INVITATION: Community Outreach Open House

When Community Outreach of Our United Villages first opened its doors in July, 2002, we had a vision, hopes and dreams.  Our vision, one we continue to aspire towards, is neighborhoods recognizing and building on the strengths, talents and resources of each individual to create a more vibrant community.  Our hopes and dreams, to bring people together to share ideas and build positive relationships, were so simply stated they were perceived by some as lofty.  Although our pathways for manifesting this dream have varied over the years, our commitment to community is as strong as ever.

Please join us in celebrating community at our Open House:

THURSDAY, JANUARY 26TH
4:00 – 7:00 PM
3625 N. MISSISSIPPI AVENUE
Portland, OR 97227

Enjoy warm refreshments, bump elbows with others in the community and start the New Year with a little positive inspiration.  Children are welcome.  For more information, please contact us. 

Review: Understanding Accents Workshop

On November 16th, 2011, Judith Wild, a Portland resident and retired PSU Instructor for English as a Second Language, presented her workshop, Understanding Accents.  Sponsored by Community Outreach, this workshop addressed the psychological, cultural and linguistic challenges people face listening and responding to people from diverse, multilingual communities.

How do you feel when you can’t understand the person with whom you need to communicate?  How do you feel when you are the speaker and can’t speak fluently or are not understood by the listener?  People who attended the workshop discussed their responses to these questions and shared experiences.  We watched a video of a Zimbabwean and Vietnamese speaker, discussed the linguistic and grammatical differences between languages and went over some helpful do’s and don’ts for speaking and listening. 

Read a full review and access the handouts from this event here.

Tools for Community Building: United Nations Human Rights Day

December 10th marked the 63rd anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  We encourage you to rekindle the spirit of this historical proclamation by reading its articles, and by applying its principles in designing our communities. We recognize the need for updating this document; however, let us strive for adoption worldwide. 

“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world …”

To read the rest of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, click here.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS: Spend a little time in your community!

There are a variety of neighborhood groups and organizations throughout Portland who rely on volunteer service to sustain their efforts.  Spend a little time exploring opportunities for contributing your energy towards positive efforts in your community. 

Hands on Greater Portland
Volunteer Match
Elders in Action
Boys and Girls Club
Oregon Food Bank

The above links are a great start for matching your interests with open volunteer opportunities.  You can also contact organizations directly. 

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR: Supportive Neighbors

56. A good neighbor helps you clean up the leaves on your lawn. 
57. Host a soup swapping party at your house. 
58. Work with neighbors to donate items to a food or clothing drive.
59. Let each other know about opportunities for community involvement.
60. Take your dogs for a walk together. 

This is an ongoing list of suggestions from neighbors.  For the whole list, click here. 

Send us any ideas you have to add to this list!

SHARING INSPIRATIONAL STORIES: Student Alliance Project

We had the good fortune to meet several passionate young people from the Student Alliance Project, who happened to be tabling next to us at a recent community event.  The SAP is a youth-led collaboration that focuses on traditionally underrepresented groups in all segments of leadership in the community. 

The Project helps youth from diverse backgrounds “become the leaders of tomorrow” and provides a venue for “developing alliances, reducing prejudice and isolation, designing projects and creating a dynamic network of youth leaders who would otherwise not know one another.”  Watch their inspirational video, “I Am From” to get a taste for the positive dynamics of this group. 

To hear them speak about their project, is to be inspired yourself.  Their first Summer Program in 2011 gave participating youth an opportunity to forge friendships, build confidence, talk about their hopes and dreams, and gain leadership skills.  Click here to watch a video summary of the summer program. 

Visit their website at www.studentallianceproject.org. 

IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Feedback from a person who attended the Understanding Accents Workshop

“I enjoyed learning more ideas about how to better understand others from different languages….it was nice meeting others and hearing about their jobs/experiences.” – Ann Anderson