Dear John,

I hope you’ve been well! It’s August 1st today, which means there’s just about a month left for you to show your love for Oregon and enter our Photo Contest.

So far, I’ve seen incredible photos from all over our ecologically diverse state–from Painted Hills to Brookings. Thanks to everyone who’s already entered the contest! With record-breaking heat, wildfires, and drought consuming our planet and surroundings, I thought I’d share some entries we’ve received of such events and the resilience of our communities this time.

There were fires recently burning in our state, so this photo submitted by Anthony Wellines, who took it while on the job as a firefighter, stuck with me.

In SE Portland, OLCV staff members toured the Jade District. Led by Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang and Oregon State Representative Khanh Pham, the tour highlighted community resilience investments in the area, much of which used to be farmland and orchards owned by Asian immigrants and their families. These investments include a community garden for growing culturally significant produce in a predominantly low-income and immigrant neighborhood, transportation improvements, and community solar.

Along the Pacific Coast, we’ve seen a declining sea star population since 2013 due to sea star wasting syndrome, with scientists believing warm waters may have made them more vulnerable to the disease. But this entry by Colleen Smith from the beach at Carl Washburne State Park appears to show signs of their recovery. Colleen wrote that it “makes [her] happy to see the sea star population returning and the tide pools brimming with life.”

Extreme weather events have become so common that it can be depressing. Still, I hope a few of these entries have brought some positivity and that they inspire you to submit your own photos. I’ll be sharing more entries we receive via email as we approach the deadline for our Photo Contest later this month, so keep an eye out! 

Looking forward to seeing and sharing your photos,
Jane Kwon
Communications Coordinator, OLCV