Open Mics

In February, two Black women organizers were unexpectedly laid off in an attempt to quietly dissolve the radical organizing collective, The Woodlawn MIC. Located in the heart of NE Portland’s historically Black, and heavily gentrified Woodlawn neighborhood, The Woodlawn MIC is the city’s only space dedicated to the preservation of local, progressive, Black- and Brown-led community organizations. Since 2017, The MIC has been returning space, place, power, and resources directly to BIPOC communities and organizers, by circumventing structural accessibility gaps that limit our ability to organize ourselves, create our own solutions, and build within our own communities. HOT MIC is an open mic & fundraiser presented by Gentrification is WEIRD! for these women extending themselves to keep the collective running and make Portland a better…