It's Your Oregon: Allison Sokol Blosser

What is your idea of a perfect Oregon day?

I would be in Central Oregon in the wintertime. There would be a light snowfall coming down. And I would love to go out for a walk in the fresh snow. I'd bundle up with my scarf, hat, gloves and warm coat and go out for a long walk and just breathe in the clean air and enjoy the beautiful scenery and snow-capped mountains. I’d then come home and sit in front of a fire and read.

What would you like Oregon to look like in 20 years that is different from today? 

Solar panels at the winery

I think it would be amazing if Oregon could maintain its identity in the next 20 years and continue its leadership and innovation.  I’d like to see all the small businesses we have and also the really interesting renewable energy projects and business that are popping up. I think Oregon is perfectly positioned to capitalize on those types of opportunities and just come up with more creative ways to lessen our impact on earth. I think that there are a lot of creative minds in Oregon and a lot of opportunity for that.

OEC talks about “It’s Your Oregon.”  What does Oregon mean to you? 

I think Oregon is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s the people who live here and take such great pride in our state. It’s our history, both the good and the bad from what’s happened in the past. I think of our nature and beautiful scenery that everyone thinks of when they think of Oregon. And I think of our potential to create an even better future for ourselves and the next generation of Oregonians.

What is the most important environmental issue to you today?

How do you choose? It sounds very cliché, but I would agree with my mom that it’s climate change. It’s got such far-reaching impact that it touches almost everything we do in one way or another.

What is the one thing you want people to know?

For the most part we are, but I think people need to be proud of our state and that everyone needs to find a small or a large way to show their appreciation for our great state. It could be picking up trash, rebuilding trails or anything to help make our state even better.