Neighborhood Programs
Neighborhood programs bridge social health gaps by building spaces and intentional opportunities for belonging that prioritize neighbors facing mental illness or financial poverty stigmas.
The backbone of this program is our partnerships with Members and the 35+ buildings where they reside in downtown Portland. We work together to address the root causes of isolation by offering a broad range offering a broad range of programming that unites people through shared interests and promotes the expression of individual passions—a critical building block of belonging.
No matter the class, group, or event, the key is to create environments where everyone is acknowledged and valued for who they are outside of their situations or circumstances.
Neighborhood Programs is a catalyst into the wider PDX metro area
Our volunteer and community-based learning opportunities serve as a catalyst for creating significant impact beyond downtown Portland by bringing people together whose paths would not normally cross.
The key to our success lies in our three decades of experience creating the right conditions for these relationships to foster deep belonging despite differences and power imbalances.
When done well, this results in meaningful connections with others they may have previously felt uneasy around and tools to create inclusive belonging wherever they live, work, or play.
Spaces, Places, Gatherings, and Happenings
Sassan in the Community Room
The Community Room
The Community Room is a safer space to gather in Old Town. It’s open four days a week for Members and volunteers to gather and catch up over coffee or dive into our rotating programming. Currently, we host weekly karaoke, bingo, and movie screenings, as well as monthly birthday celebrations.
Arts Programming
Arts Programming offers a variety of creative outlets for all skill levels through ongoing and one-time classes, outings, and community projects aimed at creating and experiencing art together.
Our program includes Performing Arts such as choir, theater classes, trips to local shows, or even hosting our own concerts in the park; Visual Arts such as painting, drawing, and working with clay, along with visits to local galleries and museums; and Literary Arts featuring collaborative writing projects, poetry, and personal storytelling.
Choir practice
Pride sponsored by Rainbow Group
Affinity & Social Groups
Social Groups are opportunities to come together to explore shared experiences or identities. Examples include our Rainbow Group, Women’s Group, Men’s Group, as well as groups with rotating or short-term topics such as current events discussions, walking, meditating, and grief support.
Social Visits
Social Visits are proven to break the cycle of social isolation and have been a cornerstone of our programming for over 30 years.
Visits are a weekly opportunity to cultivate meaningful connections and belonging between a member and a pair of students or volunteers. The member has the freedom to choose the visit location, be it their downtown apartment, a public place, via phone, or online.
Whether it’s a casual catch-up or a deeper conversation, the goal is to create a space where everyone feels deeply heard, known, and understood.
Student volunteers visit with Jennifer
Annual bus trip to Wildwood
Group Outings
Group Outings are based on Member interests and include picnics in the park, movie outings, neighborhood exploration (on foot or using mobility devices), holiday gatherings, and our annual trip to Wildwood at Mt. Hood.
Wildwood a highly anticipated and deeply loved summer tradition that immerses our Members and staff in natural beauty and fresh air with a day of togetherness, picnicking, lawn games, and a fully accessible trail.
Collaborative Leadership
& Decision Making
Jacqueline at the PEP Art Revealing
Agency and the right to co-create are pillars of true belonging. That’s why Member opportunities to influence decisions and co-create our programming are built into the foundation of our work.
Members and volunteers can choose how deeply they want to be involved. Some dip in and out of activities, while others make longer commitments to work together with staff to co-lead and develop our offerings. Some Members prefer more structured ways to grow their participation and see their ideas take shape at Maybelle Center, like our quarterly Member Forums.
Members can also develop their change-making skills and interests by participating in the Member Advisory Council, which drives new projects and shapes our offerings by implementing member feedback gained at our quarterly forums.
Resource Navigation
Shanice & Vince
Members, staff, students, and volunteers share their expertise to address gaps in healthcare, housing, technology, and other resources.
This work often occurs through one-to-one interactions and informal information sharing among Members. Other times, Members request assistance and advocacy, and we leverage our institutional relationships with local service providers whenever possible.
Our role often fluctuates between coaching, cheering on, and celebrating with members as they navigate through uncertain and challenging times.
Volunteering &
Community-based Education
Volunteers helping on a collective art project
Volunteers come to Maybelle Center to help reverse human isolation in Portland and gain a deeper understanding of its root causes.
Whether you join us as a community volunteer or with your college or university, we aim to create conditions for a volunteer experience that reflect our mission: to build inclusive belonging by bridging differences between individuals.
Through these connections, you will begin to experience inclusive belonging. And you’ll have gained tools to create spaces for inclusive belonging in your personal and professional life.
Find out more about joining us as a community volunteer or through service learning with your college or university.
Who is a Member?
In some circles, the word “membership” equates to exclusivity. Here, it’s about inviting people in. We create welcoming spaces that prioritize neighbors facing mental illness or financial stigmas but serve all Portlanders in meeting their need to belong. If you don’t meet the criteria below, let’s talk about the best way to plug in. It’s going to take all of us to build a Portland where everyone belongs!
Members at Maybelle Center:
