Street Roots and Sisters Of The Road presented almost 2,000 postcards to Portland City Council on Wednesday, June 11 at 9:30am asking for the repeal of the sit-lie and anti-camping laws. The postcards were signed by citizens who are concerned that the ordinances punish thousands of Portlanders who lack adequate, safe and affordable shelter.

Thanks so much to everyone who helped make this successful!  We all need to continue to work together to repeal these inhumane laws!  Check out our Sit-Lie and Anti-Camping Position Statement.

On Saturday June 21st, Sisters held a civil disobedience training here at the cafe. The training was to help get more people tooled up in the practice of nonviolence and civil disobedience. We will have more trainings in the future. For information on these trainings, sign up for our Action Info List.

The Cascade Songwriter’s Collective is releasing “Songs for Sisters,” a compilation CD that will provide entertainment, social change and revenue for Sisters Of The Road.

The CD release party will be held July 12, 2008 from 8 to 10 PM at Artichoke Music’s Backgate Stage, located at 3130 SE Hawthorne BLVD in Portland, (503) 232-8845. Admission is $10 and includes a copy of the CD.

The project compiles songs donated by local musicians that capture the struggle of homelessness and connect listeners in a meaningful way, making people think and feel, the way the best songs often do. All songs were donated by local artists, who include: Ken Vigil, Paul Sanchez, Barb Galloway, Matt Meighan/Deb E. Dee, Dave Mullany, Jim Burke, Tracy Klas, Kathleen Lundquist, and Artichoke Music co-owner Richard Colombo.

The CD will be available at local Portland music stores including Artichoke Music, as well as through Burnside Distribution Corporation: (503) 231-0876, www.bdcdistribution.com, 1522 N. Ainsworth St. Portland, OR 97217, fax (503) 231-0420. They will also be available online through CD Baby. Thank you Cascade Songwriter’s Collective!

There is still time to have your donation matched two-to-one! We are at 80% of our goal, with the rest of July to go. Every dollar you donate will become three!

Here’s what your donation supports:

• Beverages, 1 Week $50
• Flour Tortillas, 1 Day $100
• Eggs on Breakfast Day $166
• Coffee, 1 Month $300
• Rice and Beans, 1 Month $129
• Canned Fruit, 1 Month $212
• All Groceries, 1 Week $800

Please consider helping today.
Click here to donate and choose ‘Operation Cornbread’ as your donation type. Click here for more information or contact Catharine at 503-222-5694 ext. 12 or email Catharine @ sistersoftheroad.org. Thanks for your help keepin’ the cornbread comin’ over the summer months! 

Pardners, join us on Friday, October 10th, 2008 from 6:30-10 pm at the Portland Art Museum’s Kridel Ballroom for our biggest fundraiser of the year!

We’ll have a magical time with American acoustic musicians Abigail Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet featuring Béla Fleck with Casey Driessen and Ben Sollee (pictured at left). The wonderful Casey Neill band will also be performing at the beginning of the evening.

Tickets are $85 for individuals, tables of ten are $850; and a limited number of patron tables are available for $1,300. To buy tickets or a table click here, or contact Monica at (503) 222-5694, ext. 19 or email Monica @ sistersoftheroad.org.

We need your fabulous Live Auction donations. Please contact (503) 222-5694 ext.14 or email Lisa @ sistersoftheroad.org to donate, or if you’d like to volunteer on the Hoedown committee of the day of the event.

We are also seeking sponsors for this great event. To get the details about this opportunity, download a PDF by clicking here; you can also call Monica at (503) 222-5694 ext. 19 or email her at Monica @ sistersoftheroad.org.

We will be closed this Friday, July 4 in honor of the Dalai Lama’s birthday observed!

See you Monday.