MURAL PROJECT underway in FAB

 Students, neighbors and other volunteers welcome most weekdays in the Fine Arts Building on the PHS campus. Here is Isaac Song at work.

Minnie Grants for Your Community Service Idea

Disney’s “Minnie Grants” Support Youth-led Service Projects

Do you have a community service idea for your Senior Project? 

Need some money to help it happen? 

Keep reading because the Walt Disney Company and Youth 

Service America, through Disney Minnie Grants, are supporting 

youth-led service projects that are planned and implemented in 

communities like Parkrose.  

Your service project can take place between October 1 and 

November 26, 2007, and may address either the environment, 

disaster relief, public health and awareness, community education,

 hunger, literacy, or any issue that youth identify as a community 

need. Maximum Award: $500. Eligibility: youth aged 15-25. 

Deadline: August 30, 2007.

Apply at http://www.YSA.org/awards

MURAL PROJECT: You Can Help

The Parkrose HS mural "Horses through History and World 

Cultures" is coming along beautifully! Already several of the panels 

are completed and ready to be permanently applied to the school's 

outdoor wall (this will happen later this month). Space is available for 

volunteer student assistants community service credit is awarded for this 

activity).

  Join muralist Larry Kangas in the studio this week! Don't miss this

 opportunity to observe/help a world class artist!

    For the week of Monday, July 2nd, here's the schedule:

    Monday July 2nd  9-5pm

    Tuesday- July 3rd  9-6pm

    Wednesday- July 4th HOLIDAY- STUDIO IS CLOSED

    Thursday- July 5th 9-6pm

    Friday- July 6th  9-6pm

    Saturday- July 7th  TBA (to be announced)

  Volunteer studio assistants help hang canvas, and assist with painting 

the mural. Community service credits are awarded to students for this 

activity. Youth can also create a mural artwork or their own design- on a

 large 4 X 5 ft wooden panel. Paint, brushes and other supplies are 

provided at no cost.

 

Questions? Call Joanne Oleksiak, Mural Project Coordinator

  c/o Community Connections at 503/408-2645 

  Or simply stop by the Parkrose HS Mural Arts Studio

 (aka the Fine Arts Building, by the tennis courts)

 A mural dedication party is planned for Saturday, July 28th 12-2 pm

Labyrinth in the News

The Parkrose Community Peace Labyrinth is in the news again. Read the story in the June 20, 2007 edition of The Oregonian.

Celebrate the First Day of Summer by helping to create this new community park.

• WHO: Everyone is welcome!
• WHAT: Dig the labyrinth path, paint rocks for the path, meet new and old friends, enjoy refreshments too.
• WHERE: 115th & NE Shaver on the PHS campus.
• WHEN: Thursday, June 21 ~ drop by between 9 am – 1 pm.
• WHY: It will be fun and when the park is complete you’ll know that you helped create this neighborhood treasure.

Global Youth Service Day: grants for good ideas

YOUTH VENTURE PROGRAM: MICRO-GRANTS AVAILABLE

Socially conscious people between the ages of 12 and 20-years-old are encouraged to apply for micro-grants of up to $1,000 from the YSA Youth Venture Program to create sustainable social ventures. Led by an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer, the YSA Youth Venture Program’s mission is to provide funding and resources to young people to lead socially conscious campaigns that are a lasting asset to their communities. If selected you and your “YSA Youth Venture Team” will be required to plan a Global Youth Service Day project on April 25-27, 2008 (sounds like an awesome Senior Project!). You will also receive resources from Youth Service America and Youth Venture, the leading organizations in the youth service movement.

Submit your idea by August 13, 2007. To learn more, visit http://www.genv.net/en-us/region/ysa

Win/Win:Argay Neighbors + Varsity Soccer Team

An Open Letter from the Argay Neighborhood Association President.

June 7, 2008

Greetings to all:

We’d like to share an upbeat story…

The Argay Neighborhood Association (ANA) presently consists of a small group of “older” neighborhood volunteers, (at the moment all females) who work hard for their community and who organize periodic special services for the neighborhood…. such as a Neighborhood Clean-up Day.

Neighborhood Clean-up Day requires that large and small loads of household items and yard debris be put into very large dumpsters, and some of those making use of this service are more “senior” than the ANA board. This year the neighborhood provided no muscular, agile, energetic young volunteers, and we were facing a serious problem.

When Parkrose High School soccer coach Damian Califf heard via Community Connections Coordinator Joanne Oleksiak that volunteers were needed, the Coach contacted Bonnie Scott, the ANA board member coordinating the event, to report that his soccer team had volunteered to help us out.

Under the watchful eye of Coach Damian’s wife Brittaney, 11 healthy young dynamos unloaded, tossed, pitched, slung, arranged, crammed, stacked and tamped down trash and yard debris, making full use of dumpster space. They worked virtually non-stop for over 4 hours, keeping the line of vehicles (more than 100) moving efficiently. And they did it all in high good humor.

We’d like to name those who saved the day for Argay: Matt, Josh, Connor, David, John, Jacob, Nathan, Josh (No. 2), Nick, Jose, and Christian. Gentlemen, our heartfelt thanks.

And our thanks to Coach Damian and Brittaney, Joanne Oleksiak, and other steadfast neighborhood volunteers Clare & Sharon Mershon, Dana McCray, Alice Ford, Tina Scarborough, Jane Roffey-Berry, Gary Scott, and coordinator Bonnie Scott for making this a successful event.

With gratitude…

Valerie Curry, ANA President

(Enclosure: Donation to Parkrose High School Boys Soccer Team)

PHS Parents Teach Photography

Collaboration works! Community Connections and the SUN Community School utilized a grant from the East Portland Neighborhood Office to partner with two Parkrose parents to offer a photography class during the spring of 2007.

Thanks to PHS parent and professional photographer Patrick F. Smith for his inspiration and leadership on the project. Parkrose dad Jeffrey Simon is another photographer who contributed his time to the class. And hooray for the sixteen students who learned about photography during the five week class!

Read more about the project and see pictures from the May 17th exhibit and reception for the participants at East PDX News: http://www.eastpdxnews.com/index.php?mod=article_detail&id_art=489

Peace Labyrinth: Can you dig it?

Please join students, neighbors and staff on June 21st (the First Day of Summer) for a Parkrose Community Peace Labyrinth Work Party. Come anytime from 9-am to 1pm. Bring a shovel and work gloves. Labyrinth Party Invitation Dress appropriately. Refreshments provided!

Many thanks to the Labyrinth sponsors and supporters:

• East Portland Neighborhood Office small grants program
• Hands On Greater Portland
• Lowes Tool Box for Education
• Community Connections- OSSC/AmeriCorps
• Parkrose Neighborhood Assoc.
• Argay Neighborhood Assoc.
• and others!

Here is a collage of photos from the Groundbreaking in April. Enjoy!

More pictures and a story from East PDX News about the Groundbreaking ceremony here: http://www.eastpdxnews.com/index.php?mod=article_detail&id_art=442

Find Volunteer Ideas

Hands On Greater Portland can help you connect to non-profit organizations seeking volunteers. Their easy-to-use website is a treasure chest of opportunities! They will introduce you to a volunteer gig that will allow you to make a meaningful, rewarding change in the Portland area. Build a house. Tutor a child. Care for abandoned pets. Build hiking trails. Lead a volunteer group. The possibilities are limitless.

Check out the Teens Only section of their site:

http://handsonportland.org/AboutUs/index.php/Y&F.teens.html

Music Camp Seeks Summer Volunteers

Ethos Music Center, a nonprofit organization based in North Portland, is seeking Volunteer Interns to assist with activities for students ages 6-12 at week-long music camps in June, July, and August. Summer camps are a great way to get involved with Ethos and to make an impact on kids’ lives. This opportunity is perfect for someone who is interested in teaching music and looking for experience in the classroom! For more information about Ethos, visit www.ethos.org.

The Five Camps

• June 25-29: Guitar/Piano
• July 9-13: Percussion/Piano
• July 23-27: Rock Band/Hip Hop
• August 6-10: Strings/Piano
• August 20-24: Percussion/Piano

Please be willing to commit to at least 20 hours of volunteer time. Ethos offers volunteers one free hour of music lessons for every four hours of volunteer time given.

We need:

Piano TAs: Assist teacher with piano classes. Interns need to have basic piano skills.Schedule: Weekdays 9:30-11:30 am1:15-3:15 pm. (See above for dates of piano camps.)

Guitar/Rock Band TAs: Assist teacher with guitar or rock band classes. Interns need to have basic guitar skills (or, for rock band, keyboard, singing, drum set, and/or bass skills).Schedule: Weekdays 9:30-11:30 am and/or 1:15-3:15 pm. (See above for dates of guitar/rock band camps.)

Choir TAs: Assist students with part singing, or accompany the choir on piano or guitar. Interns need good singing skills and/or an ability to be an accompanist.Schedule: Weekdays 9:30-11:30 am. (Any/all camps.)

Recess Assistants: Play games and sports with kids outside!Schedule: Weekdays 12-1. (Any/all camps.)

Arts and Crafts Assistants: Assist with arts and crafts activities. No experience necessary.Schedule: Weekdays 1:00-3:00 pm. (Any/all camps.)

How to Apply

Write a letter detailing your interest and experience with music and working with kids. Mail, hand-deliver, or email your letter by June 18^th to: manderson@ethos.org

OR

Michele Anderson, Outreach Coordinator, Ethos Music Center,10 N. Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97217

Questions? Call Michele at (503) 241-8824 ext. 7#.