Community Matters: Sept 2022
Welcome to NECC's Community Matters Newsletter! This month's edition includes information on our new swim lesson program Jump Start, our new art instructor, Hollywood Theatre movie benefit screenings, and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. Check it out!
Community Connections: Events, Opportunities, Resources
Jump Start Lessons Kicks off with a Splash
We had such a great time at our Jump Start Swim lessons this Saturday! Jump Start Swim is a no-cost, all-ages program which aims to remove barriers to water safety for BIPOC and low-income youth. This 45-minute single-day class teaches water safety skills for both guardians and children, and families who participate are eligible for free future swim lessons. We provide life vests, goggles, swim caps, swimsuits, and transportation. 

If you or someone you know may be interested in this program head over to our website for more info and to fill out our interest form.

Jump Start Swim is made possible with the generous support of our donor community and funding from Juan Young Trust, Robert D. & Marcia H. Randall Charitable Trust, Rose E. Tucker Charitable Trust, Nike Community Impact Fund, Leupold & Stevens Foundation, and Lyft.
Welcome New Art Instructor Anna!
Anna joins the NECC with years of experience as a local art educator. After studying printmaking and arts education at the California College of Arts and Crafts, Anna taught English
in South Korea, and later moved to Portland where she taught school arts for Rigler Elementary. 
 
Anna strives to make art accessible for all children and even raised funds through a kickstarter to provide free art classes twice a day in Portland parks. This past summer, Anna was an art instructor for Arts Pods, a program that lowers barriers to arts education. Anna is excited to join the NECC and teach children the fundamentals of art and that there is no such thing as being bad at art. Welcome, Anna! 
Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Emma Simons-Araya, Program & Partnerships Manager

One of my favorite parts of working for the Northeast Community Center is having the opportunity to meet so many new faces and hear your stories. As a first-generation Latina, I’m often reflecting on the words I use to describe my identity and my own stories.
 
In my family, we celebrate Latino Heritage Month and Chile’s independence from Spain with pastel de choclo, pisco, and oldies (specifically Smokey Robinson). Stories of resilience are woven into the fabric of my ancestry and are something we celebrate in the month of September, and every day of the year.
 
One of my favorite podcasts, Code Switch has a great episode about the language we use and the stories behind it. This episode is about the history of the term Hispanic.

Take a listen and let me know what you think!
Self portrait by Emma Simons-Araya
- Emma Simons-Araya, Program & Partnerships Manager, programs@necommunitycenter.org
Hollywood Theatre Benefits
Community Programs

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the screening of RBG this past Saturday! We are especially thankful to the Hollywood Theatre for selecting NECC to participate in their new Community Benefit Movie program. We loved seeing everyone participating in the Lobby activities and celebrating the life and legacy of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Proceeds from this event will support programs and activities that make a difference in our community.
If you have visited our facility recently, you may have noticed that hanging on the building adjacent to the NECC Parking Lot is a visible sign supporting a political candidate. We want to clarify that this banner belongs to the building owner, not the NECC. As a non-profit, the Northeast Community Center is prohibited from endorsing any candidate for elected public office.
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Northeast Community Center
Website | frontdesk@necommunitycenter.org | 503.284.3377