Community Spotlight
Every neighborhood has a story worth sharing. Community Spotlight highlights the voices, experiences, events, and community moments that make District 1 East strong, vibrant, and connected. From resident testimonies and neighborhood celebrations to local leaders, youth voices, and community wins — this is a space to uplift the people and stories shaping our community.
Brewing Belonging with Lily Burnett – Community Spotlight nomination submitted by Barbara W.
Some people build businesses. Others build community. According to Barbara W., Lily Burnett has done both.
Lily, owner of the Parkrose Coffee Shop, envisioned more than just a neighborhood café — she imagined a welcoming, child-friendly gathering place where neighbors could connect, friendships could grow, and community ties could flourish.
Starting with a neglected, empty storefront, Lily transformed the space into a warm and inviting neighborhood hub for not only Parkrose residents, but surrounding communities as well. What was once an empty space has become a place where people gather, collaborate, and feel at home.
Today, the coffee shop hosts informal meetings, neighborhood conversations, and community gatherings of all kinds — including Councilor Jamie Dunphy’s Friday coffee conversations. It has become a center for connection, where residents can meet neighbors, exchange ideas, and learn about the people and projects shaping the neighborhood.
Barbara shares that one of Lily’s greatest gifts is her ability to connect people.
“Lily knows everybody, and when you walk in the door she’ll introduce you to someone she’d like you to know… and she’s right!”
That welcoming spirit has helped create more than a coffee shop — it has created a sense of belonging.
Through her vision, leadership, and everyday acts of connection, Lily Burnett continues bringing people together in a friendly environment, strengthening community relationships and sparking positive energy throughout the neighborhood.
District 1 East is proud to spotlight community members like Lily, whose dedication reminds us that meaningful change often begins with a welcoming space, a shared conversation, and a genuine connection.
Leadership can look different in every community. Sometimes it means launching new ideas. Sometimes it means supporting local businesses. And sometimes, it means creating the kind of environment where people who once worked separately begin building something bigger together.
For Sam M., that’s exactly what Hector Marquez has done in East Portland.
As Executive Director of Historic Parkrose, Hector works to strengthen the Parkrose community through business support, community leadership, and expanded economic opportunity. But according to Sam, his influence reaches far beyond his job title.
“I can honestly say his impact on East Portland is unlike anything I’ve seen before,” Sam shares.
What makes Hector’s leadership stand out is his ability to create connection. Organizers, business owners, neighborhood leaders, and residents are finding common ground through the relationships, partnerships, and collaborative culture he helps foster.
Rather than simply managing projects, Hector focuses on building community infrastructure — spaces where people feel welcomed, valued, and encouraged to participate.
“He has a rare ability to bring people together and create a sense of shared purpose that feels both genuine and powerful,” Sam says.
That spirit of collaboration is translating into visible momentum across Parkrose. Under Hector’s leadership and partnership-building efforts, the community has celebrated important milestones, including participation in the Portland Winter Lights Festival, progress toward an Enhanced Services District, and increased neighborhood visibility through events and engagement efforts.
While these accomplishments matter, Sam believes Hector’s greatest contribution is something less tangible but equally important: changing how people work together.
“He leads with intention, humility, and care,” Sam notes. “East Portland is stronger because of his work.”
Community-led progress depends on people willing to listen, convene, and turn shared ideas into action. Through his leadership at Historic Parkrose, Hector Marquez continues helping shape a more connected, collaborative future for East Portland.
“I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Hector through his leadership at Historic Parkrose, and I can honestly say his impact on East Portland is unlike anything I’ve seen before. He has a rare ability to bring people together—community organizers, business owners, and residents—and create a sense of shared purpose that feels both genuine and powerful. Hector doesn’t just talk about collaboration—he builds it. He creates spaces where people feel seen, supported, and motivated to contribute. Because of his leadership, the way we work together in East Portland has shifted for the better, becoming more connected, inclusive, and effective. In a short amount of time, he has already helped elevate Parkrose in meaningful ways—from securing participation in the Portland Winter Lights Festival to advancing the formation of an Enhanced Services District. These wins are just the beginning, and they reflect both his vision and his ability to turn ideas into action. What stands out most about Hector is his deep commitment to community-led change. He leads with intention, humility, and care, and it shows in how much he is respected and appreciated by those around him. East Portland is stronger because of his work, and I feel incredibly grateful to be part of a community he helps lead.”