CNN  e-newsletter

CentralNortheastNeighbors

May 2009

In This Issue

Now We're Talking

Madison Base to Butte

Parks Launches ParkScan

City-Wide Green Team

Vision into Action

Youth Invasion of City Hall

Regional Livability Summit

Bicycle and Streetcar Open Houses

Neighborgoods

Springboard Social Innovation Forum

Special Events

Links to Get Involved!

Building Community Through Cross-Cultural Organizing Workshop

Learn about how culturally diverse communities organize
to improve livability. Discuss opportunities to work together in CNN neighborhoods. Following brief presentations of community projects, participants will be invited to exchange ideas, community resources and be included in the solution around these 3 action areas of the Cully-Concordia Plan: #1 Engage Youth and Parents in the Community  #2 Link to Underutilized Sites for Community Activities 
#3 Explore Transportation Alternatives for Underrepresented Communities

Things are changing so rapidly. Between the economic recession, the stimulus package and local plans to update the policies that will drive growth in Portland, everything is up in the air. How can we make good decisions in a climate of uncertainty? How can the community come together to support each other? How can we know that what we think is o ur best interest is good for our neighbors? What do we need to change about our relationship with each other to not only weather the change, but create the community of our dreams together? Please join us for five new community dialogue series on last Thursdays. The next event is Thursday, May 28 from 6:30-8:30 PM at The Meeting House, 4312 SE Stark. Dinner provided!

Sponsored by ONI in partnership with SE Uplift, CNN, NECN, CIO and Oregon Action. To reserve childcare or to RSVP, 503-823-4424. judith.mowry@ci.portland.or.us.

Get to Know Neighbors: Madison Base to Butte Block Parties

Madison South Neighborhood Association was awarded a grant from Central Northeast Neighbors (CNN) to continue the Base to Butte and Neighborhood Block Party Events again this year! This year's Base to Butte Walking Event kick Off is Saturday June 13th. The event will start with a community cultural fair at the Asian American Plaza, NE 82nd Avenue at Siskiyou. Music, dancing, artisans and other vendors will be featured. The Neighborhood Block Parties will engage new neighbors in celebration getting to know one and other. Click here to register for the 2009 Base to Butte Walking Event!

Portland Parks Launches ParkScan!

ParkScan is a new, interactive technology that allows the public to provide feedback about the health of their park directly to Portland Parks & Recreation staff in an easy, user-friendly way. With ParkScan, park users become active partners in the stewardship of Portland's public parks. And with the community's additional eyes and ears, Portland Parks & Recreation is alerted to maintenance needs much more quickly. Neighborhood park demos begin Tuesday, May 12, with a celebration for the launch Friday May 15, 6p at Grant Park. For more information visit www.parkscanpdx.org.

First City-Wide Green Team Meeting

The purpose of the city-wide Green Team is to create a space where neighborhood and community leaders committed to sustainability can meet monthly to share ideas and implement best practices. While city resources will be available, this will be community led. Please join us and share this invitation with family, friends, coworkers and neighbors interested in collaborating to build a greener city. Tuesday, May 19th 6:30-8p, Portland Building, Room C 1120 SW 5th Ave. Please RSVP to Emerald at BPS 503-823-4186.

Vision into Action (VIA) Annual Celebration at City Hall

The Vision into Action Coalition will be hosting a one-year celebration of the VIA Coalition partners and friends at City Hall on Wednesday, May 20, 5-7p  

Youth Invasion of City Hall Celebration

Youth organizations from around the City of Portland will be coming to get YOU involved Come to our summer kick-off event! We want youth from all over the city to come out and take over City Hall, 1220 SW 4th. There will be tours, workshops, tabling and live performances. Food will be provided. This is our chance to find out what we can get from our government and tell them what we want!

2009 Regional Livability Summit: from Hope to Change

The Coalition for a Livable Future Regional Livability Summit-Mobilizing for Equity features "Toward a Just Sustainability?" Keynote Address by Julian Agyeman. The Summit on May 20th will bring together leaders from every sector to develop and implement strategies for healthy and fair communities From green jobs to healthy homes, we'll find new pathways and new partnerships for advancing equity in our region. Register here.

Bicycle and Streetcar Open Houses in May

Help us shape Portland's future transportation system. The City of Portland is developing two important transportation plans. The Streetcar System Plan looks at extending Portland's successful streetcar system throughout the City. The 1996 Bicycle Master Plan, which made Portland the top bicycling city in the nation, is being updated looking ahead to creating a world-class bicycle city for the next generation. What will Portland's transportation system look like in 2030? The NE Open House is Thursday May 14, 4-7p at Grant High School, 2245 NE 36th Ave.

Neighborgoods Stimulus Parties

Once a month, Neighborgoods chooses a venue in a different neighborhood, to "stimulate" that neighborhood. NEIGHBORGOODSlinks and networks between groups, creating avenues for people to become more involved, showcase their talents, provide opportunities for volunteering, learn about their communities, meet their neighbors, all in a relaxed environment.  A percentage of sales generated during Stimulus Parties will be donated to the neighborhood in which the party took place.  Our June stimulus party is June 6th, 6pm at Holmans in the Kerns neighborhood.

May Springboard Social Innovation Forum

May's Forum presents what's new in imagining and inhabiting physical space, indoors and out. How do you co-design a workspace that will be shared with others, increasing efficiency and sharing costs while still being productive? How are people creating new kinds of co-housing? How do outdoor spaces provide refuge and healing? What is Portland doing to help organizations and people find the space they need to live, work, and grow? Join us and share your ideas that promote social innovation around the theme of shelter. For more information click here. Wednesday, May 13, 6-9p at Urban Grind Coffeehouse in NE, corner of NE 22 and NE Oregon, $5.

Special Events

Calendar of Events