Who We Are - Ashland Together

Who We Are & What We Do

Core Planning Team 2025

L to R
Elizabeth Fairchild. Harriet Watson, Connie Minogue, Tara Houston, Gina DuQuenne, Hillary Larson, Brady Rubin, Tamsin Taylor.

Not pictured: Karen Sauer, Irene Kai

Our Story

In November of 2022, a small group came together, some who knew each other and others who were meeting for the first time, to put on a book event for Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery, the author of Dismantling Racism. At short notice the only date available was the week of Thanksgiving. Much to our surprise, more than twice the number of people we had originally imagined showed up. In the conversation with Dr. Avery that emerged was an undeniable longing for understanding…a longing for an inclusive community.

Our questions were:

What if all of the great humans who are doing the essential work of racial and social equity could connect with people who share the same desire for inclusion, but don’t know what to do?

What if the bubbles we live in could be dissolved through education, understanding, engagement…to build true relationships? No one left out.

What if we could create Ashland as a place where we could all be Together?

How it all began, November 2022

L to R: Allyson Phelps, Hillary Larson, Connie Minogue, Elizabeth Fairchild, Terrlyin Curry Avery, and Carlton Smith.

(photo: Carlton Smith)

What We Do

At Ashland Together, our vision is to cultivate an Ashland community that welcomes all—a circle of support dedicated to racial and social healing. Our mission is to foster kinship and collaboration, shining a light on vital social and racial equity work in our town and beyond. Through cultural events and community gatherings, we amplify voices often overlooked, nurture relationships, and support meaningful change for a more just and welcoming community for all.

Previous Events and Initiatives

Since our inception in November 2022, we’ve been committed to transforming our community through various community building & FREE educational events:

Healing Racism from the Inside Out, with Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery (our first program in November 2022).
Seeds of a White Utopia: Exploring Oregon’s Difficult Racial Past, a fee webinar with Professor Kristen Tiegen, Portland State University.

Unwelcomed: Oregon’s History of Exclusion, a 4-week online course with Professor Kristen Tiegen, Portland State University.
Launch of the Ashland Sunrise Project, with Taylor Stewart, Executive Director of Oregon Remembrance Project.

Special movie screening of “Origin” with community BIPoC leaders and invited guests. The movie is about Pulitzer Award Winner Isabelle Wilkerson’s path to research and author the book “Caste: The Origins of our Discontent.” directed by Ava DuVernay. Hosted by Ashland Together and community sponsors BSOA, BASE, OSF, SOU and Say Their Names.
Uncovering Oregon’s Black History, with Mariah Roker, Oregon Black Pioneers, hosted by Ashland Sunrise Project, Ashland Together, Oregon Black Pioneers and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
What it Means to Belong, with Cassie Prekenis and Micah Blacklight, hosted by Ashland Sunrise Project, Ashland Together, and Oregon Remembrance Project.

Uncovering Difficult Truths, with author Sarah L Sanderson and Taylor Stewart, hosted by Ashland Sunrise Project, Ashland Together, Oregon Remembrance Project and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
An Empowering Conversation About Fire, Climate Change and Community, featuring Lomakatsi Restoration Project and hosted by Ashland Together, Ashland.news and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
What’s Your Plan? Preparing for Wildfire Safety, a pilot program hosted by Ashland News, Ashland Together, Ashland CERT, and the City of Ashland.

From Thorns to Blossoms: A Japanese American Family in War and Peace, with author Asai Loftus and David Loftus, hosted by Ashland Together, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and Bloomsbury Books.
Building Post-Election Common Ground, with Mike and Emily Green, hosted by Ashland Sunrise Project, Ashland Together, Oregon Remembrance Project, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Do No Harm & Be a Good Neighbor (understanding immigration challenges), with John Almaguer, a local immigration attorney, hosted by Ashland Sunrise Project, Ashland Together, Oregon Remembrance Project, Peace House, RVUUF, and the City of Ashland’s Social Equity & Racial Justice Advisory Committee (SERJ).
Publication of “A Brief History of Racism in the State of Oregon and the Town of Ashland,” 2023, created in collaboration with Ashland Sunrise Project, Ashland Together, and the Oregon Remembrance Project.
Grew Ashland Together’s e-newsletter distribution list from 70 to over 500.