Community Engagement
Upcoming Events
From career fairs to local tech events to charitable donations of time, we believe in being an active participant in our community.
Previous Events
Red Cross Blood Drive
Our blood drive on May 22nd produced enough blood to save 63 lives! Thanks to all who donated. We will be hosting our next drive in October and will update our page with a link to sign up closer to the date.
“It will be uncomfortable. Do one small thing. Small action after small action leads to change.” ~ Anastacia Renee Tolbert
“The beauty of anti-racism is that you don’t have to pretend to be free of racism to be anti-racist. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it’s the only way forward.” ~ Ijeoma Oluo
I won’t write another poem about hopelessness. About how there is nothing to be done. Instead I will write of a world steaming, steaming. Running hard, tearing muscles and building new ones, that good burn, those angry lungs.” ~ Franny Choi
I won’t write another poem about hopelessness. About how there is nothing to be done. Instead I will write of a world steaming, steaming. Running hard, tearing muscles and building new ones, that good burn, those angry lungs.” ~ Franny Choi
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Lunch Series
Our focus is to create an inclusive, equitable, and diverse community, fostering conversations that help us grow collectively. To that end, we host a monthly lunch series featuring speakers addressing a variety of DE&I issues. The series is open to the public. If you wish to join an event, email us at dandi@zapproved.com.
Out in Tech PDX | November Social
Tue, November 5, 2019, 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM PST
Join Out in Tech Portland for our November Social at Zapproved!
Come hang out in The Pearl District as we take our monthly social on the road. This month, we are super excited to be mixing and mingling at Zapproved!
We’ll be at Zapproved on Tuesday, November 5th from 5:30 – 8:30pm. Drinks and food will be provided by our lovely host. Please RSVP for your FREE ticket to attend.
If you are interested in connecting with the Out in Tech PDX chapter, want to meet some fabulous people or are apart of / interested in the Tech industry, then come out and join us. We are looking forward to seeing everyone there!
A BIG thank you to our FABULOUS sponsors who made this event possible:
Zapproved for graciously hosting us and sponsoring food and beverages.
Ovidio Francisco for volunteering their time and talent to build our beautiful graphics for this event.
Donovan M Smith
Wed, November 6, 2019, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM PST
Gentrification is Weird: Finding Wakanda in Portland
Did you know Wakanda exists in Oregon? As the state continues to steamroll its way down 150-years of oppression to advance as a “major player” in the global scene, we must contend with our exclusionary laws, racist policies and investments by forging a Black future of prosperity through elevating our scientists, engineers, technicians, artists and mathematicians.
Artist and journalist, Donovan Smith of speechwear line Ignorant/Reflections and the attached Gentrification is WEIRD! asks us to harness Hollywood, to fantasize what Black prosperity without disruption can look like beyond the screen in an Oregon primed to continue its deeply harmful traditions in another period of rapid growth.
Donovan Smith is an award-winning journalist and artist from Portland. He’s the creator of speechwear brand Ignorant/Reflections, a provocative lifestyle brand centered on creating conversation and the accompanied “Gentrification is WEIRD!” project, exploring Black history and future in Oregon through workshops, residencies, political engagement and more.
Please bring your lunch and join us for a dynamic conversation.
Zapproved is an inclusive, equitable, and diverse workplace. Gender neutral bathrooms available.
Design Museum Mornings
Fri, November 15, 2019, 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM PST
Catalyzing Creative Collaboration
When creative people come together, amazing things happen.
Each person’s exploration of creativity manifests in different ways. To catch the creative bug can be transformative and impactful, yet there is no one-size-fits-all creative outlet. It is essential to build relationships with other visionaries to expand and empower one’s journey in the field.
Join Eugenie Jolivett Fontana, founder of Gather & Garner and We Are Here, as she delves into the value of a supportive creative community. Eugenie has made it her life’s work to encourage individuals to collaborate with one another, regardless of discipline or background, in order to unleash their potential and being to reimagine and change the structural face of the creative community.
About the Speaker
Eugenie Jolivett Fontana, joined RACC in 2017 to oversee RACC’s family of websites and other digital communications strategies. She has enjoyed being in the arts and creative culture at every point in life. After receiving her BA in Theatre Arts from University of California, Irvine, she co-founded a forward thinking creative interactive design studio. Her company worked with a wide range of industries, received awards from companies like Adobe® Systems, curated events and gallery exhibitions.
Since living in the Pacific Northwest, Eugenie has been more inspired to co-create a platform for creatives POC and LGBTQ+ , called w(HERE) we are, created Gather & Garner to share her knowledge (alongside with other professionals, creatives, and makers) and serves on the board of directors at AIGA Portland.
$15 tickets in advance, $20 at the door. This is a cash-free event. Doors open at 8:30 am, presentation begins at 9:00 am. Breakfast will be served.
Paloma Medina
Thu, November 21, 2019, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM PST
Motivation vs Procrastination
Hello folks! Paloma Medina is returning to offer some tips and tricks on staying motivated and avoiding procrastination.
Do you have a task in your life that you hate doing or a project you keep procrastinating on and can never seem to finish?
In this fast-paced, 90 minute workshop, we will dive into:
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What the past 30 years of research tells us about what the brain needs to feel motivated
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The top two reasons why we procrastinate (even about really important things)
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How we can leverage all that science to tackle all tasks, both big and small
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Tools that apply to both home and work tasks
HOMEWORK: Before the workshop, take 15 minutes to write down one or two taks you wish you didn’t procrastinate about. Then write down what is at risk if you continue procrastinating about them?
Taught by Paloma Medina, a performance and equity coach and trainer in the tech and design fields, and founder of 11:11 Supply.
Zapproved is an inclusive, equitable, and diverse workplace. Gender neutral bathrooms available.
Photo Credit to Carly Diax
