A mix of BDNA board members and neighbors collectively applied for a record five SE Uplift Small Neighborhood Grants in one grant cycle.  Watch out, Portland.  Brentwood-Darlington is on fire.  We’re moving and shaking and asking for MONEY.  We’re dreaming and visioning and planning and keeping our eyes on the prize: creating beauty and community in every corner of Brentwood-Darlington.

Meesa Long, BDNA board member, applied for a grant to put up banners with our name and logo in strategic places to create a sense of place and community and celebrate who and WHERE we are.  Yes.  We’re part of Portland.  Meesa Long is no stranger to grant writing, as she’s our fearless sidewalk champion who’s gone to bat for Brentwood-Darlington to get us millions in regional flexible funding by working closely with PBOT.  Stay tuned.  We should know more about that grant status February 2nd.  Fingers and toes crossed, please.

Kendall Palmer, long time BDNA board member and director of FEAST for Southeast, is also one of our fearless doers whose wanted to bring communication boards to BD for ever and probably a day.  She wrote a grant so we can purchase community communication boards and place them in strategic places.  Without a main street style business district and few gathering spaces in BD, we’ve been relying on the internet and word of mouth for announcing things to our beautiful community.  And probably some have illegally stapled things to light poles.  I’m not naming names.  This would add so much beauty, better reach to all our neighbors, and support all the hard work so many of us put into events by ensuring people actually ATTEND!  Good luck!

The Woodmere Multicultural Garden located at Woodmere Elementary on 78th and Duke is applying for a grant to help fund their Depave project, chunking up some of the asphalt and replacing it with soil, gardens, and so much more.  They are BIG dreamers and doers.  This is a project I’ve personally been advocating for since 2014 so I am thrilled and hope above hope they are selected.  Thank you Chris Samples, Xeandra Wescott, and Erin Robertson, and Carrie Collenberg Gonzalez. Go Dolphins!

Neighbor Dunja Marcum wrote a grant for VIBE of Portland to create Second Saturday Community Arts days at the Moose Lodge.  Creating space for all ages to enjoy crafting, painting, playing music, and sharing space together as a community.  BD neighbors have been clamoring for opportunities like this.  Since we don’t have access to our community center much, this will be a great way to be together, create, bond, and grow community.  Good luck!

Neighbor Julie Reardon ( you may know her from her work with SPAQ) is applying for a grant to create a communication board for her neck of the woods in BD.  We love the ingenuity of her plan and Julie’s tireless commitment to civic action.

On deck for future grants?  A seriously beautiful gathering space where all are welcome…more mom and pop businesses….gorgeous affordable housing…our own version of the Portland Mercado…more culture….more music…more access….more equity….we’re dreaming and growing and searching for funding!

Keep dreaming, Brentwood-Darlingtonians.  And when YOU ARE ready to bring your dream into reality, make a plan and get ‘er done!  Way to go, team.  And if you want to sponsor BDNA projects, these other great folks or in any way get involved, email us brentwood.darlington@gmail.com and we’ll happily connect!

Cheers,
Lesley L. McKinley
Chair