Have  a photo you would like to contribute to our slice of life section? Contact us!

Photos by Adam Elwell Esther Murphy’s Mixed Media Work IN VA GALLERY UNTIL March 19 Jennifer Childers and Adam Elwell The Advocate Photography is often thought of as a finished image captured in a single moment. But the work featured in the current MHCC gallery exhibit by artist Esther Murphy pushes that idea further, layering photography with collage, paint and sculptural elements to create pieces that exist somewhere between photograph and object.  Murphy’s work brings toge

Tim Grassley The Advocate Mt. Hood’s theater department isn’t just staging a play – A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a showcase of both talent and tenacity. How do they start with a fresh idea and end up rolling audiences in the aisles? Let’s take a look behind the closed curtains—and into the backstage shenanigans.  Jan. 15  We began our coverage on Jan. 15, when we were asked to interview three actors starring in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. We had a blast meeting them. From disc

Chris Woods The Advocate MHCC hosted a screening of the documentary “Priced Out” in the Student Union, Feb. 18, 2026   “Priced Out” explores the intertwined histories of Vanport and Albina, highlighting how exclusion laws, wartime migration and redlining shaped the lives of Black Oregonians. The event will included a short discussion following the film, offering students and community members a chance to reflect on how this history connects to present-day Portland.       Albi

Photo by Aung Pyae Lin Jamie Teigen , a MHCC ceramics student, poses with some of her work. If you have a photo you would like to submit for our slice of life section, email us at advocate@mhcc.edu

Civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Reverend Jesse Jackson Chiderah Edeh The Advocate Walking through Mt. Hood Community College during Black History Month feels different.  In the Student Union, posters of influential Black leaders sit on tables. In the library, quotes line the walls. Faces look back at you — activists, educators, organizers, artists, people who sacrificed, who led movements, who poured into their communities so others could live safer and fu

ChrisWoods The Advocate MHCC hosted a screening of the documentary “Priced Out” in the Student Union, Feb. 18, 2026.  Cornelius Swart’s 2017 documentary explores the history of housing and the African American presence in the Portland area. A sequel to 2001’s NorthEast Passage: The Inner City and the American Dream, Priced Out follows up with Nikki Williams, the subject Swart has filmed since the late 1990s, as she searches for solutions to the dangers and lack of opportunity

Timothy Grassley The Advocate MHCC’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is taking Shakespeare to new heights—literally—as actors lift the classic comedy off the stage with use of aerial choreography.   The Advocate had the opportunity to speak with MHCC’s aerial director and choreographer, Andee Fischer, who shared insight into the process behind both dance and aerial work for the actors participating in the upcoming production. What makes this play stand out is how A Mi

Leydi Perez The Advocate On Saturday, Jan. 11, 2026, the Golden Globes returned as one of Hollywood’s biggest stages. From my perspective as a college student watching from home, this year’s ceremony felt like a mix of celebration, reinvention and genuine emotion.  The night’s biggest winners reflected that shift. Streaming-backed projects and fresh voices were front and center, reinforcing how much our own viewing habits as students — binging shows between classes, watching

Hannah NEWMAN ART Exhibit  Location:  MHCC Visual Arts Gallery  Exhibit Display: Feb. 2nd - 29th   Opening Reception:  Feb. 5th, 11:30 - 1:30 p.m.   No RSVP needed  Coffee Hour Presented by ISP x MDRC Location: MDRC, 1050 (Student Union)  Feb.  5th | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM  Valentine day candy heart keychains Feb. 5th | 12PM-1:30PM  Location: MHCC Ceramic Studio (VA 06)  FREE OF CHARGE  Wildside Kayaking Feb. 9th | 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM  Location:   Mt. Hood Community College Aquatic

Adeola Ade-Serrano The Advocate I didn’t grow up with vision boards. I only started using them two years ago, after moving to another country for school and noticing people creating collages of their future. I wondered whether they worked or if it was just Pinterest being Pinterest. It turns out they do work — but only when you build them with intention rather than aesthetics. If you’re ready to shape your year, stay disciplined and put in the effort, you may be surprised by

AlmaPerez The Advocate This display begs you to look and touch The MHCC Visual Arts Gallery is presenting “This‑Worldly” by artist Sharon Servilio from Jan. 5 to 29.  Servilio was born in New Jersey and has lived and worked in Portland, Oregon, since 2020. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and an MFA from American University. She works in painting, drawing and ceramics.  Her work combines scientific research with multiple artistic mediums to highlight th

Timothy Grassley The Advocate MHCC’s upcoming theatrical performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is shaping up to be one of the most exciting productions for theater majors on campus. The show intrigued us so much that The Advocate scheduled interviews with several of the cast members and directors. As we dug deeper, conversation after conversation made it clear that this production is more than just another Shakespearean masterpiece — it’s a journey into what defines love,

A STAFF FAVORITE YOU’LL WANT TO MAKE ALL SEASON LONG Russian Tea Cakes, also known as Snowballs, are a delightfully buttery, nutty, melt-in-your-mouth cookie that has been a holiday staple in our family for at least six generations. We do a lot of baking around the holidays, but these are hands down my favorite. I grew up making them with my mom and my great-grandmother. I made them with my children when they were growing up (the ones who were interested, anyway), and now we

A STAFF FAVORITE YOU’LL WANT TO MAKE ALL SEASON LONG Holiday traditions often start in the kitchen. Whether you’re keeping old traditions or creating new ones, nothing brings people together like good food. So, we’ve pulled two of our staff’s favorite traditional recipes – one sweet, one savory – to help you bring a little extra flavor and festivity to your holiday season. Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 40 minutes Wait Time: 30 minutes Ready In: 1 hour 30 minutes Serv

On Nov. 6 in the MHCC Student Union, the Japanese Culture Club hosted its first big event of the term: Onigiri Action. Onigiri Action is an annual charity event hosted by the JCC, where members showed students how to make onigiri, a Japanese rice ball, and serve tea and took photos. If participants wished, they took a photo of each with their onigiri and submitted the photo to the Onigiri Action program. Each photo of onigiri submitted  to the campaign website or on social m

Marisa Engelhard The Advocate One of the tables at Barney’s Boo Bash - Photo by Marisa Engelhard Halloween has now passed – with the leaves brown and falling, the wind picking up, and the rainfall more frequent. On Halloween night, Oct. 31, Barney’s Boo Bash was hosted at the MHCC Main Mall. The annual event featured people of all ages dressed up for Halloween tricks and treats. Tables were set up by various Mt. Hood clubs and departments, offering a variety of treats includi

Photo by Prisma Flores This past school year, one of the clubs that has re-emerged from the past at Mt. Hood Community College is the Wildside club. The group, which restarted in the fall of 2024, takes students on various trips to learn outdoor, adventuring skills. The club’s current adviser, Josh Stratman, says that he was largely the person who started the club up again after it went dormant in years past, due to a lack of leadership. He said that when he mentioned the ide

A Closer Look at Gresham’s Two Farmer’s Markets As the aura of summer fills the air, Gresham welcomes back one of its most cherished seasonal experiences – the farmers’ markets. These community events offer fresh produce and handcrafted goods that reflect the values and culture of the neighborhoods they serve. The Farmer’s Market at Mt. Hood Community College and the Original Gresham Farmers’ Market stand out in our area. Both of the markets offer a unique approach to communi

The traditional cultural dance of the Zomi people, an ethnic group from Myanmar, India, and Bangladesh, is a powerful display of unity and collective identity. Photos by Aung Pyae Lin This dance, characterized by meticulously synchronized movements, symbolizes the community’s harmony. Every dancer must execute each step perfectly, as a single misstep can disrupt the beauty of the entire performance.At the heart of this dance is the leader, who plays a crucial role by skillful