Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

Category Archives: CNA

Project Suggestions Needed

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[The following is a reprinted letter to the editor, originally published in November’s Concordia News.]

As a newcomer to Portland it is difficult for me to identify a community need that is not already being dealt with by some group or individual. In the six months I have lived in Portland I have been impressed by the awareness, determination, and creativity of citizens in finding solutions to the problems found in their communities.

I am an AmeriCorps volunteer through the Northwest Service Academy this year. As part of that program I will lead a Community Action Project. The only requirements for this project are that it has to serve a need of the community, and I have to lead the effort. I can do anything from leading a team to clean up a park, to coordinating a community event, to planting a garden. My job placement is with Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition, which is great, but I really want this project to happen in my own community in Northeast Portland.

I have spent some time over the past few weeks trying to think of a way I can help my neighborhood with this project, but then it occurred to me that maybe a better approach would be to let the neighborhood suggest to me what there is a need for. I will be attending the Concordia Neighborhood’s General Meeting on November 6th to introduce myself and to listen to suggestions and ideas for the community project. I hope anyone who has an idea will come talk about it with me to help me make the most of this opportunity to do something helpful with my new community.

Tim O’Neal
NWSA AmeriCorps Volunteer
503-232-0010 ext.313
tim@southeastuplift.org

CNA Board Elections – November 6

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It’s November, and that means election season.

The CNA General Meeting on November 6 is election night for the Concordia Neighborhood Association’s next Board of Directors. If that is not enough to convince you to attend CNA’s General Meeting, the Association is also throwing in free beer for attendees. The meeting starts promptly at 7 PM in the Community Room at the Kennedy School.

Now is your chance to be a leader. The Concordia Neighborhood annually elects members of our community to serve on our 13-member Board of Directors. We want you to join us on the board. There are also opportunities to get involved with our various committees.

We have four positions open for the upcoming board election. These positions include:

  • One at-large member
  • One position for the East quadrant
  • Two positions for the SW quadrant

The Concordia Neighborhood is fortunate to have had a strong neighborhood association
historically, with great folks in leadership positions.

Your commitment is two meetings a month. Hopefully you will want to join a committee that is of interest to you. If you have any questions about the election or what the board position entails, please email Katie at kugolini@earthlink.net.

School Families Housing Grants Community Session, October 3

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Staff from the Portland Schools Foundation and the City of Portland, Bureau of Housing and Community Development will provide a brief presentation and then facilitate a session to collect your feedback on goals and funding priorities for the Schools Family Housing Grants Program.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007
5:00-6:30pm
Central NE Neighbors, 4415 NE 87th Avenue
(Behind Firehouse at NE Sandy and NE 87th)

In 2007, the Portland City Council allocated $950,000 to the Portland Schools Foundation to establish the Schools Families Housing (SFH) Community Grant Program. This program is working with the two following goals: 1) balance student enrollment in our public schools; and 2) increase effective partnerships among schools and neighborhoods. Approximately $850,000 is available for grant making through 2008.

The Schools Families Housing Initiative (SFH) was sponsored by Commissioner Erik Sten in response to the challenges faced by public schools serving the City of Portland. SFH is designed to improve coordination and effectiveness of City resources to help balance school enrollment and develop vibrant, multi-functional schools that meet the needs of students.

RSVP: Space limited. First come first serve. Please RSVP to Sandra Lefrancois, Central NE Neighbors at cnnoutreach@teleport.com or 503-823-2780.

2008 Neighborhood Small Grants Program – Accepting Proposals

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The City of Portland, Office of Neighborhood Involvement (ONI) and seven District Coalitions have announced the second year of the Neighborhood Small Grants Program with $206,600 available to neighborhood and community-based organizations. Grants are distributed through seven neighborhood District Coalitions.

The goal of the program is to provide neighborhood and community organizations an opportunity to expand their community-building capacity, attract new and diverse members and sustain those already involved.

Proposals are due no later than 4:00 PM, Thursday, November 1, 2007 at the District Coalition to which an application is made (NOT the Office of Neighborhood Involvement!).

Why this grant program was created

The grants program responds to years of input from neighborhood and community leaders for increased direct resources to neighborhood associations and other community-based groups working on local neighborhood projects. City Council first approved the funding as part of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement’s fiscal year 2006-07 budget.

Click here for more information on this year’s grant program from ONI.

Read the rest of the post for much (much!) more information about the program. If you find yourself having problems with the links, try going to the ONI website and navigating from there.

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National Night Out Celebration – Fernhill Park, August 7

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Neighbors are invited to join in the fun at Concordia’s National Night Out Celebration on the evening of Tuesday, August 7th. This unique community event will be fun for the whole family with a focus on building community, which prevents crime and fear of crime.

The celebration starts at 6 PM with a pedestrian and bicycle parade at Faubion Elementary School, and continues at Fernhill Park with the last concert of our free Summer Concert Series (The Buckles) at 6:30 pm.

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Concordia Neighborhood Yard Sale – July 20-22

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Gather all those items you no longer want or need and join us to have a yard sale at your home. We do the advertising and supply you with the sign for your location. All participants are included on the map.

Just download and return the registration coupon and include a $5 fee (make checks payable to Concordia Neighborhood Association). Mail or deliver to:

Concordia Neighborhood Association, c/o Donna Carrier

5520 NE 35th Place

Portland, OR 97211

Yard sale packets may be picked up on designated dates (times and place wil be announced later). The yard sale packets can be mailed for an additional fee of $2.

The deadline to be on the map is Wednesday, July 11 at 6 PM. After this date and time, you can still be in the sale, but will not show on the map.

Questions? Contact the yard sale coordinator Donna Carrier at (503) 288-9826 or e-mail her at dmc@teleport.com.

Neighborhood Clean-Up: Saturday, May 12

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Who’s got a pile of junk in the basement/attic/side yard/alley that is always buried on your to-do list? Who has the time to load it up and haul it off to the transfer station on Highway 30 or in Oregon City? Well, now’s the time to get that done!

The annual Concordia neighborhood Clean-up will take place Saturday, May 12, from 8 AM to 12:30 PM. Due to the demolition of our usual location, Whitaker School, we are moving across 42nd Street to PCC’s workforce training center at 5600 NE 42nd Ave.

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