Milkchella: The Rodeo Remix is a free community event celebrating breastfeeding, culture, and community care. Hosted at Soulful Sips Courtyard, the event will feature a live DJ, henna, express chair massages, line dancing, tacos, and more. Attendees can also purchase VIP tickets for a special experience.
August 29, 2025
Join BPI for an end-of-summer celebration at Peninsula Park on Friday, August 29, 2025! The Family Fun Day & Back 2 School Giveaway, in partnership with the Summer Free For All Concerts in the Park will feature a free backpack and school supplies giveaway, a concert by LaRhonda Steele & Friends, outdoor games, bounce houses, and a basketball clinic hosted by the Portland Trail Blazers. There will also be food available for purchase and special appearances by local mascots.
AMPLIFY PDX is a community resource block party and fundraiser featuring more than 20 of Portland’s most visionary community groups and nonprofit organizations! A celebration of collective resilience and a call to action in support of Portland’s cultural workers, justice organizers, and community-builders. Connect with organizations working across a wide range of issues including racial justice, immigrant rights, youth empowerment, creative economy, cultural sovereignty, and gender liberation.
WHEN: Saturday, August 9th 2025 | 1PM-7PM WHERE: Open Signal, Portland’s Community Media Center: NE Graham St between MLK and NE 7th
Block Party Highlights:
Amazing lineup of live music, spoken word, and storytelling
Food and beverages from local Black, Brown, and Indigenous owned businesses
Nonprofit showcase to discover grassroots organizations on the frontlines of social justice in Portland
Kids Corner: fun for the whole family with games, activities, and entertainment
Teach-ins and presentations about advocacy and social justice
Raffles and prize giveaways
Live podcast tapings
And other fun activities!
Get Your Tickets Today
Sliding scale tickets start at $20, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. All proceeds will be shared between the collective of organizations.
Presented by Nike, Alaska Airlines & Raimore Construction September 20–21, 2025 Portland Community College – Cascade Campus Register now: www.MLKDreamRun.org
The Soul District Business Association (SDBA) proudly announces the return of the MLK Dream Run Weekend Celebration, happening September 20–21, 2025, at PCC Cascade Campus in Portland’s historic Soul District.
This year marks the 14th anniversary of this powerful tradition—where running meets purpose, and movement becomes momentum.
Run, Donate, or Volunteer
MLK Dream Run September 20 and 21st 2025 – Our Goal 1500 Participants
The countdown begins, Don’t Miss Out – Prices Go Up!
Register Early and Save.
Race fees increases as the event gets closer.
5k, 10k, 15k September 21st – Sign up (Run with: Family or Friends)
Free Kids Race September 20th
This Year’s Theme: “Strengthening Our Communities”
Inspired by Dr. King’s words—
“We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality…” —this year’s theme reminds us that what we build together, we strengthen together. The MLK Dream Run does more than honor history—it fuels local economic empowerment, amplifies BIPOC-owned businesses, and invests in the next generation of leaders.
Why We Run?
“Strengthening our communities isn’t just a theme—it’s a mandate,” says John Washington, Executive Director of the Soul District Business Association. “We’re not running for medals. We’re running to reclaim what was taken. To invest where others divested. To remind Portland, and ourselves, that our neighborhoods still matter, our businesses still matter, and our people still matter. This is about legacy, justice, and the power of showing up for each other.”
For over a decade, the MLK Dream Run has helped fuel economic equity through programs that provide technical assistance, financing, and mentorship to BIPOC-owned small businesses and youth entrepreneurs.
Why Sign Up?
USATF-sanctioned 5K, 10K, and 15K races
Prizes including round-trip airfare from Alaska Airlines for the overall fastest winner and random participants Male/ Female each from 5k, 10k,15k
Live Music & Entertainment – Games, Give aways, and family fun throughout the day.
Nike Swag bags, Win a number of raffle prizes donated by local business owners, T-shirts, music, food, kids’ activities, health screenings, and more
A weekend of unity, celebration, and impact you’ll never forget
Reminder Once Again: “We’re not just running for medals—we’re running for justice, for equity, for legacy,” says John Washington, Executive Director of SDBA.
Whether you run, walk, cheer, or sponsor, your presence strengthens the community.
Minds Matter Portland empowers high-achieving, low-income students to reach their goal of attending and graduating from college. This 3 year mentoring program offers academic support and hands-on opportunities. Students gain the tools they need to navigate the college admissions process and thrive beyond it.
In the wake of recent changes, the need for community-based support is more urgent than ever. Volunteer mentors play a vital role in closing the opportunity gap for talented students who deserve equitable access to higher education.
Founded over 30 years ago in New York City, Minds Matter has operated in Portland since 2006. Last year, the program expanded to Hillsboro. With two sites now serving students, there are more ways than ever to get involved. 100% of Minds Matter students are accepted to four-year colleges, and 90% go on to graduate from those institutions.
Volunteers are needed in both the Portland and Hillsboro locations. In Portland, they meet with students on Saturdays during the school year in NE Portland site on Alberta Street, next to Eliot School in the adjacent King neighborhood. Sign up for a coffee chat to learn more about what it’s like to volunteer, or fill out an online application if you’re ready to get started today!
On a personal note, I have also been volunteering as a mentor with Minds Matter for the past 4 years, and have found it an incredibly rewarding journey. If you’d like to hear more about my personal experience, please email serena@eliotneighborhood.org.
Miracles Club invites you to join this year’s Soul Stroll! This year’s theme is “Building Bridges”, which focuses on raising awareness about type 2 diabetes and promoting community health through connection and physical activity.
The walk will begin at 8:30am in Dawson Park. The event will have a 2.4k loop and a 5k loop.
For more information and to register, click here. Hope to see you there!
You are invited to join in a community event happening this Saturday, June 14 — the Beautifying MLK: C3 Community Clean-Up Day of Service, a Black-led effort to revitalize NE MLK Jr. Blvd ahead of Juneteenth and Good in the Hood.
The Coalition of Black Men & Soul District Business Association are looking for volunteers of all ages to join them for graffiti removal, trash pickup, and neighborhood beautification. This is a powerful opportunity to come together in service, pride, and celebration of Portland’s historic Soul District.
For questions, please contact:
Tony Jones – ajones@cobmportland.org | 503-954-4027 Fawn Aberson – fawnaberson@flossinmedia.com | 971-388-3117
This week, the existing steel plates and boulders will be removed temporarily from Dawson park for off-site restoration work. The installation of the updated plates and renovated boulders is expected to occur between April – May 2025 to avoid the busy summer season in the park. None of the removal or installation work will impact use of the rest of the park’s amenities.
Free legal help will be available at from noon to 4pm on Friday, October 18 at Cascadia Health! You may qualify for help with criminal or eviction record expungement, charge reduction, driver’s license reinstatement and waiving traffic or criminal fines, lifting warrants, and small business business and legal advice.
Pre-registration is not required but highly encouraged to be sure you are seen. Please pre-register by Thursday, October 17 at this link: http://bit.ly/communitylawintake
Eliot Neighborhood 