Connecting a community for more than two decades: Carol Cohen makes a career of bringing people together through events

By Brit Allen, The Sandy Standard

Being active has always been second nature to Carol Cohen. And for the past nearly 30 years, so has being active in her community of Sandy. 

Cohen, born in New Jersey and raised along the east coast, she originally went to college originally with the intention of becoming a physical education teacher. But life took her down a different path. During college she became very active with mountain biking, and even gained sponsors to support her competing on the racing circuit. 

That circuit eventually led her to visit Oregon for the first time for a competition in Mt. Bachelor. Her brother, who already lived in the state, took that opportunity to show Cohen the sights, and she was “just amazed by Mt. Hood” and the beauty of the area. 

So, after she finished college, Cohen took a trip across the country from New England to the west coast, and set down roots in Oregon as of 1995. 

At the time, she was still pursuing a career in physical education, but would need to obtain an Oregon teaching license, so she started out working at the YMCA and as a personal trainer. She also worked to help make recreational activities like skiing, snowboarding, and swimming accessible to those with visual impairments. 

Eventually, she took a short-lived job with the City of Gresham doing events for their Parks & Recreation department. That’s where she really got her first experience building programs, before coming to the City of Sandy in 2000, where she’s been ever since. 

“It all kind of snowballed into a different career,” she said. 

While Cohen never did end up working in a school, she’s applied all of her skills and talents to teach physical education not only to children, but to people of all ages, while also dreaming up and coordinating community events. Chances are that if you’ve attended a city hosted event in Sandy, Cohen had something to do with it. 

Cohen enjoys what she does, and it shows in the passion she puts into her programs. 

With the city, Cohen creates and coordinates events, such as the Teen Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt, and the Noah’s Quest 5K Walk/Run, which provides a space for people who’ve had babies die either in utero or after birth because of complications. Cohen also teaches fitness classes for seniors at the community/senior center. 

“I’m always doing something different,” Cohen explained. 

Cohen added that she loves “coming up with new ideas for events for the city.” And she has a few in progress for this year. “Even if an event is successful, you still have to keep revitalizing it, so it doesn’t get stale.”

In August, Cohen will facilitate a new event called The Drop In — a two-day mountain bike and skating competition — at Cedar Park, complete with fun, food, and vendors to browse. The event was created to showcase and put to good use this “amazing park and pump track,” and will be co-sponsored by NW Eclipse Solutions. 

“I’m super excited for this brand new event,” Cohen said. 

Outside of her position at Sandy Parks & Rec, Cohen teaches water aerobics at Mt. Hood Athletic Club, and also gives private swim lessons. 

“I get so much satisfaction from changing these people’s lives,” she said. “I’m teaching them to swim, teaching them safety. That’s what keeps me going.”

Helping and connecting people truly is at the heart of why Cohen has done this work for so long. 

“It’s really important … and I’m providing that for the community,” she explained. “It’s about making a difference and getting people out to socialize and meet their neighbors. I’m trying to fill the needs of this community. I want to say I make a difference in people’s lives, and we have fun.”