White Bird Mutual Aid : Recent Episodes
Hana Francis
White Bird Clinic is a nationally recognized, people-centered non-profit organization providing trauma-informed healthcare and social services in Eugene, Oregon for over 50 years.
Host Hana Francis speaks with employees and volunteers of White Bird Clinic and other community-centered organizations about how they work, why they matter, and how you can get involved. Hosted, written and edited by Hana Francis. Theme music by Eugene local musician Kiki Soda. For more information about White Bird Clinic, including what services we offer, how to access them, or how to donate or volunteer, visit whitebirdclinic.org.
Three of White Bird Clinic's IT Systems Administrators, Eric O'Toole and Jonathan Ross served - and Eric DeVall is still in service of - the US military. This episode we talk about their stories, how social work can bring people across socio-political boundaries to provide care, how working in the military has informed their work at White Bird Clinic and the high rate of unhoused US veterans.
As per request of one of our guests, please note:
The views and opinions presented herein are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of DoD or the Army. Appearance of, or reference to, any commercial products or services does not constitute DoD or Army endorsement of those products or services. The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute DoD or Army endorsement of the linked websites, or the information, products or services thereinFind the referenced statistics on veteran populations in Lane County and in Oregon as a whole at the links.
To find out more about White Bird Clinic, visit whitebirdclinic.org.
The annual Oregon County Fair is a summer celebration held in Veneta, Oregon. White Bird Clinic has a barbecue fundraiser called Cleveland Chicken at the fair every year that has been running for almost as long as the clinic itself.
This is a fun episode in which we talk about the nature of OCF, how Theresa and Mary got involved, and how you can get your hands on some barbecue this year!
Wren Arrington tells us about what Rock Medicine does at Oregon Country Fair.
For more information on the Oregon Country Fair visit https://www.oregoncountryfair.org/
To find out more about White Bird Clinic, visit whitebirdclinic.org.
It can be difficult to understand how White Bird Clinic's departments are connected and how they interact. This episode explores some of the complexity and depth of the Clinic as a whole. We get to know Al Ullman and his history with WBC, facilitating discussions and meetings, and elements of consensus within the Clinic's unique internal structure.
For those curious about Roberts Rules of Order, which the Clinic loosely has based meeting process out of, you can find it here: Robertsrules.org
To find out more about White Bird Clinic, visit whitebirdclinic.org.
Acorn Community Cafe in Eugene is a place where anyone can go to get nourishing food when they are hungry, even if you can't pay for it. There is a different special every week that is free of charge for any who ask for it. There is also a pay-it-forward system set up for folks who want to buy a neighbor some food.
Miranda and Corey started feeding their community when they were on unemployment during the beginning of the pandemic. The project developed into a brick and mortar location in the last couple of years. In this episode, we speak about how this organization developed, what brought them here, and what their hopes are for the future.
If you would like to treat yourself, support them, or you are in need of some free food, go visit them at 769 Monroe St. in Eugene, Oregon. Not only is the food vegan and delicious, the folks who prepare it are kind, the atmosphere is welcoming, and you are supporting a great cause.
Go to eatacorncafe.com for their hours, more information on their cause, or to order online.
To find out more about White Bird Clinic, visit whitebirdclinic.org.
David Zeiss has played many roles at White Bird Clinic. He has been a volunteer and a crisis worker, he recently retired from being a board member and he managed CAHOOTS for its first 25 years of service in Eugene.
Zeiss tells us about his experience at the Clinic, some of the challenges that have been faced, such as blending medical and crisis work, and the complications of bottom-up approach to serving the community meeting national demands.
To find out more about White Bird Clinic, visit whitebirdclinic.org.
In this episode Lane County Public Health's Olatorera Adeniji talks about what the new Community Partnership Program does with our communities.
For more information visits the Lane County Public Health's website.
To find out more about White Bird Clinic, visit whitebirdclinic.org.
Public health concerns a lot more than visits to the doctor. Folks like Olatorera Adeniji are part of a movement of public health modernization to address public health in a more wholistic sense.
This episode, Ola Adeniji, from Lane County Public Health's Community Partnerships Program, breaks down a few aspects of public health. She also talks about some of the different parts of her work in supporting community partnerships.
To find out more about the Community Partnerships Program, visit the website here.
Check out the newsletter here.
To find out more about White Bird Clinic, visit whitebirdclinic.org.
This episode we speak with three people in three cities who all work or volunteer for Burrito Brigade. This grass-roots organization was started in an effort to get food to people who need it, while building community. Jennifer is the current head of Burrito Brigade in Eugene, Ash is the main organizer in Portland, and CJ has started another Branch in Chicago. Listen to learn more about food insecurity and the way that these folks are making a difference.
To find out more about Burrito Brigade Eugene, you can visit: https://burritobrigade.org or call 541-632-3239
To find out more about the Portland or Chicago branches, you can visit their Facebook pages at Burrito Brigade Portland and Burrito Brigade Chicago.
For a recipe to make your own 100 burrito batch from the Burrito Brigade, email me at whitebirdmutualaid@gmail.com.
To find out more about White Bird Clinic, visit whitebirdclinic.org.
Hilary and Tom are both counselors at white bird clinic's Chrysalis department. They talk about how they came to find the Clinic, the department's holistic approach to behavioral health, challenges the department faces, and the value of peer support.
In 2021, the CAHOOTS Act was passed as a part of the American Rescue Plan, and as its own act. The Act was made to fund crisis response models, like CAHOOTS, around the country. In this episode Senator Ron Wyden tells us about creating the CAHOOTS Act, and the motivation behind it. Executive Coordinator Chris Hecht shares about his contributions and the process of working with Senator Wyden's team.
Shelter Care in an organization that works to provide people with housing in Eugene, Oregon. CEO Michelle Hankes, talks about how she got into this work, why it is essential in the community, and what makes their services unique.
For more information about this organization and how you can get involved visit https://sheltercare.org/what-we-do/
Former Front Rooms Department Coordinator, Alex Farmer, shares about the department, its role in the social service network and some of the values that he learned working there.
Front Rooms Department is the department of white bird clinic that acts as the first point of contact for most of the clients, over the phone and in-person. They also distribute services and referrals to clients. Services include:
- Phone messages and charging capabilities when available
- Mail and Address Service
- Vision Program
- First Aid – Hygiene supplies as available
- Snacks and water while supplies last
- Clothing and supplies when available
Go to the White Bird Clinic Website to learn more.
Amy May, the founder of the End-Of-Life Counseling department at White Bird Clinic, speaks about her life working with death, and the importance of talking about death in our lives and with loved ones.
The Crisis Line at White Bird Clinic has been hot continuously since the 1970's. How is that possible? Jose Soto-Gates and Cypress Kappeyne van de Coppello both share their experience of working for the Crisis Line: How they got there, how it works, and why it is important.
NEST (Navigational Empowerment Services Team) works to provide people with assistance to navigating available resources. Nicole and Theresa speak about their work and some of the systemic issues that they deal with daily.
NEST (Navigational Empowerment Services Team) works to provide people with assistance to navigating available resources. Nicole and Theresa speak about their work and some of the systemic issues that they deal with daily. This episode continues the conversation from part one!
CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets) is White Bird Clinic's Crisis Intervention Program. In the last few years CAHOOTS has gained national notoriety for their use of de-escalation and wholistic problem solving. Cross-trained crisis worker and medic, Chelsea Swift, talks about her job in the CAHOOTS van.
Welcome to White Bird Mutual Aid! Our first episode gives a general introduction of White Bird Clinic, our core beliefs and some history. Current and former staff members, volunteers and community members share stories and insights.