ROSE Community Development Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Portland, September 13th. To mark its 20^th year of service in Outer Southeast Portland, ROSE Community Development hosted its largest fundraising event. The location was the Lents Village Apartments, a 15-year-old active senior community owned by ROSE. Portland-based performance group Assa Flamenco provided music and entertainment for the evening. (photo credit: Zach Reitan)

ROSE Community Development’s 20th Anniversary Celebration

ROSE was formed with a mission of providing affordable homes and related social services, and helping foster a better economic climate. Since then, with ROSE helping lead the way, Southeast has changed for the better. ROSE is a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit, relying on grants, service fees and fundraising events to generate revenue.

A number of baskets were up for grabs in the evening’s silent auction, featuring gift certificates from local businesses, hand-made gifts by our residents and board members, and even a weekend getaway! (photo credit: Zach Reitan)

The festivities at Lents Village featured a catered dinner provided by long-time partner Loaves & Fishes, (now Meals on Wheels People), and a silent auction with items generously donated by local businesses. Starting with the rehabilitation of one home in Lents, ROSE has built or rehabilitated more than 400 affordable homes, two new parks and hosted hundreds of neighborhood events during two decades of comprehensive, place-based community development. The organization also played a part in advocating for the creation of the Lents Urban Renewal District.

Emcee and former Board member Roger Anthony with ROSE Executive Director Nick Sauvie. (photo credit: Zach Reitan)

From Rose:

ROSE Community Development combines affordable housing programs with supportive services and economic opportunities to Revitalize Outer South East. We are rooted in the belief that affordable housing gives people the opportunity to build better lives. But since our first project — rehabilitating a single house in Lents for a low-income family in 1992 — our work to revitalize our community has extended far beyond housing. We are improving economic conditions in our neighborhoods and giving people the tools and the support they need to improve their lives.

Our work is focused in five Southeast Portland neighborhoods: Lents, Brentwood-Darlington, Powellhurst-Gilbert, Foster-Powell and Mt. Scott-Arleta.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.