Five things w/ Tiffany Koyama Lane
Your friendly local public school teacher and City Council candidate shares her favorite places to support in Portland
I met Tiffany in September at soccer practice. Our two boys played on the Strikers, a sweet group of boys with two fantastic coaches.
Tiffany is a public school teacher, union organizer, Japanese American (Yonsei), activist and mama of two. She is running for Portland City Council in District 3, where she is proud to live and work. Tiffany has spent her entire professional life in public education, teaching kindergarten through fifth grade in schools ranging from under-resourced Title 1 schools to magnet programs. Tiffany is currently a third-grade teacher at Sunnyside Environmental School and has been fighting for safe, sustainable, equitable portland schools.
We connected after our husbands struck up a soccer practice sidelines friendship that evolved into a very literal ‘courtship’ Sunday mornings playing basketball. It was thru Mike that I learned about Tiffany’s campaign for Portland City Council. I was intrigued, wondering how someone with a demanding career, children and very full life could find the time to build a campaign from zero but also inspired by her passion and determination to do so.
We talked thru this all and I wanted to support her on this big new endeavor. The election is not until next fall but this is a critical time for donations and support. You can learn more about her campaign and focuses on her website here.
As we chatted about Portland and the change she wants to be a part of we decided that a feature in the newsletter would be a fun way to introduce her. Today Tiffany is sharing five things close to her heart in Portland.
FOR WEEKNIGHT FAMILY FRIENDLY DINNER OPTIONS
With two little kids and a full schedule of teaching and union work there are so many days when my husband and I can’t figure out what to do for dinner and walk/scoot down to the Bite On Belmont food carts on SE Belmont. We have eaten the Pad See Ew from Eastside Thai more times than I can count. Emma always says hi to my kids and even lets them come into the cart. She also likes to spoil them with bonus egg rolls. One of the reasons I love Portland is all the little pockets of awesome food, and I feel so lucky to be able to walk to some affordable, outdoor, family-friendly dinner options.
FOR SOME PERMANENT INK
This may be TMI, but for Valentine’s Day I got my husband’s name tattooed on my… Well… It’s on my 🍑. Then a few weeks later my husband surprised me by getting a tattoo of my name on his chest. Shaky Jakey at Golden Sparrow Tattoo in NE Portland made us both feel so calm and safe! I definitely recommend for any of your tattoo wants or needs.
FOR TREASURE HUNTING & TACOS
Keeping two kids clothed and the toy bin stocked isn’t cheap. Lucky for me, my husband is a thrifting king! We have a constant flow of things in and out of our house; hand-me-downs from family and neighbors, essentials from Buy Nothing, or real finds from the Goodwill bins. But my personal favorite route is going to Village Merchants, a huge eclectic thrift shop. We go nearly once a week to poke around their selection of treasures, from nail polishes, home goods, to dolls to unique art and well-loved furniture. A perfect day for me is wandering through VM until I find the perfect little something and then heading out to visit Taqueria Lindo Michoacan in the parking lot, where I order a big burrito and my kids get chicken tacos. That stretch of SE Division Street has such an amazing community vibe and is such an important part of our hyperlocal Portland economy!
FOR A LOCAL CHAI
Common Grounds on SE Hawthorne is my go-to spot for meeting with friends and coworkers. It has also become a place where I have gotten to know a lot of my neighbors. I like to order an oat milk chai and chat with whoever is hanging out there. I bring my boys in for cookies, and we like to sit on the chairs outside and watch the world go by. I love the communal atmosphere of people working and chatting, the amazing staff, and the charm of knowing that each time I visit I will run into at least three friends whenever I visit.
FOR SOME LOCAL JAPANESE AMERICAN HISTORY
JAMO, the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, is a special place to me. It also extends beyond its walls in Old Town and is about preserving history and advocating for civil rights for all. I am Yonsei, a fourth-generation Japanese American, and my family members were forced into the WWII Japanese incarceration camps. This history lives within me and grounds me in one of my most foundational values: dignity. Through public policy, we show our community who is deserving of dignity. I strongly believe that we need city councilors who are willing to fight for dignity as a basic human right for every single Portlander. Go check out JAMO and tell them Teacher Tiffany sent you— Don’t miss the amazing gift shop up front that has the best little gifts.
Thank you Tiffany for the time and for sharing. My perfect day also includes a trip to Village Merchants. It is such a gem. Please join me in supporting Tiffany on her campaign and of course all of the Portland Public School teachers as this strike continues.
As always, the comments section is open for discussion, chit chat & support.
hasta la proxima!
LL
Reading makes me crave a day
In Portland… thrifrinf, ethnic food, thrifting, cozy cuppa chai and more thrifting. Such a vibe. Sigh… good luck Tiffany