Hundreds gather at benefit concert to support ‘vulnerable communities’

Sam Schuh served as emcee of the event, introducing bands and speakers from the four organizations that were benefiting from the event. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
January 19, 2025

BASE, Unete, SO Pride and Planned Parenthood featured at event co-sponsored by Women’s March Southern Oregon and ORD2 Indivisible

By Meg Wade for Ashland.news

Residents from across Southern Oregon made the trip to Oak Knoll Golf Course in Ashland on Saturday, Jan. 18, for a “benefit concert for vulnerable communities” co-sponsored by Women’s March Southern Oregon and ORD2 Indivisible.

Bill Scholer and the Brasch Band opened the day’s festivities before a blessing by Dan Wahpepah (Anishinabe, Kickapoo, and Sac and Fox). What began as a chilly and gray morning turned into a sunny afternoon by the time Rhonda Lee, organizer for Women’s March Southern Oregon, took the stage in front of the crowd of more than 250, where some held signs, American flags, or sported the iconic “pussy hats” (cat-eared pink caps) from the 2017 Women’s March.

Music by the Blue Lighting band got attendees on their feet dancing. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini

“We’re one of hundreds of resistance actions taking place all over the country today. Some communities are marching, others rallying. We chose supporting those in our communities who’ve been targeted and will be the most vulnerable when this new administration is seated,” Lee said.

Additional sets were performed by local musicians Alice Di Micele and Bret Levick, Tommy Letchworth, Blue Lightning, and the Holy Misfits. No admission fee was charged but attendees were encouraged to donate by cash or through an online page to four local organizations: BASE, NOWIA Unete Center for Farmworker Advocacy, SO Pride, and Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon (PPSO).

Unete Center for Farm Worker and Immigrant Rights Program Coordinator Kathy Keesee talked about how the political environment and technology are negatively impacting the lives of local farm workers. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini

The groups plan to use the funds raised in varying ways. 

BASE Vice President Jessica Freedman emphasized the importance of BASE’s youth programming and the desire to make sure cost is “no object” for anyone wanting to participate. 

A spokesperson for PPSO said current fundraising would benefit their general fund, which supports services and health care not always covered by private insurance or the Oregon Health Plan, including cancer screenings. 

Ronda Lee, an organizer of the benefit concert, talked about the reason for the Ashland gathering as well as the hundreds of others happening around the country. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini

Kim Marks, Treasurer of the Board for SOPride, spoke about their hope of hosting regular gatherings bringing young and elder queer folks together in community. 

And Kathy Keesee, Program Coordinator for Unete, said they will be helping agricultural workers facing systemic economic challenges — including shortened seasons and job losses due to new forms of mechanization in the industry — through their food pantry hosted daily Monday through Friday in Medford. 

Attendees applaud a speaker at the fundraising concert set to benefit local community groups at Oak Knoll Golf Course Saturday. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini

Sam Schuh of Ashland, age 31, served as master of ceremonies for the day. Backstage before the event began, she shared that reproductive rights topped her list of concerns for issues that might get “troublesome” in the near future. “I am a young woman of color and so I am part of the two-thirds of women, especially Black women, who will experience some kind of issue when it comes to getting pregnant or giving birth … so I myself have a very vested interest in making sure reproductive rights are protected,” Schuh said, adding, “I have horrible fibroids and it’s important to have a doctor who cares.”

Schuh wasn’t alone in naming personal experience with medical access to reproductive care as a key worry: Kara McClure, a social worker in Grants Pass, moved to Oregon from Texas, where she says she was unable to receive adequate care during a failed miscarriage and felt her health was put at risk. McClure said she was at the concert in part “trying to find her people” after the shock of seeing Trump elected to another term.

Abigail Contreras, 5, holds a sign at the Unete table. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini

Sarah and Dan Herndon of Central Point, came to the concert with their children, ages 7 and 10. Sarah went to the 2017 Women’s March in Washington, D.C., and described it as “the most joyful, peaceful, and humbling experience.” Dan said they came to the benefit concert to give something like that to their kids: “We wanted to come out and be with a group of people who have similar ideals about humanity.”

Jesse and Samantha Watson with their children at Saturday’s benefit concert and rally. Meg Wade photo for Ashland.news

Samantha and Jesse Watson of Medford had a similar story: Samantha also attended the 2017 D.C. march, and they decided to attend Saturday’s benefit concert with their sons, ages 6 and 8. Asked what she hoped her kids would take from the day, Samantha said she wanted them to see “That there’s power in coming together and in community, and we all have to stand together, young and old, and we have to use our privilege to help care for others.”

“We’re looking for ways we can support our community,” said Jesse, “and just thinking about folks we can support who will be impacted by the incoming administration,” especially “folks on the margins.” 

A trombone player from the Brash Band plays during the opening of the fundraising concert set to benefit local community groups at Oak Knoll Golf Course Saturday. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Jeff Thompson, Nicki Johnston and Alicia Ross at Saturday’s benefit concert and rally. Meg Wade photo for Ashland.news

Building community connections was also a core motivation for Alicia Ross of Grants Pass, who served as the concert’s volunteer coordinator. “Right after the election I felt like hiding, withdrawing, and I knew I needed to do the opposite,” said Ross, so she searched online for a way to help. “My heart was to connect people and I feel like we’ve done that today, connecting volunteers, and the organizations, and the community.” 

Among the 30 volunteers Ross recruited were her son, Nicki Johnston, 25, and his partner Jeff Thompson, who made the trip all the way from Klamath Falls to help. Asked about his concerns for the LGBTQ+ community, Johnston named the “politicization of trans bodies, this idea that gender-affirming care is dangerous and should be regulated.”

He also brought up increased racial tensions, and how he knows to avoid certain locations where they live, “places that aren’t safe for me, as a gay Mexican.” Still, Johnston said, “I’m so happy to be part of such a large group that is getting prepared for things that are coming down the line from the current administration, organizing ahead of time so that when challenges come up we are ready to face them.” 

Teresa Safay of ORD2 Indivisible at Saturday’s benefit concert and rally. Meg Wade photo for Ashland.news

A video recording of the livestream of the day’s proceedings is available on the Women’s March Southern Oregon Facebook page

Teresa Safay of ORD2 Indivisible shared that they will be hosting two follow-up meetings to establish action teams of local volunteers, including teams focused on holding federal, state and local officials accountable and a “protection” team responding to threats to vulnerable communities locally. The first meeting is from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, at the Bellview Grange in Ashland, and the second is from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, at the Medford Library.

Ashland resident and freelance journalist Meg Wade’s byline has appeared in Mother Earth News and other publications. Email Ashland.news at [email protected].

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

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