 Interfaith Black Clergy Prayer Breakfast
The Coalition of African & African American Pastors/Imams, in partnership with Bridge-Pamoja, hosted the Fifth Annual Interfaith Black Clergy Prayer Breakfast for Juneteenth last Friday. The annual event highlights black leadership across Oregon, and pays tribute to civic and community leaders who have helped make the community healthier and stronger. Priorities of the two groups include community health, community engagement, leadership development, financial and fiscal management training, and connecting the African Diaspora and the African community by working together. It was wonderful to be a part of this meaningful event!
 Portland Businesses for All
Portland Businesses for All is a new and growing, all-volunteer business alliance that centers community needs such as housing, living wage jobs, transportation, health care, and education. I was delighted to attend and speak at their first community mixer Tuesday night at Parkrose Coffee. Business owners are invited to learn more and get connected on how to help Portland while supporting each other. It was inspiring to see this group getting off to such a great start!
 Sunnyside Shower Project
It was wonderful to celebrate the powerful work Sunnyside Shower Project (SSP) does for the community at their fundraiser at Foxtrot last night! As I shared in my speech, the only thing my grandma told about her time in the WWII internment camps was how humiliating it was to not have privacy when trying to shower and meet other hygiene needs. As SSP knows, a shower might seem unimportant, but it’s about dignity and reclaiming humanity for everyone. I am grateful for the work SSP does, and look forward to watching this important program continue to grow.
 World Refugee Day Walk
World Refugee Day was marked this Saturday at the World Refugee Day Walk in downtown Portland. The City’s Office of Community & Civic Life supported the event, and my staff were there to honor refugees, enjoy dancing from Laos and African dancers, and take part in the walk. Showing support for refugee and immigrant communities in Portland and committing to being welcoming and inclusive is more important than ever. It was a beautiful event that celebrated so many neighbors who call Portland home.
 Kernside Midsummer Street Fair
Congratulations to the organizers of the first (but I’m guessing not last!) Kernside Midsummer Street Fair held on Saturday. It was a great event, with lots of local artists, services, music, food, and friendly faces. A big thank you to the organizers for creating this opportunity for community connection.
 Bethany Lutheran Church Transferred to NAYA
Land back! My staff was at an event this week where Bethany Lutheran Church in Northeast Portland was transferred to the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA). This is amazing work on two fronts: First, it is moving to see this type of transfer occurring as the church sits on land that was once stewarded by the indigenous community. Second, I love that NAYA, and indigenous communities more broadly, continue to show deference and reverence to elders. NAYA will turn the church into housing for elders. There’s a nice write-up by OPB about the event and the project.
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 I’m so excited about our next constituent event, in partnership with Friends of Rocky Butte, Oregon Walks, and many others! I hope you’ll join me to explore and discuss future possibilities at Rocky Butte Park on July 24 at the Grotto, 8840 NE Skidmore St. We’ll start with a short walk and discussion at 11 am, and then have a post-hike Constituent Meet-Up with refreshments back at the Grotto at 12:30. Because of the Rocky Butte’s location close to Districts 1 and 2, I’m co-hosting the event with fellow City Councilors Jamie Dunphy and Elana Pirtle-Guiney. We’ll also be joined by Metro Councilor Duncan Hwang. Space is limited, so please reserve your spot here!
Good in the Hood
The Good in the Hood multicultural food and music festival, now in its 33rd year, will kick off with a parade at 11 am Saturday, June 27, traveling south on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd from NE Prescott to NE Knott St. The rest of the weekend will be full of music, vendors, youth and family activities, and more.
Climate Justice Events
To mark the joint anniversary of the 2021 Heat Dome and racial justice protests, 350PDX is highlighting several events planned to strengthen climate justice campaigns:
East Portland Sunday Parkways
Portland Sunday Parkways will hold their free East Portland event from 11 am to 4 pm Sunday, June 28. Join the Portland Bureau of Transportation and the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund in celebrating car-free streets for walking, rolling, and playing with neighbors and friends. The 4-mile route will feature Verdell Burdine Rutherford Park, Ventura Park, Lincoln Park, and Parklane Park.
East Creative Collective (East Creative Studios)
Located in the heart of the Central Eastside Industrial District, East Creative Collective is a hub for more than 30 local artists, sculptors, and digital designers. They host open studio events every First Friday from 6 to 9 pm at their space at 211 SE Madison St. It was fun to check out June’s event, talk with the artists, and see a wide range of paintings, drawings, photography, fabric works and other items. In addition to the usual July 3 open studio, they’ll also be open July 4 for the same hours, just before the fireworks display near the Hawthorne Bridge.
Lots of news this week!
As many of you know, I’ve been speaking out a lot about the Moda Center negotiations. I want to see a fair deal that brings real benefits to Portlanders. Here is some coverage of developments from this week:
I’ve also been raising concerns about the Portland Public Schools’ budget, which as passed cuts 87 student-facing positions:
Portland Public Schools’ Early Learners Pre-Kindergarten program is open for enrollment! All families with children who will be 3 to 5 years old as of Sept. 1 can apply for one of the spots at 14 locations across Portland. The full-day program is free regardless of income. Find out more and apply here.
Urban Forestry and partners just started the Free Trees for Portland season, which will distribute and plant 8,480 trees. All Portland residents are eligible to receive free trees, but residents of neighborhoods including Lents, Montavilla, Parkrose, and Powellhurst-Gilbert can have a tree planted and cared for in their front yard or right-of-way for the next three years free of charge. You can sign up here to have a city arborist advise on variety of tree and planting location. Email freetrees@portlandoregon.gov with any questions.
The Portland Fruit Tree Project helps get fruit from public and private spaces to people who need it most by coordinating staff-led, volunteer-supported harvests. You can sign up to volunteer to harvest here, and you can register fruit trees/bushes/vines you own for future harvest here.
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