Explore the critical role rain gardens can play in urban stream restoration, and learn how to construct your own! You’ll learn how to:

• assess your site to decide best location and size
• calculate impervious surfaces
• determine soil suitability
• choose appropriate plants for and how to maintain your new rain garden

Participants will receive a comprehensive manual to help them get started. Space is limited and advanced registration is required. Register online at www.emswcd.org. Information: 503.935.5368.

Saturday, February 25 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Portland Expo Center, 2060 N Marine Drive, Room D202, Portland.

“Waggle & Swap” family dance party includes music, art corner, and costume supply. Free to Woodlawn Swap & Play members, $5.00 per family for non-members. For more information, call Mary at (503) 706-0233.

Village Ballroom, 700 NE Dekum St.

Solarize Northeast is a community-driven project that simplifies solar electric installation for North and Northeast Portland residents. Workshops educate residents about savings through bulk purchase of solar panels, solar options, installation, and financing options.

Saturday, January 21, 11am-12:30pm, Umpqua Bank, 1745 NE Alberta St Portland, OR 97211. Info and registration here.

If you can’t make it to this one, check the schedule for future workshops.

Make a plan, Build a kit, Get trained:
Red Cross Disaster Preparedness training for Woodlawn neighbors

Woodlawn Neighborhood Association invites residents to learn about how to prepare for a disaster. Join us at Classic Foods, 817 NE Madrona, January 18 from 7-8:30p.m. Child care and refreshments will be provided. Details here.

Please note that this training is instead of our usual monthly meeting.

We’d like to know how many people are coming, especially if you would like child care.  Please register with Sheila Hale. Thanks!

What is nutritious food? How can it help us? How is it produced? The answers involve biological processes in the soil that are responsible for full spectrum nutrition in our food. These essential processes are necessary for the optimal enzymatic activity in living organisms that brings about hardiness and abundant health in both plants and animals.

Redeemer Lutheran Church, 5431 NE 20th Avenue, 7-9 pm. Please register for this event by email to Ari Rosner.

Join other Portlanders for a unique community forum in which community members will share their experiences working with city council members and use this information to identify the skills and abilities we want and need in our elected city leaders. Click here for more information.

St. Philip Neri Church (Carvlin Hall), SE 16th & Division, 7-9 pm.

Keep Alive The Dream: 27th Anniversary Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Highland Christian Center, 7600 NE Glisan, 11am to 6pm, donation $5.00 or five non-perishable food items.

Renewal of appreciation for the life and work of one of the world’s most renowned citizens. Simulcast on TV and radio: live on PCM Channel 11, tape-delay on Channel 28, live on KBOO Radio 90.7 FM, and streamed on the web. Features local and regional civic and social speakers, artists’ displays, gospel and jazz performers, vendors’ bazaar, food court, and exhibits. Download the flier here.

The Fix-It Fairs are FREE events designed to save you money and connect you to resources. There are two coming to North Portland soon:

January 21st, Rosa Parks Elementary School, and
February 25th, Jefferson High School, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Workshops and exhibits:

Also:

Check out their official web site and Facebook page.

This presentation will explore how nationally and in the Portland area, the location of industrial sites and freeways and exposure in the workplace, home, and place of worship leave communities of color highly vulnerable to chronic disease linked to toxics. Speakers will include Ben Duncan, Program Specialist with Multnomah County Health Department, Environmental Health Division and Board Chair of OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon which works for Environmental Justice in the Portland metro area. This presentation is part of the Healthy Homes, Healthy Congregations: Green Steward Project, a pilot project to improve environmental health in our homes and our congregations, especially for infants and children.

5:30 to 7:00 p.m. at Concordia University, 2811 NE Holman Street.

You can find out what room the presentation will be in, and register for the event, by email or by calling 503-221-1054. The event is free and open to the public. Please notify us if you will be needing childcare by January 6th.

The intersection at 8th & Holman will be repainted in May.  Two residents are hosting a potluck to begin the planning. Bring a dish to share and find out how to participate and get involved in this rewarding Woodlawn project!

Here’s the actual email invitation.