Author Archives: Natalie Pate

Over the last three years, news coverage of Chemawa in Salem has largely focused on allegations of fraud, mismanagement and student deaths. For the first time since a federal gag order prohibiting staff and students at Chemawa Indian School from speaking publicly about abuse allegations was lifted, leaders of the Native American boarding school are sharing their side of the story. ReadContinueContinue reading “Chemawa Indian School leaders speak after gag orders lifted”

Oregon has helped lead the way in increasing transgender rights, but trans people are still among society’s most vulnerable. This article shares perspectives and information from trans students, parents, educators, advocates and more. Read the full story here.

(PC: Anna Reed, Statesman Journal) Volunteers took to the streets Wednesday morning for Salem’s Point-in-Time homeless count, collecting data on the crisis of homelessness many believe has gotten worse in recent years. Watch the video and read the full story here.

The school district in Silverton and the union representing its teachers averted a potential strike by coming to a last-minute agreement on a new contract late Monday night. The two sides had until Monday to come to an agreement on a new contract, which they did at about 10:45 p.m., after about eight hours ofContinueContinue reading “Silverton averts teacher strike with last-minute deal”

(PC: Statesman Journal file) Salem-area civil rights leaders are frustrated the same issues Martin Luther King Jr. fought decades ago — racial inequality, disrupted access to education, quality housing and health care — still haven’t been resolved. Read the full story here.

(PC: Anna Reed, Statesman Journal) Along with firefighters, psychologists and licensed child care providers, Salem-Keizer School Board members are now state-required mandatory reporters, meaning they must file a report with the Oregon Department of Human Services, a law enforcement agency or school resource officer if they have “reasonable cause” to believe a child is beingContinueContinue reading “School board members now mandatory reporters of child abuse, neglect”

In Marion County, nearly half of the people experiencing homelessness are women. Among them, about 86% have reported being abused or attacked when homeless. “You’ve got a lot more assaults, you’ve got women getting raped and you’ve got women being sold and used for this (or that),” Nowlin said. “(You hear,) ‘If you want to stay here in thisContinueContinue reading “Grace House serves single homeless women”

It wasn’t until McKay High School senior Joshua Arce Masis visited his parents’ home countries of Nicaragua and Costa Rica — and learned of their journey to the United States — that he realized why his father was so adamant about his educational success. “He wanted me to have the future he was denied,” Masis wroteContinueContinue reading “Salem family goes from political prison to full Princeton scholarship”

Racial justice activists are tired of appearing before the Salem-Keizer School Board, testifying about discrimination and having no action taken. A dozen students, parents, graduates and leaders with the youth advocacy organization Latinos Unidos Siempre, or LUS, spoke at the board’s December meeting, calling on members to better implement their adopted equity lens and address racism in local schools. ReadContinueContinue reading “Students to school board: fight racism, use equity lens”

Michelle Zielinski has a non-traditional background. She’s a woman in a male-dominated subject. And she doesn’t set expectations for her students to go to college or pursue a career in what she teaches. What she wants is for them to know that’s all OK. “I don’t care who you are, what gender you are, what race you are, whatContinueContinue reading “McKay High teacher works to empower students, teach professional skills”