Civic Circuit: Celebrating Community, Creativity & Change | March 2025
From women’s history and storytelling to crafting and community action, here’s how to make the most of March for cheap or free in Portland!
Dear Readers,
We made it through February—snow days and all! With spring just around the corner, I’m excited to share this month’s Civic Circuit, packed with cheap or free Street Wonk-recommended volunteer opportunities, community events, exhibits, commemorations, and festivities.
This time of year always feels like a chance to start fresh, so whether you’re up for learning something new, planting a tree, or just taking a stroll, I hope you’ll find something in this issue that sparks your interest and inspires you to get out and enjoy what Portland has to offer.
Don’t forget to like, comment, and share. I’d love to hear about the events you attend, the causes you support, and any discoveries you make along the way.
Thanks for being part of the Street Wonk community—I’m grateful for every one of you. Don’t let the bastards get you down—keep loving, keep fighting, find joy, and make good trouble!
Onward,
Chloe
March Commemorations & Celebrations
March is host to a plethora of commemorations and celebrations. Here are some of my favorites:
Celebrate Women’s History Month 2025: Women Educating & Inspiring Generations! Despite the disaster that the current administration is for women, the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum joined forces to commemorate and encourage the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history.
Red Cross Month honors the humanitarian work of the American Red Cross and its volunteers. Get involved here.
Developmental Disabilities Month raises awareness about the rights and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities. Watch Crip Camp, explore the history of developmental disabilities and the disability rights movement, and learn more about the vital work that the Administration for Community Living does here.
It’s National Craft Month—time to get crafty, take a class, or support your favorite local maker!
Groundwater Awareness Week is the first full week in March, and it aims to raise awareness of the importance of groundwater conservation. Take a few minutes to learn about Portland’s Groundwater Protection Program this month.
March 12th is Girl Scout Week, a celebration of the Girl Scouts' founding and contributions. Support local troops by buying cookies or visiting Girl Scouts.
March 21st marks the beginning of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling Against Racism and Racial Discrimination, which promotes actions against racism and solidarity with affected communities. Learn more here.
March 7th is National Speech and Debate Day, which celebrates the art of public speaking and debate. You can attend a local debate or view one online through the NSDA.
March 8th is International Women’s Day, which honors women’s achievements and promotes gender equality. This year’s theme is DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for gender equality.
March 8th is National Oregon Day, intended to celebrate Oregon’s history, culture, and natural beauty. It’s also an opportunity to remember the problematic aspects of our shared history, whether the treatment of indigenous peoples, African American settlers, Chinese railroad workers, or other exclusionary policies that shaped our state. Reflecting on these truths alongside our achievements allows us to pursue a more honest and just future for all Oregonians.
Despite legislation adopting permanent daylight savings time in 2019, Oregon still observes it. So enjoy National Napping Day on March 10th and take a midday nap to recover from the time change. Explore the liberating power of naps here with Nap Ministry!
March 12th is National Plant a Flower Day; check out these resources for local sources for native plants!
March 15th is World Consumer Rights Day, which raises awareness of consumer rights and protections. With the Trump administration effectively shutting down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, knowing our rights as consumers is vital. Explore resources on Consumers International.
March 16th is National Freedom of Information Day. To celebrate the public’s right to access government information, explore public records or visit FOIA.gov.
March 18th is Global Recycling Day, which promotes recycling to conserve resources and reduce waste. Learn about our local recycling and reuse options here.
March 19th is International Read to Me Day, an international campaign to advocate for children's literacy and build a community of support to empower children with the gift of reading. Read to your favorite kid, volunteer, or donate books to the Children’s Book Bank.
March 20th is World Storytelling Day, which celebrates the art of storytelling across cultures. This year’s theme is “Deep Water.” Learn more here.
March 20th is the International Day of Happiness, which promotes happiness and well-being worldwide. Perform acts of kindness or explore resources at Day of Happiness.
March 20th is the Spring Equinox, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.
March 21st is World Puppetry Day, which promotes the art of puppetry worldwide. Watch a performance, create your own, or plan a pilgrimage to Portland’s Puppet Museum!
March 21st is International Day of Forests, which raises awareness about the importance of forests. This year’s theme is Forests and Food. Explore resources at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and check out the Portland Food Forest Initiative!
March 21st is World Poetry Day, which celebrates poetry as a means of expression and cultural exchange. Attend a reading or write a poem. Learn more here.
March 22nd is World Water Day, which raises awareness about water scarcity and management. You can conserve water at home or explore resources at UN Water.
March 23rd is National Near Miss Day, commemorating the 1989 near-miss asteroid event. Do you remember this?! Me neither, but it still serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of life and our shared fate on earth. Learn more here.
March 25th is International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade and honors the memory of those who suffered from the transatlantic slave trade. Attend a virtual event or explore resources at the UN.
March 27th is World Theater Day, which celebrates the impact of theater on culture and society. Attend a live performance today or buy tickets for a future performance at one of Portland’s many fine theaters! Check out this year’s Fertile Ground Festival lineup!
March 30th is National Take a Walk in the Park Day, which encourages people to enjoy nature through park walks. Visit a local park or take a virtual nature walk. Check out Portland’s network of trails here.
March 31st is International Transgender Day of Visibility, which celebrates transgender people and raises awareness of discrimination. Support a local trans organization or share resources on social media. Learn more here.
Cultural Events & Exhibits
The Evergreen // Live Podcast
Thursday, Mar. 6, 2025
Time: Doors at 6:30pm, event at 7pm
Location: Tomorrow Theater
Cost: Free
Join OPB’s podcast, “The Evergreen,” for a live taping. “The Evergreen” tells the stories of the people, places, communities, and cultures that make up this region. It’s a podcast about the place YOU live, the places you love, and the geography you feel connected to.
Short Doc Showcase, Meet Up, and Zine Fair with NW Documentary, Oregon Media Lab, and Secret Room
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Location: Tomorrow Theater
Time: Doors & Zine Fair at 6:30pm, Screenings at 7:30pm
Cost: $15
*Street Wonk paid subscribers will receive a BOGO code for this event!
Following a non-fiction zine fair organized by Secret Room and presented in partnership with NW Documentary and Oregon Media Lab, PAM CUT presents an evening of locally made documentary films. Following the screening, NW Documentary executive director Sam Gaty will have a brief discussion with each of the filmmakers. The evening will wrap up with an after-party with the filmmakers next door at The End bar.
The Showcase includes:
The Kelp Keepers (Directed by Anna Lueck, 2024)
Road to Sunrise (Produced by Nora Colie, 2024)
Shadow of Paradise (Directed by Sahar al-Sawaf, 2022)
Remembering York (Directed by Dana DeLaski, 2024)
The Urban Birder (Directed by Tarin Jordan-Vandermast, 2014)
Hand Me Down: Xiahui (Directed by Diana Mulan Zhu, 2024)
The City that Works (Directed by Anna Lueck, 2024)
Life of Water (Directed by Jennie Greb, 2024)
Buckman Art Show and Sell
Saturday, Mar. 15, 2025
Time: 10am-5pm
Location: Buckman Elementary School
Cost: Free
Get ready for a vibrant day of art, community, and creativity at Buckman Elementary’s annual fundraiser! The Buckman Art Show and Sell is back for its 35th year, featuring 100+ Local Portland Artists showcasing and selling their work, plus Buckman student art, face painting, fairy hair, and food trucks!
Cherry Blossom Day at the Capitol
Saturday, Mar. 15, 2025
Time: 11am-3pm
Location: State Capitol State Park
Cost: Free
Saturday, Mar. 22nd, 2025: The third Saturday of March is Cherry Blossom Day at the Capitol. Celebrate Spring, the blossoming cherry trees in the Capitol Mall, and the impact of the Japanese culture on our state. Celebrate on the Capitol Mall (across the street from the front of the Capitol on Court) with booths, activities, and performances.
Smallpresspalooza
Sunday, Mar. 16, 2025
Time: 4pm-8pm
Location: Powell’s City of Books
Cost: Free
To celebrate Small Press Month, Powell's Books is proud to host the fourteenth annual marathon reading of small press authors, Smallpresspalooza, hosted by Powell's small press champion, Kevin Sampsell. This year’s lineup features readings by Alex Behr, Frances Badalamenti, Colin Keating, Aditi Machado, Roberto F. Santiago, Kurt Baumeister, Rin Stone, Jason Arias, Raki Kopernik, Amanda E.K., Joshua Escobar, Joshua Pollock, and Rachel Lee-Carman.
Phyllis Trowbridge | Painting in Time
Now–Mar. 21, 2025
Location: North View Gallery
Cost: Free
An exhibition of paintings by Phyllis Trowbridge, who has been closely observing the Pacific Northwest landscape for decades, often returning to the same site year after year, tracking subtle and dramatic changes in each environment she selects. Ranging from massive canvases on which dignified oaks tower to smaller, more intimate views of her garden.
City of Possibility
Now–Mar. 22, 2025
Location: Expensify Bank and JK Gill Building
Cost: Free
City of Possibility (CoP) is an unprecedented look at the ongoing legacy of Portland’s civic ambitions, architecture, and urban design. It will showcase more than 50 architectural models—historic and current for buildings built and visions unbuilt--plus a virtual fly-through of major future new projects underway or being planned.
At the exhibit's heart is a 12-by-18-foot, beautifully crafted fir model of Portland’s urban center, on loan from the Architectural Heritage Center. City planners created it in 1971 as an urban design tool to implement the city’s 1972 Downtown Plan, the blueprint for Portland's renaissance that blazed the path for urban comebacks in cities across the country.
Taken From Their Families: Japanese American Incarceration on Angel Island During World War II
Now–Apr. 6, 2025
Location: Japanese American Museum of Oregon
Cost: $0 - $8
Taken From Their Families explores the lesser-known history of Angel Island and its role in the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. The former immigration center was used to process prisoners of war and Nikkei community leaders living on the West Coast and Hawai’i.
What’s Worth the Fight: The History of the Slants
Now–May 11, 2025
Location: Portland Chinatown Museum
Cost: Free
The Portland Chinatown Museum presents its first music history exhibition, What’s Worth the Fight: The History of the Slants. One of the first all-Asian-American dance-rock bands, The Slants are best known for their '80s-driven synth-pop (affectionately dubbed by fans as "Chinatown Dance Rock") and their landmark Supreme Court case over the rights to their name.
Survival and Intimations of Immortality
Now–May 25, 2025
Location: Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
Cost: $0 - $10
The exhibition explores the work of three artists representing three generations of one family: Holocaust survivor Allice Lok Cahana (1929 – 2017), her oldest son, Ronnie Cahana (born 1953), a major stroke survivor, and his daughter, Kitra Cahana (born 1987), a filmmaker and photographer. Alice Lok Cahana grew up in Sarvar, Hungary.
Storytelling and Poetry with Ed Edmo
Saturday, Mar. 22, 2025
Time: 11am–12pm
Location: Director Park
Cost: Free
Join Shoshone-Bannock poet, playwright, performer, and traditional storyteller Ed Edmo in the warm and cozy glass kiosk at the park.
Ed shares captivating storytelling and poetry for both kids and adults, bringing Northwest tribal culture to life. As described by Oregon Public Broadcasting, his tales 'breathe life into characters like Nasho, a monster woman, and cultural tricksters such as Coyote and Spider Woman.' Using dynamic voice changes, puppets, and audience participation, Ed creates an unforgettable and heartwarming storytelling experience.
Reed Zine Fest
Saturday, Mar. 29, 2025
Time: 11am-4pm
Location: Reed College
Cost: Free
Reed Zine Fest is the first zine fest organized by the Reed College Library to celebrate independent publishing, DIY, and zine making! This one-day festival will feature more than 100+ local community and Reedie zinesters, art and zine workshops, community roundtables, and a keynote presentation by local zinester Alex Wrekk.
Other Events
Community Volunteer Events & Opportunities
Saturday, March 15th, 2025 | 9:30am-1:30pm: Spring Tree Planting at Ed Benedict Park (SE 102nd Ave, Portland, OR 97266)
✿ Celebrate Spring by Planting a Tree! ✿
Welcome the season of growth by joining Portland Urban Forestry at Ed Benedict Park for a community tree-planting event! With your help, a new tree will take root, unfurl its leaves, and grow into a source of shade, cleaner air, and natural beauty for years to come. This event is also a perfect opportunity to explore all the ways you can get involved with urban forestry, whether through volunteering or participating in programs like the Yard Tree Giveaway and Free Street Tree programs. The day will start with a step-by-step demonstration of how to plant a tree. We’ll also provide all the tools, gloves, and equipment you’ll need—just come dressed for the weather and wear closed-toed shoes so you’re ready to dig in and plant a tree! Light lunch and snacks will be provided.
Request for Architecture, Trades, and Construction Volunteers!
Do you have professional architecture, construction, or trades skills and want to give back to the community? The Empowered Communities Program is seeking licensed construction, engineering, architecture, and trades volunteers who align with the City of Portland's core values of anti-racism, equity, collaboration, transparency, communication, and fiscal responsibility to assist homeowners and small businesses from the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and disability communities in bringing their properties up to code.
Volunteer to be a Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET) Member
If you live or work in Portland, you can join over 1,200 active volunteers by taking free NET training. In a citywide or regional emergency, like a winter storm, flood, or major earthquake, households may need to be self-sufficient for at least a week. When streets are blocked, and first responders are overwhelmed, trained neighbors will be the first to help.
Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Nodes (BEECNs)
A BEECN (Basic Earthquake Emergency Communication Node) is a temporary radio site in Portland where you can request emergency assistance or report severe damage if phone lines are down. Staffed by volunteers, NET members, and pre-designated City employees, BEECNs are easy to find under red and white tents at 50 locations across the city. Free, online BEECN training sessions are offered monthly and last about 90 minutes.
Request a Community Garden Plot
If you’re interested in joining a community garden, start here. Plots are assigned each year from February to June, as space is available. If there are no available plots in your preferred garden(s), your name will stay on the waitlist for the following year.
Join the Heritage Tree Volunteers
The Portland Heritage Tree Program celebrates the city’s most remarkable trees for their size, age, and historical significance. Managed by Portland Parks & Recreation’s Urban Forestry division, the program protects these trees under City Code, ensuring they cannot be removed without permission.
Heritage Tree volunteers are key to preserving Portland’s natural and cultural history. Whether you’re passionate about history, nature, or community outreach, there’s a flexible role for you. Volunteers help by nominating new Heritage Trees, monitoring existing ones, and educating the public about their importance.
Volunteers receive free training, access to a supportive community, and the chance to make a meaningful impact. No professional expertise is required—just an interest in trees and local history.
Apply To Be a Stewardship Community Partner
Through the Portland in the Streets program, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) encourages people to adopt green spaces. The Stewardship Program is a partnership between PBOT and community partners. The community partner maintains the adopted space, often adding perennials and native plants.
Check out the City of Portland’s Advisory Body Openings here.
Volunteer or intern with Multnomah County.
Help shape our region’s future by adding your voice to current Metro projects and programs.