Find out how we invested your money in 2021. Read Maybelle Center’s annual report online, or download a pdf version.

Find out how we invested your money in 2020. Read Maybelle Center’s annual report online, or download a pdf version.

IT’S OFFICIAL! Michelle Meyer is the Center’s 4th Executive Director. Michelle’s collaborative approach will be integral as we re-imagine how Maybelle Center can help shape a healthier Portland for all of us. 1. What do you think will be the biggest challenge you’ll face in the first 365 days as Executive Director (ED)? “I think an important and key resource at a small organization like Maybelle Center is the people who work here. When a staff member leaves, it can really affect the organization. We’re rolling through a lot of transition right now. Many of our key staff have been here for less than a year — some that are brand new, including our new Development Director who was hired to backfill my position. It’s really mission-critical work to invest in staff, reduce attrition, and to soften the bumps when it does occur. Our staff has strong relationships with members, with volunteers, and with each other, so employee transitions affect our entire community.  We need to improve employee tenure by taking deliberate steps to reduce burnout, to make sure everyone feels supported, and to encourage employee growth wherever we can. I want everyone to love working here as much as…

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.

Embarking on a new journey requires us to take a posture of vulnerability as an organization and become comfortable with the unknown 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 aware of our own backgrounds, biases, and beliefs, and educate ourselves on our collective history. In doing so, we can better honor the lived experiences of our members, neighbors, and colleagues of color. Thank you for…

This year we committed to doing a lot of listening. Listening to members, to volunteers, to our staff, and to our community. After listening for several months, our program team met extensively to brainstorm and dream about how we might better serve our members. Many members haven’t visited the Center but could really benefit from the connection and community in our art classes, spiritual groups, choir, and our Community Room. How could we bridge the visitation program and community-building at the Center? How could we open up the doors for real engagement with community? Many of you know that our long-time Support Services Navigator, Meagann, is leaving to work with her husband. And every summer, the Jesuit volunteer who leads our Community Room turns over. We also just learned that Caitlin, our Support Services Coordinator, was leaving to focus on another area of social work. This was our opportunity to put the plan we’d been formulating for months into action: First, we’re hiring a dedicated Community Room Lead who will work with us on a full-time, permanent basis. We are happy to announce that we have hired Celeste Horne, who comes to us from Central City Concern. Celeste will begin…

We miss him already! Neal just finished up his year as our Jesuit Volunteer in the Community Room at the end of July. We wanted to share the reflection that Neal shared with our members at his Goodbye Party: July, 2017 To all my friends at the Maybelle Center, My one year in the Community Room is finished! It’s time for me to move on. My next steps are going back home to Arlington, Virginia, and then visiting my family in Kolkata, India for a few months. As my time ends, you all in the Community Room have approached me to thank me and share several kind words with me. I want to take the time to return the favor, and share some words with you all. It’s clear to me that I’m surrounded by strong, inspiring, and loving humans here every day. Whether you only came in for five minutes to grab coffee and a cigarette, or if you came in every day, thank you for sharing your lives and stories with me. I’ve heard many powerful stories from you all – stories of struggling with addictions, of mental health challenges, of growing up with unsupportive families, and of…

The phone rings and an unfamiliar number pops up: CALLER: “Hi, my name is Steve.” At first, his voice is barely audible. “I saw your flyer on the bulletin board. I’m calling about the visits. I’m not sure how much more I can take. I don’t talk to nobody…” MAYBELLE CENTER: Oh, so you want to know more about our visitation program? CALLER: “Yes. I thought maybe I could meet some people.” MAYBELLE CENTER: “I’m so glad you called. Where do you live? Oh, ok…Umm, I don’t have any volunteers that can go to your building right now. I’m so sorry…But I’ll definitely call you as soon as we do.” The silent creep of loneliness Steve’s call is a common scenario. It’s often hard for people to admit they are lonely or isolated. Maybe because of unwritten social pressure. Or maybe because loneliness can creep up on you without you knowing. It sits soundlessly right next to you, reaching around you and filling your chest. When someone like Steve finally reaches out, we don’t know if it’s been five minutes since he’s really talked to another human being. Or maybe it’s been days. But we do know that he wants…