About 100 people came together in late July for a celebration filled with barbecue and balloons.

The party was to mark the one-year anniversary of East County Rising, a new progressive political pact which is breaking down barriers and fighting to place diverse candidates in open seats across the region. The celebration was held Saturday, July 27, at Nadaka Nature Park, in Rockwood, and featured famous Portland drag queen Poison Waters as the emcee.