^{Laylanie is a Sophomore Biology Major from the Bay Area and has been involved in the Moreau Center this year as one of the Immersion Coordinators for the Border Immersion that took place over Spring Break. This is her first leadership role with the Moreau Center so far. When asked how she got involved in the first place, she said that she was on a job search when she heard about her current role. Laylanie’s role as a Border Immersion Coordinator consists of a lot of emailing with folks, as well as interviewing students to get an idea of why they want to go on this immersion, hear their perspective, and get a sense of how the group would work together. In this role she also plans and executes preparatory seminars for the students attending to get to know each other, and provide them with important information, especially since her co-coordinator had already gone on this immersion and had a lot of information to share with participants. The seminars are also a time where coordinators find ways to educate participants on the social justice topic(s) of the particular immersion and make the topic(s) more personable to the immersion participants, since the Border Immersion is primarily planned by Border Links, an organization that the Moreau Center has partnered with for a long time.}

^{Laylanie’s ‘why’ for being involved in the MCSJ is “Building community. I know more people and now I see them all over campus and feel like I have more connections. Also, I do feel like it has helped me realize that I can have a leadership role in anything I do now. I see things in a different way from that aspect, and now if I want to do something else, I can think about it from a leader perspective and have more of a confidence to do it.” Laylanie’s favorite thing about the Moreau Center is the community. She says that everyone is so nice and inviting, it just feels like a warm welcome, a warm hug. Laylanie encourages students to get involved with an immersion experience, even if students do not become immersion leaders, they get to meet so many new people with different majors and different backgrounds entirely. She says that she does not regret doing this at all; she knows many people who have a job and share that they are tired of it, but she would totally do this role again; it was a very positive thing that she got to do and hopes that everyone gets to experience the same.}

^{For this edition of the Moreau Center Newsletter, we’re excited to feature a long-time partner of ours, St. John’s Swapnplay. We had the pleasure of interviewing Executive Director Jesse Miller to learn more about their work, the values they hold, and the ways they partner with the University of Portland.}

^{Since its founding 16 years ago, St. John’s Swapnplay has been located in the basement of the Red Sea Church. They are a membership-based, nonprofit, drop-in indoor/outdoor play space for children and caregivers. Families can come together to play, share resources, and connect with other families in North Portland. Beyond offering a space for play and connection, they aim to reduce the environmental and economic impact of raising children. Swapnplay helps families avoid sending gear, clothing, and toys to landfills by encouraging community sharing. Not everyone has the financial resources or desires to contribute to landfills, so Swapnplay promotes a more sustainable, community-driven way to raise healthy children on a healthy planet.}

^{As the saying goes, "It takes a village to raise a child," and Swapnplay provides the connections and resources that make this possible. Many newcomers to the area learn about Swapnplay through word of mouth and are excited to make connections.}

^{As an organization that values education, accessibility, community, partnerships, and sustainability in all they do from partnerships to purchasing, Swapnplay offers various opportunities for connection, support, and resource-sharing. Their services begin at pregnancy, helping families access items that are only used for a short time—like clothing, diapers, toys, and gear—as well as providing community support during pregnancy. Swapnplay’s space is designed for children ages 0-7, though older siblings are always welcome. The facility includes ample indoor and outdoor play areas, as well as two dedicated swapping rooms: one for gently used clothing and accessories (for all ages) and another for shoes, diapers, hats, and more.}

^{Photo Credit to Shannon Crosby '25}

^{Photo Credit to Shannon Crosby '25}

^{Families can bring what they no longer need and take what they do. In addition, Swapnplay offers classes like music, support groups, and meet-ups (for various groups such as BIPOC families or families with multiples). Members are encouraged to propose new ideas for activities, and the space is available for them to host those events to make those deeper connections with the community. Essentially, they provide access to a safe play space that also includes some of those educational opportunities and materials that folks may not have (and don’t need to have) at home. Each month, Swapnplay hosts “Parents Night Out” on the first Saturday, where member families volunteer in exchange for a few free hours to themselves while their children play with other members' kids. They also organize bulk buying events for items like Dave's Killer Bread, offering $2 loaves for families to pick up. All of these services are included in the membership. Swapnplay also hosts public community events, such as "The Great Exchange" around Earth Day. This neighborhood-wide swapping event allows the community to exchange toys, household goods, and more, promoting sustainability and connection.}

^{Photo Credit to Shannon Crosby '25}

^{While Swapnplay is not fully staffed, they manage operations by asking members to complete an orientation before enrolling so they understand the membership agreements, how to use the space, and the community commitments. They also ask all families to sign up for a job to help the space run, that can be organizing the bins of clothing and supplies, keeping the toys in the dirty bin clean, and even attending work parties offered on a quarterly basis where families can contribute to fulfill their commitment.  This cooperative model keeps costs low and fosters a sense of community, as members contribute their time and talents to enhance the space. Overall, it is all about caring for the community!}

^{Partnering with the University of Portland since 2014 when they got their first work-study student, Swapnplay is one of the non-profit locations where students can go and earn their work study funds. Jesse shared, “As a former teacher, being able to work with college students fills my cup… It’s just magical how special every student is—thoughtful, kind, caring, and brilliant.” Today, they employ 16 UP students and are involved in the Plunge Into Your Neighborhood program with the Moreau Center. The Education Department also sends students seeking volunteer hours, and many UP faculty members are Swapnplay members. Anna Congdon, a 2020 UP alumna who was a CSWS Program Assistant at St. Johns Swapnplay 2016-2020 is now part of Swapnplay's part-time staff, along with Jesse Miller.} 

^{Jesse shared, “It would be ideal to have something like this in every neighborhood; where families could access community spaces for sharing, playing, and connecting.” For more information on donating or volunteering, visit their website. They are always looking for help, especially for large-scale events. Students, staff, and alumni who have some extra time and want to support families are encouraged to get involved by emailing, texting, or calling the contact number on their website. Swapnplay is also active on Instagram and Facebook, where you can follow them for updates. If you are a student with work study funds, keep an eye out for open positions in the future!}

^{Current CSWS Program Assistants at St. Johns Swanplay: Ashbie Obrero (4th year!), Jenna Galiza, Lila McKevitt, Miya Wilson, Jack Helms-Galbraith, Allison McIntosh, Jade Morales-Garcia, Zooey Johnson, Yareli Villamonte Bellos, Tina Dang, Emmely Minoth, Skyla Oshiro, Jocelyn Salas, Nitisha Chand, Krystal Sanchez, Malak Kareem, Mia Magbaleta, Alison Martinez-Saldana}

^{Photo Credit to Shannon Crosby '25}

Do you have ideas for the Moreau Center?  Whether you have ideas for content to feature in our newsletter or engagement opportunities you'd like us to explore, we want to hear from YOU!  Your feedback is very important to us, as we want the Moreau Center's engagement opportunities and communications to reflect our community.