DO YOU LOVE DESIGN, CITIES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE? ARE YOU INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE?   DO YOU WANT TO CREATE A BETTER COMMUNITY THROUGH DESIGN AND GET PAID?

Do you live in Portland?  Do you like what you see when you walk down your street? Does it reflect you, your community and the issues you care about? Here’s your chance to be an agent of change as a designer and activist for social and environmental justice! YOUR STREET YOUR VOICE is an interactive program that immerses you in designing buildings in our city. We will learn about the systems in the city, and dive into how density, gentrification, climate change and policy impact our buildings and community. And more importantly, we’ll explore how YOU can use design as a tool for social and environmental justice.
 
The term project is to select a site in the lower Albina neighborhood that you will design to build a community for climate refugees. You get to explore how physical space impacts the community, and create a new space that doesn’t yet exist. You will be guided by professionals in the fields of architecture, urban design, construction, and real estate development to help you along the way. You will also get to use creative multi-media including computer software (sketchup) and 3d printing to document your creative process and ideas. At the end of YOUR STREET YOUR VOICE, you will have an understanding on how design has a social and environmental impact on your community.

Did you know people of color and women are the most under-represented in the architecture community? Fewer than 2% of licensed architects in the U.S. are African American. Because we believe that diverse voices and perspectives drive creativity and innovation – and make for more equitable spaces – this program specifically seeks participation from students who identify with under-represented communities. ALL selected participants who complete the program in good standing  and attend 9 out of 10 sessions will receive a $250 stipend.

So you don’t need to be an artist, or designer, just have PASSION to think about the city we live in, the streets we walk on, and the communities that are built in Portland. And, if you have taken the course last year, this will push your design skills even further. Come join us to learn about design and architecture while getting paid. We need your voices in our buildings!
 
The Details:
When: Tuesdays and Thursdays Starting 2/4-2/26 4:15pm-6pm
Where: The CENTER at 3510 N. Vancouver Ave. www.thecenterpdx.org
Who:  Primarily High School students who identify in an underrepresented community, but allies welcome
How: Apply Online by 1/10/20