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About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2016)
Street Roots • March 18-24, 2016 TIMBER JIM, from page 5 putting it out of reach for most families. Her school is much more accessible at $20 per year, and it places an emphasis on ensuring girls graduate. Growing up, Holmer knew Serrill as Timber Jim. A champion soccer player herself, she attended Timbers games, high- fiving him as he walked through the stands. She got to know him better when she gave a presentation about her organization at his church last spring. Afterward, he showed her the community garden. “I told him he should help me do the same by building a sustainable garden at my school,” she said in an email sent from Africa. “He asked where it was and did seem a bit shocked when I said it was in Tanzania.” Holmer asked Serrill, who she said has become like a father to her, to make the trip a couple of times. He initially declined but supplied her with seeds to get started. However, without properly preparing the soil, which had been depleted by over- grazing, the garden failed, he said. In fall 2015, Serrill invited her to speak to members of the Winona Grange during a festival in the hopes it would help drum up more support for her organization, but he was the one most affected by her presentation. “I asked her to come speak and tell more people about what she’s doing,” Serrill said, Soots is proud to be a member News Page 7 “and oh boy, next thing I know, tears are streaming down my face and I say, OK, I’ll go. So I’m going to go for a month and I’m going to teach them how to build their soil.” The garden will do more than supply the children with food at lunch. The skills they learn while gardening are vital to their survival in Tanzania, where many families earn a living off their small farms, Holmer said. The Red Sweater Project is also the benefaciery of the Timbers Army’s fundraising scarves this season. The scarves display Timber Jim’s coined phrase, “Spread the Love,” and fans can buy one directly from him at Timbers matches for $20 starting no later than April 13. Holmer said Serrill was also responsible for 22 authentic uniforms she received for her students from the Portland Timbers earlier this year. “They may not have shoes to play in, but they look great in green and gold,” she said. While Serrill’s days of hanging from the rafters may be over, he still goes to matches where he’s surrounded by adoring fans who eagerly greet him with high-fives. To this day, during every game at the 80-minute mark, the stadium erupts with the voices of thousands of fans singing Hannah’s favorite song, “You Are My Sunshine,” in her memory, as Timber Jim listens from the top of Section 109. emily@streetroots.org moredto Protest MW against Nike deal with human-rights violator A t7:30 a.m. on Monday, March 21, ZJk protesters will gather outside the World X ^Affans Council of Oregon at 1200 SW Park Ave. in Poitland to demonstrate against Nike's recent trade deal with Brunei, while the U S. Ambassador to Brunei speaks al a Nike- l|unsored event inside. Brunei's dutatoi. Sultan llassanal Bolkiah, decreed death by stoning against LGBTQ individuals and unmarried women who become pregnant shortly after he imposed Sharia Law in his Southeast Asian country in 2014. Rep. Rob Nosse (D-Portland), Executive ■rector of Pintland Jobs with Justice Diana Wu ard Executive Director of Oregon Fair Trade Campaign Michael Shannon will join protesters at the rally and deliver speeches at 8 a.m. Stones will be arranged in a pile outside the event to symbolize stoning, according lo an OFTC press release. Rally organizers encourage the public to attend in a show of support foi LGBTl} rights worldwide. “I understand Nike stands to make a lot of money in new tax cuts as a result of this agreement." said Shannon, “but embracing a pact that helps prop up an LGBT-and-woman- killing tyrant is not the way to make a profit. The company has a good track record on LGBT issues domestically. If Nike cat es about human right» for all people, it should distance itself from this trade proposal immediately.” eaders of Portland
