Valerie Kahn, Author at Sunnyside Neighborhood Association

News From Sunnyside Environmental School (SES)

Hello neighbors!

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support local artisans young and old at our Winter Craft Fair last month. We hope you found lots of lovely handmade items for you and your loved ones. Thank you also to everyone who contributed to our Circle of Giving this year. You really brightened the holiday season of families in need.

Support SES by Having a Pint at Away Days Brewing Co. on January 8

Want to shake off the mid-winter blues? Gather with friends at Away Days Brewing Co. (1234 SE Cora St.) from 3–9 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8 and support SES! Away Days is a European-inspired brewery and taproom with a curated tap list featuring pilsners, bitters, barleywine, cider, and non-alcoholic beer. Come have a drink and support a local school. All ages are welcome—and dogs can hang on the patio! There will be juice boxes and snacks for the kiddos!

Riparian Festival

The Riparian Festival (Jan. 23rd, 5:30-7:30pm) is a charming event our students look forward to every year. This month students in grades 3-8 will be displaying their work from their study of forests, rivers, oceans, and mountains throughout the school. During the festival, all third through middle school classrooms will be open for viewing so students and families can explore the many projects completed by our kids. While K-2nd grade students do not participate in the showcase directly, they are encouraged to attend and see the ways their learning will progress over time. Homemade lasagna, sweets, and hot chocolate will be available for sale, and the evening concludes with a sing-along in the auditorium.

Our Home Grown Musical Opens in March

This month, 50 students are beginning rehearsals for a musical written by our own Mo Phillips. Last month these students joined Mo for two brainstorming sessions during which they shared their most creative, wacky, wonderful ideas and worked together to decide some of the key elements of the play. Mo drafted the production over winter break, using the kids’ ideas as inspiration. Keep your eyes on this space for more information about the musical. Last year’s production was called “Where Is My Cat? An Adventure Through Space” and we anticipate that this year’s show will be equally creative and enjoyable.

Calendars Featuring Student Art Available for Purchase

Our marvelous art teacher, Indigo, has led her middle school students in making a beautiful 2025 calendar, which is available for purchase. Each month features a different student artist’s work. I am continually blown away by the artistic talent of our student body, and highly recommend checking this out if you are in the market for a calendar. We are selling them on a sliding scale, from $10 – $50. All proceeds directly support SES’s art program. If you are interested in buying a calendar or would like to preview the art, please reach out to [email protected] for a link.

Getting to Know Your Neighbors

Q&A with Troy Douglass, co-owner of Back to the Basket.

Troy Douglass, who is half Native American (from the Grand Ronde tribe) and half Filipino, was born in Portland and raised in the suburbs in Rivergrove. Growing up, his parents loved the Blazers. Troy was always watching games on BlazerVision; he remembers manually changing the cable box from channel 3 all the way up channel 52 [BlazerVision] to get his fix. He grew up in the ‘90s, which was the Jordan era. Not only did he love the game of basketball, he was good at it. He played throughout his childhood and at Lakeridge High School and also played on Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball teams. He currently lives in downtown Portland with his partner, Sydney, and their son, Taj, who also loves basketball. He and his friend Jalen Thomas started Back to the Basket in 2020.

What’s the story of this place?

This store has been around for four years. Actually, October 12th is our official four year anniversary. But really, it’s allowing my 12-year-old self to stay alive. This is exactly what my inner 12 year old wanted. This store is telling the story of basketball from the perspective of someone that’s becoming past their prime. That was the original ethos of the business, which is why it was first called “Ball Was Life.” That name was a tongue-in-cheek satire of the name “Ball is Life,” which is a big company in Los Angeles. They ended up sending us a cease and desist letter because they said our name was too similar so we had to pivot—get the basketball reference?—and change our name to Back to the Basket.

You mentioned the ethos was basketball from the perspective of someone on the decline?

A lot of times, at least in athletics, you have that reflection moment when you look back at your career. So a lot of the stuff that we do is vintage, old-school stuff.

What is it about basketball culture that’s special?

I think it’s transcended the world. I think the game of basketball has an ability to connect people. I went to the Philippines in 2015 and played barefoot in Manila. On the court at four o’clock, the hoops get pushed out to the middle of the street, and the jeepneys and the tricycles move around the game. They respect the game so much that the flow of traffic moves around the game. It was the most beautiful thing I ever experienced, just being in the middle of the city and watching everything give way to basketball.

How did this store come to be?

I had another store at Lloyd Center that I opened in 2018. It was called Cultural Blends. I sold sports gear—football and baseball and streetwear type stuff—but I was just filling the space because it was 1200 square feet. I learned I only really liked selling things that I feel passionate about. I’ve been to Timbers games but I couldn’t tell you the Timbers players. But I was selling Timbers gear, you know? I didn’t feel good about selling it. Someone would come up and be like, “Oh man, this player, blah, blah, blah.” And I was like, “Yeah….” I say that to say I didn’t like that feeling. I just wanted to focus on things that I was truly passionate about. And the game of basketball—I speak that language fluently. So I felt comfortable opening up a buy-sell-trade store that was focused on something that I was truly passionate about when I was 12 and what I’m passionate about now. That love of the game hasn’t gone away.

What is it about Portland that contributes to your success?

I think the eclectic nature of the entire city. I think this shop bodes well in Portland because the city has a basketball culture. You really feel the passion, and you can really sense that basketball nerds live here. I think that bodes well because it’s cool, but it’s also not pretentious cool.

What do you love about being in Sunnyside?

Oh, I love it because you have a super eclectic neighborhood and I think we fit in well. We’re the basketball guys, but we’re not the basketball guys who get shunned, you know, like, “Oh man, those jocks!” It’s not like that. We are a part of the community, and we definitely represent basketball in a way that I think bodes well for the future.

So you’re trying to help locals by giving basketball fans a bigger canvas on which to practice their alternative selves.

One hundred percent. This is a place where a basketball geek can nerd out, a sneaker head can nerd out. This is a place where a lover of the game could be like, “Oh, this place is cool!” and it’s definitely a good place to build community.

Tell me about the communities you’re developing.

We host an event called Hoops in the Park. It’s basically pickup basketball but with nodes of networking. We encourage people to shake hands, to talk to each other, and really build a network. I used to go to networking events, and there was a lot of thinking like, “Are you going to be of value to me?” I thought that wasn’t the right approach. Instead, I want an approach of getting to know somebody, what they’re interested in, and then ask, “What do you do?” Human first, endeavor second.

Human first, endeavor second. Dang, that’s tight!

That’s the most important thing. You’ve got to know the human because… I don’t know, that’s the way. I don’t know how to describe it, but that’s the way.

You can follow Back to the Basket on Instagram at @backtothebasketdotcom

The store is at 3405 SE Hawthorne Blvd. It is open Mon–Sat. 11–7 p.m. and Sun 11–5 p.m.

Meet the Neighborhood Association Board

Chris Waldmann, President

My wife, Erika, and I moved to Portland a bit unexpectedly in 2017 when her father needed some help after a health crisis. We first rented a house on SE Washington and 36th as a transitional space, and we quickly learned that this was the absolute perfect neighborhood for us to resettle in after years on the east coast. My vision is pretty bad, so I don’t drive or bike (much), so I’ve always lived in very walkable neighborhoods with good transit options, but Sunnyside really takes it to a new level! I love living in a true 15-minute neighborhood with tons of locally-owned retail and restaurants as well as access to local parks. I joined the SNA Board during the pandemic not only to help the community I love, but also to create new friendships and connections. It’s been a great experience and I am proud to serve my third year as president. I live and work out of our graceful 1901 fixer-upper with Erika, our dog Mojie, and my father-in-law in our basement apartment.

Hannah Wallace, Vice President

I moved to Portland (and Sunnyside) in 2010 from Brooklyn, NY, and have chosen to stay in Sunnyside ever since. As someone who has never owned a car, the walkability of the neighborhood appealed to me and I loved—love!—its proximity to parks, buses, and restaurants, all of which reminded me of my Brooklyn neighborhood in Williamsburg. I got involved in the SNA in early 2021 when the Sunnyside Shower Project took off and then-president Ash Hester asked if I’d write a column for the newsletter (“Getting to Know your Neighbors.”) That May I ran for, and was elected to, the Board because, I figured, “I’m already doing the work!” Three years later, I’m still on the Board and have so enjoyed getting to know all my neighbors. I’m a freelance journalist—I write about regenerative agriculture, climate, wine, and social justice issues. I live with my husband, Don, who is also a journalist (and editor of the Northwest Labor Press) and who is sadly allergic to cats. (Which is why I befriend all the cats of Sunnyside.)

Eric Miller, Treasurer

Sunnyside has been my home for about two years. I love the architecture, people and convenience of the neighborhood. I enjoy the access to the coast for beach strolls and mountains for hiking. I love the mix of homes and stores, new and old houses and apartment buildings, and ability to spend most of my day without using a car. I also like all the interactions I have when just going for a walk – that’s rare in many American neighborhoods. After living in Dallas (Texas) for many years, I look forward to the short days and rainy weather. I’ve spent most of my career in communications, writing sentences and reorganizing words, keeping people on the same page and promoting everything from real estate to vintage markets. I live with my husband, Lin, mother-in-law, Zhen, three cats and a dog. You might find me at a coffee shop, at Laurelhurst Park, working on our old house, at a concert or one of the many art openings around Portland.

Crystal Bauer Feldman, Secretary

I relocated to Portland from Los Angeles where I worked with celebrities including Julian Marley, Mariah Carey, and Bobby Brown Jr. I have a background in marketing and public relations, but after the birth of my son, I decided to pursue a career in education. Today I work in Special Education at Lincoln High School and also write for Oregon Kid magazine. I have experience serving on several Boards. I also serve on the Design Team for the Center for Black Student Excellence. I directed a film shown at the Portland Film Festival—The Strangest Bridge in Portland—created with, and starring, students at Rosa Parks Elementary. I have a passion for social justice, racial equity, and for amplifying voices that can often be overlooked by traditional success stories. I hope to continue my work across the communities I live in, work in, and dutifully serve.

Dresden de Vera, Director-at-Large

I’ve lived in Sunnyside for four years and have been bouncing around Portland for nine. I make my income befriending travelers over good food, stiff drinks, and cool sights. I started Throw Snakes Tours as a means of signal boosting the heavenliness of this city to the larger world. I’m joining the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association to create more reasons to Love Portland! Specifically, I want to work on having a more intimate understanding of the businesses on Hawthorne and I want to be involved in creating community events. I’m envious of what the Overlook Neighborhood Association has accomplished with Porchfest, and I love the idea of Sunnyside having its own signature event!

Andru Morgan, Director-at-Large

I’m husband to Regina Morgan and father to our four young adult children and a fur kid named Seven. Regina and I are the founders of the Naturally Beautiful Project, a non-profit organization located in the heart of the Sunnyside community. I’m passionate about community service, teaching children media, and making documentaries. Aside from serving as a member of this Board, I also serve on the FLIP Children’s Museum and the NW Museum of Cartoon Arts Boards.
Note: we did a Q&A with Andru in the January 2024 issue of this newsletter.

Tim Quayle, Director-at-Large

My family and I relocated from California to Portland in 2019, and we lucked out in finding a home in Sunnyside within our price range. From Day One we were enamored with everything about our new community—the eclectic blend of housing (including beautiful early 20th century homes), the shaded, tree-lined streets, the close proximity to amenities, and the warm, welcoming nature of our neighbors. I love that the neighborhood provides a mix of rental and owner-occupied homes, as I feel strongly that stellar communities like Sunnyside should be available to folks at all income levels. I’ve spent much of my career working in public transportation, and one of things that drew my family to Sunnyside was its walk/bike-ability and excellent transit service. My goal in joining the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association Board is to enhance these aspects even further. While Sunnyside offers a variety of fantastic travel options, there is still much to be done to improve safety for all road users. I am eager to collaborate with fellow residents to promote traffic safety, particularly on high-risk routes like Cesar Chavez, and make our community even better for everyone.

News From Sunnyside Environmental School (SES)

Hello neighbors! This is the first in a series of columns that will report on news and events from your friendly neighborhood school, Sunnyside Environmental.

Located on SE Salmon St. between SE 34th and 35th, SES is a K-8 “focus option” neighborhood school. We guarantee admission to all elementary and middle school-aged children within the school boundary, and also welcome many students from other neighborhoods who gain admission through the district lottery. As a “focus option” school we provide a plethora of place-based learning experiences both on and off the school grounds, in addition to traditional academics. This includes visits to parks, rivers, and forests throughout the metro area, as well as to places such as OMSI, SCRAP, the Bird Alliance of Oregon, and a variety of art museums.

On campus, students are able to learn in the garden, cook in the community kitchen, and have weekly art, physical education, and library classes. Our teachers use the Scottish Storyline method in their curriculum, which uses a child’s natural enthusiasm for imagination and story-making to teach anything from science to socio-emotional skills. For example, my elementary-aged children have learned about animal habitats by helping (imaginary) lost baby squirrels decide where to live, and learned about emotional regulation by creating superhero personas with strengths such as “grit” and “mindfulness” who combat villains such as “Glass Man” (who gets disproportionately upset) and “Rock Brain” (who doesn’t like to listen to other people’s ideas). In other words, the Storyline method provides an opportunity for active learning. SES is a lovely learning community.

We welcomed students back on August 27th and it’s exciting to have the hallways full again. We have (slightly) different hours this year; school still begins at 8:45 am, but K-5 releases at 3:15 p.m., while the middle school gets out at 3:30 p.m., so be prepared for a little bit of traffic in the vicinity of the school around those times. Our school is closed to the public during school hours, but after 3:30 p.m. the yard becomes a public park, so feel free to stop by, walk your dog, have your kids play on the playground, and enjoy the space after that time.

If you see a group of school-aged kids with adults biking through the neighborhood in the direction of SES on a Wednesday morning, it’s probably Bike Bus! SES’s Bike Bus is led by SES parents, who organize groups of kids to ride bikes together to school on a weekly basis. This fosters a sense of camaraderie, helps reduce carbon emissions, and encourages kids to embrace cycling as a fun and social activity. SES’s Bike Bus meets at 8:20 a.m. on Wednesday mornings at four different intersections in the neighborhood, and then cycles to school. Each route is led by an experienced adult and SES students of all ages participate. Some SES students join on their own, while others bring one or more of their adults with them.

We will be having our first fundraising event of the year, Run Walk Move, at the SES campus on Friday, October 4th from 9 – 11:30 am. This is a super fun event that many students look forward to every year. Kids are grouped by age, then run, walk, or move in laps around the school yard. For those who would prefer to dance, we play energizing music while instructors lead dance routines on a separate part of the blacktop. Many teachers and family members stand on the side of the run/walk/move route cheering students on, waving streamers, and providing water and snacks, while others join in the running, walking, moving, and dancing. If you know a SES student and would like to sponsor their participation in this event, they would be very happy to receive your donation. Money raised through Run Walk Move is used to support our garden and field study programs.

As a public school, our unfortunate reality is that we are always fundraising. If you are interested in supporting your neighborhood’s place-based public K-8 learning community, we would be beyond grateful.

Donations to either the Run Walk Move event or the Back to School Ask fundraiser can be made at sesptsa.square.site. Thank you for helping us educate local children and for being a larger part of our wonderful school community.

Have questions about SES? Email [email protected] and maybe I’ll answer them in a future column!