Portland Memorial for Afifa Ahmed-Shafi, Sept. 14 at Multnomah Arts Center

A local resident beloved by many, Afifa Ahmed-Shafi's sudden death last month from natural causes at age 35 was heartbreaking.

Ahmed-Shafi's funeral was held July 31 in Richland, WA., where her family lives and where she grew up.

Now her Portland-area family, friends and colleagues can gather together and celebrate her life with a potluck, photos and remembrances Saturday, Sept. 14, 4:30 to 8 p.m., at the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland.

The event promises to be as warm, fun-filled and lively as Ahmed-Shafi herself was.

Doors open at 4 p.m., with a community potluck from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and memorial service from 6 to 8 p.m.

"She was an amazing person and is missed by all her co-workers at the Office of Neighborhood Involvement and the many other members of the ONI family and Portland community who worked with her to further equity, social justice, and public involvement in the City of Portland," said her boss, Brian Hoops at the City of Portland. "We hope you'll join us at the celebration of life."

Ahmed-Shafi was Public Involvement Best Practices Coordinator at the City of Portland Office of Neighborhood Involvement, and leaves behind a huge community of friends, colleagues and associates.

Please reserve a spot to let organizers know you are coming, on Facebook, or by emailing Tenzin at [email protected].

Organizers ask for help with:

Potluck: If you are interested in participating in the potluck contact [email protected]

Photo slide show: If you have pictures you would like to share for the slide show contact Stephanie, [email protected].

Sharing remembrances:  Over 150 people are expected at the memorial and to make sure everyone one who wants to speak, organizers are asking those who wish to contact them before hand so they can make an agenda.  Contact Nickole or Tenzin: [email protected] or  [email protected]

Because she used "Sticky Walls" in her group process, Ahmed-Shafi's friends are asking participants to honor her on sticky walls to be set up around the hall so people can share thoughts, pictures, and art "in remembrance of our beautiful friend."

Many have asked where they can send donation in remembrance of Ahmed-Shafi.  Her family suggested donations could be made in her name to the Center for Multicultural Organizing, 700 N Killingsworth St  Portland, OR 97217, 503-287-4117; www.interculturalorganizing.org.

Ahmed-Shafi's parents are immigrants to this country and they felt a particular affinity to the organization. Likewise Ahmed-Shafi was on the board of CIO and was close to many of the people who work there.

There are plans to create a Muslim Women's Scholarship fund in her name.  If you would prefer to make donations to this or want to be involved in the creation please contact [email protected] and she will forward your information to the folks planning it.

Ahmed-Shafi was also affiliated with several other Portland organizations committed to social justice and self-empowerment and valued the work they do. 

South Asian Women's Empowerment Resource Alliance (SAWERA) P.O. Box 91242. Portland, OR. 97291, 503-641-2425; www.sawera.org

Resolutions Northwest, 1827 NE 44th Ave., Suite 300, Portland, OR  97213, 503-595-4890; www.resolutionsnorthwest.org

KBOO Community Radio, 20 SE 8th Avenue, Portland, OR 97214, 503-231-8032;

www.kboo.fm.  Click here to listen to the Asian Pacific American (APA) Compass Tribute to Ahmed-Shafi

Sisters of the Road, 133 NW Sixth Ave., Portland, Oregon, 97209, 503-222-5694; www.sistersoftheroad.org.