The City of Portland is hosting a temporary exhibit from Central City Concern in honor of Black History Month. Six historic panels that CCC installed last year on the Golden West building will be on display in the Portland Building lobby through February 28. The panels detail Portland’s African American vibrant history and contributions to the City during the early 1900s. To view the exhibit, enter the Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th.
The permanent exhibit can be viewed at the Golden West at Broadway and NW Everett. CCC has many images, information and audio from the display on our website too at http://centralcityconcern.org/golden-west-intro.html.
Three years ago if someone told me my most meaningful mentors would be formerly homeless, addicts, graduates of the state penitentiary – I would have said, not me. Too intimidating. Too scary. Too out of my comfort zone. Yet in August 2008, I was asked to do two weeks consultancy with CCC. After just one day, the spark ignited. Two weeks turned into two years.
The best perk of my job is realizing these individuals are some of the most interesting, creative, funniest, people I’ve ever met. The power of their will to completely transform their lives fuels me daily. Their stories and motivation to get up and out and onward when all odds are against them, is infectious.
It’s been my privilege to lead some of CCC’s programs that help connect these individuals to a second chance. Just nine months after we launched the Community Volunteer Corps, I’m proud to report that we’ve recently broken the 6,000 hour mark of dedicated community service to the Portland area. Within that number lies 50 graduated volunteers – each who have given 80 hours of volunteer service. Talk about a triple bottom win. Volunteers have regained their dignity, confidence, and fulfilled their desire to give back. CVC is another avenue of support to those we serve. And our community partners such as Portland Parks and Recreation, Free Geek and the ReBuilding Center have reported their parks are cleaner, their operations smoother, and that our volunteers are setting the highest bar. What a gift. You should come to our next graduation – guaranteed to make your day. Send an email to admin@centralcityconcern.org to receive notice of our next one.
Adrienne Karecki
PARTNERS:
Portland Parks & Recreation
Office of Neighborhood Involvement
City Nature
Habitat for Humanity
Pesticide-Free Parks
Free Geek
Community Reaps Our Produce & Shares (C.R.O.P.S.)
Peace Memorial Park Foundation
The ReBuilding Center
Hollywood Senior Center
Loaves & Fishes
Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation
Congratulations to Worksystems, Inc. for securing a $4 million “Pathways out of Poverty” grant! This grant will help disadvantaged populations attain economic self-sufficiency through training and careers in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. Participates will earn certificates and degrees through community colleges and other industry-recognized training providers. They’ll then receive employment placement and support in their new chosen green career area! Central City Concern’s Employment Access Center is pleased to be among the team of community-based organizations recruiting and supporting participants to this exciting program.
Executive Director Ed Blackburn and Chief Operating Officer Traci Manning share news about a major federal grant with City Council. CCC received a $8.9 million federal stimulus grant to build a new healthcare facility in Portland, Oregon.
Click on the video clip below. We shared this at our November 12th luncheon celebrating the accomplishments of CCC’s Homeless Action Fund and honoring one of our founding board members, George “Bing” Sheldon. This event raised funds for CCC’s self-sufficiency programs.
At a November 12th luncheon in downtown Portland, Central City Concern will honor George “Bing” Sheldon, SERA Architect principal, and longtime supporter of our agency. SERA has designed some of our newer buildings (catch the landmark curve of the Harris Building at 8 NW 8th Ave. below) and Bing has urged us to honor historical standards in the restoration of some of our older buildings, most recently the Estate Hotel at 225 NW Couch.
Bing is a founding board member at CCC and believes in the power of transformation – people, buildings and communities. As former Chair of the City Planning Commission, he led the state’s largest citizen-driven planning effort to produce the Portland Downtown Plan, which encouraged density and reduced sprawl.
Bing continues to play an instrumental role in Portland’s downtown renaissance, stressing urban infill, reuse and redevelopment as important strategies for creating a new sense of community. He believes that Portlanders have a moral obligation to actively participate in the civic infrastructure which reflects our community values. It is this ongoing active ownership of civic values by our citizens which is recognized by the historic quote on the Skidmore Fountain: “Good citizens are the riches of the city.”
Today, he is a champion for energy audits in all of CCC’s buildings as well as an eloquent spokesperson on the life changing effects of CCC’s Homeless Action Fund. The Fund supports a vibrant volunteer program for previously homeless individuals who are not ready for the job market yet and intensive employment development services for those who are.
Bing believes that people have the capacity to transform into self-sufficient, contributing citizens. His contributions as a citizen of our fair city go far and wide. Please join us in honoring his work and dedication to the community. Click here to view event information; order tickets by sending us an email.
The permanent exhibit can be viewed at the Golden West at Broadway and NW Everett. CCC has many images, information and audio from the display on our website too at http://centralcityconcern.org/golden-west-intro.html.
The best perk of my job is realizing these individuals are some of the most interesting, creative, funniest, people I’ve ever met. The power of their will to completely transform their lives fuels me daily. Their stories and motivation to get up and out and onward when all odds are against them, is infectious. 
