Our 20th Anniversary Event last Thursday was chock full of wonderfulness. About 300 guests—board members (current and former), funders, customers, City officials, and other partners—joined us at the Nines Hotel in downtown Portland for an evening of appreciation, education, and celebration.
There was great music from Lloyd Jones and his band, and endless trays of tasty food and drinks. The Silent Auction and the Golden Ticket Raffle were both popular and successful. And Portland Mayor Sam Adams presented us with an official Proclamation declaring “July 15th to be the Day of Appreciation for the Portland Housing Center!”
Our keynote speaker, Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry, professor of political science at Tulane University, author, and political commentator, educated and impressed us all with her presentation on “Home, Civil Rights, and the Challenge of Post-Racial Organizing.”
I was especially impressed with her ability to take the “long view” of political, social, and economic progress in America, and for reminding us that we all have a role in history—whether high history or low. She told us about her father, a long-time political activist and educator. Instead of signing her birthday cards, “Love, Dad,” she said, he’d sign them, “The struggle continues.”
The significance of that, particularly as we move through challenging economic and political times, is profound, for all Americans committed to equity and fairness, and who may sometimes face a momentary waning of our passion for righting wrongs.
Here’s one of my favorite Dr. Harris-Perry quotes from that speech:
“What’s useful with growing up with “the struggle continues” as a basic mantra is that it serves as an excellent act of humility to remember that you are just a part, just a moment of a struggle, that has gone on long before you, and that will continue long after you.
There is much hubris required for you to believe that you have to live during the winning time. No, you might be living during the losing time. The winning time might come at some earlier point or some later point—you don’t always get to choose what your era is—but certainly, inevitably, the struggle continues.”
We received some excellent press coverage in The Oregonian, too. Writer Connie Potter did an extensive profile of PHC customer Demetria Peterson, with excellent background on our founding and recent successes.
I think Demetria best summarized the value and importance of what we do. She said of us, “They were a constant resource for me…If it wasn’t for the Portland Housing Center, I wouldn’t have been able to buy. I wouldn’t have known what steps to take, who to trust, who not to trust.” Thank you, Demetria. That’s what we call “homeownership done right.”
Events like this celebration take untold hours of hard work, so my sincere thanks to the 20th Anniversary Event Committee and volunteers for their limitless supplies of determination, creativity, and massive attention to the many details our party demanded. We owe big thanks to Event Committee Chair Raejean Sly (whose 3-tier “house” cake was the best-dressed item at the event!). Shout outs are due, also, to Lead Volunteer Carol Hushman and our Auction Procurement Wiz Mary Mayther-Slac.
So, now we’re 21--and “the struggle continues.” Important words for us to remember as we step into our third decade of helping our customers make real the dream of homeownership.
