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2017: a year to refocus and renew
DMA is an open house for the Outer East Portland
As the new year approaches, we at Division Midway Alliance see renewed opportunities to foster prosperity for our communities, businesses and residents in 2017. Together, we will navigate great and many changes, among them, yes, a new president, but also a new Portland mayor and commissioner.
Strength through diversity bolsters our Outer East Portland community. We want to emphasize to our neighbors that DMA is here for support and as a gathering place. We recognize that we are stronger together and hope to build our community strength in 2017.
We wish you all a Happy Holidays season and look forward to a renewal and refocus in 2017.
Kem Marks (center) was instrumental in getting this mural up at Southeast 122nd and Division. Artists Donald Thille and Yuliya Kostina shared their talent. Kem spearheaded the public art project, winning support from PBOT and RACC and funding from EPAP. Public art projects such as Midway's first mural -- but not last, hopefully -- are not only affordable but also are proven to deter graffiti. Check it out!
DMA & Midway Community Miss Kem Marks
By Lori Boisen
In November, DMA said goodbye to its AmeriCorps VISTA member Kem Marks who transitioned his VISTA role to the Rosewood Initiative. Kem’s departure has left a large void in DMA’s organization because his contributions reached deep into the organization.
Kem began volunteering with DMA in May 2014 and later that year, was chosen as DMA’s AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. He helped DMA move its offices to its new location and establish DMA’s internal networking and communication systems. Kem supplied much of DMA’s written advocacy and was a great messenger to DMA’s businesses. Many of those business owners have asked about Kem this past month.
Kem managed both DMA’s website and e-newsletter. He gravitated toward technical side of the website and was instrumental in the development of DMA’s new website, which will be released early 2017.
Kem’s tenacity and perseverance brought public art to the Midway district. He worked with PBOT, RACC and other stakeholders to complete the first Art on the Box project for the city of Portland.
Although DMA is sad to see Kem go, we are happy to see him contributing his talents as the Rosewood Initiative’s transportation specialist and look forward to working with him on future endeavors in that capacity
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