Westover-Phoenix-City-Councilor-elb1jo. For daily updates regarding resource needs and availability for fire relief visit Rogue Climate and Rogue Action Center.

23/10/2020

If you haven’t listened to our first episode do yourself a favor and check it out by clicking the link below! We interview Donnie Maclurcan PHD about the great work that he and the Ashland Bike Brigade did in the immediate aftermath of the Almeda Fire. If you’d like to support the ongoing work they’re involved in, visit myvalleymyhome.org If you’d like to check out some of the other great work he does visit postgrowth.org. If you enjoy the show stay tuned, we’ll be releasing a new episode every Saturday. https://anchor.fm/tommy-letchworth/episodes/Episode-1-Donnie-Maclurcan-and-the-Ashland-Bike-Brigade-ekmtra

19/10/2020