Oregon Community Foundation Distributes $560 Million to Local Nonprofits Through the Pandemic

Oregon Community Foundation Distributes $560 Million to Local Nonprofits Through the Pandemic

Portland, Ore. The arts, students, stable housing and small businesses were some of the causes that received support from the Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) through the pandemic. The Foundation announced that from 2020 through 2021, it distributed more than $560 million in charitable support to more than 4,000 nonprofits and 6,000 students in Oregon. The funds were aimed at addressing disparities, increasing community resilience, and improving lives for thousands of Oregonians. Click here for a link to the 2021 OCF report.

“Oregon Community Foundation is in a unique position to address great needs facing people across our state,” said Sonia Worcel, Chief Community Impact Officer. “Moving into 2022, we’re listening to what matters most to Oregonians and working towards a healthier, more resilient Oregon.”

Informed by OCF research, including input from community nonprofits, OCF will focus 2022 grantmaking on impact areas identified as most urgent for communities as they rebuild from the myriad crises of the last two years. Priority focus will be given to key areas of impact including arts and culture, childcare and education, climate resiliency, housing stability, entrepreneurism and more.

The Foundation reports it will work to address needs and inequities facing under-resourced, rural and marginalized communities, which were exacerbated in recent years. “By prioritizing resources to communities facing the greatest disparities we will help strengthen all Oregonians,” said Niyati Desai, Director of Community Engagement, Oregon Community Foundation.

OCF has adapted its community grant making to create greater funding flexibility in 2022. “We aim to remain flexible to help meet community needs and evolve our grantmaking with new learnings as we work towards recovery and rebuilding,” said John Chang, Senior Program Officer, Oregon Community Foundation. Through the 2022 Community Grants Program nonprofits can apply for grants to now support general operations, capital improvements, capacity building and programs. 2021 Highlights In 2021, OCF deployed substantial support to communities across Oregon, amounting to more than $334 million in grants including $60 million in donor advised fund grants to nonprofits.

A key highlight of 2021 was OCF’s lead role with the Community Rebuilding Fund. In partnership with Meyer Memorial Trust, Ford Family Foundation and American Red Cross, this fund enables relationships between thousands of donors and nonprofits to deliver critical services and support to communities recovering and rebuilding from the ravage of the 2020 wildfires.

“The recovery and rebuilding process will take years. Together – and with generous support from committed partners – Oregon will recover and flourish again,” said Sonia Worcel, Chief Community Impact Officer, Oregon Community Foundation. “We’re incredibly grateful to the many nonprofits on the frontline helping our neighbors rebuild their homes and their lives.” Learn more at: www.oregoncf.org/rebuilding.

OCF also served in a statewide leadership capacity as the fiscal steward of critical public and state funding through additional key public-private initiatives.

Summer Learning – in mid-March, the State of Oregon allocated millions to support summer learning and enrichment for children.

OCF partnered with the state and successfully deployed $41.2 million in state-funded summer education and early childhood learning grants throughout all 36 Oregon counties. “Given the crises over the last year, Summer was a critical time to nurture and mentor children in our state,” said Max Williams, President and CEO, Oregon Community Foundation. “OCF was proud to deliver much-needed support to disproportionately impacted families and communities in Oregon.”

From Oregon Community Foundation:

OCF’s grant-making prioritized support to organizations responding to specific needs of children and families from Black, Indigenous, Latina/o/x, and other communities of color, immigrant/refugee communities, children from low-income families, children with disabilities, and children living in under-resourced rural communities.

Learn more at: https://oregoncf.org/community-impact/research/k-12-summer-learning-2021/.

Project Turnkey was a state-funded grant program to help local entities acquire hotels and motels for emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness. “Project Turnkey is an example of one strategic response in a continuum of needed services and approaches to create housing stability for more Oregonians,” said Megan Loeb, Program Officer, Housing, Oregon Community Foundation. OCF served as the administrator for Project Turnkey. In total, 19 properties were acquired by local nonprofit organizations, cities, and counties through this innovative project, yielding a 20 percent increase in the state’s supply of emergency year-round shelter beds.

“OCF continues to focus on strategic housing solutions and innovative partnerships to help more of our neighbors secure longterm housing. For example, we’re looking at low-interest loans to community development corporations to build more affordable housing and grants to support innovative projects to expedite the creation of affordable housing. We know it’s going to take all sectors – working in partnership – to resolve Oregon’s complex housing crisis.” Learn more at: https://oregoncf.org/communityimpact/research/oregons-project-turnkey-report-to-the-oregon-state-legislature/.

Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) works with donors and volunteers to award grants and scholarships to every county in Oregon. From 2020 to 2021, OCF distributed more than $560 million, supporting more than 4,000 nonprofits and 6,000 students. With OCF, individuals, families, businesses, and organizations create charitable funds that meet the needs of diverse communities statewide. Since its founding in 1973, OCF has distributed more than $2 billion toward advancing its mission to improve lives for all Oregonians. For more information, please visit: oregoncf.org. 

8-year-old Raises $8,000 for Meals on Wheels People

8-year-old Raises $8,000 for Meals on Wheels People

Portland, OR. A young man from Tigard is inspiring others with a fundraising drive for Meals on Wheels People (MOWP). Cooper Hammond started with a coffee stand in his neighborhood last fall and raised $500. This month, he kicked his efforts into high gear in the Multnomah Village. In partnership with PDXPOP! and Nossa Familia Coffee, Cooper’s Coffee stand served coffee and treats outside the  Meals on Wheels People offices; MOWP helps older adults facing food insecurity and social isolation. Cooper raised nearly $7,500 from day-of sales and donations, bringing his fundraising tally close to $8,000. Anyone can give back—no matter their age, explained Cooper, “If you give back to the world, you can make it a better place.”

After learning about MOWP while visiting his local Green Zebra grocery store during Donate Dinner, Cooper decided to launch the coffee stand.

Cooper Hammond poses for a photo with his parents, Dave and Terri.

Cooper Hammond with a dog named Cooper.

Growing up in a family that values giving back to its community, Cooper adopted an annual tradition of creatively supporting a new charitable organization every holiday season. Over the most recent holiday season, Meals on Wheels People was the beneficiary of Cooper’s giving heart—and emerging business acumen.Through the month of February, Cooper’s fundraiser lives on at cooperscoffee.org. Visit the website to make a donation, or order Cooper’s limited-edition popcorn or coffee courtesy of PDXPOP! and Nossa Familia Coffee. Proceeds benefit homebound older adults in our community through Meals on Wheels People programs.

Nonprofit Serving Homeless Youth Reboots Art Programs and Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Nonprofit Serving Homeless Youth Reboots Art Programs and Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Portland, OR. The nonprofit called p:ear is celebrating its 20th Anniversary and offering pre-pandemic mentoring services. Over the pandemic, the organization continued serving homeless youth with new programs including many outdoor activities.

p:ear builds positive relationships with youth experiencing homelessness, ages 15 to 25, through education, art, recreation, and job training.

Since 2002, p:ear has mentored over 5,200 youth and provided over 320,000 hours of engaging programs.

p:ear has identified a strong model for working with homeless youth: assist them to recognize themselves as capable people while providing supportive mentoring and opportunities for growth.

Below is a video about the nonprofit’s art and music programs and its impact on the Portland community.

Administrators recall challenging moments on their Facebook page, but also many positive memories.
1. Trip to the Oregon Coast
2. Visit to a local farm
3. Macrame workshop with @threerosesmacrame
4. Hiking along the coast
5. Mural making with @pdxjramirez
6. Mural collaboration with @eyedrawp
7. Creating a custom bike for our Gala auction
8. Screen printing with @mamakanani
9. Virtual reality workshop
To learn more and support the programs, visit pearmentor.org.
February marks the 20th anniversary of the day p:ear first opened its doors and here’s a bit of history
From p:ear:
Time has flown by, and we are so proud of how far p:ear has come. 
How did it all start?
After the loss of our jobs at the now-defunct Salvation Army Greenhouse, a brave call from a Nokia flip phone; and the acquisition of a floor of an abandoned building, this vision, this place, opened in February 2002 with the aim to build strong relationships with homeless youth to affirm their personal worth and to help them create more personally meaningful lives.
What we couldn’t have envisioned was the community that showed up alongside us to move this dream forward and beyond anything we could have imagined. p:ear is built and sustained by a community of creators, dreamers, fighters, leaders, financiers; a community willing to take risks, to redefine themselves and their lives because of a shared belief in the futures and value of these young people.
Stay tuned for more opportunities – events, campaigns, memory sharing, and more – to help us celebrate our 20th anniversary year!
Young Presidents’ Organization Offers Ideas to Help Nonprofits Through the Pandemic

Young Presidents’ Organization Offers Ideas to Help Nonprofits Through the Pandemic

Portland, OR. The nonprofit Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) brings executives and peers together to provide community and networking experiences. The organization is educating people about the importance of supporting local nonprofits, explaining, “As the COVID-19 crisis continues to take its toll on communities around the world, those organizations play a critical role in the relief efforts today and going forward as people navigate their way through the fallout.”

“With social distancing measures in place, many of the traditional channels for nonprofits have gone away,” says Roslyn Payne, chair of the board of directors of UpMetrics. “They can’t have events. They can’t afford mailings. How do they get their message out, keep their team together and still build capacity to service the needs within the community, both short and long term?”

Payne Family Foundation encourages supporters to give.

Both nonprofits and their supporters can continue to rebuild relationships. As our community looks to give back during the crisis, here are several “takeaways” from the Payne Family Foundation:

Set measurable goals. Help an organization break down its mission into a few measurable objectives. Engage the organization, stakeholders, and donors to drive alignment on those goals. “Frequently, goal setting becomes a critical element to achieve ‘success’ and the process by itself can be very helpful to everyone,” says Drew Payne.

Identify a time frame. To achieve the goals, expectations should be realistic. “There needs to be an understanding of the challenges that organizations have in trying to meet the goals,” says Drew. “It is the journey that hopefully results in progress. This is critical to get ahead.” Keep in mind that the path toward success will not always be straight and may take much longer than expected.

Take an iterative approach. “The theory of change model with short- and long-term goals translates into an operating plan that will probably demonstrate that the theory is correct, or needs to be modified,” says Drew Payne. “The organization and funders need to have ongoing, open communication lines with a ‘honest’ lens for review.” Applying a theory of change model inherently comes with risk. Remember that it’s ok to fail.

Interpret the data. “Every nonprofit that I have worked with cares about the mission,” says Drew Payne. “Few, however, have the infrastructure and data support teams required to effectively leverage real-time information to drive interventions at scale.” Data and the capacity to leverage information is required for sustainability and scale. Groups like YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs of America have used UpMetrics data to show financial supporters and school boards who are evaluating cost cuts the importance of their afterschool activities. Having the data to back up the mission is critical so that organizations can report to potential and existing donors about their impact.

Tell compelling stories. One of the best ways organizations can engage their funders, donors, and stakeholders during these difficult times is through compelling stories. It can help people understand how they can help an organization make an impact and empower people to take action.

“Trying to get the stories out to as broad of an audience as can be accessed is critical to these groups because they are just getting crushed,” says Roslyn Payne. “We have to have a sense of trust in working together in all of this because it’s not an easy road ahead of us. And a critical element of success going forward will be these community groups.”


Portland Winter Light Festival Returns With More Offerings

Portland Winter Light Festival Returns With More Offerings

Portland, OR. The Portland Winter Light Festival (PDXWLF) kicked off its biggest festival to date with a full roster of over 100 works of art. It’s running through February 12th at dozens of locations throughout Portland. (Here’s a link to an interactive Google map to help you find the installations.) It’s the seventh year of the community-wide event. Last year, instead of large gatherings along the waterfront, PDXWLF worked to keep people socially distant because of the pandemic. In 2022, the festival is more robust. 

“Over the past two years of the pandemic, Portlanders have shown that they care about community, celebration, and each other. Now more than ever it feels important to put your mask on and go out and safely rediscover our city,” says Portland Winter Light Festival Executive Director Alisha Sullivan. “We are incredibly proud to be one of the very few activities that provided free, in-person opportunities to safely interact with art in 2020 and 2021, and we look forward to doing so again in 2022.”

An installation in Director’s Park features a menagerie of land and sea creatures from the mind of @Mike Bennett Art on display in the heart of downtown. The entire zoo is covered in color-changing lighting that responses to weather patterns.

This year’s festival includes a festival anchor point at the World Trade Center and a 24-foot orca whale at Salmon Springs.

Pioneer Courthouse Square is an anchor location operating on weekends, 6 pm – 10 pm on Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th.


Planned highlights include:
● The return of Helianthus Enorme by Fez BeGaetz, a 25’ tall sunflower with 3,500 pixels of
programmable LEDs
● Large-scale building projections by lighting art Mark Johns and Craig Winslow
● Participation from students at Leodis V. McDaniel School Skyline K-8, Portland State
University, University of Oregon, and local children from the Lents neighborhood
● Virror, a 6’ tall LED wall with a 3-D scanning sensor that acts as a “virtual mirror”
● Bioluminescent Beasts, a light-reactive installation by popular local artist Mike Bennett

● ‘Green Fuse’, a multimedia art experience from CymaSpace combining music and
sound-responsive LED lights strips to benefit both Deaf and hearing people
● An illuminated bike ride, roller disco night, four evenings of Silent Disco dances, and
many more opportunities for attendee participation
● Installations all over Portland including in Tigard, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie and Hayden
Island

From Portland Winter Light Festival 2022:

What: Portland Winter Light Festival 2022
When: February 4 – 12, 2022
Where: At sites throughout Portland, with anchor locations at Pioneer Courthouse Square, World
Trade Center and Electric Blocks (Anchor locations will only be operating on weekends, 6pm –
10pm Friday and Saturday nights, February 5 – 6 and 11 – 12.) Citywide maps available on
website. Google Map here.
Cost: FREE
About the Portland Winter Light Festival
The Portland Winter Light Festival (PDXWLF) is Portland’s premier outdoor winter art activity
that transforms, illuminates and animates Portland’s nighttime urban landscape.
The mission of the Portland Winter Light Festival is to build community by bringing art and
technology to inclusive audiences while invigorating Portland in the winter. This not-for-profit
activity is funded by support from individual donors, and corporate sponsors and is powered by
PGE Green Future renewable power. Support is provided by Presenting Sponsor PGE, the City of
Portland, Downtown Portland (a collaborative project between Downtown Portland Clean & Safe,
the Portland Business Alliance, and the City of Portland), Here Oregon, Northern Illumination
Company, TriMet, Portland Streetcar, NECA IBEW Local 48, the Oregon Cultural Trust and many

more. Venue Partners include Pioneer Courthouse Square, the World Trade Center, and the
Electric Blocks. To donate, visit www.pdxwlf.com/donate.
Founded in 2016 by the Willamette Light Brigade, the festival has established itself as a premier
regional attraction for artists and visitors due to dazzling and dynamic digital art installations,

In 2022 the festival is taking place entirely in open-air and outdoor spaces, allowing for plenty of social distancing and minimizing crowds. Attendees should still expect to follow all state and federal COVID-19 guidelines. See our COVID-19 guidelines page for more information.

As always, PDXWLF is an all-ages, free event! If you want to contribute, consider signing up as a Volunteer or Donating today.

Our mission is to build community by bringing cutting-edge art and technology to diverse audiences while invigorating the city of Portland in winter.

In order to safely reflect our current pandemic reality, the 6th edition of this tradition is being held as a series of outdoor art exhibitions throughout Portland.

The Portland Winter Light Festival (PDXWLF) is a city-wide, vibrant outdoor arts festival held at the height of winter, when there are few free cultural events taking place in the city, and builds community through collaboration between organizations, businesses, artists, and guests.

The 2020 festival hosted over 210,000 visitors and presented nearly 200 public art installations, performances, and workshops, all free of charge.

The Willamette Light Brigade (WLB) founded PDXWLF in an effort to propel forward its mission of connecting community and enriching the public realm through artful lighting. The Festival began as a coalescence of ideas in 2016, and was spearheaded by Portland State University Professor of Architecture Jeff Schnabel, Lighting Designer and Artistic Director Chris Herring, and former Technical Director Jean Margaret Thomas. The three were separately inspired by dynamic winter light festivals around the world such as France’s Fête des Lumières and Sydney’s Vivid. The organiziation is currently led by Executive Director Alisha Sullivan.

Meals on Wheels People Plans In-Person Fundraising Walk

Meals on Wheels People Plans In-Person Fundraising Walk

Portland, OR. Stride for Seniors is back in-person at Portland International Raceway on April 16th, 2022. Stride for Seniors is a family-friendly 1.9-mile walk to raise money to support homebound seniors experiencing food insecurity and social isolation. Last year the benefit for Meals on Wheels People was modified for social distancing because of the pandemic; there were six different neighborhood routes and a drive-through registration option. 

The walk is a family-friendly walk to raise money to support homebound older adults experiencing food insecurity and social isolation. In 2022, organizers are encouraging people to, “Team up, walk, and fundraise.”

More than 5,600 volunteers annually to help serve and deliver meals.

“Safe and consistent access to nutritious food is more than just a basic human right,” says Andrew Over, Regence’s regional vice president of Business and Community Relations. “Food security can have far-reaching impacts on the overall health and wellbeing of our communities.” Organizers say during the pandemic there has been even more need for the free meal delivery service for seniors. Here’s a video about the program:

According to Meals on Wheels People, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a physical and emotional toll on Americans over the last year, and these lasting impacts have been felt most acutely by older adults. Higher mortality rates, disruptions to daily routines, prolonged isolation from friends and family, as well as technology barriers have intensified feelings of loneliness and mental health concerns among this age group.

For 50 years, Meals on Wheels People has been meeting the social and nutritional needs of older adults in our community. The nonprofit serves nutritious meals at dozen of dining centers in Multnomah, Washington, and Clark counties and volunteers deliver Meals on Wheels and friendly visits to homebound elderly. Several centers offer ethnic menus.

From Meals on Wheels People:

HOW TO REQUEST MEALS ON WHEELS SERVICE

Click “Get Meals” and complete the form:

Get Meals OR Call 503.736.6325 in Multnomah and Washington counties; 866.788.6325 in Clark County, Washington.

Please request meals only when you are ready to receive them. We cannot deliver meals if you are not at home.

Please make sure the intended recipient knows you are requesting meals for him/her.

If you have questions about this request you should call: 503-736-6325

  • We serve seniors who live in Multnomah or Washington counties in Oregon or Clark County in Washington
  • The cost of each meal is $7.39. Diners over the age of 60 are asked to contribute what they can afford.
  • Meals are delivered Monday through Thursday
  • Clients must be at home to receive meals, meals will not be left.
  • Meals on Wheels volunteers have received background checks and training prior to delivery.

More about Stride for Seniors:

Sat, April 16, 2022
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

STRIDE FOR SENIORS 2022: SATURDAY, APRIL 16

Stride for Seniors is a family-friendly 1.9-mile walk to raise money to support homebound seniors experiencing food insecurity and social isolation. Stride for Seniors is back in-person at Portland International Raceway. The health and safety of our supporters, staff and volunteers is our top priority. We will communicate any safety precautions prior to the event.
Help us reach our goal of $450,000 by registering today!
Click here to view step-by-step instructions for registration.
Questions? Contact [email protected]

Meals on Wheels People was founded in 1969 by three caring women, Jean WadeMartha Shull and Cay Kreiger, who saw a need in the community that was not being met. They gathered in the basement of the Lincoln Street Methodist Church in February 1970 to serve a hot lunch to about a dozen seniors and then delivered 14 Meals on Wheels on paper plates wrapped in newspaper.

Rose Festival Plans a Return to Normal with Rose City Reunion

Rose Festival Plans a Return to Normal with Rose City Reunion

Portland, OR. After two years of virtual and porch-side events, the Rose Festival will be returning to in-person events for 2022. The Portland Rose Festival has announced that many of the signature events, including CityFair, the Grand Floral Parade, and the Starlight Parade, will return in 2022. Portland Rose Festival CEO Jeff Curtis explained. “The Rose Festival is happy to be part of Portland’s comeback story, featuring all three of our parades starting with the CareOregon Starlight Parade.” (Above is the 2021 Queen’s Coronation Washington Park Amphitheater and the crowning of Queen Lily.)

For Rose Festival 2020, people made their own front yard floats.

Now the Grand Floral Parade will be back as is the crown jewel of the annual Rose Festival.

Gearing up now, the 2022 Rose Festival Court presented by Unitus Community Credit Union is taking shape. Community Interviews took place via Zoom on February 5, 2022. Individual students were assigned break-out rooms with a panel of community volunteers conducting the interviews. Portland Public Schools will offer their student body a chance to cast their votes which count as 50% toward the final tally.

Students who successfully completed the interviews and are now eligible for Court, include 15 juniors and 25 seniors, vying for the 15 princess positions and the crown of Queen of Rosaria. The selected Rose Festival Princesses will be announced on weekdays beginning February 28.

Junior and senior girls from class 4A to 6A schools in the tri-county area who have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and 20 hours of verifiable community service are eligible. Candidates represent the 13 Portland Public Schools as well as Metro East, including Clackamas and East Multnomah counties and Metro West, representing Washington County schools.

Each selected Princess of the 2022 Rose Festival Court receives a $3,500 scholarship generously provided by The Randall Group.

The 2022 Portland Rose Festival Queen will be crowned at the Queen’s Coronation presented by Unitus Community Credit Union June 10, 2022

2022 Rose Festival Court Finalists & Announcement Dates

Metro East and West (February 28)

East

Sofia Corso, Lakeridge High School (SR)

Isabella Ellsworth, Nelson High School (JR)

Taylor Hayes, Oregon City High School (SR)

Mia Kritzer, La Salle Catholic College Prep (SR)

 

West

Jessa Brame, Tigard High School (SR)

Jenny Duan, Jesuit High School (SR)

Paige Hayward, Beaverton High School (ISB) (SR)

Nina Takahashi, Southridge High School (SR)

 

Benson Polytechnic High School (March 1)

Reba Booze (JR)

Addison “Addie” Stiles (JR)

 

Franklin High School (March 2)

Megan Bathurst (SR)

Meleiana “Mel” Kaplan (SR)

Sophia Rosenberger (SR)

Serafina “Fina” Sabatini (JR)

 

Parkrose High School (March 3)

Kiaralynn “Kiara” Hatton (SR)

Kennedy Phillips (JR)

Draia Shelton (JR)

Amyah Warren (SR)

 

Lincoln High School (March 7)

Bailey Armstrong (JR)

Veronica “Roni” Wilkerson (SR)

 

Leodis V. McDaniel High School (March 8)

Stella Jackson (JR)

 

Central Catholic High School (March 9)

Piper Easton (SR)

Rachelle Hanna (SR)

Kailee Koplan (SR)

 

St. Mary’s Academy (March 10)

Sonja Cutts (SR)

Paige Kehrli (SR)

Alexandria “Lexi” Leonard-Graham (SR)

 

David Douglas High School (March 11) 

Sophia Day (SR)

Awek De Piok (SR)

Than Truc “Truc” Nhan (SR)

 

Roosevelt High School (March 14) 

O’Lisia Banks (JR)

Maria Mizee (SR)

 

Jefferson High School (March 15) 

Erika Cetina-Huchin (JR)

Jayilee Sloan (SR)

 

Cleveland (March 16)

Eliana Leone (JR)

Zinnia Sirokman (JR)

Claire Yeates (JR)

 

Ida B. Wells High School (March 17)

Senya “Isata” Scott (SR)

 

Grant (March 18)

Naima Smith (JR)

Ay’Mehir “Meir” Tucker (JR)

 

 

[email protected]

For more information www.RoseFestival.org

Facebook PortlandRoseFestival/

Twitter: @PDXRoseFestival

Instagram: @PDXRoseFestival

Literary Arts Resumes In-Person Lectures

Literary Arts Resumes In-Person Lectures

 Portland, OR. After two years online, the Portland Arts & Lectures series resumed in-person events on January 27th. Author Cathy Park Hong was featured at a Literary Arts lecture held at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Cathy Park Hong was born to Korean immigrants in 1976 and raised in a bilingual home. Her book, Minor Feelings, explores Asian American identity through essays. Hong was  honored by Time Magazine.

Portland Arts & Lectures will host Brit Bennett on February 17th and will offer remote live-streaming into the remaining Portland Arts & Lectures events this Spring. 

Below are more Portland Arts & Lectures events:

Mira Jacob on March 10 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall for the culminating event of Everybody Reads, Multnomah County Library’s community reading program, followed by our Oregon Book Awards Ceremony on April 25 at Portland Center Stage, then back to the Concert Hall for Verselandia on April 28.

Lectures in February and May.

  • Wednesdays, February 9–March 16, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom | Guide: Kesha Ajose Fisher
  • Wednesday, Feb. 9: One Page Wednesday—February
    6:30–8:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom | FREE | Register in advance
    Here is an opportunity to share or listen to one page of work in progress from talented writers from everywhere. Come with a single page of work and sign up to read—or come to listen and prepare to be inspired! Hosted by Jessica Meza-Torres. This month’s featured reader is Amy Baskin.
  • Monday, Feb. 14: 2022 Oregon Literary Fellowships announced
    Oregon Literary Fellowships are intended to help Oregon writers initiate, develop, or complete literary projects in poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction, drama (including scripts for television and film), and young readers literature. The 2022 Oregon Literary Fellowships will be announced via email and on our website on Monday, February 14, 2022.
  • Thursday, Feb. 17: Slamlandia
    7:00–9:00 p.m. (sign ups at 6:30 p.m.) | Online via Zoom | FREE | Register in advance
    Slamlandia is a poetry open mic and slam that meets every month. This mic provides a creative, fun, and welcoming space for all literary communities in Portland. We encourage poets new and old to come share their work.
  • Thursday, Feb. 17: Portland Arts & Lectures: Brit Bennett
    7:30 p.m. | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | Single tickets: $29
    This event is part of our Portland Arts & Lectures 2021/22 season. Our 2021–22 season is sold out but limited tickets have been made available to this lecture.
  • Sunday, Feb. 20: February BIPOC Writers Workshop
    Searching for a space to create new work with fellow BIPOC writers? A variety of prompts will be presented as avenues for generating and sharing new work in an informal setting. Open to BIPOC writers at all levels writing in poetry, fiction, or nonfiction.
    Sunday, February 20, from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom | Instructor: Jacqueline Fitzgerald
  • Tuesday, Feb. 22: Writing Class | Nature Writing Now: Intensive
    Together, we will consider some historical and contemporary nature writing in order to learn how the genre has changed over time alongside our cultural conceptions of self and nature.
  • Tuesday, February 22–April 26, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Online via Zoom | Instructor: Daniela Molnar
  • Wednesday, Feb. 23: Writing Class | Poetry of Place
    This class will focus on how poetry stems from, evokes, or creates place. A place can be imaginary, material, or a combination of the two; most often, it is the latter.
  • Wednesdays, February 23–March 30, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. | Online via Zoom | Instructor: Daniela Molnar

    The Archive Project features the most sought-after recordings from our Portland Arts & Lectures series, Portland Book Festival, and other community events, from over 37 years of presenting.

    Each week, new lectures are available to stream for free. Episodes also air every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. (Pacific) on OPB Radio.

    At Literary Arts, we believe in the power of stories to inspire, create empathy, and bridge divides. Your support allows readers and writers of all ages and backgrounds to experience the power of storytelling.
    DONATE NOW
    Since 1984, Literary Arts has built a community around books and storytelling, and the essential ideas that they raise. Our programs create opportunities for audiences of all ages and walks of life to engage with stories. Join us and explore our programming in concert halls, in classrooms, in our community space, in high schools, and on the radio.

Oregon Ballet Theatre Fans Will Sink Their Teeth into Dracula

Oregon Ballet Theatre Fans Will Sink Their Teeth into Dracula

Portland, OR. Oregon Ballet Theater (OBT) has announced it will take a uniquely Portland approach to the month of love with the premiere of Ben Stevenson’s Dracula.  It’s based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 gothic novel of the same title. (Photo credit, Kat Luber courtesy Tulsa Ballet). The music is by Franz Liszt and will be performed live by the OBT Orchestra.

Set in the 1800s, the story follows Count Dracula’s fascination with his lawyer’s fiancée, Mina, after losing his beloved wife, Elizabeth, to suicide.

Ben Stevenson, the choreographer of this ballet, has created dozens of full-length ballets for companies in the U.S. and abroad. To create Dracula, Stevenson used the format of the great story ballets of the 19th century.

Here’s more information from OBT:

Dissatisfied with his bevy of undead brides, Count Dracula fixates on Svetlana, a young girl on the cusp of engagement, to satiate his thirst for fresh blood. Abducted by Dracula’s faithful henchman Renfield, Svetlana is dragged away to the Count’s castle from where she may never escape but for the heroism of her true love, Frederick.

Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Showtimes & Tickets

Buy Tickets to Dracula

• Please note the that OBT Box Office is currently unavailable for walk-up sales at our Bancroft studio location.
• All patrons are required to show proof of vaccination or negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of the performance. Details HERE

Purchase with confidence! Our priority is the health and safety of our patrons. We recognize that it may be difficult to plan during these uncertain times, that’s why we have adjusted our exchange and refund policies on future programming that may be impacted by the COVID-19 virus. Read MORE.

About Oregon Ballet Theatre:

OBT is the largest professional ballet company in Oregon, employing nearly 200 people and attracting artists from around the globe with our reputation for excellence. The company is rooted in the traditions of classical ballet, with a repertoire that ranges from the great classics to premieres from some of the most exciting choreographic voices in the field today. Our mission is dedicated to the vitality of, and access to, world-class ballet performance and training in our region.

February 4th is National Wear Red Day for Heart Health Awareness

February 4th is National Wear Red Day for Heart Health Awareness

Portland, OR. Women who think they’re healthy often misread the symptoms of a heart attack because they don’t think it could happen to them. That’s why it’s crucial to learn about heart attacks, know your numbers and live heart-healthy. Now is a good time to review some basics about the Warning Signs & Symptoms of Heart Attack and Stroke.

Heart attack and stroke are life-or-death emergencies — every second counts. If you think you or someone you’re with has any symptoms of heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately. The Oregon Chapter of the American Heart Association has some important information about heart health.

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack

If you have any of these signs, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.

  1. Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
  2. Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
  3. Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
  4. Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
  5. As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort.

    But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

What do I do if I’m having a heart attack?

If you experience any of these signs or symptoms:

  • Dial 911 immediately, follow the operator’s instructions and get to a hospital right away.
  • Don’t drive yourself to the hospital.
  • Try to stay as calm as possible and take deep, slow breaths while you wait for the emergency responders.

There is a technique called Hands-Only CPR that is recommended if you should see a person who needs CPR. Here’s a video about it:

Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

If you have any of these signs, call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away.

  1. Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body
  2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
  3. Sudden trouble seeing or blurred vision in one or both eyes
  4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
  5. Sudden severe headache with no known cause

From the Oregon Chapter of the American Heart Association:

A Culture of Health in Oregon & SW Washington

We’re working to create a world free of heart disease and stroke – a world where everyone can live your healthiest life. We know that true health is influenced by the places you live, learn, play and pray. Our work in Oregon & SW Washington includes working with local industries to improve the health of workers, increasing access to healthy food in our community, teaming up with city and state leaders to promote health policies, and providing our kids with more opportunities to be active in school.

Contact Us

4380 SW Macadam Avenue #480
Portland, OR 97239
(503) 820-5300