|
This summer, Portland Metro Fire Camp celebrated its 18th year of empowering young women to explore careers in the fire service and other traditionally male-dominated professions through hands-on training, mentorship, and leadership development.
As an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Portland Metro Fire Camp has helped hundreds of young women to discover careers they may never have otherwise considered while helping build the next generation of firefighters, public safety professionals, and leaders.
This year's camp was made possible through a $25,000 grant from the City of Portland, awarded through the Public Safety Service Area.
Portland Metro Fire Camp started as a grassroots effort in 2009 by a handful of Portland female firefighters who wanted to provide a community of support and mentorship to young women in a field that does not traditionally have women (only 4% of professional firefighters in the USA are women).
|
|
 Mother Samantha Muñoz (left) peels a mandarin orange for her son, Julian, 2, as he strings a bead onto a pipe cleaner. Muñoz also brought along her daughter, Jasmin, 5, to bead and make bookmarks during a collaborative session offered by IRCO and the Children’s Healing Art Project.
Grantee partners of the Portland Children’s Levy (PCL) are experts in providing what’s needed for future generations to flourish. Parent education and home visit programs, regular access to healthy foods, and supportive mentors are just some of the services supported by PCL grants. Like flowers blooming out of concrete, community-based organizations supported children, youth and families in Portland to build strong roots, nurture growth and blossom through adversity. Read the report.
For the fourth consecutive year, Portland ranked as top ten city in America for its readiness to address gun violence. This ranking highlights the effectiveness of Portland's gun violence reduction strategies, and the continued reductions Portland has seen in gun violence. Through partnerships among Portland Ceasefire, Portland Police Bureau, the Office of Violence Prevention, and the many community partners who collaborate every day, Portland's firearms homicides and shooting incidents decreased 57 percent year-to-date over the past three years.
There are more than 120 elementary, middle, and high schools in Portland. People driving must exercise caution, regardless of whether they're near a school or not. On average, people moving about the city pass a school or a route commonly used by schoolchildren every half mile. Additionally, traffic crashes are most common between 3 and 7 p.m., a time when students are being let out from school and after-school programs for the day. During the opening weeks of the school year, Portland Police officers will maintain a visible presence in and around school zones across the city.
Mayor Keith Wilson is proud to announce the launch of the Vacant Storefront Grant. The grant is designed to activate vacant commercial storefronts across Portland and help reduce the financial barriers for businesses leasing vacant spaces by providing matching grant funds for tenant improvements.
Correction
The Small Donor Elections Program is an independent program at the City of Portland. The last issue of Rose City Connection incorrectly stated the program's affiliation.
City Auditor news
A new investigation finds waste and inefficiency in City Operations’ contract planning for hiring temporary staff. We recommend requirements to ensure contracts contain sufficient detail to enable monitoring of contractor performance and improve bureau coordination.
People in the headlines
Data spotlight
|
|
Urban Forestry has tracked tree canopy cover for 25 years. And until 2015, Portland increased its tree cover by more than 2,000 acres—nearly half the size of Forest Park! Tree canopy cover has dropped slightly from a high of 33.4% in 2015 to the current 32.4%.
To reverse this trend, Urban Forestry is aiming to plant 10,000 trees a year by 2028 with programs backed by the voter-approved Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF). Read more.
|
|
 |
|
Starting Sept. 11 and for an estimated five weeks, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will close all southbound lanes of I-5, 24/7, near the Rose Quarter. Getting around the Portland metro area will require extra time. PBOT encourages you to shift your trip and explore alternate modes of transportation.
|
 |
|
Multnomah County residents are invited to apply for the 2027–2028 Charter Review Committee by October 1, 2026. Supported by the Office of Community Involvement, members will use their community experience to study the County Charter and may propose amendments to go to public vote in 2028.
|
 |
|
We offer bill discounts, crisis vouchers, and interest-free payment plans. Learn how to apply and find other resources for lowering your bill.
|
 |
|
Each season, thousands of volunteers help plant trees throughout the Portland metro area. Crew Leaders play a key role in creating a safe, welcoming space where volunteers can learn, connect, and contribute.
|
|
|
New job openings at the City of Portland
New job openings
- Accounting Supervisor - Financial Reporting
- Claims Analyst I (Analyst I - CPPW)
- Impact Reduction Program Coordinator (Coordinator II - CPPW)
- Right of Way Agent II
- Storekeeper/Acquisitions Specialist II – CL
Featured job
The Chief of Staff serves as the senior executive coordination and strategic integration leader for the City Administrator, ensuring alignment across the City Administrator's Office, Deputy City Administrators, City bureaus, Council offices, labor partners, and key external stakeholders. Reporting directly to the City Administrator, the Chief of Staff provides executive leadership for enterprise-wide initiatives, executive office management, strategic planning, and cross-organizational coordination.
|
|
Grants and funding
Eligible organizations can apply now for two years of unrestricted operating support as part of the Operating Support Grants program. Grant awards will range from $25,000 to $145,000 annually, with award amounts determined by factors outlined in the grant guidelines.
To be eligible, arts organizations must have a minimum budget of $150,000, three years of history providing arts experiences in Portland—including services for K-12 students and people in underserved communities—and meet other eligibility requirements described in the grant guidelines. Applications due Sept. 11, 2026
|
|
Give us your feedback
Comment period for proposed changes to the City’s Regulatory Program will close on Monday, August 31. Regulatory Program oversees several business activities (including Pay and Park, Secondhand Dealers, and Payday Lenders) to ensure public safety, consumer protection, fairness, and compliance with city code.
Portland's Safe Blocks Program wants to hear from you! We are interested in your opinions and feelings about safety in your local area, especially if you live, work, or are connected to one of the following neighborhoods: Eliot; Hazelwood; Lents; Portsmouth; and Powellhurst-Gilbert. Closes Sept. 30
|
|
Serve on a board or committee
Do you expect Portland to make transparent, fair, and fiscally responsible decisions about paying its elected officials? Would you like to apply your professional human resources expertise to help determine the compensation of City of Portland elected officials? If the answer is yes, please apply to the City of Portland Salary Commission.
|
|
Portland City Council
The Council Documents webpage provides the community with easy access to current and upcoming legislation under consideration by City Council. Visitors can search and filter items by Councilor, Committee, City department, scheduled date, and more – making it simpler than ever to stay informed about City business.
Not sure what district you’re in?
Check our district map to find your district and your City Councilors.
|
|
|
The Southwest Neighborhood Bike Fair at the Multnomah Arts Center is a free, all-ages community event on September 3rd hosted by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT)!
|
|
Featured events
Fridays through September 4
September 10 – 19, Thursday – Saturday
September 11 – 13, Friday – Sunday
Free events
Volunteer events
For Portland Parks & Recreation planting and park clean up volunteer events, check the new volunteering website!.
|
|
|
Request an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for any City of Portland program, service, event, or activity. To ensure the best response, please make your request at least five business days before the program or event, if possible.
|
|
Students in a David Douglas High School art class partnered with mural artist Heidi Schultz to design and paint a mural on the sidewalk along SE 130th Avenue near the David Douglas High School community garden.
The students brainstormed and sketched ideas for the design during two classroom sessions during National Youth Violence Prevention Week in late April and early May 2026. Then the students and Schultz painted the sidewalk together. The completed artwork features two Douglas fir trees with branches, wildlife and other natural features.
The mural is part of a specific investment in the Hazelwood neighborhood, designed to build community cohesion and support beautification. This work is funded by a federal Department of Justice Byrne Grant that the Safe Blocks team is implementing in three neighborhoods: Eliot, Hazelwood, and Powellhurst-Gilbert.
|
|
|
Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या
口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad
Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me
Awewen Kapas
Translation and Interpretation: 3-1-1
The City of Portland ensures meaningful access and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711.
|
|
|
|
|
