Thursday is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, and it’s high time we turned out attention to the other 70% of the planet—the part that lies just beyond our shores! Come marvel at the beauty and diversity of the ocean’s inhabitants, and learn about Oregon’s own spectacular sea life at: Our Ocean is hosting a special Earth Day screening of Disney Nature's new movie, "Oceans" – There is still time to buy your tickets, but space is limited and seats are going fast!

In this free workshop, you will explore tools and strategies for preventing conflict and building positive relationships with your neighbors and community. RSVP today as space is limited!

Thursday, May 6th 2:00pm-3:30pm

Fulton Community Center 68 SW Miles Street Portland, OR 97219

RSVP by Monday, May 3rd to [email protected] or 503.546.7499. Hosted by Community Outreach of Our United Villages. Free and open to anyone interested. Snacks provided. Child care (9 and under), transportation, and interpretation provided upon request. www.ouvcommunityoutreach.org

Renewable Energy 101: A Presentation on Renewable Energy and the Choices Available to You

Thursday, April 22nd from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Location: REI - Portland store Community Room, 1405 NW Johnson St.

Diane Zipper with RNP will give an overview of what renewable energy is, an update on projects in Oregon, and discuss the environmental & economic benefits clean power brings to our state & region. She will also briefly review tax credits, incentives, and the local green power programs, giving people the tools to help support this growing industry. All attendees will receive an REI shopping bag and will be eligible for raffle prizes following the presentation.

Cost: Free!  

Please join us for a performance of "This Lime Tree Bower" on May 6th at CoHo Theater benefiting Neighbors West-Northwest, a coalition of 12 neighborhoods in NW and inner SW Portland. Seating begins at 7:45 p.m. Theater tickets are regularly $35 and $25 for seniors and students. Purchase tickets at www.nwnw.org/annual-benefit.

The general community is invited to a block party with coffee and tea beginning at 6:30 p.m. Please bring cookies to share! A raffle will proceed rain or shine! Raffle tickets are $10 each and 3 for $25. To purchase raffle tickets call Angela Southwick at 503-823-4211.

Event Location: 2257 NW Raleigh Street, Portland, OR 97210

Event Contact Info: [email protected] or call Angela Southwick at 503-823-4211

Interested in your food security? Want to add a lovely tree to your yard? Consider picking up a fruit tree from Friends of Trees.

Thanks to generous donations from several nurseries in the Willamette Valley, we are able to offer a great variety of apples, pears, plums, cherries, grapes and more for a fraction of the cost. Due to the very high level of interest, we are limiting participants to three trees per household, with a small suggested donation per tree. It’s a great way to add some flavor and interest to your garden, and help support Friends of Trees.

In addition to all the incredible fruit trees, we will also be slashing prices on our leftover tree stock. Need an elm for your yard? This is where to pick it up.

West Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District is hosting a free pollinator workshop. Come learn about the role pollinators play in our ecosystem and learn how to draw them to your backyard!

Join us at the SW Community Center to hear experts on bats, bees and other pollinators. You’ll also construct a bee box which will help protect bees during inclement weather.

When: Saturday, May 1; 9:30—Noon Where: SW Community Center, 6820 SW 45th Avenue, Portland, OR

Reistration required. Please register at: http://www.wmswcd.org/content.cfm/Events/May-1,-2010-Butterflies,-Bats--Bees,-Oh-My

For more info: visit www.wmswcd.org or call 503.238.4775

The Northeast Portland Tool Library and Sowing Circle Farm are hosting a workshop to teach community members how to build raised beds. Come be a part of the ceation of a new Northeast community garden!

WHEN: Saturday, May 1st 9:00am to Noon

WHERE: NE 20th and Killingsworth;

lawn of Redeemer Luthern Church/NEPTL

WHO: All are welcome! No need to be a NEPTL member.

HOW MUCH: Sliding scale of $5-$10

Visit the Northeast Portland Tool Library to sign-up during open hours. (Saturday 9am-2pm, Wed. 5:30-7:30) NE 20th and Killingsworth

Contact Katie with any questions: [email protected]

The Oregon Campus Compact (ORCC) Summer AmeriCorps*VISTA program, in partnership with the Portland Schools Foundation, places Members with schools and nonprofits to support the academic achievement and career & college exposure of rising 9th graders in the Portland metro area. ORCC will be launching recruitment for our summer AmeriCorps*VISTA Program with two upcoming recruitment fairs at Portland State.

The recruitment fairs will provide an opportunity to learn about the program, meet site supervisors, and interview for the program. Please RSVP to [email protected].

Monday, April 26th Portland State University 1825 SW Broadway, Portland http://www.pdx.edu/campus-map Smith Center, Room 327

Portland Community College invites you to celebrate Earth Day at our new LEED Platinum certified Willow Creek Center this Saturday.

WHO: Bring the whole family! The event is free and family friendly.

WHAT: Activities will include live music, pot decorating, planting organic vegetables, compost and gardening tips, worm bin demonstrations, face painting, Beaverton Farmers Market vendors, tours of the sustainably built Willow Creek Center, a community art project, information about green job training at PCC and much more!

WHEN: Saturday, April 24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: PCC Willow Creek Center, at the corner of S.W. 185th Ave and Edgeway Drive. (Right on the MAX blue line!)

Project Director

The National Alliance On Mental Illness of Clackamas County (NAMI CC) is seeking candidates for a Project Director. The Project Director shall have general direction of and supervision over the day-to-day affairs of the non profit organization .The Program Director reports to the Board of Directors, and is responsible for the organization’s consistent achievement of its mission and financial objectives. NAMI Clackamas County is an affiliate of NAMI Oregon which is part of NAMI National .We are a grass roots, support, education, and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives of all those affected by mental illness.

US Fish & Wildlife Service is seeking a Conservation Planning Assistant.  This is an AmeriCorps position through Northwest Service Academy's Professional Placement (P2) program.  Please see position description and application instructions at http://www.nwserviceacademy.org/position.cfm.

Job Announcement

April, 2010

Title:   Outreach Organizer Contact: Email Tyrone Reitman:  [email protected]

Centro Cultural of Washington County -- An Invitation to Apply for Executive Director

THE OPPORTUNITY Centro Cultural announces the retirement of its long-term Director, Sabino Sardineta. Recruitment for a new Director is underway for an exceptional opportunity with Centro Cultural. The Director is a key executive management position overseeing a variety of program services.

Title: Director of Development Works for: Works as an independent contractor for the Oregon University System on behalf of the Oregon Sustainability Center Owners Group (composed of the Oregon University System, City of Portland, Portland Development Commission, Portland Sustainability Institute, Oregon Living Building Initiative of non-profits) Location: Portland, Oregon Term: Full-time

www.oregonsustainabilitycenter.org

Background:

Description: The Buckman Elementary SUN Community School is looking for an intern that has training and/or experience working with emotionally disturbed children to work one-on-one with a 3rd grade female student during our extended day programming.

Intern responsibilities (included but not limited to):

>Help the student transition from the end of the school day to after school programming

>Help the student integrate and engage in after school enrichment activities and classes

>Be a constructive role model

>Collaborate with extended day staff to assess student’s needs and how best to address them

>Develop effective strategies for helping the student succeed in extended day programming and school

We have a credenza and 8 board room type rolling chairs that we would like to donate to an organization that might be in need of them. I have photos if you are interested I can send them to you. Must be able to pick up and cart away! Please contact Marci @ Regional Arts & Culture Council, 503-823-5111, [email protected] (email prefered).

We are located at 108 NW 9th Suite 300, Portland, 97209. Thank you.

Are you ready to take the city by bike, bus, and streetcar? Learn how to design a neighborhood or a rainwater drainage system? Get your hands muddy in the morning and shake hands with the city’s leaders in the afternoon? Then check out www.catlin.edu/place for a unique summer opportunity.

Your Green Gift Can Restore a Local Sanctuary

Honor your mother and the earth by giving Friends of Trees Gift Trees for Mother's Day. (www.FriendsofTrees.org/GiftTrees) For a donation of $35, Friends of Trees will plant a young native tree in honor of your mother and send a gift acknowledgment card in her name.

Gift Trees are planted in the Collins Sanctuary adjacent to Forest Park during one of two annual Gift Tree plantings. All who give or receive Gift Trees for Mother’s Day this year will be invited to the next Gift Tree planting this fall. A Gift Tree costs $35, and a Gift Grove of six young native trees costs $100.

Affordable office space available to non-profit organization

Opportunity to share unique, affordable office space with 3 vibrant non-profit organizations (Portland Fruit Tree Project, Soltrekker Organization, and NE Portland Tool Library!) We are looking for one more non-profit partner to share our wonderful little building at NE 19th and Killingsworth. We are especially interested in bringing in an organization whose mission is related to food/agriculture, equity, sustainability, or community resource-sharing, but open to any non-profit (must have 501c3 tax-exempt status).

Rent is only $125 per month, plus $48 for utilities (including wireless internet). 

Includes the following:

What can you or your organization offer a group of eager kids this summer at a Free Summer Lunch site? We want to know so that we can include you in our "Project Summer: Everybody Eats" Resources and Activity Guide.

The Resources and Activity Guide will be distributed to people who run Free Summer Lunch programs throughout the tri-county area. We know that one of the best ways to draw kids to the sites, which are generally open to all kids (ages 1-18) in the neighborhood, is to make sure it isn't just about a nutritious meal, but fun under the summer sun.

Can you offer games, art, educational activities, safety fun, crafts, music, or something else to kids at a Summer Food Site for a day? A week? Once a week for a month?

MIKE Program is a local non-profit focused on reaching out to at-risk youth in our communities. We mentor and teach healthy behaviors, all the while promoting projects and accomplishments by the youth to encourage a sense of empowerment that ideally offers the youth opportunities to reach back to their communities and start a cascade of healthy living. We are looking for volunteers interested in public health and policy, mentoring, office help, writing, publicity, and so much more!

NO FEE FOR THIS LUNCHTIME DISCUSSION

Start a small retail business during the worst economic downturn in a generation? Do it without any paid advertising? And compete with some of the biggest retail chains in Oregon?

First time small business owner Michael Hanna says YES to all of these questions. Michael and his wife opened a mattress and bedding store on January 2nd in NE Portland. So far the results have been terrific! At this brown bag lunch Michael will share his start-up story and he'll facilitate a small business 'idea-sharing' session. Michael's previous careers include: TV News Reporter (KATU), TV Ad Sales Person and Media Sales Manager.

***

You are invited to a FREE training on transportation, land use and housing planning, designed specifically for older adults!

The training will be led by a group of graduate students from Portland State University's Master of Urban Regional Planning Program. It is free and open to Oregonians (50+) interested in learning more about regional planning systems and avenues for meaningful involvement.

Date: Monday, May 10, 2010

Time: 10am - 2pm

Place: Clackamas Community College, McLoughlin Hall (Room 254), 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City, Oregon

To RSVP please contact us at (503) 342-2071 or by email at [email protected] by May 4, 2010. Transportation assistance is available. Visit our website at www.sageplaces.com for more info.

Celebrate Creativity in Aging!

Be a founding member of a new premier Portland art festival, Grand Works Northwest, that we be featuring the talents of elder artists. All the artists will be age 60 or better but you don't have to be to help.

Join us on May 22, 2010 at The Mark Building (1119 SW Park Ave ~ next to Portland Art Museum), Portland OR 97205) from 10am-6pm. Volunteer are needed on both May 21 and 22. All volunteers will be given lunch and a T-Shirt along with access to all exhibits and workshops. Training will be provided in early May.

Grand Works Northwest is a collaboration between Elders in Action and The Geezer Gallery.

Call 503-235-5474 for more details.

National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive Saturday, May 8, 2010

Letter Carriers across the state will collect food donations as they deliver the mail. This one-day food drive raises more than 1-million pounds of food for hunger-relief in Oregon and Clark County, Wash. Help us meet this year's goal of 1.75-million pounds of food in one day by volunteering to help out at one of your local Post Offices.

Most shifts are from 3 to 7 p.m. Age 16 and up. Volunteers must be comfortable standing outdoors, bending and lifting. Due to post office regulations, advance registration is required. To sign up, click here: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?AP=856894792

Why should you volunteer as an Activity Aide?

• You are wanted and needed • Adults w/disabilities need you • Bring social change • Contribute to society • Learn new job skills • Add experience to your resume • Increase your self esteem • Make new friends • Achieve personal growth • Plus, have fun!

Duties include: reading, assisting instructors with games, lunch, coloring, dancing, field trips, etc.

Requirements: * At least 16 yrs. old, * Minimum 1.5 hours a week, * Background check and drug screening

If interested, please call: Carolyn Corthell, MSW - Volunteer Coordinator - Milwaukie & Gladstone @ CCI Enterprises (503) 652-0458 x216

Help Growing Gardens provide plant starts to low-income families!

Growing Gardens' Home Gardens Program digs at the root of hunger by helping low-income families grow veggies in their own back yards. Our annual Plant Distribution Day is a celebration of spring when participants in our Home Gardens Program have the opportunity to gather and choose veggie starts for their gardens.

We're looking for volunteers to help with several projects in the lead-up to the event in the first weeks of May, as well as at the event itself on May 15th. Check out the volunteer opportunities at the end of this message.

Please contact Nat at [email protected] or 503-284-8420 for more information and to sign up. Go to www.growing-gardens.org to learn more about what we do.

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.

Experience is the best teacher, and you have a lifetime’s worth—don’t let it go to waste. Share it! Experience Corps will give you the opportunity.

Experience Corps, a program of Metropolitan Family Service, is an innovative program that connects older adult mentors (55+) with students in public schools throughout the Portland Metro Area. Experience Corps volunteers provide mentoring and academic support to students to boost student academic performance, help schools become more successful, and enhance the well-being of both themselves and students in the process.

Currently, Experience Corps is recruiting mentors to serve at Hall and Davis Elementary Schools in Gresham.

Join your friends and neighbors for the first annual Tryon Creek Watershed Wide Event, a day of hands-on restoration and celebration throughout the Tryon Creek watershed in SW Portland and Lake Oswego. Volunteers will be removing invasive plants and maintaining native plantings at the Lewis and Clark Law School, a site where SOLV and Tryon Creek Watershed Council volunteers have been working for several years.

It is one of 10 restoration sites located throughout the watershed where volunteers will be working on habitat restoration projects during the Watershed Wide Event. The event supports our continuing efforts to improve habitat in the Tryon Creek watershed for threatened steelhead and salmon.

Portland Sunday Parkways is more than an event – it’s an experience! Join more than 20,000 Portlanders on Sunday, May 16th – the first of five total Sunday Parkways scheduled for 2010 – for an afternoon of fun (think cycling, walking, running, skating, activities in the park, local food, families and more!)

The May Sunday Parkways will include 5.8 MILES OF CAR-FREE STREETS and four activity-filled parks! Learn more at PortlandSundayParkways.com