HOOD RIVER — The History Museum of Hood River County is proud to present “Gorge Youth Speaks,” a new youth speaker series launching this spring (March 18 and April 22 at The History Museum and May 13 at The Ruins).
“Gorge Youth Speaks” will create a space for young people to share their hopes, ideas, and vision for the future of the Gorge, our country, and the world. Centering youth voice, civic engagement, and community storytelling, the series will explore topics such as the environment and climate change, democracy, belonging, and the changes young people want to see. This spring’s events invite youth to reflect on what America 250 means to them and how we can strengthen our shared pursuit of happiness in the Gorge and beyond.
Tickets for each of the three events are $10 for adults (students are free) and will be on sale at the museum and online soon. Events are all Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
The first speaker event will feature photos and stories from the Pacific Crest Trail, told by Madeleine Jones who hiked the entire 2600-mile Pacific Crest Trail in 2025. Zane Yinger will speak about the experience of learning the Chinook Wawa language and why they think the revitalization of this language is relevant to everyone in the Gorge and part of a larger movement toward collective healing and connection. Both Madeleine and Zane graduated from Hood River Valley High School in 2019, and are back living in Hood River temporarily, before embarking on the next phases of their lives.
The second event will focus on the environment in honor of Earth Day. The final event will be a larger, open mic/storytelling-style program on a variety of topics that are important to young people in the Gorge community.
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