How This Came Together

From Sarah Beecroft, project manager:

The development of this website was an entirely volunteer-driven community effort; it didn't cost a physical dollar and was built with the intention of providing an existing organization with a sustainable tool to better do what they already work very hard to do well. The Rose City Resource website is a gift from the community to Street Roots to further enable them to carry out their mission of empowering individuals to find resources appropriate to their situation.  This website began as my Americorps project with support from the City of Gresham, where I served a volunteer term with the Maps and Data Services Program, and was then adopted by the Portland Drupal Users Group (which I'm also a member of) as a community project. It was as near a barn-raising as I have ever seen in pixelated format.

The dedication that the rosecityresource.org team has shown to making this site possible and the product that resulted is truly been a demonstration of the degree that the community believes in Street Roots and what are doing (and have been doing for some time) by providing the hardcopy Rose City Resource guide.

When I began meeting with Street Roots about this project in summer of 2008, I remember being blown away at the hardcore dedication and sheer effort of Israel, Eddy, and the Street Roots staff to enabling people to find, get to, and access what they need, and the professionalism, concern for accuracy, and attention to detail that they invested in this resource.  A better way to say it might be blood, sweat and tears.

There are many people who have been involved in the creation and implementation of this website and many to thank for making this happen.

There are three communities I would like to thank as such:

The Street Roots staff for publishing such a guide in the first place and meticulously maintaining its content. We hope this site serves you well and enables you to expand access so even more people can easily find what they need, and empower them to take action that will improve their situation.

The City of Gresham, who sponsored my Americorps term, for supporting and investing in this project and the position that made it possible.

The Portland Drupal Users Group, a local community of open source software developers who adopted the Rose City Resource and seriously made it happen.