PDC has produced over 135 videos since 2008, which is by far the most accomplished of any agency in the Portland region. All our videos are on PDC’s YouTube channel. This effort is a collaboration between the PDC Public Affairs group and the Foster Green EcoDistrict – an extension of a formal partnership between FLIP and Foster Green. The purpose of the “Record the Story” is too document the issues of the community, communicate the Foster Green vision, and illustrate the community in a different light than portrayed on traditional media outlets. To do this we will produce one 3-5 minute overview video about the FLIP: what is FLIP, what the challenges in this area and what the desired outcome is. This video will include approximately 4-6 business owners and residents from the area who all have a different perspective and represent a different cultural or community group. This video will include music, still photos, scenic video clips, and graphics that detail facts and/or statistics about the area and convey a clear picture of the current state of affairs as well as highlight its potential for growth and prosperity. The second set of videos will be shorter 1-2 minute vignettes of 4-6 business owners and residents answering one question: Why did they choose the Foster/Lents area? Either this question or some other such open ended question that allows the respondent the freedom to answer on a personal or professional level. Job Description:

• Coordinate logistics for PDC Videographer John Cárdenas, including set up film location, dates, times, etc.
• Assist in the crafting of the story, images, messaging, and overall theme of the video
• Communicate updates and convey issues to/from the Communications Committee of Foster Green

 Qualifications:

• Prior video experience is preferred, but not required
• Must be knowledgeable about local community, issues, and people
• Must be responsible, organized, and have undivided attention to detail
• Must be available with immediate access to cell phone and e-mail
• Volunteer, unpaid position, but will assist with getting credit for enrolled school
  

All questions about the project or position can be directed to John Cárdenas at cardenasj@pdc.us. John Cárdenas 
Public Affairs Coordinator/Videographer

In a climate with seasons, winter is traditionally the season of
planning and contemplation, and that's exactly what the members of the
Foster Green EcoDistrict Steering Committee have been doing this
winter. Over the course of November, December and January, with
research assistance from SERA, Brightworks and Thomas Puttnam, the
steering committee has been discussing and reviewing a proposed set of
goals, timelines and metrics that will determine if our goals are
being met. These goals fall into 9 performance areas which can also be
sub-divided into "hardware" or real physical improvements and
"software" which are measures of less concrete accomplishments like
building strong relationships in the community and being fair about
the way we invest our time and money.

These nine performance areas are: Energy, Air Quality and Carbon
Reduction, Water, Access and Mobility, Placemaking, Social Cohesion,
Habitat and Ecosystem Functon, Materials Management and Equitable
Development.

Multiple measures, in both "hardware" and "software" have been
developed for each performance area. In the course of discovery and
discussion, it has also become apparent that there are a lot of
overlaps and that our best project opportunities will most likely
appear in these areas of overlap, where we can meet our goals in
multiple performance areas within a single project.

Prioritizing our goals and identifying the types of projects that will
help us meet one or more of our priority goals is the next step in the
process of creating a road map for the development of the Foster Green
EcoDistrict. The steering committee with be discussing and
prioritizing at our upcoming meetings. We hope to see you there. 

I attended the recent EcoDistricts Summit wearing three different hats:
 member of Foster Green EcoDistrict Steering Committee, member of the Board of VOIS (Voice for Oregon Innovation and Sustainability), and owner of Independence Gardens. 
The Summit gave me the unusual opportunity to stack those hats--to wear them all at once, instead of having to switch them out!
I’m not the only one wearing multiple hats, of course--especially among the broad assortment of busy folks at the Summit. For me, being in the same room with so many people representing far-flung organizations with different strengths and resources reinforced the fact that carefully outlined cross-sector partnerships are absolutely key to any successful effort. 
Collaborators might include government officials, citizen groups, municipal authorities, non-profit organizations, academic institutions, and businesses. But how? It’s a great first step to get so many people in the room together. What comes next?
My biggest take-home lesson from the Summit was that we should take care to be up-front with each other about the characteristics of the hat(s) we’re all wearing as we meet, make friends, and consider partnership opportunities. All potential collaborators have unique goals, which must be acknowledged and developed as a successful effort takes shape; furthermore, any project can bring out both tensions and synergies between individual and shared objectives and triple bottom line components (people, planet, and profit).
So, starting out by being clear about participant roles and responsibilities will help define the scope of any project or process, and help keep it on track as it moves along.I’m thrilled to have had the chance to step out into the EcoDistricts world with my stacked hats on, taking home a heightened sense of the importance of partnerships. Strategic partnerships between organizations that can use diverse skill sets to achieve significant shared goals will be relevant in all spheres: in my neighborhood, among my colleagues, and for my business, as well.
- Karen Wolfgang

As part of Portland Sustainability Institute's 2011 EcoDistrict Summit, Foster Green was proud to host an on-site workshop entitled, "How do we weave a thriving future from a diverse past?" Beginning with a bus tour along a former streetcar route, and along Foster Road, coordinating committee members Jessica Anders and Jonathan Brandt provided historical and demographic context for Foster Green's recent work with engagement and organization. The tour soon arrived at Leach Botantical Gardens where fellow coordinating committee member David Porter further illuminated the geographical and thematic elements of our EcoDistrict, including a brief history of the Gardens and it's hopeful future as part of the "Eastern Eden" of Foster Green. It was here that more participants arrived to  fill the room at sixteen attendees from geographically diverse, well-educated backgrounds. 

The facilitated discussion that followed, courtesy of Alisa of Portland BPS, served us well to explore the intersections of cultural diversity and infrastructure. There were great questions raised such as, "Are ethnic enclaves a strength or a weakness?" 

We attempted to identify bridges that could span the social fragmentation of our EcoDistrict, while examining the potential for infrastructure's "common ground" that could serve as unifying elements throughout Foster Green. One program that found general support among the group was a series of international food and culture/film festivals that would progress up and down Foster Road throughout the year, thus drawing folks out to mingle with a larger and more diverse population of neighbors across the community.

As we honed in on the two focus areas of infrastructure and social cohesion, we rested on three big take-aways for future work:

• Restoring value to our diverse cultures by celebrations in public space.Building the social capital by first understanding how everyone is part of this neighborhood.
•  How do groups and individuals see themselves and how that is manifested in the use of third places?
• Encouraging others to be curious about each other as a strategy to engage, learn and be pleasantly surprised - appreciating differences and new ways of seeing and living.

Our conversation was dynamic and engaged as we tackled these wonderfully intriguing issues and we all agreed that our theme of weaving a thriving future from a diverse was beautifully articulated through very thoughtful participation. We were grateful to have such excellent attendees and volunteers. Mr. Porter was kind enough to treat us to a guided tour of the lovely Botanical Gardens following the session - what a treat! 


- Jonathan Brandt

Just as getting a fully loaded train up to speed takes some time,  so too did the process of making the Foster Green Eco District a going concern.  Beginning in early 2011,  individuals and organizations whose interests overlap along Foster Road began meeting with guidance and support from the Portland Sustainability Institute to discuss common ground and values as well as what an ‘eco district’ means. 

 

On Tuesday, September 20th,  the engineers of the eco district gathered for an evening meeting at Lents Commons with the purpose of making their work official.   The representatives came from the three areas that define Foster Green: the western end starting at 50th with its older retail and residential infrastructure,  the Lents Town Center area around 90th where Portland Development Commission has invested in renovation and improvements and various transit modes intersect and Eastern Eden extending out to 122nd with Leach Botanical Garden, Zenger Farm,  the Johnson Creek watershed reclamation, green spaces and dense and diverse populations.  

 

The Memorandum or MOU they were signing contained a statement of values which the group had hammered out.   Each signing participant included a statement of what resources and commitments they could bring to the table.

The signature process was festive and was celebrated with a chocolate cake from Le Petite Provence on Division St.    Several organizations who have been active in the formative work for Foster Green had not had a chance to get the formal approval of their leadership so the process of adding signatories and participants will continue even as the work of Foster Green gets underway. 

 

At this juncture,  the train metaphor breaks down because there is no well-traveled track on which the Steering Committee’s work will run.   There are important next steps though.  The group will continue to gather information about needs and interests of people within Foster Green.  That effort, it is hoped, will bring stronger connections with the many different populations who reside in the area.  Foster Green leaders will also be working to identify projects which they can put their support behind,  projects which can make a difference in realization of the eco-district values.   And a communications push to the larger community will work to increase understanding of Foster Green’s potential and the value of supporting this innovative undertaking.    The call to action is “All Aboard!”.
- David Porter

After many months of discussions, listening sessions, house parties, presentations and conversations, the Foster Green EcoDistrict Steering Committee have approved a community-driven vision and guiding values for the district!

"The Foster Green EcoDistrict is a community where investments build on existing assets to address economic, environmental and social sustainability goals. Community members practice active stewardship of natural resources while creating healthy opportunities for all who live, work and play here."  
Check out the full vision & values here. 

The steering committee used community input to create a vision for the EcoDistrict that will guide the next steps in the process.  Steering Committee members agree that there are some voices missing from the table and are committed to continuing community engagement to be inclusive in the process.  Next steps include on-going engagement sessions, a sustainability assessment and discussions about project feasibility based on resources and community-input. 

The Foster Green EcoDistrict Steering Committee is a group of 20+ individual and organizational members that are committed to moving forward and leading the EcoDistrict in the future.  From November 2010 – August 2011, the Portland Sustainability Institute utilized funding from the Bullitt Foundation to engage community members in identifying a vision for an EcoDistrict. Over 200 individuals and organizations contributed to input that the steering committee used to develop this vision.

Congratulations, Foster Green!