February 2013
SE Uplift e-News 
Keeping you up-to-date with the coalition!

The new SE Uplift e-Newsletter brings you stories and news about our neighborhoods and happenings in the coalition. You will also be able to find event listings for our neighborhood associations in the newsletter and community-wide listings on our events calendar. Learn more about submitting news, stories and events here.
Cleanup Coordinator's Meeting and Q & A with Karen Hery

Sunnyside Cleanup Planning for Cleanups is underway. Help and expertise are available! Veteran Cleanup Coordinator and maven of the Sunnyside Swap Shop Karen Hery answers a few questions on how to pull together a successful event. Consider attending the Annual Cleanup Coordinator's Meeting on February 13th to learn how to plan a cleanup or improve the one you're already doing. Karen will be sharing her expertise alongside Alicia Polacock from the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability. Details are here

 

Over the years Karen has led the Sunnyside Swap and Cleanup channeling her formidable focus and energy into what has become a three day event of Useful Goods Exchange, Cleanup and Swap ending in a Rummage Sale. Working with a great team of volunteers, this weekend of events takes place at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in April and is open to everyone for sharing used items, dropping off stuff to be recycled or disposed of and to seek out great deals at the rummage sale. Karen answers a few key questions below. 

 

Q: What is the most important thing to know to start a cleanup?

A: You can make your cleanup as simple or as complex as you choose. Do what is going to work for you.

 

Q: What skills must a Cleanup Coordinator possess?

A: You have to be reasonably organized, flexible and have a sense of humor.

 

Q: You've led the Sunnyside Swap and Cleanup for years now. Share a key strategy that you have learned.

A: You need a good endgame. Have a great team of volunteers to wind up the event. Pre-coordinate with Goodwill or another organization able take a broad range of what is left over.

 

Q: What are a couple of important elements to remember? 

A: Your location is critical. Build a team of five to six core volunteers. Build a crowd of people who will volunteer and participate. Arrange for donated food and drink for the folks who are pitching in. We play music at our event - we create a soundtrack that helps everybody to feel good! 

 

cat tower Q: What is the weirdest item ever brought to your Cleanup or Swap?

A: A four foot carpeted climbing structure for cats in the shape of a Martini glass complete with carpeted olive!  

 

Q: This is your last year as the Cleanup Coordinator. What has inspired you and kept you going over the years?

A: I have seen thousands and thousands of objects go through hundreds of hands. Everybody is richer at the end of the weekend.

 

Sustainability Workshop: Greenspace & Working with the City

sustain workshop Could your neighborhood use more greenery? What if that gravel parking lot was a pocket park or that troublesome alleyway an orchard?

 

If you are at all interested in creating new community green space or improving existing spaces in your neighborhood - we have the workshop for you!

 

Please join Southeast Uplift for our second Quarterly Sustainability Workshop, highlighting green spaces and working with the city, including pocket parks, urban orchards and alley gardens on Saturday, February 16th, 2013

from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm.  

 

With project presentations, networking opportunities and useful tips, this free workshop will provide participants with the inspiration and practical tools they need to create alternative green spaces in their own neighborhoods!


For more information and to register, please visit:
  Quarterly Sustainability Workshops

 

Space is limited, so register soon!  

Grant Funding Available

There are always more projects to do than dollars on hand. Is your project a good fit with this program? The Community Watershed Stewardship Program announces that grants of up to $10,000 are available to support projects that improve neighborhoods and communities while also improving the health of our watersheds. The deadline for applications is March 29th, 2013.

 

Eligible projects include neighborhood safety, health and livability; youth leadership and skills development; community gardens; art and education and cleanup and restoration.

 

Details about the program , how to apply and upcoming workshops are available here: Community Watershed Stewardship Program 

 

Mt.Scott-Arleta Neighbors Start Foot Patrol
foot patrol
A team of neighbors from the Mt. Scott-Arleta community has joined forces to start a foot patrol. While a number of folks have been involved in issues affecting livability for some time, many members of the community wanted to take on issues of graffiti, trash and vandalism proactively.

Hearing the neighbors concerns about petty crime in the area, the Mt. Scott-Arleta Neighborhood Association reached out to their City of Portland Crime Prevention Specialist, Brad Taylor. Taylor informed the group that the key principles of a foot patrol are a commitment to be an active and positive presence in the neighborhood and to reinforce each person's responsibility to report suspicious and illegal activity. Convened by Taylor a dozen interested folks attended a training session learning the rules and responsibilities of a foot patrol. Additional details covered were what to wear, what to bring, safety requirements and how to report suspicious activity. While on patrol the focus is to be aware of street level activity and toward community building. In January the team went out on their first patrol.  Taylor accompanied the eight or so volunteers on their first outing and he reports that the kick-off effort was "incredibly successful." They expect to continue their patrols once a month and are excited to accept additional volunteers. To learn more about the Mt. Scott-Arleta Foot Patrol or to find out how to start a foot patrol in your community, contact Brad Taylor at [email protected] or call him at 503-823-2781.
Neighborhood Association Happenings
Mt. Scott-Arleta
An all ages neighborhood social is being held on Saturday, February 9th from 3:30 - 5:30 pm. The gathering is a party for folks who live and work in the neighborhood and it will include a presentation of Neighborhood Survey Results. The Survey Project was made possible through grant funding from the City of Portland, SE Uplift Neighborhood Small Grants Program and Mt. Scott-Arleta Volunteers.

 

The Foster Green EcoDistrict invites participation in an on-line virtual Town Hall hosted by the Portland Development Commission. Participate and provide your comments on what you want for the future of the Foster Corridor.

Brentwood-Darlington
At a general meeting on February 6th, proposed changes to the Brentwood-Darlington Neighborhood Association bylaws will be up for a vote. The vote is required for the changes to be officially ratified. The changes were approved by the Board at their January 17th meeting. The general meeting will be held at the Brentwood-Darlington Community Center from 7 - 9 pm.

 Eastside Forum Project
Want to take action to engage your community in issues that matter to you? Living Stages is accepting applications for the Eastside Forum Community Training, March 9-10, 2013, and for the 82nd Avenue Players, an ongoing performance troupe committed to performing plays that provoke public discussion about neighborhood issues. Participants will receive a small stipend for each performance, as well as food during the rehearsals and childcare upon request. Please contact [email protected] or call 503-334-7491 for information and application. The application deadline is March 1st. No theatre experience necessary.

Neighborhood Associations submit event or workshop details here!
SE Uplift Coalition Happenings
SE Uplift and the Central Northeast Neighbors Coalition are working together to learn what efforts residents, community groups, business leaders and public agencies are currently involved in to make communities along 82nd Avenue more livable. Please take a few minutes to answer this brief survey.

 

On February 12th a celebration is being held to recognize fifteen projects that were selected for funding as part of the SE Uplift 2013 Neighborhood Small Grants Program. Read about the program and the selected projects here.

Interested in hosting a cleanup in your neighborhood? Attend our Annual Cleanup Coordinator's Meeting on Wednesday, February 13th to learn more about the process and meet seasoned coordinators to get some tips and resources! For more information go here, contact Ashe Urban or call 503-232-0010 ext. 313.

A SE Uplift Transportation Subcommittee has been formed to focus on transportation issues and policies. The subcommittee is open to representatives from the neighborhood associations as well as individuals interested in issues including Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) budgeting and project selection, pedestrian and bicycle safety and city and state policies that impact how we all get around. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 27th 5:30 - 6:45 pm in the Fireside Room at SE Uplift, 3534 SE Main. This will be followed by the Land Use Committee meeting from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. For more information contact  Bob Kellett or call 503-232-0010 ext. 314
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Community Calendar
Our calendar is reserved for community; coalition; neighborhood; and city events, workshops and trainings. To submit an event or meeting to our calendar email  [email protected].

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3534 SE Main St., Portland, OR 97214 � 503.232.0010 � www.southeastuplift.org