The Runners-Up
Getting Serious about Circus life and avoiding "Founders Syndrome"
Jenn Cohen –Circus Project
Jenn Cohen started the Circus Project in 2007, and it's been a one-woman show ever since.
Cohen is also a therapist with a master's degree in process-oriented therapy. "I had been circus artist for many years," she says, "and I thought that at-risk and homeless youth had some amazing stories to tell. So, I thought that artistically it would be a great opportunity for the world, for Portland, to hear their stories through the arts."
All it takes is one good idea to get something off the ground, and in Cohen's case, it's sent kids flying through the air on trapezes.
"Why circus? There is something for everybody," Cohen explains. "Whether you're a clown, or you're graceful, or not graceful, or you're strong, or a comedian - for whatever type of personality that comes in and wants to express itself, there is a role in the circus."
While circus has clowning, it's not all goofing around. Teaching such demanding skills to this population comes with serious challenges. Some of the kids Cohen teaches drop in off the street; others arrive by referral. "A lot of these kids don't have a huge attention span, and they haven't grasped onto more traditional forms of theater and arts," says Cohen. "But the degree of risk in circus really catches them and brings their attentiveness to the program."
"The nature of circus is very physical. I had [an experience] in the beginning where I was spotting kids, and they would keep falling. They had the strength to do the moves. So I had a meeting with them and asked, "What's going on?" And they said, "We just wanted to be held. We knew you'd catch us."
 Cary Clarke – PDX Pop Now!
For Cary Clarke, a bittersweet moment has come. He is leaving the board of an organization that he helped create - PDX Pop Now!, which under his tutelage and hard work has grown into an icon of the local music scene.
"Everyone who's built a nonprofit will tell you, be careful of "founder's syndrome,"" he says. "It's a big danger that nonprofits become entirely dependent on the people that put them together."
PDX Pop Now! started with an email list and a group of dissatisfied music enthusiasts. There soon followed a three-day, free, all-ages, local music festival that was successful enough to repeat - and grow. Though Clarke is leaving the organization he spearheaded, we've decided to make him a runner-up for his years of dedicated effort. |
