In early June 2025, Mayor Tonya Graham traveled to Ukraine to attend the International Summit of Cities and Regions in Kyiv. While there, she met in person with Mayor Volodymyr Rybalkin of Sviatohirs’k, Ashland’s sister city since June 2023. (Pictured is Graham and Rybalkin at a Sister City Signing Ceremony)
Mayor Graham shared stories and insights from her visit during the August 19, 2025, City Council Business Meeting. Her presentation offered a closer look at the resilience of Ukrainian communities and the importance of continued global partnerships. View the presentation (PDF)
That spirit of connection continued locally on Saturday, August 16, when Ukrainian families from across Ashland gathered at the Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library for a smoke and wildfire preparedness class. The class was led by Kelly Burns, the City’s Emergency Management Coordinator, and Sara Jones, Community Engagement Coordinator with Ashland Forest Resiliency. Interpreter and forensic scientist Hanna Yakubovska provided translation throughout.
Sara Jones offers insight on wildfire smoke education
Participants learned about Ashland’s emergency communication systems, evacuation levels and maps of evacuation zones. Materials were shared in Russian by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and Oregon Health Authority (OHA), with Yakubovska translating questions between Ukrainian and English. Most attendees were trilingual; fluent in Ukrainian, Russian and either fluent or learning English.
Following an overview of wildfire emergency planning, the group discussed how to Be Ready, Be Set, and Go Now. They practiced developing evacuation plans, reviewed their communication strategies and prepared go bags. Burns emphasized the importance of community readiness:
“There may not be enough 911 responders during a wind-driven wildfire to respond to every call for help. It falls to individuals and communities to make plans with trusted friends and neighbors to help and support each other during these events.”
The second half of the class focused on smoke awareness; what the Air Quality Index (AQI) means, who is most at risk and how to protect indoor air. Each family made a DIY air purifier to take home.
Several follow-up questions in Ukrainian will be translated by Yakubovska so additional resources can be shared. Participants also received go bag kits from Silvia Ceron, Emergency Coordinator with the Oregon Department of Human Services Office of Resilience and Emergency Management (OREM). DIY air filter kits were provided by Smokewise Ashland and the Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library. Learn more about emergency preparedness at ashlandoregon.gov/BetterPrepared.
These community-led efforts reflect the broader collaboration between Ashland and the 27 Ukrainian families now living in the area. Two key organizations supporting them are:
- Ashland Sviatohirs’k Aid Project, our Sister City initiative:asapashland.org
- Uniting for Ukraine Rogue Valley: unitingforukrainerv.org
Contact people: Denise Crosby, Chair: 209.602.6581; Kathy House, Treasurer: 720.236.3707.
More events you can participate in for smoke & wildfire readiness:
An all-ages and family friendly event, Smoke & Wildfire – Preparing Together, Burning to Learn will be at ScienceWorks on September 12 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Learn more about our sister city relationships with Sviatohirs’k and Guanajuato at ashlandoregon.gov/SisterCities. We are Better Together!
#end