Portland Jobs with Justice and CHIPS Communities United invite you to join us on June 3-4, 2026, for Toxic Roots of the Silicon Forest: People, Power, and Pollution in the Semiconductor Industry.

For a day and a half in Portland, OR, the Toxic Roots conference will bring together workers, experts, environmental activists, and community leaders from across Oregon and beyond. Together, we will explore the legacy of the microchip industry, discuss its impact in our own backyard, and plant the seeds for a more equitable and sustainable future.

Semiconductors are the backbone of the AI boom; our mission is to ensure the future is not built at the expense of workers who manufacture microchips or the communities that host microchip factories. Join us to learn how we can demand that the AI supply chain be sustainable, equitable, and accountable to the people.

Conference Schedule

The Toxic Roots of the Silicon Forest conference kicks off on the evening of June 3rd with a welcome reception featuring the US premiere of Colorless, Odorless, the 54-minute documentary by South Korean artist and award-winning filmmaker Eunhee Lee.

Centering the lived experiences of Asian women and migrant workers, the film exposes the health hazards faced by the predominantly female workforce working in South Korean and Taiwanese semiconductor factories. Combining archival material and firsthand testimonies, Colorless, Odorless takes us into the cleanrooms that manufacture chips for global brands like Samsung and Apple.

Following the screening, join us for a Q&A with filmmaker Eunhee Lee. Your ticket to the Toxic Roots conference includes complimentary access to the screening.

Thursday, June 4, 2026: Toxic Roots of the Silicon Forest Conference Program

In cross-sectoral panels, we will explore:

• Worker safety in the semiconductor industry

• Data centers’ and semiconductors’ shared playbook

• Toxic pollution from semiconductor manufacturing, including the forever chemicals PFAS
  

• Global worker exploitation across the semiconductor supply chain

• Responsible use of semiconductors

Be part of the conversation on making the AI supply chain equitable, sustainable, and accountable to communities and workers.

RSVP today to reserve your place at the Toxic Roots of the Silicon Forest conference!

Have questions about directions, parking, or lodging? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions list here.