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SCIENCE & TECH
BMI does more harm than good
SPORTS
Chasing gridiron glory
King Albert demolition is underway
EDITORIAL EDITOR IN CHIEF
Kat Leon
MANAGING EDITOR
Brad Le
NEWS EDITOR
Zoë Buhrmaster* (out until Fall)
CO-NEWS EDITOR
Alyssa Anderson
ARTS & CULTURE EDITOR
Macie Harreld
SCIENCE & TECH EDITOR
Cameron Rodriguez
SPORTS EDITOR
Laura Kowall
OPINION EDITOR
Nick Gatlin
PHOTO EDITOR
Alberto Alonso Pujazon Bogani
ONLINE MEDIA MANAGER
Sam Johnson
COPY CHIEF
Isabel Zerr
CONTRIBUTORS
Kai Field
Amber Finnegan
INTERIM DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
Nick Gatlin
COVER DESIGN BY WHITNEY McPHIE
PHOTO BY ALBERTO ALONSO PUJAZON BOGANI
PRODUCTION & DESIGN CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Whitney McPhie
DESIGNERS
Dana Ives
TECHNOLOGY & WEBSITE TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANTS
Rae Fickle
George Olson
Sara Ray
ADVISING & ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR OF STUDENT MEDIA
Reaz Mahmood
STUDENT MEDIA ACCOUNTANT
Maria Dominguez
STUDENT MEDIA TECHNOLOGY ADVISOR
Rae Fickle
To contact Portland State Vanguard, email editor@psuvanguard.com
MISSION STATEMENT
Vanguard’s mission is to serve the Portland State community with timely, accurate, comprehensive and critical content while upholding high journalistic standards. In the process, we aim to enrich our staff with quality, hands-on journalism education and a number of skills highly valued in today’s job market.
ABOUT Vanguard, established in 1946, is published weekly as an independent student newspaper governed by the PSU Student Media Board. Views and editorial content expressed herein are those of the staff, contributors and readers and do not necessarily represent the PSU student body, faculty, staff or administration. Find us online 24/7 at psuvanguard.com
Hello! I am Macie, the arts and culture editor at Portland State Vanguard. I have a bachelor's in Spanish from Boise State University, and I’m currently studying English at PSU.
As the editor of the A&C section, it is my goal to translate the creative and social aspects of our PSU community into relevant and actionable articles. Culture itself is a concept so broad it’s even difficult to define. It is only understood in slivers of fullness—language, music, visual art—and yet what couldn’t be considered a part of culture? This is the beauty of the A&C section. It is truly limitless. All around us is an opportunity for cultural analysis, embedded in street signs, park statues and graffiti art.
There’s so many exciting opportunities to highlight the talent, scholarship and cultural happenings at PSU. I prioritize covering our faculty and student research, student artists, cultural clubs and local events.
My vision for the A&C section is to produce journalism which is critical of the structures that fail to serve us equitably, highlights the perspectives of Portland’s diverse identities and illuminates opportunities for community-building around PSU.
Thank you for reading Vanguard, and if you have any suggestions for an A&C article, send me an email!
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a widely accepted method for assessing and categorizing an individual’s body weight within a healthy range. Many institutions have ratified this tool as scientifically valid, but a closer examination of its historical impact reveals how it has caused more harm than good. Over time, it has proven to be less scientifically accurate as a single indicator of health.
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently released a statement on overvaluing BMI as a measure alone for a person’s health, and published further supporting material which refocuses personal health goals for patients.
Even though we now understand how this extensively employed and acknowledged tool is overly simplistic and fundamentally flawed, we have years of conditioning which link an individual’s BMI to their health status. This connection leads to the stigmatization of fat individuals.
Dr. Hyeyoung Woo—a professor of sociology at Portland State—explained the internalization of fat stigma. “‘How [is] my body perceived socially, in a public setting?’” she said. “A lot of people have really complicated feelings and emotions, and experiences associated with that. And if your body is not something that is socially acceptable, socially desirable, there’s also another layer attached to that vulnerability.”
The concepts around BMI create harm towards fat bodies. It normalizes the language of overweight or obese in categories as indicators of an individual’s health despite—and often in opposition to—other tools which measure health. This concern for one’s health based on their BMI shrouds people’s ability to get help, sometimes creating barriers to necessary medical treatments.
“When doctors are prescribing weight loss, they’re prescribing something that fails in the long term a majority of the time,” said Debbie Kaufman, a professor of public health at PSU.
“In terms of percentages, there’s a higher percentage that [individuals] will end up with an eating disorder than with long-term weight loss.”
Doctors often see weight as a concern and suggest lifestyle changes or diets which often aren’t adequate. The focus on size as an indicator of health goes beyond those doctor visits, impacting fundamental ways people live their lives.
“This expands past the medical system,” Kaufman said. “We all suffer under this diet culture system because either you are living in a larger body and dealing with the consequences of that, or you live in fear of your body becoming bigger.”
There’s an important distinction and clarification in science—correlation does not equal causation. “We have treated body size—or BMI—as an indicator of health, and there are correla-
tions, for sure,” Kaufman said. “For example, more people with larger bodies have type two diabetes. But then we make the leap that the larger body causes type two. We don’t know what causes it, and stress is more highly correlated to diabetes than weight.”
This is why BMI is so dangerous as a single tool for determining health. “We’re blaming health outcomes on our body size, when more and more research is showing that it might actually be the stigma, the stress of living with that stigma, [or] the lack of appropriate access to health care that those things actually might be causing,” Kaufman said. “And be careful about the use of [the word] cause.”
Stress is often due to factors outside of one’s control. “Our stress response is very outdated,” Kaufman said. “Our body sends us a signal [that we] need fuel[...] You ignore that, then your body goes into a famine response, storing fat and slowing metabolism[...] Because it’s thinking, ‘This person lives in a really unstable food situation, so I have to store fat for the next famine.’”
Moreover, stress is so often a creation of oppression and a lack of resources. “We know that the impacts of oppression have so much more of an impact on your health than what you eat,” Kaufman said. “And yet, we keep focusing on what you eat. Eating healthy is good
for your body, but it’s not going to have as much of an impact as having opportunities to rise out of poverty. So public health needs to change”. These nuances around fatness add complexity to the idea that a high BMI equals low morality and self-control. In fact, it seems to stand in opposition to that bias. Nevertheless, the connection between fatness and positive values is lacking in our culture, and this leads to shame which restarts the stress cycle.
Our bodies are intricate, and the fundamental desire to cure fatness is flawed. Portraying fatness as a personal issue misrepresents it as a choice rather than recognizing that it’s often a stress response. It simplistically turns a complex condition—which is influenced by multiple factors—into a perceived personal moral failing. “This is not like a personal, individual issue,” Dr. Woo said. “And it is clearly a social issue, because otherwise we won’t be seeing social patterns.”
Kaufman will be teaching a public health course called Body Liberation for Health this upcoming winter term. Public health bridges the gap between the medical world’s jargon and everyday people. It ensures that complex health concepts—such as obesity—are understood nuancedly, steering clear of oversimplified measures such as BMI.
After the first few days in pads, Coach Bruce Barnum, quarterback Dante Chachere and offensive lineman Dallas Holliday provided some insights into their primary goals, preparations and any challenges they expect to face in the upcoming season.
The primary objective for the Vikings is crystal clear—make it to the playoffs. In a post-practice interview on Friday, Aug. 11, Coach Barnum reiterated the team’s aspiration to return to the postseason and emphasized the importance of achieving this goal while maintaining a healthy roster.
“I’d love to get this team back to the playoffs,” Coach Barnum said while acknowledging the challenge of starting the season with the difficult assignment of facing the Oregon Ducks in Eugene, Oregon.
Despite these obstacles, the team remains undaunted. Coach Barnum expressed confidence in the team’s ability to rise above the looming adversity.
On game days, the Vikings are determined to impress their fans with their hustle on and off the field. Coach Barnum highlighted their commitment to clean, respectful play as a testament to their dedication to the game.
“They hustle,” Coach Barnum said, speaking on what he sees in his team and emphasizing the importance of leaving a lasting impression on spectators. “They play the game hard and right.”
Ensuring strong team chemistry and camaraderie is critical to effective communication and achieving wins. Coach Barnum discussed the various avenues they utilize to foster unity, such as nightly meetings during training camp. These meetings cover various topics, from football strategies to personal growth and development. “We talk family, school [and] football,” Coach Barnum said, highlighting their holistic approach to help players succeed both on and off the field.
Another demanding responsibility for the coaches during preseason practices is the comprehensive evaluation of players. Coaches assess not only on-field performance, but also factors such as punctuality, attitude and conduct. Coach Barnum emphasized the significance of treating all players with dignity and respect, understanding that each player’s path is distinct and necessitates proper support.
The new coaching additions have injected fresh energy into the team by only adding to the great chemistry the team holds. Chachere also underlined the importance of the familyoriented atmosphere fostered by the coaches, accentuating their positive impact on the team dynamic. “It’s that we all click,” Chachere said, recognizing the seamless integration of new and existing members.
There are about 40 new additions to the ‘23 team. This cohesive atmosphere is crucial for success, and the players seem to have committed themselves to working together as a unit.
Heading into the new season, the Vikings harness their collective strengths to capitalize on opportunities. Holliday stressed the importance of proper planning and preparation, regarding game strategy as well as staying healthy and game-ready. “I think we could be the fastest team in the Big Sky,” he said. “We’re out here running around, flying around. I think it’s going to be a good season, based on our training.”
This speed advantage—which the Vikings have shown last year and during this preseason—gives them a leg up on making strategic plays in hopes of outperforming their opponents this season.
Balancing academic commitments and football demands can be challenging for student-athletes. Coach Barnum discussed how the coaching staff collaborate with the
academic department to ensure players find equilibrium between their studies and their sports commitments.
The goal is to provide players with the necessary tools to succeed, both in the classroom and on the field. The coach then described how they focus on accountability—especially during the off-season—to help players manage their time effectively.
Looking ahead, the Vikings aim to transition smoothly from preseason to actual games. Coach Barnum highlighted the significance of communication and discipline as critical components of this transition. He drew parallels to top-tier teams—such as Ohio State and Oregon State—emphasizing the vital role of effective communication in achieving success on the field.
Amidst the excitement, Coach Barnum also emphasized the importance of adaptability. He acknowledged how each game presents a unique set of circumstances, requiring the team to be flexible and adjust their strategies accordingly. This ability to adapt on the fly sets championship-caliber teams apart from the rest.
The Portland State football team’s approach to the upcoming season highlights an unyielding pursuit of success, a dedication to teamwork and sportsmanship and a steadfast commitment to growth, both on and off the field.
With their eyes set on snagging a spot in the playoffs, the Vikings are determined to showcase their skills and unity. As the season unfolds, fans can expect an inspiring display of athleticism which encapsulates the essence of collegiate football.
The King Albert residence hall— located on the western edge of the Portland State campus at 1809 SW 11th Avenue—is set to be demolished before the start of the fall 2023 term.
The King Albert building—built in 1918 and owned by PSU since 1969—will be demolished later this year, along with Parkway Manor and Harder House—the building for the Systems Science Program. The demolition of King Albert is set to begin as early as next week and will last approximately eight to 10 weeks.
Due to King Albert’s centralized location on campus, PSU is prioritizing its demolition to ensure as little disruption to campus life as possible. PSU is still seeking input from students on the future use of the 8,524 square-foot space after demolition.
On Aug. 7, University Housing & Residence Life (UHRL) emailed campus residents urging them to sign up for one of three focus groups regarding the potential outdoor space the demolition of King Albert will create.
UHRL could not be reached for comment at this time.
The Planning & Sustainability Office invited students to participate in on-campus focus group sessions on Aug. 10, 22 and
30, or to submit an anonymous survey to offer feedback on the hopeful temporary use of the space.
“The need for significant, cost-prohibitive, renovations, a lack of accessibility, and lower demand for on-campus housing led to the decision to demolish the building,” the UHRL email stated. “We are especially interested to learn from nearby on-campus residents how this site might provide better resources and amenities. The focus groups will give students the opportunity to learn more about the project and contribute their expertise on how the space can be better used by
our campus community in the near future.”
According to Jason Franklin—associate vice president of construction, planning and real estate at PSU—there are long-term plans to rebuild a residential building on the site of King Albert. However, those plans are at least five to 10 years away.
“We don’t have any plans right now to rebuild a housing building on that block, but eventually we will,” Franklin said. “In the meantime, we’re going to be landscaping that space in a way that can be used for residents and other folks at PSU. And so that’s what we’re looking for people’s input on.”
In early July, several fliers were anonymously posted throughout campus which outlined the potential health hazards of this demolition project, urging students and others in the campus community to demand the project’s delay. No one has claimed responsibility for these fliers as of yet.
“[King Albert’s] exterior is covered in lead paint, and perhaps its interior is as well,” the flier stated. “Lead paint chips, even household lead dust, can cause brain/nervous system damage to adults and children – how does PSU plan to demolish King Albert without putting Epler, Blumel, and Montgomery residents at risk?”
The flier also mentions that the demolition could endanger those who access Little Vikings Daycare, including staff, parents and children. They were not informed about the project until July, despite planning for demolition since May.
According to the flier—which cites research from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the City of Philadelphia—even small amounts of lead exposure can harm child development.
However, in a letter shared with Little Vikings families, Little Vikings’ Director Marisol Barce explained how the Environmental Health & Safety office would provide interior air monitoring for nearby buildings to ensure the safety of residents and community members.
“PSU is ensuring representative air monitoring of the ambient air around the demolition site is captured throughout the project to ensure there are no exposures,” Barce’s letter stated.
Franklin is one of the people overseeing the demolition project. Despite what the flier states, Franklin explained how King Albert underwent an extensive abatement process, and all hazardous materials were removed, including lead and asbestos. The exterior of the building did not reveal any evidence of lead.
“We used to use asbestos in everything in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” Franklin explained. “In a lot of our older buildings, there’s a lot of asbestos. So we’re dealing with it all the time on campus, and we hire folks that know what they’re doing [and] that are licensed
with the state to be abatement specialists.”
Franklin explained that the materials within the building undergo testing to detect hazardous materials. If hazardous materials like asbestos or lead are detected, those materials are then contained, bagged and taken to a hazardous waste disposal site in Hillsboro, Oregon.
“Our number one priority as we’re doing projects is the health and safety of both the workers who are doing the project, as well as the surrounding community,” Franklin said. “We’re always working closely with Environmental Health & Safety to make sure we’ve got safe workplaces.”
Franklin explained how—due to extensive safety requirements established by city and state law—people living close to the demolition site should not be overly concerned with potential health hazards.
“I think the biggest disturbance will be the noise and potential vibration,” Franklin said. “That sort of thing will go on for a couple of weeks.”
Jeffrey Rook—director of PSU Environmental Health & Safety—explained how the King Albert site would be methodically contained and controlled due to the many regulations in place for demolition projects.
“None of us want to expose ourselves or anyone else to hazards,” Rook said. “There are state, federal and local rules that they have to follow to bring that building down. GDSI
will be using industry-standard wet methods, so they’ll actually suppress the area with water as they’re bringing down the building. This holds down any dust and debris from the building as well, so there’s just the standard dust from construction or demolition.”
PSU hired GDSI Abatement Services to perform asbestos and lead abatement. Rook said he is confident in GDSI following or exceeding industry standards while demolishing King Albert.
“We want to make sure that people do feel comfortable with the process that we’re going through on any of our buildings,” Rook said. “We don’t want to expose someone to a hazardous environment.”
One hundred years ago in southwest Portland, what is now Portland State, high-rise apartments and hotels was a thriving Italian-Jewish community. The area between Clay Street, the Portland city dump—now Duniway Park—and Ross Island Bridge was known as Portland’s Little Italy.
According to the Oregon Historical Society, Italian immigrants were present in this region as early as 1856—predating the founding of the state of Oregon by three years. They migrated in search of security and opportunity and often found employment in Portland sawmills, railroad yards or construction—albeit amidst xenophobic pay discrimination.
By 1901, Portland’s Italian community had constructed St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. By 1930, SW Portland was the city’s first Italian hub, with Italian restaurants, grocery stores, schools, an Italian film theater and three newspapers in Italian.
However, the Italian-Jewish quarter would not survive Portland’s urban renewal project—an effort to modernize downtown with various capitalistic ventures. The project launched at the close of the 1950s, terminating small businesses, displacing the district’s residents and demolishing the historic buildings.
The only remnant of SW Portland’s Little Italy is St. Michael, where the original cornerstone remains in the building’s foundation with Italian inscriptions.
Italian-American culture thrives visibly in Portland, even though Little Italy dispersed.
“When people think about Italian communities, they typically think of New York or Chicago or things like that, but Oregon has a fairly robust Italian-American community,” said Edward Ferrero, president of Portland’s Festa Italiana association. “We’re just trying to bring them together and connect the dots.”
To this end, the nonprofit organization will host Portland’s 2023 Festa Italiana on Aug. 20 at Cedarville Park to celebrate Italian tradition in the United States and share in the living Italian heritage.
“We think it’s important to share our culture, food, and music. It shows that Portland is made up of many different groups and ethnicities, and we like to be part of that,” Ferrero said.
This year’s Festa Italiana will include Italian food, kids’ activities, a wine raffle, a bocce tournament and an Italian mass. This event is open
to the public, $5 for adults and free for children. Festa Italiana intends to foster community amongst ItalianAmericans and across Portland’s immigrant communities. “We really enjoy sharing our story but also hearing the story of others who walked that same immigrant path,” Ferrero said. “We think it’s important to celebrate that, because Portland undoubtedly was built by immigrants, so we’re all kind of sisters and brothers.”
Another component of Festa Italiana will be the live music from 12–8 p.m. Erin Mikelle Walker—PSU alumni, music teacher and classical opera singer—plans to perform works of Italy’s prominent opera composers, such as Giacomo Puccini, Gioachino Rossini and Rossini's wife Isabella Colbran.
Opera—which means work in Italian—originated in Florence, Italy and would come to color music as we know it today. “It was like going to the movies back in the day,” Walker said. “Opera was for everyone. It’s become this really high art thing that we put up on a pedestal, but it wasn’t necessarily intended to be that way.”
Initially and often still today, opera was performed in the language of its origin country. Walker is showcasing a classical aspect of Italian culture. “I like getting to do these performances in more casual venues, so that more people can hear opera that
don’t necessarily go to the opera house,” Walker said.
Andrea Algieri is another musician who will be performing at Festa Italiana. Algieri—lead singer-songwriter of the Portlandbased band Mbrascatu—creates music representing a more contemporary Italy. Originally from Luzzi, Italy, Algieri writes original songs in Italian and sometimes in his native Luzzese dialect.
“I wanted to do something different, something that’s fresh and new,” Algieri said. He observed how multicultural festivals in the U.S. often rely on outdated cliches in their musical selections. “I wanted to bring new music to this Festa Italiana, to show Americans that our music is not just that… Nothing against that genre of evergreen or traditional music, because I love it—I grew up with it—but we are more than this.”
Algieri moved to Portland in 2007 and formed Mbrascatu three years later, named in honor of his grandfather. The band has been playing at Portland’s Festa Italiana for nearly 15 years, performing at other festivals throughout the country—including Reno, Salt Lake City, Seattle and San Francisco—and frequently touring in Italy.
Mbrascatu’s style combines European folk, rock and modern indie. Algieri hopes to introduce his listeners to more contemporary Italian culture through his music.
“It’s good that we show some history, because it’s true,” Algieri said, “I remember when I was a kid in my town people were going around with donkeys and mules, but right now there’s nothing like that. I remember my grandpa was making the wine and they used their feet to crush the grapes, but not anymore. So I like it—that this is part of our history—but I would like to introduce something more new.”
Cultural festivals should honor the traditions and commemorate a people’s history, but a cultural gathering also depends on the convening of a living identity.
This means “making events where people can feel what the Italian culture is,” Algieri said. “What we do when we go out, what is the fun part about being Italian, what is the dolce vida… the real culture. This is what I would like to promote.”
Festa Italiana harmonizes past and present, celebrating the sweetness of Italian culture here in Portland.
NICK GATLIN
Summers in Portland are becoming increasingly hotter, and many people living in areas with the highest heat risk have no air conditioning—including Portland State housing.
I live in one of the hottest parts of the city without air conditioning this summer, so I have focused on finding ways to survive in the heat. Here are a few of the solutions I’ve been able to come up with, ranked from most to least effective.
If you live in a building which allows air conditioning units, the simplest solution is to install a unit. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Air conditioning units cost hundreds of dollars and not every living space supports a window-mounted unit. However, if cost is the only issue, it may be worth contacting a community distribution partner with the Cooling Portland program. The program works with community organizations like the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon and the Latino Network to provide cooling units to people in need.
Under the terms of Oregon Senate Bill 1536—also known as the Tenant Right to Cooling Bill—it appears every landlord in the state must allow the installation of air conditioning units, as long as they follow specific guidelines. As always, check your lease and seek out legal advice as needed.
Evaporative coolers—also called swamp coolers—do work, especially in a relatively dry climate like Portland. These use less
energy than an air conditioner, cost less and could potentially cool a room just as much as air conditioning if the humidity is low enough. According to the United States Department of Energy, one evaporative cooler can reduce the temperature of a room by 5°F to 15°F.
Evaporative coolers are still expensive and may not be an option for everyone. Luckily, because Portland has pretty dry summers, the same principles of evaporative cooling apply whether or not you can get your hands on a swamp cooler. Water has the highest thermal conductivity of nearly any liquid, and you can use that to your advantage.
This is essentially a cruder version of an evaporative cooler. It’s exactly what it sounds like—get a big container full of ice and put it directly in front of your biggest fan. As the fan blows warm air over the ice, the ice evaporates and cools the air before it goes into the room.
A few factors can make this method more or less effective.
First, get your most powerful fan—preferably a large box fan. Second, get as wide a bowl or tray as possible for the ice. More surface area means more air contact and cooling. Third, try this method in the smallest space possible, such as your bedroom. It is possible to cool an entire room this way, but it takes a staggering amount of ice to keep it running. Trust me, I know. Focusing on one area of the room is far more efficient, unless you want to shovel ice every 20 minutes.
Every cooling method discussed so far has been about cooling your living space, but sometimes that’s just not possible. In houses or apartments which insulate heat or on days where temperatures skyrocket above 100°F, it can be near impossible to keep up with the heat from outside.
In that case, it’s much more efficient to cool yourself rather than attempt to cool your space. The same points mentioned above still apply. Remember, cold water is your friend.
However unpleasant they may be, cold showers can do wonders for an overheated body. Even better is a long ice bath, preferably close to bedtime. Other helpful methods might include putting an ice pack or damp washcloth on your forehead, misting yourself with a spray bottle or getting a personal misting fan for your desk.
Cooling down the room or yourself helps, but also do as much as you can to prevent it from getting too hot in the first place. If you have curtains, keep them shut during the day to prevent sunlight from getting in and heating up the space. If you don’t have curtains—get curtains. Keep the windows shut as much as possible during the day to keep the hot air out.
If all else fails, and you’re stuck at home during the hottest part of the day, you can always try to sleep through it. God knows we need it.
PSU BASIC NEEDS HUB
SMSU Suite 435
Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Free for students
To help students access resources such as funds, food, housing, employment, childcare and health support
PSU FOOD PANTRY
1704 SW Broadway (temporary location)
Tues–Thur, 12–4 p.m.
Free for students
Access to free groceries in a welcoming, equitable, trauma-informed way. Must be enrolled in at least one credit for summer or fall.
SHAC MIND SPA
UCB Suite 310
Mon–Fri (by appointment)
Free for students
Solo space to experience biofeedback, light therapy, meditation, massages, relaxation and more. Must be enrolled in at least five credits for summer or fall.
TELUS HEALTH STUDENT SUPPORT
Download on App Store or Google Play
Available 24/7
Free
Connecting students with free, confidential mental health and wellbeing support
CAREER WEBINAR: JOB SEARCH 101
Zoom
Aug. 19, 12–1 p.m.
Free
PSU Career Center webinar to help students land a job in a competitive market
SHAC SUMMER POLYVAGAL WORKSHOPS
Zoom
Aug. 21/28, 4:30–6:30 p.m.
Free
Review the core concepts of polyvagal theory and learn concrete strategies to help your mood
WILLAMETTE SEA KAYAK OVERNIGHT TRIP
PSU Outdoor Program office
Aug. 26–27, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
$150 for Campus Rec members
Paddle to the camp spot, camp overnight, then keep paddling down the river in the morning
REACH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
4150 S Moody Ave.
Call or go online for more details on cost and time availability
Rent-controlled, income-restricted housing with current open waitlists
COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY SPACE
730 SW 10th Ave. Suite 111 (entrance on SW 9th Ave.)
Mon–Fri, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Free
Multnomah County official cooling center with access to free technology, internet, limited books and events
OREGON ENERGY FUND
Varying Locations
Mon–Fri, varying times (call ahead) Free
Providing energy bill assistance to low-income Oregonians to support household stability
SE MLK Blvd. and SE Belmont St. (under Morrison Bridge) Sun/Tue/Thu 3–9 p.m. and Fri 3–7 p.m. Free
Provides access to showers, toilets, trash drop-off and a clothing and bedding exchange
BORP ONLINE FITNESS STUDIO
Zoom
Mon–Sat, varying times
Free
Virtual exercise classes for people with physical disabilities
COSMIC KIDS YOGA
Youtube Available 24/7
Free
Using fun and popular stories to get kids engaged in a calm, relaxing, mindful workout
YOGA FOR BIGGER BODIES
Varying locations
Sun–Thur
$100 for six weeks
Explore Hatha Yoga’s roots, philosophy and mindfulness in gentle, guided classes
