Adults
Our Adult Program inspires community members with dynamic offerings that spark creativity, build connection, and support mental and physical well-being.
From clubs and workshops to open gyms and evenings of connection and play, there’s always something new to join.
If you would like to apply for financial assistance for any of our programs, please click here.
Workshops, Classes & Events
Clubs & Groups
Community Swaps
Workshops Classes & Events
Author Readings at Sellwood Community House
Three Wednesdays in february, march & april | 7:00-9:00 pm | free | SCH
Join SCH and Sarah Bunger, series curator and two-time Moth GrandSLAM Champion, for a series of local author readings. Enjoy listening to authors read excerpts from their books, followed by a moderated discussion and question & answer session. Books & beverages will be available for purchase, with snacks provided on the house. We hope you can join us for one or all of our author readings!
February 18th: Carolyn Dasher and American Sky
March 11th: Evan Williams and The Divide
April 8th: Tori Eldridge and Hawai'i Rage (to be released in May, but advance copies will be for sale at the reading)
Have a book you would like to share at a future author reading? Please click here to fill out our author interest form! We plan events on a quarterly basis, so it may take a little while for us to get back to you…but thank you for your interest!
February: Carolyn Dasher & American Sky
Wednesday, February 18 | 7:00-9:00 pm | free, RSVP Here | SCH
American Sky:
It’s 1943. The war rages. Three generations of indomitable women navigate life in an epic and inspiring historical novel about love and war, family secrets, and mothers and daughters finding the freedom to fly. They are determined to navigate whatever comes their way—from the hardships of war and home to love and loss, and to the fallout of a long-held secret that could change their lives forever.
Carolyn Dasher
After a nomadic military-brat childhood, Carolyn Dasher set down roots in Portland, Oregon. American Sky is her first novel. For more information, please visit www.carolyndasher.com.
The Divide:
The Divide is a thematically unified collection of stories, unflinchingly honest and unsentimental but packing an emotional wallop that’s earned all the more for its dry-eyed depictions of lonely people struggling to find something to connect with in the world, in other people, and in themselves. In this, his fourth book, Williams shows he is a storyteller at the height of his craft.
-Jeff Fearnside, author of Ships in the Desert
Evan Williams has published over seventy-five short stories in literary magazines, including The Kenyon Review, ZYZZYVA, Alaska Quarterly Review, Witness, and The Antioch Review. He has published three collections of short stories: Thorn, winner of Chandra Prize at BkMk Press in 2014; Canyons: Older Stories in 2018; and Stories of the New West, published by Main Street Rag in 2021. Williams holds an MFA from the University of Montana, is a three-time mentor in AWP’s Writer to Writer Mentorship Program, and was a 2024 Oregon Literary Fellow in Fiction and a recipient of the Laurell Swails and Donald Monroe Memorial Fellowship. He is retired after twenty-nine years of public school teaching.
March: Evan Williams & The Divide
Wednesday, March 11 | 7:00-9:00 pm | free, RSVP Here | SCH
April: Tori Eldridge & Hawai’i Rage
wednesday, April 8 | 7:00-9:00 pm | free, RSVP Here | SCH
Hawai’i Rage: A suspicious death on a Kohala Mountain ranch draws ranger Makalani Pahukula into a tangled family tree in an emotional and suspenseful adventure by the bestselling author of the Lily Wong series.
Tori Eldridge is the author of Kaua‘i Storm, the Lily Wong mysteries, Dance Among the Flames, and numerous short stories. Born in Honolulu—of Hawaiian, Chinese, and Norwegian descent—Tori graduated from Punahou School with classmate Barack Obama before performing as an actress, singer, and dancer on Broadway, television, and film, and earning a fifth-degree black belt in To-Shin Do ninja martial arts. Her literary works have garnered Anthony, Lefty, and Macavity Award nominations and the 2021 Crimson Scribe for Best Book of the Year. Tori lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, near her precious mo‘opuna (grandchildren). For more information about Tori, her book club extras, and her reading ‘ohana, visit www.torieldridge.com.
* Please Note, this book will be released on May 19, but advance copies will be available for sell at this author reading!
Tai Chi
Thursdays | 1:00-2:00 Pm | $18 or $80 for a 5-class punch card/ DROP-IN | Gym
Please Note: There will be no Tai Chi class on February 12 or March 12
Tai Chi for Health is an introductory class for both beginners and anyone returning to Tai Chi after taking a break. This class practices the Yang style, short form, which consists of 24 forms. Tai Chi helps us all with balance and slow breathing, feeling calm and strong in our bodies. Come join us and find out how joyful movement can be!
BeMoved with BodyVox
Thursdays | 6:30-7:30 Pm | $18 or $80 for a 5-class punch card/ DROP-IN | ages 14+ | SCH Gym
Classes Begin January 15!
BeMoved® is an established dance experience for adults of all movement abilities. With 19 unique dance genres, BeMoved inspires participants to embrace dance as a lifelong path to health, joy and fulfillment. The BeMoved Warm-Up infuses breath and movement through choreographed, artistic sequences that activate core strength and balance while improving flexibility and coordination. The Genre section of class uses continuous, engaging dance combinations to inspire anyone from first-time dancers to professionals. Finally, the Cool Down brings your workout full circle, leaving you balanced in mind, body and soul – feeling rejuvenated.
Level: All levels welcome: no experience to pro!
Write with Intention: Aspire to Publish
third wednesdays | a four-part series | 6:00-8:00 Pm | Free, RSVP to our volunteer coordinator here | SCH
Dates: February 18, March 18, April 15 & May 20
This writing club is focused on increasing your fiction or non-fiction writing skills in community with other writers. Led by a 30-year publishing veteran and former decade-long literary agent, this group will also receive the benefit of discovering how publishing works, what agents and publishers are looking for, and what the critical steps you need to take (or not take) when aspiring to take that ultimate step to publish.
Make & Mingle: A Crafting Club
Mondays | 6:30-8:30 Pm | FREE | SCH Art room
Please Note: There Will Be No Make & Mingle on Monday, March 23
Make and Mingle is a relaxed, come-as-you-are gathering for people who enjoy making things by hand—whether you're into sewing, painting, scrapbooking, or just experimenting with materials.
Bring your own work-in-progress or start something new using the shared supplies we provide, including sewing machines, watercolors, markers,speed looms, scrap fabric, and more. It’s a space to be creative, chat, and make progress on personal projects in good company.
Tuesdays
Drop-in Basketball 21+
Tuesdays | 6:15–9 Pm | $10/ DROP-IN or $40 for a 5-session punch card | SCH Gym
Bring your A-game to our gym!
Wednesdays
Portland Go Meetup
wednesdays | 6:30 pM-9:00 pm | free | meeting room
Join us for an evening of Go, a strategic 2 player game with lots of theory & philosophy around it. Also known as "baduk" or "the surrounding game." We have a limited supply of boards; if you have one you can easily bring along, please do!
Open to all skill levels, new players encouraged!
Mah Jongg Nights
1st, 3rd, and 5th Thursdays | 6:15-8:30 Pm | Free | SCH meeting room
Join this growing group of players for an evening of American Mah Jongg. ALL experience levels welcome, come and learn with us!
Dads Play Sports
thursdays | 8:00-9:00 Pm | $3 drop-in | SCH
Join the neighborhood dads on Thursday nights to play a selection of rotation sports in our gym!
Dates: October 9 - December 18
Dungeons & Dragons
thursdays beginning january 15 | 6:30-8:30 pm | free | SCH
Please Note: This group will not meet December 25-January 8
Join fellow adventurers for mini and single-session Dungeons & Dragons campaigns! Perfect for beginners or experienced players—no long-term commitment, just creativity, fun, and dice rolling.
Book Club
fourth thursdays | 6:30-8:30 Pm | FREE | SCH meeting room
Join this lively group of readers to discuss each month’s book choice.
Dates:
January 22: The Loneliness of Sonia and Sonny by Kiran Desai
February 26: The Women by Kristin Hannah
Saturdays
Portland Haiku Group
3rd Saturday | 12:00-2:00 Pm | $3/ DROP-IN | meeting room
Come together to share haiku and similar short poems, and support each other in the development and appreciation of poetry originating from Japanese culture. Contact Shelley Baker-Gard for more information: sbakergard@msn.com
Community Swaps
Whether it’s books, clothes, crafts, or cozy goods, our swaps are a fun and sustainable way to share, discover, and connect with your community. Come see what treasures you’ll find—or pass along something of your own!
Seed Swap
thursday, March 19 | 6:00–8:30 PM | Free | SCH
Bring your extra seeds and take home some new ones! A free community exchange for gardeners of all levels—share, discover, and grow together!
Plant Swap
Thursday, April 23 | 6:00–8:30 PM | Free | SCH
Bring your extra plants and take home some new varieties for the spring season! A free community exchange for plant enthusiasts of all levels—share, discover, and grow together.
Club Incubator
We ❤️ Clubs! Sellwood Community House is all about bringing people together to meet friends, make friends, and build community. Many clubs have formed under our roof, and we would love to add to that list! If we don’t offer something that sparks your interest, come to us with your ideas and we can help connect you with others who might like to start something new!
Interested in Leading a Class or Club at SCH, or Proposing an Event?
Are you interested in bringing a class or workshop to SCH, either? Tell us more about your idea here!
Interested in more offerings at SCH?
Is there a class you would like to take, or a club you would like to join, that we aren’t offering yet? Please let us know by filling out this class interest form, and thank you for sharing your ideas with SCH!
Need financial support for our Adult & Senior programs?
Apply for our scholarship program!