Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 17, 1999)
17.1999 Ralph’s Hollywood rlorist 2 0 0 ^ NE: 4-2nd A venue P o rtla n d , O R 9721} 2 Blocks North of Sandy ( 503) 249-1888 (800) 843-6793 limarne . readings & Jewelny mfmsTaTmny & . hmty Yrovk dusses A Æ shut' consuLranon __ RE/MAX S ig n a t u r e P r o p e r t ie s ! G iddyup , T een P ony ! Continued from the cover ity Repair Project’s Mark Lake- man is the Teen Pony project coordinator. O f City Repair Project, he says: “The focus of our events and projects is on addressing that our city was laid out without neighborhood public squares. Developers leave out things that don’t make money.” Lakeman notes that Europe and Africa have bountiful village squares. “An Italian hill town of 10,000 peo ple has 30 public squares,” he says. “Portland, a city of 500,000, has not one square. Instead, we have malls.” Teen Pony project coordinator Mark Lakeman (center) Lakeman says sociologists have found that where communities have gathering places the crime rate is lower, and izing music and dancing of the Gypsy Caravan when people participate in the layout of their Dancers. The Teen Pony is driven to each event and living places they create plazas, public gathering assembled on the spot. Because it is new, young places. The Teen Pony project is important and people are still being trained in setup and assem unique, according to Lakeman, because it is cre bly, but eventually the Teen Pony will be com ated and designed by youths. “We get to see pletely run by youths. Teen Pony’s wings are made of clear plastic what they would create for themselves when they are given the freedom and opportunity to sheeting, and the webs are connected by long pieces of wood and bamboo that are painted use their imagination,” he says. Teen Pony was built at Harry’s Mother, a 10- green, red, fuchsia, olive, purple and black. Teen Pony is described as an ephemeral bed temporary shelter for youths between the social sculpture because it is put together and ages of 9 and 17 who need a short break from taken apart on a weekly basis, teaching cooper circumstances at home. Michele Markowitz, recreation coordinator ation and communication skills in the process. Also, the group of street youths who partici at Harry’s Mother, says the staff members assess the needs of each individual and resolve con pate is always changing; thus, so is the project. flicts through family counseling, enabling the The current crop of volunteers laid out two youth eventually to return home. Harry’s Moth massive rugs on each side of Teen Pony and, er finds a foster home or independent living after scattering pillows of various sizes and facility for those for whom home is not safe. shapes across the rugs, plopped down to do some Teen Pony consists of four huge wings built socializing. onto a Nissan pickup truck, the back of which is In addition to the belly-dancing troupe, the enclosed in colorfully painted wood-trimmed entertainment at the early September event windows from which visitors are served. No included the banter and juggling of Rhys paper plates and cups for this group: The Thomas, music by Mandala and open-mike kitchen has built-in cupboards, and peering in poetry. from the outside you can see the mismatched Outside In has been serving the community mugs and plates stacked inside. for 30 years. The organization’s mission is to pro At Couch Park, two teens sit cross-legged in vide resources—social, medical and material the kitchen of Teen Pony serving juice, bagels resources, as well as mental health services— to and desserts from the windows. homeless youths and other low-income and Meanwhile, the crowd of almost 100 relaxes marginalized people as they work toward self- under beautiful blue skies, savoring the mesmer- sufficiency. B e in g n e w to P o r tla n d fr o m th e M id w e s t , F in a h e lp e d us n o t o n ly fin d th e h o m e w e w e r e t r u l y m e a n t to h a v e , b u t d id so w it h in c r e d ib le h e lp fu ln e s s , h o u g h tfu ln e s s , a n d a tt e n t io n to d e ta il. W e w o u ld re c o m m e n d T in a to a b s o lu te ly e v e r y o n e . — Grace Fa.<ano Sbana Dudley Tina Schafer M u lti-M iliu m D ollar Producer RE/MAX Signature Properties e-mail: tina@rmls.com speaks at the Sept. 8 unveiling Clare Mills of Outside In says the original mission of the Teen Pony project was oriented toward queer youths, but it has since opened up. Lakeman concurs. He says the project is designed for the inclusion of all. The seven-stripe burst of rainbow that appears in the Teen Pony project logo has one color more than the traditional queer symbol, and the triangle in the logo is periwinkle as opposed to pink. So, there is the queer refer ence, but it is an all-inclusive one, he explains. Seth Robins, 20, has been involved with the Teen Pony project from the beginning. At the time, Robins had been homeless for over a year and a half. He immediately became inspired by Lakeman’s “incredible spirit” and his openness to the teens’ views and artistic expressions. Robins, who now lives in transitional hous ing, says the project is vital to homeless teens, especially queer youths like himself. “We really need this,” he tells Just Out. “Homeless teens have a daily routine of being said no to and getting disrespect. A t Teen Pony we come and feel welcome. It’s a safe environ ment for us to hang out and be relaxed.” Robins says he is committed to Teen Pony and community service because it enables him to accomplish his goal of connecting with peo ple of all races and sexual orientations. Heather Brown, youth program director at Outside In, says 30 teenagers over the past two years were actively involved in creating Teen Pony. A significant part of the inaugural event, she says, is that the youths finally see a tangible product unfold from their group effort. This is important, Brown clarifies, because the “homeless are not connected to space and ownership. Teen Pony is something they can take responsibility for. It is their space and they can invite people in.” According to Mills, the feedback from the youths has been overwhelmingly positive. She says they are feeling good about themselves and wanting to commit to running the public tea house, which will visit a different neighborhood every week. Indeed, at Teen Pony’s debut, the street youths were enthusiastically involved in the fes tivities, seemed proud of what they had created together, and were happy to share it with all who showed interest. ■ For information cm future events, call the TEE N P ony hot line at (503) 535-3832. 282-4000 x 122 * PHOTOS BY DOUG news is a Portland-hosed free-lance writer, proofreader and— ever the advocate for mass transit and clean cur— an avid bicyclist. T .K . M A N T E S E Young people reassemble Teen Pony at each location it visits
