WENA

Wilkes East neighbors Robyn and Eric El Kay

By: Robyn El Kay Neighbor, WENA Board member Hello, neighbors! My name is Robyn, and my family moved into the neighborhood in Spring 2023. In the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association, our motto is "Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together WE Can Make a Difference!”

One of the great things about having a neighborhood association is knowing that there is a group of people advocating for you, your home, and your local community right where you live. Our neighborhood association (WENA) is no exception. This group of dedicated individuals meets every month to discuss upcoming and pertinent matters affecting our neighborhood - you may be surprised to know some of the impact this group has had!

Since moving into the Wilkes East neighborhood, this committed group has:

• Worked to get our beloved Nadaka Park otter, “Slider” back after it was stolen in 2024.
• Ensured that we (your neighbors) are up to date on how land is being used around our area.Take for example, the new Habitat for Humanity project happening near 176th and Glisan.
• Submitted grant proposals to ensure we are able to continue supporting our community.
• Brought awareness to matters affecting our neighborhood, such as the removal of our elder Douglas Firs.

And perhaps most significantly, our WENA has hosted neighborhood clean-ups allowing all of us to dispose of our unsightly and often hidden rubbish from behind our homes and beside our garages free of charge! Be sure to mark your calendars for this year's clean-up - and get your rubbish ready!

WENA is a group of your neighbors that cares deeply about the overall wellness of our community. My family and I have seen that firsthand. Since the day we moved into the neighborhood, we have been welcomed by warmth, kindness, and generosity - even through my pregnancy, and the welcoming of our first child, August. If you see us, please say hi!

As the neighborhood continues to grow and change, this group will also continue to evolve. We want to make sure you know that WENA is here for all of us. We hope that each of you will learn more about your neighborhood association, and consider contributing your voice and expertise. It’s vital that our neighborhood association continues to thrive. Come join us. Share your ideas.

Visit our website any time at wilkeseastna.org or reach out to us at info@wilkeseastna.org - we look forward to seeing you around!

Gather Your Junk! The Dumpsters Are Coming! Rain or Shine

Drop-off Location:   MOOSE LODGE, 16411 NE HALSEY

Bring us household junk, old furniture, plastics, beds, yard debris, bulky waste, small appliances, scrap wood, scrap metal (BBQs, mowers, bikes, microwaves, etc), large appliances (no appliances with Freon), dishwashers, ovens, stoves, washers, dryers, etc.

Please, do not bring clothes, computers, electronics, TV's, food garbage, chemicals, animal waste, liquids, glass, soil, rocks, tires, concrete, paint, batteries, propane, tanks, construction debris, fluorescent bulbs, or medical waste.

Suggested Donation: Car $15, Van/Pickup: $20, Trailer $30.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Contact info@wilkeseastna.org

Neighborhood Board Meeting Zoom Online Meeting When: Mon Feb 9, 2026 6:30PM-8:00PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83142602439?pwd=Z6oqXg9tSMHT8eFbe2FquGSOL3dD6p.1

Download January 2026 meeting minutes here.

Board meetings are scheduled for the 2nd Monday each month 6:30PM via Zoom

For more information please contact: info@wilkeseastna.org

Upcoming Meetings

* General Meeting. Everyone's invited. Please attend.

Neighborhood Board Meeting Zoom Online Meeting RESCHEDULED When: Mon Jan 21, 2026 6:30PM-8:00PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82054640074?pwd=mqjKVBnMv23uX0MF54JvdgQAOmLZbJ.1

Download Oct 2025 meeting minutes here.

Board meetings are scheduled for the 2nd Monday each month 6:30PM via Zoom

For more information please contact: info@wilkeseastna.org

Upcoming Meetings

* General Meeting. Everyone's invited. Please attend.

Fall 2025 Newsletter "Diversity, Harmony, Community - Together 'WE' can make a difference!”

Read it now!

Fall 2025 Newsletter Inside This Issue: Election of Board Officers Jason Naumann Rockwood Common Tool Library Cathy Keathly Gresham City Councilor Neighborhood News and more!

Download your copy here. (includes active web links)

¡Descargue nuestro boletín en español aquí!. (incluye enlaces web activos)

Newsletters are a regular publication of the Wilkes East Neighborhood Association. They are hand-delivered to over 1,500 residences and businesses in our area 3 times per year, timed to correspond with our general meetings.

View archive   |   Policy & Ad Rates

By Janet Unruh WENA Board Member Good news— Slider, the otter has returned to Nadaka Nature Park. Slider is a beautiful, life-size bronze sculpture of a standing otter, the twin of the original,that was stolen. As luck would have it, sculptor Rip Caswell (https://caswellsculpture.com/) had created two otter sculptures, almost identical in size.

Judy Han, director of Gresham Outdoor Public Art, was instrumental in convincing the City of Gresham to replace the otter sculpture in Nadaka Park. There was a suggestion to place the otter in another park, but Judy prevailed. Thanks to Judy Han and the City of Gresham for restoring Slider to Nadaka Park.

For a complete list and downloadable map of all outdoor public art in the City of Gresham please visit https://www.greshamoutdoorpublicart.com/

Neighborhood Board Meeting Zoom Online Meeting RESCHEDULED When: Mon Oct 15, 2025 6:30PM-8:00PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83828746083?pwd=RaNDxi1bhNmVgFHlr6KHCQhs8a3v9k.1 Meeting ID: 838 2874 6083 Passcode: 410294 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbcIIKhFJv

Download Sep 2025 meeting minutes here.

Board meetings are scheduled for the 2nd Monday each month 6:30PM via Zoom

For more information please contact: info@wilkeseastna.org

Upcoming Meetings

* General Meeting. Everyone's invited. Please attend.

Neighborhood Board Meeting Zoom Online Meeting When: Mon Sep 08, 2025 6:30PM-8:00PM Rescheduled: When: Mon Sep 15, 2025 6:30PM-8:00PM Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89944001511?pwd=xSAe3cMrIjEYTUUeUIlhOsAT7PPMf8.1 Meeting ID: 899 4400 1511 Passcode: 471835 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbcIIKhFJv

Download July 2025 meeting minutes here.

Board meetings are scheduled for the 2nd Monday each month 6:30PM via Zoom

For more information please contact: info@wilkeseastna.org

Upcoming Meetings

* General Meeting. Everyone's invited. Please attend.

Summer Meeting Notice When: Mon Aug 11, 2025 7PM-9PM Where: Moose Lodge 16411 NE Halsey St Get Map!

Everyone's Invited

Join Your Neighbors. Get involved. Make a difference!

Save the date
Be sure to save Monday Aug 11th at 7PM for the Wilkes East Neighborhood 2025 Summer Meeting being held at the Moose Lodge, 16411 NE Halsey St

Agenda

Download the Summer 2025 meeting agenda here!

• Jan Hann
  President Gresham Outdoor Public Art
  Sliders Return to Nadaka
• Janet Unruh
  Secretary, Wilkes East Neighborhood
  Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”
  and Impact on Gresham
• Neighborhood news and more!

Download the Spring 2024 meeting minutes here!

Who should attend?
Participation is open to all residents who live, own property or a business, organization, church or government agency within our boundaries

Be Part Of Your Community. Plan To Attend.

Watch for these red & white Meeting Signs the week before our meeting. The signs were purchased with assistance of the City of Gresham Neighborhood Grant Program, and with volunteer hours to set them out and retrieve them. Signs Now NW also made a generous contribution to this project.

Mark your calendar. See you there!

Questions or comments?
Contact Wilkes East Neighborhood by email at info@wilkeseastna.org