sportiani» Cribserucr November 27, 2013 PageS Coming Home for Proud Ground Diane Linn to guide nonprofit housing provider P roud G ro u n d is co u nting on D iane L inn for h er m ore than 30 years o f experience in the private, public and non-profit sectors as the g ro u p ’s next executive director. L in n , a fo rm e r c h a ir o f th e M ultnom ah C ounty C om m ission, w as nam ed executive d irecto r o f the local housing pro v id er this m onth and w ill start w ork in D ecem ber. She has ex ten siv e ex p erien ce w ork in g w ith d iv erse co m m u n i ties— and m uch o f this w ork has Diane Linn taken place in Portland. F o r the past five years, she w as the executive d irecto r o f R itter C enter, in M arin C ounty, Calif, which provides a w ide range o f services fo r low -incom e and hom eless individuals and fam i lies. During her time with Ritter, Linn do u b led the budget and expanded services significantly. "I am so excited to return to P o rt land, m y hom e tow n, to becom e the executive director o f Proud G round. H aving the opportunity to bring m y experience as a nonprofit director b ack to m y favorite city is truly th rillin g ,” Linn said. P ro u d G ro u n d ’s b o a rd c h a ir E laine A lbrich, is enthusiastic about L in n ’s hire, “W e believe D iane has the exact set o f skills and experience necessary to lead P roud G round in o u r next stage o f d evelopm ent and grow th. S h e ’s sm art, savvy, and strategic; the board is im pressed not only w ith h er deep experience, bu t w ith h er strong grasp o f the is s u e s s u r r o u n d in g n o n p r o f it hom eow nership w ork.” T raci M anning, directo r o f the P ortland H ousing B ureau, shares the o rg an izatio n ’s enthusiasm . “P roud G round is an im portant p a r tn e r in c r e a tin g f ir s t- tim e hom eow ners and prosperous co m m unities. I am excited to see Proud G ro u n d co n tin u e to grow under D ia n e ’s leadership," M anning said. L inn ack n o w led g es that there w ere som e m issteps during h er tim e as county chair from 2003-2006, and said im portant lessons w ere learned. “W hile m y tim e as county chair w as an u nm itigated challenge, I am pro u d o f m y leadership for m arriage equality, SU N Schools, reducing h o m elessn ess and refo rm in g the m ental health system ,” she said. Grants to Help Home Buyers vide dow n p ay m en t assistance and h o m eb u y er education program s in areas m ost im pacted by the fin an cial crisis. T he program w ill include a free h o m eb u y er event D ec. 13-14 from 10 a.m . to 7 p.m ., both days, in H all C at the O regon C onv en tio n C enter. T he w inter holidays are com ing P rospective hom eb u y ers can reg is early to Portland as a m ajor financial te r and learn m ore ab o u t the p ro services com pany is jo in in g w ith gram at neig h b o rh o o d lift.co m o r by the city o f Portland and tw o n o n calling 866 858-2151. P re-reg istra profit agencies to help 227 m o d er tion is encouraged, although w alk- ate-incom e Portlanders buy hom es. ins w ill be w elcom e. W ells F arg o , N e ig h b o rW o rk s A ttendees w ill first need to o b A m erica and Portland H ousing C en tain pre-approval fo r a m ortgage te r jo in e d Portland M ay o r C harlie loan from a len d er ap p ro v ed by the H ales last w eek to announce a $5.15 P ortland H ousing C enter. T h ey w ill m illion Portland N eighborhoodLIFT then have up to 6 0 days to finalize a program . co n tract to purchase a hom e in P o rt “T his public-private partnership land in ord er to receive 15,000. has the potential to m ake a huge A recipient w ill no t have to repay difference to P ortland residents and the grant if they stay in th eir hom e n eig hborhoods,” H ales said. fo r five years. T hey are also re T he program is designed to p ro q u ir e d to p a r t i c i p a t e in a Neighborhood LIFT supports dream of home ownership Avalon Flowers 520 SW 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97204 • 503-796-9250 A full service flower experience •Birthdays • Funerals • Anniversaries • Weddings Open: Mon.-Fri. 7:30am til 5:30pm Saturday 9am til 2pm. Cori S tew art- Owner, Operator Website: avalonflowerspdx.com email: avalonflowers@msn.com We Offer Wire Services hom ebuying education session w ith Portland H ousing C enter, w hich will d eterm in e eligibility and distribute the funds to hom ebuyers. “ P o rtla n d w as d e ep ly a ffe c te d b y the h o u sin g c risis. W h ile to d ay m o rtg ag e s are av ailab le at h is to ric a lly low in te re st ra te s, m an y Linn said she w as fascin ated by the m ission o f P ro u d G ro u n d , using the innovative m odel o f sh ared -eq u ity to o f f e r th e d r e a m o f hom eo w n ersh ip to m o derate and low -incom e families. “W h at’s particularly appealing is that these hom es are perm an ently affordable, serving future g en era tions o f hom ebuyers. T his is a w in- w in m odel that our w hole c o m m u nity can get b eh in d ,” she said. L in n ’s resum e includes serving as director o f P o rtlan d ’s O ffice o f N eig h b o rh o o d In v o lv em en t. H er civic engagem ent includes v o lu n teer w ork, being an active parent in the public schools; and prom oting parks, libraries, schools, tran sp o r tation and planning, and affordable h o u sin g . fa m ilie s are still u n a b le to p u r c h a s e a h o m e b e c a u s e th e y stru g g le w ith m a k in g th e d o w n p a y m e n t,” sa id W e lls F a rg o R e g io n P r e s id e n t D o n P e a r s o n . “ N e ig h b o rh o o d L IF T c an h e lp lo c a l h o m e b u y e r s r e a liz e th e ir d re a m s o f o w n in g a h o m e .” Oregon Symphony MMM XAtMA*. MMtU J T T Í!. ■ Gospel Christm as Fri Dec 13 | 7:30 pm Sat Dec 14 | 7:30 pm Sun Dec 15 | 4 pm The tradition continues! Fifteen years of Gospel celebration at its exhilarating best. A perfect hit for this time of year as the region's premier gospel singers join the Oregon Symphony. Charles Floyd, conductor N orthw est Com m unity Gospel Choir Tickets start at $25 II (m lH E A T H W A N H( T l L While they last! Call: 503-228-1353 11-800-228-7343 Click: OrSymphony.org Groups of 10 or more save: Come In; 923 SW Washington \| 10 a m - 6 pm Mon 503-416-6380 Fri Hill RACC *