Reunion in the Community at Dawson Park - August 5, 2025

On August 5, 2025, the Safe Blocks Program, in collaboration with Vancouver First Baptist Church, Cascadia Behavioral Health, the Street Services Coordination Center, and Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI), hosted a successful Reunion in the Community event at Dawson Park in Portland's Eliot Neighborhood.

View full size image of Reunion in the Community Dawson Park

Several new vendors joined, including: Project 48, Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC), Latino Network, Care & Connect Mobile Health Dental Clinic, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, and more.

The event fed over 250 people with gyros from CeCe’s Gyro’s and grilled hamburgers and hot dogs provided by the Street Services Coordination Center.

Other event highlights included:

• A pantry to address food insecurity in the community;
• The Portland Police Bureau's Sunshine Division to share how to access food box donations and services for families in need;
• Backpacks for youth returning to school; and
• Lawn games for families to use at the park.

Reunion in the Community, building on the momentum of Safe Blocks’ monthly resource fairs, brought together diverse members and groups to engage in services that help support and sustain families that are striving to reach their potential, while reducing gun violence in the neighborhood.