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.

Learn more about the impacts of climate change in Portland region and how you can help us ReTHINK who is engaged, how they’re involved and what they are talking about as it relates to our community. This free training includes hands-on activities, prizes, and dinner. Childcare is available upon request. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

The sessions are:

• Tues 11/29  Sustainability Matters & Climate Counts
• Tues 12/6  Be Resourceful (healthy homes, energy IQ, other resources)
• Tues 12/13  Safe and Healthy Transportation Options & Food Choices

All sessions are 5:30 to 8:30pm at June Key Delta Community Center, 5940 N. Albina Ave (at the corner of N. Ainsworth).

More information, future session dates and RSVP forms can be found here.

Looking for a place to celebrate  on Thanksgiving day? Doing the holiday community-style is a beautiful thing. There are volunteer opportunities, too!

PROPER, with Po’Shines Cafe de la Soul and Celebration Tabernacle Church, is sponsoring its 11th annual free Thanksgiving feast. There will be a full holiday dinner with vegetarian options and live entertainment.

• Thursday, November 24th  from noon to 4pm
• Celebration Tabernacle
• 8131 N Denver Ave (Kenton District), North Portland,  OR 97217

Local photographer Ben Latterell will be showing some of his wonderful photographs of Oregon from 7-9 PM at  Good Neighbor Pizzeria, 800 NE Dekum. You can preview his work here.

A brownfield is a site where contamination – or the possibility of contamination – is preventing use or redevelopment. This event, “Restore our Community, Rebuild our Wealth,” will focus on local brownfields and economic community development.

Saturday, November 12th, 11AM to 1PM, at Constructing Hope, 408 NE Church Street (at the northeast corner of MLK).

For more information, contact Steven Gilliam at Steven@oregonaction.org or 971-634-0004.

Race Talks, a discussion series sponsored by Multnomah County, will tackle the complex and sensitive topic of how race has impacted a local transportation project. This event’s topic is “Coming Together on North Williams Avenue: Reconciling Neighborhood’s Past with Proposed Bike Lane”.

BikePortland has a post with more details, take a look here.

Following the presentations, the audience wil break into small discussion groups to talk over the evening’s subject and more general topics of race and ethnicity. These groups are facilitated by trained volunteers from Uniting to Understand Racism and Portland’s Intergroup Dialogue program.

Free.

Tuesday, November 8th. Doors open at 6PM, event begins at 7PM at the McMenamin’s Kennedy School Gymnasium.

You are invited to this forum on the 2012 State of Oregon Legislative Session:

• Learn how the legislative agenda is developed.
• Hear an overview of next year’s agenda.
• Share issues relevant to your neighborhood.

Saturday, November 11th,  6:30 to 8:00 PM

Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Room C

For more information, click here.

Woodlawn Swap N Play is hosting a Halloween Harvest Festival this Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Village Ballroom, 700 N.E. Dekum St.

Kiddie movies, treats and games are provided for youngsters five and under (though all are welcome). And here’s the best part: It’s free.

Beer and wine will be for sale for $4 with proceeds going towards the opening of the Oregon Public House.

So put on the kid’s costumes, bring a blanket and a pillow, and join your neighbors for an afternoon of fun.