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

Why East Portland’s Namaste Bazaar is a ‘Hidden Gem’ for Indian Food

If you want to experience the true melting pot of Portland, drop by the Namaste Bazaar in Hazelwood around lunchtime. The Indian restaurant and grocery store has become a favorite meeting spot for local immigrant communities, from Sri Lankans to Tongans to Samoans. And more than a few Yelpers have described it as a “hidden […]

/ July 24, 2019