lojustout MAY 30, 2008_______________________ tlarrv A. Merl« 2 northwest Continued from Page 9 tion from the Dant Family Fund of rhe Oregon Community Foundation. “This gift from the Dant and Leatherwood family funds represents significant community support for p:ear’s continued growth. We are so grateful for this vote of confidence,” said p:ear’s executive director, Beth Bums, who is a lesbian. Since opening in 2002, p:ear has worked with more than 900 young people, many of whom identify as queer. P:ear’s upcoming p:earblossoms fund-raiser will help the organization raise $2.1 million to purchase and renovate a building at 338 N.W. Sixth Ave. The p:ear building at 801 S.W. Alder St. will close this summer, and the organization’s transi­ tion specialist, Rodolfo Serna, will work with youth in housing and employment arenas, with twice-a-week outings to keep youth engaged and connected. P:ear will set up a page on MySpace to get the word out. P:ear staff will be “homeless” until Sept. 2. They are searching for an office to use as a base until the new building is ready. P:ear plans to return Sept. 4 for a First Thursday opening in collaboration with Portland Art Center. The sixth annual p:earblossoms fund-raiser is from 6 to 9 p.m. June 7 at Staver Locomotive Building, 2537 N.W. 29th Ave. Courtenay Hameister, hostess of OPB’s Live Wire! radio show, will host the event, and longtime supporter Pazzo Ristorante will provide abundant appetizers. Live and silent auctions, hosted by award-winning auc­ tioneer Johnna Wells, will punctuate the evening. Call 503-228-6677 or visit www.pearmentor.org to purchase tickets, which are $75 each or $500 for 10 in a “p:ear basket.” Play at Q Center Q Center has resurrected Game Night with hosts Don Edgar and Julia DeGraw. The event, from 7 to 9 p.m. June 3 and every first Tuesday, is gaining popularity as a great way to socialize outside the bar scene. The center has a stash of board game classics, but feel free to bring your favorite. Edgar is also a mainstay knitter at Q Center’s knitting group, which meets from 2 to 5 p.m. Sun­ days. All fiber artists and beginners are welcome to bring their projects and meet a friendly group of regulars. Q Center is at 69 S.E. Taylor St. For more in­ formation visit www.pdxqcenter.org. New Staff Joins Our House Our House of Portland announced two new hires May 21: events manager James Lindquist and development/volunteer staffer Nathan Buck. Lindquist formerly worked as the general man­ ager of catering and events at Portland Art Mu­ seum for Vibrant Table. He has several years of experience leading teams of staff and volunteers and coordinating large events. Lindquist will focus Nathan Buck (left) and James Lindquist have joined the Our House staff. on the two biggest events at Our House: the Din­ ner at My House for Our House fund-raising series and the annual auction. Originally from Chicago, he and his partner, Eric Sandstrom, moved to Portland in 2001. Lindquist studied hospitality management at Roosevelt University in Chicago and psychology and law at Kalamazoo College. Buck has been a volunteer at Our House for several years and was hired in March as develop­ ment associate and volunteer coordinator. He * comes to Our House from Volunteers of America, where he worked as the recreation and volunteer coordinator. Buck holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison in English and communication arts. He received a master’s of fine arts degree in creative writing from Oregon State University. Buck is also an adjunct instruc­ tor for The Art Institute of Portland, teaching writing argumentation and research. “James and Nathan are great additions to the Our House staff,” said executive director Wayne Miya. “They both bring valuable skills and a tre­ mendous amount of enthusiasm, which will help Our House continue to grow and improve services to people living with HIV/AIDS.” Our House is commemorating 20 years of ser­ vice to people living with HIV/AIDS in Oregon and Southwest Washington. 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