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In conversation with Nicole Vulcan

There’s a quote by Audre Lorde I keep coming back to:

The words and poetry of Lorde, a self-described “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” are some of the spiritual foods I consume in times that require strength and hope and power ­— like the times many of my fellow Americans, and the migrants and travelers we’ve long welcomed to our shores — are living through right now.

Each year, the Source puts together a Women’s Issue that seeks not to comprehensively cover every single issue that women, femmes, non-binary and other people in our community may be facing, but, through personal and local perspectives, aims to share some stories of their resilience. Our News and Feature stories this week offer an even broader lens on that — because in these times, there are more for whom the shackles are tightening in.

Feminism is, at its most basic, the notion that all people — regardless of color or gender or creed — have the right to live the fullest expression of their lives. It’s in this spirit that I’ve created this series of Q&As and guest opinions.

Freezing up in fear is a natural inclination during this moment, but for those who appear inside these pages, it seems they also understand another notion that comes from Lorde:

American women continue to have the highest rate of death before, during and after childbirth

Amid an increasing need for wildland firefighters, a camp aimed at helping young women and non-binary people pursue careers in fire is the latest casualty of Trump’s crusade against DEI

Amid federal actions and proposals, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette grapples with high demand and funding concerns

Q&A with Cassi MacQueen, executive director of Deschutes Children’s Foundation, on the road ahead for nonprofits serving children and families

Deschutes County commissioners dissolved the County’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Committee this month, citing a fear of losing federal funds. Two County employees share why those efforts still matter.

Trans rights, passport concerns and sports bans are just part of the worries shared by two members of the Central Oregon queer community

The owner of a local pole dance studio talks about the empowerment of the practice

For many survivors, the fear of deportation is as strong as the fear of their abuser.

While many are feeling silenced, local women musicians aim to amplify the voices of the marginalized

The women at Spider City Brewing are fermenting change in the craft beer industry

Girls Who Code seeks to close the tech gender gap

Monoskier Joanna Adams offers insight and inspiration

Mikaela de la Myco, guest columnist answers this week’s reader question

Read the entire issue HERE!

This article appears in The Source Weekly February 20, 2025.

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The Women’s Issue

by The Source Editorial Board, The Source - Bend, Oregon
February 19, 2025

<h1>The Women’s Issue</h1> <p class="byline">by The Source Editorial Board, The Source - Bend, Oregon <br />February 19, 2025</p> <br /> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full aligncenter aligncenter"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/featurebuild-landing-page-header.webp"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/featurebuild-landing-page-header.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3527" /></a></figure> <h3 class="content_h3">In conversation with Nicole Vulcan</p> <p><p class="FirstParagraph"> <span class="fdnDropCap">T</span>here’s a quote by Audre Lorde I keep coming back to: </p> </h3> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full aligncenter aligncenter"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/quote-1.webp"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/quote-1.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3528" /></a></figure> <p class="MsoNormal"> The words and poetry of Lorde, a self-described “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” are some of the spiritual foods I consume in times that require strength and hope and power ­— like the times many of my fellow Americans, and the migrants and travelers we’ve long welcomed to our shores — are living through right now. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Each year, the Source puts together a Women’s Issue that seeks not to comprehensively cover every single issue that women, femmes, non-binary and other people in our community may be facing, but, through personal and local perspectives, aims to share some stories of their resilience. Our News and Feature stories this week offer an even broader lens on that — because in these times, there are more for whom the shackles are tightening in. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Feminism is, at its most basic, the notion that all people — regardless of color or gender or creed — have the right to live the fullest expression of their lives. It’s in this spirit that I’ve created this series of Q&amp;As and guest opinions. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> Freezing up in fear is a natural inclination during this moment, but for those who appear inside these pages, it seems they also understand another notion that comes from Lorde: </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full aligncenter aligncenter"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/quote-2.webp"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/quote-2.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3529" /></a></figure> <p> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/opinion/turning-our-backs-on-american-infants-and-mothers-22745276"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/opinion.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3530" /></a></figure> </p> <p><b></b> <a href="/opinion/turning-our-backs-on-american-infants-and-mothers-22745276" target="_blank"><b>American women continue to have the highest rate of death before, during and after childbirth</b></p> <p></a> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/news/firefighting-camp-for-women-and-non-binary-people-canceled-22740718"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/news1.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3531" /></a></figure> <p> <title></title> </p> <p class="p1"> <b><a href="/news/firefighting-camp-for-women-and-non-binary-people-canceled-22740718" target="_blank">Amid an increasing need for wildland firefighters, a camp aimed at helping young women and non-binary people pursue careers in fire is the latest casualty of Trump’s crusade against DEI </a></b> </p> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/news/planned-parenthood-awaits-potential-impacts-to-care-22745281"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/news2.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3532" /></a></figure> <p><title></title> </p> <p class="p1"> <b><a href="/news/planned-parenthood-awaits-potential-impacts-to-care-22745281" target="_blank">Amid federal actions and proposals, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette grapples&nbsp;with high demand and funding concerns </a></b><b></b> </p> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/news/meeting-the-moment-for-19000-children-and-families-22745336"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/feature1.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3533" /></a></figure> <p> </p> <p class="p1"> <b><a href="/news/meeting-the-moment-for-19000-children-and-families-22745336" target="_blank">Q&amp;A with Cassi MacQueen, executive director of Deschutes Children’s Foundation, on the road ahead for nonprofits serving children and families</a></b> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/news/going-forward-after-dissolving-a-dei-initiative-22745330"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/feature2.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3534" /></a></figure> <p> </p> <p class="p1"> <b><a href="/news/going-forward-after-dissolving-a-dei-initiative-22745330" target="_blank">Deschutes County commissioners dissolved the County’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Access Committee this month, citing a fear of losing federal funds. Two County employees share why those efforts still matter.</a></b> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/news/wrapping-arms-and-resources-and-hearts-around-communities-22745326"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/feature3.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3535" /></a></figure> <p> </p> <p class="p1"> <b><a href="/news/wrapping-arms-and-resources-and-hearts-around-communities-22745326" target="_blank">Trans rights, passport concerns and sports bans are just part of the worries shared by two members of the Central Oregon queer community </a></b> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/news/a-healing-practice-for-women-22745316"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/feature4.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3536" /></a></figure> <p><title></title> </p> <p class="p1"> <b><a href="/news/a-healing-practice-for-women-22745316" target="_blank">The owner of a local pole dance studio talks about the empowerment of the practice</a></b> </p> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/news/ensuring-safety-for-immigrant-survivors-22745309"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/feature5.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3537" /></a></figure> <p><b><a href="/news/ensuring-safety-for-immigrant-survivors-22745309" target="_blank">For many survivors, the fear of deportation is as strong as the fear of their abuser.</a></b></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/music/turning-up-the-volume-for-women-22745251"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/sound.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3538" /></a></figure> <p><title></title> </p> <p class="p1"> <b><a href="/music/turning-up-the-volume-for-women-22745251" target="_blank">While many are feeling silenced, local women musicians aim to amplify the voices of the marginalized</a></b> </p> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/food-drink/brewing-equality-22745355"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/chow.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3539" /></a></figure> <p> <title></title> </p> <p class="p1"> <b><a href="/food-drink/brewing-equality-22745355" target="_blank">The women at Spider City Brewing are fermenting change in the craft beer industry</a></b> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/culture/the-future-is-female-22739951"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/culture.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3540" /></a></figure> <p><title></title> </p> <p class="p1"> <b><a href="/culture/the-future-is-female-22739951" target="_blank">Girls Who Code seeks to close the tech gender gap</a></b> </p> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/outside/the-future-is-adaptive-at-mt-bachelor-thanks-to-oas-22740748"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/outside.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3542" /></a></figure> <p><p class="MsoNormal"> <b><a href="/outside/the-future-is-adaptive-at-mt-bachelor-thanks-to-oas-22740748" target="_blank">Monoskier Joanna Adams offers insight and inspiration</a></b> </p> </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full alignleft alignleft"><a href="https://www.bendsource.com/culture/the-psychedelic-frontier-exploring-intentional-psychedelic-use-in-the-modern-world-22745268"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/psychedelics1-1.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-3543" /></a></figure> <p><p class="ByLine"> <b><a href="/culture/the-psychedelic-frontier-exploring-intentional-psychedelic-use-in-the-modern-world-22745268" target="_blank">Mikaela de la Myco, guest columnist answers this week’s reader question</a></b> </p> </p> <p><h2 class="content_h2">Read the entire issue <a href="https://issuu.com/thesourceweekly/docs/the_source_weekly_february_27_2025?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ" target="_blank">HERE</a>!</h2> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full aligncenter aligncenter"><a href="https://issuu.com/thesourceweekly/docs/the_source_weekly_february_27_2025?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ"><img src="https://www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/cover_for_web-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3541" /></a></figure></p> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://www.bendsource.com/news/the-womens-issue-22745829/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://www.bendsource.com&quot;&gt;The Source - Bend, Oregon&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/www.bendsource.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/cropped-Untitled-design-4.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p> &lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://www.bendsource.com/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=3526&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://www.bendsource.com/news/the-womens-issue-22745829/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); 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