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We Can Listen: Together We Make a Village

On May 9, Grammy-nominated local recording artist and theatrical performer Julianne Johnson will moderate We Can Listen: Together We Make a Village. The conversation will focus on recent efforts to address homelessness in Portland through a design process that brought together a range of stakeholders, including architects, activists, city agencies, and houseless individuals. We will offer our stage to members of Portlands homeless community, along with representatives from the Center for Public Interest Design and the POD Initiative as they discuss The Kenton Womens Village, in NE Portland, as a model for supporting community making and strong social infrastructure among villages of houseless individuals. In conjunction, design plans for the micro-dwellings built for the village will be on display during the event.

We Can Listen is a cultural intersection of storytelling, documentary, music, and personal expression where all voices have the right to be heard, and is supported in part by KBOO Radio. With We Can Listen, The Old Church endeavors to give speakers and listeners a trusted, respectful and inspirational gathering space, and to encourage important civil discourse and self-directed modes of action. We are striving to build community, educate, and share the positive impact that truly listening to diverse voices can have on us all.

We Can Listen gives Portlanders young and old multiple opportunities to hear a variety of speakers share their perspectives on todays most important social justice topics from the sanctuary of our stage. The series presents speakers, both well-regarded and new to public discourse, on topics Portlanders have demonstrated are important to them including: Native American rights and abuses, racism, the homelessness crisis, food stability, housing stability, immigration and refugee issues, the environment, access to clean water, gender equality, disabled rights, health care, civic engagement strategies for adults and youth, and other compelling social justice issues.