Introduced by Karen Hill, Executive Director of the foundation, Chelsea spoke first briefly about the joy of being able to spend time with her dad as both have been campaigning for Hillary Clinton, then she mentioned that she grew up doing service projects like this. Then she introduced her dad. Bill said he enjoyed supporting such great organizations as were involved in today’s event, the I Have A Dream Foundation, Hands On Greater Portland, YouthBuild, America Forward and the Experience Corps, and that he did service projects with such groups whenever he wasn’t being a campaign volunteer. He also said his family has known for 20 years or more and has adored Eugene Lang, who helped create the first I have A Dream Foundation.

He proudly mentioned the Americorps volunteers who have been a part of the success of the garden, and said that their full-time efforts formed a nucleus around which other volunteers could coalesce. He urged the audience (Hillary and Obama supporters sporting badges and tee-shirts and multi-lingual signs, curious neighbors and some with their leashed dogs) to become activists and support their community.

Other candidates walked among the crowd seeking the votes of those who hadn’t yet mailed in their ballots. John Kroger, candidate for State Attorney General is shown here talking to Woodlawn Neighborhood (and NE Coalition) Board member, Democratic District leader and gal who likes to have fun, Shirley Minor. You can see she’s quite adept at multi-tasking.

Portland police had blocked off some popular park paths with security tape, obvious secret service folks flanked the dignitaries, and Port of Portland Officer Mike Oester and his bomb-sniffing dog Linda were on dignitary protection duty.

Then they stepped down off the hill and joined Dream kids, Experience Corps volunteers Portland Community Garden staff, and others in planting and tending the garden. (Different parts of the garden are assigned for the students to have classes in, to plant, and harvest and for neighbors and their friends to plant, use and share with community food banks.)

The WNA periodically calls for volunteers to help weed and tend the community parts of the garden. The available plots in this organic garden are spoken for this year, but you can get on the waiting list.