Education

Tiny Homes on Display at PNCA

In mid-December, 14 tiny houses were displayed in a parking lot near the Pacific Northwest College of Art.  These were designed by local professional architects and students of the PSU architecture program and then constructed at various sites, including two at the ReBuilding Center.  The concept is to provide small, safe, and beautiful sleeping units for the houseless population of the city. Initial planning was carried out by a collection of public and private participants calling themselves “Partners On Dwelling,”  hence the acronym “POD.”  By a happy coincidence, tiny houses can also be referred to as “pods!” 

A collection of “pods” becomes a village, and are planned to be located at various sites throughout the city.  The current 14 pods are proposed to be sited in North Portland in the community of Kenton. New pods continue to be built at the Rebuilding Center, utilizing available recycled materials. The long-term goal of the initiative is to create 30 villages of 30 pods each. 

For additional information you can check out:

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Upcoming January Carpentry Classes

The ReBuilding Center offers classes and workshops focused on hands-on building projects that use simple design and reclaimed wood from the ReBuilding Center.

This adult education program aims to provide the community with an affordable way to develop DIY skills with both hand and power tools to enable greater self-reliance and creative expression! Classes will be made available regardless of income through scholarships and sliding-scale class fees.

Basic Carpentry: Tables and Benches
Saturday, January 14
1:oopm-5:00pm

Basic Carpentry for Women: Tables and Benches
Saturday, January 28
1:00pm-5:00pm

A garden bench, a bedside table, a catch-all next to the front doorit’s up to you! Come with basic measurements of your space and leave with your new piece of custom furniture!

Using a very simple design and reclaimed lumber, you’ll make a basic table or bench while gaining skills and confidence to use in future DIY projects.

Edge-Glued Wood:
From Cutting Boards to Table Tops
Saturday, January 21 & Sunday, January 22
BOTH DAYS: 1:00PM-5:00PM

Many woodworking projects require gluing smaller pieces together to make a larger surface, such as cutting boards, table tops, cabinet door panels, and butcher blocks. In this class, you'll make a simple edge-glued panel, and learn each step hands-on, from raw material to finished product!

December Volunteer & Internship Opportunities

Get involved with the Portland reuse community this winter with the Rebuilding Center! Help build community with Hands On Greater Portland; add to your resume with Rebuilding Center internships; join the newsletter team; and learn more about reuse and remodeling with the Portland Build, Remodel, and Landscape Show. Check out these amazing opportunities below!

Hands On Greater Portland: Community Building and Volunteer Day

Are you interested in making new friends in the community while volunteering? Look no further than Hands On at the Rebuilding Center.

December 15th
6:00 P.M. - 8:00 p.m.

Come to the Rebuilding Center to help with hands-on projects while working with donated materials. Afterwards, head across the street with fellow participants to StormBreaker Brewing for a post-volunteering happy hour!  For more information, contact Dave Lowe at dave@rebuildingcenter.org .


Marketing Analyst and Media Internships Available

Do you have an interest nonprofit work, data analysis, media creation, or social media? Do you want to gain experience using data analysis and marketing tools to boost nonprofit efforts while increasing your business, technical, and marketing skills? If so, apply for the Digital Marketing Analysis internship or the Media Content Creator internship with the Rebuilding Center! For more information, email Ashley Howe at ashley@rebuildingcenter.org.


Join the newsletter Team Every Thursday 

Every week, the newsletter team meets with Ashley, the ReBuilding Center’s Communications & Marketing Manager. Together, the team writes stories, carries out interviews, takes photos, and puts together the ReBuilding Center’s e-newsletters. These newsletters are great portfolio/resume builders!

The newsletter team is comprised of volunteers just like you! This is your newsletter, written by volunteers, for the ReBuilding Center community.

Sign up if you have an interest in:

  • Photography/Videography
  • Journalism/Social Media
  • Sustainability
  • Creative Reuse
  • Graphic Design

Channel your creativity into serving our mission to build community through reuse!

To sign up schedule yourself through ReBuilding Center's online Volgistics portal by entering in your login information here, click on "My Schedule," select any Thursday, click "Schedule me," select any time between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., hit "Continue", and confirm! Alternatively, you can email Ashley Howe, the Communications & Marketing Manager at ashley@rebuildingcenter.org.


Table at the Portland Home Show: Build, Remodel, and Landscape Show

Need some home modeling inspiration? Join the ReBuilding Center at the Portland Build, Remodel, and Landscape Show from January 6-8, 2017, at the Oregon Convention Center. Volunteer for a shift at our table to share ReBuilding Center info with attendees. Before or after your shift, see the latest design trends and talk to experts about energy efficiency, home automation, windows, and much more. 

Volunteers that table at the Build, Remodel, and Landscape Show will actively engage those attending the show as a representative of the ReBuilding Center. Event volunteers will answer questions, provide information, and be a general steward for our organization's mission of "Inspiring people to value and discover existing resources to strengthen the social and environmental vitality of communities." Volunteers can sign up through Volgistics or contact Volunteer Services at volunteer@rebuildingcenter.org to get registered.

Hands-On Volunteer Opportunities @ RBC

The ReBuilding Center is looking for hands-on volunteers! From helping seventh-graders design and build guitars in our wood shop, to taking photos and writing for our newsletter team, to working with salvaged materials in our store, there are so many ways to serve RBC’s mission to build community through reuse. Check out some of our current volunteer opportunities below!

Maker Space Teaching Assistants Needed

We are looking for teaching assistants and shop stewards for Adult Classes and Portland Public Schools' 7th Grade Maker Experience! If you have basic wood shop or carpentry experience, consider signing up to help with our new educational programming! These opportunities are perfect for anyone who enjoys teaching and inspiring others through hands-on mentorship. Shifts vary from project to project, and material prep shifts can be scheduled flexibly. For more information, please contact dave@rebuildingcenter.org.


Join the Media Team every Thursday

Every week, the newsletter team meets with Ashley, RBC’s Communications & Marketing Manager, to write, do interviews, take photos, and put together the ReBuilding Center’s e-newsletters! These newsletters are great portfolio/resume builders!

Our newsletter team is comprised of volunteers just like you! This is your newsletter, written by volunteers, for the ReBuilding Center community.

 Sign up if you have an interest in:

  • Photography/Videography
  • Journalism/Social Media
  • Sustainability
  • Creative Reuse
  • Graphic Design

Channel your creativity into serving our mission to build community through reuse!


Volunteer Discount for Film Workshops

Portland Community Media (PCM) is offering a discount to all ReBuilding Center volunteers! Active volunteers can enjoy 10% off any of their workshops! Not a volunteer? Sign up here!

PSU Architecture Students Build RBC Trade Show Booth

Videographer, director & editor: Ryan Fruge

The ReBuilding center has teamed up the Portland State University's architecture program to create a new booth for ReBuilding Center to use in trade shows and community events. Much like the interactive kiosks that are being built for ReBuilding Center's Commons launch, the trade show booths too should be visually appealing and functional.  The new design hopes to encourage and build relationships within the community and inspired poeple with reuse ideas. The booth aims to further understanding of ReBuilding Center's mission and all of its component parts. It will showcase our commitment to the reuse of building materials through DeConstruction as well as our Community Outreach Program, volunteer services and information about our warehouse donations and available materials. Margarette Leite is the instructor at PSU to the architecture students involved in the trade show booth project and shared some information on the project.

When the trade show booth was its developing stages, there were many ideas thrown out on what to incorporate; a mini museum, showcasing objects found at DeConstruction sites; a photo gallery displaying photos of homes through the DeConstruction process. The students had to respond to technical challenges such as how to include video aspects like the kiosks or how supply lighting without being reliant on an electrical source. They played with the idea of magnets and incorporated a metal sheet into their design. Students found ways to use both rough and finished pieces to show the range of materials available at the ReBuilding Center. 

To keep the concept fluid throughout, certain guidelines had to be meet. Size constraints were established to be sure the booth was booth mobile and easily transported. Structural integrity had to considered due to the wear and tear, and possible damage over time.

BBYUP Provides Paid Summer Internships for Youth!

The BBYUP Program (Boise Business Youth Employment Program) provides ten low-income, at-risk youth with paid summer internships at Boise neighborhood businesses.

The internships run for six weeks over the summer at 20 hours per week. These young people will not only earn money, but they will gain invaluable work experience to launch their future careers as well as develop a deeper connection to their neighborhood and community.

The program, which is now six years old, is a partnership between the ReBuilding Center and Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC), a non-profit education management organization that also operates the Rosemary Anderson High School for at-risk youth.

Portland OIC recruits and screens applicants as well as providing them training, supervision and mentorship through the process. Portland OIC places youth in Boise Neighborhood businesses. Youth have completed internships at a wide variety of businesses including natural medicine providers, insurance agencies, printers, restaurants, and with us at the ReBuilding Center. You can see a complete list of businesses who participate in the program at BBYUP’s website below.

To ensure that youth are successful in their jobs, Portland OIC first provides training on skills such as conflict resolution and customer service. Youth also attend a once a week lunch at the ReBuilding Center to talk with Portland business leaders on operating small businesses and achieving personal career goals.

Neighborhood businesses, including the ReBuilding Center, donate funding for BBYUP. The program also receives steady funding through proceeds from the annual Mississippi Avenue Street Fair hosted by the Historic Mississippi Business Association. Those donations fund wages and training for the youth, as well as work supplies or clothing necessary for their jobs.

If you are a business interested in donating towards this amazing program, you can find a donation form at BBYUP’s website:

If you are interested in applying for an internship, email or call Program Manager Leigh Rapport at lrappaport@portlandoic.org or 503-797-7222.  You can also download an application from their website: 

Applications are due June 10th

PPS Kids Design Their Own Guitars

May 1st - May 8th was ‪#‎STEMWeekOregon‬, a movement to raise awareness and celebrate activities that involve technology, engineering and math (STEM)!

What better way to celebrate than to open our wood shop doors to over 170+ Portland Public Schools students to build their own three-string guitars?

Over the last two weeks we have hosted two groups of middle school students from West Sylvan and Cesar Chavez, who have engaged in a hands-on learning process. With two more block classes to come, we look forward to the opportunity to show the relevance of their lesson plans in a practical way. Using sustainable materials, the students will learn about design processes that apply to everything from architecture to software development!

Portland Public Schools is teaming up with ReBuilding Center to bring STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) skills to over one-hundred-and-seventy seventh graders over the course of the month. Four groups of Middle School students will design and create their own three string guitar at ReBuilding Center and put new relevance to their lesson plans and put practical meaning to subjects learned in the classroom! If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please email ashley@rebuildingcenter.org.

We'd like to give big thanks to all of our volunteers, teachers, parents, staff, Black Book Guitars, WoodCrafters and Home Depot for all of your support to make this happen!

Help us plan our new workshops + classes!

At ReBuilding Center we strive to inspire people to value and discover existing resources to strengthen the social and environmental vitality of communities. From the beautiful, old growth wood milled decades ago to cabinet sets gleaned from historic Portland homes, we would like to generate excitement around the wealth of amazing materials that are available to us in the Pacific Northwest.

We are in the process of resurrecting our ReFind shop where we would like to create a space for sharing ideas, teaching skills, creating a culture of safety and building community. Please let us know any and all of your ideas for this community space and fully equipped wood shop.

help us design our workshops + classes by filling out a 8 question survey!


Trade Show Training: Wednesday, November 11th

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Trade Show Training
November 11th
6:30pm to 7:30pm

Time Commitment: After training, 3 - 8 hour shifts available throughout the year. Each event is different and flexible, so let us know what works for you!

Once a year, we offer this training to those of you who enjoy getting out in the community and connecting with people at events. We go to Trade Shows, Fix-It-Fairs, Sunday Parkways, Environmental Expos and many other community events. Tabling at these events is all about building connections and sharing your experience with, and knowledge of, The Rebuilding Center. We have a great line-up of community events on the schedule and look forward to involving all of you in the community outreach and information sharing. 

You will receive an email reminder 24 hrs prior the the event. Sign up below:

Volunteer Leader Training on Wednesday, October 28th

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Volunteer Leader Training:
Wednesday, October 28th
6:30pm to 7:30pm

Time Commitment: After training, 3 hour shifts - on your own schedule! Volunteer Leaders fill slots on the schedule as they see fit.

It’s that time again where we provide you with an opportunity to take the reigns of our leadership and community engagement efforts by getting trained as a Volunteer Leader! VL’s have the unique opportunity to act in a guiding, delegating, and supporting role for the many projects underway at The Rebuilding Center. The training consists of two parts: a one-hour class room portion when we review the position and go over some of the basic responsibilities, and a shadowing portion alongside a Salvage Specialist staff member.

We spend the classroom hour going over the Volunteer Leader Handbook so you know where to find all the resources you need to excel as a leader. The shadowing portion allows you see, first-hand, where and how you can use your new knowledge! Ranging from material identification and common usages to pointers on how to work effectively with diverse populations, the training is geared towards empowering existing volunteers to take a more involved role with our communities through leadership. 

To sign up, email volunteer@rebuildingcenter.org

 

Sneak Peek: Spring 2012 Class Schedule

Our Fall/Winter class schedule filled up faster than ever and we know many of you are eagerly awaiting our spring schedule. The full schedule will be out at the end of next week and will include classes from March to June. Check back to sign up or Sign Up for for our classes and workshop newsletter and be the first to know! While you are waiting, here are a few of the most popular classes we will be bringing back this spring!

Introduction to Carpentry for Women 101
This hands-on workshop builds up a comfortable working knowledge with construction and woodshop principles. It covers safety, power tools, hand tools, and basic techniques. Students will build a simple product from reclaimed materials to take home their experience. For all skill levels

Introduction to Carpentry for Women 102
Builds on the basic skills you will learn from the 101 class. 102 goes further into specific tools and gives you an opportunity to use larger shop tools like the table saw, band saw, and drill press. For intermediate skill levels

Classic Window Repair and Screen/Strom Window Building
Restore classic wood sash windows to make them fully operable and more energy efficient. Then go in to detail on how to build your own wood screen/storm windows. Learn the whole process from layout to finish. Gain experience with tools like the table saw, and if you have a (small) window or windows you’re looking to restore in your own home bring in the dimensions and build a storm window to your specs. For beginner to intermediate skill levels

Building Bee Hives pictured above
Get hands-on experience on how to construct your own bee hives out of reclaimed materials, and discuss organic bee hive maintenance.

Storm Window Savvy

We received a wonderful note this past week. Tracy took the storm window class we offered in September. After completing the three part workshop, she went on to create storm windows for her home. See what she had to say below…

I made one window in the class and recently completed 13 storm windows for my 1922 house.  I am so happy that the original windows will be saved from this project and that the energy efficiency has increased.  I also fixed an original dormer window that had rotting wood… I was able to take what I learned from the class (initially I knew almost nothing about woodworking) and build on that. The teacher was patient with my many questions. I am extremely happy with the finished product and know it will last for many years. - Tracy

Photo of the September Sash Window Repair and Screen/Storm Window Building class.


Photo of the September Sash Window Repair and Screen/Storm Window Building class.


What do you want to learn this winter?

We have three winter classes that still have available spots. Sign up now to learn a new skill this winter and finally get that tiling project finished or give the gift of knowledge to a loved one with an interest in woodworking. 

Tile It Workshop:
Tuesday, 01/24/12 – 6pm - 9pm and Wednesday, 01/25/12 – 6pm - 9pm Full
*New* Introduction to Woodworking 102:
Friday, 01/13/12 – 6pm - 9pm and Saturday, 01/14/12 – 10am - 2pm Full
•*New* Building Bee Hives
Saturday, 01/07/12 – 10am - 1pm and Sunday, 01/08/12 – 11am - 2pm and Monday 01/09/12 – 6pm - 8pm 1 spot open Full

Missed the class you wanted to take? Don’t worry a full schedule of Spring classes will be out in the upcoming months. Classes fill up fast, if you don’t want to miss the opportunity be sure to subscribe  to our “Updates on new classes and workshops” newsletter.

Winter Classes 2010

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Hi! There is still space in our series of Fall and Winter classes here at The ReBuilding Center. When you visit the Classes and Workshops home page of our website, you will be able to tell which classes are still coming up and have space available. You can click on any class for more information about the particular class and registration process. 

Here are a few things you should note:
1. Online registration is only available for those paying online through paypal. We will confirm your registration after Paypal has confirmed payment. 

2. If you would like to pay with cash or check, please call us at 503-445-1756 or you can do so in person at The ReBuilding Center’s register—3625 N. Mississippi Ave, 9-6 Mon-Sat and 10-5 Sun.

3. Register soon!  Some classes fill up quickly. Spaces are filled on a first come, first served basis.  

Class Offerings:

Tile it Workshop
Learn to install reclaimed ceramic floor tiles in this two part workshop - a sustainable option for kitchens, bathrooms, and more. In this hands-on course you will gain measuring, cutting, layout, mortar/grout mixing, and installation skills.             

Session 1: Tues Oct 26, 6-9pm and Thurs Oct 28, 6-7:30pm
Session 2: Tues Feb 1, 6-9pm and Thurs Feb 3, 6-7:30pm
Tuition: $40
Instructed by Holly Huntley

Window Repair Workshop
Repair and renew classic wood sash windows to make them fully operable and more energy efficient.  Learn how to rebuild broken frames, replace broken glass, free stuck windows, prep for painting and more.
Sat Dec 4,1-4:30 pm
Tuition: $30
Instructed by John Jones

How to Cut Stairs
Looking at replacing or restoring a set of stairs? Learn to cut set of stair stringers out of recycled wood. Class will teach basic stair math and tool use for cutting a simple set of stairs. Participants will learn about materials selection and the proper construction techniques to build a project that will last.
Wed Jan 26, 6-9pm
Tuition: $25
Instructed by Ken Walker 

Reuse a Door
In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to select a door for reuse, mortise hinges in a simple jamb and hang a door. 
Sat Jan 15, 9am-3pm
Tuition: $45
Instructed by Ken Walker

Summer 2010 Workshop Schedule

Our Classes and Workshops for 2010 are now open and available. The workshops take place in the ReFind Furniture woodshop located adjacent to The ReBuilding Center warehouse on 3625 N Mississippi Ave. Here, students have access to a variety of woodworking tools and learn valuable tool and construction skills they can apply to projects at home. Most importantly, students learn how to see new reuse possibilities in old building materials and are empowered to realize their ideas in new creative forms. Workshops are open to adults 18 and older unless otherwise noted.

The lineup this season includes: 

Introduction to Carpentry for Women
Papermaking Using Recycled Materials – Children Welcome
Intro to Carpentry for Women II
Found Object Printmaking
Introductory Woodworking
Window Repair Workshop

Click here to see full class descriptions and find out how you can register today.

Save the Date: Open the DOOR to Sustainability: Featuring LeRoy Setziol Door

On June 19, 2010 we’d like to invite everyone out to “Open the DOOR to Sustainability.” A unique art show and fundraising event to benefit The ReBuilding Center. The event will feature a one of a kind piece by legendary NW artist LeRoy Setziol. In honor of this piece, local artists will be turning ReBuilding Center doors into works of art that will be auctioned at the event.  The photo above shows artist Tim Combs choosing his door among the hundreds available in our warehouse. We look forward to seeing what it becomes!

Event Details: 
Saturday June 19, 2010 from 6-10pm – SAVE THE DATE AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

The Bison Building, 419 NE Tenth Ave Portland, OR 97232 – MAP IT

On display will be a very special door crafted by the “father of woodcarving” LeRoy Setziol
We’ll also have about 100 one of a kind DOORS on display – repurposed by local artists
Local, organic, creative food to munch on by Abby’s Table
Live Music
Raffles, ReFind Furniture, Silent Auction, other random entertainment
We hope to see you there!

Comments or Questions? Email us: openthedoor@ourunitedvillages.org

Visit the event website for more pictures and news: www.openthedoortosustainability.com

Upcoming Class: Jewelry Making With Reclaimed Materials

Learn how to turn your found objects into new and inspiring jewelry. This three day workshop is an introduction to jewelry making using fundamental techniques to creatively integrate reclaimed materials into your jewelry designs. Students will practice sawing, drilling, filing, wire wrapping, and more.

Mon April 19, 6pm-8pm, Sat April 24, and Sun April 25, 11am - 5pm
Tuition: $90
Instructed by Cristina Aucone

Youth Workshops Showcase Creative Talents

ReFind Furniture recently hosted a series of four youth-specific workshops: Cabinet of Curiosities, Found Object Sculpture, Coat Racks and Clocks and Wooden Toys.  In the classes, youth learned how to work safely with tools and how to think creatively about the use of salvaged materials.  Below are a few photos of the “Found Object Sculptures.”

To see photos from this fun event, click here. To learn more about classes and workshops at The ReBuilding Center, click here.

Jewelry Making Workshop

In this three day workshop instructor Christina Aucone of Modica Design led students in an exploration of the fundamental techniques to creatively integrate recycled materials into jewelry design. They sawed, drilled, filled, wrapped wire and created some truly beautiful works of art from found materials. See before and after pictures below. 

Margit

Margit

Adira

Adira

Gloria

Gloria

Lauren

Lauren

Mckenna

Mckenna

Solla

Solla

Susan

Susan

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