Portland CityFest Is Launched!

Portland, Oregon - City leaders joined with representatives of Portland’s faith community on Tuesday, February 12, to announce an historic collaboration among civic, business, and religious entities to bring a “Season of Service” and a world-class music festival to the city. Read Mayor Tom Potter’s official declaration here!

Watch the video below.

With the theme “Love-Serve-Celebrate,” thousands of volunteers from the area’s diverse faith community are expected to work on varied service projects addressing critical needs of the homeless, the hungry, the medically uninsured, the impoverished, the environment, and the public schools. Included will be a pilot project created in cooperation with Mayor Tom Potter’s office called the Home Again Mentoring Program, which will focus on bringing together homeless families with counselor/mentors recruited from area churches.

The finale for the “Season of Service” will be a festival celebration called “Portland CityFest 2008 with Luis Palau” to be staged at Waterfront Park on August 22 and 23. The free, family-friendly event will include top musical artists, a family fun zone, action sports, and free health and family services. The last Luis Palau festival in Portland was held in 2000 when more than 140,000 people attended over two days.

The launch of this unprecedented project was held at Cedar Mill Bible Church in Portland, Oregon, on February 12. More than 500 pastors and church leaders joined City Commissioners Erik Sten and Sam Adams and the mayor of Beaverton (Rob Drake) to hear an outline of the program from author and Christian communicator Luis Palau and other partners in the projects.

Portland City Commissioner Sam Adams reads the Proclamation (video)

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