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Hello, Spring (almost)! The middle picture above of Tess,
Ali and Cheryl at Nancy Phelps’ sink? That’s actually on the day that seven of us got together to make soap at Nancy’s house. Why were we making soap, you ask? Short story is that out of the last Organizing in the Biocommons class, we had eight people interested in attempting to start a soap co-op (a.k.a. a “so-op,” as Cheryl cleverly coined it). So, the eight of us got together, had a meeting where we brainstormed, and made the next step to - wait for it - MAKE SOAP. To see how it goes, and if it’d be something we’d actually want to go into business doing (we learned this from Ty’s experience with waffles that has left him traumatized and rather waffle-phobic, actually). The result? Lots and lots of delicious soap. Seriously, the soap smelled good enough to eat, and Ali actually got some in her
mouth and worried about ingestion, but it all ended up fine, and soon we’ll have soap for sale! Other than that, we’ll keep you posted. We have great-smelling plans.
Okay. So. We’re Having Another Money Move! If you’ve been following Leaven Project in the past year, you’ll already know that we’ve been working with a local credit union (Advantis) and people have been moving their checking, savings, business and in some cases mortgages and other debt over to Advantis, for a current total of almost $400,000 and around 60 accounts. The bottom line of our action is this: We are building a partnership with a financial institution that will help us organize our money, keep it local and work toward possible new, future enterprises together (did someone say “so-op?”). We are joining people throughout the ages who have
organized to combat usury and develop just and equitable financial systems through a recognition of our financial life
as public. We are now opening these money moves up to other individuals and institutions that are interested in building power together (thus, not just Leaven Project members). We have several MACG members who plan to attend the next one. For more information, please call Wendy at (503) 290-6107.
Get This: We Totally Made Soap.
Leaven Project NewsMARCH 2011 WE THINK YOU’RE PRETTY SWELL THE ALMOST SPRINGY ISSUE
Among other shenanigans in February, Leaven Project had an amazing retreat the 4th through the 6th at Menucha Retreat Center.
The most up-to-date information can be always be found at www.leavenproject.org
Waking Up Your Garden WorkshopSaturday, March 12th, 9 AM to noon at Redeemer Lutheran. Hosted by the NE Portland Tool Library. For more info, see page 3.
Next Money Move:Saturday, March 26th
10:00 - NoonAdvantis Credit Union3010 SE Belmont St.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
GreenSpirit: The 12 Steps of Ecological Spirituality
GreenSpirit Recovery gathers on the first and third Mondays of each month from 7:00 - 8:30 PM at Redeemer Lutheran (5431 NE 20th at Killingsworth St.)
What would I do at GreenSpirit Recovery? Share experience, strength, and hope as we work the 12 Steps of Ecological Spirituality which reveal to us the root cause(s) of our dysfunctional relationship with ourselves, other people, other species, and all the life systems.
What’s this about 12 steps? The 12 Steps of Ecological Spirituality are inspired by the 12 Steps of Alcoholic Anonymous , a cknow ledg ing the re l a t i on sh ip be tween eco log i ca l destruction and addiction, and how recovery is needed. Why do human
be ing s con t inue to de s t roy the environment when they know it's destroying their quality of life? Addiction to a pattern of consumption and perpetual motion that creates a physical, spiritual, and emotional rift between themselves and the planet. The 12 Steps of Ecological Spirituality are about living with ecological accountability and honesty in the modern world.
Wow. Who’s behind this? GreenSpirit is a joint effort of EcoFaith Recovery, Leaven Project & Redeemer Lutheran Church.
ORGANIZINGIN THE BIOCOMMONS
3/15/11 5431 NE 20TH AVE.@KILLINGSWORTH 97211
7:00 PM SHARP
Cost: $50 - $75, on sliding scale, to cover materials and space use(no one turned away for lack of funds, however)
starts location time
"If we hope to stem the mass destruction that inevitably attends our economic system,!fundamental historical, social, economic, and technological forces need to be pondered, understood, and re-directed. Behavior won't change much without a fundamental change in consciousness. The ques-tion becomes: How do we change consciousness?" " - Derrick Jensen, The Culture of Make Believe
What is Capitalism’s story (in its roots, not its symptoms)?
What is Biosphere’s story?
What is the relationship between these two system stories?
What is their impact on your family, you and your future?
What are the
real-world alternatives to our present situation?
EIGHT CLASSES ON TUESDAYS7:00 TO 9:00 PM!
MARCH 15, 22, 29APRIL 5, 26MAY 3, 17, 31
CONTACTDick Harmon @503.233.0548
[email protected] Ippolito @503.805.4813
Organizing in the Biocommons is a class coming out of Leaven Project. If you are curious, please check out our website at www.leavenproject.org
LENT 2011 as the NURSELOG
Lament & Outrageous
HopeA season of grieving the world as it is, even as we invoke Spirit’s outrageous imagination.
(All events at Redeemer Lutheran, 5431 NE Killingsworth at 20th)
Wednesday, 3/9 at 7:30pm
Ashes, Story & Communion
Wednesdays, 3/16 – 4/136:00 – 8:30pmSoup, Stories of the Nurselog & Holden Evening Prayer
Sundays, 3/13 – 4/1710:00 – 11:30am Lenten Worship with Story
11:30am “Tables on the Porch:” Stories,
Public Lament & Hope, Death & Audacious New Life
Do you have interest in being a part of a gardening community that dreams, designs, plants, relates, walks, learns, harvests and eats together, sharing the bounty with our community? Consider joining Leaven Project’s garden working group in Koinonia Garden & Labyrinth (on Redeemer’s front lawn) this spring, summer & fall. No gardening experience needed - although we certainly welcome it! This year’s garden coordinators are Ali Ippolito ([email protected]) & Andrew Wenzlaff ([email protected]) - please contact them with your interest & stay tuned for more details. Also, consider participating in our NEXT STEP...
Waking Up Your Garden Workshop: Saturday, March 12th, 9am-Noon at Redeemer Lutheran Church (5431 NE 20th & Killingsworth). Sponsored by Northeast Portland Tool Library & hosted by Leaven Project, this FREE workshop will include classroom and hands-on learning opportunities to get your garden going in the spring, followed by some time in the Koinonia Garden adding soil, compost, and even doing some initial planting. No experience needed. All welcome! To register, contact Melissa at [email protected].
Bras, Bibles & Brew: Rhythms of Women This ain’t your grandma’s Bible study! Gather with other dynamic women as we take a feminist look at scripture and other diverse spiritual writings and explore the various rhythms we experience as women throughout our lives. Such rhythms will include Seasons of Life, Menstruation & Menopause, Death & New Life, to name a few. You don’t need to be Christian to come (some of us aren’t). It’s better that way - we learn more. Alcohol consumption is not required; many snacks and sips available. See you there!
Bras, Bibles & BrewMondays, 7 – 9 PMFebruary 28th
March 14th & 28thApril 11th & 25th
May 9thLucky Lab Tap Room1700 N. Killingsworth
Free Community Movie Nights Every Sunday!
Free community documentary night every Sunday, 6pm, at 5014 NE 24th Ave (behind the Star e Rose Cafe). Stay and talk afterwards!
Koinonia Garden:What Will Spring Up This Year?
March 6th: “The Garden” (Academy Award nominee)From the ashes of the L.A. riots arose a lush, 14-acre community garden, the largest of its kind in the United States. Now bulldozers threaten its future. If everyone told you to give up, would you?
March 13th: “Zizek: The Reality of the Virtual”A feature documentary exploring the eccentric personality and esoteric work of the “wild man of theory:” The eminent Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek.
March 20th: “The Economics of Happiness”A documentary exploring the importance of worldwide economic localization. A must-see film for the future of the planet.
March 27th: “The End of Poverty?”The first film to succinctly explain how our economic system has created poverty and why it is the foundation for the current financial crisis.
Leaven Project Vision
To build a vibrant, mixed and powerful community that:
Honors the experience, creativity and imagination of all generations;
Relates, listens and acts through spiritual practice and the telling of stories;
Roots itself in the Lutheran tradition of grace and justice while embracing complementary spiritual expressions;
Responds to cultural, economic and ecological inequity through the arts and practices of organizing
Upcoming Broad-Based Organizing Actions
Monday, March 14th
“Building Economic Power” Meeting7:00 - 8:30 PMSt. Charles Catholic Church5310 NE 42nd Ave (off Killingsworth)
Portland, OR 97218This meeting will be specifically focused on the pressures of under- and unemployment and household debt. If you’re interested, we invite all to join us in a conversation around what is happening in people’s lives as a result of the economic crisis, and begin exploring how we can begin to build power to act in response to these pressures. For more info call Wendy at (503) 290-6107.
Saturday, April 30th
Organizing for Mission9:00 AM - 3:00 PMCentral Lutheran Church1820 NE 21st Ave.Portland, OR 97212Hosted by the Oregon Synod and the ELCA, this will be a one-day basic training in how to use the arts and practices of organizing for the purposes of mission. Facilitators will include Oregon’s Bishop Dave Brauer-Reike & Susan Engh , ELC A Di rec tor o f Congregation-Based Organizing. For more info call Pastor Terry Moe at (503) 702-5453.
www.leavenproject.org
Saturday, March 19th
“Building Economic Power” Meeting10:00 - 11:30 AMBethel Lutheran Church5658 N Denver AvePortland, OR 97217Same meeting as above; different time and place for those who need another option. (No need to attend both.)
