King Mural Proposal Chosen by PSU

The King Mural Project proposal, on behalf of King Neighborhood Association, was chosen by the PSU community development colloquium. A group of graduate students from Portland State University’s Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning will be working to shape and define the scope of the project, partners involved, timeline, and other factors.

The envisioned project is a collaboration between one or more nonprofit groups that serve youth, one or more muralists, the King Neighborhood Association, and other interested community groups. The idea is that a group of King teens will receive paid employment to work with an experienced muralist to create a mural within King.

The PSU students will be working to answer these questions:
-which community groups wish to be involved?
-are there enough teens in King interested in being involved?
-where should the mural be sited?
-what grants are applicable?
-what is the overall budget?
-which artists will be involved?
-what role will each community group play, including the KNA?
-what is the overall timeline?

A rough timeline: research into these questions, and others, will take place between now and the end of the school year; grant-writing and planning to continue fall/winter 2011/12; actual project started not until summer of 2012.

Got Ideas? Get Money to Build Your Own Portland

From the City of Portland:

A pool of money is available for community based projects initiated, designed and run by youth 21 and under. The Youth Action Grants Program will provide grants of up to $1,000 to any youth in Portland who want to take action that makes Our Bill of Rights: Children + Youth a reality!

CLICK HERE to view the grants guidelines & sample application.
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Upcoming Comedy Shows, Classes at Curious Comedy

From Curious Comedy Productions:

Hello Curious Comedy Community!

This week is an exciting one for us here at Curious – above and beyond the prospect of snow!

Thursday, we have our first Fertile Ground show of the festival, Triskaidekaphilia (Just My Luck), a one man show featuring Jimmy Radosta. Using a strange brew of true-life stories mixed with twisted renditions of classic karaoke hits, Radosta recounts his rocky relationship with misfortune. Show at 8pm, Doors at 7:30pm. $10.

Friday, catch a sneak peek of Jean Louis in Communicatos, the duo’s newest sketch show featuring Curious founders, Bob Ladewig and Stacey Hallal. Bonus long-form improv show performed by the Curious Comedy Playas! Show at 8PM, Doors 7:30. $12 advance, $15 at the door.
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Village Building Convergence Seeks Proposals

From City Repair:

Dear Portland community and beyond,

The City Repair Project is proud to announce that we are now accepting proposals for community building projects for the 11th annual 10-day Village Building Convergence (VBC) held from May 27th -June 5th 2011!

Every year City Repair helps many communities around the greater Portland area gather their community together to collectively transform the uncultivated spaces that surround them into rich vibrant gathering places that strengthen the community. City Repair facilitates this “place-making” activity of transforming “spaces” into “places” year-round, but it is during the annual Village Building Convergence that most of the place-making activity takes place. Whether it’s an intersection repair project, an outdoor classroom, or just a neighborhood bench, we welcome all ideas and would love to help turn your vision into reality.

Anyone interested in doing some form of community-oriented place-making project during the VBC is welcomed and encouraged to submit a Request For Proposal (RFP). Everyone that submits a RFP by the January 28th 2011 deadline will automatically be accepted to join our planning process in which the place-making team will provide in-depth, weekly training and support to help your project succeed with flying colors. Even if you have no idea what you’d like to see happen in your neighborhood or community, please feel free to peruse and fill out the RFP form and we will be more than happy to help you get the ball rolling, the sparks flying, and the under-utilized space transforming into a vibrant welcoming place!!!

http://vbc.cityrepair.org/assets/docs/VBC11RFP.pdf

Fill out and email the above linked form to us by January 28th, 2011! Please share this with anyone that you think might be interested! If you have any questions at all, ask away, we’re here for you!

Meet your neighbors, build your dreams!

Contact:
vbcplacemaking@cityrepair.org
Placemaking Coordinator:
Sebastian Collet – 707.548.7113

King Mural Fading

Photo by Ross William Hamilton/The Oregonian

In the January 3rd Oregonian: an article about the “Walls of Pride” record of African-American mural art in Portland. Featured is this mural: “Now is the Time, the Time is Now” at Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and Shaver. Is this something we are willing to let crumble?