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Don’t Be A Fool, Stay In The Cool!

  • by Muz
  • July 2, 2019July 3, 2019

By: Mireaya Medina, Communications Manager

I love Portland summers and warm weather but like most locals, I get overheated easily. Here’s what I do to stay super cool.

  1. I’m a fan of Splash Pads: Splash pads are family friendly, easy to use, accessible for all abilities and are just adorable.

SE Portland has 4 parks with Splash pads:

  • Colonel Summers Park: SE 17th Avenue and Taylor Street on bus line 15
  • Earl Boyles Park: East of SE 107th Avenue and Francis Street on bus lines 20, 25, 73
  • Essex Park: SE 79th Avenue and Center Street on bus lines 9, 17, 72
  • Raymond Park: SE 118th Avenue and Raymond Street on bus line 10
  1. I hug trees, you should too: Spend time on forested trails this summer to find all the right kinds of shade. Some of my favorite trails are easy to find from the inner southeast Portland.

Leach Botanical Garden is a 16-acre botanical garden located in outer southeast Portland, Oregon, near S.E. 122nd Avenue and Foster Road. 

  • Leach Botanical Garden: 6704 SE 122nd Ave, Portland, OR 97236 on bus line 14
  • Tabor 6220 SE Salmon St, Portland, OR 97215 on bus lines 2, 15, 71
  • Scott (No trails, but lovely trees that will hide you from direct sun and an indoor pool) SE 72nd Ave &, SE Harold St, Portland, OR 97206 on bus lines 14, 17, 19
  1. Sip something cool! A great way to cool down quick is to enjoy an icy cold beverage.
  • Carry a reusable water bottle this summer, drink and refill several times each hot day!
  • Fresh fruit juice is our office favorite!

BONUS!

Muz Afzal’s special fresh watermelon juice recipe:

Ingredients: 1 large watermelon

                       1 can of ginger ale

Directions: Blend watermelon by blender, juicer or even by hand!

Mix watermelon juice with the can of ginger ale and refrigerate for 2 hr. Enjoy!

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Muz Afzal

Muz Afzal is the Community Resource Manager at SE Uplift. He also is a community engagement liaison building networks with diverse communities throughout Portland. Muz works with the Portland United Against Coalition, a community initiated partnership of organizations, concerned communities, and the City of Portland, working with the Office of Community and Civic Life to build a rapid response system that combines reporting and tracking of hateful acts and providing the support and protection our communities need in this uncertain era. Another part of Muz’s multifaceted role is supporting several neighborhood associations.

Muz earned a BA in Philosophy with a Minor in Global Sustainability. He was a Public Relations Intern with city government in Sacramento, and worked in housing and support services for houseless community members in Portland before joining SE Uplift. He is motivated by a desire for a more just and kind world by raising awareness to disparities stemming from cultural, racial, economic and social injustices. Muz speaks Urdu, Punjabi, and Hindi.

Muz is the SEUL staff liaison to six  Neighborhoods: Creston-Kenilworth, Eastmoreland, Montavilla, and SMILE (Sellwood-Moreland Improvement League), Laurelhurst, and Hosford-Abernathy.

Muz was born into a Muslim Pakistani family in California, and was raised on a small farm. He spends his time volunteering, fostering dogs, cooking and gardening.

Leroy Eadie

Leroy is the Executive Director for SE UPLift!

He has the wonderful opportunity to work with an outstanding staff and Board to carry out the mission of SE Uplift. He feels very lucky to get to work in such a great community and is excited to his best to make a difference.

Leroy has a bachelors in Urban and Regional Planning from Eastern Washington University. His background has been mostly in local government – working for 25 years for the City of Spokane. Leroy worked for 15 years in the Planning Department and for 10 years as the Parks and Recreation Director.

He loves to be outside on his time off. His favorite outdoor activity is backpacking – in the last five years or so he has been working to complete the Washington Section of the Pacific Crest Trail. He and his wife also love camping in their tear drop trailer with their two dogs Frisky and Charlie. 

Mireaya Medina

Mireaya manages the Community Clean up Events Program at SE Uplift and is the Communications Manager. She has found true love in combining social justice, art and digital design, while working to keep neighborhoods clean. Mireaya also works with the Portland United Against Coalition, a community initiated partnership of organizations, concerned communities, and the City of Portland, working with the Office of Community and Civic Life to build a rapid response system that combines reporting and tracking of hateful acts and providing the support and protection our communities need in this uncertain era. Another part of Mireaya’s multifaceted role is supporting several neighborhood associations.

Mireaya has directed programming and been an instructor at a variety of social justice nonprofits and has a degree in Design. She has expertise in empowerment, community engagement and leadership development.

Mireaya is the SEUL staff liaison to four Neighborhood Associations: Foster-Powell, Kerns, South Tabor, and Woodstock.

Mireaya enjoys capacity building through volunteering and serving marginalized and oppressed communities, building relationships and creating new outreach strategies. She also loves 90’s jams, collecting rocks and zumba.

Leah Fisher

Leah is the SE Uplift Neighborhood Planning Program Manager, and serves as the main point of contact for community members wanting to communicate about Portland’s land use and transportation planning policy and processes. Leah supports SE Uplift’s Land Use and Transportation Committee which meets monthly and represents perspectives of volunteers from each of our twenty neighborhood associations as well as several business associations. Another part of Leah’s multifaceted role is supporting several neighborhood associations.

Leah holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and a Bachelor’s degree in City and Regional Planning, Minor in Economics. She has worked for state and local government, and is a LEED accredited Professional (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

Leah is the SEUL staff liaison four Neighborhood Associations: Brentwood-Darlington, Reed, Buckman, and Mount Tabor.

On any given day, Leah can be found working in her yard or garden, relaxing on the porch with her 2 daughters, playing soccer, jogging, or walking through her Southeast Portland neighborhood.

Christina Estimé

Christina is the Operations and Events Manager at SE Uplift. She develops and improves SE Uplift operational systems, manages our website, and handles inquiries about conference room use. She plans and coordinates workshops, events, and trainings for members of SE Portland that address the mission of collaborating to build informed, inclusive, and participatory neighborhoods that support our social and ecological well-being. Another part of Christina’s multifaceted role is supporting several neighborhood associations and neighborhood association communication funds.

Christina has a BA in Philosophy and English with a minors in both Women and Gender Studies and Justice. She has been an Americorps volunteer working in solutions to homelessness. Christina parle le francais et Creole.

Christina is the SEUL staff liaison to three Neighborhood Associations: Mt. Scott-Arleta, Richmond, and Sunnyside.

Christina was born in Haiti and moved to New York when she was nine years old. She enjoys spending time with her friends, and watching the latest films in theaters!