Funds Support Affordable Veteran Housing Project Image rendering of the First AME Zion Church "First In Portland Project" (Photo courtesy of First A.M.E. Zion Church)   First A.M.E. Zion Church, in partnership with Logos Faith Development and Rivermark Community Credit Union, has been awarded a $3 million grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines Affordable Housing Program for its 44-unit affordable veteran multifamily housing project in Portland, Oregon. This capit

Commissioners Approve Proclamations on AIDS, Transgender Remembrance and Genocide The Board with County staff and community members proclaim World AIDS Day. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners marked its monthly Proclamation Day on Wednesday, Dec. 3, by approving three proclamations recognizing World AIDS Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance and the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of Genocide. Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards presided over

Patience and Precision Behind the Scenes Whether directing MAX trains behind the scenes or rebuilding Mustangs on YouTube, James Brown brings patience and precision to his passions (Photo Courtesy of TriMet) Behind a nondescript door flanked by a backlit, engraved glass mural, lies one of TriMet’s most important rooms. It’s a room so secure only a handful of people have access to it. One of them is TriMet’s Supervisor of the Year, James Brown. And he knows exactly what you’re

Police Officer and Author Releases Powerful Memoir on Healing, Strength & Softness Portland native, author, and community advocate Rashida Saunders Portland native, author, and community advocate Rashida Saunders is set to release her debut memoir, Permission to Break: A Memoir of Strength, Suppression, and Softness, a raw and deeply personal reflection on what it means to survive, heal, and reclaim one’s voice. Saunders, a current Portland Police Bureau officer and founder o

Honoring Local Tree Champions and Celebrating Environmental Justice Jeanne Norwood (L) and Pastor Kenneth Ransfer (R) accepted the Naito Community Trees Group Award, on behalf of Morning Star Baptist Church, for their PCEF funded work, in partnership with DePave, at the 2025 Arbor Day Celebration. Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R)’s Urban Forestry  division marked a successful 2025 Portland Arbor Day celebration with a vibrant, family-friendly event centered on community, l

Farmers Market Fund Expands SNAP Access Farmers Market 2024 (Photo Courtesy of Keri Friedman) Farmers Market Fund (FMF) announced that it will be offering a temporary, adapted program to connect Oregonians with SNAP to fresh, locally grown produce at over 40 farmers markets and farm stands across the state. This adaptation comes as over 750,000 Oregonians are experiencing a delay in their SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown. This program, called Emergency Dou

Joining Forces to Support Children Boys & Girls Aid, Oregon’s first and longest-running child welfare agency, is proud to announce that it has finalized a merger with Open Adoption & Family Services, one of the Pacific Northwest’s leading providers of all-options pregnancy counseling and child-centered open adoption services.  Boys & Girls Aid has partnered with Open Adoption & Family Services since the organization’s founding in 1985, collaborating on adoption placements for

Celebrating 20th Year Anniversary of Cinnamon Bear Cruises Kids and baby on Cinnamon Bear Lap Photo by Aaron Greene Two decades ago, Portland Spirit  had a radical idea: What if we bring back the Cinnamon Bear, Portland’s slightly creepy -but-endearing holiday mascot?  The Cinnamon Bear story, originally broadcast in 1937 as a national radio production, became a cherished local tradition when Lipman & Wolfe department store adopted the lovable bear as its Christmas mascot. Fo

Celebrating National Drive Electric Month with $5.8M in Grants PDX Diaper Bank To celebrate National Drive Electric Month, Portland General Electric is recognizing the impact electric vehicles have on communities through its 2025 Drive Change Fund awardees, who are providing vital care, human connection and food for people and their families.   The Drive Change Fund  is a grant program made possible by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program  and