Category Archives: Community Involvement

KNA Special Meeting to Endorse Grant Seekers

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King Neighborhood Association Special General Meeting:
October 31st, 6:00-6:45 pm
King Neighborhood Facility
4815 NE 7th Avenue

Hello all:

King Neighborhood Association has the opportunity to meet and discuss two proposed projects that are would affect livability in our neighborhood. Each of these projects is being submitted for a grant with the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, whose grant process has a deadline of November 1st. The proposals were not completed in time to be considered at KNA’s last meeting, so we’ve scheduled a special Halloween meeting to look each of them over and decide whether to endorse them.

• KING SCHOOL PARK/KING SCHOOL MURAL AND GRAFFITI ABATEMENT PROJECT
Local artist Rodolfo Serna working with the arts-to-schools program, the Right Brain Initiative, will work with students at all age levels in King School as an artist-in-residence to produce a mural to beautify the King School Park grounds and create a sense of place and identity out of a blank wall adjacent to the tennis courts. This area is a frequent target for graffiti due to its large empty vertical surface. Murals have been shown to reduce the incidence of graffiti and this project will fill a gap in King’s visual arts curriculum this year. As King continues to develop its International Baccalaureate program, integrating more art into the school will be crucial to developing the student body’s various means of expression and will develop investment in the wider community.

• DOOR-TO-DOOR SURVEY OF NORTHEAST MEN’S WELLNESS GOALS & FAVORITE ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS REFERRALS TO NEIGHBORHOOD WELLNESS RESOURCES:
Manifest, an eight-year-old non-profit men’s wellness organization that empowers men to prevent & address chronic illness (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, & depression/suicide), will be doing a door-to-door survey this spring of hundreds of men’s’ wellness goals, challenges, & favorite activities in the Concordia, Vernon, King, & Sabin neighborhoods. We also will be referring these men to local businesses, non-profits, churches, government agencies, and neighbor organizations that can help them achieve their most important wellness goals. Men in our neighborhoods are dying five years before women from five completely preventable illnesses, and those illnesses are costing our county & state more than a $1 billion annually in unnecessary & painful treatments of diseases we could easily prevent & address right here in our neighborhood with existing resources like local wellness-related businesses, non-profits, churches, government agencies, & neighborhood groups. Men need regular exercise, good food, work, & community focused on wellness, and they are more likely to do these things regularly when they can do them close to home. Manifest intends to hire diverse local men to do the surveys and make neighborhood referrals as they are completing each survey.

We understand that Halloween plus such short notice may make it difficult to attend. If you have a bit of time to spare on Monday, we welcome your participation and input on these proposals. for more information, email us at info@kingneighborhood.org. We hope to see you there!

Kitchen Commons: skills, resources, and spaces for affordable food!

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From Kitchen Commons:

Hello my name is Mollie and I would like to inform you about a new organization called Kitchen Commons.

MISSION:
Kitchen Commons is a network of Portland metro area community kitchen and food preservation organizers. Our goal is to improve community food security by supporting and developing spaces in our neighborhoods where people can come together to learn about cooking and preserving food on a budget, and access equipment and resources for both personal and microenterprise use. Our vision is to build community through food by joining together, cooking together, and feeding families together.

The role of Kitchen Commons is to support, develop, and promote and match kitchen resources with community needs. By fostering the development of lots of different kinds of kitchens, we can help to meet lots of different evolving needs in different communities. We do this by connecting neighborhood kitchen organizers with resources and tools, creating opportunities to network and share ideas, and advocating for policies that facilitate the development and use of community kitchens.

We’ve found that it’s important to emphasize that there are lots of community kitchen activities that don’t require certification or special equipment like classes and community cooking events. Also we are interested in helping groups fundraise or solicit in-kind donations in order to improve their kitchen space. Several groups with kitchens have thought that they could not participate with us at all because their kitchen isn’t certified or has various deficiencies.

PROJECT:
Right now our website is in the process of being built. Kitchen Commons is a very new non-profit. The first step to making this website successful is to find organizations that are interested in publicizing their accessible kitchen, and adding it to our website.

My question to you is, do you have a Kitchen you would like to open up to your community or neighborhood? If so we are a free resource to publicize your kitchen to the public and help overcome barriers to community use of your kitchen.

Please let me know if your interested in knowing more information and I would love to speak with you more about it. Thanks so much for your time!

Sincerely,
Mollie
mollie@kitchencommons.net

Tennis Shoe Rally to Aid Food Bank

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The Allen Temple C.M.E. Church is hosting a Tennis Shoe Rally, to raise funds for the Allen Temple Emergency Aide Food Bank. As of November 1st, our allotment of food from the food distribution center will be cut in half due to budget cutbacks. The purpose of the rally is to offset the cuts so we can continue to serve the community as we have faithfully done over the last 15 years or more.

We’re asking a donation of $1.00 per shoe size. Example, if your shoe size is 8 then your donation would be $8.00 (not bad huh?). If you prefer to donate food, we gladly accept it also. Two of the shortages that will be felt most is the lack of peanut butter and chili.

If there are monetary donations please make checks or money orders payable to: Allen Temple Emergency Aide Food Bank. If you wish to make food donations please contact Diane Lamberth @ 503-284-3098 (home phone) or 503-449-9747 (cell). She will be available to answer questions pertaining to delivery or pick-up of food donations as well as hours of the food bank. We thank you in advance for your generous support in our endeavor.

PPS to Adjust Elementary, K-8 Boundaries

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Enrollment balancing 2012-2014: What it means for your school
Each year a new group of children starts kindergarten at Portland Public Schools, and each year a senior class graduates. Families also move around. In addition, PPS enrollment is growing. These shifts result in schools with too many or too few students. Enrollment data from October show that many PPS elementary, middle and K-8 schools are smaller or larger than enrollment targets. PPS plans to balance enrollment over several years— possibly by shifting school boundaries, adding space or changing grade configurations. The Portland School Board must approve any changes.

Schools that may be affected
First up for consideration will be schools where enrollment discussions began last year: ACCESS Academy, Alameda Elementary School, Beaumont Middle School and Sabin, Rigler and Vernon K-8 schools. Changes at these schools may impact surrounding schools: Irvington, Roseway Heights and Scott K-8 schools. In 2012, enrollment balancing will expand to other schools with high growth or low enrollment, with changes taking effect in 2013.

Factors that influence enrollment balancing
 Schools are different sizes — School buildings vary greatly, from eight classrooms to nearly 100.
 School funding follows students — The state of Oregon regulates school funding, which is largely provided on a per-student basis. That means that the number of teachers is closely tied to the number of students.
 School size targets: A guideline, not a rule — The district is working to develop target enrollment ranges for schools that will help ensure an adequate number of teachers. However, limitations of building size and geography mean that these targets can only be part of the answer.
 Community input — Numbers don’t tell the whole story. Schools are important community centers, and Portlanders have strong feelings about their neighborhoods.
Details and latest information: pps.net (click “Enrollment Balancing” at bottom left)
Comments or questions: enrollment-office@pps.net

Community meetings

PPS invites questions and input at the following meetings.
For the latest meeting schedule, go to pps.net (click “Enrollment Balancing” at bottom left) or email enrollment-office@pps.net.
 Oct. 27, 6-7:30 p.m. Sabin PK-8 School auditorium, 4013 N.E. 18th Ave.
 Nov. 2, 6-8 p.m. Rigler K-8 School auditorium, 5401 N.E. Prescott St.
 Nov. 3, 6:30-8 p.m. Alameda Elementary School cafeteria, 2732 N.E. Fremont St.
 Nov. 7, tentative date, time to be determined Irvington K-8 School, 1320 N.E. Brazee St.
 Nov. 8, time to be determined Beaumont Middle School, 4043 N.E. Fremont St.
 Vernon PK-8 School, time and date to be determined

N/NE Economic History–How Did We Get Here?

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Historical Perspective for Today’s Understanding: Economic Development in N/NE Portland
Economic Development Speaker Series Kick-Off Event

Tuesday, November 1, 2011 6:00pm to 8:00pm
The NECN Community Economic Development Council’s Inaugural Speaker Series Event
Curious Comedy, 5225 NE MLK Blvd, Portland, OR 97211

*FREE*

The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN) invites the community to a panel discussion and Q & A about the history of economic development in inner N/NE Portland with an eye cast toward discovering future economic development opportunities. The panel will feature:

  • Carl Talton – Past Co-Chair of the N/NE Economic Development Alliance
  • Dr. Karen Gibson – PSU Associate Professor, Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning
  • Paul Knauls Sr – Owner, Geneva’s Shear Perfection Barber and Beauty Salon

Join us to hear three different perspectives on past economic development activities, their impacts and key learnings for our future. Carl Talton, a community leader with years of experience, will share his perspectives from work with city agencies such as the Portland Development Commission and leadership at the North/Northeast Economic Development Alliance with Sheila Holden. Author of Bleeding Albina, Dr. Karen Gibson will share an academic perspective as a researcher of the political economy of neighborhood change in Portland’s historic black community, the Albina District. A community leader, Paul Knauls Sr., will bring his first person account as a business owner experiencing the impacts of various business and economic development programs throughout the years.

Each speaker brings a unique perspective on community economic development and has strong connections with Portland’s historic inner N/NE neighborhoods and communities including the African-American community. This first event of a series is a must for newcomers and longtime community members alike.

Refreshments donated by Bridges Café & Catering, Horn of Africa and Elevated Coffee

RSVP requested, 503.823.4575 or info@necoalition.org The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods’ (NECN) newest permanent committee, the Community Economic Development Council (CEDC), is proud to present this inaugural event. The CEDC looks at a range of local needs for jobs, asset creation, economic generators, small business supports and place and community-based investments. The committee works to gather information, provide education, advocate for solutions and incubate projects. For anyone who cannot attend this event but would like to participate in the Community Economic Development Council, please join us for meetings on the third Thursdays of the month at 8am at NECN offices. The public is welcome.

NECN – Founded in 1975, the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods is a dynamic 501c3 nonprofit organization comprised of 12 culturally diverse and vibrant inner North and Northeast Portland Neighborhoods and their Associations. Dedicated to highly inclusive civic engagement, we operate community programs and fulfill numerous functions: gathering place, information and referral, idea and project incubator, training and technical assistance, forums and issue advocacy, and outreach service provider connecting community members to resources from agencies and organizations. Our 12 neighborhoods are: Alameda, Boise, Concordia, Eliot, Grant Park, Humbolt, Irvington, King, Sabin, Sullivan’s Gulch, Vernon and Woodlawn.

Donations to support our Council and our work in the community are always appreciated. Online donations may be made at necoalition.org. Checks may be made out to NECN and sent to NECN 4815 NE 7th Ave. Portland, OR 97211.

For further information about our community committees and programs, please contact Shoshana Cohen at 503-823-4570 and shoshana@necoalition.org. For the latest information on all Northeast Coalition activities, please visit www.necoalition.org.