Many of our members live in low-income buildings scattered throughout Old Town and Downtown Portland. Most experience poverty and are at risk for social isolation, which is intensified by mental or physical challenges, addiction, or trauma.
And despite so many challenges, every day we are welcomed into community. For that, our lives are so much richer.
In 2017, we had relationships with members living in 25 single room occupancy hotels (SRO’s) and low-income buildings in downtown Portland. Thanks to you, 546 of your neighbors felt the warmth of genuine connection and belonging all year long.
One of the Single Room Occupancy Hotels (SRO’s) in downtown Portland where we work. SRO rooms are often the size of parking spaces but fill a critical need as affordable, low-barrier housing options in the midst of Portland’s housing crisis.
Because of your partnership with Maybelle Center, 546 of your neighbors felt the warmth of connection and friendship throughout 2017.
Pairs of volunteers visit people living on the margins and at risk for social isolation.
A comfortable space for members to gather during the day. Affectionately called their ‘Living Room.’
Nursing student interns witness first-hand the complex health issues related to poverty.
Counseling and memorials appropriate to each member’s faith or religious tradition.
One-on-one meetings with members to break down barriers to independence and stability.
Macdonald Residence has 54 rooms and is one of the only 100% Medicaid facilities in the nation.
Macdonald West has 42 affordable studio apartments for people who earn 60% or less than the average family median.
Maybelle Center member, Michael, opens his home to visiting students.
Our member, Chris, poses for a photo while painting at a Maybelle Center art class.
Our members, Randy and Michelle, grab a snack and chat in our Community Room.
Meagann, our Support Services Navigator, meets with a member one-on-one during a support services consultation.
Growing up in an abusive home, loneliness was a frequent companion for Wendy. And while that would be hard enough, things got worse. Wendy endured unspeakable domestic violence that left her homeless and traumatized. She began experiencing seizures as a result; as many as 30 in one day. Some would wipe out any memory of preceding events, leaving her to piece things together after the fact.
Before coming to Maybelle Center, Wendy wasn’t getting the care she needed. She was afraid to tell her story and advocate for herself because, “I felt like I was being judged all the time.”
Encouraged by a friend who was a Maybelle Center member, Wendy began meeting with our Spiritual Support staff, followed by home visits through our Visitation Program. It was through these meetings that Wendy learned how to advocate for herself. Wendy says, “You can’t make people understand if you don’t tell them what’s going on… A lot of people say, ‘I just don’t want to talk to them.’ But you know what, I was the same way. I felt like I was being judged all the time. You have to get past that.” read more
Wendy snuggles with a goat at our annual Wildwood in the City event. Wendy can’t attend our annual all-day excursion to the mountain because of her medical needs, so our city event is a key part of feeling connected.
Maybelle Center members, Allen (left) and Wendy (right), are vying for the title of 2017 Skip-Bo champ in our annual tournament held each year in our Community Room.
Wendy poses for a photo in front of the entrance to Macdonald West, our affordable studio apartments, where
she lived before needing additional caregiving.
Our community choir was officially launched in early 2016, by our Associate Director Kristrún Grondal and Choir Director, Crystal Akins. Crystal now works full-time at Maybelle Center overseeing our spiritual programming. We sat down with Crystal to hear her thoughts about why the Maybelle Community Singers is so influential in the lives of our members.
“I’ve been doing isolation work for 18 years, using music as community service. Many years ago, Kristrún and I launched a therapeutic choir at the Alzheimer’s Association for those with early dementia. And we realized it’s the same with our folks as it is with elders. When people age, their bodies change, their voices are different, and their purpose changes. That makes us ask questions like, ‘Who am I now?’” … read more
Choir Director, Crystal Akins (at left), leads the Maybelle Community Singers in concert at Ecotrust. In 2017, they performed two community concerts at Ecotrust and several smaller, intimate events.
Gary (left) clowns around with fellow choir members after the Maybelle Community Singer’s choir concert at Ecotrust.
“‘Did you see what I did?’ exclaimed Gary, after our concert at Ecotrust.
“Gary was having a lot of anxiety about having a solo before the concert. ‘I can’t do this!’ he declared. ‘You’re going to have to hold the mic for me. Because I’m going to drop it.’
“And I said, ‘You’re going to hold the mic, and I’m going to stand right next to you. And if you drop the mic, I’m going to pick it up.’” read more
Thanks to the Collins Foundation and other donors, we can now ask prospective members, “Which day would be best for visits?” Instead of replying, “I’m sorry, we don’t have anyone to visit your building right now…”
In mid-2017, we hired a full-time Volunteer Coordinator to focus wholly on recruiting and supporting volunteers. Kerry Linhares comes to us with a background in microbiology, public health, and AmeriCorps service. Though a Missourian at heart, Old Town has quickly grown on Kerry, just like it does for many of our volunteers.
“Getting to go on the visitations and constantly hearing amazing stories people have to tell is the best part of the job. I love that,” Kerry says. “It’s not uncommon to hear stories from volunteers about how the visitations are impacting their lives as much as the members… read more
Kerry (left), our new Volunteer Coordinator, stops to pose for a photo with our member, Andrea (right), at our annual excursion to Wildwood Recreation Area. You can read Andrea’s powerful story of resilience on our blog.
Maybelle Center volunteer and board member
“I have been involved with Maybelle Center since retiring three years ago, both as a member of its Board of Directors and as a volunteer every Wednesday afternoon. I have been able to build, through the Maybelle Center’s Visitation Program, genuine friendships with eight individuals living under the burden of poverty in single room occupancy hotels (SRO’s) in Old Town.
“I can’t wave a wand and make their lives better, but I care about them and can offer friendship and support. They are good folks just trying to deal with the challenges of day-to-day life with the cards they have been dealt. And believe it or not, having just one friend visit them means the world to them.”
Maybelle Center volunteer, Steve Connolly (right), delivers a Christmas gift to our member, Larry (left), an annual holiday tradition at Maybelle Center. Volunteers purchase and wrap personalized presents for each member, which are distributed at our Christmas party or delivered to members’ homes.
We believe that every person has inherent worth and dignity. It’s one of our core values. But what does this mean on a practical level?
Simply put, it means that our staff and volunteers honor the personal journeys and lived experiences of our members and peers – even though they may be very different from our own.
But what about our own personal journeys and experiences? How much thought have we put into how they’ve shaped who we are today? We can’t help but view the challenges of others through the lens of our own experience. These unconscious stereotypes are part of being human.
We look forward to the day when all of us in our neighborhood – white and black, brown and Asian, and so many others – are all treated with the same dignity. To do that, we must become… read more
More than 70 Maybelle Center members, staff, and volunteers gathered for games, s’mores, nature walks, lunch, and laughs at our annual excursion to Wildwood Recreation Center in July. Most of our members don’t own a car, and many have physical challenges that make getting out into nature almost impossible. Thanks to you, many members say Wildwood is the highlight of their year!
Board Member, Carol Mitchell (right), chats with members, Jackie and Diann, on our annual Wildwood excursion. Carol is a regular volunteer with Maybelle Center.
as of 7/2018
MARY SHORTALL, Board President
DAVE DEMOTS, Board Vice-President
PETE CRAVEN, Board Treasurer
STEVE CONNOLLY
JON HOFMEISTER
DAVID HOUGLUM, PH.D.
NICK KNAPP
CAROL MITCHELL
KELLEN NORWOOD
KEVIN O’BRIEN
HOLLIE PACKMAN
Carmela has partnered with Maybelle Center since her son, Bristol, volunteered at Maybelle Center when he was in high school. Recently, Carmela included Maybelle Center in her estate plan. She says, “I’m so pleased to know that, even after my death, Maybelle Center will continue to receive my support and carry on the important work they do every day.”
Other ideas? Let’s brainstorm together. You can reach Michelle at 971-202-7452.
