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One of the key principles of the peer movement is the drive for social justice. As we enter the early days of summer in the month of June, there are three significant reminders of the importance of social justice: Pride, Juneteenth, and Flag Day. June is Pride Month, commemorating the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 and affirming and celebrating the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Juneteenth is June 19, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States when the fina

Many people in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community have experienced rejection, discrimination, isolation, or pressure to be someone they are not. These experiences can have a profound impact on mental health and well-being. Research consistently shows that when people experience acceptance, connection, and community, outcomes improve. Feeling safe enough to be yourself in this world matters. Feeling welcomed, respected, and accepted for who you are matters. For many people, recovery is

This article reflects my personal experiences and recovery journey. Everyone's experience with trauma, mental health, and recovery is different. It took several years, multiple diagnoses, therapy, and a lot of self-reflection before I began to understand that many of my mental health challenges might be connected to trauma. For the sake of PTSD Awareness Month, I wanted to spend some time reflecting on that connection. Like many people, I thought PTSD was something that prima

June brings a shift in light and rhythm. Longer days, more time outdoors, and more opportunities to reconnect—with ourselves, with each other, and with the world around us. This month, we hold space for PTSD Awareness, Pride, and Juneteenth. Each one, in its own way, speaks to resilience, identity, and the ongoing work of healing—individually and collectively. At Pier 360, we continue to center connection in that process. There is no one way to be well, and no one way to be h

Peer support is built on lived experience, trust, and connection. When people feel understood, outcomes begin to shift. Research shows that peer support is associated with reduced hospitalizations, stronger engagement in services, and improved recovery outcomes—while also supporting something less measurable but just as important: a sense of belonging, hope, and possibility.

When peers share their stories, something powerful happens. Stigma begins to loosen. Assumptions are challenged. What was once flattened into stereotype becomes real, layered, and human. Storytelling can also support systems into beneficial changes.

Explore our acitivities and outings this month for May at Pier 360.

This shift from rules to values gives our team members opportunities to be who they are.

Celebrate creativity, recovery, and lived experience! Peer Art Gallery (West Center Room C210) Friday, April 17 at 6PM Join us for a gallery walk, artist bios, and a group collaboration project. Open to peers, friends, and community! Submit artwork by April 10th Peers may submit up to 3 pieces of artwork. Pier 360 West Room C210 1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd. Bldg. 17 Ste. A114 Vancouver, WA 98661 Phone: (360) 397-8050 See the Pier 360 Calendar for more this month!

We’ve been approved to participate in the Fred Meyer Community Rewards Program! This means that when you enroll in Community Rewards through your Fred Meyer app or on your desktop, Fred Meyer will donate to Pier 360 quarterly—based on your shopping. Simply by collecting points as you normally would, you’re contributing to the work we do. The more people who enroll, the more Fred Meyer contributes.It doesn’t cost you anything, and it offers a passive way to support Pier 360. H

As the season begins to shift, we invite you to step into movement, connection, and fresh air with us this April. Whether you’re looking for something active, creative, or simply a chance to be in community, there’s a place for you here.

An early “influencer” for me was Henri Nouwen, a priest who spent the last 10 years of his life at L’Arche Daybreak in Ontario, Canada before dying in 1996. Among his many good deeds, he wrote extensively and authored more than 40 books, I own 18 of them. In one of his books, he writes about hospitality and its purpose. “Hospitality , therefore, means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend […]. Hospitality is not to change p

Pier 360 Executive Director, Brad Berry, was hired 20 years ago today. We take a moment to honor his steady, often unseen service and leadership over the years.

Previously, we talked about playing show-and-tell with Pier 360 Staff, and what resulted was very inspiring. Here we will include Cat's contribution. The photography on this page is hers. She is also a creative writer, and we have featured one of her stories based on her life below. WILDFIRE IMAGINATION by Cat I have loved books as long as I can remember. As a child, my Great Grandmother Dolly would read stories of wonderful adventures to me of every kind, especially the on

As we move toward longer days and early signs of spring, March offers opportunities to connect — through art, outdoor exploration, friendly competition, and shared creative space. Whether you prefer quiet reflection in a museum gallery, movement on a trail, or laughter over a game night, we invite you to join us. As always, participation is free, and all activities are grounded in peer support and community connection. Portland Art Museum Free First Thursday Join us in explor

Twenty years. March 2026 will mark my twentieth year as the Executive Director of Pier 360. It has been a remarkable experience, and it is because of the peers that have worked here and the peers that have actively engaged in their recovery, both past and present. The thing that has stood out for me through the years is just how creative and resourceful our peer community is when it comes to finding a way to get things done. This is why innovation is one of our Core Values .

Courage shows up quietly here through a staff game of Show and Tell. Instructions: Bring something meaningful to share. A creative project. A passion. A practice that grounds you. A small piece of yourself. Share it online. Sometimes courage looks like holding something close to your heart and saying, “This matters to me.” So far, Pier 360 staff members Vincent , Cat , Allison , Jeannette , and Chiara have shared pieces of what sustains them. Allison shared an original song

As part of a long-anticipated investment in our spaces, Pier 360 East Center is temporarily closed while we complete a remodel. We will share updates and announce our reopening once the work is complete in 2026. This remodel is an important step forward for our organization and our community. The updates are designed to better support the people who gather here and the programs we are growing toward. What’s Coming When East Center reopens, the space will include: More parkin

This February, Pier 360’s activities and outings are rooted in Courage, connection, and community — offering creative spaces, outdoor experiences, and opportunities to be seen and supported together.

In this month’s message, Executive Director Brad Berry reflects on courage as a matter of the heart — the quiet determination it takes to face daily challenges. He invites our community to see and honor the courage in one another, reminding us that connection makes resilience stronger.