JUNE KEY DELTA HOUSE, dedicated to the energy and foresight of Portland, Oregon educator June Key, is to be a Living Building, a "green" building project developed by African American women, that will provide a community center that sustains the needs of the multi-cultural neighborhood it serves, encouraging sound and healthy social, educational, artistic, economic, and environmental development and awareness.  

The property on which the completed community center, Delta House, will stand is owned (without debt) by Portland Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Piedmont Rose Connection, Inc.  The site, to be a renovation of a standard 1960's style concrete and metal building gas station with asphalt pavement, will serve as a demonstration project highlighting how a small, nonprofit organization uses sustainable building practices to create a "living building."

Our organization's service activities (education, health, physical/mental health, economic development and international development) simply could not be accomodated in the current building (pictured above) for lack of space, city Fire Bureau regulations, and the general deterioration of the building.  In researching ways to renovate or remodel the site, our organizaton, wishing to accomplish this task in a responsible manner, chose to create a "living building" (highest level of sustainable building).  The following are the keys to the project.  Note that we are constantly "under construction" and some information may change as we progress. 

Environmental Demonstration Key:

Sustainable Practices

     Use of Recycled Materials in Building

     Water Recycing (Indoor/Outdoor Gray Water Use

     Landscaping (Demonstration Community Garden)

     Solar Energy Use

     Permeable Paving

Social Key:

     Senior Citizen Connection (Urban League)

     Neighborhood Associations (Humbolt & Piedmont)

     Physical & Mental Committee (Continuation of

     Women Health Summit)

     Temporary Living Quarters for In-Transition

     Community Health Opportunities

     Leasing Opportunities for Social Service Agencies

Educational Key:

Delta Academy: Tutoring and Mentoring Project

Delta GEMS (Growing & Empowering Myself Successfully)

PEACE (Parents Empowered Active Children Education)

EMBODI (Empowering Males to Build Opportunities for Developing Independence)

Kids/Seniors Connection

Scholarship Support and Information Service

Arts Key:

Environmental Art Classes

Environmentally Aware Art Gallery Space

Environmentally Aware Art and Music Mentoring

     (Roosevelt Program)

Economics Key:

Money Management Trainings

Banking Options Trainings