Social Events Committee

This is a rare opportunity to see behind the scenes of a transformative project before its official opening in April 2026. The new 14-story inpatient tower will enhance access to cancer care and support groundbreaking research supported by the Knight Cancer Institute. Join us to learn how this facility will advance cancer care for our community. For emerging professionals seeking AXP CA Hours, this is a great opportunity to receive credit toward those required hours and get closer to licensure! These hours will be signed off by Tami Chen. Please RSVP via calendar invite if you’re interested and see below for additional information. DETAILS Thursday, December 18th 3:30-5:00 pm OHSU Marquam Hill Campus

❄️ Winter Social & Community Giving Night! Tuesday, December 16th, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM. SEE COMMUNITY DISCORD CHANNEL OR CALENDAR INVITE FOR LOCATION. _ Join us as we come together to celebrate another meaningful year of connection, impact, and shared purpose! Our second annual Winter Social serves as a chance for members to relax, socialize, and enjoy an evening of warmth and community as we look back on all we’ve accomplished together. This year our Winter Social will double as a toy drive to spread joy and make the holidays brighter for families in need. TOY DRIVE! 🎁🧸🪀 The toys collected will be donated to Centro Cultural for their Annual Toy Drive, benefitting children and families experiencing disruption due to federal immigration practices. How to support: Bring a new, unwrapped toy for kids ages 2-10 years old to the Winter Social on December 16th. Toys are left unwrapped so families can celebrate the holidays in a way that honors their traditions. Let’s close out the year with compassion, community, and celebration. We look forward to seeing you there! Credits: @pdxphotographer for Event Graphics

WAMP WAMP WAMP Who are your people? When was the last time you were surrounded by fellow creatives?  This latest edition of our Where Are My People event series brought Black creatives across art, design, architecture, and community leadership together for an evening of truth, inspiration, and celebration to make the most of the venue grant we received from @jm_joints.  Thank you to our panelists: 🔴Ahlam - the creative strategist & founder @ahlam.jpeg 🔴Quincy - the multimedia designer @artchitekshion 🔴Vaughn the multidisciplinary artist @thebrownalice 🔴Ian - the owner of Deadstock Coffee @eeeweezie 🔴Hinaari - the founder of ‘Irnas Playground’ @irnasplayground 🔴Joël - the architect in the making @jmbalankanga 🔴Nia -  the multidisciplinary creative @niamusiba 🔴Bayo - the nonconformist artist @bayo_aart Thanks to our community, and everyone who showed up ready to connect and activate space with us. More to come, as this evening highlighted the power of creating space for your people. Credits: Event Designer: Shacari Alexander Photographer: @lexibue10

Tuesday after work! During NOMA Monthly Member Meetings you can expect to hear updates on the chapter’s committees. - Architecture Summer Camp - Workplace Advocacy & Call to Action - Professional Development and Education - Social Events Annual NOMA memberships end in December so renewal time is in January - if you’re thinking of being a member in 2026 now would be a good time to come through to learn more!

His detailed craftsmanship challenges the idea that art needs expensive materials to hold value. Meet Bayo, @bayo_aart he likes to think of himself as a nonconformist artist. “My medium of choice is recycled cardboard because of its accessibility, low cost, but most of all it questions the traditional materials used in sculptures @a.o.c.a.c . I don’t believe art should be a form of luxury and I don’t believe in a masterpiece. I believe art has the power to educate, inspire, and heal, and the healing component lies in the simplest materials. I believe in social justice, human rights, unity, health, culture and love for humanity as a whole. These beliefs are reflected in most of my craft. Due to my love for playwriting, I try to make my pieces tell a story...sort of like a small scene. Many of my craft are intentionally made to discourage duplication and mass production because there is a sense of rawness in every piece, almost like the differences in every human.” There you have it folks! With only 4 tickets left we’re excited to see this panel come together tomorrow @jm_joints !

You better have seen her murals around the city, if not yet now’s the time to pay attention! nia musiba @niamusiba [knee-uh moo-see-buh] is an ant loving, asparagus hating multidisciplinary creative based in Portland, Oregon with a lifelong commitment to diversifying art and design spaces. Since 2019, this has manifested in community-based projects, public art, and taking up space within her personal practice in an attempt to inspire others who hold marginalized identities to do the same. nia is interested in collaboration, experimentation, question-asking, friend-making, and above all else, dreaming big. She views her depictions of Black and brown bodies as a way to reclaim the tenderness and complexities of her own identity as well as an opportunity to hold space for other people of color who historically have been misrepresented in overly flattened, brutalized, and hyper-sexualized ways within art and media. We’re excited to see what kinda conversation arises from putting artists multiple disciplines (painting, sculpture, performance) with other creatives like community builders and architectural designers all in one room @jm_joints. Grab your ticket now link in bio - limited spots left!

From anime to architecture, he followed his childhood dreams that took root while growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon and followed them to many other cities and states learning about design along the way. Meet your moderator: Joël Joël-Laurent Mbala-Nkanga @jmbalankanga is a Portland-based architectural designer whose work sits at the intersection of culture, community, and design. A passionate advocate for representation in architecture, he has dedicated much of his career to building bridges between design practice and the communities it serves. Through his involvement in organizations such as NOMA PDX, mentorship with the Architecture Foundation of Oregon, and continued partnership with the University of Oregon, Joel strives to expand pathways for Black and underrepresented voices in the built environment. His approach to design is rooted in storytelling, using space and visual narrative to celebrate identity, connection, and collective progress. Whether developing design concepts, mentoring emerging talent, or activating community initiatives, Joel believes architecture should not only shape cities but also reflect the people who bring them to life. Tickets are running out so grab your spot before it’s too late! Link in bio