Dear Empowered Community,

Welcome to February, the month of love! At Empowered Service, love goes beyond words, it’s about acceptance, patience, and celebrating every unique journey within our autism community. Whether you are a parent, caregiver, educator, or supporter, your love and dedication make a world of difference.

This month, we embrace love in all forms: the love in small victories, the love in understanding, and the love in simply being present. We recognize that expressing emotions may look different for each child, and that’s okay. Love is found in moments of connection, a shared smile, a comforting touch, a favorite song on repeat.

In this issue, we’ve prepared:
🤍 Fun sensory-friendly activities to strengthen family bonds
🤍 A simple Valentine’s baking recipe to explore textures and flavors
🤍 Engaging games to encourage emotional expression and connection
🤍 Expert tips on nurturing social and emotional growth

Let’s make this February a month of joy, understanding, and meaningful moments. Love is not about perfection, it’s about being present, being patient, and celebrating every milestone.

You are seen. You are valued. You are loved.

With warmth and appreciation,
The Empowered Service Team

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Empowered Services Events

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🌟 Celebrate Love, Friendship, and Belonging! 💖✨

At Empowered Services, we believe that every heart deserves to be seen, valued, and celebrated. This Valentine’s event isn’t just about treats and crafts—it’s about connection, joy, and inclusion! 💕 Whether you’re looking to meet new friends, share laughter, or simply enjoy a space where you belong just as you are, this is for YOU!

💌 Let’s create beautiful memories together! Join us for a fun-filled afternoon where love shines in every friendship, every smile, and every heartfelt moment. No one is left out—because YOU matter. 💞

🌟 Will you join us? Mark your calendar, bring your joy, and let’s celebrate love in every form! We can’t wait to welcome you with open arms. 🤗💖

📅 February 14th | 3 PM – 5:30 PM
📍 Tualatin Library | 18878 SW Martinazzi Ave, Tualatin, OR 97062

💌 Your presence is the greatest gift—see you there! ❤️

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🎳 Strike Up Fun, Friendship, and Confidence! 💙✨

At Empowered Services, we believe in the power of community, joy, and belonging—and what better way to celebrate that than with bowling? Every pin knocked down is a win, every frame is a chance to connect, and every game is a moment to shine! 🌟

No matter your skill level, you are welcome here! Whether you’re rolling a strike or just enjoying the laughter with friends, this is a space where everyone is valued, supported, and celebrated. Your presence makes this community stronger! 💪💖

🎳 Come roll with us! Build friendships, boost confidence, and most importantly—have a blast! We can’t wait to cheer you on. 🎉

📍 Join us at one of our weekly bowling events:
🏆 Wilsonville Bullwinkles – Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30 PM ($5)
🎯 Sherwood Langers – Tuesdays, 3:00-4:00 PM ($4)
🎉 Salem TheRec – Fridays, 3:30-4:30 PM ($4)

💙 Let’s make every frame count—see you there! 🙌🎳

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Check out our events calendar.

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Quick Links to Events with Our Partners

Autism Society of Oregon events: https://autismsocietyoregon.org/events/month/2025-02/

Clackamas Arts Alliance: https://clackamasartsalliance.org/events/month/2025-02/

Adaptive Sports Northwest: https://adaptivesportsnw.org/our-events/?month=2&yr=2025

Club EMU: Club Everyone, Me, and U: https://clubemu.org/events/

Adventures Without Limits: https://awloutdoors.org/home

 

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Share the Love: Glass Hearts Hidden at Tualatin Parks

In February, the Tualatin Parks and Recreation Department is spreading joy and warmth through its special program, Share the Love.

This delightful initiative encourages park visitors to embark on a heartwarming adventure as they search for intricately hand-blown glass hearts scattered throughout Tualatin. As the community comes together to embrace the spirit of love, the 2025 event promises a fun adventure for all.

Let’s dive into the details of this heart-filled celebration!

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Share the Love: Glass Hearts Hidden at Tualatin Parks

Ready to go on a fun adventure during the month of love? From February 1-28, there are 500 glass hearts are placed in City of Tualatin parks and greenways.

Throughout the month of February, hearts are hidden in these Tualatin parks and greenways:

Atfalati Park

Browns Ferry Park

Ibach Park

Jurgens Park

Little Woodrose Natural Area

Lafky Park

Las Casitas Park

Commons Park

Community Park

Lake of the Commons

Sweek Pond Natural Area

Chieftain Dakota Greenway

Hedges Creek Greenway

Hi-West Greenway

Ice Age Tonquin Trail

Saum Creek Greenway

Shaniko Greenway

Tualatin River Greenway Trail

There is no specific day of the week or time of day the hearts are hidden. Also, volunteers hide a new batch of hearts each week. Before you being your search, keep in mind you don’t need to climb or dig to find them.

If you find a heart, feel free to keep it or hide it again for someone else to discover. Snap a photo and post it with hashtag #ShareTheLoveTualatin.

Also, do you what makes these hearts extra special? Each one is created by glass artist Timothy Jaquet of Olympia, Washington.

You can find out more by visiting the City of Tualatin’s website.

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Portland Winter Light Festival

Portland Winter Light Festival returns for its tenth year on Feb 7-15, 2025, at various locations throughout the city instead of in a centralized location. The festival’s theme in 2025 is A Light For Tomorrow: A Technicolor Future, exploring how light, creativity and innovation shape the future. Visit the Portland Winter Light Festival’s website for maps of installation locations.

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https://demonstrationforest.org/get-involved/community-forest-days/

Saturday, Feb 8, 2025
Admission: Free

 

Hopkins Demonstration Forest
16750 S Brockway Rd, Oregon City, OR 97045

Occurs: The Second Saturday of every 1 month(s) until September 13, 2025

Community Forestry Days are your chance to learn by doing a variety of projects in a sustainably managed woodland – it’s sort of like a “dude ranch” in the forest. Volunteers help with tree planting and pruning; reducing fire hazards and controlling invasive weeds; repairing trails and maintaining facilities – projects vary with the seasons… For more info visit https://demonstrationforest.org/get-involved/community-forest-days/

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Lunar New Year Celebration

Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025       Washington Square Mall

11 a.m.–4 p.m.                         9585 SW Washington Square RdPortland, OR 97223

Free

Washington Square wishes you and your family good fortune and happiness during the Year of the Snake.

Join Washington Square and Explore Tualatin Valley to celebrate the Lunar New Year with traditional crafts, arts, and performances for the Year of the Snake. Make a wish on the Wishing Tree. Visit the FLIP Museum mobile children’s museum.   https://www.shopwashingtonsquare.com/Events/LunarNewYear

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—Design & Dinner Social

February 8 @ 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Ages: All

Join us for an evening of design, delicious food, and DJ music! Get the latest on current projects in the district, and help spark new ideas with hands-on activities and input opportunities that will have a lasting impact on the community. This free, family-friendly event is packed with creativity, collaboration, and fun!

Enjoy music stylings by DJ Jessi LaMain and dinner from Taco Amigo Express (options for vegetarians, meat lovers, and gluten-free diets).

WHEN & WHERE
Saturday, Feb. 8
3:30-6:30 p.m.
Milwaukie Community Center
5440 SE Kellogg Creek Dr, Milwaukie, OR 97222
Drop in; Free and open to all

WHAT TO EXPECT

• See the latest designs for the future community center at the Concord property and the new neighborhood park at the Jennings Lodge Campus.
• Share your ideas on what recreation programs should be offered throughout the district.
• Explore the draft plan concepts for NCPRD’s 20-year System Plan and share your ideas on future projects via an interactive online mapping tool.
• Engage in hands-on activities like designing your dream park, customizing sneakers with LizMillerCustoms, and crafting finger skateboards while contributing to a community skateboard design with Skating is Connection.

For questions, email planning@ncprd.com

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Learn Share Do Fair at Centennial High School

• Saturday, February 22, 2025
• 10:00 AM  2:00 PM
• Centennial High School3505 Southeast 182nd Avenue Portland, OR, 97236

Join us for the East County Learn. Share. Do. Fair on Saturday, February 22, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Centennial High School Cafeteria (3505 SE 182nd Ave, Portland, OR 97236).

Bring the whole family and enjoy fun hands-on activities, plus grab some free giveaways while supplies last! Explore exhibitor tables and discover practical tips on topics like:

• Preparing for extreme heat and emergencies
• Saving energy and lowering utility bills
• Caring for trees, plants, and gardens
• Making safe, non-toxic cleaners
• Exploring transportation options
• And much more!

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to learn, connect, and get inspired. See you there!

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Other Various Resources:

Legal Name Change Assistance:

PCC Legal Resource Center at PCC

Oregon Identity Documents | A4TE

Outside In Trans ID Project

This organization has a Trans Services Coordinator who can help you go through the process of changing your documents. They can go to court in Multnomah County with you, if you need help. Outside In also offers some financial assistance. 503-535-3828 outsidein.org

Legal Services | New Avenues For Youth

(For ages 13-24)

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Resources on Oregon as a Sanctuary State:

–         https://www.doj.state.or.us/oregon-department-of-justice/civil-rights/sanctuary-promise/

–         https://www.doj.state.or.us/oregon-department-of-justice/civil-rights/sanctuary-promise/community-toolkit/

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Resources for Immigrants and Refugees:

–         February 12^th Immigration Forum for Service Providers: This is hosted by the Oregon Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, in partnership with several service providers working with immigrant communities. This will be a virtual event, free and open to service providers throughout Oregon. For more information on topics that will be covered, or to register, use the link on the attachment. Please share with your networks. (Note, the AILA website can help individuals find immigration attorneys – click here).

–         Point West Credit Union: Is a financial institution that emphasizes working with strategically underserved communities and individuals who have barriers to financial stability. This includes undocumented individuals. Check out their website to learn more about these services, including checking/savings accounts, loans, credit builder programs, and financial literacy resources.
Or, contact one of their community liaisons: Mary Navarrete mnavarrete@pointwestcu.com; Alyssia Partida apartida@pointwestcu.com

–         Funding for providers serving immigrant and refugee communities: This is a collaborative effort to fund community organizations specifically serving these communities.

Food resources– https://dochub.clackamas.us/documents/drupal/49938cc5-440b-4596-a935-a4b2cf0adc99

Utility resources– https://www.clackamas.us/socialservices/energy

Housing Resources- https://www.clackamas.us/communitydevelopment/cccha

https://www.clackamas.us/housingauthority/low-cost-privately-owned-apartments

Mental health resources– https://www.clackamas.us/behavioralhealth/services.html

Behavioral Health Resources– https://www.clackamas.us/behavioralhealth

Transportation Resources– https://www.clackamas.us/socialservices/transportation

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More Food Resources:

·       North Clackamas DHS Free Food Market: 2nd Thursday of the month from 9:30am-11am. Open to anyone in need of food assistance, no income verification required. Bring your own bags. North Clackamas DHS Free Food Market – Food Finder – Oregon Food Bank PHONE: (503) 282-0555. LOCATION: 16440 SE 82nd Drive Clackamas, OR 97015

• West Linn Food Pantry – Serving West Linn with Emergency Food Services
• How to Get Food in Clackamas County Resource Page 
• Oregon Food Bank:https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/find-support

 

More Mental Health Resources:

• For Urgent Mental Health Walk-In Center, please Call 503-655-8585 to get connected with the service that fits your needs.  Also find it here: https://www.clackamas.us/behavioralhealth/urgentmentalhealth
• Clackamas County Crisis Line – provides 24/7, free, and confidential support. 503-655-8585
• Crisis Text Line– Text HOME to 741741 – 24/7 line.
• Reach Out Oregon is an organization that offers support to families with children experiencing mental, emotional, and behavioral health challenges. Their goal is to help families gain access to a support team of families, friends, and community networks where questions are answered, resources are shared, and needs are understood
• Trans Lifeline’s Peer Support Hotline – Peer support service run by trans people. 877-565-8860
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – provides 24/7, free, and confidential support. Military veterans may press ‘1’ for specialized care. 800-273-TALK
• The Trevor Project Suicide Prevention Line – for LGBTQ+ youth. 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386)

 

Other Helpful Websites:

• Autism Society of Oregon – Providing resources, education, advocacy and support for individuals and families living with autism. (autismsocietyoregon.org)
• FACT Oregon
• Youth in Clackamas | Clackamas County
• Events & Trainings – Reach Out Oregon
• 211 INFO https://www.211info.org/
• Emergency Preparednesshttps://www.ready.gov

Happy February! This month is full of fun events and special celebrations. It’s also National Heart Month, a great time to think about how we can keep our hearts healthy and strong.

Wed, Feb 5th     – Club Mosaic – 12 PM to 2 PM – Food Court of Clackamas Town Center Mon, Feb 10th   –  Club Impact Dance Night – 6PM to 8PM – Hollywood Snr Cntr Wed, Feb 12th    – Club Mosaic – 12 PM to 2 PM – Food Court of Washington Square Mall Mon, Feb 17th   –  Club Impact Birthday Night – 6 PM to 8 PM – Hollywood Snr Cntr Mon, Feb 24th   – Old Spaghetti Factory Dinner – 6 PM to 8 PM – Map

PDF of February 2025 Calendar

Friendship & Dating 101 Coming March 2025! We’re excited to announce that another Friendship & Dating 101 class is starting in March 2025, and we need your input! This class helps people build healthy, positive relationships by exploring topics like friendship, jealousy, sex, and sexuality in a supportive environment.  Tell us when works best for you! Click the link below to take our quick survey and help us choose the best day and time for our next series.  Let’s learn and grow together! Click here to say when our next class should be?