News
What is happening, and what we got wrong.
Program updates, budget news, and the occasional post about a burst pipe. Roughly one a month, more when something breaks.
Programs
Open studio is expanding to four days
Starting in February, open studio runs Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Here is why, and what it costs.
January 15, 2026 · ReadTransparency
Our 2025 annual report, including the bad parts
The full FY2025 report: 1,240 kids, a $3.42M budget, a waitlist of 611, and five things that went wrong.
December 8, 2025 · ReadFacilities
The Cully HVAC is finally done
One hundred and fourteen days, $214,000, and one very patient site coordinator. The Cully building has air.
November 20, 2025 · ReadPrograms
Meet the 2025–26 teen leadership cohort
Eighteen paid apprentices, six schools, one very serious timesheet. The third cohort of STENCH teen leadership.
October 6, 2025 · ReadSalon
1,907 free haircuts: a year in the salon
The salon's second full year: 1,907 cuts, 14 students through floor certification, and a two-week wait for Saturdays.
July 1, 2025 · ReadOrganisation
Why we are opening a seventh site in East Portland
The waitlist is 611 kids and it is geographically concentrated. Here is the plan, the money, and the risk.
May 12, 2025 · ReadPrograms
Four years of Nothing: what the data says, and does not
Four years of survey data from the Nothing program, including the parts that are not conclusive.
March 3, 2025 · ReadNothing here yet. Try “All.”
The Stench Letter
One email a month. No asks.
Program updates, a photo we have permission to use, one number, and one thing we got wrong. That is the whole format.
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