Projects
Placemaking is the creative reclamation of public space and the core of what we do at City Repair. In addition to the projects that take place during the Village Building Convergence, placemaking happens year-round. From the Albina Triangle Project in North Portland to giving presentations nationwide, our Placemaking Program aims to empower citizens to creatively transform the places where they live. Read more about placemaking.
The VBC is a 10-day event held each spring (May 28 – June 6, 2010) where a convergence of citizens, natural builders and activists come together to help neighborhoods design and build their own community amenities. Applications are due Jan 29, although we’d love to know earlier that your group is interested. We are currently recruiting community organizers, natural builders, and detail-type people to volunteer from mid-Jan to mid-June. VBC also includes a 10-day temporary village at our central venue, where food is served nightly along with speakers and bands. Come dance! We can turn our neighborhoods into Villages – one workparty at a time! Visit the VBC page.
This annual celebration of local culture, local business and local initiative attracts over 4,000 participants – and it’s all organized by community volunteers! Join in the morning of neighborhood service projects and then come to the Celebration for live bands, alternative vehicles, green vendors, activists, workshops, and the T-Palas. Read more on the Earth Day page.
Village Planting Convergence / City Riparian
City Riparian engages neighbors in a collective process to design and install forest gardens and other permaculturally-informed landscapes in the commons. In doing so, they will incubate both social and natural capital, furthering their connection to each other and their place.
The goal of Depave is to promote the removal of unnecessary concrete and asphalt from our urban areas. The removal of impervious pavements will reduce stormwater runoff pollution of our rivers, and increase the amount of land available for habitat restoration, urban farming, trees, native vegetation, and beauty in urban areas. Depave hopes to inspire, educate, and assist through hands-on workshops, demonstration projects, and the dynamic website. Visit the Depave website
The T-Horse is a mobile tea house, public square and potluck activator that reminds us what we’re missing without local public gathering places, and demonstrates how a space can be transformed into a place. Always free hot tea and homemade chai!
Fiscal Sponsorship – Mountain Valley Community School
Mountain Valley Community School (MVCS) is an Oregon State Certified Family Childcare located in the Montavilla Neighborhood on SE 85 Ave. near SE Stark St. in SE Portland. We offer high quality Early Childhood Education (ECE). We nourish the co-creation of community amongst children, teachers, families, and neighbors. MVCS is diverse, inclusive, and accessible to families of all cultural and economic demographics. Our school fosters ecologically and socially responsible dispositions while supporting the natural fascination and love of life already present in children.
Our curriculum is based on community building through placemaking, environmental sustainability, and anti-bias. Our small class size enables us to be flexible with the various needs and interests of each child. Preschool aged children experience age appropriate enrichment in a warm community environment. MVCS supports parents by facilitating community and support networks, conferencing with parents, and facilitating workshops and forums on parenting, community building, understanding and healing from interlocking systems of oppression, and sustainable urban living.
We understand our job to be both supporting and enriching the lives of young children and taking part in creating the world we want to pass on to them. Mountain Valley Community School is our hub and we expand our community building model to include a 10 block radius around MVCS, thereby giving the children the ability to model, participate, co- create, and enjoy the world we will pass down to them. For more info see our website: Mountain Valley Community School and call Susan: 971 285 5949
