Winter Solstice Celebration!

Saturday, December 20

Living Earth at Friends Meeting House

4312 SE Stark, Portland

Vegetarian Potluck at 6:30 pm

Celebration at 8:00 pm

Come early or late. Suggested donation: $15 (or close, all are welcome)

Join Living Earth for our 11th annual celebration of the timeless turning of the planets on this midwinter's eve. We’ll gather on the longest night of the year to fire up our hearts for the cold months’ journey into light and warmth. Come celebrate this season of reverence, mystery, and awe, in the spirit of warm community as the Earth continues her endless dance.

Sky in the Road

Tribal belly dance from Caravan Dance Collective

Submit your photos now! Show us your favorite place in your neighborhood, a favorite neighbor, or your favorite neighborhood event. Your photo could win prominence, prestige and prizes (TBD)! Photos are due by January 31st and can be emailed to [email protected] or dropped at Neighbors West-Northwest. Photos must be taken within NWNW's boundaries and include a caption or label of where it was taken, a title, and photographer’s full name, address, daytime phone number and email address. For complete rules go to http://www.nwnw.org/PhotoContest.html.

On Wednesday, December 3rd, the Oregon Center for Environmental Health is offering a day of interactive education, awareness, and action about lead.  The event will include:

--Free lead screening on your toys and household items (limit four items per household) from 5 pm to 7 pm.

--A viewing of the HealthyToys.org database of safe toys.

--Free blood lead screening for pregnant and nursing mothers and kids under the age of 6 offered from 5 pm to 8 pm by Josiah Hill Clinic.

--Free lead dust screening kit for the home from the Portland Development Center.

--Non-toxic toys, baby gear, and household items for sale from the EcoSafe Home Store.

Calling all managers of volunteers – please join us for a once a month gathering at Kettleman’s Bagels, 2235 SE 11th Avenue, to network and discuss issues/questions/concerns/ideas relating to volunteer management. 

Next gathering: This Wednesday, December 3rd at 10am

No need to RSVP, just show up! 

Also, see below for a monthly gathering at the Lucky Lab in NW.

Volunteer Manager Get Together Update

Last week two groups of fantastic Volunteer Managers met to build connections, share resources and enjoy the company of like minded folks in a relaxed environment. 

Temporary to mid-April. Homeless family shelter, North Portland. Full time 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, $12.32 per hour. Create housing opportunities, develop linkages with landlords and housing programs. Compliance with housing subsidy requirements. Guide families through housing process. Driving is 25% of work time. Required app form: 1111 SW 10th Ave., Portland 97205 or www.ywca-pdx.org. Click on "About Us" then "Employment Application". 503-721-6759 for more info.

Jaynee Power Human Resource Manager YWCA of Greater Portland 1111 SW 10th Avenue Portland, OR 97205 Phone 503-294-7470 Fax 503-294-7399

The DOJ has a job opening that might be a good fit for someone in the NP community as Public Affairs Representative for the Charitable Activities Section of the Department of Justice.Info at http://www.oregon.gov/DOJ/jobs/LEJT5749.shtml

Sharon Hasenjaeger Assistant Director Institute for Nonprofit Management Portland State University Tel: (503) 725-8221 Fax: (503) 725-8045 [email protected] www.inpm.pdx.edu for information on INPM’s nonprofit courses and events

Attention Nonprofits

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and Hands On Greater Portland are in the project development phase right now. If your nonprofit has plans to hold a project over MLK weekend, or if you'd like to work with us to develop a project over that weekend, we want to know about it! Contact Mindy Coolidge at Hands On for more information. [email protected]

--

Sharon Hasenjaeger Assistant Director Institute for Nonprofit Management Portland State University Tel: (503) 725-8221 Fax: (503) 725-8045 [email protected] www.inpm.pdx.edu for information on INPM’s nonprofit courses and events

Northwest Oregon & Southwest Washington Service Providers:

 Do you use 2-1-1 Community Information and Referral to locate resources for the people you serve? We want to hear from you!

Please complete this short survey (12 simple questions) about your experience with 2-1-1 services.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=X5OWOA_2b6BNClXorHnJdWfw_3d_3d

 To learn more about 2-1-1, please visit our website www.211info.org

Thanks!   Jen

Please forward to your mailing lists.

___________________________

Jen Matheson, Outreach Manager

Housing Connections &  211info

503-416-2607

www.housingconnections.org

www.211info.org

Portland Theatre Brigade, a professional young people's theatre company, is in need of a van to borrow for the upcoming spring tour. The theatre company does free performances for schools all over the Portland metro area. Ideally we could work with another group who isn't using their van at the times we need it.

Here's what we're looking for:

- 15 passenger van, with or without the last bench - Availability school hours Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays March through June

If you or someone you know might be willing to work out a van sharing deal, please let us know! Thanks much.

Toni Tabora-Roberts Managing Director 503 358 9938 / mobile 503 896 1318 [email protected] theatrebrigade.org

Give your clients the gift of access to housing through education...teach them to overcome typical rental screening barriers with Ready To Rent! The next Certified Instructor Training will be held December 16-18.

The Ready to Rent curriculum provides housing readiness skills to people who have had past rental difficulties, have participants establish an action plan for becoming a successful renter and, upon completion, receive a Ready to Rent Certificate which is recognized by many housing providers and landlords as a compensating factor to some negative rental history.

Come out and help Friends of Trees plant in the Buckman, Hosford-Abernathy and Richmond neighborhoods! How? Pre-registration is not required for individuals. For groups, please call or email Greg Tudor, Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator at 503.282.8846 ext. 12 or, [email protected] When? Sat 12/6, 8:45am – 1:00pm Where? St. Paul Lutheran Church, 3880 SE Brooklyn St, PDX 97202 For more information, check out the planting calendar on our website: http://www.friendsoftrees.org/volunteer/planting-calendar.php

Come join the Columbia Slough Watershed Council for our next Stewardship Saturday event on December 13. This event will be held at Big Four Corners Natural Area along the main stem of the Columbia Slough (see directions below). This is Portland’s 4th biggest Natural Area and provides 165 acres of wetland, woodland, waterway and rare white oak habitat. We’ll be engaging in some good old-fashioned invasive species removal around some of the public hiking trails. Come donning your sturdiest shoes or boots and, if grey cloud loom above, that favorite yellow slicker. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. And thank you (x 100) to everyone who came out to either of our past two fall events – much was accomplished and spirits ran high.

Meow! We are excited to announce that the Cat Adoption Team will have the opportunity to spread some holiday cheer to the PetSmart stores all through the month of December for the annual Santa Claws event. This popular event gives PetSmart customers and their pets the chance to pose for a photo with "Santa Claws." For every "Santa Claws" photo package purchased during a CAT shift, PetSmart donates $5 directly to CAT. This is a great opportunity for us to bring in some much-needed funds for CAT this holiday season! We need volunteers to staff the event every weekend in December leading up to the Christmas holiday.