Concordia Neighborhood Association | Portland, Oregon

Tag Archives: Alberta Street

Bringing happiness to Alberta Street

Posted on by Posted in Concordia News, Health and Wellness

Portland Happiness Center and businesses on NE Alberta Street are partnering to create the first street to invest in happiness in the nation. In  2009,  Portland  was  rated  as  one  of  the  least  happy  cities  in  the  country,  according  to  a  U.S.  economic  well -being  survey from  MainStreet.com,  a  personal  finance  site.  Also,  according  to  a  2014  study,  Portland  has  one  of  the  highest  teenager  and  a dult depression  and  suicide  rates  in  the  nation.  Our  city  could be  happier  –  much  happier.  According  to  Portland  Happiness  Center’s founder Rodrigo Baena, companies and organizations that invest in wellness in the work environment experience a significant increase in productivity levels, improve relationships and naturally end up attracting more clients.

Businesses  owners  and  employers  that  become  members  of  the  Happiness  Center have  the  opportunity  to  create  a  community, meet  monthly,  learn  tools  to  use  in  their  work  environments  and  go  to  talks  and  seminars.  Individuals  can  also  become  members, receiving invitation to events, inspiring presentations, weekly news about happiness and personal growth and volunteering on one of the many projects the center holds monthly.

In 2015 the Portland Happiness Center was nominated to participate in the largest happiness conference in the world.

For more information on how to join this happiness movement, visit www.PortlandHappinessCenter.org, email info@portlandhappinesscenter.org or call  503-444-3333.

The Murals of The Black United Fund

Posted on by Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News, Local Businesses

When you walk by the Black United Fund’s building at 28th and NE Alberta you can’t miss noticing a recently completed 25 x 100 ft mural that swirls across its west side facing wall. The vibrant mural honors iconic women of the civil rights movement.

Vox Siren, a Creative Change Agency that focuses on promoting gender equity and ArtUprising, a non-profit that connects artists and non-profit organizations working to dismantle institutional oppression partnered with the Black United Fund of Oregon on the mural.

Black United Fund, Alberta Street, Portland, Oregon
Photos courtesy of Carl Jameson

The Black United Fund of Oregon is the only black-owned, community specific nonprofit that operates and owns its building and property on Alberta Street. The organization’s mission is to assist in the social and economic development of Oregon’s low-income communities and to contribute to a broader understanding of ethnic and culturally diverse groups.

Kimberlee Sheng, the Executive Director of Black United Fund provided leadership in the creative design said, “As a child growing up the women depicted on this mural were major inspirations in life; they embodied the vision I held for myself, and the determination that was required to create real and lasting change.”

Artists Eatcho and Jeremy Nichols collaborated on the mural that features historical figures of Coretta Scott King, Ruby Bridges, Ruby Dee, Angela Davis, and Maya Angelou. “These women, along with countless others- some who will never be named, opened many doors of opportunity for both women and men, and have had a tremendous impact on how communities of color navigate “systems” of inequity,” Sheng said.

Murals of the Black United Fund, Alberta Street, Portland, Oregon

There is another important person represented in the mural: a young girl stands below the image of Maya Angelou and reflects on her predecessors. She represents a generation boldly ready to continue the legacy of powerful leadership. Sheng said, “In our more than 30-years of operation, the organization has always been lead by women therefore it is fitting that this mural would pay tribute to a few of the iconic black women of the civil rights movement. Upholding a beacon of hope for all, these historical women stood alongside our brothers and numerous communities involved in the struggle, just as we still do today.”

The mural was supported by the Public Arts Murals Program, administered by Regional Arts and Culture Council. Watch a video “A Voice to be Thankful For” created by Vox Siren about the mural.

There’s more murals to come for the building. Alberta Art Works, an organization that supports the neighborhood’s art, artists, performers and creatives, commissioned six 8 x 8 foot murals for the building’s Alberta Street side.

Murals of the Black United Fund, Alberta Street, Portland, Oregon
The murals will tell the story of Alberta Street’s history, economic growth and diversity. Two murals are complete, two are in progress and the rest are scheduled to be completed in Spring 2016.

Lower Speed Limits on Alberta & Killingsworth?

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

Neighbors have requested that the Concordia Neighborhood Association take a look at lowering the speed limits on Alberta and Killingsworth within the neighborhood.

There have been complaints that, for Alberta Street, 25 mph is a bit too fast in a situation where cars are parked right up to every corner, every intersection has two crosswalks, there are mid-block alley crossings, bicyclists are sharing the lane with cars, buses, and larger vehicles, and parallel parking maneuvers are a routine fact of life.

Similarly, Killingsworth at 30 mph represents a dangerous barrier, preventing easy crossings from the south to the north side of the Concordia neighborhood. One neighbors’ family had their car totaled when pulling out on to Killingsworth, where vehicles parked right up to the intersection along the curb block the view
of fast-moving oncoming traffic. Bicyclists have been hit while trying to cross from one side to the other of Killingsworth, and it represents a scary crossing for pedestrians as well, especially with signed and marked crosswalks few and far between.

In December, the LUTC recommended, and in January, the CNA Board unanimously adopted, a proposal to ask the City to lower the speed limit through the neighborhood on Alberta from 25 to 20 mph; and on Killingsworth from 30 to 25 mph. The 20 mph on Alberta would thus match the 20 mph on Fremont through Beaumont Village, in keeping with state law that requires 20 mph through commercial districts. The 25 mph on Killingsworth would more closely reflect its status as a mixed use pedestrian and bicycle corridor.

Concordia residents interested in discussing this or any other issue related to land use and transportation are invited to attend the Concordia Neighborhood Association Land Use and Transportation Committee (CNA LUTC) meetings at 7pm on the third Wednesday of the month, in the Community Room in the SE corner of McMenamins Kennedy School. To join the LUTC mailing list, send an email to: pdx_ cna_lu_and_t_committee@googlegroups.com

Get Involved with Alberta Main Street

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Arts & Culture, Local Businesses

Get Involved!
Alberta Main Street depends on volunteers. If you have time and interest, we’d love to have you join our efforts. Volunteers are needed on our four committees, each with 3-4 projects. Below, please find a sample list of projects our committees will be working on in 2012. You can find more information about the committees here.

Promotions Committee
Host Earth Day District Clean Up (April) – Alberta Street Fair (August) – Holiday Promotion (December) – Manage Coop Advertising Opportunities & other Promotions

Business Development Committee
Create & Host Small Business Seminar Series – Conduct Building & Business Inventory – Develop Alberta Street Market Analysis

Organization Committee
Create and Implement a Volunteer Program – Develop & Implement Fundraising Activities & Events – Create and Implement a Communication Plan

Design Committee
Create a District Design Plan – Draft the Alberta Appendix to the Portland Main Street Design Guidelines – Design and Implement a District Improvement Project(s)

Office Management – Help in the office on a regulary & ongoing basis. If you are ready to volunteer your time and energy, please complete our online sign up or contact Sara at 503-683-3252.

Community Check-In: Alberta Main Street Progress Report

Posted on by Posted in Archive, Land Use & Transportation, Local Businesses

As Alberta Main Street approaches the end of year one, it’s time to check in.  A team of experts will be in Portland June 21 – 23 in what the National Main Street program calls a Resource Team Visit. The visit will conclude with a public presentation on Thursday, June 23, 2011.

The Resource Team will conduct a series of focus groups and interviews, listening to community stakeholder’s comments on the program’s progress. The team has two jobs:

  1. Work to develop general and specific recommendations for action in a written report. The team’s report will take approximately 8 weeks to complete and is designed to help us develop a 12-24 month implementation strategy.
  2. Make a candid assessment of the opportunities and issues affecting the Alberta Main Street program through an intensive listening process while in the community.

On Thursday June 23 at 6:30PM, the resource team will preview their findings at a public presentation. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend!

Thursday June 23; 6:30 – 8:15 PM
St. Andrew Catholic Church – Community Center – Oscar Romero Room
806 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211

RSVP appreciated: info@albertamainst.org or (503) 683-3252.