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Most people don鈥檛 give a lot of thought to architecture unless they鈥檙e building a house or considering a property for a business.聽Jane Jarrett and her Architectural Foundation of Oregon associates are working to change that in a host of creative and dynamic ways.

Jarrett coordinates the 鈥淒inner With An Architect鈥� series of 40 dinners at locations all over Portland, from rooftop cocktail parties for 50 guests to intimate dinners with 10 people in a selected special venue.

The series is intended not merely to stimulate interest in architecture and design, but to educate and promote enjoyment of architecture while offering a chance to meet the professionals who help shape the city. Proceeds from the dinners help the organization cover operating costs while also building an endowment for scholarship and grants programs.

The AFO sponsored the 鈥淟ook Around鈥� contest several years ago. Details of Portland buildings, all shot by local photographer Bruce Forster, were published in a local paper. People were invited to hit the streets in search of the buildings. The person who correctly identified the most buildings won a weekend trip to Seattle with an architect as a tour guide of downtown Seattle.

The photo series also has been used to create a walking map with thumbnails of 40 points of interest around Portland.聽Plans for a teacher鈥檚 guide and similar school program are scheduled.

The AFO also works to open public dialogue on community and regional projects and how they affect the environment, the economy, traffic, safety and other public issues. Most recently, a forum on the Columbia River Crossing attracted more than 500 people to related events.

In addition, the organization actively keeps legislators and state and local government officials educated about the effects of proposed legislation and public projects, providing accurate information so that better decisions can be made.

鈥淭he most fun is the work we do in our Architecture In Schools program,鈥� Jarrett said.

During the program, local architects donate their time, working on realistic design projects with teachers and students in third through fifth grades for periods of six weeks.

The AFO also sponsors the Senator Mark Hatfield Award for architecture students. Recipients must have some type of聽community service involvement and write an essay on their activities and their ideas on their future as architects.

The AFO is always looking for new ways to further its mission.

鈥淲e wrapped a TriMet bus in a photograph of three floors of Jackson Tower for 18 months,鈥� Jarrett recalled.聽 鈥淭hat was fun too, and it served the purpose.聽It got people talking.聽Our goal is to make Oregonians more conscious of architecture and design in their daily lives.鈥�