The Oregon Economy in a Covid-19 World

According to NPR, "The coronavirus pandemic triggered the sharpest economic contraction in modern American history, the Commerce Department reported Thursday, July 30, 2020.

"Gross domestic product — the broadest measure of economic activity — shrank at an annual rate of 32.9% in the second quarter as restaurants and retailers closed their doors in a desperate effort to slow the spread of the virus, which has killed more than 150,000 people in the U.S."

What does this mean for Oregon? Join AARP Oregon and our guests from ECONorthwest and Meyer Memorial Trust for a free webinar as we explore the new normal Oregon is facing during these unprecedented times. Register at https://bit.ly/agefriendlyeconomy81120

Forecasters anticipate a long, uneven recovery that will begin in earnest only after the virus is eliminated. The downturn illuminated longstanding societal and economic inequities.

Infection and death rates have been borne disproportionately by communities of color and the elderly, and stock markets are thriving despite record unemployment and accelerating business closures.

The year has brought unprecedented change and so many questions.

We'll review where we stand on the public health and economic fronts and how has the virus changed the way we interact and do business. And we will explore, as we recover, the tools to build an inclusive economy of broadly shared prosperity.

Speakers:

Rukaiyah Adams

Ms. Adams is the Chief Investment Officer at Meyer Memorial Trust, one of the largest charitable foundations in the Pacific Northwest. She is responsible for leading all investment activities to ensure the long-term financial strength of the organization. In addition to her investment expertise, Ms. Adams serves on numerous boards and provided pro bono work on behalf of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, the Homeless Prenatal Program in San Francisco, and the Children’s Defense Fund. Her 2016 Ted talk — A Homegirl’s Guide to Being Powerful— about her path to becoming a more thoughtful investor and the role of investment capital in achieving social justice has more than 10,000 views.

John Tapogna

Before joining ECONorthwest, Mr. Tapogna served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Chile and was an Analyst at the U

Mr. Tapogna is President of ECONorthwest and oversees the firm's business strategy. Since his arrival at ECONorthwest in 1997, he has built consulting practices in education, healthcare, human service, and tax policy.

He led the design and development of award-winning software tools that help low-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans understand their eligibility for safety-net programs.

Host/Moderator
Ruby Haughton-Pitts

Ruby Haughton-Pitts is the State Director for AARP where she oversees a staff of seven and more than 1,000 volunteers in the state leads efforts to help people 50+ choose how they live as they age through volunteerism, service, community connection and advocacy.

Ms. Haughton-Pitts previously served as  Director of Outreach and Advocacy in Chicago for AARP in Chicago, Director of Legislative and Public Affairs at CareOregon, Vice President of External Affairs for OCHIN (a nationwide nonprofit healthcare innovation center), and Vice President of Government Relations for U.S. Bancorp in Portland.

Register today Register at https://bit.ly/agefriendlyeconomy81120

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