Volume X X V II, Nfimber 28
Committed to cultural diversity.
July 9, 1997
(Tltc ^ o rtJan b (Dhsertu'r
M i
SECTION
IM S
n ni nt u n ity
a i e n h a r
Adoption Information
Meeting
Holt International Children's Services,
one of the world's largest intereountry adop
tion agencies, will conduct a free Adoption
Information Meeting in Salem on Monday,
July 14. The meeting will take place from
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Coldwell
Banker real estate office, which was for
merly a Casa Real restaurant, at 698 12th
St. SE. The cross street is Mission. The
meeting is open to anyone interested in
adoption anti is free of charge. A reserva
tion is not mandatory but would be appreci
ated. For more information or to make a
reservation call Kathie at (503) 246-3236.
Sexual minorities
Love makes a Family Inc. present C o
lumbia U niversity’s Professor of higher
and adult education Dr. Lee Knefelkamp
on Monday, July 14th at 7:30 at the Port
land Public Schools District Office, 501
N. Dixon. Dr. Knefelkamp will be dis
cussing trends and issues of concern to
sexual minorities in school and the w ork
place, and will be available to answer
questions. She has written widely in many
areas of education especially with respect
to ethnicity, gender, race and class and is
an incredible resource. The forum is free
of charge, and all are invited. For more
information, please call (503) 228-3892
or by email at Imfamily@ teleport.com.
Don’t be silent
A march and rally to protest the vio
lence in our community will take place
Saturday, July 12 at noon. Area residents
are invited to join and speak out during the
march which begins at the Lutheran Inner
City Ministries, 4219 N.E. Martin Luther
King Jr. Blvd. and proceeds to Broadway.
For more information contact PastorW illie
Banks at 833-8915 or 314-7760.
Celebrate diversity
The Metropolitan Human Rights Com
mission provides free diversity training for
all people in our community. You are in
vited to participate in the Dynamic Differ
ences workshop on Monday, July 14 from
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Dishman Community
Center, 77 N.E. Knott, room 6.
Jefferson reunion
A Jefferson High School alumni re
union for the classes o f 1970 through
1979 will be held Aug. 8 from 7 p.m. to 2
a.m. at the Sheraton Airport Hotel. A
dinner and dance is planned For more
information call 735-9251.
Concert dates begin
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N eil H eilpern
ention the need for attending
summer school and most kids
will cringe at the thought of
giving up a big chunk of their vacation
time to hit the books.
But, more than 80 youngsters from 17
Portland middle schools purposely went
through the rigorous application process to
be selected for an unusual program being
held this year at Portland Episcopal School
Summerbridge Portland gathers students
from a variety o f ethnic, economic, cultural
and family backgrounds. The youngsters are
given more intimate group learning experi
ences and their teachers are only a few years
older than they are — usually high school or
college students who are learning how to
become teachers.
“O ur regular teachers would never let us
argue or debate the way we do here," said
Jetay Barber, an eight grader from Holy
Redeemer School who was part o f a small
handful o f youngsters in a mock legislative
session considering a "babysitting training
act.”
They took roles as legislators and lobby
ists, examining whether or not to require
babysitters under the age o f 18 to have a
minimum o f five hours instruction before
being allowed to take charge o f another
Inside the middle school commons, children from Celtic, Asian-Indian, Euro-American, Mexican, African-American, North
fam ily’s children under the age o f 10.
American
Indian and biracial backgrounds chattered in small groups, sat around a chessboard on the floor or looked at the
An initial 2-2 tie vote reflected societal
colorful
signage
that referred to the summer program as a "magical mystery tour."
Photo by Neil Heiipem
choices, in this case between governmental
a frisbee while three students sat on a ledge
regulations safeguarding children and the
reguired two year commitment to this sum
Middle School, dipped the chain into a
learning sign language with student teacher
freedom o f parents to choose babystitters
mer program,” he added. “At first I thought
beaker. Paul Peters o f neighboring Holy
Michele Friedner o f Brown University.
regardless o f governmental approval.
it might be a waste oftim e, but I've changed
Redeemer School, jotted figures down on the
Inside the middle school commons, chil
“ Parents must have the choice whether
my mind ”
board. Vung En, o f Binnsmead Middle
dren from Celtic, Asian-Indian, Euro-Ameri
they want babysitters with certificates,” ar
Recognizing the deeper intellectual drive
School was wide eyed with excitement. Josh
can, Mexican, A frican-A m erican, North
gued Barber.
most students in the program have, Barrick
Sklar, o f Harriet Tubman Middle School,
American Indian and biracial backgrounds
“ But, how would parents know if the
chattered in small groups, sat around a chess
babysitters are good?” retorted David Seal,
board on the floor or looked at the colorful
an eighth grader at Holy Trinity in Beaverton.
signage that referred to the summer program
Under the guidance o f teacher Heather
Chase, a psychology major at George Fox
as a “ magical mystery tour.”
College, they finally passed an amended
Another sign gave them a word for the
version that provided both training and free
day. The word on this particular day was
choice.
"magnanimous,” reminding students that it
“This is more challenging,” said Brittany
meant “ big-hearted, generous, altruistic,
charitable.”
Vuylsteke, a seventh grader from Fernwood
A skit earlier in the morning found stu
Middlle School. “ I like the class sizes.”
dents asking teacher Arastu for magnets. He
“The classes are more fun," agreed Gina
gave more and more and more magnets in a
Johnson, a seventh grader from Lane Middle
generous manner that brought home the
said, "K nowledge is like life to kids like us,
School. “ More hands on, experiments and
said the experience was better than the out
meaning o f the word.
kids who want to get something out o f school.
debates.”
dated 1971 textbooks available at his school.
“ We need to be short and to the point with
We don’t get opportunities like this every
Down the hall an experiment to deter
“And there are only five kids instead o f
this session between breakfast and first pe
day.”
mine the mass o f a metalic chain was in
29." noted Peters. “ I didn't think I’d learn
riod," said Suman Raghunathan o f Port-
Like regular school, the bell chimed and
progress during a chemistry class led by
this much, and we weren’t forced to be
students scattered to different areas for an
♦
here.”
Rizwan Arastu o f india.
assortment o f activités. Outside some threw
Continued to page A7
“ I w asn’t sure I wanted to make the
A ndrew Barrick, from Ockley Green
M
They took roles as legislators and lobbyists,
examining whether or not to require
babysitters under the age of 18 to have a
minimum of five hours instruction before
being allowed to take charge of another
family's children under the age of 10.
Young women honored
A free Concert in the Commons series
is held each Friday night during July and
August by the lake in downtown Tualatin.
The Latin A m erican group C onjunto
Alegre kicks off the series on Friday.
Bring your beach chairs or blankets.
Roar Faire at zoo
The Washington Park Zoo hosts Roar
Faire, a celebration of the things w e’re all
doing to make the world a better place for
animals and people, Saturday. July 12.
The day-long event features more than 30
booths and games, crafts, children’s ac
tivities and free things to take home. Birds
of prey and reptile shows are scheduled
and special entertainment is also planned.
Cat lovers converge
The Fort Vancouver Cat Fanciers is
sponsoring an "Independence Cats” show
July 19-20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p in. at the
W D. Jackson Armory, 6255 N.E. Cornfoot
Road in Portland. Admission is $4 for
adults and $3 for children and seniors.
Watercolor challenge
Mt Hood Community College offers a
watercolor class “Painting N aturally” at
various locations on W ednesdays, July 23
through Aug. 27 from 9:30 a.m. to I p in.
Artist Kathy Allegri will teach you how to
paint lush summer landscapes while en
gaging in lively lunchtime dialogue.
S U B M IS S IO N S : ( o m in iin itx
C a le n d a r in fo rm a tio n « i l l lie gixen
p rio rity if dated tw o Meeks
before tile exent date.
Debutantes for 1997 (first row, from left) Victoria Renee Collins, Gloria Temeka
LaShuna Leffall and Alisha Katua Eze; (second row, from left) Jada DaNara
Johnson, Tiara Nicole Cromwell and Michon Yvonne Kindred; (third row, from left)
Yashica Ja'Mear Island, Karen Elizabeth May, LeAnna Fern White, April Dion
Murphy and Tiana Shanelle Taylor.
leven outstanding young women
were recently presented to the
community at Les Femmes Debu
tante Ball.
The 46th annual event at the Portland
Airport Holiday Inn June 28 was the climax
to years of scholastic achievement, com m u
nity service and personal development for
the women honored.
“ I Believe I can Fly” was the ball theme,
which featured the Presentation Waltz with
E
Fathers, the Grand Curtsy and Debutante
W altz, and Passing o f the Presentation
Candle to the 1998 Debutantes.
Rica Brooks was the ball chairperson,
Rena’ Allen, ball co-chairperson and Bertha
Watson served as senior advisor
JoAnn Travis, is president o f Les Femmes,
a group o f dedicated women who contribute
their time, talents and financial support to
assure our youth will always soar high in
achieving their goals.
Dancing to the blues!
Merry Larsen and Robert Jones dance to the music at last weekend's
Waterfront Blues Festival at Waterfront Park. Dozens of bands and singers
were featured at the three-day event to help benefit the Oregon Food Bank.
See Related story and photos on page A3, and B2.
Photo by Nell Hellpem
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