Portland ABCD Training

I always love going to Portland. Portland is a special place. Portland is rich in many ways. Diversity...well there's no shortage of perspectives or world-views that's for sure! Big geographically - well spread out east to west, north to south.

The thing I love about Portland is that it is really working hard at the stuff of community. In-fact there is sort of a buzz going on down there, or is it, up there! When you meet with citizen groups or faith-based groups, even businesses, a large percentage of people in the greater Portland area have a good sense of what they are after beyond just taking care of #1. They hunger for community.

Well wouldn't you know it, I had the chance to add to the hunger, or better said, perhaps satisfy it somewhat. The East Portland Neighborhood Office (EPNO) and the School of Neighborhood Transformation sponsored a 2-day Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) training on Oct 31 and Nov 1st. Second Stories hosted this event with skill and a warmth I will never forget.

What a group that showed! Even a real "trooper" all the way down from Everett, WA. We had 20 people attend, representing 15 different civic, Native, or faith-based groups.

The learning was most impressive. It wasn't me so much, it was the conversations and co-learning that was happening in all the various forms of small groups they were in. It was intense, transparent, very insightful, each speaking from their own experiences or context. They related ABCD to their lives and work...and others learned from this.

The networking was profound.

There was definitely a collegial thing going on...it even felt a little like family actually if you want to know!

I just wish I lived in Portland, so I could continue and on a regular basis hang out with these community heros. I miss them.