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About Us

Colored Pencils Art and Culture Night was found in 2008 after author/Civil Rights Lawyer Ronault “Polo” Catalani’s book launch event that drew over 200 people from diverse community living in Portland. Polo, his painter wife Nim Xuto , Maileen Hamto of Colored of Influence, Kayse Jama and Stephanie Stephen of Center for Intercultural Organizing created first Colored Pencils Art and Culture Nights event in February 2009.

Feeling the need for spaces to showcase Art and stage for Open Mic where people of all cultures can meet, Colored Pencils Art and Culture Night, for the first time in Portland, created platform for immigrant and refugee community to tell their stories and showcase their traditional performers. In 2010, Polo decided to change the event as campaign to promote “New Portland” : the true picture of real Portland where people of all cultures, sexual orientations, physical abilities, every income levels counts.

By inviting co-host community and co-host venue from various community, Colored Pencils produces 5 Art and Culture Nights each year every other last Friday. These past couple of years, Colored Pencils shared its unique community building vision with co-hosts from Iraqi, Somali, Indian, Bhutanese, Polish and move around to venues throughout Multnomah County such as Portland’s Center Stage Theatre; Portland City Hall; Portland State University; United Way of Columbia Willamette; EcoTrust; Kaiser Permanente; Multnomah Arts Center; Multnomah Library; and Open Door Gallery.

In August 2011, after almost three years as an all-volunteer-organized event, Colored Pencils Art and Culture Night is partly funded by Regional Art and Culture Council, The Asian Reporter, Portland Planning Bureau; City of Portland and United Way of Columbia Willamette.

To date, artists representing 45 mainstream, ethnic minority, and newcomer communities, including recently resettled Iraqi singers, musicians, and poets, have contributed to our broad-shouldered and big-hearted vision of New Portland that everyone is included.

Colored Pencils Art and Culture Council’s mission is to:

  • facilitate inter-cultural learning among diverse communities through artistic expression
  • celebrate cultural diversity to nourish the psychological well-being
  • overcome racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination
  • recognize common traditions and increase cross cultural interaction
  • facilitate social transformations conducive to the universal values of justice, freedom and human dignity
  • recognize community diversity through entertainment, cuisine, education, and artistic expression of all cultures
  • preserve diverse art and culture. Build an inclusive society that is strengthened and empowered by its diversity

See and hear our vision for a new Portland:

Interview with KBOO-FM radio

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