January 15. 2 0 0 3
®l|e ^ortlanh (Observer
Page AS
Book Discussion
Unites Area Residents
The power of
books and the
city's first
community-wide
book discus­
sion draws
Wiley G. Barnett
(from left),
Carol White and
Jerry Porter to
the Albina
Branch Library
in northeast
Portland.
Everybody Reads project debuts
with book by African American
What if everybody reads the
same book at the same time?
What if they talk about it - in
supermarkets, in schools, in librar­
ies at coffee shops and at over 50
free events around the Portland
metro area?
Those are the questions the
Multnomah County Library and
The Library Foundation asked
themselves when they devised the
E v e ry b o d y R ead s p ro g ra m ,
launched this month as Portland’s
first annual community-wide book
discussion.
Inspired by similar innovative
projects in Seattle, Chicago and
qther large cities across the coun­
try, the library has collaborated with
community partners large and small many area bookstores.
to set the project in action with a
All 20 o f the library’s book
critically acclaimed book, “A Les­ groups will be discussing the book,
son Before Dying,” by African and Starbucks Coffee will be host­
American novelist Ernest J. Gaines. ing Everybody Reads book discus­
Set in a small Cajun town in 1940s sions at selected locations. More
Louisiana, Gaines tells the story of than 300 high school students will
a young black man named Jefferson be discussing the book in class.
who is condemned to death for his
If that wasn’t enough, several
reluctant participation in a liquor community forums and local events
store shootout that killed the three will focus on the book.
other men involved and the white
On Thursday, Jan. 16 at 10:30
storeowner.
a.m. Rev. Alcena Boozer and Rev.
Another man, Grant Wiggins, Dr. Alice Scannell will lead commu­
has returned to the same small town nity members and senior citizens in
after college to teach school chil­ a discussion about elders, leader­
dren on a plantation. Uninterested ship and community.
in sinking into a centuries-old rut
On Wednesday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.,
that keeps his family in the deep moderator O. B. Hill and other Afri­
south, W iggins wants to move to can American leaders will discuss
the north or go west. But after meet­ the book in relationship to racial
ing Je ffe rs o n ’s g ran d m o th er, injustice, the importance of com ­
W iggins’ aunt persuades him to munity and the need for healing at
visit the prisoner and what follows a community forum at Reflections
is a tale of two men who, through no Coffee and Books located at 446
choice of their own, come together N.E. Killingsworth.
to form a bond and learn to find
The author o f A Lesson Before
meaning and integrity in a difficult Dying will be the host for ‘An
situation.
Evening with Ernest J. G aines’ at
Copies of A Lesson Before Dy­ the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
ing will be available at all Multnomah on W ednesday, Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
County libraries, along with event Admission is $ 15 available though
brochures, discussion guides, la­ FAST1XX by calling 1-800-992-
pel pins and book marks. The book T1XX, or $40 for priority seating
will also be discounted all month at and an author reception.
PHornm M ark
W ashington /
T he P ortland
O bskrv er
Ernest J. Gaines,
author o f “A Lesson
Before Dying. "
While in Portland, Gaines will
also speak to youth about lessons
in becoming a writer at Self En­
hancement, Inc. at 3920 N. Kirby on
Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. He will
give a dialogue to incarcerated
youth at the Donald E. Long School
Juvenile Detention Home on Feb. 4
and a live interview on KBOO radio
(90.7 FM) at noon on Feb. 5.
Portland’s only black producing
theatre company, PassionArt, will
present live dramatic readings of
Romulus Linney’s two-act play
adapted from Gaines’ novel on Sat­
urday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. at the North
Portland Library, Sunday, Jan. 19 at
2 p.m. at the Central Library and
Saturday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. at the
Gresham Library.
There will also be screenings of
a PG-13 film version o f A Lesson
Before Dying, staring Mekhi Phifer
as the wrongly accused Jefferson,
at several library locations through­
out the month of January.
For more information, call 503-
223-4008 or visit the Everybody
R e ad s
W e b site
at
www.multcolib.org/reads/.
atch a game o f high
school hoops or call
the plays yourself at
the chess board. Attend a
nearby concert or make your
own music on our piano. At
Irvington Village our sensitive
assistance helps you
remain independent.
C
Help will) daily activities like
medication management and
housekeeping will set you
free to live life in a big way.
Enjoy our life enriching
programs. Savor new
friendships over delicious
meals. Relax in the
of our commitment.
Come see the studio and
one-bedroom apartments
we offer. Call today to schedule
a complimentary lunch and tour,
(503) 546-9292.
_w
I TV7/c7/ pen need a helping
hand, let that hand he ours
IRVINGTON VILLAGE
.4 Covenant Assisted Living Community
Developed and managed by Covenan
Retirement Communities*
420 N.E. Mason St.
Portland. Oregon 9721 I
______ _____ (503) 546-9292
. ^ e r i can Dream of p
Kids Gear Up for
H igher Education
PSU hosts studemts for MLK activities
Portland State University has
scheduled two important events to
highlight the teachings o f Martin
Luther King Jr. and commemorate
the holiday as a nationally-recog­
nized Day of Service.
On Friday, Jan. 16, the university
will host 150 middle and high school
age students on campus to familiar­
ize them with higher education and
M artin Luther King, Jr.’s message
o f social justice and equality.
Kevin Kecskes, PSU ’s director
for community based learning, said
the goal is to demystify higher edu­
cation for potential students unfa­
miliar with the process o f applica­
tion and studies.
Sen. Margaret Carter will address
the students on K ing's dreams and
ideals.
PSU President Daniel Bemstine
said he is excited to spread K ing’s
message.
“Hopefully these activities will
help keep the story of King alive,”
he said.
On Monday, Jan. 20, PSU stu­
dents, faculty and administrators
will participate in off campus ser­
vice projects at the Oregon Food
Bank, Friends of Trees, the Com ­
munity Energy Project, and Transi­
tions Projects.
Before those events begin, a
breakfast gathering at PSU will invite
participants to discuss King's prin­
cipals of social justice and service.
For more inform ation about
PSU and the M artin Luther King
J r .D a y s o f S e r v ic e , v is it
w w w .oaa.pdx.edu/cae.
18th Annual Keep Living The Dream Tribute To:
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
U n iv e rs ity O f P o rtla n d ’s
“C h ile s C e n te r”
Gentrification Story
“Property,” a 1977 film about
gentrification in Portland, will screen
at 7 p.m. Jan. 17 at the Northwest
Film Center in the Portland Art
Museum, 1211 S.W. Park Ave.
Admission is $6.50.
The film is a fictional treatment of
a real event that neighbors took to
keep from being forced out o f their
community by rising property val-
5 0 0 0 N o rth W illa m e tte B lvd.
ues. The local residents attempted
to buy a residential block in the
Corbett-Terwilliger-Lair Hill neigh­
borhood.
It was directed by community
activist Penny Allen with an all­
local cast ranging from poet Walt
Curtis to former Portland Develop­
ment Com m ission director Pat
LaCrosse.
M o n d a y , J an u ary 2 0 , 2 0 0 3
1 2 :0 0 P.M. - 6 :3 0 P.M.
Live Broadcast/Simulcast
Portland Cable Access,
Television Services (PPS) KBOO 90.7 FM
Unemployment Extended
A temporary emergency unem ­
ployment compensation program
which originally ended Dec.28, re­
ceived a five-month extension last
week. Oregonians on unemploy­
m ent w ho had not previously
claimed 26 weeks o f benefits are
covered.
President Bush signed the bill
4
Donation: $2.00 OR 3 cans of non-perishable food
into law last Wednesday.
The passage of the legislation
means financial help for more than
20,000Oregonians.
Any Oregonian who runs out of
their original 26 weeks of unem­
ployment benefits between Jan. I
and May 3 1 may also qualify for the
extended benefits.
For More Information Please Call (503) 816-9001
A Production of World Arts Foundation. Inc.
Sponsored by: Portland Public Schools • Oregon Education Association • SAFECO Corporation
Portland Association of Teachers • Portland Parks and Recreation • Enterprise Rent-A-Car • University of Portland
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