Photo by Aung Pyae Lin Christian Ilechukwu The Advocate The potter’s wheel goes round with stillness, and a wet ball of clay slowly turns into the shape of a mug. It’s a lot of work, it takes time, and things may not always go as planned, but for Jamie Teigen, a student at Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon, that spinning wheel became something they love and can’t stop doing. During the pandemic, their ceramics classes were all online and all hand-building: rolling

Photo By Elijah Camacho Timothy Grassley The Advocate Imagine the thunder of applause echoing through a packed theater, the stage bathed in golden light and the pulse of live piano filling the air. That’s exactly what greeted me at Mt. Hood Community College’s new production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”—a performance so bold and ambitious I left the theater breathless.  A twist of fate landed me face-to-face with Mt. Hood Community College theater director Zach Hartley on W

Faithful readers, This winter marks a new chapter for The Advocate—and, unexpectedly, a new chapter for me as well. When I returned to MHCC after a decade-long hiatus, I did so with the practical goal of learning the technical skills needed to stay relevant in my field. I never imagined that journey would lead me to serve as editor-in-chief of a paper I’ve been reading, on and off, for nearly 30 years. It’s an honor and an opportunity I don’t take lightly.  I’ve always been a

Aung Pyae Lin came to MHCC from Myanmar as a computer science major with no plans to become a photographer. Last spring he walked into The Advocate with nothing but an old childhood camcorder and curiosity. One assignment later, everything changed. “I didn’t expect to love it,” he says. “But framing a shot started feeling like debugging – except the result is something people actually want to look at.” What began as a side gig quickly turned into passion. His photos sharpened

Hello!, I’m the writer behind the “Frugal Living” column for The Advocate. I share practical money tips, budget-friendly hacks, and everyday strategies to help students stretch their dollars and still enjoy life.

The TRIO program was established by the federal government as part of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds pursue and succeed in higher education. Originally launched with three programs – Upward Bound, Talent Search, and Student Support Services – TRIO was created in response to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. It aimed to provide academic support, college access, and retention services for low-income, first-generation

A few words shared from a 3x SUP World Champion, Wing Foil Champion, Waterwoman, Student, Coach, Wylde Wind & Water Founder, and Type 1 Diabetic. Surely each of us has experienced feeling adrift and lost in the sea of life, moments when it seems the last drops of our motivation are drained, making room for weariness and a gnawing sense of frustration. What do you do? Do you allow yourself to rest by letting go of everything and surrendering to the waves of worries and anxieti

HOW MHCC ARTIST OVERCOMES HER DEMONS While steadily powering through the arts program in my second year here at MHCC, one particular artist has caught my eye. While seeming to be a bit timid when you first meet her, seeing her art shouts prominently of Megan Albertine’s journey through life.Pursuing art has been intertwined with Megan ever since she could collect memories. She became entranced by the freeing sensation art brought with how many ways you could tackle it, and gr

Are you looking for something to do after classes are done for the day? Perhaps you want to go watch something funny with the added benefit of learning something new?Well, the Planetarium on the MHCC Gresham campus is the place for you. The director, Will Blackmore, balances humor and education very well, making for quite the amusing show for visitors. Each month he hosts shows on a different topic. It can be anything, from black holes and supernovas to the Fermi Paradox – wh

Project Red Workshop Fentanyl is a public health crisis that has landed on the doorsteps of unsuspecting families across America and in our own backyard here at MHCC. Guest speaker Ellen Wirshup from Project RED reported that more than 70,000 persons are dying of opioid overdoses each year in the United States, and east Multnomah County is not immune. During an educational workshop at Mt. Hood on Feb. 11, she gave a brief history of how she helped established Project RED, an

RESPONDING THROUGH RESCUE AND RELOCATION Photos by Brian Moua In response to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, the Oregon Humane Society (OHS) has been playing a crucial role in rescuing and relocating displaced animals. While the wildfires have brought intense media attention to the issue of animal welfare, OHS has been quietly working behind the scenes to make a real difference for shelter animals in California and beyond.During a recent visit to OHS’s Portland location,

PRESERVING OUR MOMENTOUS ACHIEVEMENTS What drives humanity to advancements and development is curiosity. Humans are curious about everything, from the birds in the sky to the stars thousands of light-years away. And it was curiosity that took me about an hour’s drive southwest of Portland recently.The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum stands in McMinnville, Oregon, and is divided into two main buildings. One is the aviation center, with the famous Spruce Goose as the centerpi

JennyMendoza The Advocate Looking for community service opportunities but don’t know where to volunteer? Here’s a list of possible local options with brief descriptions. If any of them capture your interest, simply go on their website and sign up to volunteer. Or, email/contact them directly! Meals on Wheels People https://www.mowp.org Meals on Wheels People and Meals 4 Kids focus on delivering food to seniors and families living below the poverty line. Another service they

‘Coughing Blood Together’ Lights up VA Gallery “Little moments of frozen theater” are currently on display in the MHCC Visual Arts Gallery, a thought- provoking series of creative scenes inviting visitors to peek in and ponder the artist’s messages and sculpting skills. Photos by Prisma Flores Montana-based artist Tom Foolery has been creating these armature dioramas – featuring small-scale figures crafted from found items – for years, beginning as a fun hobby. “I took a mous

Photo by Ken Perez As a writing tutor at MHCC, my role has always been to support students in improving their writing and assist those learning English. My responsibilities have also evolved into something more personal: I have found myself helping Arabic-speaking women navigate complex paperwork and address serious life challenges – issues such as abuse, insurance problems, and job struggles – that they often have no one else to turn to for help. This shift in my duties has

Photos by Prisma Flores The Visual Arts Gallery here at MHCC is hosting the exhibition of local artist Dan Pillers, originally from Spokane, through the end of January – with content and commentary on our society that has brought some gallery visitors to tears. “This particular show is, in a lot of ways, is a dream show for me,” Pillers said of the exhibit that reflects the raw emotion and consequences of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s-90s and its impact on the gay community.

Help is available 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) Text “START” to 88788 Falling in love: It can happen to anyone, even when you’re just keeping it low-key in your sweatpants! The media’s all about that perfect-couple life, making us feel like we’re missing out if we’re not boo’d up. Scrolling through those glam pics of happy couples can make you wonder if you’re the one missing the spark. Then suddenly you meet that person (or persons) who just gets you, and suddenly you’re all about c

Supporting survivors of violence This month, Mt. Hood has displayed decorated T-shirts in the Library lobby as participation in the nationwide Clothesline Project. Though these shirts may seem to be simply an expression of art, it’s also a way for those affected by violence to speak out against their abusers anonymously. The first Clothesline Project event was hosted by the Cape Cod’s Women Defense Agenda in 1990 after a member discovered that while 58,000 soldiers lost their

I do not exactly remember when I met Cortlan, but one day here at the Advocate office there was a dude with really long and big hair who said he was interested in doing some illustrations for the paper. Photograph by Prisma Flores And my goodness, he truly does some amazing drawings with his hands. Cortlan says he has been drawing since he could hold writing instruments in his hands but growing up, he never really thought it could be anything serious or a thing he could do f

Walking down Main Street in Gresham, you’re bound to be drawn in by a multitude of exciting restaurants, secondhand stores, and shops. Toys, books, clothing, coffee, tacos: Shopping around in Gresham is not an average experience, it’s an adventure, and like any good adventure, it’s best to end it with a treat. Enter iCandy, a sweets shop located at the corner of Fourth and Main. Like most candy stores it sells a variety of colorful confections, but unlike most candy stores it