Neighborhood Notes

Full Circle is an experiment in community journalism that strives to engage the public through the use of group discussions. For this article two meetings, moderated by Judith Mowry and reported by myself, were held over the course of a three-month period. During group discussions and interviews, I shared my experiences and personal views as a discussion participant. The first meeting consisted of an "on-the record" discussion of the issues among residents. The second consisted of a public reading of the draft article and further discussion. The third meeting will be held later this month.

To learn more about the Full Circle project visit www.portlandsentinel.com/fullcircle.

Dogs and Gentrification
Most Portlanders know how white Rose City residents feel about dogs. In 2006, Portland was America's dog-friendliest town, according to Dog Fancy Magazine. A report by the American Veterinary Medical Association claimed 40 percent of Portland households had dogs (that's 136,322 pooches). That was in 2002. Since then, there's been a boom in dog ownership and an accompanying explosion in high-end pet shops and services. In August, Portland didn't make it onto Dog Fancy's "top dog" list and even that made?front-page news.

But doggie mania dovetails with gentrification in North/Northeast Portland, where many working-class African Americans hold very different cultural and historical views on dogs. The following stories and profiles are not intended to be an authoritative document on the state of canines, class, and race in North/Northeast Portland. Instead, this is a collage of views from the community about an issue that is seldom discussed. Some feel very strongly about this; others are unaware the issue exists. Perhaps by talking, openly and publicly, we can understand one another a little better. Or so we hope.

Full Circle Discussion Group on Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Luther Hall, Concordia University, 2811 NE Holman. Call the Sentinel for information:503-724-9992.