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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 2017)
FEBRUARY 22, 2017 Portland and Seattle Volume XXXIX No. 21 Opinion ...................................2 Calendars ...............................4 A & E ........................................5 Bids/Classifi eds ....................11 CHALLENGING PEOPLE TO SHAPE A BETTER FUTURE NOW 25 CENTS INSIDE: BLACK HISTORY MONTH Special Edition PHOTO BY CHRISTEN MCCURDY LEGISLATIVE DAY Omar Shabazz (left), Deerk Rasheed, Imam Muhammad A. Najieb, Imam Mikal Shabazz, Waleed Sadruddin, Hakeem Muhammad, Wesley Salauddin (Johnson ), and Wali Lucas (standing behind line) pose for a photo at a Feb. 18 open house to raise funds for a new physical space for the Muslim Community Center of Portland. By Christen McCurdy Of The Skanner News T he Muslim Community Center of Portland hasn’t had its own meet- ing space for more than three years, but expects to settle in next month in a modular structure on North See CENTER on page 3 Joy Sanders reacts to Karen Johnson from the Black Alliance of Thurston County during her speech about the importance of passing HB 1529 out of committee, during the Charles Rolland African American Legislative Day Feb. 20 at the capital in Olympia. The annual event brings the Black community to Olympia to talk to their legislatures and the Governor about issues of particular importance to the community. SB 1529 deals with recommendations from the joint legislative task force on the use of deadly force in community policing. ‘Amplify’ Works to Elect People of Color Progressive initiative seeks to train, embolden candidates By Melanie Sevcenko Of The Skanner News PHOTO BY DILIFF (CC BY 2.5) VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS I Trump to Meet With CBC page 10 n the spirit of disrupt- ing the status quo of “politics as usual,” the organization Color PAC has joined forces with Pro- gressive Majority Wash- ington to jumpstart a new initiative for transforma- tional politics. And the timing couldn’t be better. In the Trump era of rising White national- ism and politics guided by big money, Amplify is set- ting a defi ant example in page 7 director, Mario Park- er-Milligan. “But it also (signifi es) a need to have individuals who are not be- holden to corporations or outside infl uence, which can sway their ability to make decisions that posi- tively impact their commu- nities.” With reach in both Ore- gon and Washington, Am- plify hopes to challenge policies that do little to serve marginalized com- munities. “We have recognized that on a national, state and local level, we have deci- sion-makers in offi ce that have not been refl ective of the communities they are representing,” continued Parker-Milligan. And underrepresenta- tion, says the Coalition of Communities of Color, is at the heart of inequity. “Right now, we have an out-of-balance system that is full of barriers prevent- ing people — particularly people of color and wom- en — from running for of- See AMPLIFY on page 3 Champions Opens Barbering School 10-month course includes training on all types of hair — and the business aspect of barbering By Melanie Sevcenko Of The Skanner News M Kam’s Oscar Picks the Northwest region. The organization works by recruiting, training and electing into public offi ce candidates from under- represented communities, like people of color, wom- en and LGBTQ individuals. Because, says Amplify, all people should have equal access to lead, not just those with wealth and priv- ilege. “Amplify has defi nite- ly been an answer to a lack of demographic representation,” said its Portland-based deputy any people may not realize that the ancient craft of bar- bering harkens back 6,000 years. Or that a “barber-sur- geon” in medieval Europe was trust- ed not only with a haircut, but the am- putation of a limb or the extraction of a bad tooth. These are just some of the lit- tle-known origin stories taught alongside the traditional art of bar- bering at Champions Barbering In- stitute. With a recent grand opening on Jan. 10, the institute proudly holds its title as the only barbering-specifi c career school in Oregon. While Portland is teeming with hip salons and edgy haircutters, along with a plethora of cosmetology and beauty schools, Champions’ insti- See CHAMPIONS on page 3 PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAMPIONS Modular structure expected to arrive at N. Killingsworth and Vancouver site in March PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED Muslim Community Center Awaits New Home Champions Barbering Institute, the fi rst babering-focused school in Oregon opened Jan. 10.