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

Where Local Vendors Grow There are a lot of curveballs being thrown at Americans, whether it is tariffs or inflation. It has never been tougher than ever to tighten up your bootstraps and create something that is your own.That is why it’s awesome to see so many people hustling and see lots of consumers support local entrepreneurs in the Portland metro area. And while on most days the MHCC northeast parking lot is just a parking lot, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sund

LOCAL CLIMBING GYM DOWN HILL OF MHCC Located in Gresham, Oregon, Rock Haven Climbing Gym is a vibrant hub for climbing enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. Since opening in August 2022, the gym has become a place where passion, determination, and a strong sense of community come together. Founded by four climbing enthusiasts who sought to bring the sport to a new area, Rock Haven offers more than just a place to climb—it’s a welcoming space for anyone looking to challeng

Exploring Outdoor Sports Whether you’re a skier, snowboarder, hiker, rock climber, or a complete newbie to outdoor sports, MHCC’s Wildside Club has something for you. Photos provided by Brooklyn Noel We welcome anyone who is interested in learning new skills – or improving them – and is a bit of a thrill seeker to join our adventures. It’s the perfect way to meet amazing people who have the same passion for the outdoors and become a part of our supportive community.In the few

The Promises and Pitfalls at MHCC AI – artificial intelligence – is gradually shaping the way we interact with technology, from enhancing search engines to providing grammar suggestions in real time. Its uses are growing, especially now in education, where it offers new ways to support teaching and learning. Curious about how AI is being used at MHCC, I reached out to instructors and advisors to learn more. My aim was to discover how AI is being implemented in our Mt. Hood cl

Schedule made by S. Cousins Want your event added to our list? Email us at theadvocate@mhcc.edu.

High School Vs. Real Life The biggest lie I’ve been sold in my four years of high school is the idea that life will just fall into place. Every coming-of-age movie on Netflix shows the character walking across the graduation stage, heading straight to some Ivy League school, ready to conquer the world. Images sourced from web. But they don’t show the sleepless nights spent filling out endless scholarship forms, the constant worry about how to pay for basic expenses like car i

Finding Warmth in Faith Vietnam is a country with a longstanding religious tradition – with both nativist and more recently embraced faiths – in which Catholicism is a central part. Introduced to the country in the early years of the 20th century, Catholicism has become an indispensable part of the Vietnamese people. Photos by Thien Trieu Tran In the United States, the first Vietnamese people to arrive were mostly Catholics who left everything behind to seek a new future, a n

CLAY CLUB WELCOMES YOUThe Clay Club here at MHCC will be hosting a “Pinch Pot Palooza” for two days, starting on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Pinch pots are an age-old, hand-built method for creating pottery – the most simple way possible. First the hands roll a ball of clay, then a thumb or finger is used to push a hole into the center, and then the thumb and forefinger together pinch up the walls to make a bowl. After the person shapes the bottom and smoothes the edges, it is left to

May you introduce yourself?My name is Ella, and my Chinese name is Zhixuan Xiang. I am currently studying in the Mental Health, Social Services, and Addiction Counseling program at MHCC. I am an international student from Sichuan, China. I am also a blogger on TikTok with 100,000 followers. The reason why I came to study in the United States is a long story about the pursuit of ideals of knowledge and freedom. Biggest adjustment so far?Every scholar who comes from a foreign c

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and you don’t have to break the bank or go far to have an awesome time. Whether you’re spending it with a partner, friends, or even enjoying a solo treat, there are some great spots right near MHCC where you can make the day memorable. I’ve got you covered with ice cream, food spots, and fun activities that are perfect for students like us. Here’s a fun and easy guide to some of the best places to check out in Gresham and Portland! F

Roller derby was never something that stuck out to me, as I knew next to nothing about it. Was it people on roller skates racing? Was it like basketball on roller skates? I clearly wasn’t in that realm. However, on Jan. 11, the opening night for the Rose City Rollers league season, I went to their Oaks Amusement Park home (The Hangar) to take pictures of the matches and left with a new favorite sport. The rules of roller derby are pretty simple. A match consists of two 30-min

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and tasty food, but that does not mean you have to overspend. With a bit of smart planning, you can create a delightful holiday spread without breaking the bank. So, roll up your sleeves, head to the kitchen, and create a feast that is both scrumptious and affordable. Here are a few recipes that will make your Thanksgiving both delicious and cost-effective. Good taste doesn’t need to come at a high price! Herb-infused Roast Turkey Go for a

Thunderous, double-time drumming that shakes the floor beneath my feet like a ship caught in a storm at sea; deep bass that resonates in my chest like an extra heartbeat; guitar solos that ricochet off the walls around me; and guttural vocals that depict the intensity of the human emotional spectrum: Those are just a few things that come to mind when I reminisce on the metal concerts I’ve been to. Deathcore is one of those sub-genres in rock music that’s certainly an acquired

Climate anxiety, or Eco-anxiety, is a reality that we now live with. It’s a state of heightened anxiousness over the impending consequences of climate change, and it’s hard to find hope in the face of what feels like an oppressive doom tainting our vision of the future.It’s easy to look at the news around climate change and think that it’s too late to do something – that there isn’t much an individual can do. But I argue that the most important thing we can do as individuals

Closing out the month of May, this a final piece on Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, honoring those who paved the way for all of us to have a better life than we would’ve had in our countries of origin. We are no longer Asian Americans; due to our ancestors’ sacrifices over the centuries, we are now known simply as Americans. Aloha means hello, goodbye, and “I love you.” Taste of Aloha is translated into “taste of love” – and today our journey takes us to t