Mark your calendar! Friday, October 17 will be a special VOTP in celebration of the OPDX 3 year anniversary (a Fourth Year Forward event). We miss the community inspiration of Occupy's encampment! So we want to congregate that community once a month every third Friday. Portia Norton will be your MC. This event will always be sliding scale entry, $0 - to whatever you can afford to donate. This event will be open mic style. We have a huge space to work with in the St. Francis Cafeteria. Children are welcome. Dancing is encouraged. Seating is provided for the elderly and handicapped. We will have donated food. This is a drug and alcohol free environment.

Friends of Occupy Portland (FOOP) will hold a townhall event featuring panel discussions on the three-year history of the Occupy Wall Street movement in the Greater Portland region. The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 25, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., at the U.S. Bank Room of the Multnomah County Central Library, 801 S.W. 10th Ave. in downtown Portland. Entitled “Occupy at Three: Successes, Mistakes, Fond Memories and Lessons Learned,” the event will feature panelists representing different aspects of the local popular movement's history and its multifaceted activities. FOOP is a Portland, Ore.-based non-profit corporation established in April 2012 by members of the Occupy Portland organization.

Voices of the People is our monthly community-building social event (third Friday evening every month) as well as a benefit for Friends of Occupy Portland. This month, we are excited to welcome local musician Peter Ryan as he performs a full set. We highly recommend this spirit lifting heart swooning music! We will also have sign-ups for open mic if anyone would like to share their voice on stage...or, to simply relax and enjoy Peter's kind presence with your family and friends! When: Friday, February 20, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Where: St. Francis Dining Hall, 330 S.E. 11th Ave., Portland, Ore. $10 suggested donation at door; no registration needed

This is an all ages, alcohol- and drug-free event. We have snacks, a raffle drawing, and talented music to enjoy. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.! Open mic means people sign up to share their poetry, music, stories, or latest life experiences. Children are welcome. Suggested donation: $10 at door. This event is hosted by Friends of Occupy Portland, and is sponsored by St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Open mic contents must be all-ages and appropriate for the venue. This means no obscenities and no "adult" or "mature" contents. Thanks for your cooperation in keeping the event safe for all and to help this event continue. Please share this event with you friends.