Multi-Cultural Re-entry
Donation protected
Gentrification and displacement are hot topics in the Portland Metro Area. Traditional efforts of Urban Renewal have created negative impacts on Black and Brown communities, women, disabled residents, older residents, and youth. All these groups are considered “protective class citizens” under Title 9 and Title 6 laws. The Multicultural Commercial Re-Entry Program directly addresses the vast injustices that are brought on by transportation-oriented development projects.
Within our current mainstream form of public engagement, many community members have been--and continue to be--left out of planning processes. In March 2020, Multnomah County closed down in response to COVID-19. Businesses were forced to online platforms that favor businesses with an already-established online presence. Many smaller and/or disadvantaged businesses, including those certified by the Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID), did not have the resources to weather the storm. As COVID-19 continued to wreak havoc on our community, the City provided resources including small business relief programs, tactical urbanism solutions, and general design support. In June, Multnomah County began its Phase 1 reopening strategy. This phase continues to limit the number of patrons allowed entry at any given restaurant, mandates that businesses close at 10 pm, and includes social distancing and contract tracing requirements.
The Multicultural Commercial Re-Entry Program provides an equity-based approach to reopening the city of Portland. Over the past 6 months, We All Rise has conducted intensive community engagement, case studies, and programming to realize the potential of various programs, including the Healthy Business Permitting Program (the Portland Bureau of Transportation [PBOT]’s program that allows for socially-distanced seating to occupy public right-of-way). The program began on May 28th and will continue through next spring.
Our intent is to encourage businesses to work together and support them in the collaborative design process. We will start with winter case studies as a way to engage the public and hear pointed feedback. The initial “Pop-Up Plaza” and “Pop-Up Parklets” will help us understand how to extend the design further to create a Pop-Up Business District. Following program development initiated during the spring and summer, we will continue to engage the public to identify other community projects. Strong community engagement at this stage is critical; we will ensure that feedback and concerns are not only listened to, but that they lead us in our efforts.
The following projects are funded as part of our multi-cultural re-entry program (there are more to come):
The Kinetic Collective (our marketplace and history museum downtown)
Alberta Arts District and Binks Community Space
Binks is a woman-owned bar on NE Alberta between NE 27th and 28th Ave. While Portland has made some efforts to bring prosperity to the city with the Healthy Business Permitting Program, many equity programs have not effectively helped women and BIPOC-owned businesses. At Binks, We All Rise hopes to facilitate the establishment of 4-6 seating areas in the grassy area adjacent to the bar and a community stage for public use. Bianca hopes to offer this space to We All Rise’s Multicultural Reentry Program on the weekends, to performers on the weeknights, and as a space for coworking during the day.
Alberta Arts District and Clary Sage Herbarium Pop-up market
Clary Sage Herbarium is a healing-oriented shop for herbs, teas, essential oils, incense, bath salts, and other natural remedies. In partnership with the Herbarium, We All Rise will help establish a BIPOC market on their storefront. We are also considering acquiring additional space, perhaps on NE 28th or NE 29th, to offer more space for vendors and community members to shop and socialize.
Prosper Portland x We All Rise
We All Rise and Prosper Portland is also identifying additional empty storefront and street plazas for potential BIPOC brick and mortar BIPOC pop-up markets. Some possible locations include NE 28th and Alberta, The Herbal Apothecary at 2714 NE Alberta St, Tastemaker’s Style Studio at 2616 NE Alberta St, 2940 NE Alberta St, Parts Service at 2940 NE Alberta St, Bernie’s Southern Bistro at 2904 NE Alberta St, and Al Forno Ferruza at 2738 NE Alberta St.
The Hawthorne Business Association x We All Rise
SE 37th and Hawthorne is a bustling intersection framed by the famous Bagdad Theater. Given that Hawthorne Blvd. is already one of the city’s most famous streets for shopping and eating with countless locally owned and operated businesses, it represents a prime location for a holiday pop-up market. Our partnership with the Hawthorne Business Association is also exciting given their track record in organizing successful street fairs, holiday festivities, and promoting business welfare in SE Portland.
Within our current mainstream form of public engagement, many community members have been--and continue to be--left out of planning processes. In March 2020, Multnomah County closed down in response to COVID-19. Businesses were forced to online platforms that favor businesses with an already-established online presence. Many smaller and/or disadvantaged businesses, including those certified by the Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID), did not have the resources to weather the storm. As COVID-19 continued to wreak havoc on our community, the City provided resources including small business relief programs, tactical urbanism solutions, and general design support. In June, Multnomah County began its Phase 1 reopening strategy. This phase continues to limit the number of patrons allowed entry at any given restaurant, mandates that businesses close at 10 pm, and includes social distancing and contract tracing requirements.
The Multicultural Commercial Re-Entry Program provides an equity-based approach to reopening the city of Portland. Over the past 6 months, We All Rise has conducted intensive community engagement, case studies, and programming to realize the potential of various programs, including the Healthy Business Permitting Program (the Portland Bureau of Transportation [PBOT]’s program that allows for socially-distanced seating to occupy public right-of-way). The program began on May 28th and will continue through next spring.
Our intent is to encourage businesses to work together and support them in the collaborative design process. We will start with winter case studies as a way to engage the public and hear pointed feedback. The initial “Pop-Up Plaza” and “Pop-Up Parklets” will help us understand how to extend the design further to create a Pop-Up Business District. Following program development initiated during the spring and summer, we will continue to engage the public to identify other community projects. Strong community engagement at this stage is critical; we will ensure that feedback and concerns are not only listened to, but that they lead us in our efforts.
The following projects are funded as part of our multi-cultural re-entry program (there are more to come):
The Kinetic Collective (our marketplace and history museum downtown)
Alberta Arts District and Binks Community Space
Binks is a woman-owned bar on NE Alberta between NE 27th and 28th Ave. While Portland has made some efforts to bring prosperity to the city with the Healthy Business Permitting Program, many equity programs have not effectively helped women and BIPOC-owned businesses. At Binks, We All Rise hopes to facilitate the establishment of 4-6 seating areas in the grassy area adjacent to the bar and a community stage for public use. Bianca hopes to offer this space to We All Rise’s Multicultural Reentry Program on the weekends, to performers on the weeknights, and as a space for coworking during the day.
Alberta Arts District and Clary Sage Herbarium Pop-up market
Clary Sage Herbarium is a healing-oriented shop for herbs, teas, essential oils, incense, bath salts, and other natural remedies. In partnership with the Herbarium, We All Rise will help establish a BIPOC market on their storefront. We are also considering acquiring additional space, perhaps on NE 28th or NE 29th, to offer more space for vendors and community members to shop and socialize.
Prosper Portland x We All Rise
We All Rise and Prosper Portland is also identifying additional empty storefront and street plazas for potential BIPOC brick and mortar BIPOC pop-up markets. Some possible locations include NE 28th and Alberta, The Herbal Apothecary at 2714 NE Alberta St, Tastemaker’s Style Studio at 2616 NE Alberta St, 2940 NE Alberta St, Parts Service at 2940 NE Alberta St, Bernie’s Southern Bistro at 2904 NE Alberta St, and Al Forno Ferruza at 2738 NE Alberta St.
The Hawthorne Business Association x We All Rise
SE 37th and Hawthorne is a bustling intersection framed by the famous Bagdad Theater. Given that Hawthorne Blvd. is already one of the city’s most famous streets for shopping and eating with countless locally owned and operated businesses, it represents a prime location for a holiday pop-up market. Our partnership with the Hawthorne Business Association is also exciting given their track record in organizing successful street fairs, holiday festivities, and promoting business welfare in SE Portland.
Organizer and beneficiary
Adin Becker
Organizer
Portland, OR
We All Rise LLC
Beneficiary
