The Village Building Convergence: Human-Scale Community Action at the Urban Crossroads is a ten-day event (May 9-18, 2003) of daytime and evening educational, inspirational, and celebratory activities surrounding the transformation of five neighborhood intersections into public squares.

Based on the concept that the localization of culture, economy and decision-making are the necessary foundations of strong and sustainable neighborhoods, the project serves to create an experience through which we can empower and develop our local community. As we converge to strengthen our neighborhoods, we are creating the opportunity to reclaim and embrace our individual lives together. The Convergence will feature ten days of hands-on workshops facilitated by leaders in both Natural Building and Permaculture of North America. Workshops will consist of producing permanent intersection murals, natural materials benches & kiosks, play-areas, all within the urban terrain of Southeast Portland. Sites are located in the following SE Portland Neighborhoods: Brentwood-Darlington, Richmond, Sunnyside, Buckman, and Sellwood. We will have many chances to tour other sites during the weeks events.

Evening presenters include Joseph Kennedy of Builders Without Borders, Mark Lakeman of the City Repair Project, Mike O‚Brien from the Office of Sustainable Development, Penny Livingston-Stark from the Permaculture Institute of Northern California, Mark Lamberth, Richard Register of Ecocity Builders, Jonathan Rowe, Paula Noël, Stuart Cowan, Janell Kapoor of Kleiwerks, Milenko Matanovic from Pomegranate, former city Commissioner Charlie Hales and Starhawk associated with Reclaiming.Registration fee includes all day and night events, housing and dinners. Please contact us with any special eating needs, meals are vegetarian.

Registration is $190 by April 15. $30 per day or $270 for entire week after April 30th. Work-trade Registration limited to 12 openings, call Ashlee for details.

Send check or money order to Southeast Uplift, 3534 SE Main Street, Portland OR 97214. Make check payable to SEUL, note VBC in the memo field. All fees are completely tax deductible as this is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

This project, a collaboration between Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Program, The City Repair Project and KBOO Community Radio 90.7fm, will provide support with resources, technical assistance, connections and inspiration for individuals and communities creating neighborhood public gathering places with ecological features.

Other supporters include the City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development, Regional Arts and Culture Council, Ecotrust, Architects, Designers, Planners for Social Responsibility (ADPSR), Sustainable Systems Design, Urban Water Works, Ecobuilding Guild, Friends of Trees, and students and faculty at PSU College of Urban and Public Affairs. Please check our website for updated schedules.

If you have any questions, please contact Ashlee:

Village Building Convergence
C/o Southeast Uplift
3534 SE Main Street
Portland, Oregon 97214
Telephone: (503) 232.0010 x18
Fax: (503) 232.5265
Email: vbc@southeastuplift.org
URL: www.cityrepair.org/vbc