Spring Courtyard Social at The Louisa Flowers
Hi, I’m Dalila! I’m an intern here at Lloyd EcoDistrict for the 2025-26 year and I’d like to detail how the Courtyard Social at The Louisa Flowers held on Thursday, March 26 has enriched my learning experience. In its reflection of support and companionship as well as the sharing of resources, being a part of this event has broadened my definition of a community.
A Relaxing Atmosphere
The event took place in the courtyard of the 240-unit affordable apartment building in the heart of the EcoDistrict. It was a sunny day at the beginning of Spring where you could see residents waltz in and out with their children, relatives, and pets alike. Games like mini golf, connect 5, and the bean bag toss were available as music hummed in the background to create a lighthearted atmosphere for guests as they arrived. Additionally, residents were provided with pizza options as well as drinks and sweet treats to serve as refreshments. My personal task was overseeing the button-making station where individuals could tap into their creativity by sketching and creating buttons suited to their personal tastes. Considering this, it was evident to me that the event was nothing like a conference where people might feel doused with information. Instead, a casual space of gathering, fun, and important dialogue was encouraged to facilitate a much less intimidating environment.
Lloyd Resources
Beyond just the comfort of the space, however, there was of course a range of resources being presented to the guests who gathered in the courtyard. For one, Lloyd EcoDistrict’s aim was to inspire conversation on what resilience means for members of the community on behalf of the Plan for Resilient Oregon (PRO). Residents were encouraged to illustrate an image of what resilience meant to them and were given a first-aid kit for their completion of that task. One thing I found inspiring was that one of the major criteria put forth by residents for resilience was the importance of community and getting to know your neighbors, which was something I found easily observable in how residents greeted each other, welcomed new members, and engaged in lively conversation.
Community Energy Project
Members from Community Energy Project were also present and aided in promoting discussion on resilience by exposing residents to their services that center home energy efficiency and weatherization as the effects of climate change heighten. Community members were provided with the opportunity to sign up for a workshop to get a free weatherization kit for their homes and knowledge on how to effectively use them. In the vein of building a resilient community, it is also important to note a potential new bond that has been formed between Community Energy Project and Home Forward staff where they plan to coordinate with each other to bring weatherization workshops directly to The Louisa Flowers resident building. I found this to be a beautiful reflection of how prioritizing engagement can bring further support and prosperity into the communities that these organizations serve.
Parks and Recreation
In addition, members from Portland Parks and Recreation were present to share with guests the variety of enriching resources they can access through the city. Namely, they aimed to distribute free drop-in passes to recreational or fitness classes as well as detailed the registration process and reduced pricing opportunities for families and children to get involved in their communities beyond just school and work.
Overall, this event and all who were involved depicted, to me, a broad scope of what resilience can mean for a group of people. Gathering, support, and collaboration taken on in a lighthearted fashion aided in the success of this event and I can’t wait to see how these principles evolve and are applied in Lloyd EcoDistrict’s future.
