THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6
Human Solutionsâ Annual Toy Drive
Itâs your chance to be Santa! Or another, non-secular gift-bearing character! Human Solutions, a nonprofit helping houseless and poor families gain self-sufficiency, is collecting donations for gifts to be distributed to children in need within the metro area. Requested donations include childrenâs clothing, $25 gift cards to teen-friendly establishments like Old Navy and Regal Cinemas, toys, books, art supplies, and more. Deliveries can be made through December 20. Human Solutions, 12350 SE Powell, 9 am-5 pm daily
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7
WILLâs Annual Fiesta Navideña
Each year the Womenâs International Leadership and Learning (WILL) program offers female Mexican university students the chance to further engage with their communities through social entrepreneurship and networking made possible by a competitive mentorship program. They now serve students in Oaxaca and Hidalgo and need your help in funding another year of important work! Eat delicious Mexican food, take a swing at the piñata, and try your hand at winning artisan crafts and mezcal from Oaxaca during the silent auction. Disjecta, 8371 N Interstate, 6â9 pm, $30
Tender Table Fundraiser
Tasty food and stories from women and nonbinary BIPOC (Black/Indigenous/People of Color) pair extremely well. Support another season of the Tender Table series by attending an evening filled with food, stories, and plenty of music from local women and nonbinary BIPOC artists and presenters. Tickets are limited, so RSVP on Eventbrite. Chapel, 4380 SE Hawthorne, 7-10 pm, $10-15
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9
Street Roots Vendor Zine Release and Poetry Reading
Pick up a copy of Street Rootsâ latest zine, âI Am,â which features the voices and works of their vendorsâall folks who are at risk of facing or currently experiencing houselessness. Artist Abigail DeVille has created an installation called âThe American Futureâ comprised of Street Rootsâ archives, foraged materials, and more that will be on display before the readings begin at 2 pm. Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, 15 NE Hancock, noon-4 pm, FREE
White Women & Femmes and Dismantling Anti-Blackness
Reverend Angel Kyodo Williams, author of Radical Dharma and Being Black, invites community members to engage in a thoughtful, open group discussion to explore a wide range of topics such as white privilege and fragility, racism in white-owned yoga studios, intersectionality, and more. Event requires attendees mark âgoingâ on Facebook to receive instructions on how to enter the facility. Peloton Apartments, 4141 N Williams, 5-6:30 pm, FREE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11
Innovational Lab: Transformational Alliances
For folks looking to dive into a full day of radical training on eliminating racism, this is the workshop for you! The event description says it best: âToo often, People of Color are expected to do the emotional labor as the targets of racism; this session establishes the frameworks for white people to do their work in community and for justice.â Although this is a standalone session, itâs one of four discounted Transformational Alliances program offerings. Prosper Portland, 222 NW 5th, 8 am-5:30 pm, $129
Buy a Pint, Pet a Puppy
Every Tuesday night, you can visit the worldâs first dog tap house and play with pups for free with the purchase of any pint. Thatâs $4 off the normal 30-minute price tag, with the promise of an ultra-alluring two-people-per-puppy ratio and 40 taps to choose from. Woofâer, wow! Fidoâs Taphouse, 7700 SW Dartmouth, Tigard, 6-10 pm, FREE
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13
Outside the Frame
Spend an evening inside City Hall for a screening of several films produced by Outside the Frame, a nonprofit providing access to filmmaking for marginalized and homeless youth. Vegan snacks provided by Aviv and a Q&A with youth who are experiencing homelessness to follow. Portland City Hall, 1221 SW 4th, 6-7:30 pm, FREE
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14
TransFronteras: A Benefit for Queer Migration
Local musicians and businesses are banding together to help LGBTQ asylum seekers en route to the United States via the migrant caravans. All funds raised will benefit Diversidad sin Fronteras, a trans activist collective working to support the needs of LGBTQ asylum seekers. Portland Mercado, 7238 SE Foster, 6-9 pm, $5-15 suggested donation
A Benefit Concert for Paradise
Listen to the stellar sounds of acts including Galaxy Research, Mouth Painter, and Party Witch as they share their art in support of North Valley Community Foundation Camp Fire Relief, a Chico-based nonprofit helping those affected by the devastating Paradise fire. Turn Turn Turn, 8 NE Killingsworth, 8 pm-midnight, $5-25 sliding scale donation
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15
Carol for a Cause
For those in search of some wholesome holiday fun, itâs hard to beat singing wintery tunes with your family and a warm cup of hot cocoa or mulled wine in gloved hands. Your vocal participation will benefit the resurrection of Roosevelt High Schoolâs recently cut choral program, so send song requests to info [at] cathedralparkarts [dot] org by Dec 8. Cathedral Park Music, 7427 N Lombard, 6-8 pm, $20 suggested donation per family
Una Vida Mejor: A Tribute to the Original Dreamers
The Power to the Dreamers art and activist collective will turn their focus from undocumented youth to their parentsââthe original dreamersââat this yearâs art show for the immigrant community. They seek to raise $20,000 in support of Pueblo Unido PDX and future programming. There will be merch, a silent auction, a presentation, and artwork from undocumented artists. Redd on Salmon, 831 SE Salmon, 6-10 pm, $15
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16
Screening: A Day in the Life: The World of Humans Who Use Drugs
A Day in the Life invites viewers into the lives of eight people from around the world who use drugs and gives voice to a population of people often marginalized and stigmatized. This screening will benefit PPOP, a volunteer-run harm-reduction org providing supplies and education. Hollywood Theatre, 4122 NE Sandy, 2-4 pm, $12
