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Bierbaum brings wealth of experience to EJC

BY BONNIE NEWMAN ber of Portland ACT UP (Aids Coalition to
Howie Bierbaum has a new gig, and the Unleash Power) and his successful efforts
eastside Jewish community is applauding. to preserve accessibility – especially for the
After more than 30 years promoting the elderly and disabled – to public transporta-
arts and local culture in Portland, Bierbaum tion at the Skidmore MAX stop.
has stepped into his next leading role as Professionally, he has supported Jewish
executive director of the Eastside Jewish performers representing gay culture. He
Commons, the year-old community space also has collaborated in the past with Con-
on Sandy Boulevard long envisioned by gregation Neveh Shalom Cantor Emeritus
some eastside Jews. Linda Shivers, Do Jump Artistic Director
“The job involves all my skill sets,” says Robin Lane and Third Angle New Music to
the New Jersey native, whose resume reads bring Jewish themes to the stage.
like a directory to Portland arts and culture. “Jewishness has been interwoven into all
“I am fearless with fundraising, fearless the work I do,” Bierbaum says.
with publicity. That will be an asset to the Bierbaum also has remained tied to the
EJC. Someone who is not afraid to be out Jewish community through Jewish friends.
there publicly is a good thing for a begin- In fact, it was one of these friends who
ning nonprofit.” brought the executive director position to
Mia Birk could not agree more. “We are Howie Bierbaum is the new Executive Di- his attention and encouraged him to apply.
very fortunate to have such a seasoned pro- rector of Eastside Jewish Commons. But it was the interview with EJC board
fessional,” says Birk, who helped create the members that sealed the deal in Bierbaum’s
vision and reality of the EJC. Birk served Bierbaum agreed that his experience with mind.
on the EJC’s original steering committee fundraising, budgeting, marketing and “The quality of the leadership and the
and was the first chair of the board of di- hosting events makes him a good fit for vision of the board is not seen on other
rectors, from 2018 to 2021. Birk also filled the EJC. He said that growing the young boards,” Bierbaum says. “Once I realized
in as interim executive director during the nonprofit will take improvements to the I’d be working with a lot of smart, progres-
four-month search for a permanent leader. physical space, expanded programming sive Jews, I knew it was perfect.”
Now she has returned to the board again and money – perhaps the biggest challenge. Not only was Bierbaum impressed by the
and serves as treasurer. “Fundraising is always a challenge – but a EJC board but also by the organization’s
“I’m happy to pull back from the minuti- challenge I welcome,” he says, adding that
ae and let Howie take the reins,” she says. he learned by running the Portland Satur- collaboration with Congregation Shir Tik-
“I’m really thrilled to turn it over to some- day Market that “budgeting is the road map vah, which shares the venue with the EJC.
one who knows what they are doing and is to what is possible.” He is also excited by the unique program-
ready to do the job.” Bierbaum acknowledges that a little ming some EJC partners have offered. He
Alysa Rose, a founding EJC board mem- schmoozing may help, too. cites events by TischPDX and Co/Lab’s
ber who led the national candidate search, “I’m going to meet other leaders (of Jew- recent Judaism and Psychedelics program
says she was surprised to find the right ish organizations) and see how we can fit as examples.
person here in Portland – particularly in a into the ecosystem of Jewish life in Port- “The partners and organizations who use
challenging job market. land,” he says. the space regularly are progressive, out-of-
“It was a difficult position to hire for be- Rose says she is eager to see what impact the-box thinkers,” he says. “Nobody else
cause what EJC is doing is unique,” she Bierbaum will have on the young organiza- will do (the events they do).”
says. “We were looking for someone to ex- tion. “I’m looking forward to what he will Bierbaum has watched the evolution of the
ecute our vision – to help us create an inclu- bring. I want to see what he observes and Sandy Boulevard property over the years.
sive, collaborative space on the eastside.” recommends.” He remembers when it was a car dealership
Bierbaum’s background spoke volumes Although Bierbaum isn’t an Oregon na- and the Hatch co-working space. He ad-
to the board members and community part- tive, he got here as soon as he could. He mires the building’s bright, open space and
ners who interviewed him. He ran the Port- fell in love with the weather while visiting inclusive mission.
land Saturday Market (including during Eugene as a Rutgers University student and “I want it to be a viable space for Jews and
Covid), Wonder Ballroom and Oregon Vol- adopted Portland as home in 1981. Raised non-Jews, a space to experience cultural,
unteer Lawyers for the Arts. He managed Conservative in a largely Jewish neighbor- intellectual and spiritual events,” Bierbaum
tours for the local, multilingual musical hood, Bierbaum says his bar mitzvah was says. “The space should be grown organi-
ensemble Pink Martini. He brought outside his last involvement with organized Juda- cally and deliberately. I want to be thought-
acts to Portland through his company Circa ism. “None of us ever went back,” he says ful about what we present and co-present.”
Now Presents. He has also helped direct of himself and his friends. “It’s a common In addition to arts and cultural activities,
Do Jump Extremely Physical Theater, Port- story from my generation.” Bierbaum envisions a place for social jus-
land Symphonic Choir and Portland Area However, Bierbaum did not dissociate tice work.
Theatre Alliance. himself from his Jewish roots. “I consider “I think Portland is going through a really
“The very first thing that was impressive myself a ‘cultural Jew.’ It’s the core Jewish rough spot right now – houselessness, in-
about him was the resonance of his expe- values that drive me,” particularly the ideals consistent political leadership at the local
rience with our needs,” Birk says. “He has of tikkun olam, tzedakah and social justice. level, transportation issues,” he says. “I
run multiple venues and knows the nuts Bierbaum points to his volunteerism as a hope the EJC is a positive addition to the
and bolts of operations of venues and arts reflection of these values in action. Among community. It might be a place to discuss
organizations. That’s a lot of the job, as his extensive community work is his fight these issues, and some positive actions can
we’ve learned over the last year.” against the AIDS crisis as a founding mem- come out of it.”
4 Jewish Review Sept. 7, 2022