Community❯Support Groups

Join Portland Opera for an hour of story and song from their latest production, La Traviata.

From the celebrated and award-winning composer Dave Malloy comes Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812, an electropop opera based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace. Young and impulsive, Natasha Rostova arrives in Moscow to await the return of her fiancé from the front lines. When she falls under the spell of the roguish Anatole, it is up to Pierre, a family friend in the middle of an existential crisis, to pick up the pieces of her shattered reputation. Following a critically exalted premiere at Ars Nova in New York City, a subsequent off-Broadway transfer and an acclaimed run on Broadway, this award-winning musical expands the possibilities for the genre with its daring score and bold storytelling.

Music and Lyrics By Dave Malloy

Step into a slippery world where the line between truth and fiction is all in the packaging. It’s 1936, and a pair of passionate filmmakers has landed their next big project: a sweeping Spanish Civil War film with the potential to change American hearts and minds. It just happens to be bankrolled by the KGB. Spain by Jen Silverman is a seductive and tense thriller about the power of art to change the world — for better and for worse.

by Jen Silverman, directed by Josh Hecht

One of the most ambitious productions in recent Profile history, Spain is a grand cross-disciplinary spectacle featuring multiple partnerships with arts organizations throughout Portland, including live opera developed in partnership with Portland Opera, and both recorded and live music performed by musicians with 45th Parallel.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra is back with a spectacular new production of The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More – featuring the fan-favorite holiday rock opera alongside TSO classics, and rarely performed gems.

Shows:

November 28 at 3:30pm & 8pm

The Portland Grief House invites you to join The Lost Table, a welcoming space to gather in community, remember those we’ve lost, and share in the traditions that help us keep them close. Bring a dish, pull up a chair, and make a place at the table for the dead. Grief can be hard to understand, and sometimes what we need most is community, ritual, conversation, and food.

Together, we’ll explore how different cultures and traditions call to, honor, and make offerings to those who have died. In the spirit of Día de Muertos, we’ll create a shared space where the living and the dead can gather around the same table.

We’ll begin with a creative activity led by Mario Mesquita, inviting us to reflect on memory, food, and our relationships with those we’ve lost. Participants will be introduced to the ritual elements that will carry us through the evening.

Laura Green will lead a community conversation about intercultural traditions of Día de Muertos and other ways communities call to and remember their dead. Participants will have an opportunity to share stories, traditions, and memories, and to dedicate an offering to someone they have lost.

Bea Yeh will introduce the tradition of Hungry Ghost and lead us in making an offering to the dead. We’ll set places at our table for those who are no longer with us and share food as an act of remembrance and connection.

Our community offerings and tributes will be gathered at Ximena Morales’s altar, creating a shared space of remembrance that connects the different traditions and offerings brought into the room.

Throughout the evening, we’ll create something together through words, offerings, and remembrance. We’ll dedicate a community poem to the dead and close our gathering with a collective ritual of words, sound, and stillness.

Please bring:

• A dish to share, plus any serving utensils it needs. Consider bringing something that reminds you of a loved one or connects you to a family or cultural tradition.
• Please label your food with a card identifying any allergens or dietary considerations.
• Your own dinnerware (plate, bowl, utensils, napkin).
• A beverage for yourself, if you’d like something other than water.
• A photograph, name, or other small tribute to a loved one for the community altar, if you’d like.
• Please do not bring chips, salsa, or guacamole—Milagro will provide these.

The Portland Grief House is honored to continue this tradition, originally started by Side Yard Farm. El Centro Milagro is excited to partner with Portland Grief House to create a space for English- and Spanish-speaking community members to gather, remember, share traditions, and honor the dead together.

Schedule
4:00–4:30 PM — Opening Ritual & Activity
4:30–5:45 PM — Community Conversation & Offerings
5:45 PM — Dedication & Closing

Estimated Running Time: 3 hours
Age Recommendation: Ages 10+

The Portland Grief House invites you to join The Lost Table, a resilient, welcoming space to gather in community and share experiences of loss. Bring a dish, pull up a chair, and share your heart in good company. Grief can be hard to understand, and sometimes what is needed most is community, conversation, and food. During the gathering, each participant will have a few minutes to share their grief in whatever way feels right—whether it's someone who is missed, something that has changed, a loss being carried, or an experience that continues to shape. While one person shares, the rest will listen with care and presence. Save time at the end of the evening to thank one another and connect, but please refrain from interrupting or responding during the sharing portion.

Día de Muertos and the month of November invite you to reflect on and remember loved ones who have passed—a time to celebrate their lives and meet death not with fear, but with love, memory, storytelling, and even humor. Mario Mesquita will lead an opening creative activity exploring memory and the role of cuisine in honoring loved ones, building toward a collective community tribute. Participants are welcome to bring a photograph of a loved one or create an offering featuring their loved one's name.

Bea Ogden will present the Hungry Ghost tradition and make an offering for the community ofrenda, opening a cultural exchange around how different traditions honor and remember the dead. Mario and Bea will also guide participants in writing a community poem, inviting each person to contribute a line or dedication to place on the altar.

Please bring:

• A dish to share, along with any serving utensils it requires. You're welcome to bring something simple—such as a bag of chips or fresh fruit—or a favorite dish that reminds you of a loved one.
• Your own dinnerware (plate, bowl, utensils, and napkin).
• Optional: A beverage for yourself if you would like something other than water.
• Optional: A photograph of a loved one to include in our community tribute

The Portland Grief House is honored to continue this tradition, originally started by Side Yard Farm. El Centro Milagro is excited to partner with Portland Grief House to create a welcoming space for both English- and Spanish-speaking community members to gather, remember, and heal together.

Portland Grief House les invita a unirse a La Mesa Perdida, un espacio resiliente y acogedor para reunirnos en comunidad y compartir nuestras experiencias de pérdida. Traigan un platillo, acerquen una silla y compartan su corazón en buena compañía. El duelo puede ser difícil de comprender y, a veces, lo que más necesitamos es comunidad, conversación y comida. Durante el encuentro, cada participante tendrá unos minutos para compartir su duelo de la manera que le resulte más natural: alguien a quien extrañamos, algo que ha cambiado, una pérdida que llevamos con nosotros, o una experiencia que sigue marcando nuestra vida. Mientras una persona comparte, el resto escucha con atención y presencia. Guardaremos tiempo al final de la noche para agradecer y conectar, pero pedimos que los participantes se abstengan de interrumpir ni de responder durante el momento de compartir.

El Día de Muertos y el mes de noviembre nos invitan a reflexionar y recordar a nuestros seres queridos fallecidos—un tiempo para celebrar sus vidas y enfrentar la muerte no con miedo, sino con amor, memoria, relatos e incluso humor. Mario Mesquita dirigirá una actividad creativa de apertura que explora la memoria y el papel de la cocina para honrar a nuestros seres queridos, construyendo hacia un tributo colectivo. Los participantes pueden traer una fotografía de un ser querido, o crear una ofrenda con el nombre de su ser querido.

Bea Ogden presentará la tradición del Fantasma Hambriento y hará una ofrenda a nuestra ofrenda comunitaria, abriendo un intercambio cultural sobre cómo distintas tradiciones honran y recuerdan a los difuntos. Mario y Bea también guiarán a los participantes en la escritura de un poema comunitario, invitando a cada persona a aportar una línea o dedicatoria para colocar en el altar.

Por favor traigan:

• Un platillo para compartir, junto con los utensilios de servir que necesite. Algo sencillo es bienvenido—como una bolsa de papas fritas o fruta fresca—o un platillo favorito que les recuerde a un ser querido.
• Su propia vajilla (plato, tazón, cubiertos y servilleta).
• Una bebida para ustedes mismos, si desean algo más que agua.
• Una fotografía de un ser querido para incluir en nuestro tributo comunitario (opcional).

Portland Grief House se siente honrado de continuar esta tradición, iniciada originalmente por Side Yard Farm. El Centro Milagro se emociona de asociarse con Portland Grief House para crear un espacio acogedor donde los miembros de las comunidades de habla inglesa y española puedan reunirse, recordar y sanar juntos.

One of the most beloved operas ever written, La Traviata pairs soaring melodies with a deeply personal story of love and sacrifice. At its center is Violetta, an independent woman navigating desire, societal expectation, and the fragile possibility of happiness on her own terms. As romance and reality collide, Verdi’s luminous score reveals the emotional complexity of living authentically in a world determined to impose its rules. Tender, tragic, and timeless, the opera continues to resonate for its compassionate portrayal of Violetta’s vulnerability, resilience, courage as she chooses personal truth in the face of public judgment.

The National Alliance on Mental Health Southwest Washington offers a Veterans Support Group from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of every month at 907 Harney St., Vancouver. Learn more at namiswwa.org.

Speed Dating Tonight!
Music & Libretto by Michael Ching
Based on a concept by Dean Anthony

Portland State University’s Opera program kicks off its 50th anniversary season with Michael Ching’s “Speed Dating Tonight!” (2013). Set over the course of a single evening at a local bar, this clever, heartwarming opera follows a revolving cast of singles searching for that elusive spark. There's the dreamer, the hopeless romantic, the bashful, the over-sharer, the chronically distracted, and everyone in between, each getting their moment in the spotlight through music that is equal parts tender, heartbreaking, and hilarious.

Written with duets and ensembles for up to 45 voices, “Speed Dating Tonight!” has a flexible modular structure that can be customized to fit any cast size, voice type, or gender identity. PSU Opera’s version of “Speed Dating Tonight!” features 35 song selections and arrangements specifically chosen to reflect the unique assortment of voices in the 12-member cast.

At its heart, this is a show about the universal human longing to be seen and cherished by another person. Woven through the interactions is another question: can a genuine connection actually happen in five minutes or less? With Michael Ching’s delightful opera, the answer is decidedly yes.

Visit the Speed Dating Tonight! web page to learn more about this production, including additional dates, cast and crew information, photos, and more as we get closer to opening night.

Learn more about the Opera program at Portland State University's School of Music & Theater.

A safe place where ALL are welcome to be themselves. Find support, eat snacks, get creative, discuss favorite books, and more! Bring a friend, or make a new one. For grades 5-8.

Queer Youth Club is a youth-run club for that unites LGBTQIA+ and allied youth from neighboring schools. Email [email protected] for more information.

HOPE Dementia Support presents “Meet Me at the Movies” at the Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St., Vancouver. A different musical will start at 1:00 p.m. on the second Friday of every month. Visit kigginstheatre.com to see what musical will be shown next. The cost is $10 per person.

Portland Opera To Go (POGO) proudly presents the latest installment of the Our Oregon series--a collection of original youth operas that examines Oregon history by highlighting the lives of extraordinary Oregonian women through a variety of lenses.

As young musicians passionate about opera and about their hometown, Emily Nelson and Bethany Schweitzer Goshorn thought, "What better place for an Opera on Tap chapter than our fair city known for its beer, wine and cocktail culture?" Thus Opera on Tap PDX was born - one of 16 nationwide chapters of Opera on Tap. Northwest native Sadie Gregg joined the Managing Diva team in 2016, after singing with the Boston chapter.

Why are we so passionate about opera? Opera speaks to the human condition. It expresses human emotion and relationship in a very unique and profound way. The human voice in all its glory has a visceral effect on us. In a culture focused on instant gratification with short attention spans, opera demands your full attention and rewards you with a wild ride on the emotional roller coaster.

Chances are that people who say they don't like opera have never heard it live! Opera on Tap seeks to change this by bringing the genre back to the people in familiar places: community gathering spaces, restaurants, and bars - much how music was historically enjoyed in Germany pubs. We seek to share, educate and bring simply fabulous music to an audience that might not otherwise be able to enjoy the art form. So grab your friends and your favorite pint, and join us for Opera on Tap!

Opera On Tap Nationwide
Opera on Tap (OOT) was born in 2005 at Freddy's Bar and Backroom in Brooklyn and incorporated in 2007 to promote opera as a viable, living, and progressive art form and to support the developing artists who continue to keep the art form alive. What began as a small monthly gathering of ambitious, classically trained singers looking for more performance opportunities has grown into a producing organization that has gained a loyal audience base and national recognition as an innovative force on the classical music scene. Through its Chapter program, which now has sixteen vibrant national chapters, OOT has created a large network of performers, creators, and supporters.

Join us for a Death Café—an open, group-directed conversation about death with no set agenda or themes. This is a space for thoughtful discussion, not a grief support or counseling session. Together, we’ll explore ideas and questions about death and dying in a respectful, welcoming environment.

For more than 20 years, Portland Opera to Go (nicknamed POGO) has shared opera experiences with communities around the region. The Crown Maker is a world-premiere opera inspired by the life and legacy of Eva Castellanos, a Mexican American healer, artist, educator, and tireless advocate for immigrant rights. Rooted in Oregon history and shaped by the traditions of community storytelling, the work explores how creativity, compassion, and cultural knowledge can transform lives across generations.

Told as a traditional corrido, The Crown Maker blends poetry, history, and music to explore how one woman’s vision empowered generations through art, healing traditions, and fearless community leadership. Through an evocative score and intimate storytelling, The Crown Maker honors Castellanoz’ lifelong dedication to uplifting others through art, healing practices, and grassroots activism. Her work created spaces where identity, heritage, and belonging could thrive, even in the face of social and political barriers. The opera examines the lasting influence of those who build community not through power or prestige, but through care, vision, and persistence.

Created especially for Portland Opera to Go audiences, The Crown Maker blends poetry, history, and music to explore how one woman’s vision empowered generations through art, healing traditions, and fearless community leadership. This production brings a uniquely Oregonian story to life, while speaking to universal themes of resilience, memory, and self-determination. The Crown Maker celebrates the power of cultural inheritance and the people who preserve it, inviting audiences of all ages to reflect on how stories, traditions, and acts of courage continue to shape communities today.

Nov. 14 — Two performances at Walters Cultural Arts Center in Hillsboro at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Dec. 4-5 — Three performances at the World Trade Center Theatre.

Jan. 10 — Watch at the historic Clatskanie Cultural Center at 2 p.m.

Jan. 24 — Join the Happy Valley Library at 2 p.m.

Wacheno Welcome Center Conference Room (WC225) Monday, November 16, 2026, 12 – 1pm Join NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) for our weekly club meetings. We meet on Mondays, from noon – 1 p.m. in the Multicultural Center, room 161, located in the Wacheno Welcome Center, Oregon City Campus. Come for friendship, laughs, and community, because your mental health matters.

• Community members 50 and up
• Aging Solo Seniors
• Anyone who cares for someone age 50 and up
• Businesses and Organizations that work with clients ages 50 and up or caregivers
• Businesses and Organizations that offer products and services for clients age 50 and up or caregivers
• EVERYONE IS WELCOME feel free to share the information, social media posts on Villages Clark County or the attached flyer

Speed Dating Tonight!
Music & Libretto by Michael Ching
Based on a concept by Dean Anthony

Portland State University’s Opera program kicks off its 50th anniversary season with Michael Ching’s “Speed Dating Tonight!” (2013). Set over the course of a single evening at a local bar, this clever, heartwarming opera follows a revolving cast of singles searching for that elusive spark. There's the dreamer, the hopeless romantic, the bashful, the over-sharer, the chronically distracted, and everyone in between, each getting their moment in the spotlight through music that is equal parts tender, heartbreaking, and hilarious.

Written with duets and ensembles for up to 45 voices, “Speed Dating Tonight!” has a flexible modular structure that can be customized to fit any cast size, voice type, or gender identity. PSU Opera’s version of “Speed Dating Tonight!” features 35 song selections and arrangements specifically chosen to reflect the unique assortment of voices in the 12-member cast.

At its heart, this is a show about the universal human longing to be seen and cherished by another person. Woven through the interactions is another question: can a genuine connection actually happen in five minutes or less? With Michael Ching’s delightful opera, the answer is decidedly yes.

Visit the Speed Dating Tonight! web page to learn more about this production, including additional dates, cast and crew information, photos, and more as we get closer to opening night.

Learn more about the Opera program at Portland State University's School of Music & Theater.

This BIPOC support space is facilitated by Sielo Kaí Solar (he/him/el), a peer support worker who identifies as 2S, trans, disabled, mixed race, and a first-generation Mexican-American. As an artist, abolitionist, and community-centered facilitator, Sielo brings a warm, creative, and welcoming energy to the space.

Participants are invited to gather in a relaxed and flexible environment to snack, make art, chat, and play games as they wish. This space is intended to foster connection, creativity, and community care, allowing everyone to show up as they are and engage in ways that feel most comfortable.

Reach out to Carol to join: [email protected]

Meets in person every Third Monday 12:30pm - 2:25pm in the Library

The BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) affinity group meets on the 2nd Sunday of the month after service. We hope you can join us!

Offering recovery services for ages 14-35:

• Peer Mentoring
• Treatment
• Housing
• Mental Health
• Family Support

HOPE Dementia Support Group is a weekly support group for those caring for individuals living with all types of dementia. Held on Wednesday afternoons at The Camas Community Center, 1718 S.E. Seventh Ave., from 3 to 5 p.m.

One of the most beloved operas ever composed, La Traviata combines sweeping emotion with some of the most recognizable music in the operatic repertoire. Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece tells the story of Violetta Valéry, a woman determined to live freely and authentically despite the rigid social expectations that surround her. When she falls deeply in love, she is forced to confront the painful realities of class, reputation, sacrifice, and the cost of pursuing happiness on her own terms.

Adapted from Alexandre Dumas fils’ La Dame aux camélias, the opera broke new ground in its portrayal of a contemporary woman whose emotional life is treated with dignity, complexity, and compassion. Verdi’s luminous score captures both the exhilaration of love and the devastating consequences of societal judgment, moving seamlessly from moments of intimacy and joy to heartbreaking tragedy.

More than a romantic drama, La Traviata remains a powerful reflection on personal freedom, vulnerability, and the tension between public expectation and private truth. Its enduring resonance lies in its humanity: the opera asks what it means to truly live according to one’s own values in a world eager to define worth through convention, status, and appearance.

A safe place where ALL are welcome to be themselves. Find support, eat snacks, get creative, discuss favorite books, and more! Bring a friend, or make a new one. For grades 5-8.

Queer Youth Club is a youth-run club for that unites LGBTQIA+ and allied youth from neighboring schools.

Join us each month to discuss infant and toddler feeding in a supportive, community environment. Led by International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs), this group covers a wide range of topics, including breast/bodyfeeding, pumping, bottle feeding, introducing solids, and weaning.

Because feeding is deeply connected to daily life, we also welcome open discussions on related parenting topics such as sleep patterns, soothing a crying baby, and navigating the postpartum adjustment. Come connect, share experiences, and get expert guidance on your family's feeding journey.

Did you recently have a baby? Do you have questions? Are you feeling all the feelings? Join postpartum doula Krystal Williams for a program of connection and caring for new moms. No registration required. Meets in the Community Room.

NAMI hosts a Family Support Group every other Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

This Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences.

NAMI’s support groups are unique because they follow a structured model, ensuring everyone has an opportunity to be heard and have proper support.

Event is free of cost. No specific medical therapy or treatment is endorsed. Confidential. For more information visit namiswwa.org.

Dementia-Friendly Clark County hosts a Memory Cafe at 10 a.m. on the first Friday of the month at Prairie Tavern, 14925 N.E. Caples Rd., Brush Prairie. Memory Cafe provides a welcoming space for people living with dementia and their caregivers to socialize, enjoy refreshments and participate in activities. Sign up at eventbrite.com or call 360-513-5754.

HOPE Dementia Support meets 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesdays at Cogir at Glenwood Place, 5500 N.E. 82nd Ave., Vancouver. Call 360-513-5754 with questions.

Villages Clark County Has offers Aging Solo in Clark County, a group for seniors age 50 and up, anyone who cares for someone age 50 and up and businesses and organizations that work with clients age 50 and up. The group meets from 1:30-3 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month at the 40 et 8 Boxcar Room, 2809 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver. A different topic will be explored each month. Attendance is free but donations are welcome. Questions? Contact Christina Keys at [email protected] or call 360-358-5018.

The National Alliance on Mental Health Southwest Washington offers an LGBTQIA+ Support Group at 3 p.m. on the first and third Thursdays of the month, via Zoom. Learn more and get Zoom links at namiswwa.org.

Our mission is to provide a safe, compassionate, and inclusive space where individuals experiencing grief can find understanding, connection, and community. Through shared experiences, emotional support, and guided healing resources, we aim to empower each person to navigate their grief at their own pace. We honor every story, validate every emotion, and walk alongside one another as we move toward renewed strength, resilience, and meaning.

Please contact Vishal Nair at 360.823.9208 or [email protected] with any questions!

HOPE Dementia Support Group, 10 a.m. to noon Mondays at Cogir at The Quarry, 415 S.E. 177th Ave., Vancouver, is for those caring for individuals living with all types of dementia. Call 360-513-5754 with questions.

This relaxed evening at the Clubhouse offers moms and caregivers of neurodivergent teens and adults a welcoming space for conversation, snacks, and connection with people who understand. The gathering is grounded in acceptance, understanding, and kindness, and participants are welcome to come as they are and stay for as long as they like. Nonalcoholic beverages will be available, and guests may bring their own drinks. Registered participants will receive an email with options for adding food to a group delivery order. Please register in advance so organizers can prepare a comfortable space.

A free men’s support group meets from 6-7:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of every month at Playmakers Sports Bar & Grill, 4327 S. Settler Drive, Suite 100, Ridgefield.

The nonprofit TBI4Life Support Group for Survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury and their friends and family meets from 2-4 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month in Conference Room 202 of the Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Office Building. RSVP by calling 564-236-5620. For more details, visit www.tbi4life.com.

Loss of a Child Peer Support Group, hosted by NWCAVE, is a peer-led support group for families navigating the loss of a child for any reason. The group offers a safe space where people can openly share their experiences and support each other. The group meets from 6-7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month and from 2-4 p.m. on the last Sunday of every month at NAMI Southwest Washington, 4201 N.E. 66th Ave., Suite 105, Vancouver. Online attendance is available. For details, call NWCAVE at 360-852-8019 or email [email protected].

HOPE Dementia Support Group is a weekly support group for those caring for individuals living with all types of dementia. Held virtually Wednesday afternoons via Zoom from 1 to 3 p.m.

HOPE Dementia Support Group is a weekly support group for those caring for individuals living with all types of dementia. Held on Monday afternoons at Highgate Senior Living, 9803 NE Hazel Dell Ave., from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

HOPE Dementia Support Group is a weekly support group for those caring for individuals living with all types of dementia from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays at Columbia Presbyterian Church, 805 S.E. Columbia Ridge Dr., Vancouver.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (aka TOPS) meets from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursdays at Minnehaha Church of Christ, 3217 N.E. 54th St., Vancouver. Weigh-ins are 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and meetings are 12:30-1:30 p.m. For more information, call 360-608-8375.