We Believe in Portland: Our Urban Nest Cleanup Day

Under sunny spring skies, and fueled by coffee, smiles, and a love for Portland, our Urban Nest agents and staff gathered for an historic downtown cleanup. Our mission? To give a little love (and elbow grease) to a city that gives us so much.

We met at Providence Park, surrounded by a record 1,800 other volunteers organized by We Believe in Portland and Adopt One Block. The excitement and sense of community coming together for our city was electric. All around us, people were laughing, chatting, and connecting with each other. Before the cleanup kicked off, we heard from Mayor Keith Wilson, who spoke passionately about new initiatives and investments aimed at reigniting downtown’s vibrancy. His words echoed what so many of us already feel: Portland’s best days are still ahead.

From there, we made our way through downtown to our assigned blocks along Naito Parkway. With gloves on and trash bags in hand, we set to work doing our part to help downtown shine a little brighter. Every conversation and handful of debris collected was a reminder that small actions add up, and that community spirit is alive and well in downtown Portland.

For us at Urban Nest, participating in the cleanup wasn’t just about tidying up sidewalks. It was about standing up for the place we call home. We believe in Portland’s creativity, its resilience, its green spaces, its independent spirit, and most of all, its people.

Our "why" is simple: We love this city and we are committed to being part of its revival. The Portland we believe in is welcoming, vibrant, and full of opportunity, and it is up to all of us to help it thrive.

After a busy morning of work, we walked together to lunch, tired but inspired. We shared laughs, our favorite Portland spots to hang out, and riffed on ideas about how we can continue to support Portland’s comeback.

It was one of those days that reminds you just how special Portland (and its people) really is - and how lucky we are to call it home.

There is still work to do, but if Friday’s event showed us anything, it is that hope is not just alive. It is growing!

Thank you to We Believe in Portland, Adopt One Block, and the many volunteers who made this day possible. Thank you, Portland, for giving us so much to believe in. We’re proud to be a part of your story.