“To be a woman you have to look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, and work like a dog.” -Leah Chase, chef and owner of legendary New Orleans eatery, Dooky Chase’s Restaurant.
H/t @natemusic
Category: Women of Portland
Women of Portland
Name: Nickia D.
Neighborhood: Sunnyside
Occupation: Budtender
1. I have lived in Portland for a little over 3 years now. Originally from Kansas.
2. The thing I love most about Portland is that the culture of this city provides you the freedom to be whomever you want to be…so long as you are not causing harm to others.
3. The median rent for a one bedroom apartment just hit a baffling $1400/month…not to mention the Wapato jail sitting unused for 12 years in North Portland. I can only imagine the many benefits this facility could bring to the community if it could be approved as a homeless shelter/rehabilitation center. I would say one of the most pressing issues for Portland at the moment is clean, affordable housing for the city’s inhabitants.
4. The words that I live by come from the author Paolo Coelho: “We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It’s one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it’s another to think that yours is the only path.”
Photo courtesy of Nickia D
* Interview originally posted on womenpdx tumblr.
Women of Portland
Name: Carrie L.
Neighborhood: North Portland
Profession: Owner & Operator of Combustible Media
1. How long have you lived in Portland and where are you from originally? I moved to Portland on July 1, 2005 from Salida, Colorado. I rolled into town mid-day driving a U-Haul and towing my car. I grew up in rural, isolated Northern Maine in a town of 400 people called Oakfield, near the Eastern Canadian border.
2. What do you like most about Portland? I like that people get outside rain or shine. In any degree of rain, people still go walking, hiking, running and biking. When I first moved here, it was a good lesson for me.
3. How do you think Portland could improve/ be a better place to live? I read an article in The Oregonian that our state ranks 41 in the country when it comes to education. Portland Public Schools’ graduation rate is one of the worst in Oregon for low-income students. Even though we have a city of vibrant interesting people, our city’s schools are mediocre. It is such a disappointment and an embarrassment.
4. What is your life motto or what words do you live by? It is fine to fall down, but make sure to get up. Don’t stay down, don’t give up on yourself. Life is tricky and you will get your share of bumps and bruises. It is what makes you resilient and to me it is what makes us interesting.
*Interview originally posted on womenpdx tumblr.
Women of Portland
Name: Mariko O. I usually go by “Mod” which my family calls me.
Neighborhood: Border of Mt. Tabor/Montavilla.
Profession: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
1. How long have you lived in Portland and where are you from originally?
We moved from Oakland exactly 3 years ago! This is always a tough question to answer. I’m a military brat so home was where we hung our hat–VA, CA, Japan, and NY. I’m not from anywhere but I do consider the east coast home.
2. What do you like most about Portland? So much! But I’d say the trees and flowers, the down-to-earth spirit, the spectrum of bars that allow me to have a high-brow cocktail one day and then drink beers with my preschooler running around in a pen another day. And so much good food.
3. How do you think Portland could improve/ be a better place to live?
I believe Portland the City could stand to have some individual therapy and explore these points: What is your identity? What meaning do you make of your relationships? How can you get along better with others? How do you stay happy? Civic leaders, teachers, merchants and neighbors need to talk about homelessness and the lack of access to mental health and social services, the crux of retaining the quirkiness of Portland while accepting newcomers who bring in more growth, and how to bridge the widening socioeconomic gap.
I also think this city would be a whole lot better if everyone took a “how to merge on the freeway” course. That would make this city smooth like butter (likely organic and grass-fed butter).
4. What is your life motto or what words do you live by? Fish or cut bait. This pretty much sums up how I’ve lived my life. Stay until I get restless, then pack up, move along and follow my gut. Or stay. But don’t idle mindlessly.
* Interview reprinted from womenpdx tumblr.
Women of Portland
Photo source: Jeffrey Horvitz
Name: Roey T.
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Profession: Political strategist for the LGBTQ movement
1. How long have you lived in Portland and where are you from originally? 15 years, grew up in South Carolina and Ohio.
2. What do you like most about Portland? I love so much about this city! Two things stand out: the free spirit that lets us have legal poker, nude dancing, and weed, and the progressive politics that make this a great place to come home to after my work takes me to places where hate for queer and trans people dominates.
3. How do you think Portland could improve/ be a better place to live? By making it possible to live here. I’m so sad about the changes I’ve seen in Portland lately–so many homeless people, rampant gentrification, way too many smug hipsters with expensive taste. Portland used to be much more affordable, and much more down to earth. I miss that, especially since the people being pushed out are the most interesting people.
4. What is your life motto or what words do you live by? Mine comes courtesy of a homeless man whose sign read “Everything will be appreciated.” That’s how I try to live every day, in spite of being outraged at widespread assholery.
*Interview reprinted from womenpdx tumblr.
