Salem residents will have a chance to share their experiences with neighbors and community leadership at the annual Salem Speaks Up! Event on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
The open mic event will take place from 6-8 p.m. at the Loucks Auditorium at 585 Liberty St. S.E.
Kelsey Murray, who leads planning for Salem’s Human Rights Committee, said the event is a chance to talk about what it’s like living in Salem.
It honors International Human Rights Day, and happens around the world to commemorate the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the United Nations in 1948.
The event will start with Mayor Chris Hoy reading the city’s proclamation for the day, followed by remarks from a representative of Oregon’s Fair Housing Council. Tuesday’s event will have an emphasis on the topic of homelessness and housing. City councilors have been invited to attend.
The public will have at least an hour to approach the microphone and share their perspectives, Murray said. Afterward, there will be refreshments available along with resources to connect with community programs and housing support. There will also be information about how to support and get involved in community groups.
Last year, Murray said a lot of people brought up a lack of youth activities, especially for young people without stable housing.
Murray said that building community is the top priority for the event. She also hopes that people’s experiences will help guide city leadership in policy decisions.
“We want the community to see their neighbors as people, especially our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. Being able to see everyone as a human being that has these rights,” she said.
Contact reporter Abbey McDonald: [email protected] or 503-575-1251.
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Abbey McDonald joined the Salem Reporter in 2022. She previously worked as the business reporter at The Astorian, where she covered labor issues, health care and social services. A University of Oregon grad, she has also reported for the Malheur Enterprise, The News-Review and Willamette Week.
