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Northwest Institute for Social Change

Media Making Change

3836 N Haight, Portland, OR 97227 (503) 975-4545

AboutUs

The Northwest Institute inspires and educates a new generation of truth-seeking journalists and conscience-raising artists who will bring positive changes to their communities. Each summer, we host a dozen college students for an intensive 8-week session. Students attend media study classes, work with professionals to produce media projects and attend professional development workshops with the long-term goal of helping to build a strong democratic community that is representative of all voices.

Who runs the program?

We have a well-qualified and enthused management staff, and each year work with a strong network of accomplished professionals. We always welcome inquiries about employment.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: PHIL BUSSE

[photo: Phil Busse]

For six years, Executive Director Phil Busse served as the managing editor for the Portland Mercury, a popular weekly newspaper in Oregon that he helped launch in 2000. As a spin-off from his political reporting and columns, Phil ran for mayor of Portland in 2004. Out of 23 candidates and outspent by the lead candidate $1 million to $11,000, Phil placed third behind a two-time city councilmember and the former police chief.

A former attorney in San Francisco, Phil has served on the faculty at the University of Oregon School of Business as the assistant director for the Entreprenuership Center. Phil also has worked with other programs in higher education—including working as the Program Director for School for Field Studies sea turtle program in Costa Rica and as the head coach for crew teams at Lewis & Clark College and the University of Portland.

Phil graduated from Middlebury College in 1992 and earned his law degree from the University of Oregon in 1997.

PROGRAM MANAGER: ERIN ERGENBRIGHT

[photo: Erin Ergenbright]

Erin Ergenbright has taught writing and writing workshops at Portland State University, Marylhurst University, University of Iowa and Portland Community College—and at many elementary, middle and high schools in the Portland area. Erin has recently been awarded residencies at Soapstone and Caldera Arts, as well as a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission.

She is also the co-author of The Ex-Boyfriend Cookbook (with Thisbe Nissen), and a founder of the Loggernaut Reading Series. Erin earned her MFA at the University of Iowa's Writers' Workshop, where she was a James Michener-Paul Engle fellow, and her writing has appeared in The Believer Magazine, Tin House, Portland Monthly, The Oregonian, The May Queen: Women on Life, Love, Work and Pulling It All Together in Your Thirties (J.P. Tarcher), Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant: On Cooking for One and Dining Alone (Riverhead Books), Colorado Review, Indiana Review, Paste Magazine, Oklahoma Review, Dislocate and elsewhere.

She earned her B.A. at Oregon State University.

How do you get in touch with us?

You can email us using our online form or call us at (503) 975.4545. Otherwise, feel free to send correspondences to 3836 N. Haight St., Portland, Oregon 97227.

What are others saying about us?

During our inaugural summer, the Northwest Institute received positive local coverage and rave reviews from its students.

Local Coverage

Student Testimonials

[photo: Meg Nanson]“What did I get out of my experience this summer? Increased confidence, a better sense of direction, renewed sense of idealism, a new perspective on the media and the directions it may take, wider knowledge base from which to draw, the ability to stand behind my convictions and argue for them. Lifelong friendships.” –Meg Nanson, Smith College ’08
[photo: Ryan Winger]“It was a tremendous time of personal growth, and the way the summer was structured definitely facilitated that. The fact that I was able to not only learn and work with college students from across the country, but to really become involved with Portland’s community leaders, was an experience certainly unmatched in previous summer internships.” –Ryan Winger, University of Colorado ’09

With whom do we partner?

Many filmmakers, community organizers, and businesses donate their time and expertise to help make this a powerful experience for our students. Each summer we draw from the community and beyond to expose students to experts in their given field. The Northwest Institute partners with the University of Oregon School of Journalism Turnbull Center to secure classroom space and academic credit for students.

Organizations

Professionals working with students 2007

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