Garlington Center Grand Reopening

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette congratulates community leaders, organizers, and health advocates who celebrated the re-opening of Cascadia Behavioral Heath's Garlington Center. The center provides mental health and addictions services to low-income folks in North Portland.

The building caught fire in October 2008 and was rendered uninhabitable. Staff and volunteers continued to provide much-needed services in the facility's parking lot while the building was being repaired, said center director Tasha Wheatt-Delancey.


Garlington Center staff members at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.


Howard Klink, United Way's Vice President of Community Impact, with Garlington Center Director Tasha Wheatt-Delancey



From left: Derald Walker, Cascadia CEO; Rev. Matt Hennessee, Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church; Rev. W.G. Hardy Jr., Highlnad Christian Center; Roy Jay, President, African-American Chamber of Commerce of Oregon; Peggy Ross, Director, Office of Affirmative Action; and Kathleen Saadat, Director of Diversity, Cascade AIDS Project. In the front is Sharon Gary-Smith, Cascadia Director of Special Projects.

The Garlington Center now shares the building with two new tenants: the North by Northeast Community Health Center and the Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center. United Way was honored to be a major sponsor of the center's grand re-opening festivities, held Sept. 11 and 12.

The ribbon-cutting drew community activists, elected officials, as well as business and civic leaders. Thanks to Sharon Gary-Smith, Cascadia's Director of Special Programs, for organizing the wonderful event.