Village Building Convergence

Welcome to the VBC9 Website!

The Village Building Convergence 2009 (VBC9) is a 10-day event from Friday, June 5th – Sunday, June 14th, 2009 in which neighborhoods activate to build shared public places that they have envisioned, designed, funded, and will maintain for themselves. VBC9 will include hands-on education in permaculture design and construction, ecological building, and public art. All projects are built through collaboration, community conversations and commitment of a neighborhood to strengthen itself. Everyone is invited to attend evening events at a central location, to participate in workshops or listen to visionaries speak about various aspects of sustainable culture.

VBC will feature projects located in or adjacent to the public right of way and private projects that support community in various neighborhoods. Private site projects will be structures or systems that are built by and available to the communities concerned with that site, and hopefully available to some extent to the larger community. These will include public squares and meeting houses, community kiosks and benches, solar-powered and artistic innovations, and many other new ideas. Each project is initiated and managed by neighborhood groups with support from the VBC Placemaking Committee. The Placemaking coordinators help neighborhoods facilitate and coordinate the outreach/public involvement process, community decision-making and design workshops, and the permit process with the City.

The VBC9 Theme - Momentum: Powered by the People - was chosen to reflect the collaborative energy and creative forces that citizens can build together. We hope to generate momentum to strengthen the community voice throughout Portland and beyond.

VBC9 will take place from June 5th - June 14th this year, shifted from the traditional date at the end of May. The reasons for the shift include the possibility of better weather, more students are out of classes and avoiding conflicts with Memorial Day weekend.

We are excited to announce our venue and collaboration with the New Day School this year. VBC9 evening events will be held at the New Day School Annex, Jagrti, located at 1847 SE Clinton Street, Portland, OR 97202.

Evening Events Food, Speakers, and Music at the New Day School Annex! [Event Schedule]

Please check back soon for ticketing information