PrideScape

In this episode, Executive Director Debra Porta spoke with Vegas Flights, an up-and-coming drag performer, producer, director, and more. For those unaware, Pride Northwest and Vegas Flights previously partnered on The Takeoff, an all-queer youth drag show that premiered in November 2022. Debra and Vegas discuss Vegas's experience growing up, what brought them to performing, and their experience producing The Takeoff. They also touch on what is needed right now in terms of support for queer youth, as well as what's coming next for The Takeoff. To support Vegas Flights, please check out their Instagram. Make sure to watch both their page and Pride Northwest's accounts for updates regarding The Takeoff 2!

This month, Pride Northwest Executive Director Debra Porta sat down with Dr. Sandra C. Comstock, Executive Director of Hygiene4All, to discuss how Hygiene4All came about and what they do, how the pandemic has affected the local houseless community, what the landscape of resources looks like now, and how folks can engage to support Hygiene4All's mission. They also address the City of Portland's plan to tackle the homelessness crisis by building city-sanctioned camps. For those unaware, Multnomah County recently voted to approve a plan to spend more on homeless services, and their plan did not include funds for such camps. The camps are still planned to be built, but Multnomah County will not pay for them. Debra and Sandra talk through how these camps will cause undue harm to those who are already most marginalized. To read more about this recent decision from the County, you can view this article from OPB. To learn more about Hygiene4All and how to support them, please visit their website: h4apdx.org

In this extended episode, Pride Northwest Executive Director Debra Porta talks with Dana Louis, Executive Director and Shepherd of Gather:Make:Shelter, a local organization that works with populations experiencing houselessness and poverty to engage in collaborative, skill-building creative projects. Debra and Dana discuss the origins of Gather:Make:Shelter, the collaboration between Pride Northwest and GMS at 2022 Portland Pride, and various projects completed at the C3PO villages in Portland. Dana also describes stories of those she has engaged with throughout the years, and what she would like the public to know about people experiencing houselessness. If you'd like to learn more about Gather:Make:Shelter and find ways to connect with their work, please check out their website: https://www.gathermakeshelter.org/

Executive Director of Pride Northwest Debra Porta is joined this episode by Tony Camacho Martinez, Program Director at p:ear, a local Portland organization that works with houseless youth. Started in 2002 and founded by 3 women, p:ear focuses on establishing connections and relationships with homeless youth, supporting them through art, education, recreation, mentorship, and work programs. Tony and Debra discuss the work that p:ear is doing and their mission, the current needs of homeless youth and how that has changed throughout the pandemic, our Pride Days of Service partnership for October, and how listeners can support p:ear. To learn more about p:ear and support their programming, please visit https://www.pearmentor.org. To learn more about the last Pride Days of Service day at p:ear and sign up to volunteer, please visit https://www.pridenw.org/volunteer-1.

In this episode, Debra Porta meets with Natalie Berning, Financial Advisor with OnPoint Financial Services and Raymond James at OnPoint Community Credit Union. They discuss the difference between a credit union and a bank, how to decide which financial institution to bank with, how to protect yourself financially in an economic downturn, and resources for folks needing more help with financial planning. For more information on the resources touched on in this episode, please visit OnPoint's website: https://www.onpointcu.com/financial-education/

In this extended special episode, Debra is joined by Robin Will, President of GLAPN, and Melissa Lang, Vice-President. They discuss what GLAPN does, LGBTQIA2S+ history in Portland and Oregon dating back to 1912, the 30 year anniversary of the start of “the Measure 9 years” and what we can learn from that time, as well as GLAPN’s current programming and how you can support them in their efforts to keep queer history alive. Visit their website and find out more at https://glapn.org/

Keely Helmick, President of Oregon SAIGE and owner of Connective Therapy Collective, joins us this episode to discuss all things ORSAIGE and our upcoming collaboration at Portland Pride. We discuss who ORSAIGE is, why it’s important to have a chapter of SAIGE in Oregon, their advocacy to bring a bill to legislature to ban conversion therapy in adults in Oregon, supporting LGBTQIA+ therapists and LGBTQIA+ people seeking therapy, and the new Quiet Booth we're bringing to Pride this year.

Director of the Northwest Region of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) joins us this episode to discuss the evolution of the ADL. Including how the way hate is directed at folks has evolved over the years and the ways the ADL is working on these issues, including technology and current hate laws.

Amira Stanley of Mind Core Gut Connection joins us in this episode to talk about her journey with mindfulness and self love and how she uses self compassion even during the toughest times. Amira covers how trauma can affect our ability to sit in mindfulness and the importance of therapy in addressing trauma when moving forward. The episode closes with a mindfulness exercise led by Amira. 

Join Pride Northwest's Executive Director, Debra Porta and our Program Assistant, Kari Anne Horton as they reflect on this past year's programs. While Pride Northwest is most well known for the Portland Pride Waterfront Festival and Parade, there are a number of programs that the organization works on year round. Including community organizing around housing, and food insecurity, LGBTQIA2S+ youth programs, and our commitment to using our platform to uplift the accomplishments and history of our community. Pride is more than a party, it is a starting point. Hear how Pride Northwest puts that Pride spirit into action.