Friends & Allies Summit
March 14, 3-5pm
Holocene

After a lot of internal debate, we at the Portland Parks Foundation have concluded that it's best to cancel Saturday's Friends & Allies Summit due to Governor Kate Brown's new rules to slow the spread of COVID-19 and in consideration of public safety. The health of our community is our top priority. 

As the future becomes clearer, we'll find another date to gather all our friends and allies who offer so much to Portland's parks and recreation system and announce our 2020 U.S. Bank Parks Champions. In the meantime, thank you to everyone who put so much work into planning this event.

It’s time to celebrate all the hard work and countless hours that hundreds of friends and partner groups contribute to making Portland’s parks clean, accessible and thriving. Whether you’re engaged in volunteer activities in your local park, actively building community through parks-related programming, advocating for your neighborhood park, or are simply interested in getting more involved, this is the event for you.

The Portland Parks Foundation, in partnership with PP&R, is bringing these groups together on March 14 to recognize your impact and provide an opportunity to share your stories. At the summit, we’ll showcase 29 U.S. Bank Parks Champion nominees and their stories, get inspired by our guest speaker, Ed Ewing, from the Seattle Parks Foundation, and make new connections.

Program

  • Welcome and thank you from Adena Long, PP&R Director

  • Guest speaker, Ed Ewing, Director of Programs, Seattle Parks Foundation

  • Announce 2 U.S. Bank Parks Champions (honorees each receive a $1,500 grant to an organization of their choice that aligns with the Foundation’s goal to create a thriving and accessible parks system for a healthy Portland.

  • Closing remarks by PPF (next steps and future summits)

This a free event that is open to anyone who supports Portland’s parks. We'll provide food and your first drink is on us.

A Note on COVID-19: Per the CDC Website, do not attend this event if you are feeling ill.  Avoid contact with anyone who is ill. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, and avoid touching potentially contaminated surfaces. While we love networking at all of our events, you should also avoid shaking hands. Please go here for up to date information about COVID-19 from Multnomah County. 

Ed Ewing, Director of Programs, Seattle Parks Foundation

Ed Ewing, Director of Programs, Seattle Parks Foundation

Meet Ed EWING

We’re thrilled to welcome Ed Ewing from the Seattle Parks Foundation as our guest speaker at our Friends & Allies Summit on March 14. At the Seattle Parks Foundation, Ed oversees the foundation’s strategy, design, and implementation of new and existing programs to ensure that our work with communities, donors, and public agencies is integrated and delivers on mission. Ed has 11 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, program development, Racial Equity & Inclusion, and 20 years of for-profit business experience. Previously, Ed worked at Cascade Bicycle Club and is a founder of the Major Taylor Project, a youth leadership initiative reaching youth of color in the Puget Sound Region.

When asked what inspired Ed to join the Seattle Parks Foundation, he shared that “no matter how complicated it gets, the end goal is about creating spaces where people can breathe, play, hang out and restore.” On March 14, he will share how he and his colleagues in Seattle are committed to ensuring that these spaces are accessible to all communities. In addition to being an advocate for park accessibility for all, Ed is an avid cyclist who’s favorite park in Portland happens to be Holladay Park, the finish line for the Seattle to Portland (STP) bike ride.

Call for Stories

There's so much good going on around us. At our Friends & Allies Summit we'll be sharing these stories to galvanize our community for parks, but we we need your help.

Send us a paragraph, pictures, or video of an improvement to a park your group made, a volunteer day you hosted, a program you brought to the park, something you fixed, or anything else you or someone you know did to make our parks better. 

We'll share stories at the summit. Send your story to Jessica Green at jgreen@portlandpf.org or mail it to 1500 SW First Ave, Suite 760, Portland, OR 97201.

CONTACT INFORMATION:  Jessica Green, Operations and Program Director, jgreen@portlandpf.org, (503) 445-0994.