Community

7 Ways To Support Good Causes in Portland This Fall

Street Books is one of the local nonprofits that could use a hand. (📸: Whitney Gomes) If the end of summer means you finally have time to volunteer for a nonprofit or contribute to another good cause, there are plenty of great opportunities coming up around Portland. Here are a few that caught our eye: […]

/ September 16, 2019

Fostering Her Own Future

She didn’t start school until the eighth grade. She slept in youth shelters and at the DHS office for weeks on end. She was told college “wasn’t for her.” But Aleathea St. Hilaire is now a full-time student studying criminal justice at Warner Pacific University, and she’s mentoring kids at the same camp where she […]

/ September 9, 2019

5 Questions to Ask If You’re Curious About Foster Parenting

“What kind of person is the best for becoming a foster parent?” — Anna Walker  I’ve been digging into reader questions for our series on Oregon’s foster care system, and this is the hardest one to answer yet.  The problem is that “foster parenting” can mean a bunch of different things. Sometimes it means taking […]

/ September 4, 2019

Meet the “Minister of Loud Noises” at The Old Church Concert Hall

The Old Church Concert Hall in downtown Portland is known as “a sanctuary of sound” — and organist Michael Barnes is its “minister of loud noises.” Michael is the artistic director behind the Lunchtime Concert Series, which brings local musicians to The Old Church every Wednesday at noon to perform a free concert. The concert […]

/ August 30, 2019

Many Foster Parents in Oregon Don’t Feel Supported. Here’s the Plan to Fix That.

“How much help do foster parents (and institutional homes) get addressing emotional and social issues for the kids they care for?” —Alan Lehto I’ve talked to foster parents, caseworkers, and policy wonks for this series, and the universal answer to that question is “not enough.” But there’s a plan to turn that around — and […]

/ August 28, 2019

Adam Sweet Eases the Pain of Moving

You might already know Adam Sweet as the local entrepreneur who disrupted the home-moving business (in a good way). But after keeping his personal story private for years, Adam says he’s ready to share another part of his background — his experience in Oregon’s foster system. “I was kind of embarrassed to be a foster […]

/ August 23, 2019

How Girls Build Makes Camp Accessible for Foster Kids

We’re investigating your questions about the foster care system this month, and we’re also meeting some amazing people who make a difference in the lives of foster children. Katie Hughes founded Girls Build in 2016, the same year she became a foster parent. Her goal is to put literal tools—drills, hammers, and paintbrushes, to name […]

/ August 20, 2019

The Inclusive “Living Room” for East Portlanders

Gateway Discovery Park celebrated its grand opening almost exactly a year ago, making it only the second park in Portland that’s accessible to kiddos of all physical abilities. Portland Parks & Recreation calls it a “living room” that serves the Gateway district and surrounding neighborhoods. Before its construction, nearly 1,000 new households lacked access to […]

/ August 5, 2019

We’re Asking Foster Parents: What Convinced You To Take the Leap?

“What are the incentives for interested Oregonians to take in a foster child?” —Vanessa Holmgren We’re digging into Vanessa’s question for our series on foster care, and if you are or have been a foster parent, we’d love to know: What convinced you to take the leap? You can share your story by completing this […]

/ August 1, 2019

Meet A Member: Erica Rife

It’s time for another member spotlight, and this week we’re chatting with Erica Rife about her passion for design (and chocolate), the nonprofit she runs, and all her favorite local spots. What’s something you’re working on that you could use help with? Spreading the word about Design Museum Portland, the nonprofit I run! It’s my […]

/ July 19, 2019

Little Red Press Wears Kenton Pride

Is Kenton the proudest neighborhood in Portland? It’s hard to say no after meeting sisters Lisa and Kerry McPherson. Lisa and Kerry started the screen-printing company Little Red Press in Lisa’s garage 12 years ago, and their Kenton-themed merch now seems to pop up everywhere around town. “There’s something special about Kenton,” Lisa says. “We […]

/ July 17, 2019

Your Questions About Foster Care in Oregon, Answered

Maybe you’ve heard about Oregon’s foster care system. Probably not in a good way if you just follow the headlines. But our goal for this project isn’t to rehash the same old story. We want to help move the needle toward solutions, and as always, that starts with answering questions from our readers. What kind […]

/ July 16, 2019

We Want To Make Sense of Oregon’s Foster Care System. What Are Your Questions?

(📸: Pixabay) Shelter care. Respite care. Department of Human Services. Embrace Oregon. From the outside, the foster care system in Oregon can seem like an impenetrable tangle of different agencies, organizations, and services — so we want this series to help make it feel a little more manageable. For the next few months, we’ll be […]

/ June 26, 2019

The MLB-to-Portland Petition Has 35,000+ Signatures. So What’s Next?

(📸: Portland Diamond Project) It’s been nearly two years since the Portland Diamond Project first started hatching its plan to bring pro baseball to Portland, and the movement is starting to pick up steam. The celebrity duo of Russell Wilson and Ciara are on board as early investors, a tentative agreement is in place to […]

/ June 24, 2019

Meet a Bridgeliner Member: Devin Hutchings

Meet our member Devin Hutchings. (📷: Kanika Agrawal) We’re continuing our series on the people who make what we do possible — our supporting members. ❤️ Next up: Northeast Portlander and proud dog mom Devin Hutchings. What neighborhood do you call home? Alberta Arts District What’s a local event you went to recently that you loved? […]

/ May 14, 2019

How to Make(r) the Most of Design Week Portland

Design Week Portland kicks off this Saturday, April 6, and for those who like to learn by doing, we’ve curated a list of hands-on “maker” events to check out around town. Got other suggestions for our list? Let us know. Sunday, April 7 🎨 Learn how to use indigo to make non-toxic dyes (SE | […]

/ April 4, 2019

How to Get Started as a Volunteer in Portland

In honor of National Volunteer Week (April 7-13), here are a few ways you can give back around Portland this spring and summer. 🎸 Rock on at a music camp. The Rock ‘N’ Roll Camp for Girls is hosting four week-long camp sessions this summer, and they’re looking for volunteers to help with everything from […]

/ April 1, 2019

Meet a Bridgeliner Member: Steph Routh

(📸: Steph Routh) We’re continuing our series on the people who make what we do possible — our supporting members. ❤️ Next up is born-and-raised Portlander Steph Routh.  Where in town might people run into you? I live in Lents and have two offices downtown — one as the Dean of the Portland Underground Grad […]

/ March 29, 2019

Mailbag: What’s the Big Deal About Widening I-5?

📹: Oregon Department of Transportation We wrote last week about ODOT’s plan to widen I-5 through the Rose Quarter and the backlash it’s facing from neighbors and activists. Here’s what we heard from readers, plus responses from our director Ben DeJarnette.   Reader Julie S. said it’s misleading to say that the current comment period […]

/ March 18, 2019

For Timbers Army, Portland’s Providence Park Grows Up

MEET THIS CHANGEMAKER: Chelsea Grassinger from Allied Works Architecture is leading the stadium expansion at Providence Park, where the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns play their home matches. The new configuration will include 4,000 additional seats, three elevated decks, and a 160-foot rooftop canopy. WHAT SHE’S DOING: Providence Park is locked in by streets and […]

/ March 5, 2019