Portland News and Events for July 21-27, 2016

Black Parent Initiative to Host Garden BBQ Launch Party

The Black Parent Initiative will host a Cultivating Culture garden barbecue and launch party from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at 2915 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
There will be a live DJ, food, children's activities, raffles, and office/program tours.

Portland Parks & Recreation Continues Drinking Water Testing

Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) is continuing testing that began in June 2016 at several of its properties as a voluntary precautionary measure. PP&R is adhering to the guidance put forward by Oregon Health Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency that lead in drinking water at schools and day cares should not exceed 20 parts per billion (ppb).

Working with our partners at Portland Water Bureau, PP&R is moving forward with testing at all PP&R facilities that host preschools, regardless of date of construction. This will total more than 20 sites. Because of the high number of samples to be collected at each facility, testing will likely take most of the summer to complete. PP&R’s focus continues to be on any likely prolonged drinking water access by children, as this testing moves forward.

Here is the full list of sites that will be tested this summer (CC = community center):

Completed Testing:

PDX Children's Museum
Multnomah Arts Center
Fulton Community Center
Mt. Tabor Annex
Charles Jordan CC

Pending Testing:

Hillside CC
Matt Dishman CC & Pool
Montavilla CC & Pool
Portland Tennis Center
Sellwood Community Center
Woodstock Community Center
St. John’s Racquet Center
St. Johns Community Center
Mt. Scott CC & Pool
Pennisula Park CC & Pool
Laurelhurst Dance Studio
Columbia Pool
Community Music Center
Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
Southwest CC & Pool
East Portland CC & Pool
Grant Pool
Creston Pool
Pier Pool
*Wilson Pool
Sellwood Pool
*Buckman Pool

*pending coordination with PPS

On July 18, PP & R received results from testing at our Charles Jordan Community Center; results are posted here. All water tested below the threshold of 20 parts per billion (ppb).

Consistent with guidance from the Portland Water Bureau and the Environmental Protection Agency, samples were taken from fixtures commonly used for drinking or cooking.
PP&R will continue communicating about the test results directly to site patrons, and results will be posted on this website for all Portlanders to see: www.portlandoregon.gov/LeadInfo.

Multnomah County health authorities say they have conducted more than 15,000 blood tests over the last three years on children and teens. The County says that of those 15-thousand-plus tests, elevated blood lead levels were found in 190 of those people. No cases were traced to lead in drinking water from any source.

Grants Focus on Housing Stability for Families

A roof over your head is a key sign of whether you can take care of your health. That’s why CareOregon is awarding $365,000 in grants to six groups that help keep families in their homes and make it easier for them to access health care.

CareOregon supports these organizations working to preserve housing for vulnerable people.

Helping Hands, $75,000 to support housing in Clatsop and Tillamook counties. Coastal Oregon has few emergency shelter beds and this organization makes housing a priority.
Clackamas County Social Services, $75,000 to expand the Senior Companions program into Multnomah County. Senior Companions will be able to talk to Korean or Mandarin Chinese speakers in their language and help them get health care. The program targets residents of affordable housing complexes, many of whom are CareOregon members.
Transition Projects, $65,000 to support peer-based outreach to people who are homeless in Portland, to help them get health care.

Catholic Charities, $50,000 for a health and wellness coordinator. The coordinator will work with people in affordable housing developments, all of which house some CareOregon members. Goals include helping people through events, such as job loss or serious health issues, that could cause them to lose their housing.

Living Cully/St. Charles Church, $50,000 to support Northeast Portland community groups to preserve mobile home parks and help residents exercise their tenant rights.
Portland Homeless Families Solutions, $50,000 to support work that helps 125 families remain housed.

The grants program received requests totaling nearly $2 million from 30 organizations. CareOregon staff reviewed the applications to identify those that best addressed both health and housing. They wanted to fund work that helps people overcome economic, racial or cultural barriers to obtaining health care.

These organizations are invited to share lessons learned with CareOregon staff members. Together they can identify successful practices and suggest policies to help reduce homelessness and its root causes.

For more Portland and Seattle area events, see the Community Calendar.