I Left the Key under the Rock

Many entries ago, I talked about the street boys who used to come to the coffee shop.  In the entries I talked about T who came in to show me his driver's permit and was so proud of his accomplishment.  I wished I'd continued the story of T - or Tyler - and kept you up to date since then.

Tyler, you may remember, was a child who has grown into a young man in the worst of circumstances.  His mother is a meth addict, and Tyler lives there.  Yet Tyler was slated to graduate from Reynolds High School this summer despite the life he has lived. 

I was happy to have Tyler back at the cafe more often these past few months.  He would come to the cafe to escape whatever druggies his mother had in the house when he arrived home.  He came to the cafe where I allowed him to study and take his food handler's test in order to find work.  He came to the cafe to fill out online applications in hopes of getting a job.  Tyler couldn't get a job that required a car.  He got his permit, but he never had anyone to teach him how to drive.  He applied for jobs within walking or Tri-Met distances.  Tyler came to the cafe in the evenings to help with anything there that might earn him a few dollars.  Those that saw Tyler working were amazed how hard he tried. 

I know Tyler had more rough times at home.  I also know that he learned to keep that to himself.  He was supposed to write a school paper about difficulties he had overcome.  Tyler knew not to mention his life at home - in fear that he would be taken out of his home and put in foster care once more.  His goal was only to graduate.

Tyler's mother was continually in trouble at the apartment complex for her behavior.  As of this week, Tyler and his mother are being kicked out of the apartments.  I got a text from Tyler today telling me where he is leaving me my key to the cafe and goodbye....

On further conversation I learned that Tyler is going to go live with his aunt in Hillsboro.  I hope and pray his aunt is nothing like his mother.  The good news is Tyler is not going with his mother.  The bad news is once again Tyler has been uprooted and moves on from the one thing that has been consistent - his school and his friends.  It's Tyler's senior year and he has less than 6 months left to graduation.  Once again Tyler will have himself to count on.

If only things were different, and if only my cafe were doing well, if only my housing situation were still secure... I would offer Tyler a home in a heartbeat.  But I'm another ..."if only" for Tyler.

As I was writing this, I remembered that I told Tyler to keep in touch and check in from time to time.  I realized there was something I didn't say, so I sent a text...

"I better get notice of your graduation too!"

His response: "You will.  Don't worry! Lol."

Whew.

We're working on becoming a non-profit cafe

For those who haven't heard, Park Place Coffee & Crepes will either cease to exist or transition into a non-profit cafe.  Our hope is that we could be a non-profit cafe by January 2011, but there are many pieces to come together in order for that to happen! 

For this first post (in a very, very long time!) I am going to give you the unpersonalized, non-blog, informational stuff about why, etc. I hope to elaborate in further posts on how it's all coming along and all the great ideas that have come up!

What are the advantages of making Park Place Coffee a non-profit café?


• The events and activities won’t be limited by time and financial restraints of a single owner.

As a non-profit, PPC could host local community events and provide services based on the interest of neighbors and volunteers. Many local interests can participate in bringing the café to “life.”

• The long term stability of the café won’t be limited by a sole proprietor. It can continue to grow to be a community asset as long as the community chooses to adopt it. By making PPC a non-profit café, the success of the café is not dependent on the success of one person. The café can remain in the community and continue to grow under a board and a supervisor.

• The café mission can broaden beyond the four walls and support other efforts within the area. The mission of the café can expand to include community improvement activities and seek grant funding for community renewal efforts incubated within the doors of the café, but provide services for many community interests.

What could a non-profit café do for the community?

The first step would be for the donation base to sustain daily operations (equipment, supplies, rent) of the café. The goal is for the café to become the home or primary venue for community groups, meetings and common interests shared w/in Rockwood.

The café would potentially offer many more activities for the community through organized events by volunteer groups. This venue can serve as a partner for benefit events for other organizations also. It can also help promote local commerce. For example, local guest chefs could offer meals from other restaurants, local artists can display their work or perform, vendors could have selected items displayed for sale.

The more support this café can build within the community the more funds can be directed toward other community efforts. As a non-profit organization with a primary interest in improving the surrounding community, the café can compete for grant money to serve community efforts.

This is a perfect location to build further community efforts:

• Activities can expand into the park next door, building more interest and excitement within the neighborhood.

• We are located in the most diverse and active area of Rockwood, and by building community efforts we can draw our neighbors together.

• PPC has started the process with involvement on local efforts, and with the help of community interests, a new life is possible

 

Park Place Coffee meets visitors from Eugene and Washington DC

Today was a day off for me, the owner of Park Place Coffee.  So, what do you DO on your days off, Dina?  Meet with others AT Park Place of course - on issues related to the community.

This morning I had the opportunity to  meet with our county commissioner, Diane McKeel, and a group of students from University of Oregon to discuss a project the students have taken on - an asset inventory of the Rockwood community.  So far, Rockwood has seen some great work from the U of O students involved in a "Sustainable Cities" initiative.  We are hoping these students can add to the great work accomplished.

This afternoon I was honored to be involved in a special meeting with Congressman Earl Blumenauer as he met with City officials and a few of us neighborhood folks on Rockwood issues.  More on the impressive information on Rockwood in a later blog....

Earl and his staff then arrived at Park Place Coffee for a quick drink before heading to Centennial Middle School.  Quite a special day in Park Place visiting with he and his staff about issues related to Rockwood, the coffeeshop and the surrounding area.  As a busy congressman, Earl could have declined the visit, or questioned the time in his schedule.  He could have grabbed an obligatory cup of coffee and headed out the door.  But having the group visit Park Place and Earl's genuine interest in the surrounding community gave me a new faith in knowing that our friend in Washington will remember Rockwood and know our passion for this community as he makes decisions that affects us.

It was a great day of special guests here at Park Place.

Undercover Boss

Due to technical difficulties on my home internet this week, I have been parking myself in the corner of my cafe, kinda incognito, as I use the wi-fi.  I have gained new perspectives as I sit back and listen to the conversations going on at the counter and the groups speaking around me.

A group of 4 women, in for the first time, talk amongst themselves about how much they love their crepes and how long it has been since they have had one.  One lady shares her recipe and explains that our hungarian crepes are like hers, because she adds cinnamon to her recipe.  Cinnamon in a crepe? The other ladies try it and decide it DOES work. They also look at my hours and decide they can stop in for breakfast more often!

The group of nursing students are parked on the couch, as they are every week, and they quiz each other on medical conditions. Some conditions involve profuse bleeding, some on how to cope with death.  At first these conversations make me a little uneasy while others eat, but I realize you can't or shouldn't control all conversations in a cafe.  It is part of what brings it to life.

The students discuss not meeting at the cafe on Fridays because the "church ladies" take over the shop so they'll have to find another spot.  I intercede, (cuz they know me anyway) and explain the church ladies have changed their schedule and please plan on keeping us in mind for Fridays.  Customer base rescued! 

A gentleman comes in and tells my barister (my new name for my male barista son) that its his first time in, he loves the coffee and the place.  He'll be back. Whew! My son's customer service was excellent as the gentleman continued talking for another 5 minutes.  Yes, he will be back because he felt at home.

Another regular came in, and though I was sitting in the back I could hear him loudly and his inappropriate choice of slang words that are part of his daily conversation.  When I am at the counter I don't realize that the customers in the back corner are hearing such things.  Note to self.

I have heard many talk about the new show, Undercover Boss.  I watched the first episode about the big corporation of Waste Management.  Although I can't be entirely incognito in a small little personal coffee shop, I can tell you that the hour of sitting back in the corner and watching the operations will help me implement valuable changes.  I learned why I was no longer seeing the normal Friday crowd, and understood the remedy.  That hour affirmed my belief in the quality of the food, the customer service and the friendly atmosphere at Park Place Coffee.

Snowcap Christmas Giving Tree is up

One of the groups that meets at Park Place are working with me to sponsor a giving tree in support of Snowcap.  Today I received the attached list from the Director of Snowcap. The Portland Cup of Coffee Networkers group decorated the tree and will sponsor this effort.

The sad part of the message she sent was this was just the list of wishes from children in need who were at the food bank TODAY.  So, there are many more children the other six days of the week who also have a Christmas wish to be fulfilled.  If you would like to pick up one of these children's wishes, please come by Park Place and pick their star from the tree. If you have other items, such as food or presents to bring to Snowcap I have included their link here as well.  All gifts must be returned by December 18th.

Here is the list you'll find on the stars at Park Place:


Chad 9 Wants a dog, but apt won’t allow it. A book about dogs or the boy-dog relationship,
a nice doggie stuffed animal, a video like Benji

Michael 6 Dad is a trucker so he really enjoys playing with trucks

Ruby 4 A doll with red hair

Sue 7 Beginning to read, loves books

Lora 12 Bubble Bath, lip gloss

Deborah 13 Twilight Vampire books

Juan 6 Toy carpenter tools or workbench

Christian 8 Legos or other building toys

Eric 5 Plastic barnyard with animals, grandparents live on a farm

Jason 8 Book about Vikings or other ancient warriors

Cameron 5 Musical toy

Neal 3 Bath time toys

Abby 9 Girls mystery book

Jessica 7 Play kitchen utensils

Faye 11 Doll with different outfits

Cathy 12 Taylor Swift CD

Alicia 3 Soft book so she can play at reading

Sarah 7 Leapfrog Text & Learn

Gina 6 My First Kitchen

Estella 8 Book about immigrant girls in America

David 5 Chuck the Talking Truck (Tonka toy)

Ramon 7 Toy Walkie Talkies

Peter 10 Transformers Role Play Helmet or other transformers toy

Oh! What a Fresh Coat of Paint Will Do!

...Plaza Del Sol

Rockwood has been stuck in a state of flux for many years. Well meaning policy makers and citizens have held out hopes and grand plans for revitalizing and rebuilding this community. And each time, attempts are not realized. The budgets are too large, the economy is too depressed, and with no solutions its back to the drawing board.

Today a simple inexpensive project resurrected community building and hope in this community. And we learned that in this case, THE DRAWING BOARD was the solution! Plaza Del Sol is simply a painting on pavement of the sunshine and part of a bigger plan in Rockwood to have a "planet walk," a walking path, recreation and other amenities . It did not require plenty of negotiations with a developer, it required plenty of children with paintbrushes and people to share in a labor of love. Based on its success, we see clear evidence that engaging the people of Rockwood and tapping into their compassion can provide the momentum Rockwood needs.

Each time this community is questioned for its apathy, the people of Rockwood outshine the stigma. National Night Out's biggest event was in Rockwood, and Plaza Del Sol continued to engage our citizens. With our new "low-budget" plaza, it will be important to continue building on this momentum, and to IMMEDIATELY bring positive celebrations and activities onto this site - a step I hope will be fostered by the City.

I have to hand it to the City of Gresham and our Urban Renewal Director, Alice Rouyer for realizing what a fresh coat of paint can do for a community, and for a job well done! The work of our artists and Michael Orelove have laid the welcome mat for community engagement. I encourage the Rockwood residents and businesses to take the next vital step and make the plaza THEIR home by utilizing the area for positive activities and gatherings. The sun is shining and a brighter community is in the hands of the community to embrace.

Disc Golfers Adopt Vance Park

In these days of budget cuts at the City of Gresham, cutting back on park maintenance at Vance Park was having a considerable effect on the park's climate. Since I am working on a positive story here, I will avoid editorializing TOO much on why Rockwood's neighborhood park was the one chosen to receive the least bit of services... and the amount of problems that has created with vagrants and issues in the tall grass left standing...

Okay, back to the happy stuff! In light of the service cuts, the disc golfers noticed their course had gone severely down hill. So, one of those golfers, Kris, called the City and asked if he could adopt Vance Park. His mission was to clean the park up and make it attractive to the disc golfers once more. With the help of a very dedicated staffer, Cathy Harrington, the park was adopted and a plan was put in place for disc golf clean-up volunteers.

Sunday, August 30th marked the first clean up of the Vance Park disc golf group and it was amazing what they accomplished! Over 20 volunteers showed up to pick up garbage, sticks, cherry pits - you name it. The work party started at noon and was still finishing up at 5 p.m. Between the rakes and the blowers and the garbage bags the difference was incredible!

So no one but the disc golfers and I knew what was accomplished today. If only I had taken before/after pictures - you too could know how hard the groups worked, but the work they did was incredible. And as these work parties continue, the volunteer group is expected to grow larger. I know I've said it in previous posts, and I will say it again.... ROCKWOOD IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE THE DISC GOLFERS AND THEIR UNSELFISH DEDICATION TO THEIR COMMUNITY.