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April 2019
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| Volume 17, Issue 3 | April 2019 |
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Community News April 2019
Beaverton Historical SocietyTuesday, April 9, 7 pm, doors open 6:45, Elsie Stuhr Senior Center, 5550 SW Hall Blvd., Suggested $3 donation benefits Beaverton Historical Society. The Newell Pioneer Village Museums, including the Newell House, Butteville Academy, and Pioneer Mothers Memorial Cabin share a part of our rich pioneer history through living history tours and events throughout the year. Museum Director, Ellen Crauthers, dressed in period dress, will be sharing some information about pioneer cooking. Come join us in refreshments and see a small hands-on demonstration that will introduce a taste of what it may have been like to help keep the family fed in the mid-1800's.Like the other living history interpreters dotting the Champoeg museums, Ellen is enthusiastic about showing and telling history in a way that makes our pioneer history come to life. For more information, please contact historicbeaverton.org or call (503) 430-0106.
Pancake Breakfast at Cedar Mill ElementarySaturday, May 4, 8 am-12 pm, Cedar Mill Elementary School Gym, 10265 NW Cornell Rd., $5 per person or $20 per family Who loves pancakes? Please save the date for the annual pancake breakfast at Cedar Mill Elementary, The pancake breakfast is a long-time school tradition and community favorite put on by the fourth graders as a fundraising effort. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend this fun family event!
Funds are used to send the fourthgraders on field trips that extend their learning and experiences beyond the classroom as they learn about the history and government at the state level (ie, State Capitol Visit, End of the Oregon Trail Visit, Pioneer Days).
Free Paper Shred EventSaturday, April 27, 10 am-1 pm, Sunset Presbyterian Church, 14986 NW Cornell Rd. A commercial-sized shredding truck will be used for this event. Items no larger than staples and paper clips may be attached to the papers. Limit of three boxes per vehicle. Participants are encouraged to donate canned food to the Oregon Food Bank at shredding events.Sponsored by Beaverton Police Dept. Don't know what papers you should keep and for how long?Check out NW Organizing Soutions’ "Save it or Shred it guide" at NWOrganizingSolutions.com. PCC Rock Creek eventsExperience Music SeriesBen Hunter and Joe SeamonsApril 9, 7:30 pm, Portland Community College, Rock Creek, Building 3, 17705 NW Springville Rd., a donation is appreciated, pay to park*. Ben Hunter and Joe Seamons are songster revivalists who perform acoustic blues, field hollers, fiddle &banjo breakdowns, and early jazz that delights audiences in concerts and workshops nationwide. With their unique integration of performance, education and modern-day folklore, the Seattle-based duo redefines the role of a songster in the 21st century. Their American Roots music is inspired by early 20th century American folk, novelty songs and black Americana. They blend the musical stories from the rural American Northwest, African American folklore and connect those lineages to music from around the world. For more information, please go to: www.benjoemusic.com. April 9, 11 am, building 3, room 114, all are welcome Ben and Joe will present a one-hour morning lecture and demonstration on American folk music. OkaidjaApril 16, 7:30 pm, Portland Community College, Rock Creek, Building 3, 17705 NW Springville Rd., a donation is appreciated.
Born into a family of musicians and storytellers in a village on the west coast of Ghana, OkaidjaAfroso is a singer, guitarist, percussionist, and dancer deeply connected to the musical traditions of the African Diaspora and devoted to bringing together diverse modes of expression in pursuit of global harmony. His four albums, most recently The Palm Wine Sea, chart a journey from his past as a vocalist, percussionist and dancer with the Ghana Dance Ensemble and Obo Addy through to the present, as a confident and mature songwriter and collaborator. His songs call back to the sounds of his youth, illuminating them with the experiences and wonder of a curious traveler, never resting and always seeking.For more information, please go to: https://okaidja.com. The series is sponsored by grants from the Beaverton Arts Council and the Washington County Cultural Coalition. The series continues throughout 2019. For more information about the concerts, please contact Anthony Catalan at anthony.catalan@pcc.edu, 971-722-7866, or view the music program’s website pcc.edu/programs/music/rock-creek and Facebook page at facebook.com/pg/rcartsenglish/events/ *Parking is $2 (permits available at parking machines). Semana de la RazaApril 22-27, Portland Community College, Rock Creek, 17705 NW Springville Rd.
One of the year's signature events at PCC's Rock Creek Campus, Semana de la Raza is a week-long celebration of the diverse experiences and widespread contributions of Latinx cultures and communities in the greater Portland metro area. All events are free for the public (hourly parking permits available onsite), including lectures, music, film, performances, awards, and more.Learn more at www.pcc.edu/semana The theme for 2019, "Unraveling Hidden Stories," is designed to highlight the often silenced voices within the Latinx community, such as women, Afro-Latinx, indigenous, and LGBTQ+. Don't miss these highlighted events:How La Raza became Latinx: Ethnic Labels and the Language of MestizajeTuesday, April 23,12-1:30 pm, Building 9, RC Library Community Room Have you ever wondered why we celebrate Semana de la Raza? Are you unsure about how and when to use the words Hispanic, Chicanx, or Latinx? Join us for a panel about the wide range of ethnic labels used to describe people of Latin American descent in the United States. Drawing on examples from across U.S. history, we’ll discuss how the words we use to describe ethnic and racial identity have been used to both oppress and empower people. Join us for a conversation with panelists Luz Villanueva, Juan Ramirez, WillanCervantez. The conversation will be moderated by Israel Pastrana, Rock Creek History Instructor. TeatroMilagro Presents: Judge TorresTuesday, April 23, 6 pm-8 pm, Auditorium (Bldg 3, Room 114), registration required (Link to register and additional details will be posted by PCC soon). Woven with magical realism and Mayan folktales, Salvadoran playwright Milta Ortiz created this new work inspired by her own immigrant experiences. Judge Torres is a story of triumph against the odds; Xiomara made her rise from undocumented immigrant to one of only a few Latina judges in Oregon. She brings diversity to the bench not often seen in Oregon or across the nation – as a Latina but also as a child abuse victim and product of the foster care system. In 1980 when she was 9, she crossed a river with her family, led by a “coyote”, who brought them to their new lives in America. When she was 13, she and her siblings were placed in foster care. In the play, La Siguanaba, a mythical being from Salvadoran legends, guides her, providing strength and wisdom to light the way, and Jan, her court appointed advocate, pulls her up when the challenges become too overwhelming. As a “MeToo Dreamer” the odds of success were small, statistically only 3% of foster kids make their way to college, making Xiomara’s story of becoming a judge a great inspiration. Judge Torres is a modern day fairytale rooted in Salvadoran folklore. Judge Ximoara Torres faces many obstacles in her turbulent journey crossing the border, maneuvering the US foster care system, missing her family, aging out, and becoming the most recent Latinx judge in Multnomah County, Oregon. But these barriers are no match for her Salvadoran-American grit. Latino &Tejano Community Building in Washington CountyFriday, April 26, 11 am-12:30 pm, Building 5, Room 122, free for PCC students, staff, and faculty. The Washington County Museum is excited to present a panel conversation with esteemed community members Evangelina Sanchez, Hector Hinojosa and José Jaime in conjunction with the museum’s current exhibit, AgriCulture: Shaping Land & Lives in the Tualatin Valley, and Semana de la Raza at Portland Community College Rock Creek. The discussion will be moderated by PCC Rock Creek President, Dr. Chris Villa, and will explore connections between personal experiences, community building and agriculture in Washington County. Followed by guided tours at the museum until 2 pm. For more information, contact: info@washingtoncountymuseum.org. Feria de las FloresSaturday, April 27, 10 am-4 pm, Rock Creek Campus Quad, free Bring the entire family for a celebration of Latinx culture, including food carts, music, magicians, and more. Free Discussion About What it Means to be an AmericanWednesday, April 17, 1 pm, Portland Community College, Rock Creek Campus Events Center in Building 9, 17705 NW Springville Rd. The United States is a culturally diverse nation with residents who can trace their heritage to lands across the globe, and our diversity is projected to continue to increase over the next several decades. Given the differences of race, ethnicity, place, religion, wealth, language, education, and ideology that exist in the US, what are the things that unite us a nation? How do we understand what it means to be American and what we hold valuable? This is the focus of “What Does It Mean to Be American?” a free conversation with Ellen M. Knutson. Sunset’s Annual Service Day 2019Saturday, April 27, 8 am-12 pm, Sunset High School, 13840 NW Cornell Rd. Whether you can spare 30 minutes or three hours we have projects that need your help! This event is open to all future, current, and past students and parents as well as community members, so come be a part of the fun! For more information, call: 503-356-2960. Portlandia Brass Ensemble "groupmuse"Saturday, April 13, 3:30-5:30 pm, $3 reservation and $10 recommended donation to the musicians. Portlandia Brass Ensemble will perform an in-home neighborhood concert. A groupmuse is a live 'mostly' classical music house concert. It's a casual, friendly, intimate gathering. Groupmuse concerts are casual and BYOB. Our Bach-themed program will also include works by Silvestri and Cole Porter. We'll have a few light snacks to share. RSVP here to get the address and details http://l.grpm.us/GQQOoQ Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/263625924548840/ PBE website: http://www.PortlandiaBrass.com Cedar Mill Little League 30th Anniversary
April 27, Alpenrose Field Complex Batter up! 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of Cedar Mill Little League.CMLL has become the largest Portland area Little League, and continues to grow thanks to support from our community and volunteers.To celebrate the long history, CMLL is planning a special day with activities that include:
If you have never attended a game at Alpenrose stadium now is the perfect opportunity!Seeing the joy on the kids' faces as they play in a real stadium is a bucket list item for any baseball or youth sports fan. Additional details about the event will be made available on the CMLL website (www.cmllonline.org) as the day approaches.If you have any interest in volunteering or contributing to the event please email david.gaibler@comcast.net. Mark your calendar now and don't miss celebrating with us and supporting your local neighborhood kids! First Pacific Northwest players compete in World Series of LacrosseIn February, a team of lacrosse players from the Pacific Northwest, including seven players from Cedar Mill, competed in a Western Region Qualifier in Irvine, California for the opportunity to play in the World Series of Lacrosse. The U13 team, called Northern Pacific Lacrosse (NPL), beat the odds and secured a spot. It is the first time the Pacific Northwest will be represented in this prestigious event.
Northern Pacific Lacrosse is a collaboration between three Pacific Northwest lacrosse clubs, Madlax-Oregon, Cityside Lax, and South Sound Lacrosse, to provide greater exposure for the top talent in the Pacific Northwest U13 division. By bringing each club's top players and coaches together, NPL creates a highly competitive training and playing experience. Club directors selected their top players to participate in the team, that played competitively together for the first time at the Valhalla Invitational in 2018. Subsequent practices and training camps helped prepare them for the WSYL qualifier. The World Series of Youth Lacrosse West Qualifier is one of six regional qualifiers for the 5th Annual World Series of Youth Lacrosse Championship Series in Denver, CO. The competition was offered to the best U13 Lacrosse programs from 13 western states. The NPL team qualified, not by winning every game, but by coming out ahead with least goals scored against them. The inaugural Warrior World Series of Youth Lacrosse presented by The Coca-Cola Company was held in 2015 in Denver, Colorado. Over the past few years the event has grown to include US teams that have all reached the Championship Event through a series of Regional Qualifiers. In addition, a select group of international teams will be invited to attend. The 2019 World Series of Lacrosse will be held July 1-4, 2019 at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The top teams from each region will play against the best teams from the other regions and a select group of international teams. The Championship Game will be played at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on July 4th and broadcast live on ESPN2. Indivisible Cedar MillMonday, May 6, 6:30, email for location Come join Indivisible Cedar Mill for our December meeting. We are a progressive, grass-roots organization that opposes the Trump administration and believes in furthering progressive causes as well as acting locally to keep Oregon blue.Doors open at 6:30 for an hour of socializing. Meeting commences at 7:30, ending promptly at 8:30. Please email Karyn or John for location at karyn@karynservin.com or theportlandfoxes@gmail.com. Folk dancing at the Grange HallMondays, April 1, 15, and 29, 7-9 pm, Leedy Grange Hall, 835 NW Saltzman Rd, $6-$10 a couple, free for first-timers Join in for fun folk dancing at Leedy Grange with Sue & Friends. Enjoy easy to intermediate level dances with this friendly group. Newcomers welcome, no experience or partner is necessary. We focus on classic Israeli dances with a splash of the newer, and a dash of International. If you are a step-counter, 7000 steps for the session have been reported by dancers! If there is enough interest (minimum of five students), a beginner's class could be started. Please send an email to Sue if interested - pifdnews@gmail.com. For more details see sites.google.com/site/pifdnews. Washington County ForumThe forum meets over lunch every Monday, September through June, (except holidays) at Coyote’s Bar & Grill, 5301 W Baseline Rd.Following the speaker, there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Asking questions of our speakers is a privilege of Forum membership. See the website for more information. April 8 State of the City, Frank Bubenik, Mayor, TualatinApril 15 Affordable Housing, An Update, Lynn Peterson, Metro Council PresidentApril 22 State of the Campus, Dr. Christopher Villa, President PCC-Rock Creek CampusApril 29 Candidates in the May Special District Elections, Races TBAMay 6 Lifelong Civic Education is Important for Everyone, Donna Cohen, MLIS, MEdCedar Mill and Bethany Libraries news and eventsInternational Read-In Celebration: Music and Illustration: Bringing Stories to LifeSunday, April 7, 3-4 pm, Cedar Mill Library Cedar Mill Library hosts Portland Chamber Music for a live performance joining music and stories. Celebrated author/illustrator Brett Helquist will present two of his stories set to an original score by composer Regina Sadowski. Brett Helquist is known for his illustrations in the children’s books,“A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket,” as well as for his own writing. Join us following the performance for a short drawing tutorial with the illustrator! Recommended for age 6+. Candy Sushi Making & Peeps DioramasWednesday, April 13, 2-3:30 pm, Cedar Mill Library Create your own candy sushi with rice crispies and various other sweets. See who can make the most appetizing dish! Teen Art FestWednesday, April 27, 5:30-7 pm, Bethany Library, kids ages 11-18 Tap into your creative side and try something new or stick with what you love! Many different art supplies will be provided. Spring THPRD Nature Mobile VisitsSelect Wednesdays from 2:30-4 pm The Nature Mobile brings the environment to the Cedar Mill & Bethany Libraries! Each visit will feature new ways for your child to explore the exciting role nature has in their lives. Your children will get to touch, smell, and see new things that will spark their imagination and grow their awareness of the world. Drop in and discover nature’s diversity! Ages 5 and up. Mammal ManiaApril 10 – Cedar Mill; April 24 – Bethany Discover animals big and small as we examine their bones and pelts to figure out how their adaptations help them survive in the wild. Investigate the interactions between predators and their prey. Woody Wood DucksMay 8 – Cedar Mill; May 22 – Bethany From nesting in trees to swimming in ponds, learn how to recognize one of the most colorful ducks in the world, the Wood Duck, next time you see one in your neighborhood park. Volunteer Opportunities:Summer Reading AssistantsThe library’s Summer Reading Program counts on the help of nearly 100 volunteers to sign up readers and award prize books. Game Assistant for Adult OutreachWho says games are just for kids? Adults play, too! Volunteer to be a Game Assistant for a 21+ game night at a local pub to promote the library in the community, particularly among patrons in their 20s and 30s. Help set up and play board games/video games, engage the attendees, and help clean up. One Sunday/month, 5:00pm-9:30 pm. 2nd Edition – an upscale resale boutiqueIf you can spot a diamond in the rough, have a sense of the “going rate” for good stuff, or love to engage with customers, you will enjoy volunteering at 2nd Edition as a sorter, pricer or cashier. Weekday and weekend shifts, age 15+. Learn more and sign up at library.cedarmill.org/volunteer/. Questions? Contact CMBCL’s Head of Volunteer Services, Jen Imai, at 503-644-0043, ext. 111orjeni@wccls.org. Art of the Story FestivalFriday, May 3, 6:30-7:30 pm, Christ United Methodist Church, 12755 NW Dogwood St. Professional Storyteller, Rev. Robert B. Jones, Sr. will present: Alabama Stories, Tales from the Motherland, at Christ United Methodist Church. The event is hosted by Cedar Mill and Bethany Community Libraries as part of Washington County Cooperative Library Services’ Art of the Story Festival. The Reverend is a native Detroiter and an inspirational storyteller and musician celebrating the history, humor, and power of American Roots music. A 2018 Kresge Fellow, his deep love for traditional African American and American traditional music is shared in live performances that interweave timeless stories with original and traditional songs. Free Family Mornings at Washington County MuseumSaturday, April 13, 10 am-1 pm, Washington County Museum, 17677 NW Springville Rd.
Washington County Museum invites you to get physical!As part of the Free Family Morning series, the Portland-based artist group Physical Education leads this fun and active body movement workshop. Artistskeyon gaskin, Allie Hankins, Lu Yim and Takahiro Yamamoto will share their love for movement and dance to help visitors celebrate their bodies and senses. One of the fun exercises is Hankins’ Transcendentaerobicourage. “I will help visitors work individually and as a group to breathe, vocalize, bounce, sweat, push, rest and dance,” says Hankins, “helping them access the pleasure of effort.” Everyone can enjoy this lively event, all bodies welcome! Physical Education's vision is to offer people of all kinds ways to think about and enjoy art that uses movement and performance. PE knows that some folks may feel they don’t understand what a body in movement means, and they work to open up paths to understanding and question where that confusion may come from. Physical Education organizes and hosts reading groups, lectures, curated performances, aerobics/movement classes, and straight-up sweat-it-out dance parties. Learn more at https://physicaleducation.life/ Free Family Mornings is an ongoing series hosted by the Washington County Museum. Each month during the school year local artists lead family games and art projects. These workshops are drop-in with no registration required. Museum entrance is free during the event and families are welcome to visit all the exhibits. The Free Family Mornings series is supported in part by the Beaverton Rotary. Viva Village April EventsThe following events are open to all. Some require RSVP .For more Information or to RSVP, email vivavillageevents.org or call 503-746-5082. To see a complete list of April events, including those open only to members and volunteers, go to vivavilllage.org; click on Calendar. Nature WalkSaturday, April 6, 9:30 am, Lowami Hart Woods Natural Area, 14895 Hart Rd. Women’s CoffeeTuesdays April 2 and 16, 10 am, Jim and Patty’s Coffee, 4130 SW 117th Ave. Village 101 PresentationSaturday, April 13,10 -11:30 am, Elsie Stuhr Center, Cedar Room, 5550 SW Hall Blvd Information for prospective members and/or volunteers. Thursday Night SocialThursday, April 18, 6 pm, The Lodge at Cascade Brewing, 7424 SW Beaverton Hillsdale Highway, open to all, RSVP. Men’s Coffee BreakTuesday, April 23, 10-11 am, Solace and Fine Espresso, 4655 SW Griffith Dr. #160 Washington County Sheriff’s Office Drug Turn InSaturday, April 27, 10 am-2 pm, Aloha Villa Shopping Center or Bales Cedar Mill Market Place In partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office will collect any unused or unwanted prescription drugs. Holy Week Labyrinth Walk
Everyday from April 14 (Palm Sunday) through April 19 (Good Friday), 3-8 pm, Christ United Methodist Church, 12755 NW Dogwood St. Enjoy some peace and quiet as you walk an Indoor Labyrinth in the Memorial Hall. You’re welcome to come and enjoy additional events even if you choose not to walk the labyrinth. Palm Sunday Journey through Holy Week as a Family, an Intergenerational Event, 4:30 pm in stations surrounding the Labyrinth in Memorial Hall Maundy Thursday—Foot Washing Service, 6 pm in the Colburn Chapel Good Friday—Tenebrae Service, 7 pm in the Colburn Chapel Website: www.cedarmillchristumc.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cedarmillchristumc/ Artists transform furniture into futures at Community Warehouse’s Chair Affair
Saturday, April 13, 5:30 pm, The Sentinel Hotel, Tickets: $150 each, chair sponsorships: $500. For months now, there’s been a special spot in the Warehouse where staff has been collecting and storing kid-sized chairs to be repurposed to bring joy and belonging to children in our communities. Right now, dozens of these repurposed chairs fromthe warehouse are being transformed by talented local artists into one-of-a-kind art pieces. This year’s incredible offerings from artists will both be on display at the event and available afterward to children utilizing the Warehouse. Local businesses, supporters, and event guests can sponsor a transformed chair, guaranteeing it a special place in a child’s home. Many of the children who become owners of these artistic chairs haven’t known stability or possessions in quite some time. These chairs provide a place to read, do homework, create artwork of their own. They also say to a child, “You are special. You are loved.” Community Warehouse’s Chair Affair truly is a night filled with community and generosity. Opening with a lively cocktail hour and silent auction, followed by a delightful dinner and exciting live auction, the event is also an opportunity to spend time with other community members who see our furniture bank as an important offering in a time of great need. Our region only has one furniture bank to provide essential items for people and families whose homes—and lives—are transformed by the generous offerings of our community. Neighbors helping neighbors, turning houses into homes. Together, we put used goods to good use every day as we help our neighbors in need. Chair Affair is the Warehouse’s major annual fundraiser. All proceeds from the event directly support Community Warehouse. Learn more at www.communitywarehouse.org and purchase event tickets and chair sponsorships at www.communitywarehouse.org/chairaffair or contact anna@communitywarehouse.org; 971-865-5284. Our Diversity is Our Strength
Photo Contest March 1-April 14 After a very successful exhibition in 2018, we are excited to announce the second edition of this curated photography exhibit, created to highlight the diversity and strength of our communitythrough original photographs. The Immigrant Story and Pro Photo Supply partner to make this project possible, helping to address issues that are increasingly prevalent in our country today: xenophobia and the dehumanization of immigrants, whose stories are our stories as a community and a nation. This year’s photo contest welcomes submissions that depict the stories of immigrants who have added to our diverse cultural landscape. We encourage photographers of all levels, including students, to submit, as well as families and individuals who wish to share family snapshots which help tell their own immigrant story either past or present. A final selection of 30 images will be made in May and showcased at Pro Photo Supply in a large format exhibition that will run from June-August 2019. There will be a gallery opening and a community event at their store on First Thursday, June 6. Our curators, photographers Paige Stoyer and Jim Lommasson, will also select up to 20 images to be shown at Blue Sky Gallery throughout June and July, on the community wall and in one of the community drawers that the gallery is providing especially for images from our exhibition. Photos will also be shared on social media and other online platforms. We are a nation of many immigrants and ethnicities woven together to create a beautiful tapestry of different identities and cultures. The current social and political climate in the United States has reminded us that many of our neighbors continue to face prejudice.This exhibit will bring together photographers, the photo education community, and the immigrant community to tell the story of our past, present, and future as a nation of immigrants. For more information and to submit entries, please visit our website. TVF&R Asks Voters to Renew Local Option Levy for Emergency ServiceVoters will see Measure 34-286 in the May 21 election to decide whether to renew Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue’s local option levy to maintain emergency response services and personnel hired since 2000.
Measure 34-286 proposes a renewal of TVF&R’s existing levy rate at 45 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation for five more years. The current levy expires in June 2020. Under Oregon law, levies expire in five years or less and require voter approval for renewal. For property assessed at $300,000, about the average in TVF&R’s service area, the cost of the local option levy would be about $135 per year or about $11.25 a month. If the levy is not renewed at the existing rate before it expires in June 2020, funding that pays for at least 92 of 432 TVF&R firefighters and paramedics would be lost. If the levy passes, levy funds will maintain firefighter, paramedic, and some staff positions that support operations. Levy funding will also be used to purchase land for future fire stations, fire hose, firefighting tools, and medical equipment to ensure effective emergency response. If approved, the levy renewal would appear on the November 2020 property tax statement at the same rate of 45 cents per $1,000 AV and be identical to what currently appears on individual tax bills. TVF&R voters first approved a 25-cent per $1,000 assessed valuation local option levy in 2000 and renewed it in 2004 and 2008. In 2014, voters approved a replacement levy with a rate of 45 cents per $1,000 assessed valuation. The 2014 replacement levy provides 22 percent of the fire district’s funding. TVF&R used the levy funds approved by voters in 2014 to:
Thanks to community support, TVF&R has been able to make investments that help ensure its ability to provide fast and effective emergency response with new station construction, four-person crews, alternative response vehicles, improved equipment, and community risk-reduction efforts. While the district has made strides to reduce response times and improve outcomes, increasing call volume, traffic congestion, and development remain challenging. For more information or to schedule a presentation, call Public Affairs Chief Cassandra Ulven at 503-649-8577. Kids &families need supports to succeed and thriveEarlier this month, atWashington County Kids’ third “Out of School Time Summit,”the group released their comprehensive report recommending that the Board of County Commissioners act to find sustainable funding for before school, after-school, and summer enrichment programs, and affordable day care to serve county kids.Summit attendees included representatives from out-of-school time program providers, and elected officials from throughout the county.They heard the results of WCK’s recent focus groups and online survey, funded by a grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust. Katie Riley, President of Washington County Kids, detailed how the project team reached out to as many OST programs as possible in the county to conduct focus groups with parents and guardians and asked additional people to respond to their online survey. The themes that emerged clearly showed that families face major barriers to access such as inability to afford programs’ high costs, especially to families with multiple children, and mismatches with parents’ and guardians’ work schedules, school schedules, and provider schedules. Although funding for Washington County out-of-school-time programs could conceivably come from county general funds, those funds are already allocated and stretched thin.A new source of funding is needed.A modest property tax levy can be that source. Successful levies in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland, Florida, and Missouri, demonstrate that more children and families can be served and that voters support the solution. Previous polling by Washington County Kids shows that county voters are willing to vote for such a levy.Members of Washington County Kids have volunteered to be involved in more detailed planning along with County, school, and provider representatives. The “Imperative to Act” report and executive summary can be found on www.washingtoncountykids.com. Contact WCK at washcokidsoregon@gmail.com. WCK is a non-profit dedicated to increasing awareness of the need to support OST programs and the use of best practices. These programs improve the lives of kids and their families.Kids who participate are more likely to graduate and be successful in life.Their families have less pressure and more support.
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