Umpqua Valley Public Defender To Launch Equal Justice Initiative With Community Art Show In Roseburg

The Umpqua Valley Public Defender will introduce its new Equal Justice Initiative during a public art show in Roseburg featuring Portland artist Jerome Sloan and his work, “Breaking Free – Sparrows.”

The event will include a silent auction and facilitated community dialogue focused on justice and representation. A $5 entry donation will be collected at the door. Organizers said proceeds will support the Equal Justice Initiative, with select auction works benefiting the effort.

Addressing Oregon’s Public Defense Shortage

According to organizers, Oregon continues to face a shortage of public defense attorneys, particularly in rural communities. In areas such as Roseburg, delays in appointing defense counsel can lead to extended court timelines and disruptions in rehabilitation efforts.

UVPD representatives said overwhelming caseloads often shift attention away from addressing underlying issues such as poverty, mental health challenges and limited access to services. The Equal Justice Initiative is designed to strengthen long term stability in rural public defense.

The initiative includes:

• Building a recruitment and mentorship pipeline for law students
• Providing hands on rural legal training and financial support
• Supporting long term sustainability for public defense in rural Oregon
• Expanding community centered advocacy efforts

Organizers said the effort is intended to serve communities across the state, from Portland and Pendleton to Coos Bay and Klamath Falls.

Featured Artist: Jerome Sloan

The event’s featured artist is Portland based visual artist and muralist Jerome Sloan. His highlighted work, “Breaking Free – Sparrows,” will serve as the silent auction centerpiece.

Sloan was sentenced in 1994 to life without the possibility of parole for a murder he has maintained he did not commit. According to event materials, he declined to testify against others in the case. During nearly three decades of incarceration, Sloan developed a visual art practice focused on drawing and pastels.

While incarcerated, he participated in art competitions in the early 2000s and received recognition for his work. Organizers said he also facilitated cognitive programming and social emotional development alongside counselors, and later worked as a mural painter within the prison system.

His sentence was commuted by the Governor of Oregon in June 2021. He was released in May 2022 after serving nearly 30 years.

Following his release, Sloan began working as an Intensive Case Manager with POIC, a Portland based organization that responds to gang impacted individuals hospitalized with gunshot wounds. He also serves on the board of ReGroup, a nonprofit that supports formerly incarcerated individuals.

Sloan has completed murals in attorney offices in Portland and Salem and has participated in multiple exhibitions. His work focuses on incarceration, accountability, reform and second chances.

Silent Auction Feature

“Breaking Free – Sparrows”
Pastel on paper, 2026
Estimated value: $1,500
Minimum bid: $700
Justice category: Criminal justice reform

The piece depicts a sparrow moving through a sky of clockwork forms that gradually resemble prison doors and watchtowers. According to event organizers, the clocks symbolize institutional time, while the bird represents resilience and freedom.

Additional works from Sloan’s “Breaking Free” series will be available for purchase. However, organizers said only “Breaking Free – Sparrows” will directly benefit the Equal Justice Initiative.

Broader Themes Of Justice

The exhibition will also feature artists exploring justice across a range of topics, including incarceration, systemic inequality, representation, corruption, Indigenous and cultural identity, digital healing practices and access to the natural world.

Organizers said the show is intended to highlight the layered and interconnected nature of justice through multiple mediums and lived experiences.

Community members from across Oregon are invited to attend the Roseburg event and participate in the discussion surrounding equal access to legal representation and broader justice issues.

The Facebook event link can be found here.