EAST PORTLAND COLLECTIVE
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : e***************e@g***l.c*m
Mission Statement
The East Portland Collective (EPC) are a group of volunteer artists, teachers, and community organizers with a defined mission: EPC builds community by offering free, all-ages art activities, entertainment, education, and fun to underserved and underrepresented community members, centering the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community, women/femmes, minorities, youth, parents, and individuals living within the margins of society. The community is focused on the Lents Neighborhood residents, and we welcome participants from all East Portland neighborhoods and adjacent areas.
About This Cause
Programs are held in partnership with groups like Portland Street Response, VIBE, Wall of Vets, Larkspur, Green Lents, Rose CDC, Portland Homeless Family Solutions, Human Rights Campaign, East Portland Action Plan, PDX Saints, Street Roots, and more. Events/classes include: -Arts & Movement - weekly painting class, craft nights, fiber arts meetup, indoor mural, body positive dance class; kids yoga; -Wellness - Community Self-Care, Spa Nights, Community Therapeutic Horticulture; -Caring for land/water/air - Green Lents’ “Air Quality Team” meetings; ‘Creating Edible Landscapes’ workshops; -LGBTQIA+ - weekly Queer Stand-up Comedy Open Mic; monthly PDX Queer & Trans Open Mic; Queer/Femme/NB dating support group; trans-femme makeup class, book reading and zine launch; “L-Word” film Premiere; -Community Clothing Closet - one-day events free, gently used clothing given to individuals and families; Shows - Live performances: bands, art shows, and music from Lents-based artists; artist fairs that are low barrier for LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC artists East Portland Collective is entirely volunteer-run and operated. We are always looking for talented volunteers to help further our mission. As a group of volunteer artists, teachers, and community organizers with a defined mission and a defined structure: our “collective” model operates as volunteers become members by putting together free programs/events for the community and/or committing a certain number of volunteer hours. In return volunteers benefit from the support of the collective to achieve their goals, reach a wide audience, grow professionally and/or emotionally, attract clients/business, transform the community for the better. M. Thompson wrote, "Enough has been taken from (or not given, for that matter) in this community for long enough. (EPC).... is the heart of the community and we need to find a way to keep it here. We love Lents!" In 2019 we averaged 10-14 volunteers per event and accumulated an annual average of volunteer hours of more than 2200 for an average value of $50,000 in in-kind support. In 2021, between 1000 and 1500 people will enjoy the events, entertainments and classes. EPC serves Lents, a low-income community and surrounding neighborhoods. Demographics: population 18,186, BIPOC 45.3%, White, 54.7%; households 5,820, median income, $46,357. All Board members live in Lents or nearby neighborhoods. Our area attracts families and individuals of limited means. At the same time, there is a lack of family fun and/or activities for the little ones that don’t cost money. Many residents work 80 hour weeks just to afford to survive and don’t have money left for fun, entertainment, or educational activities. Yet, they can benefit mentally and emotionally from leaning into their community and feeling included without having to spend money. There is no space in this area that’s not a church, bar, or it doesn’t cost money for the community to come together to have fun, laugh, and learn together -- or simply to be with each other. "Providing a space for connection without age requirements and alcohol is more important than adding another bar to Portland's landscape." J. McDonnell EPC provides events, classes and spaces so it can support this community. Not everyone is old enough to enter bars, not everyone can afford “going out,” not everyone can walk into a church or bar due to their religion or health -- but everyone deserves fun opportunities and feeling included in their community. We are an established organization with a part-time executive director and administrative assistant, an active volunteer board of directors, working with membership and partner organizations.