Photo courtesy of Jonna Papaefthimiou, Office of Mayor Adams
The East Portland Expo this past weekend was a huge success, thanks to the leadership and energy of Mark White, President of the Powellhurst-Gilbert Neighborhood Association. Mark is appropriately center of this photograph, in the yellow t-shirt. Dozens of community organizations participated in the East Portland Expo with booths, refreshments, and entertainment.
Performances on the main stage were coordinated by Colored Pencils, formerly a community collaborative initiated in partnership with the Office of Human Relations, now an independent, thriving non-profit led by Nim Xuto.
Pictured here are (left to right):
* Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO youth volunteers)
* Guru Shivi Vanka and her Kalabharti School of Classical Indian Dance are the next 4 folks. Her youngest daughter is next to Mayor Sam Adams. See a US State Dept story Polo Catalani assisted Amy Starke in writing.
* Mayor Adams, Mark White, me
* Next to me is Justina (her stage name). She's a pro belly dancer linked to Colored Pencils by Dr. Baher Butti, Iraqi Society of Oregon president. About ISO on the Office of Human Relations website. About Dr. Butti, by Polo Catalani in the Oregonian.
* Right side of photo is a Mejica Tiahui (Indigenous Mexico) dancer troupe. Their ensemble participated in Chaco-Kum Tux local Native American association presentations. Their families and their drum welcomed everyone to East Portland and sanctified our days of celebrating. Colored Pencils always first expresses proper respect to Native America before presenting newer Americans. See Mejica Tiahui at the Resolutions NW 25th Anniversary, an Art of Reconciliation You Tube.
Thanks to Polo Catalani of the Office of Human Relations and Nim Xuto of Colored Pencils for helping to coordinate participation in the East Portland Expo by New Portlander communities and others with rich community connections in East Portland. The full program of participants for the Expo 2011 is here.
