2008 Speakers

Jeff Golden, author of Unafraid: A Novel of the Possible, majored in agitation and righteous rhetoric at Harvard before dropping out in 1970 to learn how to take care of himself in the mountains of Southern Oregon.  In 1978 he founded the Oregon Guides Association, the first labor organization representing whitewater river guides.  After a decade of homebuilding, logging and river-guiding, he began a 25-year career as a public radio and television producer, opinion columnist, radio talk show host and commentator.  His political career includes service as a Jackson County (OR) Commissioner, Chief of Staff to the Oregon Senate President, Environmental Policy aide to the City of Portland, and membership on many public and non-profit boards and commissions.  He was Oregon's first Nominee for the JFK Profile in Courage Award and works in private practice as a conference speaker, mediator and strategic facilitator. 

Jeffrey M. Smith, International bestselling author is a leading spokesperson on the health dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).  His first book, Seeds of Deception: Exposing Industry and Government Lies about the Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods You’re Eating, revealed the serious yet unknown side effects of genetically engineered foods.  In his second book, Genetic Roulette: The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods, he reveals insider documents about GMO safety trials, and how the world’s most powerful Ag biotech companies have mislead Congress and the FDA about food safety research for the foods Americans buy everyday.

John Sundquist  saw his fellow Hoedads grow ill while planting herbicide-sprayed clear cuts in the early 1970’s, and became concerned with the promotion of forest poisoning.  Today, John serves on Lane County's Vegetation Management Advisory Committee and on the Oregon Senate's Work Group on Childrens Health and Pesticides.   He also enjoys leading school tours on our 33-acre organic family farm located 5 miles north of Coburg,  developing gardens at Head Start of Lane County sites, and working on pre-school biological literacy curriculums.  

John, long time fair family, was a vendor at the first fair in Elmira.  He served on the OCF Board of Directors from 1972-1979 and was also in charge of security and traffic.

Johnny Lake is the current Chairman for the State of Oregon Commission on Black Affairs, which works for the implementation and establishment of economic, social, legal, and political equality for African Americans and Blacks in Oregon.  Johnny is a trainer in programs focused on leadership, diversity, community-building, and cultural competency.  Johnny is a teacher, writer and storyteller with a Masters in Education and Administration.  He is a Ph.D. candidate in Educational Leadership.  He is currently the Assistant Principal at Churchill High School.

Eugene Poetry Slambassador

Jon Labrousse believes, with all his heart, that poetry is meant to be shared, not shelved. As you read this, in fact, he's likely introducing kindergarteners to the poet-ential of the ukulele, celebrating the sound of language with second graders, angsting out with teenagers, shocking adults! or chasing those damn squirrels out of his vegetable garden. That's right: he's living life as best he can, and writing about it.

Jorah LaFleur is a spoken word poet whose primary focus on stage is the formation of an intimate connection with the audience.  Many of her poems fuse the personal and the political, while others play with mythological, psychological and spiritual themes.  Jorah champions the use of spoken word as a means for making social commentary, and as a tool for personal growth.   Over the last decade, Jorah has had the privilege of performing at diverse venues and events throughout the Northwest.  In addition to performing, she is deeply committed to facilitating experiences in which other people can use spoken word as a tool for authentic self- expression.  She has been the Eugene Poetry Slammistress for the last 2 years, and an ardent OCF participant for the last 13 years.  

Joseph Tajalle will be sharing stores of the Indigenous peoples of the Earth, representing the World Council of Elders and spreading the word of the prophecies and teachings of the Elders.  Joseph was born on Valentine's Day...and his journey has appropriately been one of reconnecting to his Divine Heart. Born of a Japanese mother and raised lovingly by a Guamanian father, he was 17 when he found out that his birth father was actually Native American Indian. 

Julie Daniel, aka “The Goddess of Garbage”, is Executive Director of BRING Recycling, the non-profit agency that’s taken your stuff and sold it back to you for more than three decades.  Under her direction, BRING is reinventing itself to meet the community’s needs for the next 30 years.  She is overseeing the development of BRING’s new home, the Planet Improvement Center in Glenwood, OR.; a community and regional facility that’s part education center, part retail outlet for used building materials and part conservation theme park and tourist attraction. 

Ms. Daniel hails from London, England.  She has been with BRING for 12 years.  She’s the mother of three grown children who are also Fair Family.  She came to the United States in 1971 to seek adventure and has been finding it ever since. 

Dr. Kevin Danaher is a co-founder of Global Exchange (1988), founder and Executive Co-Producer of the Green Festivals (2001), and Executive Director of the Global Citizen Center (2004). He was the founding Board Chair of TransFairUSA, the fair trade certifying agency for the United States.

Kevin received his PhD in sociology from the University of California at Santa Cruz, and his BA from Sonoma State University. He is the author and/or editor of 11 books, including his latest, with Jason Mark and Shannon Biggs, Building the Green Economy: Success Stories from the Grassroots, published in 2007 by PoliPoint Press. 

Lafa Taylor has a hip hop style ranging from sweet melodic vocals to tongue twisting rapid rhymes.  From Eugene to the international music scene, Lafa is spreading love and positive vibrations choosing to rhyme about current issues carrying inspiration for all walks of life, dished up with heavy hip hop beats mixed with reggae, electronica and funk and beat boxing.

Lafa’s bass heavy hip hop beats never fail to get the dance floor moving. His verbal style ranges from sweet melodic vocals to tongue twisting rapid rhymes. He is also known for his intricate beat boxing, and creates live on the spot beats using his voice and a guitar looper pedal. Lafa’s live show is energetic, dynamic and unique. He has a great talent for connecting with his audience and working with the energy of the crowd.

Laura "piece" Kelley-Jahn recently opened for the Dalai Lama in Seattle.  She was Seattle’s Grand Slam Champion (Hip Hop competition) for 2004-2005.  Her contribution to Seattle's richly diverse musical scene has earned her a place in the archives of Seattle's Experience Music Project museum.  She has been featured in the documentary Underground Poets Railroad.  In 2007, Piece will be performing her one woman show "Two Sided See Through Mirror".  Piece has worked with the Power of Hope and compiled several full length compilations featuring young artists through this Seattle based non-profit organization.

Locura – will be performing the work of Spanish poet and dramatist, Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936).  García Lorca was the best-known of all Spanish poets, and leading member of the 'Generation of 27', which included Pabluo Neruda, Salvador Dali, Luis Cernuda, Jorge Guillen, Pedro Salinas, Rafael Alberti, and others.
 
García Lorca made his debut with LIBRO DE POEMAS (1921), a collection of fable like poems.  In 1922, he found inspiration from the traditions of folk and gypsy music, POEMA DEL CANTE JONDO (1931, Deep Song), and PRIMER ROMANCERO GITANO (1924-1927), and became the poet of Andalusia and its gypsy subculture.

Lynn Bowers helped create Forestland Dwellers 5 years ago when she discovered timber companies are unrestrained and recklessly spraying deadly poison over the forest in her neighborhood.  As a member of our community, she is a potter, sculptor, and theatre set & costume designer.  Lynn takes direct action every day to reduce and prevent the corporate spread of chemicals over our forest. 

Thirty some years ago, after Agent Orange was used in Viet Nam, its use was brought home to Western Oregon forests. This represented a new era in vegetation management.  Activist barred the use of Agent Orange but the damage was done. However, the long term were set into motion.
 
Today, Forestland Dwellers tracks the herbicides sprayed on the forest adjacent to our schools, homes and in our neighborhoods.  Corporate timber companies are spraying a dozen assorted herbicides, twice a year, in our rural neighborhoods. 

Following up on his appearance with last years Maroon Zikr, American maroon griot mugician, college instructor and award winning journalist Mark Harris brings trickster tales about living in the Briar Patch of America. Rabbit the African Trickster, and Coyote the Indigenous Trickster, meet and collaborate. The metaphor of the hostile place made safe, is one for our times of transition.

Marv Ellis
(R hythmic A merican P oet)

Home grown in the great Northwest, Marv Ellis combines dynamic conscious lyrics with everyday epiphanies to create his unique and respected style. His enthusiasm at every performance whether it be with his band; Imaginary Friends, or alone on stage with one mic, has brought him recognition all over the country. 

Performing his brand’s new album "Dreamcatcher Juice"...., and dipping deep into his rhyme books, Marv has mastered the art of being a true emcee, and provides a clinic type atmosphere for any spoken word performer.  A poetry show with Mr. Ellis usually means never before seen angles on spoken word presentation fused with beatboxing and jazz scat.