SEUL Neighborhood Block Party

The Southeast Uplift neighborhood coalition is hosting a community block party in Sunnyside on Saturday, Aug. 27 from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., celebrating communities and neighbors across Southeast Portland.

The Southeast Uplift building and grounds at 3534 SE Main Street will serve as the hub of the festivities, with the entire block of SE Main Street between 35th and 36th avenues filled with an array of fun activities, music, food and beverages throughout the evening.

A number of food carts will be on site, offering food, with St. Josef’s Winery and Coalition Brewing also on hand serving wine and beer. Kids’ activities will also be in abundance, as the Portland Mennonite Church (1312 SE 35th Ave.) will be hosting a Kid’s Corner that will include a bounce house, playground and a host of fun games throughout the evening.

The event will also be a great way to learn about and connect with fantastic community projects, meet neighborhood association and community leaders, learn more about how Southeast Uplift supports your community and meet your neighbors from not only down the block but across Southeast Portland.

If your organization or community group is interested in participating, please get in touch at the email address below. We look forward to seeing you there!

Stay up-to-date with music listings and participating groups at www.southeastuplift.org and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SE.uplift.

If you’re available to help out on the day of the event, there are fun (really!) volunteer opportunities available in short one or two-hour slots — your assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Public Input Sought In Investigation of Portland Police

The U.S. Department of Justice seeks community input for their investigation of the Portland Police Bureau. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, in conjunction with the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division, will conduct individual interviews with members of the public during the first week in August in three locations throughout Portland.

 On June 8, the Justice Department opened a civil investigation to determine whether the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) has engaged in a pattern or practice of use of force which amounts to a violation of civil rights.
 
Any individual that has specific and recent information they would like to share with the Department about their personal interaction with PPB officers may request an individual meeting at one of three locations in downtown, the outer east-side, or north Portland. To request an individual meeting, please contact the U.S. Attorney’s local Civil Rights Hotline at either 503- 471-5577 or by email at [email protected]. While space and time are limited for the interviews, the Justice Department welcomes information from any individual through the email and toll free number listed below.
Throughout the course of the investigation, the Justice Department will seek to determine whether there are systemic violations of the Constitution or federal law by officers of the PPB. The Justice Department will consider all relevant information, particularly the efforts that Portland has undertaken to ensure compliance with federal law. The Justice Department has taken similar steps involving a variety of state and local law enforcement agencies, both large and small, in jurisdictions such as New York, Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Louisiana and California.
 
The Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon are jointly investigating this matter. Individual meeting times are limited, but the department welcomes any information from the community. If you have any comments or concerns, but are unable to make an individual appointment, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]or 1-877-218-5228.

Watch Video, Learn More About Proposed Walgreen’s Drive-Thru

While we wait to see what plans Walgreen’s resubmits to the city regarding the renovation and proposed Drive-Thru for the store on the corner of Belmont and Cesar Chavez Boulevard, neighbors have created a video to illustrate how a drive-thru will adversely impact traffic and the neighborhood.

Watch the video and learn more about the issue at www.walbrowns.com

Urban Dwellers and Neighborhood Nature Research

What are the benefits of small-scale natural areas in our neighborhoods? Take part in research that explores your experiences with and thoughts on watershed health projects like rain gardens, Green Streets and habitat restoration that are in the Mt. Tabor to the Willamette River area, between SE Hawthorne and SE Powell Blvd.

Your participation in this study will help researchers find out more about the benefits of small-scale neighborhood oriented nature. This study is being conducted by Sarah Church and Dr. Maged Senbel of the School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia.

You must be willing to be interviewed at a location of your convenience during the summer of 2011. If you would like to participate, please contact Church at [email protected], or 208-310-2841.