What I love so much about the community we're building in Portland is that we take care of each other. The greater the need, the more us show up with our hands full and minds open.
There are a wealth of organizations dedicated to showing up for neighbors in this town but one that's always been close to my heart is p:ear mentor.
p:ear is a creative community dedicated to providing homeless youth with opportunities for exploration and personal growth. They do this with their drop-in center in Downtown Portland, the coffee works barista training program, a bike shop in Southeast and an independent art gallery.
It makes me so much happier to live in this community knowing that there are organizations like p:ear looking out for young people. When I've worked with organizations like this in the past, they've communicated to me that these youth are frequently put in danger because their families don't support their identities, and now more than ever, Human Centric Media wants to be part of efforts to show up for these young people and demonstrate that if one family doesn't support them the way they should, another better one will coalesce around them.
We all deserve that kind of support.
So it was really fulfilling to go through some of our older pieces and look back on this event highlight reel from p:ear blossoms Elevation, the 2023 edition of the organization's annual fundraiser, hosted at The Redd in Southeast Portland.
That year's event was MC'd by the multitalented Lindsey Murphy and featured the musical stylings of Orquestra Pacifico Tropical.
There's so much talent in this town and everytime I get to witness it coming together to help those who need it most, it fills my heart up.
