Top Nonprofits

Meet Our 2017 Light a Fire Winners

Honoring Portland’s most innovative community leaders and volunteers

10/16/2017 Edited by Marty Patail

Light a Fire 2017: Lifetime Achievement

How Antoinette Edwards Takes Care of Portland's At-Risk Youth

It's been over four decades, and she's not giving up.

10/16/2017 By Fiona McCann

Light a Fire 2017: Game-Changing Project

How a Portland-Wide Collaboration Helped Shelter Homeless Women

Pods from PSU’s Center for Public Interest Design might be tiny, but the idea’s big.

10/16/2017 By Marty Patail

Theater

A New Play Tackles Displacement in 1970s North Portland

Left Hook is set in the historically African American Albina neighborhood. We talked to director Damaris Webb.

10/05/2017 By Kayla Brock

Everyday Activism

Drink and Dance to Aid Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief

A pair of local bars offer fancy cocktails while the Crystal hosts a bomba-and-salsa blowout to benefit victims of Hurricane Maria.

10/03/2017 By Kelly Clarke

Benefits

Brandi Carlile, Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, and More Join Forces in Portland

Five musical legends come to the Aladdin for a show supporting education for refugees around the world.

09/28/2017 By Fiona McCann

Everyday Activism

How You Can Help Rebuild the Gorge (and Not Make Things Worse)

"If you wanna go fast, go alone; if you wanna go far, go together."

09/07/2017 By Kelly Clarke

Everyday Activism

Here’s Where to Eat, Drink, and Donate to Support Eagle Creek Fire Relief Efforts

Portlanders can eat fancy barbecue, drink beer, or swill cocktails, all while helping their neighbors.

09/06/2017 By Kelly Clarke and Molly Woodstock

Everyday Activism

Help Hurricane Harvey Survivors by Eating at These 24 Portland Restaurants This Friday

From Country Cat and Podnah's to Tusk and Boke Bowl, #HelpHoustonPDX eateries pledge a percentage of funds from Friday, September 8 for Red Cross efforts in Texas.

09/05/2017 By Kelly Clarke

Everyday Activism

Help Hurricane Harvey Survivors at These Portland Fundraising Events

Businesses across the city are collecting supplies and donating money to support Texans in need.

08/31/2017 By Molly Woodstock

Everyday Activism

Fighting Food Waste Just Got Easier, Thanks to Imperfect Produce

The Bay Area–based delivery service launched in Portland in mid-August, offering “ugly” fruits and veggies for bargain prices.

08/22/2017 By Molly Woodstock

Ideas & Innovations 2017

From Tech to Sustainability to Business, 11 Big Ideas from Portland Innovators

Activist giving, gaming while black, and the rise of the “zebra”—our brightest thinkers change the conversation.

06/12/2017 Edited by Zach Dundas

Ideas & Innovations 2017: Social Entrepreneurs

4 Big Ideas Making Portland a Better City Right Now

From ice cream as brain food to the alley of the future, these local initiatives are making a difference.

06/12/2017 By Ramona DeNies and Zach Dundas

Ideas & Innovations 2017: Tech for Good

3 Portland Projects Using Tech for Good

Activist giving, gaming while black, and bots with 'tude: these projects put the soul back in tech.

06/12/2017 By Zach Dundas

Arts News

Congressman Earl Blumenauer Puts Arts on the Agenda

At a forum for the arts, the US Representative unveils the winner of a high school art competition—and the reasons why he ran the contest in the first place.

06/08/2017 By Fiona McCann

Ideas & Innovations 2017: Green States Rising

Oregon's Fierce Response to Trump's Climate Move Is Just the Beginning

Green states unite in a new kind of federalism.

06/02/2017 By Zach Dundas

Editor's Note

In Response to the MAX Attacks

Here's what we've read and seen from local and national news sources about last week's fatal stabbings.

05/31/2017 By Zach Dundas and Fiona McCann

Run Wild

Portland Monthly’s Woman Up! Takes Over Sellwood Riverfront Park This Sunday

Power through a 5k run/walk/roll to raise funds for Girls Inc, then celebrate bold Oregon women with feminist social club the Perlene, the Badass Women's Protest Choir, Salt & Straw, and local nonprofits.

05/31/2017 Edited by Kelly Clarke

LGBTQ

Why the Portland Pride Festival Means Even More in 2017

The LGBTQ fest is now in its fifth decade. Four locals reflect on why we still need it.

05/15/2017 By Zach Dundas

Community

Portland Action Agenda: Ways to Make a Difference, May 8–21

From QDoc to Reach the Beach, a runway show for Planned Parenthood to a Mother's Day run for Family Forward, here's how to get engaged right now.

05/08/2017 By Portland Monthly Staff