Fun, food and information shared in Centennial at ‘Solarpunk Resilience Party’

Here’s a look at a fun outer East Portland event, put on by the Centennial Neighborhood Emergency Team and the Centennial Community Resilience Network last month …

At the ‘Solarpunk Centennial Resilience Party’ welcoming table is CNET Co-Chair Grace Hougey.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

No matter what would be taking place at the “Solarpunk Centennial Resilience Party” held at the Rosewood Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative building, on Thursday, December 11, just the party’s title alone made it worth visiting just to find out more.

Because the party was being put on by the Centennial Neighborhood Emergency Team (CNET) and the Centennial Community Resilience workgroup, it did seem likely that disaster survival and neighborhood resilience would be the themes of the event.

Posing for a photo at the party are co-planners Karen Wolfgang CNET co-chair; and Simone Crowe cochair the Centennial Community Resiliency workgroup of Thrive East PDX.

“This idea came up because CNET has an end-or-the-year social gathering annually,” explained Simone Crowe co-chair of the Centennial Community Resiliency workgroup, with Thrive PDX.

“This year, we wanted to envision what this neighborhood would be like in the future, when it’s been made resilient to climate, geological, political, and economic disasters,” Crowe told East Portland News.

Centennial Community Association Chair David Linn, also associated with the Centennial Community Resiliency workgroup, gives guests a kit – a resiliency project funded by the City of Portland – containing 28 items, ranging from a poncho/emergency blanket, to a first aid kit, chlorine tablets for water purification, needle and thread, and a collapsible bag, all packed inside a water bottle!

Serving herself food, it’s Felice Mueller — a Pleasant Valley Neighborhood Association Board Member. “We’re working to start a NET in our own neighborhood,” she says.

Several of the 32 guests who arrived did so in costume – ready to enter a themed “fashion show” contest that took place later in the evening.

“We’re bringing people together, sharing good ideas around resiliency, and sparking imaginations – as part of this, doing it partly in the form of a fashion show/costume contest,” Crowe pointed out.

Guests learn about resilience and disaster preparedness while enjoying supper.

“This works along with what CNET does,” continued Crowe. “It’s best to be prepared for an emergency before it happens – which is what resilience is.

“Also, we’re building connections among individuals and organizations to help them be able to deal with situations as they arise,” Crowe said. And also, together, we’re advocating for policies that help provide clean energy and funding for social support.

“And as we’re dreaming up these different ideas, we’re building relationships with each other, in a fun atmosphere tonight!”

‘Resilient Future Fashion Show’ Master of Ceremonies, JR Lilly – Multnomah County Director of the Office of Community Involvement – calls together participants for this activity.

Entrants in the Fashion Show included the self-identified The Seed Lady, Communications Wizard, Home Gardens Guru, Lemon Power Girl, ‘Garbage to Gold with Worms’ expert, and Solar Power Lady.

To learn more about the Thrive East PDX Community Resilience Hub Initiative, facilitating place-based community Resilience Hubs in each of outer East Portland’s 13 neighborhoods, see their webpage: CLICK HERE.

You can discover how to get involved with the Centennial Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) by visiting their all-new Portland Net WIKI page: CLICK HERE.

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