Building Community is Contagious – But Not Like COVID
Written by Tim Buckley, November 2023
Roberto Aguilar slowly drove his loaded 4x4 pickup into Northgate Park late one November morning, towing a trailer behind it. He had come to set up tents for the Halloween Party, sponsored by the Hallman-Northgate Neighborhood Family Council, taking place later that afternoon.
His business card says Arcoiris Party Rentals. Translated into English, arcoiris means rainbow. It’s an appropriate symbol, given the way in which Roberto’s products can transform a park space into a festive celebration – from the basic party furniture and buffet set ups to big tents, DJ equipment and sound systems, seasonal decorations and inflatable entertainment for kids, like the popular Bouncy Houses. Northgate Park became a haunted village, a very friendly one, with more than 450 people and more than 100 families showing up, some in costumes, and all with an appetite for fun, games, prizes and plenty of treats.
The other reason a rainbow works to describe Roberto’s donation is that his family has been deeply involved in community building activities for a generation. When I arrived, Roberto’s wife, Jacqueline Chavez, was on a ladder, putting up a giant spider web attached to the ceiling and wall of the 30 x 40 tent Roberto had delivered earlier. Into the middle of the web was a four foot furry black spider that clung to the center of the web. “She mentioned to me a month ago that she would be volunteering and then said, ‘Let’s do this together,’ Roberto said. “I had other clients that weekend but told her yes, I can make it work.”
Roberto and Jacqueline’s daughter, Edith, was coordinating the entire event, guiding a dozen or more volunteers, including teenagers, to tasks and assisting when necessary to complete the work on time. “Edith is a graduate of North Salem High School,” said Eduardo Angulo, her supervisor and CBEL Family Council Coordinator. “She has been a National Guard soldier for four years and, since she was a kid, Edith has wanted to be a social worker and serve her community. Working for the neighborhood family council, she is getting that opportunity,” he added.
Though Roberto and Jacqueline’s family (which also includes four year-old Victoria) doesn’t live in the neighborhood, Jacqueline has known Eduardo for many years, and enjoys volunteering for events. “Jacqueline and her sister Maricela are long term members of the Salem/Keizer Coalition for Equality,” Eduardo said. “They have both been part of the Coalition’s Parent Leadership Group for more than 10 years. They come from a family who have been immigrant farmworker’s rights advocates for more than 20 years,” he added.
Arcoiris started in 2021, in the middle of COVID, Roberto explained. “I had been spending a lot of time before COVID coaching kids’ soccer teams and, when the pandemic happened, the soccer games stopped and have yet to begin again.”
“That’s when I said to Jacqueline, ‘I have to find myself something to do,’” he continued. “As it happened, an opportunity came up to buy some used tables, chairs and a Bouncy House. I was unsure but decided to do it anyway. So, I bought a small trailer, told some people about it and Arcoiris took off quickly.” Roberto has since purchased a lot more equipment, furniture and party accessories. Some weekends, he’s now in other cities, even up in Portland, setting up parties. “Wow,” he added, “I have been so surprised how well the business is doing.”
It wasn’t like Roberto needed work. He is employed full time as production manager at a custom cabinet manufacturing company. But he thought that having his time occupied was a good thing, and the extra money can always be useful. But he also thought about his son, Roberto, Jr. “It was a chance for us to get to know each other well, and for him to learn the value of hard work. I am so proud of him,” he said. “Roberto is now 13. We enjoy working together and he has taken to it so well, he can now set up tents by himself.”
Roberto said he loves what the Hallman-Northgate Family Council has done for the neighborhood and the park. “Eduardo has set a wonderful example and has attracted an amazing number of volunteers to make it work smoothly. He’s a great leader, being so vigilant about the park and caring about the neighborhood families.”
“The Council and others are no longer afraid to engage with each other or with strangers, sometimes speaking to youth or homeless people about respect for property and for each other,” he said. “And, when younger people show up with their families to help with events, the Council is showing young people the joy of working together, creating community together.”