Barn Dance & Barbecue Benefits Sauvie Island Center’s Annual Fundraiser

Barn Dance & Barbecue Benefits Sauvie Island Center’s Annual Fundraiser

Sauvie Island, August 1st, 2015. It was a banner day for kids when Sauvie Island Center hosted its 7th annual Barn Dance and BBQ. The event, presented by Whole Foods Market, drew more than 225 people. Sponsors and guests help raise more than $17,500, which will go toward funding farm field trips for local school children.

Cory Schreiber, co-founder of Sauvie Island Center and Anna Goldrich, Executive Director of Sauvie Island Center.

Cory Schreiber, co-founder of Sauvie Island Center and Anna Goldrich, Executive Director of Sauvie Island Center.

Lyndsey Vaughn-Dieter, guest of Sauvie Island Center Board Member Lauren Johnson, collects her silent auction items.

Lyndsey Vaughn-Dieter, guest of Sauvie Island Center Board Member Lauren Johnson, collects her silent auction items.

Superman is in the house!

Superman is in the house!

big treeFrom The Sauvie Island Center:

We serve elementary school youth of Portland by providing hands-on educational field trips at our Sauvie Island location in Howell Territorial Park, managed by Metro.  Through our education programs, the Center seeks to increase the food, farm and environmental literacy of the next generation.

watering crops

The field trips take place on the Sauvie Island Organics farm, and the curriculum includes modules covering Soil Investigations, Plant Parts Investigations, and Wildlife and the Food Chain.  Our trips also include the Grow Lunch Garden, where students plant, tend, harvest and eat fresh vegetables from their own field.

mission

Established in 2005, the Sauvie Island Center educates youth about food, farming, and the land.

what we do

The Sauvie Island Center increases food, farm and environmental literacy in the community by providing hands-on educational field trips for elementary school children. The trips, which take place on the Sauvie Island Organics farm and on the grounds of the 120 acre Howell Territorial Park managed by Metro, offer a rich and unique opportunity for Portland elementary school students to visit and explore a real, working farm.

 

our curriculum

Our farm-based curriculum was developed through a unique partnership between farmers, educators and culinary professionals.  Currently, there are five curriculum modules, each designed to educate children about the relationship between the food they eat, farming and the land.

Soil Exploration – Students dig into the compost pile to discover what constitutes “healthy” soil, and to better understand its relationship to the farm system.

Seed to Harvest – Students plant, tend and harvest vegetables from their own farm row, the Grow Lunch Garden.

Plant Parts Investigation – Students explore the farm while searching for and tasting food that represents each of the six plant parts: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds.

Wildlife & the Food Web – To learn about the food web, students hone their sensory awareness skills while inspecting the landscape for signs of wildlife foraging on the farm.

Pollination Station -Students search for pollinators at work in the native hedgerow, the heritage orchard and on the farm, while learning about the critical role pollinators play in our food system.

 

 

 

Supporters Enjoy Oregon Historical Society Exhibit “World War II: A World at War, A State Transformed”

Supporters Enjoy Oregon Historical Society Exhibit “World War II: A World at War, A State Transformed”

Portland, August 9th, 2015. The Oregon Historical Society is honoring the Greatest Generation through an original exhibition, opening 70 years following the end of World War II.  In World War II: A World at War, A State Transformed, artifacts and manuscripts from the premier Mark Family Collection illustrate this massive conflict, from the battlefields in North Africa to the home fronts in America. Letters, historic documents, and military uniforms provide a sense of place and give visitors a lens into the many events of World War II, including prominent battles and critical political decisions. The exhibit will be open until December 7, 2015th.

Lectures have included  WWII veteran Robert Weiss here for a special Q&A on his experience at Normandy.

Lectures have included WWII veteran Robert Weiss here for a special Q&A on his experience at Normandy.

Coast-Guard-and-Navy-delivery-to-Iwo-Jima,-1945
"World War II: A World at War, A State Transformed" has a Enigma Machine on display.

“World War II: A World at War, A State Transformed” has a Enigma Machine on display.

Featured artifacts include:

  • Wilson’s Fourteen Points
  • Engima Machine, the Nazi coding device
  • Log of Japan’s attack at Pearl Harbor
  • Royal Air Force uniform
  • Ring of the balloon bomb
  • Shrapnel from Fort Stevens
Did you know that Claire Phillips Snyder is the only Oregon woman to receive America's highest civilian decoration (for her espionage and humanitarian work as a guerilla leader in the Philippine Resistance during World War II)? Learn more about this remarkable Oregonian tonight at OHS with author & filmmaker Sig Unander!

Did you know that Claire Phillips Snyder is the only Oregon woman to receive America’s highest civilian decoration (for her espionage and humanitarian work as a guerilla leader in the Philippine Resistance during World War II)? 

Columbia Sportswear has generously stepped up to sponsor free admission for veterans and active duty military through during the run of WWII: A World at War, A State Transformed (June 26 – December 7). Visit our admission page to find out what forms of identification are required to take advantage of this generous discount.
Veterans: Share Your Stories!
Richard-Stanton

Are you a veteran who has a story to share? Or, do you have photos of a grandparent who served our county that you would like preserved? Share your photographs, films, or documents on veteranslegacies.com, a worldwide database and educational resource dedicated to preserving the stories of all veterans, from all conflicts. This database is part of the Historical Outreach Foundation.

The Big Float V Benefits Human Access Project’s Fight for Clean Water

The Big Float V Benefits Human Access Project’s Fight for Clean Water

Portland, July 26th, 2015. Despite the overcast weather, The Big Float V was dubbed a success. Over a thousand water lovers, including some four-legged friends, flocked to the Willamette River in downtown Portland for the fifth annual event. The goal, according to organizers from the nonprofit Human Access Project, is to encourage people to “get into the river” and support its preservation and healthy development as a recreational resource…and they add, to have a whale of a good time in the process.

It takes a lot of volunteers  from the Human Access Project to manage the boaters

It takes several dozen volunteers from the Human Access Project to manage the boaters.

This group of friends is ready for the river. They're With Scott Landia, Jayna Lamb, Chaska Ñahuicha, Flū Rangpor Nęsnah, Michelle Stoll and Tina-Marie Novak.

This group of friends is ready for the river and includes Scott Landia, Jayna Lamb, Chaska Ñahuicha, Flū Rangpor Nęsnah, Michelle Stoll and Tina-Marie Novak.

It's a competition to come up with the most colorful floats and hats to boot!

It’s a competition with bragging rights on the line to come up with the most colorful floats and, in this case, hats to boot!

The pirates were out in force including  Brandon CS Sanders and Max at Willamette River.

The pirates were out in force and are always bent on pillaging.

This group favored flamingos and swans for the afternoon on the Willamette.

This flotilla  favored flamingos and swans for their afternoon on the Willamette.

Open to all ages, the event begins with a parade. Floaters gathered at Tom McCall Bowl then carried their floatation devices south, along Waterfront Park, to the put-in point at “Poet’s Beach” beneath the Marquam Bridge. Floaters paddle down river and land on the west bank at the Tom McCall Bowl. That’s where Portland’s downtown beach party was held – complete with a music barge and live bands, food carts, beer/wine garden, sponsor booths, and a kids’ activities area.
From the Human Access Project HAP:

HAP uses funds from events like the Big Float to fund important projects. is actively working on a few projects on the Willamette River (in no particular order):

1) Marquam Beach (“Poet’s Beach”) Access.

Under the Marquam Bridge on the west side of the Willamette River is a perfectly good small beach, but there has never been a safe way to access it. HAP has changed that. Working with many others, we have created a new pathway to this beach. Along the path are stones that are engraved with children’s poems and native words from the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.

2) Tom McCall Bowl Beach.
We have UnRocked the Bowl to create a beach area at Tom McCall Waterfront Park. We will continue to do so every summer so Portland has a city beach to use. Numerous volunteers join us every year in this “unrockin'” community effort.

3) Audrey McCall Beach.
This summer we will continue removing concrete, glass and debris from Audrey McCall Beach, on the eastside of the river just south of Hawthorne Bridge. Our plan is to remove 50 yards of concrete from the bank this year.

4) Operation Deep Clean. 
We hope to bring in a barge with an extremely heavy duty crane to work with divers to see how much junk we can pull out of the depths of the Willamette.

5) Bridge Signage.
When you drive over the bridges in downtown Portland there is very little acknowledgement that you are driving over a river.  We need signs that remind people that the Willamette River is indeed a river that we are proud of in this city.

6) Softening the seawall.
We are hoping to enhance the ugly forboding seawall with artwork until the time it can be reengineered to provide better access to the water’s edge.

7) Concrete removal.
We will continue to remove concrete from the banks of the eastside. Let’s face it, when you see chunks of discarded concrete on a riverbank it kind of communicates that we do not love our river.  We are hoping to pick our river banks clean of ugly concrete chunks.  More to come!

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone in Portland could actually get into the Willamette River? Simply stroll down to the water’s edge, wade out into it, and swim or paddle around to their heart’s content in a safe, public area? It’s time we did something about that. And that’s what our not-for-profit organization, Human Access Project, is all about.Let’s face it, even if you wanted to swim in the Willamette River in downtown Portland today, how would you do it? There’s no easy way to get into it.  It’s like this:  if you want birds to come into your yard you put up a bird feeder and plant trees to create a bird-friendly habitat. The same is true for humans and the river. If we want to make it so people can swim in the Willamette we need to create better access and a more inviting environment. For instance, imagine the Tom McCall bowl area redesigned with a beach instead of the unfriendly jagged rock river edge currently there.In short, the Human Access Project is driven to promote activating the Willamette River for recreational use that considers all the critters that live and love the water including humans.
The Human Access Project vision is simple:  a city in love with its river. This grassroots not-for-profit group has three concentric goals: 1) Create a human habitat and more access points along the Willamette River in downtown Portland. 2) Inspire people to get into the Willamette River.

3) Facilitate stewardship of the Willamette River and Watershed.

Transgender Activist Aydian Dowling Throws Out Opening Pitch At Bat’N Rouge

Transgender Activist Aydian Dowling Throws Out Opening Pitch At Bat’N Rouge

Portland, July 26th, 2015. Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) hosted the fourth annual “Bat ‘n Rouge” softball tournament and the names of the teams had a real TV tone: The Golden Girls, Baywatch, Orange is the New Black, and The Big Bang Theory! The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Aydian Dowling, (on the right) one of most prominent faces in the trans visibility movement. The family-friendly tournament featured drag queens, music, and general hilarity at Erv Lind Stadium in Normandale Park. Bat ‘n Rouge raises funds to help those impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Aydian is From Eugene and was a recent contender for the cover of Men’s Health magazine. He was also recently featured on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. (More about his story below)

The Orange is the New Black batter faced off with one of the umpires.

The Orange is the New Black batter faced off with one of the umpires.

The “Bat ‘n Rouge” softball tournament was hosted by Portland drag legends Carla Rossi and the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence were cheerleaders.  The tournament is the vehicle though the fun is anticipated to come from the good-natured spectacle of the characters, peppered with comedic relief and spicy banter. The goal was to raise $20,000.

big bang vs orange is the new black

The Bay Watch team has a great time on the field.

The Bay Watch team has a great time on the field.

About Aydian Dowling from Men’s Health:

Nearly 1,000 men entered this year’s Ultimate Men’s Health Guy Search, all with a story of personal transformation to share. But Aydian Dowling, one of the 10 semifinalists in the contest, has a transformation tale that’s a bit unlike any other contestant’s.

Event leader, Andrew Shayde posed with Aydian Dowling, calling him a cool cat on instagram.

Event leader, Andrew Shayde posed with Aydian Dowling, calling him a cool cat on instagram.

The 28-year-old from Eugene, Oregon is vying to become the first transgender man to be on the cover of Men’s Health—a feat that would have seemed unthinkable 25, 10, and even 2 years ago. But in 2015, Caitlyn Jenner has undergone a male-to-female transition, Amazon’s trans-centric series Transparent is the reigning Golden Globes winner for best comedy, and trans actors have prominent roles in major movies and TV shows, like Laverne Cox in Orange Is the New Black.

Dowling, who won the readers’ voting portion of the Ultimate Guy contest and its reserved spot in the top 10, is hoping to make a similar wave. “Having a trans person on the cover would tell people that no matter who you are, you can be the man you want to be,” he says. “It’s fully possible if you put the time and effort and balance it takes to find the man in you.” (Want to know who else made the cut? Meet the Top 10 Ultimate Men’s Health Guys.)

It took 21 years for Dowling to find that man. Dowling was born female, and says “there were definitely signs” that he identified as male at an early age. “I just wanted to act a certain way,” he says, “but I was told that was not how girls act.”

At 13, Dowling developed a crush on a girl, and at 16, had come out as a lesbian to friends and family. By 21, he was dressing in masculine clothes, but it wasn’t until his then-girlfriend asked the pivotal question—“Have you ever wanted to be a boy?”—that Dowling gave any thought to being transgender. – Men’s Health

Bastille Day Festival Comes to Life at the Portland Art Museum

Bastille Day Festival Comes to Life at the Portland Art Museum

Portland, July 11th, 2015. Nearly 5,000 watched aerial dance performances during the Bastille Day festival on the Portland Art Museum’s grounds. This was the first time for a co-presented event by the museum and the Alliance Française de Portland, and the crowds enjoyed many educational activities,  French food, vendors, music and more. The collaboration was a natural because the Portland Art Museum is currently featuring an exhibition of masterpieces from the École des Beaux-Arts—the original school of fine arts in Paris and a repository for work by Europe’s most renowned artists since the seventeenth century. The collection includes approximately 140 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper dating from antiquity through the nineteenth century and will be on display until September 18th.

The exhibition focuses on epic themes such as courage, sacrifice, and death, as well as the ways that changing political and philosophical systems affected the choice and execution of these subjects. Among the featured works are paintings by Jacques-Louis David, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Anne-Louis Girodet, and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres; sculpture by Antoine-Louis Barye, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Jean-Antoine Houdon, and François Rude; and drawings by Simon Vouet, Antoine-Jean Gros, and Théodore Géricault.

The exhibition focuses on epic themes such as courage, sacrifice, and death, as well as the ways that changing political and philosophical systems affected the choice and execution of these subjects. Among the featured works are paintings by Jacques-Louis David, Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Anne-Louis Girodet, and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres; sculpture by Antoine-Louis Barye, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Jean-Antoine Houdon, and François Rude; and drawings by Simon Vouet, Antoine-Jean Gros, and Théodore Géricault.

According to the Portland Art Museum, Gods and Heroes offers unique insight into the development of an aesthetic ideology that fostered some of western art’s most magnificent achievements. The epic deeds of gods and heroes, enshrined in the Bible and the works of Homer, were the primary narratives from which both aspiring and established academicians drew their inspiration. At the École, learning how to construct persuasive and powerful paintings from carefully delineated anatomy, expressive faces, and convincing architectural and landscape settings was understood to be the route to success and recognition.

The Alliance Francaise got the ball room for the celebration:

Rona Davis, Gordon Davis and Linda Fuchs.

Rona Davis, Gordon Davis and Linda Fuchs.

Maury Hornstein (Hardy Cognac representative).

Maury Hornstein (Hardy Cognac representative).

Mission Statement:

The Alliance Française, headquartered in Paris, is a worldwide non-profit organization with the mission of promoting Francophone culture and language and cross-cultural understanding. There are over 1,000 Alliances in the world. Of 100 Alliances in the U.S., the Portland group is the only Alliance in Oregon and ranks 7th in the United States.

Alliance: 503.223.8388

40th Street of Dreams Benefits Home Builders Foundation

40th Street of Dreams Benefits Home Builders Foundation

Lake Oswego, July 29th, 2015. More than 1,500 people attended the VIP Block Party to kick off the 2015 Street of DreamsThe Home Builders Foundation (HBA) received a check for $7,600 raised from ticket sales to the event. The donation will assist HBF’s mission to build and renovate housing for the homeless in the Portland metro area.

The HBA presented a check to the Home Builders Foundation for $7,600 raised from ticket proceeds from the Block Party! The donation will assist HBF's mission to build and renovate housing for the homeless in the Portland metro area. Attendees of the NW Natural Street of Dreams will have the opportunity to support HBF all month by adding $1 to their ticket price.

Attendees of the NW Natural Street of Dreams will have the opportunity to support HBF all month by adding $1 to their ticket price.

The Street of Dreams is located in The Highlands in Lake Oswego which is North of Lake Oswego High School. Parking for the show is located off site. Visitors need to park in designated locations and ride the shuttle to the show. Approximate shuttle ride time is 5-7 minutes.

Hours of Operation

10:00am – 9:00pm, purchase tickets until 7:30pm everyday

Tickets

General Admission – $17.00 each person and Children 10 & Under – Free

This year’s NW Natural Street of Dream’s builders took on the remodel of the mid-century modern “Shaw House”, designed by Oregon’s own John Yeon. It’s one of the nine homes on display through August 30th. Many of this years’ homes feature contemporary indoor-outdoor living with floor to ceiling windows and carefully placed covered outdoor living areas.

More than 1,500 people attended the VIP Block Party to kick of the 2015 Street of Dreams in Lake Oswego.

There was a big crowd at the VIP Block Party to kick of the 2015 Street of Dreams in Lake Oswego.

Guests toured nine homes, including this one from Brian Schmidt Builder.

Guests tour nine homes, including this one from Brian Schmidt Builder.

There are numerous events that benefit the HBA’s charity, including a special party for Doernbecher.

The Doernbecher event is a VIP event on August 17th.

Portland’s own Patrick Lamb provided entertainment at the Xfinity Stage.

Portland’s own Patrick Lamb provided entertainment at the Xfinity Stage on VIP night.

Portland Cider provided cider to event attendees.

Portland Cider provided cider to event attendees.

Cara Pepper Day from Z’ivo Wines poured tastings for guests.

Cara Pepper Day from Z’ivo Wines poured tastings for guests.

2015 NW Natural Street of Dreams Chair Rudy Kadlus talks to KGW’s Cassidy Quinn about the Home Builders Foundation, the non-profit recipient of funds raised at the Block Party.

2015 NW Natural Street of Dreams Chair Rudy Kadlus talks to KGW’s Cassidy Quinn about the Home Builders Foundation, the non-profit recipient of funds raised at the Block Party.

Here’s more event information:

Come visit the 2015 NW Natural Street of Dreams, The Highlands in Lake Oswego, located North of Lake Oswego High School. Parking for the show is located offsite. Please park in the designated locations and ride the shuttle to the show. Approximate shuttle ride time is 5-7 minutes.

Saturday and Sunday
4000 Kruse Way Place

Lake Oswego, OR 97035

Monday through Friday
2500 Country Club Road

Lake Oswego, OR 97034

Certain days may require the use of overflow parking lots. For handicap accommodations, please contact 503-684-1880.

Every weekend, the Lake Oswego Trolley will transport guests from downtown Lake Oswego to The Highlands. So whether you are shopping at the Lake Oswego Farmers’ Market​ or having lunch at one of downtown’s fantastic restaurants, hop on the trolley at 2nd Street & A Avenue to come to the show.

Tail Wagging Benefit Raises  $294,000 for Oregon Humane Society

Tail Wagging Benefit Raises $294,000 for Oregon Humane Society

Portland, July 24th, 2015. Guests at the Oregon Humane Society’s Tail Wag event had a howling good time raising $294,000 for the Portland nonprofit. Cheri Jones had a chance to get cozy with new furry friend.

The event, held at Castaway and the adjoining Pomarius Nursery in Northwest Portland, drew approximately 300 people for dinner, cocktails, dancing and fund raising. Guests had the opportunity to get up close and personal with more than two dozen cats, kittens, dogs and puppies available for adoption. Special animal guest stars, such as Lola, who was part of an OHS rescue, helped attendees get a first-hand look at the work OHS does.

Judi Hood, Lola the dog, Robert Hood

Judi Hood, Lola the dog, Robert Hood

Nancy Tonkin-Zoucha, Nathan Zoucha, Pamela Tonkin, Cheri Jones

Nancy Tonkin-Zoucha, Nathan Zoucha, Pamela Tonkin, Cheri Jones

OHS Puppy

OHS Puppy

Zak Koontz, Laura Spear, Terri Koontz

Zak Koontz, Laura Spear, Terri Koontz

From OHS:

Founded in 1868 by noted humanitarian Thomas Lamb Eliot, OHS is the third-oldest humane society in the nation and the oldest in the West. Eliot initially established OHS to stop the neglect and abuse of draft animals. The mission expanded to include companion animals and, until 1933, orphaned children.

OHS is now the largest humane society in the Northwest, and adopts more animals from our Portland shelter than any other single-facility shelter on the West coast. OHS puts no time limits on how long animals remain at the shelter—a pet stays available for adoption for as long as needed to find a loving home. If a pet in our care needs medical attention, our veterinary hospital provides the pet with same level of care you would want your own pet to receive.Community Services

  • OHS finds homes for more than 11,000 pets each year
  • OHS Officers rescue neglected and abused animals, investigating more than 1,200 cases annually
  • The OHS medical team provides free and low-cost spay and neuter surgeries for thousands of pets owned by low-income families
  • OHS educators reach more than 14,000 youths and 2,500 adults annually through humane education programs
  • The OHS Second Chance program brings nearly 5,000 pets annually to OHS from other shelters around the region
  • In the state capitol, OHS is the driving force behind efforts to improve laws that protect animals and punish offenders
  • Funding OHS receives no tax dollars
  • OHS does not receive any portion of dues or donations paid to national organizations
  • OHS is an Oregon nonprofit that relies on donations
  • OHS operates independently of any other shelter group
  • Financial information, including annual reports and audited statements, can be found here.

OHS Mission

To foster an environment of respect, responsibility and compassion for all animals through education, legislation and leadership. To care for the homeless, to defend the abused and to fight with unrelenting diligence for recognition of the integrity of all animals.

Is OHS a “No-kill” Shelter?

“No-kill” is typically defined as a shelter with at least a 90% save rate. The OHS save rate is 98%, certainly fitting the definition. However, OHS does not refer to itself as a “no-kill” shelter because the term does little to help the public understand the decisions a shelter must make in caring for pets.

Some shelters that use the term “no-kill” admit only the healthiest of pets and do not face the challenge of treating and rehabilitating ill animals. A county shelter, on the other hand, must accept every pet that comes to its door, including pets who are severely ill or dangerously aggressive. At OHS, about half of the pets admitted meet the nationally recognized standard of “healthy.” The remaining pets require medical and/or behavior treatment, sometimes for weeks or months. We are committed, however, to providing the same standard of care for pets at our shelter that an owner would want for their personal pet. We never put time limits on how long pets remain available for adoption and we never euthanize pets for space reasons.

We believe the public is better served by looking at a shelter’s admission policy and overall treatment record, rather than relying on a vague term such as “no-kill.”

​​Playworks 6th Annual Corporate Kickball Raises Over $40,000

​​Playworks 6th Annual Corporate Kickball Raises Over $40,000

​​Portland, June 19th, 2015. Playworks hosted its 6th Annual Corporate Kickball Fundraiser. Congratulations to team adidas for taking home the tournament Golden Trophy and Northwest Health Foundation for being the Spirit Award winners. There were 17 organizations, and more than 250 participants, took part in an afternoon of team building, networking, and fun.
Erin Chapman gets a high-five Theresa Wright from Moss Adams for a job well done.

Erin Chapman gets a high-five from Theresa Wright of Moss Adams for a job well done.

Colleen Finn (pink) from Recesstime Sports helps ump the start of the game between Bryce Fowler (purple) from Waggener Edstrom Communications and Matty Merrill from adidas

Colleen Finn (in pink) from Recesstime Sports helps start the game between Bryce Fowler (purple) from Waggener Edstrom Communications and Matty Merrill from adidas.

Together teams raised more than $40,000 to make it possible for 16,000 Portland metro area kids in low-income schools to reduce bullying, build leadership, foster teamwork and learn conflict resolution skills through safe and inclusive play.
Alison Arella goes in for the home run kick

Alison Arella goes for the home run kick

From Playworks:
Playworks’ vision is that one day every child in America will get to play – every day. We create a place for every kid on the playground, a place where every kid belongs, has fun and is part of the game. We offer an essential opportunity for children to explore their imaginations, to connect with other kids and to stretch and grow physically, emotionally and socially. Our experience is that diminishing opportunities for unsupervised play in our society have left kids with a very thin understanding of how to manage their own play and that it is important to have grown-ups introduce some basic rules to make play work. On our playgrounds, kids feel safe and included, a part of the action. Games are safe and organized. Any kid is welcome and able to play in any game. We believe that kids have innate leadership, and give them easy ways to take ever-increasing responsibility for the quality of play and for each other. Ultimately our unique brand of play fosters greater independence and leadership among children.In partnership with teachers, principals and parents, we build a culture of play that enables kids to feel a real sense of belonging and have the opportunity to contribute on the playground, in the classroom and into their communities. We are huge fans of rock-paper-scissors. Building a play culture that acknowledges the arbitrariness of most conflicts and provides a simple, playful tool for addressing them, ultimately makes it easier for kids to recognize and address more serious conflicts.

We believe there is value in having adults play alongside of children. A grown-up standing on the sidelines barking instructions only serves to perpetuate the less-than-playful status quo. But when adults get in the game and actually play themselves, it introduces an important element of whim and shared humanity, making the play more accessible, and helping children feel safer and more connected.

We incorporate competitive activities into our programming, but we strive to do it in a developmentally appropriate way. One amazing thing about play is this: kids’ desire to keep the activity going will motivate them to take actions that are actually in the best interest of the larger group. Most often this manifests as self-handicapping: switching players, adapting the rules, etc. to keep some balance and ensure that everyone is having enough fun to continue playing.

Our belief is that creating options for children to engage in healthy, inclusive play represents an important opportunity for learning to deal with both winning and losing with grace.

– See more at: http://www.pacificnw.playworks.org/about/why-playworks#sthash.eDI4erP2.dpuf

 
 

 

Artists Repertory Theatre Announces Portland Premieres, Rare Revivals  & Broadway-Scale World Premiere Musical

Artists Repertory Theatre Announces Portland Premieres, Rare Revivals & Broadway-Scale World Premiere Musical

Portland, July 30th, 2015. Artists Repertory Theatre announces an ambitious and stylistically diverse 2015/16 season of eight engaging plays. These selections emphasize Artists Rep’s role as Portland’s premiere mid-size regional theatre company by offering five critically acclaimed contemporary plays, alongside two magnificent mid-20th Century classics, and the world premiere production of the Broadway-scale musical, Cuba Libre.

Artists Repertory Theatre

Artists Repertory Theatre at the corner of SW 15th and Morrison.

 

“This season’s line-up of bold and diverse plays presents us with characters facing and ultimately emerging through life’s obstacles,” said Dámaso Rodriguez, Artistic Director. “From challenges of immense or fantastical proportions to deep, internal hindrances they may not yet understand, the characters this season reveal the grace and beauty of accepting change through adaptation and perseverance.” Rodriguez continues, “I hope both veteran and new theatre-goers see titles that inspire them to discover what makes Artists Rep such a special place to experience theatre in Portland.”

The 2015/16 season will again feature the work of Artists Rep’s Resident Artist Company, alongside guest artists from Portland’s top-notch theatre community and beyond. Now comprised of 24 theatre practitioners, Artists Rep’s Resident Artist Company represents some of Portland’s finest talent, in a variety of theatrical disciplines.

TICKETS: All shows on sale August 1, 2015

$48 regular price; $35 previews, students, under 25

Buy Tickets: 503.241.1278 or www.artistsrep.org

Pay-What-You-Can First Preview for each performance

ASL Interpreted performances on Saturday matinee performance of each play

Open-Captioned performances third Sunday night performance of each play

ARTISTS REPERTORY THEATRE’S 2015/16 SEASON

The Understudy
by Theresa Rebeck

Directed by Michael Mendelson

An understudy rehearsal for a fictional Kafka play on Broadway teeters on the edge of reality when Harry – the understudy for Jake, who is the understudy for Bruce, a Hollywood action star about to land a multimillion-dollar part – must work with the ill-fated production’s exasperated stage manager whose life he ruined long ago. The Understudy is a raucously funny existential exposé on human motivation that examines the underbelly of the theatre business and the personal drama behind the curtain.
• Off-Broadway and regional theatre hit comedy from the writer of TV’s Smash

  • Portland Premiere

Cuba Libre

Featuring Music by Tiempo Libre

Book by Carlos Lacámara

Music & Lyrics by Jorge Gómez

Directed by Dámaso Rodriguez
Choreography by Maija Garcia

The irresistible rhythms of Cuban music drive this riveting, timely story of a man caught between countries, losses and loves, and his search for freedom. Set in America and Cuba, this universal tale reverberates across politics, ambition and romance with quick-witted dialogue, joy-filled dance and Latin-fusion beats. This Broadway-scale, contemporary musical features the internationally acclaimed, three-time Grammy nominated band Tiempo Libre with a company of 22 actors, dancers and musicians in a not-to-be-missed theatrical event.

  • Portland’s Broadway-scale World Premiere

Broomstick
by John Biguenet

Directed by Gemma Whelan

A fairytale-twisted yarn of delightful humor and spine-tingling suspense conjures a spooky seasonal experience unlike any other. With Vana O’Brien in a tour-de-force solo performance, an Appalachian witch tells a heartfelt and poetic tale of her long life from first love, to heartache, to the hair-raising vengeance she wreaks upon those who’ve crossed her.
• Critically-acclaimed spellbinding sensation
• NW Premiere

The Miracle Worker
by William Gibson

Directed by Dámaso Rodriguez

One of the most triumphant stories of the human spirit ever told, the soul-stirring The Miracle Worker evokes hope and inspiration for the entire family. With dignity, perseverance and respect in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, a child, a teacher and a family learn to communicate. A play based on the lives of Helen Keller, who became Deaf-Blind as an infant, and her teacher, Anne Sullivan, who enabled her to become one of the most influential women of the 20th century.
• 1960 Tony Winner for Best Play
• 1962 Academy Award-winning classic film

  • Uplifting Family Classic

Mothers and Sons
by Terrence McNally

Directed by Jane Unger

In this sensitive and wryly humorous 2014 Tony Award-nominated play, a mother, after a 20-year silence, pays a surprise visit to her deceased son’s former lover seeking a connection she can’t fathom. At his Central Park apartment, with his husband and young son by his side, he shows her that healing and hope are possible, even after devastating loss. In this play, vastly different worlds collide, yet truth and compassion rise to reveal that all dreams begin with the common ground of forgiveness.
• 4-time Tony Award-winning playwright
• NW Premiere

We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa,
From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915
by Jackie Sibblies Drury
Directed by Kevin Jones

A multiracial cast of six idealistic actors sets out to improvise a story about the first colonial genocide of the 20th century in Africa, but get lost in the reality of their undertaking. The unusual presentation, humor and inevitable discomfort of this provocative new play gripped theatre hubs like New York, Chicago, London, Washington D.C. and Seattle with its unique theatrical investigation of prejudice, power and perspective. “90 minutes of original, enlightening, pulse-pounding theater… It’s absolutely thrilling … it is visceral, fiercely intelligent and entertaining.“ – Backstage

  • Off-Broadway and regional theatre hit
    • Portland Premiere

Grand Concourse
by Heidi Schreck

Directed by JoAnn Johnson

In an industrial soup kitchen in the Bronx, Shelley is a nun struggling to pray and questioning her life’s work. Her world in service to the needy, alongside a Dominican immigrant security guard and joke-writing “regular,” is rocked when a rainbow-haired college drop-out comes to volunteer. The girl’s enthusiasm and erratic behavior will change the course of their lives. With touching humor this motley group unravels the intricacies of need, the vagaries of compassion and limits of forgiveness.
• Recent Off-Broadway comedic drama

  • Susan Smith Blackburn Prize 2014/15 Finalist
  • West Coast Premiere

The Skin of Our Teeth
by Thornton Wilder

Directed by Dámaso Rodriguez
This comedic masterpiece spans the entirety of history, with one ordinary American family who lives through it all. Dad’s just invented the wheel, Cain is throwing rocks at the neighbor kid, mammoths and dinosaurs lounge in the family room and mom frets about how to get all those animals on the boat two by two. Through Ice Ages, biblical floods and political conventions, the Antrobus family of Excelsior, New Jersey perseveres. With an immense cast and time-set across the ages, this theatrical allegory captures the human spirit – of brilliance, idiocy and ultimately sweet survival.

  • Rare and epic revival of the 1943 Pulitzer Prize winner

ARTISTS REPERTORY THEATRE

Portland’s premiere mid-size regional theatre company is led by Artistic Director Dámaso Rodriguez and Managing Director Sarah Horton. Founded in 1982, Artists Repertory Theatre is the longest-running professional theatre company in Portland. For the 2015/16 season Artists Rep will offer eight bold and entertaining plays written by internationally acclaimed playwrights and guided by esteemed directors. Artists Rep productions will feature the work of a core group of accomplished Resident Artists, each with a shared history and a shorthand for collaboration, working alongside guest artists from Portland and beyond. Artists Rep is also home to the ArtsHub, a program which offers residencies within Artists Rep’s facility to smaller and emerging arts organizations with subsidized administrative, performance and rehearsal space, as well other infrastructural services. The Artists Rep facility serves as a community arts center, where performance venues and other public spaces are continually buzzing with activity.

Artists Rep’s mission is to engage diverse audiences in fresh, thought-provoking and intimate theatre. We are committed to world-class acting, directing, design and stagecraft that support new playwriting and aspire to embody great literature, moving audiences to truly feel — to experience — storytelling in a way that only the best live theatre can.

The 2015/16 Artists Repertory Theatre season is presented by Ronni Lacroute/WillaKenzie Estate. Our season media sponsors are The Oregonian and KINK. Cuba Libre is sponsored by The Standard and Oakwood America, with funding from the Kinsman Foundation, and with media sponsorship from Portland Monthly Magazine and Oregon Public Broadcasting. Other season support comes from the Regional Arts Culture Council, Oregon Community Foundation, Collins Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Work for Art.

Larry King Supports Lake Oswego’s Park Academy Programs for Dyslexic Students

Larry King Supports Lake Oswego’s Park Academy Programs for Dyslexic Students

Lake Oswego, June 25th, 2015. Park Academy hosted its first ever benefit featuring a lighthearted talk with Larry King. School Founder, Piper Park, had a chance to pose with 81 year old news personality. The veteran news personality entertained the over 150 guests during an interview conducted by Margie Boulé. The event raised $256,800 for the school. Funds will benefit the Park Academy Scholarship Program, which ensures deserving students are able to receive the instruction they need to help address their dyslexia.

This inaugural event allowed the school an opportunity to share their mission and reflect on the critical  need for students with dyslexia to receive an educational experience that meets their unique learning profiles.

This inaugural event allowed the school an opportunity to share their mission and reflect on the critical  need for students with dyslexia to receive an educational experience that meets their unique learning profiles.

The evening consisted of a cocktail hour, followed by dinner, a live auction, then an interview with Ms. Boulé and Mr. King. Being dyslexic herself, Margie shared how she has always seen her dyslexia as a gift rather than a deficit.

The evening consisted of a cocktail hour, followed by dinner, a live auction, then an interview with Ms. Boulé and Mr. King. Being dyslexic herself, Margie shared how she has always seen her dyslexia as a gift rather than a deficit.

Using evidence-based teaching methodologies and individualized instruction, Park Academy serves grades 3-12 and fills a critical void in the traditional education system.

park academy classroom

Park Academy, which is located in Lake Oswego, is unique because it provides articulated elementary through high school curriculum specifically designed for students with dyslexia.

According to Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity, “Dyslexia affects 1 out of 5 people.  It crosses racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines, and with proper instruction and accommodations, it can be remediated.”

Park Academy students are enjoying great success.  According to Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity, “Dyslexia affects 1 out of 5 people. It crosses racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines, and with proper instruction and accommodations, it can be remediated.”

Park Academy serves students with dyslexia and other language learning differences in grades 3-12. Using the Orton Gillingham-based multi-sensory instructional methodology, students develop fundamental academic skills. The Academy offers a low student-to-teacher ratio with a complete range of core academic and enrichment classes, including Theater, Spanish, Visual Arts, Music, Videography, Culinary Arts and Physical Education.

Founded in 2015, Park Academy is located on South Shore Boulevard in Lake Oswego, approximately ten minutes south of downtown Portland. Park Academy is accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission (AdvancED) and is a designated Subscriber School with Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS). These organizations provide both program oversight and professional development resources.