Cheryl Roberts leads a team of volunteers in organizing this year’s Good in the Hood festival, which culminates June 22-24 with a community celebration at Lillis-Albina Park next door to Harriet Tubman School in north Portland, a new location for the festival’s 20th anniversary (photo by Mark Washington).
Good in the Hood sets table with new location
By Lee Perlman/The Portland Observer
The 20th anniversary of this year’s Good in the Hood festival is changing course, while retaining the spirit that has made it a popular event celebrating the diversity of neighborhoods in north and northeast Portland.
The June festival is returning to its original, abbreviated name, using Hood instead of the more recent Neighborhood, and will culminate with a weekend celebration at a new location at Lillis-Albina Park at North Russell Street and Flint Avenue, next door to Harriet Tubman School.
A kick-off for Good in the Hood is coming on Thursday, June 14 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at McMenamin Kennedy School, 5736 N.E. 33rd Ave. The night will feature live music by Shirley Nanette, Paul Knauls Sr. as M.C., and Michael Morris as D.J.
The main celebration will begin with a Good Neighbor Night at Lillis-Albina Park on Friday, June 22, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. with live music by the Andy Stokes Band and Nekked Bonz. The festival will then gather full steam for entertainment and fun at Lillis-Albina on Saturday, June 23 from noon to 9 p.m., and Sunday, June 24, from noon to 7 p.m.
Good in the Hood originally started at Holy Redeemer School and then migrated to King School Park. The new location offers more space and less conflict with residential properties, says Cheryl Roberts, festival organizer.
Once again there will be an information village, where public and private organizations will be dispensing useful information about programs and activities. There will also be a community marketplace, featuring unique items for sale by local entrepreneurs.
A kidspace will include puppet shows, games, a three-point basketball shootoff, and bike helmets for $5 courtesy of Legacy Health Systems. There will be food for sale by multiple vendors, and a beer and wine garden by McMenamins.
And two full days of free entertainment will return by the likes of Patrick Lamb, Soul Vaccination, Ocean 503, Kirk Green, Klyntel, Ayron Jones & the Way, Black Staxx, Melao de Cuba and, from Seattle, the Goody Bagg Band.
By tradition there is also a Good in the Hood parade, starting this year on Saturday, June 23 at 11 a.m., from Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to the festival site.
There is no admission cost for Good in the Hood, but participants will be asked to donate two cans of food, which will be given to the Salvation Army.
Most of the festival’s costs are met by its sponsors, including Legacy, U.S. Bank, New Seasons Markets, and the African-American Alliance for Home Ownership.
“Even in these hard times, the community continues to support this festival,” Roberts said.
Good in the Hood remains what it was always meant to be, a way to showcase some of the best things that the community has to offer.
Volunteers are definitely needed, and each will get a colorful t-shirt for their efforts. For more information, visit the festival’s web site goodintheneighborhood.org. You can also call 503-282-1288.
I and many others were not aware of the fact that
Good n’ The Hood had even taken place this year
until after it had taken place. Usually hear about
it via commercial on local television.