Please join us for on KBOO Community Radio on Thursday, February 22nd as we talk with Kellie McWilliams of Cultivating Solutions, formerly the Rural Engagement Project, and Madeline Merritt, Chair of the Oregon Public Banking Alliance.
Public banking stretches tax dollars by reducing the cost of financing projects by as much as half, leaving more money available for other public services and reducing the overall tax burden of the People. The Oregon Public Bank Alliance is a network of activists and organizations working to create community-focused public banks in Oregon.
Kellie McWilliams leads the non-partisan non-profit Cultivating Solutions (formerly known as the Rural Engagement Project), where the focus is on rural Oregonians and their quality of life. Raised in a bipartisan home, she comes to politics with a mind for meeting people where they are and building community among those who often think they don’t have much to agree on. In non-political work, Kelie and her husband own several small businesses and are raising 3 beautiful and busy kids.
Madeline Merritt is a community organizer and campaign strategist. Inspired to action by Black Lives Matter and Standing Rock in 2016, she became deeply involved in movement organizing and hasn’t looked back. She was a core organizer for Divestment and Public Banking in California before moving to Portland during the pandemic to be closer to family. She is on the Board of Directors for the Public Banking Institute (which acts as a brain trust for public banking movements across the country) with a focus on outreach and coalition-building. She catalyzes determined citizens to create movements via direct action, lobbying, and the legislative process and will support a powerful coalition to make public banking a reality in Oregon.
Oregon Public Banking Alliance: https://oregonpublicbanking.com/
Kellie McWilliams kelie@cultivatingsolutions.org
Madeline Merritt chair@oregonpublicbanking.com.
- KBOO