1) Air toxics in Overlook
2) Community engagement grants available
3) A play about Vanport
4) Spring dance performance (June 5)
5) Adult bike riding skills class (June 4)
At the Overlook Neighborhood Associations general meeting, residents heard about the air quality issues confronting Overlook and all of Portland. Presenters included Eastside Portland Air Coalition, Neighbors for Clean Air and Sustainable Overlook’s Mulysa Melco.
Read a full report about the meeting on the OKNA website. It includes information about testing services for soil and other resources.
2) Community engagement grants available
The Diversity and Civic Leadership (DCL) Program with the City of Portland’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) is providing one-time small grants for community engagement and capacity building projects for community-based organizations led by or serving people of color, immigrants and refugees.
This grant project expands upon the existing DCL program which currently serves six larger community-based organizations providing a broader range of community engagement and leadership development services. ONI has identified a gap in services meeting the needs of smaller, emerging and/or mostly volunteer-led community-based organizations and/or Mutual Assistance Associations (MAAs).
Project requests may be for up to $5,000 and the total available is $63,000.
Learn more online including application requirements. The application deadline is Monday, June 13 at 5 p.m.
A part of the Vanport Mosaic Festival, local artists are putting on fully staged production of “Cottonwood in the Flood” by Rich Rubin at Overlook’s Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (5340 N Interstate Ave.). The play portrays the African American experience in 1940s Oregon focusing on the rapid rise – and even more rapid fall – of the city of Vanport. The Vanport flood was one of the defining moments of Portland history, and it still has repercussions today, especially in North Portland.
The play premiered on Thursday and will run through June 12. Shows are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. A talk-back panel follows the Sunday shows.
Purchase tickets online or at the IFCC box one hour before curtain.
4) Spring dance performance (June 5)
Portland’s The Aspire Project will put on its spring dance performance “There’s no business like show business” in North Portland at Jefferson High School on Sunday, June 5. Admission is free.
The Aspire Project is a non-profit, outreach dance organization providing year-round quality ballet, tap and jazz dance classes to financially disadvantaged students who are genuinely interested in the arts and whose families and schools cannot provide such opportunities. They accomplish this through non-tuition based after-school program in partnership with Multnomah County’s SUN Community Schools and classes offered with sliding scale tuition rates and scholarship opportunities in their dance studio in North Portland.
By making the arts accessible, Aspire strives to serve our community and under-served youth, promote their physical health and motivate them to believe they can accomplish whatever they aspire to become. Aspire strives to create early positive experiences that are equally accessible for all North Portland children. Through weekly structured classes, their programs help reduce obesity risk among low-income youth and increase developmental accomplishments.
There’s no business like show business
Sunday, June 5, 3 p.m.
Jefferson High School (5210 N Kerby Ave.)
5) Adult bike riding skills class (June 4)
Is the road beckoning but you’re not sure you’re ready? This adult-oriented course will get you up to speed. The first part of the workshop focuses on the rules of the road and on-the-bike technique like signaling, shifting and braking. The second half will have you venturing out to practice these skills, and take a short and easy ride around town so you can flex your new skills and we can explore the wonderful world of two-wheeled Portland.
Tori Bortman of Gracie’s Wrench will lead the class. Tori is a certified cycling instructor with the League of American Bicyclists, frequent contributor to Bicycling Magazine, experienced bike mechanic, and a dynamic and engaging skills trainer.
Please bring your bike, helmet, water, a snack, and wear weather-appropriate clothing. If it’s been a while since you’ve pushed the pedals, please bring your bike to a local bike shop for a safety check before the class/ride.
Pre-registration is required to jeff.smith@portlandoregon.gov.
Portland by Cycle skills class
Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
PCC Climb Center (SE Water Avenue and Clay Street)