The simple gift of sharing our voices bonds us together and heals us from within. Unfortunately, sharing our voices in an enclosed space also shares COVID-19. During the pandemic, the Maybelle Community Singers resumed practices virtually and worked towards a virtual “performance” by blending recording from each choir member into a unified sound. Listen to our choir sing “Everybody” by Ingrid Michaelson:
Interview with Maybelle Member, JanieThanks to you, and a lifetime love of singing, Janie found “another family” with our choir in 2019, after moving cross-country with just two suitcases. During COVID, Janie keeps connected by sharing her colorful personality and sense of humor during virtual choir and weekly calls with a cherished friend she met at her first choir practice.“It’s like you guys were a family – a home away from home in a lot of ways. And I missed that.”JanieMaybelle MemberQ: How did you first get connected with Maybelle? I’ve been singing since I was five, in the school and church choir. I just sing my heart out. That’s me – that’s what I do. I even joined a ladies’ barbershop quartet! When I moved into my apartment, I didn’t really talk to too many people. I met a Maybelle Center volunteer who said, “Did you know Maybelle Center had a choir?” When I came to choir the first time, I was scared for a little bit. But everybody introduced themselves and made me feel really comfortable.Q: How have you stayed connected during the pandemic?That first day in choir, I got connected to Jackie [a fellow choir member], and we started…
We run on lean budgets, imagination, sweat & laughter (sometimes tears). So your dollar goes farther & more of us feel the warmth of connection
Investing in the future Finding safe spaces to gather with friends during the pandemic has been challenging for many of our members. Our office renovations should be complete by early December, and we’re prioritizing the reopening of our newly modified space to meet member needs safely. Construction tour with Michelle Meyer Community Room A larger Community Room is essential for a safe reopening to ensure more space between members when they’re sitting and talking. While we are limited to the building’s physical footprint, the Community Room will increase by 1,000 square feet, and gain additional usable space by reconfiguring the room’s flow. Classroom & volunteer area While larger spaces are critical in COVID-times, even before the pandemic, our existing classroom often wasn’t large enough to accommodate programming like choir. And if you’ve ever been a volunteer or attended an event on that side, you’ll be excited to hear that we’re adding another entry door and a bathroom, so volunteers will not have to traipse all the way back through the other building! “The project started long before I became ED, but couldn’t have been realized at a better time.” Michelle Meyer Executive Director
It was wonderful to connect with so many of you last night! Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us at our first virtual Hope in the Heart of Portland. Highlights of our evening! Jackie, Jacqueline, Brayden, and Wendy – thank you for loving our community. And for all your dedication, talent, and skill you’ve contributed to creating outdoor “listening post” events for members. You are truly an inspiration for us all! It’s a powerful reminder of how beautiful our community can be when all of us experience a healthy, connected life and can contribute to a thriving Portland.Member-led projectYou’ll want to be sure to watch the recording to hear members Jackie, Jaqueline, and Brayden talk about their “listening post” project in the park (skip to 57:11). Virtual choir performanceDon’t miss updates and “hellos” from Father Berg, Michelle Meyer, and Mary Sue. Plus a virtual performance from Maybelle Community Singers (skip to 1:21:56).Can we ask one favor?Together, we raised over $130,000 to break down the barriers to connection—something we need in 2020 more than ever. We couldn’t do it without you! We’re still shy of our $200,000 goal. Do you know anyone who would enjoy vacationing in a floating home, drinking wine, or who might enjoy learning…
With an eye on future reopening, Executive Director, Michelle Meyer, gives us a peek at which spaces will be renovated to better meet member, staff, and volunteer needs. Fortuitous timing allows renovations to the Community Room and interior spaces to align with our temporary COVID closure – meaning construction will be quicker and without additional service disruption.What are the goals of the construction project? What are you most excited about?“A major objective of the project is enlarging the Community Room to better meet Maybelle Center member needs. I’m very excited to have a Community Room with a fresh feel and space where folks don’t feel on top of one another. The project started long before I became ED – it’s been such a “hurry up and wait” project. But it couldn’t have started at a better time. All of our employees are already working remotely, and a larger Community Room is essential for a safe reopening to ensure more space between members when they’re sitting and talking.While we are limited to the building’s physical footprint, the Community Room will increase by 1000 square feet and gain additional usable space by reconfiguring the room’s flow. Currently, we have a very large…
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…
Two months ago, we pivoted to connect with members remotely – by phone, email, and letters. Maintaining connection during this crisis is crucial, and members are extending support within their own communities despite technological barriers.
The COVID-19 pandemic is difficult for many of us. As a blind person, what’s your experience?
Celeste has been delivering services while working from home. We asked her to share what it’s like: Spending 8 hours a day at my kitchen table on a computer and a phone is not my ideal working environment. But I appreciate the opportunity to keep working and keep serving the members to the best of my ability. I am having no problem keeping busy!As an organization, I know this is different than anything we have done before. And in my opinion, it’s working. The phone calls I am making mean a lot to our members. I know this because they tell me so.I hear things such as: “I look forward to your call all week,” and “You’re the only person that checks in with me.”They can’t wait to tell me about their day or what is going on in their life – the good and the bad. I get to hear about the birth of their grandchildren and the sadness from not being able to see or touch the child because of social distancing.I get to hear how they are staying connected to each other and all the fun things they are going to do when this is over. I am also the person…