Join local experts for a discussion of the current state of affairs regarding housing affordability in our community and what’s ahead on the municipal, county, and state levels.

Ashland resident Rep. Pam Marsh (Oregon House of Representatives, District 5) was first elected in November 2016 and currently serves as Chair of the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment. She is also a member of the Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water, and Revenue House committees, and the Joint Committees on Tax Expenditures and on Legislative Policy and Research. District 5 reaches from the Applegate to the Greensprings and includes Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, a southern portion of Medford, Jacksonville, and Ruch.

Brandon Goldman, Community Development Director, City of Ashland, is an experienced urban planner and community development professional. With more than 24 years of experience in planning and housing development, he has long worked to promote Ashland as a livable community that prioritizes the needs of all citizens. In addition to his professional work, Goldman has also been actively involved in the community, serving on the boards of the Southern Oregon Housing Resource Center, Ashland Community Land Trust (ACLT), and the Ashland Art Center. He graduated from Southern Oregon University and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP).

The monthly Big Ideas discussion series features prominent local experts speaking on relevant and timely issues affecting our community. Lectures are jointly sponsored by the Ashland Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Jackson County Library Services.