Mercy Corps Action Center open in Old Town

By Felicia Heaton

KEX Radio, October 9, 2009

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Mercy Corps' international headquarters have been based in Portland for years. On Friday morning, the group celebrated a move from cramped quarters in Southwest Portland's Lair Hill neighborhood to a new, larger, environmentally-friendly building in Downtown Portland.

Portland school children attended the ribbon cutting ceremony in front of the what was once called the Skidmore Fountain Building. The historic building was remodeled, expanded into a parking lot space that used to be reserved for Saturday Market food vendors. It was also upgraded and constructed to the highest environmental standard - the organization just learning the building received LEED Platinum Certification.

The new building will service as Mercy Corps' global headquarters. The Action Center includes interactive, multimedia exhibits designed to educate the public on the group's mission: to end poverty here and throughout the world.

Mercy Corps also runs an outreach center in New York City.