The Alberta Coop's April Open Forum: Gathering of the Gardeners! Start Swap and Urban Farm Collective Info Meeting

Tuesday, April 20th, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM

The Tin Shed at 1438 NE Alberta St.

Calling all gardeners and people interested in learning about gardening! Come on out to the Tin Shed Garden Cafe on Tuesday, April 20 for the return of the Alberta Coop's Gathering of the Gardeners. Enjoy some of the Tin Shed's food, bring seeds or plant starts if you have any you'd like to exchange, and hear about the Urban Farm Collective's exciting new project! Also, one lucky attendee will win a grand prize: a free work party in their garden!

Vision:  Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams.  Through our member clubs, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills...and find the courage to change.Do you want to improve your communication skills? 

Come to this 1 day conference and learn to master the art of effective communication, improve your personal communication style and learn what works in today’s marketplace while networking with over 500 people. 

Location: Oregon Convention Center 777 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Portland, OR 97232

The 1-day conference includes:

Please ride bikes, take the bus or carpool down to the Salmon Creek Park at Klineline Pond to celebrate with the StreamTeam:

11th Annual Earth Day Celebration:

10:00am-- EcoFair Welcome: The celebration begins with free children's activities like face painting, disc golf, a salmon release and more!  Enjoy free information on how to celebrate Earth Day every day.

10:30am-- Saving Salmon Tour: This 15-minute tour will cover salmon needs and stream restoration.  The will tour meet at the registration area.

Please join Concordia University and Arif Khan this Saturday, April 17th from 10-3:30pm for a workshop on International Humanitarian Aid Work. This course is designed to give an overview of the field of international humanitarian aid and will provide attendees with a wide range of information as well as practical advice on how to get a job as an international relief worker.

Arif Khan has been an international aid worker since 2005 and has managed relief programs during armed conflicts and in post-disaster situations. Cost is $40 per person – lunch and all materials included.

Contact Tina Shantz, Service-Learning Program Coordinator at Concordia University, at [email protected] or 503-280-8679 for more information or to reserve a seat!

Hello Movie Lovers,

Okay, this movie is for all those who have playfully teased me about always choosing intense movies. Guilty as charged! We always meet the Third Thursday of the month and this month we will be seeing "Letters to God" about a boy who is sick who writes letters to God. The mail carrier, of course, picks up the letters and has to decide what to do with them. While lighter and probably more touching than some of our recent films there should be a rich buffet of theological questions to explore.

East Portland Homeownership Fair:  Get the facts about getting a home

East Portland Homeownership Fair   When:     10 am-2 pm Saturday, April 24 Where:  Ron Russell Middle School, 3955 SE 112th Ave. (Just south of Powell Boulevard) Why:        Giving East Portland residents the tools they need to buy and preserve a new home Admission:  Free Notable:  There will be a free drawing  for a $4,000 Homebuyer’s Assistance Grant.

SE PORTLAND – Whoever said “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” wasn’t talking about the contemporary housing market.

But he could have been.

What: Oregon Wild Wednesday - A free quarterly event open to all-ages. No RSVP required. http://tinyurl.com/wildwed0410

When: Wednesday, April 14th, 6 - 7:30pm

Who: George Wuerthner, Rob Klavins, Oregon Wild, you, and all your friends!

Where: Roots Organic Brewery, event room 1520 SE 7th Avenue Portland, OR 97214 http://www.rootsorganicbrewing.com/

These are interesting times for wolves, their advocates, and detractors.

Though still home to less than 20 wolves, Oregon’s wolf plan is up for review, a Montana judge holds the fate of the species in his hands, and both wildlife advocates & wolf opponents are gearing up for a fight. No wonder the cover of Nat’l Geographic was recently emblazoned with the headline “Wolf Wars”.

Community Energy Project is selling Chinook Books as a fundraiser for only $12! (A $20 value)

CEP has been in the Portland Community for over 30 years, providing free weatherization, lead poisoning prevention, and water conservation workshops with materials for qualified participants. We also provide free weatherization and safety repairs for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Proceeds from Chinook Book sales go towards supporting these free services to the community. For more on CEP services, visit www.CommunityEnergyProject.org

Don’t know what a Chinook Book is? It’s a coupon book that supports progressive businesses. Check out their webpage: http://www.ecometro.com/portland/coupon-book.aspx

Art Spark is a monthly mingling for artists of all sorts! This event is hosted by the Regional Arts & Culture Council www.racc.org

This month we are featuring Portland City Art http://portlandcityart.org/, an organization that curates emerging and established artists in alternative venues. Like, 'curators for hire'! This is their 1 year anniversary celebrating them and Art Spark with what they do best, put on a show! Exhibition, "A Rainy Day Wildfire". + DJ + live music, "Why We Must Be Careful" http://www.myspace.com/whyimustbecareful

Thursday, April 15, 2010; 5-7p+; Olympic Mills Commerce Center, 107 SE Washington. All ages event!

More information at www.portlandartspark.com or contact: Tonisha Toler at [email protected]

Saturday, April 17th, 9:30a – 12:30p $30; Location: Willamette University, 1120 NW Couch, Ste. 450, Portland, OR 97209 (Next to Peet's coffee), Presenter: Peter Vaughn Shaver

The discussion of art business contracts will focus on the Oregon Artwork Consignment law, collaboration agreements, licensing and sales agreements, creative services agreements, commission deals, and agent representation agreements. Many creative service providers get into legal trouble due to working with clients without proper contracts. Minimizing legal risk and customer conflicts is easier once you understand the basic terms found in these types of contracts. This workshop will focus on both understanding contracts that you are presented by others as well as creating your own agreements.

Tuesday U has finally arrived at Mercy Corps Action Center with a 4-part seminar on Afghanistan. Move beyond the politicized present and explore Afghanistan's history, culture, people and challenges in four evenings, featuring Nile Green (UCLA); Hiromi Lorraine Sakata (UCLA; UW); Grant Farr (PSU); Fariba Nawa (Afghan-American Journalist) and Peter O'Farrell, (Mercy Corps Senior Program Officer).

This series is presented in association with Oregon Humanities.

For more details and registration information, go to:

www.actioncenter.org/update/201005/4/tuesdayU_afghanistan

On May 1st, 2010, leaders from across our regional food system will gather for a day-long summit to facilitate an in-depth conversation with the community about working together to create a sustainable, equitable, and healthy local food system.

The purpose of the Multnomah Food Summit is to:

• Examine the existing conditions of Multnomah County's food system
• Celebrate the tremendous work already being done in our community
• Examine and build consensus on the framework for a long term action plan
• Provide feedback and get involved in the next steps of the action plan development
• Hear from national leaders in the areas of food policy and social equity
• Network and build new connections across the food system

The summit is the kick-off event for the Multnomah Food Initiative. Currently lead by Multnomah County, the initiative is as an innovative partnership between community organizations, businesses, and local governments.

Our goal is to develop a shared community vision, collaborative food system goals, and a 15-year action plan to:

1. Increase viable local options in our food system
2. Make the healthy choice an easier choice for all
3. Build systemic justice, health and food security
4. Promote a thriving local economy

For more information about the Multnomah Food Initiative, including the 2010 Multnomah Food Report, the draft action plan and a complete listing of our Steering Committee members go to: www.multnomahfood.org

Limited seating is available, so please register right away to secure your place at the summit.

Registration for this summit is $20. There are scholarships available. If you are interested in a scholarship please contact Keith Falkenberg from Multnomah County at (503) 988-4576 or [email protected].

The second of a series on organizing local Transition Initiatives and other neighborhood groups will feature some different approaches to organizing and supporting neighborhoods.  Each one will describe how they got started and what worked to bring people together and create community.   

• Linda Hunter is the Community Outreach Manager for Our United Villages, a non-profit agency dedicated to inspiring people to value and discover existing resources to strengthen the social and environmental vitality of communities.  Community Outreach provides opportunities for people to come together to share their ideas to inspire practices that strengthen community.
• The SE Portland Tool Library is the third of four tool libraries to get underway in Portland.  Steve Couche will cover his experiences in organizing the SEPTL as well as the experience of the other tool libraries in town.
• Maggie Maggio is a volunteer with TaborSpace, a nonprofit coffeehouse and gathering place for the Mt. Tabor neighborhood that opened in June of last year.  Staffed by volunteers from the neighborhood, TaborSpace is open during the day for local coffee, tea and pastries, and open during the evening for a variety of special events. 

The panel will be followed by discussion of how we might apply these lessons in our neighborhoods.   Join us in learning how to build community and have a good time while doing it!

When: Wednesday, April 14th - 7pm

where: St. Francis Dining Hall - 1182 SE Pine St.

web: http://www.thedirt.org/node/4796

Sponsored by the Transition PDX Outreach and Transition Neighborhood groups.

Title: Development Director Status: Regular, full-time, exempt Starting Salary: $48,000 – $52,000 DOE Generous benefit package (Paid health/dental/vision; paid vacation and health leave; cafeteria plan; short-term disability insurance)

Background

Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon works with the community to end hunger before it begins. We document the extent of hunger, coordinate and publicize existing services, and advocate for programs and policies to eliminate hunger. Our goal is to provide family economic stability and food security so that all Oregonians have sufficient means and ready access to an adequate amount of nutritious, quality food. Programs are statewide in scope.

The Pamplin School of Business is pleased to announce their new Executive MBA in Nonprofit Management, scheduled to begin fall 2010. Applications are now being accepted and further information on the program, admissions and available financial aid can be found at:

An information session will be held Tuesday, April 20 at 6:00 PM in Room 426 Franz Hall (Murphy Conference Room). If you would like to learn more about the program, please contact Associate Dean Howard Feldman at [email protected] or 503-943-7270.

Howard Feldman, Ph.D.

Understanding & Managing High Conflict Personalities

A one-day training workshop sponsored by the Oregon Mediation Association (OMA)

Friday, May 14th, 2010; 8:00 a.m. – Networking and Registration; 8:30 – 4:00 p.m. Training Session

Location: Oregon State Office Building, 800 NE Oregon Street, Portland, Oregon

Registration: OMA Members: $115 until May 6 & $125 after May 6th; Non-OMA Members: $155 until May 6 & $165 after May 6

A very limited number of discounted registrations ($65) are available for fulltime students until May 1st or until the slots are filled, whichever comes first.

The Returning Veterans Project will hold a training in Portland on May 14-15, 2010 for practitioners in mental health, acupuncture, naturopathy, chiropractic and massage therapy titled "An Integrated Mind-Body Approach to Working With Stress and Trauma Reactions."

8 CEU credits are available and there is a decreased fee for students and interns. Topics will include: the Basic Psycho/Physiology of PTSD, Holding Environments for Stress and Trauma, and A Spectrum of Stress Responses and Treatment Modalities.

Presenters will be Ken Goldberg, MD; Katie Boyts, LMT; Shannon Pernetti, Archetypal Analyst, Bill Bowen, MFA, LMT; and Nora Stern, MS, PT. For more information and to register, please go to our website at www.returningveterans.org.

Do you love roses? Know how to prune and care for them, but don't have a garden to tend? Maybe you would like to become the caretaker of the rose beds at da Vinci Arts Middle School.

Our beds are in great shape now because a neighbor has been looking after them, but she would like to retire from her volunteer job. We want to find someone who can take over leading the maintenance on this small, historic garden.

da Vinci is an arts-focused public school located at 2508 NE Everett, just off 28th, between Burnside & Everett. If you are interested in taking the lead or being part of a gardening team contact Connie at [email protected] or 503-916-5356.

ROSE Community Development is seeking volunteers for the After-school and Summer Youth Program.

ROSE CDC combines affordable housing programs with supportive services and economic opportunities to Revitalize Outer South East. At Leander Court, our youth programs serve children and youth from low-income and disadvantaged families. Our goal is to engage youth in after-school and summer activities to increase their academic and life potential. We focus on academic assistance and other enriching activities and projects.

Volunteer Opportunities

Tutors: help youth with homework on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:00-5:00pm. Our youth ranges from K- 10th grade. (for the After-school program from now until June 11th, 2010)

Da Vinci Arts Middle School Life Science teacher, Mr. Hieggelke has become inspired to create a Tree Park at the school. It will be a mass planting of trees in an artistic pattern with educational signs & areas that explain why trees are beneficial to our environment. The planting will be done in the SE corner of the field behind the school.

Michelle Manthis from GreenWorks Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design will be visiting the school on April 22nd from 11:30-12:15 to brainstorm design ideas. Community members are welcome to join students and parents to hear more about the project and become involved in its design & creation.

If you are interested in being part of this exciting project, please email Connie Cheifetz [email protected]

Learn about a new culture!Mentors needed! HAYLO - Helping a youth leap onward Are you able and willing to donate your time and skills?  Do you like to have fun?  Would you be interested in welcoming immigrants into our community?  Would you like to learn about a new culture?  Learn a new language?  Would you like to be a mentor?

Come share, build, and practice your skills by volunteering your time with us!

 We are looking for mentors who are willing to help East African, Burmese, Eastern European and Hispanic youth.  Mentors will spend one and a half hours a week helping with homework and English, talking about school, life, and the youth’s future.