Start Here PDX is my own passion project: a free, independent guide that connects Portlanders to the co-ops, unions, land trusts, mutual aid groups, and local businesses already building an economy that works for everyone. I planned, designed, and built the custom WordPress website from the ground up, including the brand identity, colors, fonts, and logo, and organized everything around nine “community wealth-building pillars” so visitors can quickly find where they fit in.
Behind the scenes, the site runs on a searchable directory of several hundred community listings with various filters, an interactive map of places to visit, and a “Start Here” picker that matches visitors to listings based on who they are and what they want to do. I also built a public listing submission form with a review workflow, a live “Gaps” report that counts what Portland has and what it’s still missing, site-wide translation, and solid accessibility, privacy, and SEO foundations. As the project grows, I’ll be bringing in a team and community partners to help it reach even more of our neighbors.
