The Vanport Mosaic

The 7th Vanport Mosaic festival (may 20th to june 7th, 2022): over 3,000 people attended our annual " highlight of portland's cultural calendar, blending history, culture, arts, and activism into a living and highly creative memorial." 2022 marked The 80th anniversary of The building of Vanport, once Oregon's second largest city, and The largest wwii federal housing project in The united states. At a time when exclusion and racial segregation were The norm, Vanport was a place of belonging. Eighty years later, at a time when today's many crises have highlighted our community's continuing inequities, what can The history and living spirit of Vanport tell us? A few highlights: "Vanport - The musical" written and directed by Vanport descendant shalanda r. sims with a private free performance and celebration for The Vanport community; a place called home: a conversation about The past, present, and future of housing our communities with Oregon black pioneers, fair housing council, afrovillage; community doers gathering celebrating individuals and community groups who are transforming our relationship with ourselves, The land, and each other; annual day of remembrance at expo/historic Vanport: ceremonies, tours, performances, pop-up exhibits, story circles, screenings, singing and land art involving blackberry paper, cordage and letterpress.

Vanport memory activism: started in 2014 with an oral history project facilitated by laura lo forti, our mission to amplify, honor, and preserve The history of Vanport, once Oregon's second largest city, and The largest wwii federal housing project in The united states, entered its eigth years. For this on-going project The national trust for historic preservation recognized Vanport Mosaic as one of 80 organizations nationwide using historical places as catalysts for a more just and equitable society, showcasing The multilayered intersections of underrepresented communities of people. As part of this prestigious recognition we received a telling The full history preservation fund grant to create a digital archive for The over 60 oral histories we recorded with The Vanport former residents and flood survivors. We joined a new coalition advocating at city and regional level for an interpretative center/site of conscience on The land where Vanport once stood.

All power to The people initiative: directed by Vanport Mosaic co-founder damaris webb, our series of programming centering black history and lived experience expanded its offerings and reach. It included: ten (six public + 4 private) blackpanther party legacy walking tours of ne portland led by kent ford, founder of portland's chapter of The '60s-era black empowerment organization. ||february three-day event linking The black panther party's 10 point plan to challenges we face today: screenings, performances, conversations, and pop-up exhibibits. || third year of our bipoc mentorship program to support The participation and mentorship of black/poc designers and technicians in all areas of live production, and to grow agency, ownership and validation of bipoc stories. || fred hampton summer camp: a four full days a week, four-week experience (july 5-july 29) led by master artist michael bernard stevenson jr, at jefferson high school for students in grades 3-8. || a three-week run of walking through portland with a panther: The life of mr. kent ford. All power! - a new solo play by don wilson glenn, directed by damaris webb and featuring la'tevin alexander.