Neighborhood Notes

We had an exciting realization last week about our shared efforts to build community and respond to the concerns that were discussed at the family conversations in mid-November.

Since mid November, families have pulled together to create the ZCC NW Indoor Play Space and Family First Sunday, where we meet and play together. We’ve been blogging and sending weekly emails to connect through virtual community. We engaged a political process (too late, unfortunately) regarding city-funded family infrastructure and learned some hard lessons. But that hasn’t stopped us from developing a voice to advocate for fulfillment of the River District Plan. And through our census we’ve connected to more than 45 children, and the number grows weekly.

As we connected to other families in the central city, they told us that they, too, would benefit from a community center, more childcare and a school in downtown. They live in condos and apartments as well, and don’t have space for their kids to play indoors. They, too, don’t feel that they have a voice. While they share many of our concerns, they don’t feel included in ‘River District Families’.

These families encouraged us to lift our gaze out of the neighborhood and take a more expansive view. They helped us realize how important it is for families throughout Central Portland to come together to benefit all families who live, work and play in the central city.

We know good advice when we see it. We’re re-branding as Central Portland Families and are developing our connections to families in Downtown, Central East Side, Northwest Portland, Old Town Chinatown, and The Pearl. Our community building and advocacy efforts will broaden as the number of families working together grows. You can contact us with questions, or to get involved, at centralportlandfamilies@gmail.com.