— The 2013 Village Building Convergence (VBC), themed “Urban Succession: Shift and Sprout,” will be happening May 24th – June 2nd in Portland, Oregon. At this year’s annual, ten-day Convergence on urban permaculture, more than thirty local communities will be creating community gathering places and generating prototypes of sustainability.

Placemaking and Community-Building

This year’s VBC focuses on building in decentralized, community-produced events. Projects include natural building, urban design, community democracy, people-powered installations, water systems, gardening, public art, and a plethora of hands-on, educational workshops. Areas to be revamped include schools, backyards, and streets in every quadrant of the city.

Professional Instruction

Various experts will be present at this year’s Village Building Convergence to teach about sustainability and community space. Each year at the VBC, building project leaders have included the who’s-who of ecological building activists. VBC13 will also feature a panel of Portland’s political leadership. This year’s evening speakers include Pandora Thomas, Marc Tobin, Eva Edleson, Nala Walla, Erin Innes, Mark Lakeman, Harriet Fasenfest, Helen Hill, Sam Smith, Amanda Fritz, and Frances Michaelson.

Community Fun

Rumor has it that several outdoor community events featuring the legendary T-Horse — Portland’s mobile teahouse/public gathering place — will also headline the VBC13 menu of events. Evenings throughout VBC13 will provide opportunities for participants to gather at central venues to eat wholesome food, listen to experts’ speeches on placemaking and sustainability, and enjoy musical performances by local bands.

About City Repair

VBC is put on each year by City Repair, a Portland non-profit whose mission is to facilitate an annual collaboration and cross-pollination of neighbors, groups, and civic partnerships, all in the name of transforming Portland through village life patterns and educational and placemaking projects.

Contact

For information or to register, please visit http://vbc.cityrepair.org<http://vbc.cityrepair.org> , call 503-235-8946, or emailvbc@cityrepair.org.

https://www.facebook.com/villagebuildingconvergence<https://www.facebook.com/villagebuildingconvergence/events> ,https://twitter.com/CityRepair <https://twitter.com/CityRepair> , #vbc13

Volunteer

City Repair is an almost-entirely volunteer-run organization, and anyone interested in volunteering to help plan, coordinate, and build in preparation for VBC13 is encouraged to contact City Repair to find ways they can help out. Interested parties can emailvbcvolunteer@cityrepair.org <mailto:vbcvolunteer@cityrepair.org>  or visit http://vbc.cityrepair.org/index.php?id=58. <http://vbc.cityrepair.org/index.php?id=58>

Sponsors

VBC13 Sponsors include: The Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, Bureau of Transportation, and Bureau of Planning and Sustainability; the Portland Metro Regional Government; Communitecture, Inc.; The Rebuilding Center; KBOO Community Radio; People’s Food Co-Op; M Realty; Miler Paint; and Hankins Hardware.