A NEW WAY TO SEE PDX

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A NEW WAY TO SEE PDX *

We’re putting Portland’s change-makers and doers on the map.

I See PDX is a civic visibility campaign launched to restore pride and momentum in Portland by highlighting the people, businesses, and organizations driving real change. Through an interactive “Map of Good,” we’re making local progress visible - because building a better future starts with seeing the good that’s already here.

Perception
Matters

Lifeless Storefronts

Nearly 1/3 of Portland’s commercial spaces are empty. Vacant windows don’t just reflect decline, they hide the good that’s already happening.

Art That Activates

We were inspired by cities that use art and community pride to shift public perception, even without major policy change.

Love You Can See

We Love NYC reminded us: when people show up for their city, everything changes. Portland needs its own platform for visible action, in real time!

From Vacant to Vibrant

Flipping the
Narrative
One Window
at a Time

I See PDX turns blank windows into billboards for good deeds. Through QR code art posters and real-world activations, we’re amplifying the people and organizations moving Portland forward.
Retail spaces are more likely to be filled when the community around them feels alive, and seen.

The Map of Good

See the Change
Around You

Scan an I See PDX QR code poster and uncover what’s already happening around you. Each pin on the Map of Good links to a local project, initiative, or organization worth celebrating.

But I See PDX is more than posters, it’s a platform in progress.

We’re building a mobile app that brings the Map of Good to life. Soon, every QR code will unlock interactive stories of impact, creativity, and community, hidden behind Portland’s empty storefronts. What once felt like decline becomes a walking tour of hope, with each vacant window transformed into a portal of possibility.

The posters themselves are community-made, designed by local artists, creative studios, and even schoolkids, so each story feels uniquely Portland.

This isn’t just about filling space. It’s about restoring belief.

Pop-up / August 9

Ocho
On Taylor St.

On a quiet downtown block, we’ve created a late-night bistro that feels safe, welcoming, and alive. Proof that revitalization doesn’t have to wait, it just needs visibility.

From Latin-inspired food and affordable prices, to sidewalk seating and secure parking, this space makes it easier to experience the change already underway. Because before people come back to Portland, they need to see it differently.

Everything on the menu is $8.
Show up hungry. Leave hopeful.

Special thanks to Taylor Street Kitchen for hosting our events at their 1125 SW Taylor St. location.

Nominate a Change-Maker

Help us build the Map of Good.


We’re gathering a database of individuals, businesses, and organizations that are making Portland better, block by block. From non-profits to community groups, media channels to activists, we want to highlight those who are helping move the city forward.


Know someone who belongs on the map? Fill out the form and help others see Portland in a new way. (All nominations will be reviewed before inclusion.)