Who we are
From ReCode
ReCode Portland
The challenges facing Portland (and the world) over the next several decades can be met, but only if we facilitate the creativity of diverse communities to develop policies, practices, and technologies that embody our values as a city. ReCode Portland focuses directly on that challenge by bringing grassroots organizing and community-building to bear on the challenge of developing a regulatory environment that equitably supports sustainable building and community.
This is a timely and urgent need. Many sustainable practices are not currently allowed in Portland. Our reputation for being green is based on hard work, ingenuity, and grassroots engagement, but building codes and bureaucracies have not kept pace with the visionaries of Portland. In fact, many sustainable approaches considered best practice in other parts of the country are illegal here — simple systems that irrigate yards with reused bathwater, for example. Tryon Life Community Farm, a sustainability education and demonstration center in S.W. Portland, launched ReCode in December 2007 to identify and remove these regulatory barriers to sustainability, through grassroots organizing, education, and legislation.
We are a campaign bringing together citizens, planners, builders, activists, and other stakeholders in developing, coordinating, and building the movement for regulations that support grassroots sustainability. We:
- facilitate collaboration among the existing organizations and people doing various aspects of the work;
- create space for grassroots groups in the discussion; and
- advocate for taking immediate steps within a strategy of systemic regulatory change.
Participants
Currently, our primary decision-making and organizing body is our monthly public meeting. Council members are those who have participated frequently and contribute to our work through working groups or other activities.
Council Members include:
- Bob Hatton (profile)
- Brenna Bell (profile)
- Cameron MacLean (profile)
- j. brush (profile, website)
- Jeff Holiman
- Jeremy O'Leary (profile)
- Josh Klyber
- Julee Welch
- Levin Nock (profile)
- Mary Saunders
- Matt Phillips (profile)
- Melora Golden (profile)
- Rustin Wright (profile)
- Russ Romas
There are of course many more participants and partners. Feel free to add your name here:
