Since 1979, Sisters Of The Road has been an essential part of the Old Town/Chinatown neighborhood. Sisters offers a space to build community, empower ourselves, learn from one another, dine with dignity and organize for justice and human rights for all.
Sisters%u2019 Mission
Sisters Of The Road exists to build authentic relationships and alleviate the hunger of isolation in an atmosphere of nonviolence and gentle personalism that nurtures the whole individual, while seeking systemic solutions that reach the roots of homelessness and poverty to end them forever.
Sisters%u2019 Philosophies
Nonviolence: At Sisters we say %u201Cno%u201D to any form of humiliation, including physical, emotional, and verbal violence. Nonviolence asks us to stop violence in a nonviolent way, confronting it using love and respect to promote the safety and well-being of all. Creating a nonviolent environment starts with relationships, by calling each other by name, and caring for one another. Click here for more information about nonviolence at Sisters.
Dining with Dignity: Dining With Dignity means that not only are we providing our community with a safe place to enjoy a meal, but also that we are committed to serving healthy food that has been sourced thoughtfully. We are a vital part of the food movement that is already happening in Portland, ensuring that accessibility to safe and nutritious food is everyone%u2019s right.
Gentle personalism: The term %u201CGentle Personalist%u201D was coined by Catholic Worker Movement co-founder Peter Maurin, to refer to a community-minded sensibility. Maurin wrote:
%u201CThrough words and deeds he [sic] brings into existence the common unity, the common unity of a community.%u201D Click here for more information about gentle personalism at Sisters.
Systemic change: Systemic change usually doesn%u2019t occur because the current system wakes up one morning and decides it needs a change. At Sisters, our experience has shown us that our community (people who experience homelessness, poverty, and oppressions at the hands of the current socioeconomic system) ARE the catalyst for the change that is needed. They are the outside force working to end oppressions and are too frequently met with resistance and oppression from the current system. Click here for more information about the work of Sisters%u2019 Systemic Change Program.
Anti-Oppression: We actively and continuously work to create a community in which all people are welcomed and valued. We are creating a community in which all people have access to the support and resources needed to live and to thrive. At Sisters, we interrupt racism, sexism and other forms of oppressive actions and language. We are committed to recruiting and supporting people with diverse backgrounds for all positions in Sisters%u2019 community. Click here for more information about anti-oppression at Sisters.