The untold story of the only black man on the Lewis & Clark Expedition-York comes to Portland on March 12 and 13

The ReBuilding Center and the Native American Youth and Family Center invite you to attend York, a powerful one-man play about the only black man on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

David Casteal plays York as “a whirlwind, a force of nature, a vital, laughing, raging bundle of muscle and brain” (Jim Kershner, The Spokesman-Review).

Proceeds benefit NAYA’s Early College Academy and the ReBuilding Center’s Community Outreach Program. Each performance is preceded by spoken word by Native American students in the Early College Academy.

Showtimes: 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 12 & 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 13 –  short Q&A panel to follow

Location:     Jefferson High School Auditorium (5210 N Kerby Ave.)

Tickets:        Purchase advance tickets at www.rebuildingcenter.org/york ($7.00 for students and $12.00 for adults or $15.00 at the door). To inquire about group ticket sales, please email info@rebuildingcenter.org.

SCHEDULE

March 12th
Saturday Evening

6:30 p.m. - doors
7:00 p.m.

Intros
Spoken word performance
Play begins

8:40 p.m. - Play wraps

10 minute intermission

8:50 p.m. - Q & A

9:15 p.m. - Close
 

March 13th
Sunday Matinee

1:30 p.m. - doors
2:00 p.m.

Intros
Spoken word performance
Play begins

2:40 p.m. - Play wraps

10 minute intermission

2:50 p.m. - Q & A

3:15 p.m. - Close

York tells the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition through the eyes of York, William Clark’s childhood companion and slave. The RBC and NAYA are proud to share this story of people of colors' contributions to this iconic event in Pacific Northwest history. It’s a slice of American history rarely told, from a perspective rarely heard.

Directed by Susan Hardie, York was conceived by two Spokane-based talents, actor and African drummer David Casteal and playwright Bryan Harnetiaux. York has been performed across the Northwest to packed houses and standing ovations. In a stirring performance, Casteal weaves the story of York’s challenges and accomplishments, blending gripping first-person narration with energetic, live African drumming and traditional Native American drum recordings. Although York proved an important participant in the Expedition, he was not recognized as a member of the Corps of Discovery until nearly 200 years after the Expedition. In 2001, President Clinton posthumously awarded York the rank of Honorary Sergeant in the Corps of Discovery.

Cast

David Casteal, actor: Casteal is a sixth-grade teacher and expert African drummer. He has a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology.

Susan Hardie, director: Hardie directed the original 2005 production of York in Spokane. She acts and directs throughout the Northwest.

Bryan Harnetiaux, playwrite: Harnetiaux has been Playwright-in Residence at Spokane Civic Theatre since 1982. He has written over 40 plays.

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THE EVENT

Ron Craig, master of ceremonies: Craig is a filmmaker and author with a 17-year history with York, beginning with a documentary in 1999, “Who Was York? A New Look at the Lewis and Clark Expedition.”

For the Q&A Panel, David Casteal and Bryan Harnetiaux will be joined by:

Se-ah-dom Edmo, panelist, is coordinator of the Indigenous Ways of Knowing program at Lewis & Clark College. Her published works include Tribal Equity Toolkit: Tribal Resolutions and Codes to Support Two Spirit & LGBT Justice in Indian Country, Identity Wars: A Comparative Ethical Critique of the Debate Over Indian Identity, and a book entitled American Indian Identity: Citizenship, Membership, and Blood. Her tribal affiliations are Shoshone-Bannock, Yakama, and Nez Perce. 

Roger Wendlick, panelist, is a nationally recognized Lewis & Clark historian and author. He compiled the most significant collection of Lewis and Clark literature anywhere in the world, donatedhis materials to Lewis & Clark College and wrote a memoir about his collecting days.

Spoken Word Performance
ECA Student Poet Group: Rebels on Stage

Manuel Jackson (Klamath Modoc), Aaron Lilly (Navajo), J’Laina Grimm (Kickapoo Winnebago), Paulina Gutierrez (Inupiaq), Talise Mendoza-Green (Klamath)

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Resources

Want more historical background on York?

To learn more about the fascinating tale the unofficial member of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, watch this half-hour documentary: Oregon Experience: Searching for York, produced by OPB.

Article provided by the Oregon Historical Society:

York of the Corps of Discovery: Interpretations of York’s Character and His Role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition

BY DARRELL M. MILLNER
FALL 2003, 104:3

Take a Stand for Deconstruction!

TAKE A STAND FOR DECONSTRUCTION!

Wednesday, February 17th
City Hall
1221 SW 4th Ave.

sign up to testify by 1:30
hearing starts at 2:30

In 2015, 337 homes in Portland came down. Of those, only about 30 were deconstructed. The cost to our community, and to our planet, in terms of waste to the landfill, increased atmospheric carbon, not to mention the loss of valuable materials (that could have helped build a sustainable Portland) are calculable.

·      4,800 tons of materials sent to the dump

·      7,200 tons of CO2 released into the atmosphere

·      720,000 gallons of water wasted

·      4,800 tons of materials with a market value of more than $5,000,000 that could have been re-used or re-purposed to build a more sustainable Portland

In addition, the opportunity to create dozens of meaningful jobs with good pay and good benefits is lost.  

via ReBuildingCenter.org/Deconstruction-Services

On February 17the Portland City Council will consider a resolution that will mandate that all homes built more than 100 years ago must be deconstructed. The hearing begins at 2:30PM.

“The resolution would direct BPS to develop code language that:

Requires projects seeking a demolition permit for a one or two-family structure (house or duplex) to fully deconstruct that structure if:

1. The structure was built in 1916 or earlier; or
2. The structure is a designated historic resource.”

Demo permits per year built.

Examples of Portland Homes built before 1916

Examples of Portland Homes built before 1916

Examples of Portland Homes built before 1916

Examples of Portland Homes built before 1916

Examples of Portland Homes built before 1916

Examples of Portland Homes built before 1916

Individuals who would like to testify should arrive no later than 1:30PM to sign up. Testimony will be limited to no more than three minutes, possibly two minutes depending upon the number of people who would like to testify. In an effort to testify within time limits, it is recommended that those who would like to testify should limit their remarks to just one topic.

I hope to see many of you there! Join us for happy hour drinks around the corner and deconstruct the Deconstruction hearing afterwards.

Stephen Reichard
Executive Director
The ReBuilding Center

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Check the links below for more info:

Habitat for Humanity article, "Decon Incentives to be Evaluated"

The City of Portland's Bureau of Planning & Sustainability "Proposed Deconstruction Requirement Recommendation"

Support for Sons of Haiti

On January 17th, ReBuilding Center hosted a successful community event in collaboration with Boise Neighborhood Association, Mississippi Ave, Stephen Gomez and Sarah Cantine, and the PDC to support one of the last black owned businesses on Historic Mississippi Avenue, the Sons of Haiti Lodge, in their efforts to revamp the food carts on their property. The event was catered with gracious donations from ¿Por Qué No? Taqueria and Mississippi Pizza Pub.  Attendees learned about plans for the project and about the Sons of Haiti Lodge and what they do for the community.  We are so grateful for everyone in that came out and showed their support! 

The process of renovating the space is well on the way. Our team over at ReBuilding Center continued to show support by offering our DeConstruction services to lift and remove both Ella’s and King Burrito’s food cart storage sheds from the Lodge site to the pole barn on North Cook and Albina space, generously offered for use by Marathon Development. Site clearance will continue till Sunday with construction by Lloyd Development will start January 25th.    

The city permit requires stormwater management, landscaping and utilities all up to code.  The work will include excavation, grading, installation of water and electric lines for carts, a bioswale and dry well, paving of the site, new trash enclosure with drainage and landscaping. The site will also be fully disability accessible when completed.  

Architects rendering of the project when finished.

The project is now fully funded! We have raised just over $16,000 and the PDC grant (via a Community Livability Grant) is providing $40,000. However we are still continuing to raise $2,000 additional in funds for the following:

1. Sidewalks and site lighting.  Though not currently required by the city we believe some or all of the sidewalks will need to be repaired.  In addition we want to light the site for night time business.

2. Contingency funds:  we just don't know what might need to be addressed once the site is excavated

With construction scheduled to start Monday January 25th and an expected construction time of about five weeks, we will get the carts back on the site by March 1st! The new project allows for three additional carts (currently there is only room for two) which will provide additional income potential for the lodge!

If you would like to donate to this project and support the Sons of Haiti Lodge and members and stabilize one of the last black-owned properties on historic Mississippi Avenue follow the link below.

Special thanks to all of the private financial contributors which include: Por Que No?, Marathon Development, Mississippi Pizza Pub, ReBuilding Center, The Winkler Companies, Nels Gabbert (One North Developer), Stephen Reichard, Stephen Gomez, Ben Kaiser, Neil Kelly Company, Bryan Wannamaker, all of the GoFundMe supporters and the group of comics that organized the fundraiser “Black Laughs Matter” which provided over $1,300 in additional funds.

Girl Scout's Little Libraries

A major part of what keeps ReBuilding Center up and running are volunteers and the community itself. The girls of the Scout Troop 45642 came to us looking to achieve the highest honor a junior girl scout can achieve and ventured to find what they could do for their community.

The troops collaborated on ideas and decided to build two little libraries. They knew they wanted to use reclaimed and salvaged materials so they came to us! The girls were eager to find all the different parts they needed to build their birdhouse-looking libraries. The girls explored the warehouse looking for drawers, door hinges, knobs, glass, wood, screws, cupboard doors and other knick knacks. They were pleasantly surprised that they were able to find almost everything they needed right here in the warehouse. In the end, the little libraries were made of 90% repurposed material. During their visit, the girls were shocked to find out how many materials were saved from landfills.

Girl Scout troop 45642 were thankful that everything they had collected for their project at ReBuilding Center was donated to their project and sent us a handful of articulate and adorable thank you letters. We are thankful to them as well! Girl Scout Troop 45642 displayed what true leadership looks like by coming together as a team to accomplish what they set out to do for the betterment of their community and environment. We would like to thank the Girl Scout Troop and let everyone know that it’s volunteers and community that allow Rebuilding Center to continue to strengthen the social and environmental vitality of local communities!

Check out all the sweet letters the girls wrote us!

Done With Winter Creative Reuse Project

Winter is slowly coming to an end and it’s almost time for all the beautiful roses and ripe tomatoes to blossom and grow. In Portland, with all the excess rain it's a little harder to make sure your plants don’t get overwatered. Other times the sun just doesn't want to cooperate. You might be thinking, “well there's not much I can do to control the rain or shine”. You could purchase a greenhouse, although it might be quite a financial investment when all you want is a few vegetables and a some flowers. Why not come down to the ReBuilding Center and pick out some beautiful windows and make your very own miniature greenhouse?

All you need is screws, nails, your toolbox, and, most importantly, some used windows.

Let's get started! Here are two options, so it’s up to you to start your own mini greenhouse project that you are most comfortable with:

Option 1:

•Lay one window flat as the floor (or go without a floor so that the greenhouse can be picked up and placed over plants as needed)

•Attach two windows with a piece of angle iron in a peak for a gabled roof

•Lift one wall taller than the one opposite with a 2×4 so that you can lay another window •across them to make an angled roof

•Use nails, screws, hinges, or angle irons to attach sides together

•Opt out of a door and leave one side open

Option 2:

•Place the sides of the four walls firmly against each other in a square (again, make sure they are the same height and length)

•Hammer nails gently through the wooden frames at each corner

•Strengthen with angle irons placed on the inside corners if needed

•Place a fifth window flat across the top and attach to one side with hinges to create a lidded roof

Check out this link for the full how-to.

It all comes down to your personal style. Do some experimenting. If you’re more comfortable with tools, feel free to get creative with a frame, legs, and gabled roof. Happy gardening!

Volunteer Spotlight: Angela Ramseyer

ReBuilding Center volunteer Angela Ramseyer may have constructed and lived in a tiny house, but she brings the ReBuilding Center a huge amount of knowledge and experience. Angela’s interests and experiences have already benefited the ReBuilding Center staff and guests, and she’s just getting started!

ReBuilding Center volunteer Angela Ramseyer is an artist, poet, writer, tanguera and  neophyte guitar player, recently relocated from Whidbey Island, WA to Portland, OR. Despite her relocation, perhaps her most interesting journey has been the five-and-a-half years spent building an 8'x16' house on wheels. With no prior construction experience, no owned land, land, and four moves over the course of the project, Angela successfully completed, and inhabited her home for the following two years. Her incredible journey can be found on her blog: http://www.mightymicrobuilt.com

Since beginning her volunteer service at the ReBuilding Center, Angela has joined the Newsletter Team, worked on a deconstruction site, taken donations, joined the Kiosk building project, volunteered in the lumber yard, and shared her artistic ability in photography for Today’s Finds and other productions.

We are so grateful to have Angela on our volunteer team!

For more information on how to volunteer with the ReBuilding Center, contact Dave Lowe at volunteer@rebuildingcenter.org.

Hopworks Bike Bar

When it comes to sustainability at work in Portland, Hopworks Urban Brewery and BikeBar have mastered the art of healthy land and water use, as well as the use of smart energy and local ingredients. Check out their company, locations, and how you can achieve your goal of creating, or visiting a sustainable business.

Hopworks Urban Brewery is a Gold Certified Sustainability at Work business committed to sustainable building construction, healthy land use and management, mindful water use and re-use, organic and local ingredients for food and beverage production, healthy and fun work environment, excellent customer service, 100% smart energy and a zero-waste initiative. Hopworks Urban Brewery is located at 2944 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR.

Vote for ReBuilding Center!

New Seasons Market has nominated the Rebuilding Center to be on the ballot for their #BagItForward event, which offers customers the option to donate their reusable bag credits (5¢ each) to a non-profit. Vote for us in the "promoting environmental conservation" category! This is a huge opportunity for us, and could make a huge difference for our independent organization and our mission to strengthen the social and environmental vitality of local communities. If you are a New Seasons Market shopper, please vote January 13th – 26th at any New Seasons Solution Center.

Filmed by Bike, Portland, Oregon Film Festival Inspiring Movie Submission Opportunity!

“WE ARE INSPIRING A CULTURE WHERE CYCLING IS WOVEN SEAMLESSLY INTO EVERYDAY LIFE.”– Ayleen Crotty, Festival Director

Filmed by Bike, Portland, Oregon hosts an annual, gigantic festival in May that you don’t want to miss! Throughout the weekend, Filmed by Bike hosts a Street Party, filmmaker Q&A sessions, dance parties, Brewery Tour Bike Rides with the Filmmakers, and award ceremonies.

“Filmed by Bike movie collections are an exciting mix of movies that showcase a true love for cycling. Everyone leaves the theater inspired to ride bikes.” - Filmed by Bikes Take advantage of the opportunity to submit your own movie (25 minutes or less) before January 20, 2016. Approximately 35 movies are featured at the Festival, and are then shown throughout the world to inspire others to get on a bike. Entry information can be found here.

New Year Volunteer News

New Year:
Time to Volunteer!

But first we'd like to congratulate all the December volunteers. We couldn't have done it without you! The warehouse is looking better than ever. Together you have put in nearly 1,700 hours last month! From market research, to the building of interactive kiosks, to the daily processing of donated building materials, all of your valuable time and effort are greatly appreciated!

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Get to know your neighbors at our monthly Friday evening volunteer project

When: Friday, January 8th from 6pm to 8pm
Description: All volunteers will receive a 25% discount at a happy hour to follow the project at a local brewery on N. Mississippi Ave! Come contribute to our efforts to keep salvaged, and usable, building materials out of the waste stream. PLUS, you get to work with Pete! 

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Trade Show and Events Training

When: Wednesday, January 20th 6:30pm - 7:30pm.
Time Commitment: After training, 3 - 8 hour shifts available throughout the year. Each event is different and flexible, so let us know what works for you!
Description: Twice a year, we offer this training to those of you who enjoy getting out in the community and connecting with people at events. We go to Trade Shows, Fix-It-Fairs, Sunday Parkways, Environmental Expos and many other community events. Tabling at these events are all about building connections and sharing your experience with, and knowledge of, the ReBuilding Center. We have a great line-up of community events on the schedule and look forward to involving all of you in the community outreach and information sharing. 

Trade Shows in January

Event volunteers will answer questions, provide information, and be a general steward for our organization's mission of "Inspiring people to value and discover existing resources to strengthen the social and environmental vitality of communities". 

Build, Remodel, and Landscape Show
When: January 8th, 9th, and 10th
Where: Oregon Convention Center

Portland Renovation and Remodeling Show
When: January 22nd, 23rd, and 24th
Where: Portland Memorial Coliseum 

Scheduling available through your volunteer portal at http://www.rebuildingcenter.org/volunteer/ or click on the button below.

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MLK Jr. Day of Service

When: January 18th
Description: Working in conjunction with Hands on Greater Portland and the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette, the ReBuilding Center will host a day of service in honor of the late great Doctor Martin Luther King Jr! Gather with your family and members of your community in honoring his legacy by volunteering! 

Go to Hands on Greater Portland's website to register and browse additional opportunities to take part. 

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DeConstruction Volunteer Corps

When: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays throughout January
Where: 6175 SW Arrow-Wood Lane 
Description: The ReBuilding Center's DeConstruction Services is working to dismantle an entire house in the SW to make use of it's component parts! Take this opportunity to see first-hand how, with a little elbow grease and much skill, a future can be sustained through the art and practice of mindful gleaning. 

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More opportunities may arise at various locations. We'll keep you posted on projects as they come up! For more information email Dave Lowe at volunteer@rebuildingcenter.org

Green Building

- by Mercy Shammah

Over the past decade the concept of green building has become all encompassing. New ideas are helping broaden what we can do to be a part of the green building movement. Old techniques are on a rise. New green building standards are being developed.  The City of Portland Planning and Sustainability defines green building as “a way of designing and constructing buildings to increase performance and enhance the health and experience for people who work, live and play in these structures.” Considering green building, I’d like to ask two questions: WHAT are they building with and HOW are they building?

“What are they building with?” 

One of the easiest ways to build green is reusing old materials. The Portland area has a great number of companies already doing the hard work of obtaining building materials and making it ready for us to use. Many businesses demolish a building and trash all of the materials while others are taking the buildings down by hand and reusing all of those components. ReBuilding Center among others provide deconstruction services with the aim to keep materials out of the landfill. 

The City of Portland has a full list of companies that salvage materials for reuse in the Metro area. Check their website for to find out where you can source materials for your next project: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/368482 

Instead of depleting valuable resources such as trees, constructing with salvaged goods is a more thoughtful way to build. One sustainable building material that is all around us is earth. Cob is made from water, soil and usually straw. Some of the oldest structures found in the Middle East are made of cob and this ancient tradition of building can be found in every continent. Modern cob buildings have seen an increase in popularity. The technique can be seen in many types of energy efficient homes. 

In Elora Hardy’s INKtalks, she speaks about bamboo’s serious potential to sustainable building. Bamboo shoots are ready for harvest in 3 years. A clump will provide 20 or more poles of timber annually. Compare that to genetically superior black walnut timber which takes 25 to 30 years to be ready for harvesting.  

Commonly thought as a luxury, utilizing high end and durable materials that will last is another way to build green. It is important to consider using materials that will not need to be replaced every couple of years which reduces the number of materials used in the life span of a structure. 

“How are they building?”

In addition to what materials we use, how how does the construction process effect green building? One area to think about is energy efficiency with the goal to reduce the amount of energy required for a structure to function comfortably. In our modern day homes, the big energy vampires are heating and cooling which can be reduced with good insulation.

Passivhaus or Passive House is a voluntary design process standard for energy efficient building. The standards include very low energy consumption and pretty air tight insulated buildings. Designers of passive houses want to eliminate the need for heating and cooling, creating a low carbon building. Worried about getting chilly in your passive house? Well, just add body heat. Passivehaus is just one of the many energy efficient certification processes that buildings can receive. Check out this link to learn about other programs: https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/476319

You may live in a home that was not built by Passivhaus standards. That’s ok. You can still weatherize your home. Weatherization helps reduce the amount of energy homes use. Unlike remodeling, it convertis older, inefficient buildings into to progressive, energy efficient spaces. Weatherization workers complete a number of safety checks and monitor areas that are hidden to the untrained eye to help increase the homes efficiency, safety and air quality. Insulation, air leak fixes and making sure your large energy consuming appliances are running efficiently are huge considerations when weatherizing your home. If getting your home toastier during the winter isn’t enough to get you moving, Energy Trust of Oregon is giving a $100 cash back incentive for your weatherization upgrades. Find more information here: https://energytrust.org/residential/incentives/multiple-upgrade-incentive/multiple-upgrade-incentive/

Advance framing is a building technique that uses minimal lumber. While advance framing isn’t the answer to all of our prayers, it does use less wood and saves energy.

Another way to become more green is to think about where you source your energy from. Wind and solar power have become more popular and more affordable in recent years. These trends are global and show no sign of slowing down. 

Next time you are building and renovating, think green and find a method that works for you.

Preparing for the Trades

- by Mercy Shammah

I had the opportunity of completing Oregon Tradeswomen’s Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program this fall. The program is called Pathway to Success and really sets the bar for preparing women to go into the trades. 

Women in a Man’s World

If you’ve been on social media in the past year, you may have noticed mini movements speaking about inequality for women. Like women refusing to move out of the way and running into men and their sidewalk entitlement.

Women who want to ‘man-spread’ instead of taking up the smallest amount of space as possible.

People want more than a high school prom queen line of questioning for our female celebrities and athletes. People are pushing for gender neutral toys because only playing dress up and brushing hair influences the scope of what girls think they are capable of decades down the line. These movements remind women that it is their world too.

How does this relate to the trades? Oregon Tradeswomen (OTI) has taught us that we don’t have to apologize for our very existence. We can swing a hammer just as good as the men because of the nature of us being human beings. Many women in the program don’t have a trades background or know anyone in the trades. The training program is an introduction to the field and more. The program goes over the rough and tough construction culture, what to expect, how to navigate it and where we can go for support when we need it. The program reminds us that we can be strong and empowered when we are on the job site surrounded by men, some of whom won’t expect much of us and others who won’t want us to be there at all. 

There are very few programs like OTI in the United States yet; women fill just 3% of all trades jobs. Through this program we learn how to find our voices, to feel confident and know that we have the knowledge to back it up. While 2015 has been a strong year in requesting social change for women, Oregon Tradeswomen has been doing this since the late 80s. 

Three Days

Pathways to Success is broken up into three days a week; each day provided us with a different experience. The first day of the week is a classroom day. These are the days where we receive fundamentals for the trades culture, learn about tools and job site safety, learn basic construction math and measurements and prepare for interviews. We get to learn more about each other and our program as we grow in to tradeswomen. 

The second days of the week are our field trip days. We are introduced to many different trades and learn the ins and outs, opportunities that are available and how much we would get paid. For many entry-level positions, the answer is: a lot. We would get paid a ton. In our training of the different trades we were provided with hands on activities which allowed us a better understanding of what exactly we would be doing. We had the opportunity to make things, use power tools and get the physical experience of the work. Enthusiastic recruiters expanded the list of possible careers we were capable of.The last days of the week were our job site days. This is where we would put all that classroom knowledge to use and get a good sense of the physical work we were getting ourselves into. These days could be very demanding yet fun. One of the biggest projects we worked on in my term was Living Cully. It was a strip club strip mall on 60th & Killingsworth that we deconstructed to be utilized for something that will better serve the community. Oregon Tradeswomen has a history in partnering with community organizations for the job site days. It is a bonus for us to be a part of something great while getting our feet wet in the trades. We were the ones who got to tear down those walls which oppressed so many women. Living Cully was just one of our projects, we participated in builds at other locations as well. 

Commitment

This program requires a huge level of commitment for the women looking to graduate. The program is three days a week for seven weeks. You have to find income sources around that schedule as well as figure out childcare. OTI is serious when it comes to timeliness. If anyone arrives late on the first day of training (or within the first week), they are removed from the program and there are a line of women waiting to take the spots of the latecomers. 

Handing in all your homework is mandatory to graduate. In addition, OTI tests on math, measurements, tool knowledge and fitness. During my term they partnered with Fulcrum Fitness to train us twice a week. This helped us become better prepared for the physical test and work. 

Oregon Tradeswomen is putting us out in the job field with their seal of approval. We represent them and we are starting off with as much knowledge and confidence as any man in our trade and then some. We are making a big commitment to ourselves. For some of us we are breaking out of our shell and accomplishing something we never knew was a possibility. For others, they are making a commitment to their children for better and more secure life.

Christmas Tree Recycling and Upcycling

by Teale Niles

In the US we buy 25-30 million fresh cut Christmas trees each year (1). Those trees don’t have to end up in the landfill now that the holidays are over! Here are four easy ways to recycle your tree (2). And also a few more ideas for those feeling inspired!

1. Curbside Recycling

Live in the City of Portland and have curbside yard debris collection? Cut up your tree and place it completely into your green compost roll bin. This is free! Alternatively, you can place whole trees that are 6 feet or shorter on the curb for pick up on your regular pickup day for a $4.50 fee. Trees over 6 feet should be cut in half. There will be a $4.50 fee for each piece.

2. Environmentally Conscious Recycling (ERC)

This recycling company in NE Portland will take your tree (flocked and unflocked) for a mere $2 apiece!
Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 7:30 a.m-5 p.m.
12409 NE San Rafael
503-253-0867
Online: ecrrecycling.com

3. Bring it to the Boy Scouts

In Lake Oswago there is a 3 day tree recycling event on Jan. 1-3
Drop off your tree, and suggested donation at:
West End Building
4101 Kruse Way
Lake Oswego, Or
boyscouttroop230.org

If you live in Tigard, sign up here for curbside pick up
Jan. 2, 3, 9 & 10, 9 a.m.
503-929-3486

And in Beaverton on Jan. 2, 3 & 9 You can bring your tree to this address for recycling:
St. Andrew Lutheran Church
12405 SW Butner Rd.
Online: troop618.org

4. McFarlane’s Bark

Conveniently located in both Milwaukie and Vancouver, McFarlane’s Bark is charging $3 to recycle each Christmas tree.

Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
13345 SE Johnson Rd.
Milwaukie, Or
503-659-4240

8806 NE 117 th Ave.
Vancouver, Wa
360-892-6125
Online: mcfarlanesbark.com

Upcycle Your Tree

Trees taken to the recycling programs above will most likely get chipped and used as mulch. Which is way better than taking up space in a landfill. But, why stop there? There are tons of other ways to use a used Christmas tree.

Create salmon habitat. The Tualatin Valley chapter of Trout Unlimited will be collecting trees to be placed in streams. Submerged trees act as shelter for baby salmon and also attract microorganism and other critters which the salmon eat. Read the full story here.

Drop off your tree on Jan. 4, 11 and 18th from 9 am to 4 pm
Royal Treatment Fly Shop, 21570 Willamette Dr., in West Linn; AND
Northwest Fly Fishing Outfitters, 10910 NE Halsey, in Portland.

Turn your tree into a backyard bird feeder. Be sure to remove all tinsel and ornaments first. Then place it in your backyard, hang some bird treats on it (such as pine cones covered in peanut butter and seeds) and voila! The winter birds will love you! The tree will start to decompose and before too long you’ll be able to break it apart by hand and use it around your backyard landscape.

Around the nation people and organizations use Christmas trees in creative and resourceful ways. Christmas trees can be used to feed goats, to rebuild sand dunes, and even build houses (3)!  The National Christmas Tree Associations has a huge list of Christmas tree recycling programs from around the nation. Check it out!

Sources:
(1)http://www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/Education/QuickTreeFacts.aspx
(2)http://redtri.com/portland/where-to-recycle-your-christmas-tree-and-christmas-lights-in-portland/#
(3)http://www.citylab.com/navigator/2015/12/giving-christmas-trees-a-second-life/422169/?utm_source=SFTwitter

Help us plan our new workshops + classes!

At ReBuilding Center we strive to inspire people to value and discover existing resources to strengthen the social and environmental vitality of communities. From the beautiful, old growth wood milled decades ago to cabinet sets gleaned from historic Portland homes, we would like to generate excitement around the wealth of amazing materials that are available to us in the Pacific Northwest.

We are in the process of resurrecting our ReFind shop where we would like to create a space for sharing ideas, teaching skills, creating a culture of safety and building community. Please let us know any and all of your ideas for this community space and fully equipped wood shop.

help us design our workshops + classes by filling out a 8 question survey!

Mississippi Avenue Holiday Passports

You're invited to join in on the first ever Mississippi Holiday Passport event! This holiday season, pick up your passports at participating businesses and collect stamps for prizes. This is how it works:

1. Pick your passport up from a participating business. (See below.)
2. Shop and enjoy food + drink on Mississippi Ave.
3. Receive a stamp for each local business you support.
4. At 5 stamps receive your Mississippi Ave mug! (You can claim your mugs from The Rebuilding Center, Trailhead Union or Flutter.) 
5. For every 10 stamps you will be entered in for a grand prize bundle of Mississippi gift certificates. (That means 20 stamps gets you 2 entries, 30 stamps gets you 3 and so on.)

*No minimum purchase is required.

Here is a list of participating businesses:

Black Wagon
3964 N Mississippi Ave

Blue Sky Wellness
3944 N Mississippi Ave

Crow Bar
3954 N Mississippi Ave

Ecliptic Brewery
825 N Cook St

Emerald Petals
3948 N Mississippi Ave

Flutter
3948 N Mississippi Ave

Gumbo Gifts & Gallery
3900 N Mississippi Ave

Gypsy Chic
3966 N Mississippi Ave

Halfpint
3920 N Mississippi Ave

The Herb Shoppe Pharmacy
3912 N Mississippi Ave

Interurban
4057 N Mississippi Ave

Jennyfer’s Boutique
4018 N Mississippi Ave

Land Gallery
3925 N Mississippi Ave

Laughing Planet Cafe
3765 N Mississipppi Ave

Manifesto Shoes
3806 N Mississippi Ave

Mississippi Studios
3939 N Mississippi Ave

Mr. Green Beans
3908 N Mississippi Ave

North Light
3746 N Mississippi Ave

Oregon Deli Co
3560 N Mississippi Ave

Paxton Gate
4204 N Mississippi Ave

PDXchange - Fair & Square.
3916 N Mississippi Ave

Pistils Nursery
3811 N Mississippi Ave Suite 1

Prost!
4237 N Mississippi Ave

Por Que No?
3524 N Mississippi Ave

Radar Restaurant
3951 N Mississippi Ave

The Rambler
4205 N Mississippi Ave

Reading Frenzy
3628 N Mississippi Ave

The Rebuilding Center
3625 N Mississippi Ave

Salty’s Pet Supply
4039 N Mississippi Unit 104

She Bop
909 N Beech St

Sloan Boutique
3824 N Mississippi Ave

Spin Laundry Lounge
750 N Fremont St

Stormbreaker Brewing
832 N Beech St  

Townshend’s Teahouse
3917 N Mississippi Ave

Trailhead Credit Union
3904 N Mississippi Ave  

Hand-crafted Reclaimed Furniture from Urban Industrial NW

Welder/woodworker Greg Hostetter crafts one-of-a-kind reclaimed furniture out of materials he gets at the Rebuilding Center. The rich colors, warm tones and fascinating grains of reclaimed old-growth lumber characterize his pieces and inspire the artist in him.

After too many years working too many hours as a professional TIG welder, Hostetter left his demanding corporate job for self employment. He and his fiancée founded Urban Industrial NW about two years ago—he builds the furniture and she takes care of the marketing. He gets most of his wood from the Rebuilding Center, coming in at least three days a week to find wood with the rustic character he loves, complete with saw marks and blackening from old nails. “The Rebuilding Center is awesome. Everyone is so nice, the pricing is good and they do a lot for the community,” says Greg. “You never know what you’ll find”

Reclaimed wood takes a special eye, according to Greg. It may be hard to see through the dirt and muck accumulating on a board as it sits around for years, but he loves the magic of that “oh my gosh” moment when refinishing reveals the vibrant golden tones within. Not only is reclaimed wood better than newly harvested product, Greg’s glad no one’s cutting down a forest for his furniture.

Life as a craftsman is good for Greg. Instead of working 60 hours a week for a big company, he gets to spend more time with his family and express his creativity. 90 percent of his work is custom orders, and he puts the rest in his Etsy shop. View his work there and on his Facebook page and get inspired for Creative Reuse!

New to PDX Event @ The Rebuilding Center

Friday, December 11th
6pm - 8pm
The Rebuilding Center
3625 N. Mississippi avenue

Want to meet new people? Do you like to be hands-on? Want to promote reuse? Come to The Rebuilding Center's New To PDX event and join up with like-minded individuals and build a friend base here in your new city!  Local volunteers are a vibrant and wonderful part of the Rose City.  Meet some new folks and help keep usable materials out of the waste stream.  We meet up every second Friday of every month.

Home Repair Help for Cully Seniors

Article by Annelise Kelly

For over 20 years, Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives, Inc. (PCRI) has reinvested in Portland’s neighborhoods, preserved their diversity and provided tools to help low-income Portland families achieve stability and self-sufficiency.

Other programs operated by the PCRI include:

• Homeownership Education and Counseling
• Homeownership Retention
• Financial Wellness
• Individual Development Accounts (IDA)
• Youth Programs
• Community Centers
• Community Information and Referral Services

More info on PCRI's website →

#GivingTuesday De-nailing Party

#GivingTuesday is not just about money, you can give back to your community by volunteering time with a deconstruction de-nailing party. Be apart of salvaging resources for reuse in a fun and hands-on way! We’ve created a special event this #GivingTuesday, December 1st at a site on NE 9th (near Broadway). Come prepared with steel toed boots. 

Forecast: looks like it isn’t going to rain! But it will be cold, so dress for the weather.

A few other things to remember:

-We can provide all volunteers with steel-toed boots. If you have your own, please wear them. Otherwise, let us know your shoe size and we'll have some ready for you!

-Volunteers that are under the age of 18 must have a youth waiver signed by a parent or gaurdian.

-Denailing requires gloves and eye protection, so please supply what you can.  We have extras for volunteer use, but it is nice to use your own!

Our Deconstruction services offer an affordable and sustainable alternative to conventional demolition. Working by hand, our crews salvage for reuse up to 85% of a buildings major components. A crucial step in these materials' journey towards reuse is the extraction of their nails, screws and staples. 

Team up with other volunteers and help us do our part in keeping more building materials out of the waste stream!

Here’s an article on GivingTuesday’s website on what it means to give through volunteering!

OR

Friday Sale, Giving Tuesday + Holiday Tree Lighting

We’ve got some holiday fun lined up for you!

WE ARE CLOSED ON THANKSGIVING

but reopen the next day for a...

FRIDAY SALE

November 27th
15% OFF all light fixtures & glass shades
50% OFF all tile
Regular hours: 10AM - 6PM

then on Saturday...

HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

November 28th
Mississippi Commons (between N. Failing and N. Beech St.)

• Starts at 5PM / live entertainment at 6PM
• Free treats, cocoa and teas provided by Oregon Deli Co., Townshend’s Tea Company and New Seasons Market
• Pick up your Holiday Passports - shop and dine on Miss. Ave. participating businesses for prizes and a chance to win the GRAND PRIZE.

After you've enjoyed a big sale, joined us in a community even, it's time to give back.

GIVING TUESDAY

December 1st

10% of proceeds from purchases made at the Rebuilding Center as well as many other business on Mississippi Ave will go towards Boise-Eliot/Humboldt School. We are proud to be a part of this opportunity to support our kids. Shop at The Rebuilding Center to raise funds for Boise-Eliot School on #givingtuesday! #Oregoniansgive