Sunday Assembly Portland

Let’s take a walk on the section of Springwater Corridor that follows Johnson Creek. We’ll start at the SE Tacoma/Johnsons Creek park and ride and go out-and-back about 3.5 miles on this mostly level, paved multiuse path along the creek. There is one hill up from the park and ride, and we may take an unpaved offshoot trail on the way back if dry, so wear stabilizing active footwear such as sneakers, hiking boots or Tivas. Prior to European settlement, the watershed was heavily forested and was used by Native Americans of the Chinook band for fishing and hunting. In the 19th century, white settlers cleared much of the land for farming, and the stream is named for one of these newcomers, William Johnson, who in 1846 built a water-powered sawmill along the creek. By the early 20th century, a rail line parallel to the stream encouraged further residential and commercial development. As urban density increased in the floodplain, seasonal floods have plagued these neighborhoods periodically. 

We will explore a lovely portion of the 21-mile bicycle and pedestrian rail trail that follows the restored wild creek for much of its length.This park and ride itself is interesting, as it contains not one, but two new large Stargates (aka. Kerf). Anyone good at Stargate chevron symbols? Actually these giant brown rings were created by artist Thomas Sayre from pigmented cast concrete “earth-cast” on site, and are meant to represent the influence of wheels on the area, from a 19th-century sawmill on Johnson Creek to the wheels of the MAX train. 

Let’s meet at 1 PM at the SE Tacoma/Johnsons Creek Park and Ride/Maxx station at 8300 SE McLoughlin Blvd. Bring water or snacks as needed. Friendly dogs are welcome on leash. If you like bring info on a new diet fad or health tip to share and evaluate. This hike has many medicinal plants to potentially identify. If you want to carpool from some distant part of town, then leave a comment on the meet-up page and we’ll try to find someone going your way. The walk will take an hour to an hour and a half, but allow the two hour window due to any view breaks or general group lag. This should be fun! Let’s take a walk! Contact organizer Dr. Mindy Curry at 503-995-8674 with any questions.

Our May assembly will feature Gregory McKelvey, a local a community activist and member of Portland’s Resistance. The group’s mission is to organize direct action and policy demands to bring about the just and equitable future that all people deserve.
Join us to learn about our community’s grassroot responses on issues from criminal justice reform to healthcare access. Gregory McKelvey is an activist, public speaker, and campaign manager. He received his undergraduate degree from Oregon State University in Political Science. Prior to starting Portland’s Resistance he was a leader in local Black Lives Matter and Don’t Shoot Portland actions.
We happily provide light refreshments and a Wonder Club for kids. Our location is ADA accessible.
For information, visit: http://www.sundayassemblypdx.org/

Let’s take a Happy and Healthy Walk and talk in the beautiful Mary. S. Young park in nearby West Linn. This 128 acre State Park features dog parks, lush forest trails, cascading streams, picturesque small bridges, views and access to the Willamette River, and even seasonal island access via floating bridge. The property was given to the state for park purposes by Thomas E. Young and his wife, Mary S. Young, in various increments between 1963 and 1970. This walk will be about 3 miles long and will weave through the park on mostly dirt trails. Expect several steep hills including both switchbacks and stairs, so wear stabilizing active footwear such as sneakers, hiking boots or Tevas. Bring water or snacks as needed. Friendly dogs are welcome on leash unless in the dog park (although locals do tend to go leash-less). If you like bring info on a new diet fad or health tip to share and evaluate. This hike has many medicinal plants to potentially identify. 

Meet at 1 PM at the first parking lot on the left, right next to the dog park. (Not the parking lot at the end-if you see picnic tables and shelters, you’ve gone too far.) If you want to carpool, then leave a comment on the meet-up page and we’ll try to find someone going your way. The walk will take an hour to an hour and a half, but allow the two hour window due to any view breaks or general group lag. Drizzle is part of everyday life, but storms cancel event. This should be fun! Let’s take a walk! Contact organizer Dr. Mindy Curry at 503-995-8674 with any questions.

Speaker: Joshua Groesz, MS, NCC / Executive Director of the Salvation Army’s Veterans and Family Center
Topic: Veterans’ Experiences of Deployment, Civilian Life, & Mental Health 

More details to follow

Let’s take a Happy and Healthy Walk and talk in Meldrum Bar Park in nearby Gladstone. This is the park we saw directly across the river on last month’s hike. This large park features many different family use areas including a Large Children’s Golf Course, Community Garden, BMX bike hill course, radio controlled car course, fields for sports, kites, drones and RC planes, popular fishing and swimming beaches, picnic tables and Nature Trail. We’ll be weaving around all of these for a good sampling of the entire park. This park is located where the Clackamas River joins the Willamette River. 

This walk will be almost 3 miles long and will weave through the park on a variety of trails surfaces including paved, mowed grass, sandy beach, river rock, floating pier, and dirt trails, so wear stabilizing active footwear such as sneakers, hiking boots or Tevas. Expect a couple easy hills. Bring water and snacks as needed. Friendly dogs are welcome on leash unless in the dog park. If you like bring info on a new diet fad or health tip to share and evaluate. This hike has many medicinal plants to potentially identify. 

Enter via Meldrum Bar Park Road nestled between the loving arms of the vast Tri City Mobile Park. Meet at 1 PM at the first parking lot on the left, right next to the Children’s Playground and Restroom. If you want to carpool, then leave a comment and we’ll try to find someone going your way. The walk will take an hour to an hour and a half, but allow the two hour window due to any view breaks or general group lag. Drizzle is part of everyday life, bu storms cancel event. This should be fun! Let’s take a walk! Contact organizer Dr. Mindy Curry at 503-995-8674 with any questions.