Just 3 months on the job, Linda shares what it’s like to be at an assisted living facility amid the constant threat of infection, state-mandated safety restrictions, and how her time at Macdonald Residence has upended her long-held assumptions about public health.
A quick look into the vaccine process, including how Macdonald Residence got knocked off the list and how vaccine hesitancy caught them off guard.
Black lives matter The past weeks as your inbox filled with emails from organizations condemning the murder of George Floyd by a White police officer and affirming their commitment to racial equity…did you notice we weren’t there? If you did, you might have wondered, “How can an organization that claims to value equity not speak out?” Isn’t that what’s becoming clear? Silence has allowed the perpetuation of violence against, and murder of, Black individuals like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and countless others. And yet, we were silent. As individual staff members, we were outraged and stood in solidarity with protesters demanding justice for our Black community. And yet there was hesitancy about where we stood as an organization, and to what degree we should respond. We were certain that we didn’t want to just “issue a statement” because it was a hot topic. Or come out with a statement but not follow it up with any action. Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship – and we value those we are in community with, like you, too much. But here’s the thing. It’s embarrassing to admit we didn’t already know how we should respond as an organization. We’ve written and reflected on our equity journey for nearly four years. Race was even the primary focus of this work. But we’ve hesitated to…
Dear Members, We’re reaching out with an update on how we are responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. After difficult discussions and careful thought as a team, we have decided that the best course of action in protecting each other and staying healthy is for the Maybelle Center for Community to temporarily close beginning Monday, March 16th. We will continue to evaluate and hope to reopen on Wednesday, April 1st. We know this will come as a shock. Please know that all Maybelle Staff are working hard to make sure that we have other ways to feel connected and supported. We are all in this together. What we are doing: Visits will continue but will be made by phone or email, so you may get a call from a new or unknown number in the coming days. If you need to update your contact information, please call Cecily at 971-202-7461 Resource information will be updated on our home page at maybellecenter.org and posted on the door at the Community Room. An online community called WeConnect is being created to help members stay connected and informed. You can find it on our home page and at maybellecenter.org/weconnect/ Staff and volunteers are making…
Michelle Meyer will replace retiring Executive Director, Jon Ulsh next Monday, April 1st. Michelle first joined Maybelle Center as our Development Director in 2018. Q: Why are you excited to be Executive Director? “Early in my career, I chose to only work at nonprofits where I could deeply engage. And Maybelle Center shares values that are important to me. Values like mutual respect, working collaboratively, and having unconditional positive regard for one another at all levels of an organization. “I believe in the mission of Maybelle Center, and I’m surrounded by wonderful people who are working equally as hard towards the same goal.” Q: What about Maybelle Center attracted you? “I was drawn to Maybelle Center because it’s a place where we promote something more than just a ‘thing,’ like music or the arts. It’s about engaging with one another and working together in community. “When I worked at SOLVE, we organized environmental and beach cleanups that preserved Oregon. But it was the community-building that was more important. And I definitely see that at Maybelle Center. “It’s not just about the service we’re providing. It’s about the deeper, more holistic approach of living together and engaging with one another on a…
Michelle Meyer will succeed retiring Executive Director, Jon Ulsh, on April 1st, after a carefully planned transition period. Jon’s caring leadership leaves Maybelle Center a thriving organization ready for the future. His genuine personal connections with members, staff, donors, and volunteers will be a long remembered part of his legacy.
You can decipher the code alongside the Oregon Symphony and the Maybelle Community Singers. CRYPT-O-GRAM A puzzle with a short piece of encrypted text Di, Macdonald West Resident and Maybelle Center Calligraphy Instructor, explains the collaborative project she helped spearhead. Break the code to solve the puzzle and reveal the message. Three words are already deciphered to get you started.
Our very own Maybelle Community Singers have been invited to perform with the Oregon Symphony at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall for three performances: May 12-14, 2018! Joining the choir onstage will be soprano Measha Brueggergosman and acclaimed violinist Joshua Bell. For many of our members, this will be the first time they’ve set foot into a concert hall. Choir members have been sharing their stories and working alongside composer, Gabriel Kahane, as he prepares his original work exploring the need for a home and homelessness. And not only is this event creating community within our organization, but it’s also spreading throughout Old Town/Downtown. Members have graciously welcomed clients, staff, and volunteers from five partner organizations in our neighborhood to become Maybelle Community Singers for the event. Project Partners: Central City Concern Rahab’s Sisters Sisters of the Road Transition Projects Union Gospel Mission Get your tickets quick! You’ll need to act fast to snag a ticket for one of the weekend performances. Plus, you can get a special group rate (20% discount + waived $6 ticket handling fee) by calling Tom Wente at 503-416-6380. It can sometimes take a day or two for Tom to confirm your tickets. Tickets start at…
Dear Macdonald Center Community, I want to let you know about a change to our programming that will be taking place over the coming five months. At the direction of our board, we will be phasing out the payee program and medication assistance program which Macdonald Center has operated since 2008 when they were discontinued by Outreach in Burnside due to its impending closure. All other Macdonald Center programs and services remain the same and are fully available to any members who will be affected by this change. Three things were central to making this decision: our focus on remaining true to Macdonald Center’s core mission, the best allocation of the resources we have available to fulfill that mission and to secure Macdonald Center’s future, and the importance of supporting the development of a more comprehensive, sustainable and community-based solution to meet the needs of this challenging population—a population that urgently needs and deserves such a solution. Macdonald Center’s mission—to nurture the body, mind and spirit of the forgotten poor in Old Town-Downtown Portland by building connections and community—is elegant in its simplicity and reflects the Center’s purpose since our founding in 1991. Our focus has always centered upon breaking isolation, building personal…
Portland Radio Project is a new online radio station dedicated to the local Portland community. Last week, PRP featured Maybelle Center in an online interview. Claudia Brown spent the entire day here interviewing staff, members, and volunteers, including Mike in the photo above. We are pretty excited about the final product! Have a listen here.