Committed to Cultural Diversity www.portlandobserver.com March 12. 2003 A Voice for Reparations Youth Summit Connection Portland Parks and Recreation will host its 13* Annual Youth Sum­ mit Connection on Thursday, March 13 from 8:30a.m. to noon at Self Enhancement Inc., 3920 N. Kirby. The Youth Summit is a collaboration o f organizations, community members and busi­ nesses striving to provide leisure alternatives to Portland metropoli­ tan area youth. This year’s work­ shop theme ‘W hat About the Children?' will focus on what has been accomplished through past successes. Food and refresh­ ments will be served. For more information, call 503-823-5108. by D avid P eel h i . T h e P o rtland O bserver For a local bookstore owner and self-described organizer O.B. Hill, the issue of reparations isn't only about justice; it's also about fam­ ily- Hill has traced his own family history to an expansive southern plantation of the late IQ"1 century. Hill has figured that several hun­ dred years ago his ancestors were plucked from the African continent and bound against their will for a life of hard labor and little freedom. "Forcibly taking someone else is a violation of their human rights," Hill said. "If people can understand that, that’s a good beginning." Hill is counting on the power of truth and information to find re­ spite from the devastating effects of 300 years of brutal slavery and biased economic systems that have set African Americans up to be held down and pushed around. But the first step in this struggle is understanding exactly what repa­ rations means and why the issue bum s more intensely now than it ever has in the past. "You really can’t make decisions or corrections until you know what you are dealing with,” Hill said. H istorians, sociologists, psy­ chologists and economists will be equally important partners he said, in a study o f the past and present that could filter into public policy changes and possible financial com­ pensation for descendents o f slaves As head o f the Northwest Re­ gional Reparations Campaign, Hill continued on page B5 Reparations advocate Sabriah Rahimah sings a song called “Peace ’ during a conference organized to inform the public about repayment to descendents o f slaves for the work o f their ancestors. > Reduce the Risk of Breast Cancer The Providence Cancer Center’s Integrative Medicine Program will host a free public forum on how to use nutrition and exercise to re­ duce the risk of breast cancer on Thursday, March 13 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the M other Gamelin Room at the Providence Milwaukie Hospital, 10150S.E. 32nd Ave.The forum will discuss how eating certain foods and maintaining a healthy body weight through ex­ ercising can help deter cancer. For more information, call 503- 216-4687. SUN Family Health Day Immunizations, health screenings, strength assessments and dental checks are just a few o f the free services to be offered at the SUN School Family Health Day to be held on Saturday, March 15 from 10a.m. to2p.m. at H.B. Lee Middle School, 1121 NE 172nd. There will also be blood pressure and vision checks, free family first aid kits and information in English and Spanish on a variety o f health- related topics. For more inform a­ tion call 503-255-5686. Women's Day Celebration Radical Women hosts a celebra­ tion of International W om en's , Day with insurgent songs, poetry and political commentary. In soli­ darity with the day’s national anti­ war activities, w om en's rights rebels will challenge Bush’s war at home and abroad. Saturday, March 17 at 7 p.m. at the Bread and R o ses C e n te r, 8 19 N. Killingsworth. A Middle Eastern buffet, with vegan and vegetarian options, will be served at 6 p.m. for a $7 donation. Juneteenth Celebration Meeting The House o f Exodus Juneteenth Association invites those inter­ ested in forming the Juneteenth Vending Com mittee to attend a meeting Wednesday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at the McCoy Academy located at 3802 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For more information, call 503-281-9597. Band Fund Raiser The Evergreen High School Band and Colorguard has been selected to represent the State of Washing­ ton in the American Salute to the Veterans of WWII in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in June o f2003. In order to defray the cost of attendance, the Evergreen Band Boosters will hold a fundraiser benefit show featuri ng the Patrick Lamb Band with Debra Crowe and comedian Angel Ocasio. The show will take place in the Evergreen High School Audito­ rium , 14300 NE 18th St, in Vancouver, Wa. on Friday, March 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors available through Fastixx bycalling I -800-992-TIXX. Formore information, call 360-256-9015. * photos by D avid P i . echi / T he P ortland O bserver The Jefferson Dancers practice for an upcoming tour in France. The Jefferson High School-based group will depart Portland on Monday. March 15 for two performances in the European country. D ance to France by D avid P i . echi , T h e P o rtland O bserver The posters are up. The Jefferson Dancers are coming - to France that is. These talented young artists have a date with destiny and a welcoming foreign audience eager to experience the panache of one o f the most tal­ ented dance groups around. “T hey’ve worked hard for it,” said Dede Priest, the com pany’s m anager. Based at Jefferson High School in Artistic Director Steve Gonzales is north Portland, the dancers are com ­ largely responsible for the dancers' prised o f students from several Port­ current level o f professionalism. land area schools. The troupe was invited to France after the father of a former dancer saw the company dance recently at the Portland Art Museum. Impressed, he sought to bring them to his daughter's hometown in the Jefferson Dancers have been rehears­ ing double time since they g ot word about their travels abroad. Hard work lands Jefferson Dancers an international performance Name That Bridge south of France. The dancers will depart Portland on Monday, March 15. They’ve been working with artistic director Steve Gonzales at a feverish pace ever since they heard the news. “This is awesome," said Gonzales, who was instrumental in bringing the dance group up to its current level of professionalism. "Their eyes are go­ ing to be opened to a whole new world.” The dancers haven’t toured inter­ nationally since 1988 when the group traveled to Russia for a handful of performances. In fact, for many of the kids, the trip to France will be their first jaunt out­ side U.S. borders. continued on page B3 Legislators to Host Town Hall 15 from 10a.m. to noon at the Baltazar F. Ortiz ( 'ommunity ( ’enter at6736NE Ki Uingsworth. These legislators have decided to follow up on their last joint Town Hall held in January when over 200 people participated to address issues the state faces. “We need to focus on where and how to Senator Avel Gordly along with repre­ raise new revenue, not just where and how sentatives Jackie Dingfelder and Steve to make horrible cuts," Gordly said. "Tax March will hold a Town Hall to discuss reform is the key to resolving the crisis that constituent concerns on Saturday, March the State is facing.” The public is encouraged to attend and voice opinions about issues of concern TriMet is seeking ideas for name o f the 4. OOO-foot MAX light rail bridge that spans between the Kenton neighborhood and the Portland International Raceway. Make your suggestions by calling Amber Ontiveros at 503-962- 7662 or emailing r, March 31. I I