Portland’s ASL-First Café Expands With a Bold Plan for Deaf Equity
A Portland café, Café Rio, is creating new opportunities for the community while planning to grow further. Woodstock Café, owned by nonprofit CymaSpace, operates almost entirely in American Sign Language (ASL). The venue not only serves food and drinks but also acts as a social hub for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Now, the organisation aims to expand by opening a Deaf Equity Center in nearby empty buildings.
Woodstock Café stands out for its ASL-focused environment. Staff and customers communicate primarily through signing, making it a welcoming space for people with hearing loss. The café also hosts weekly events like Sign Squad on Tuesdays, drawing attendees from different backgrounds for ASL meetups and game nights.
Beyond socialising, the venue provides jobs for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. Many have relocated to Portland just to work there, seeing it as a rare opportunity in a supportive setting.
Originally, CymaSpace secured funding for the Deaf Equity Center under a previous presidential administration. However, a change in leadership led to the loss of those funds. Despite this setback, the nonprofit remains determined to move forward. Plans now include seeking support from private groups and launching a crowdsourcing campaign, though no specific backers or timelines have been announced yet.
The proposed Deaf Equity Center would occupy vacant buildings next to the café. If successful, it would offer even more resources and space for the community to connect and thrive.
Woodstock Café continues to serve as both a workplace and a gathering spot for the Deaf community. With the planned Deaf Equity Center, CymaSpace hopes to build on its mission of accessibility and inclusion. The project’s future now depends on securing new funding through private partnerships and public contributions.
