Join us for a fireside chat as OPB’s Dave Miller interviews our Legal Citizen Honoree, Governor Barbara Roberts.
Highlights:
- Be part of a live audience for a recording of the popular OPB radio show “Think Out Loud”
- Featured Guest: 2023 Honoree Judge Henry Kantor
- Special message from Congressman Earl Blumenauer
- Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres
Registration and sponsorship options are now available. Sign up today!
About Our 2024 Honoree
Former Governor Barbara Roberts is a model of public service, a supporter of CLP programs, and a long-time advocate for education, exemplifying the core values of the Jonathan U. Newman Legal Citizen Award.
Born in Corvallis, Governor Roberts graduated from Sheridan High School and attended Portland State University. During her time at PSU, she successfully lobbied the Oregon State Legislature to guarantee educational rights to special-needs children in public schools.
From there, Roberts was elected to the Parkrose School Board, then to the Mt. Hood Community College board. In 1980, Roberts was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, and in 1982 was chosen by her colleagues to be the first female House Majority Leader in the history of Oregon. Roberts served as Secretary of State from 1984 until 1990, when she successfully ran for the office of Governor, becoming the first woman elected to that position in Oregon. During her administration, Governor Roberts continued to advance access to education in Oregon.
After leaving office, Governor Roberts accepted a position at the Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University as director of the Harvard Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government. Later, she became a senior fellow to the Women and Public Policy Program. In 1998, Roberts joined Portland State University’s Hatfield School of Government‘s Executive Leadership Institute as Associate Director of Leadership Development. Governor Roberts returned to public service in 2011 as a council member of Metro, Portland metro area’s elected regional government. She was appointed to the council to fill the remainder of a mid-term vacancy by a vote of the council, serving portions of Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest Portland.
Governor Roberts continues her community service, serving on the boards for several major nonprofit organizations, including the Oregon Hospice Association, the Human Rights Campaign, and the advisory council of Oregon’s Compassion in Dying. She has also maintained an active public speaking career on topics including leadership and women in politics.
There are many sponsorship opportunities for the Legal Citizen of the Year Award & Celebration. Please contact Robert Hulshof-Schmidt for more information.
About the Legal Citizen of the Year Award
The Jonathan U. Newman Legal Citizen of the Year Award recognizes the late Judge Newman for his leadership in encouraging and instilling respect for civic education in Oregon. Each year, a leader is honored for demonstrating a commitment to the mission and principles of Civics Learning Project including advancing the ideals of civic education and inspiring future generations. View a list of all our honorees over the years.
As part of the Legal Citizen of the Year Award & Celebration, Civics Learning Project also honors an exemplary educator in Oregon with the Peter & Leslie Richter Civic Educator of the Year Award. The 2023-24 honoree is Amy Fifth-Lince of Liberty High School, Hillsboro.