Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

‘tis the season to share with (local) nonprofits

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Nancy Varekamp | CNews Editor

Giving Tuesday is November 28

Black Friday – Nov. 24 this year – kicks off the holiday season of giving with shoppers swarming the malls in search of bargains. Then Small Business Saturday sends shoppers to independent stores. After a day of rest, Cyber Monday tempts shoppers with online deals.

Then comes Giving Tuesday Nov. 28. It’s become a nationwide effort to infuse the coffers of local nonprofits to help each community’s less fortunate during the holidays – and throughout the year.

Below is undoubtedly an incomplete list of nonprofits located in and near Concordia that welcome your donations at any time of year.

If you know of others, please add them to CNA’s Facebook page. And don’t forget, local schools, PTAs and churches can do great things with your financial support too.

Get the move on – (com)motion opens this month

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Nancy Varekamp, CNews Editor

Theresia Munywoki, (com)motion manager, and Michael DeMarco
Theresia Munywoki, (com)motion manager, and Michael DeMarco, Our 42nd Avenue district manager, have spent countless hours, days, weeks and months getting ready for the movement center’s opening. The building is nearing completion, so stay tuned for the October celebration.

Soon this month, 4520 N.E. 42nd Ave. will be the latest place for people who want to move.

Call it exercise, fitness or movement. Our 42nd Avenue sponsors the new business and calls it “community in motion,” (com)motion for short. The parentheses are silent.

Collaborative efforts between Our 42nd Avenue, Theresia Munywoki and community members are funding the build out. Once open, Theresia will manage the space and oversee its operation while acting as liaison between teachers.

Classes may range from quiet, gentle yoga to the less quiet voguing, Zumba, dance and martial arts. Although no one will be turned away, the emphasis at (com)motion is on teachers and students of diverse backgrounds.

“We want underrepresented teachers to have a place to teach and for underrepresented people to have a place to come to learn,” Theresia explained. “Portland has a shortage of diverse spaces and a shortage of spaces for diverse people.

“So I’m reaching out to teachers of color, body inclusive teachers, teachers with disabilities and queer teachers,” she explained. “This is a place for diverse people to be seen, and to see each other.

“It’s important to make space for that. Our goal is for everyone to think this is a place where they fit in.” A longtime yoga practitioner – and now certified yoga instructor – plus a 16-year veteran of various dance styles, Theresia is enjoying the job.

“I’ve worked as a manager before, but never on a project like this,” she said with a laugh. Now she and business partner Laura Voss are involved with the process from meeting teachers, to inspections, to convening with Nick and Risa Boyer, the builders/owners of Makers Row.

And she’s learned to be patient with delays. “The rain slowed down the beginning of construction. Even the ash impacted us because construction workers were released early a couple of days when the air quality got bad, and when we were nearing completion.”

Makers Row is a three-story project, with (com)motion as one of two businesses – along with Rawdacious Desserts – on the ground floor. Nineteen apartments share the rest of the building.

As of press time, (com)motion’s grand opening was being planned for some time in October. For details, contact Theresia at 971.217.8240 or Theresia.commotion@gmail.com, or visit commotionpdx.org.

Bakery offers case study in (delicious) growth

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Local Businesses

By Nancy Varekamp, CNews Editor

Back to Eden on Alberta Street
Back to Eden’s presence on Alberta Street nearly tripled during the summer. In addition to the original storefront, now called the Dessert Bar, is the Back to Eden Café, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Photo by Chris Baker

Eden just got bigger. So did its menu of meals and treats to tempt you.

The Back to Eden 500 – square foot bakery storefront now has a neighboring 1,193-square-foot café that offers breakfast, Sunday brunch, lunch and dinner.

It’s the latest in the ever-growing business for John Blomgren and Garrett Jones. They first opened in 2007 as a wholesale bakery, complete with organic garden, in a house at 58th Avenue and Killingsworth Street.

“By 2009, we realized we wanted a different experience,” John recalled. “We wanted to connect with the community. We wanted to see people enjoy our baked goods.”

They leased the small space that’s now called the Back to Eden Dessert Bar at 2217 N.E. Alberta, and reduced their wholesale sales.

When a building behind the new Back to Eden Café at 2215 N.E. Alberta became available in 2011, they moved the kitchen there.

In 2013, the 3,000-square–foot space behind the original shop became available, and now serves as office and storage space.

Notice the growth spurts are in odd-numbered years?

In 2015, they were asked to join a food cart pod at S.E. 28th Place and Division Street. “It’s more like a shop than a cart,” John said of the wood exterior. That year they also resumed more of their wholesale business.

Each of the three retail outlets carry the same branding, with a pastel color palette that’s clean, quiet and refreshing.

What began with a vegan cupcake and two employees – John and Garrett – in 2007 now tops 40 employees and countless edible offerings.

John – a graduate of the school of hard knocks in managing the accounting, HR and payroll – credits the business’s success to the creativity and innate ability of self-taught vegan baker Garrett.

Five years ago, their response to customer requests for gluten-free products was so successful, they dedicated the kitchen to gluten-free ingredients.

“Everything is equal or better than the original recipes,” John reported.

Catering to customers’ health and environmental consciousness comes naturally to the business owners.

“We source our ingredients carefully and, as a business, we partner with organizations that agree with our environmental, political and social justice perspectives,” John pointed out. “We use our platforms to advocate for people who don’t have their own platforms.”

Has that cost them any business?

“No, we’ve found people want to do business with those who are aligned with their own values. We’ve received a really positive response.”

Sanctuary cohort takes shape here

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Rita Jiménez, IMIRJ

Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIRJ) meets in Concordia’s Leaven Community Center, the former Redeemer Lutheran Church. IMIRJ advocates for just immigration policies.
Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIRJ) meets in Concordia’s Leaven Community Center, the former Redeemer Lutheran Church. IMIRJ advocates for just immigration policies.

Our world, our country, our city and our neighborhood need sanctuaries. So creating sanctuary for immigrants is the focus of local nonprofit Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIRJ).

Founded in 2006, IMIRJ advocates for just immigration policies, as well as direct action like coordinating physical sanctuary for an immigrant seeking protection from deportation – the rarest form of sanctuary.

When social and political tensions began to climb across the U.S. last year, IMIRJ formed a Portland Sanctuary Cohort, and more are forming across Oregon.

During the past six months, Concordia’s Leaven Community Center has been IMIRJ’s meeting point for the local sanctuary movement to develop local leadership to resist unjust immigration policy.

Each month between February and July, Portland Sanctuary Cohort convened about 100 volunteer leaders from 24 faith communities to build our capacity to take coordinated action for immigrant justice.

At these dynamic gatherings, we shared our experiences and questions, received training, and we built our congregational and personal capacity. They were a combination of action, coaching and spiritual underpinnings.

Located on Killingsworth Street, Leaven is a four-year-old nonprofit at the former Redeemer Lutheran Church. It is now an intentional community of neighbors and friends rooted in building relationships through sharing stories and acting collectively.

Leaven, which includes Salt & Light Lutheran Church, is on a similar journey to many other congregations across Oregon, and is actively exploring what resistance to unjust immigration laws could look like.

In July we gathered to share our migration stories, followed by meetings on physical sanctuary in August and September.

Leaven will formally make our sanctuary declaration Oct. 15.

“As we listened to our neighbors’ stories and developed relationships, we could not ignore the fear and real threat our immigrant neighbors and members face,” explained Pastor Melissa Reed.

“That’s what happens when we listen to one another intentionally, truly see and know one another, find our own stories in the others’, fall in love with one another,” she added.

“Suddenly, your life is not separate from my own. Stranger becomes neighbor. Neighbor becomes family. Risk becomes natural. We belong to one another. We are more powerful together.”

Sanctuary is a powerful vision that is unfolding in our neighborhood. Find your way to create a community that is welcoming for immigrants and refugees. Whether it is through a congregation, IMIRJ or another path, there are many ways to get involved.

Rita is a Concordia resident who worships at Salt and Light Lutheran Church, a part of the Leaven community. She also serves on the board of IMIRJ. She’s passionate about social justice, yoga and organic gardening.

Parking takes center stage at general meeting

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Land Use & Transportation

By Garlynn Woodsong Chair, CNA LUTC

Parking in the neighborhood was the focus of the Concordia Neighborhood Association (CNA) general membership meeting Sept. 6.

Guests for the evening were Jay Rogers from the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT), and Tony Jordan from Portlanders for Parking Reform. They joined a room full of neighbors who came to discuss residential on-street parking.

The PBOT representative walked folks through the current city of Portland policies related to on-street parking, as well as the pilot project currently authorized by city council and underway with residential permit parking in northwest Portland’s Alphabet District.

The current policies – outside of the Alphabet District pilot project – were developed in the 1980s and are largely focused on areas adjacent to downtown that experience large volumes of commuters driving in to park while at work.

These 30-year-old policies were not developed to address parking problems related to large amounts of visitors – for various purposes – at many times through the day and night, week and weekend. The policies were not developed to address the situation of greater residential demand for than supply of on-street parking.

The Portlanders for Parking Reform representative then laid out the basic policy points of the residential on-street parking policy toolbox that city council requested, staff developed, and that city council then failed to adopted last December.

This toolbox was developed specifically to address the parking problems on residential streets in Portland today, including how to handle the needs of residents and visitors in neighborhoods that don’t just see commuter-related parking issues.

The toolbox would empower neighborhoods to work directly with PBOT to develop tailored policies to fit the problems they see in the places where they see them. That includes the ability to design policies to match the results of surveys of on-street parking use on individual block faces.

Neighbors had many questions for both guests about parking. A civilized, neighborly discussion ensued concerning what would happen under a residential permit parking system:

  • What the money would be used for
  • How a parking benefit district would operate
  • How the neighborhood could design policies to mitigate the impact on lowincome residents
  • What the equity impact would be on property owners
  • Whether the revenue would be primarily to benefit the city or the neighborhood
  • Many other related issues

By the end of the evening, it seemed clear that neighbors wanted to see the parking policy toolbox adopted by city council.

Then they would have the option to decide for themselves what parking policies to implement in the neighborhood – when, how and where. That would also include the details of how much it would cost, how the funds would be used and who would pay.

The CNA Board of Directors recommends Portland City Council put the Parking Policy Toolbox back on its agenda, and vote to pass it ASAP.

Concordian enjoys adding green to Portland

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Trees

By Karen Wells, CNA Media Team

Cheryl Brock
Seven years ago, Cheryl Brock enjoyed getting to know the Friends of Trees who planted a tree on her property. Now she is one. Photo by Karen Wells

Friends of Trees (FOT) is nationally recognized and locally known as the Portland metropolitan go-to resource for homeowners who want to plant trees. Working with the organization is hassle free, and the costs of the trees fit neatly into most household budgets.

Starting this month, and on most weekends through April, volunteers dressed for the weather are sent across Portland neighborhoods with twin goals of planting trees and building community.

Cheryl Brock is the FOT neighborhood coordinator for Concordia. She’s been a Concordia resident for nine years, seven of those years as a FOT volunteer. In the beginning, she contacted FOT for a tree for her home. She enjoyed getting to know the neighbor volunteers who dug the hole, set and planted her tree.

Inspired by her experience, she contacted FOT and offered to help with their tree planting events. Cheryl has never regretted getting involved. FOT’s core value of community engagement to improve livability resonates with her.

From the annual mid-March Concordia neighborhood tree planting event to sharing wholesome lunches with planting volunteers, to learning tree pruning, Cheryl thoroughly enjoys being part of the FOT team.

”It just feels good, the right thing to do,” she said.

Cheryl is one of the nearly 6,300 volunteers who, in the words of the FOT annual report, grow the mission “to inspire community stewardship of our urban forest by bringing people together to plant and care for urban trees and natural areas.”

Although substantial – FOT has planted 650,000 trees and native shrubs in the Willamette Valley since its inception in 1989 – it’s not the first effort in Portland to increase the tree population.

The history of community stewardship and tree planting here can be traced to the Olmsted Brothers’ plans of 1902 and the Albina Neighborhood Improvement Project (ANIP) of the 1960s.

The Olmsteds drafted plans for some of Portland’s neighborhoods, college campuses and public parks. Their plans linked parks and streets with tree-lined neighborhoods.

The ANIP was tasked with planting nearly 600 Kwanzan flowering cherries in a 20-block section of Albina, the present day Eliot neighborhood.

Many of these early plantings can still be seen between Humboldt and Fremont, and between Albina and Haight. The Kwanzan provide the spectacular spring blossom display of the Washington, D.C. mall.

Karen is a retired early childhood community educator, health and safety trainer. Reach her at 619.244.7892.

Editor’s note: Karen tapped many resources for this story on community tree planting. She shares those resources with you at ConcordiaPDX.org/trees.

CNA Voices: Find your voice with the Media Team

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Gordon Riggs, CNA Media Team Lead

When I was asked to write this month’s CNA Voices column, I asked myself, “What is my voice?” With my steady hand as Media Team lead, I encourage and guide members of the Media Team to share their perspectives and engage with one another as we address the tasks before us.

I believe we do our best work when it is something we truly want to do, for which we have a passion. Sometimes we don’t know if there’s passion until we try it out.

Almost two years ago, my neighbor – he knew of my interest in and knowledge of computers – invited me to join him at a Media Team meeting, because members were to discuss the CNA website. Soon thereafter, I found myself working with others to update the look and feel of the website.

Several months later, I jumped into the layout and graphic design for CNews. What propelled me forward was the joy and challenge of learning something new and discovering that I was developing a local community of my own. That sense of community – being part of something larger than myself and seeing tangible results – ultimately drew me into the role of Media Team lead.

Each month when the Media Team meets, with anywhere from five to 12 in attendance, our agenda covers topics pertinent to the publication of CNews, keeping the CNA website up to date, and finding ways to make CNA’s new Facebook page more relevant to the Concordia neighborhood.

We spend time brainstorming story ideas for upcoming issues of CNews. We are constantly asking ourselves how each story connects readers with their local neighborhood. Some story ideas take months to fully develop, others take less time.

Lately, we have tackled some behind-the-scenes topics such as: determining why some households don’t receive CNews in the mail, developing contingency plans when the content and ads exceed the space available, and defining criteria for events to include in the Concordia community events calendar.

Today, when I see a mural I recognize or a business that was featured in the paper, I find myself leaning in for a closer look. I experience a direct connection with my community.

Are you curious about your neighborhood? Come join us with your perspectives, questions and your voice. See where it might lead you.

Editor’s note: The Media Team meets monthly on the first Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. in McMenamins Kennedy School Community Room. You can contact Gordon directly at MediaTeamLead@ConcordiaPDX.org or 503.515.8209. Explore more at Facebook.com/groups/ConcordiaPDX and ConcordiaPDX.org.

She’s homeless, not hopeless, in Concordia

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News
Ashley and her dog Monoose
Ashley and dog Monoose are familiar faces for shoppers at New Seasons and Walgreens. How can you help the homeless? “Help us help ourselves,” she said. Photo by Dan Werle

By Dan Werle, CNA Media Team

Many readers may recognize the kind, soft-spoken woman who frequents the entrances to the New Seasons and Walgreens stores in Concordia. Few are likely to know her name, or much else about her.

She’s often seen sitting on the sidewalk, hand-written sign requesting help in hand, and one or two tail-wagging dogs flanking her side. Her name is Ashley, and she’s one of more than 4,100 people in Portland who are homeless.

Ashley has been homeless on and of for the past 10 years. She first became homeless after being kicked out of her home her senior year of high school. She’s been in Portland for the past 1½ years, having moved from Eugene.

Along with her partner, Matt, and their two dogs, Medusa and Monoose (like “mongoose” without the “g”), she spends most nights at a nearby, makeshift campsite. One friend occasionally lets the four of them stay with her.

Ashley has tried staying in one of the shelters downtown; however, her dogs aren’t allowed, and thefts and threats from other women in the shelter forced her to leave. She said one of the most challenging problems with being homeless is the sense of “being aimless.”

Concordia has provided Ashley a level of safety and familiarity that she hasn’t found in other areas of Portland. Aside from downtown, she said, “This is the only other area I’m familiar with. It’s not so bad in this neighborhood.”

Ashley’s eyes light up and a faint smile spreads across her face when she talks about her dogs. Both share Ashley’s friendliness, and both have endured – and survived – significant health challenges, thanks to Ashley’s care and dedication.

Not coincidentally, Ashley’s long-term goal? “I want to be normal. I want to go back to school to get my vet tech degree.”

One suggestion she has for aiding people who are homeless is, “Help us help ourselves. Once you’ve been in this situation for a long time, you forget how to do normal things. I don’t know how to apply for an apartment or write a résumé.”

Dan Werle lives in Concordia with his wife, Anna, and their dogs.

Faubion slates Aug. 29 opening

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Madeline Turnock, Concordia University

Faubion School north entrance rendering
The north entrance on Dekum Street will welcome Faubion School students and families when the new Faubion School + Concordia University, a 3 to PhD® community, opens this month. Rendering courtesy of 3 to PhD

Back to school takes on a whole new meaning this month for students at the new Faubion School + Concordia University, a 3 to PhD® community.

The grand opening is Tuesday, Aug. 29, from 3 to 5 p.m. at 2930 N.E. Dekum St. A brief program begins at 3:30 p.m., and neighbors are welcome. Learn more at 3toPhD.org.

For the past two years, Faubion School served students at an alternative location on North Flint Avenue.

“We’ve felt homesick off-site the past two years, and now Faubion School is looking forward to being ‘back home’ in the neighborhood with a brand new footprint,” said Faubion school principal Jennifer McCalley. “This is a unique opportunity to realize our shared vision for a safer, healthier, more educated community.”

Concordia University College of Education Dean Sheryl Reinisch agreed. “The collaboration with Portland Public Schools’ Faubion School and the university has inspired how we prepare leaders and teachers for the 21st century.”

3 to PhD aims to become a new national model in which committed partners work together with schools to ensure every student has both educational and wrap-around services needed to “pursue highest dreams,” better known as PhD.

Founding partners in 3 to PhD include: Concordia University, Faubion School, Trillium Family Services and Kaiser Permanente.

Faubion School and Concordia University have been neighbors in education for 63 years. With only 102 steps between them, collaboration and partnership increased in 2008 when LaShawn Lee became principal and envisioned Faubion as the “heartbeat of the community.” Concordia University stepped up to help by providing mentors, tutors, coaches, recess help, student teachers and more.

Then, in November 2012, voters approved the first school district capital improvement bond which partially funded the Faubion School rebuild. Concordia Universit y and its supporters are contributing an additional $15.5 million to the total cost of the $48.8 million project.

The new 138,000 square-foot-facility, and those it serves, is capturing the hearts and minds of an entire generation.

The new environmentally-friendly building includes the Concordia University College of Education; the Kaiser Permanente 3 to PhD Wellness Center; an early childhood education center; science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) and maker spaces; a food club with organic products from Pacific Foods of Oregon; access to mental and behavioral health from Trillium Family Services; and more.

Heat-related ills spoil fun

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News

By Karen Wells, CNA Media Team

Playing outside is a must for summer. The sun feels good while having fun. Prevention measures safeguard against hot weather health problems and keep the fun going.

A child’s skin surface area is a greater percentage of their body weight compared to an adult’s, making them more at risk for hot weather problems. Heat cramps and heat exhaustion are sun exposure problems that can be avoided by knowing the symptoms and taking quick action.

Heat cramps are usually felt in the arms, hands, legs, feet or shoulders. No one knows the exact reason why heat cramps happen. The universally accepted explanation is: muscles have been over worked and/or the body has lost significant fluid and is in need of rest, more fluids and salt.

Heat exhaustion is a whole-body experience, when our natural cooling system begins to shut down. Look for nausea, vomiting, skin feels clammy or cool to the touch. They may complain of headache or be cranky, irritable, or they may get really thirsty. Any combination of these symptoms are warnings your child is suffering from heat exhaustion.

Take these simple actions to avoid more serious problems:

  • Cool: get out of the sun and find shade
  • Fluids: drink cool water, lots
  • Rest: take a break in the shade to drink cool water
  • When in doubt: call your doctor for advice or further action

Alberta Park on Killingsworth Street at 22nd Avenue offers wonderful shade on hot days. Also, during the week Portland Parks and Recreation hosts Free Lunch + Play programs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Aug. 25.

Remember, our children are always watching. In the morning, suggest they wear loose fitting cotton clothing with short sleeves while you get dressed in the same. Have them take water rest breaks with you in shade.

Karen, OCCD master trainer, early childhood education, conducts health and safety trainings for parents and childcare staff via Child Care Resource and Referral of Multnomah County. She may be reached at 5CornersFamily@ gmail.com or text 619.244.7892.