PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon cafe that takes orders in sign language has become a cherished space for the Deaf community, providing a unique gathering place as well as employment for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
American Sign Language, or ASL, is the primary language at Woodstock Cafe in Portland, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Non-ASL speakers can use a microphone that transcribes their order onto a screen.
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People attending a weekly meet up called "Sign Squad" communicate in American Sign Language at the Woodstock Cafe on June 10, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP)
A sign for Woodstock Cafe is seen on May 15, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP)
People attending a weekly meet up called "Sign Squad" communicate in American Sign Language at the Woodstock Cafe on June 10, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP)
A screen displays words spoken by customers that comes from microphones translated onto screens is seen at the Woodstock Cafe on May 15, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP)
People attend a weekly meet up called "Sign Squad" at the Woodstock Cafe on June 10, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP)
People have moved from across the country to work at the cafe because it can be hard for people who are deaf or hard of hearing to find jobs, Andre Gray, who helped open the cafe, told the news outlet in sign language.
“So the cafe becomes their stable place. It’s their rock,” he said.
The cafe — owned by CymaSpace, a nonprofit that makes art accessible to the Deaf community — also hosts weekly ASL meetups and game nights. Sign Squad on Tuesdays is a popular event, drawing people like Zach Salisbury, who was born with a rare genetic disorder that causes gradual loss of hearing and sight and uses a cochlear implant, and Amy Wachspress, who started learning sign language nine years ago as she lost her hearing.
The hearing spectrum among attendees is diverse, with deaf people signing with students taking introductory sign language classes and hard of hearing people reading lips and communicating with spoken word and hand signals.
“What I just love about it is that there’s so many different people that come," said Wachspress, who classifies herself as hard of hearing and primarily reads lips to communicate. "It’s so eclectic ... just many different kinds of people from all different backgrounds. And the one thing we have in common is that we sign.”
Wachspress loves to tell the story about a deaf toddler born to hearing parents who wanted him to be immersed in Deaf culture. When they brought him to the cafe, he was thrilled to see other people sign.
“He was just so beside himself excited when he realized that you could communicate with people using sign," she said. “We were all so touched. ... That’s the kind of thing that happens here at the cafe.”
Gray, who helped open the cafe, said there were plans to acquire adjacent vacant buildings for a Deaf Equity Center but that much of the funding was cut following the change of presidential administration. However, CymaSpace hopes to find funding from private organizations and a future crowdsourcing campaign.
“It gives power to the community as opposed to a fear of signing. We, as a community, are so proud of who we are,” he said.
People attending a weekly meet up called "Sign Squad" communicate in American Sign Language at the Woodstock Cafe on June 10, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP)
A sign for Woodstock Cafe is seen on May 15, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP)
People attending a weekly meet up called "Sign Squad" communicate in American Sign Language at the Woodstock Cafe on June 10, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP)
A screen displays words spoken by customers that comes from microphones translated onto screens is seen at the Woodstock Cafe on May 15, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP)
People attend a weekly meet up called "Sign Squad" at the Woodstock Cafe on June 10, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (Allison Barr/The Oregonian via AP)
RABAT, Morocco (AP) — The World Cup glitters as a new objective for Congo after its elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Algeria substitute Adil Boulbina’s last-gasp extra-time rocket ended Congo’s Africa Cup hopes in the last 16 on Tuesday, but the Leopards’ attention has quickly switched to a bigger prize.
“We must thoroughly analyze what didn’t work because some things didn’t work,” Congo coach Sébastien Desabre said. “And immediately focus on a very, very important objective that awaits us in March.”
Congo can clinch one of the last qualification places for the World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the United States with a win over New Caledonia or Jamaica in a playoff in Mexico on March 31.
“It’s a beautiful competition,” Congo captain Chancel Mbemba said of the Africa Cup. “But we still have a last competition, a final game, if God wants it.”
Mbemba knows all about last-gasp winners as it was his stoppage-time goal that helped defeat Cameroon 1-0 in the African World Cup playoff semifinal.
The Leopards then defeated Nigeria in a penalty shootout – opposition coach Éric Chelle claimed “some voodoo” at work – to advance to the intercontinental playoffs. Mbemba again sealed the win.
Congo has developed into one of the continent’s strongest sides in recent years. It finished second behind unbeaten Senegal in its World Cup qualifying group.
Supported by a living statue of slain independence hero Patrice Lumumba at the Africa Cup, Congo started with a win over Benin, drew with 2021 winner Senegal, then defeated Botswana 3-0 to reach the last 16.
Congo reached the semifinals at the last edition in Ivory Coast, where the players wore black armbands to highlight the armed conflict in the east of the country. Mbemba and forward Cédric Bakambu have also used social media to bring attention to the fighting.
The Congo team’s on-field successes have helped keep international attention on the central African country, and consequently on the humanitarian crisis. World Cup qualification could bring more exposure.
The team has benefitted from the Congolese diaspora across Europe. The 21-year-old Noah Sadiki, born in Brussels, could have played for Belgium but he opted to represent the country of his parents.
“It’s a personal choice,” Sadiki told reporters last week. “I wouldn’t force anyone to choose Congo. I made that decision of my own free will. There’s a new generation that wants to help the people of the country.”
Belgian-born goalkeeper Matthieu Epolo (20) and midfielder Mario Stroeykens (21) also chose Congo.
Experienced French coach Desabre has moulded a committed side that’s proving very hard to beat. Only wayward finishing let the team down against Algeria.
Desabre, who has been in charge since 2022, said stability was key to the team’s development, being allowed the time to put changes in place, for bonds between the players and technical staff to grow, and to recover from setbacks.
“I’m very optimistic for Congolese football because we haven’t yet fully exploited the potential for growth in the academies, the local league, all this local talent that will bring even more strength to Congo in the years to come,” Desabre said before the Algeria game.
The coach said Congo was still behind the likes of Senegal and Cameroon, where players learn vital skills in academies before going on to play in the stronger European leagues.
“I’m very optimistic because there’s still this lever that will become active in Congo and that will make the team even stronger in the years to come,” Desabre said.
But, first, there’s a World Cup ticket up for grabs.
“Every one of us will return, we’ll work. We’ll ask God to keep every player fit. And – if God wants it – in the last match, everything is possible,” Mbemba said.
AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
DR Congo's Michel-Ange Balikwisha, foreground, reacts as Algeria players celebrate their side's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Algeria and DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Algeria's Himad Abdelli, bottom, stops DR Congo's Theo Bongonda during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Algeria and DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, a DR Congo fan impersonating late Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba poses before the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Algeria and DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
DR Congo's Chancel Mbemba, left, and Algeria's Hicham Boudaoui react during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Algeria and DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
A supporter of Congo cheers for his national team before the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Algeria and DR Congo in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)
