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November 01, 2023
Opportunity Center at 42nd Avenue Opens
Education
and Career
Opportunities
for Underserved
Communities
Portland Community College
marked a significant milestone in
its commitment to advancing edu-
cation and career opportunities for
underserved communities with the
grand opening of the Opportunity
Center at 42nd Avenue.
This transformative facility, lo-
cated at 4299 NE Killingsworth
St., is a collaborative endeavor
supported by the Oregon Depart-
ment of Human Services and the
Native American Youth and Fam-
ily Center, offering a comprehen-
sive array of services, educational
resources, and workforce devel-
opment initiatives. PCC worked
with Living Cully, a partnership
of nonprofit groups committed
to supporting the community by
building economic, social and en-
vironmental opportunities, to con-
duct outreach to the neighborhood
to plan for the resources the com-
munity needed..
"The use of CLT in the build-
ing of the center is helping PCC
meet the sustainability goals of
(from left) Kien Truong, PCC Board Member; Sherrelle Jackson, Oregon Dept of Human Services
District Manager; Susheela Jayapal, Multnomah County Commissioner; Dr. Adrien Bennings, PCC
President (with scissors); Tiffani Penson, PCC Board Chair; and Rob Wagner, State Senator.
our bond-funded project," said
Tiffani Penson, PCC board mem-
ber. "The center aims to provide
a warm and welcoming environ-
ment where our students and com-
munity members can access many
services like workforce training,
healthcare, childcare, and SNAP
benefits -- all in one place. I love
that. Centralized services make it
so easy for our students and mem-
bers of our community."
This center's primary mission
is to address racial and econom-
ic disparities by providing indi-
viduals with access to education
and career-track employment
opportunities. The services of-
fered include career exploration,
coaching, skills development,
and comprehensive support sys-
tems to help individuals achieve
their goals.
PCC's Opportunity Centers,
such as the new 42nd Avenue fa-
cility, play a pivotal role in reduc-
ing opportunity gaps by equipping
individuals with the skills and
confidence necessary to pursue
high-demand careers. These cen-
ters assist students in navigating
resources, finding employment,
and progressing in their academic
and career pathways.
"It is spectacular," said Rebec-
ca Ocken, Planning & Capital
Construction director. "I want to
acknowledge the contributions
that the center's staff made to
the design of this building. The
dedication and commitment that
you gave to the process is trans-
formative. This building is the
way it is because of all of you."
The grand opening is just the
beginning for this vital com-
munity resource. In the coming
year, public art installations re-
flecting the values of the cen-
ter and college, as well as the
diverse stories of the commu-
nity, will be added. Addition-
ally, Multnomah County is set
to open a 10,000-square-foot
health clinic, offering health-
care and dental services. Home
Forward will begin construction
on an 84-unit affordable hous-
ing complex in partnership with
PCC, including NAYA's Early
Learning Center for child devel-
opment services.
"With our new health clinic,
we will be able to serve more
than twice the number of people
we serve at the current location,"
said Susheela Jayapal, Mult-
nomah County commissioner.
"We'll go from 2,000 to 5,000
people. But the Opportunity
Center is not just about this clin-
ic, it's also about housing, edu-
cation, wrap-around services and
childcare -- all of which demon-
strates PCC's commitment to
workforce development."
For more information on the
center's services, visit https://
www.pcc.edu/locations/42nd-ave/
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Join dramati
bold & ogram!
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Nolan Tu, piano
2023 PPI Concerto Competition Winner
This Midnight Hour
November 11 | 7:30 PM
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Anna Clyne: This Midnight Hour
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 7
Camille Saint-Saëns: Piano Concerto No. 2
with pianist and 2023 Portland Piano International
Concerto Competition Winner Nolan Tu
portlandyouthphil.org/concerts