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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 19, 2003)
Committed to Cultural Diversity C o ni in u n i t y a I e n d a r Learn how to take an effective I role in hum anely and com pas sionately controlling pet over-1 population at a Pet O verpopu lation Prevention C lass at 6:30 I p.m . on W ednesday, M arch 19 at the O regon H um ane Society, | 1067 N.E. C olum bia Blvd. A t tend this m eeting to receive I tools to assist your neighbor hood and make a positive change for the lives o f hom eless cats through spay and neuter pro grams. For more information, cal I | 503-416-2985. Juneteenth ■ Celebration Meeting The House o f Exodus Juneteenth I Association invites those inter ested in forming the Juneteenth Vending Committee to attend a meeting Wednesday, March 19 at 7 p.m. at the McCoy Academy, located at 3802 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Formore information, call | 503-281-9597. Band Fund Raiser The Evergreen High School Band I and Colorguard has been selected to represent the State o f Wash ington in the American Salute to the Veterans o f World War II in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in June o f I 2003. In order to defray the cost o f I on Friday, March 21 at 7 p.m. Tickets are$15for adults and$12 I for students and seniors avaik able through Fastixx by calling 1- 800-992-TIXX. Formore informa-1 tion, call 360-256-9015. IFCC Bridge Benefit Former Masonic Temple wanted for music education A group o f Portland’s best and brightest is makingadifferencebringing music back to area kids. Ethos, Inc., a nonprofit music center was started in 1998 by Charles Lewis, a recent graduate o f Harvard University. After re turning to Portland, he quickly recruited a group o f inspired students from the Univer sity o f Portland, Portland State University and Evergreen College to bring music educa tion back to Portland’s underserved youth. Demand for music education opportuni ties has skyrocketed in recent years. Faced with adwindling budget, the Portland School District has had to cut most o f its arts edu cation funding. “When I started Ethos there were only two teachers for every thousand students taking classes in music, art and drama com bined. Five years later, the problem has only become worse,” Lewis said. In fact, only h alfo f Portland’s elementary schools have any music education programs whatsoever. The schools that do have mu sic often limit instruction to 20 minutes per class per week. Ethos has responded to this need by offering music lessons both at its northeast Portland headquarters and directly in local schools. There are currently 280 students a week taking classes in Ethos’ tiny facility at 27 N.E. Kiliingsworth. Ethos has also started 48 after school music education programs in schools, alternative schools and community centers throughout Oregon. Expanding to fill a critical need in local schools, Ethos has Program. Learn the Art of Mehndi hum ble abode a few blocks aw ay, this vibrant nonprofit is tackling the purchase o f a new building w hile building on its own success. While the actual purchase o f the M a sonic Temple will be comparatively cheap, estimates for its renovation range from $800,000 to $2.7 million. To pay for the upgrade, Ethos will have to approach some of the Northwest’s largest foundations. But Ethos is no stranger to local foun « ç-T , dations. E thos’ current list o f funders is a “W ho’s W ho” o f the N orthw est’s p h il anthropic com m unity. In the past year alone. Ethos has received program grants from the Paul Allen Foundation, the Fred M eyer Foundation, the C ollins F ounda tion, the T em pleton F o u n d atio n , the Wyss Foundation, the Ford Fam ily Foun dation and m any others. “O ur challenge is translating our tre V *1 m endous program support into a capital 1 F < W ‘ï: cam paign that will allow us to com pletely .>«7. renovate this incredible building. I am confident w e can do that within two years," Lew is said. A big fan o f Robert Kennedy, Lewis was originally inspired by President John K ennedy’s vision o f a new Cam elot. “C am elot was about bringing people together w hile fighting for justice,’’Lew is Music instructors with Ethos, Inc. strike up a tune in front of the former Masonic said. “It is a cause that is close to al I o f our Hall next to Jefferson High School. The non-profit group wants to use the long hearts at E thos.” abandoned building for music education for underserved kids. For Ethos, the battle cry is equality in music education. If previous success is outgrown one building after another. the Portland Public School District. The Dis any indication, even more Portland youth On the verge o f outgrowing its most recent trict, a highly motivated seller, wants to sell will have m usic in their lives because o f building, Ethos is looking west to the aban o ff excess property to generate revenue for Ethos, Inc. doned Mason ic Temple next to Jefferson High their most important venture teaching stu Formore information about Ethos, Inc.’s School. dents. proposal for the Masonic Temple, visit Boarded up and neglected forover32 years, E nter Ethos - a m otivated buyer with a w w w .O re g o n M u sic A c a d e m y .o rg or the Masonic Temple is currently owned by m ission. H aving outgrow n its current www.ethos-inc.com. Capitol Sends Minorities, Women Packing Advocacy groups lose funding, keep up fight for future support The Interstate Firehouse Cultural by D avid P lechl Centerwillholda Duplicate Bridge T he P ortland O bserver Contest to benefit the non-profit Lawmakers in Salem decided tocut funding arts center on Sunday, March 23 to commissions on women and minorities in an between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the IFCC, 5340 N. Interstate Ave. For | attempt to balance a current budget crisis. Sen. Avel Gordly, D-Portland, was one o f a donation o f $25, players will play a sanctioned gam e with I the most ardent defenders o f the commis sions. At a caucus meeting, the African masterpoints awarded and receive a home-cooked meal, complimen-1 American lawmakerquestioned how minor ity voices would continue to be heard in the tary beverages and snacks. A prize overwhelmingly white Legislature. will be awarded to the winning But Gordly eventually decided the imme pair o f the contest. Interested parties are to register by calling | diate need for prescription drugs forthepoor outweighed the com missions’ need. 503-823-2070. “I’m operating on some faith here,” said SMART Program Barbeque I Gordly, noting that the budget by newly N ew S easons M a r k e t’s | elected Gov. Ted Kulongowski for a two- C oncordia location w ill spon year period beginning in July includes full sor a barbeque benefit on Satur-1 funding for the commissions. day, M arch 22 and Sunday, | The Senate approved the current year M arch 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. cuts unanimously. The House was nearly to help O regon’s leading vol-1 u n teer program dedicated to early childhood literacy. Hawai- [ ian style b ee f ribs, tofu on Jas mine rice with grilled vegetables, I a piece o f fruit and a beverage will be served for $5 all day at 5320 N.E. 33rd Ave. All proceeds will be donated to the SM ART | Marth 19. 2003 Ethos Bids for Abandoned Building Preventing Pet Overpopulation attendance, the Evergreen Band Boosters will hold a fundraiser benefit show featuring the Patrick Lamb Band with Debra Crowe and com edian A ngel O casio. The show will take place in the Ever green High School Auditorium, 14300 N.E. 18th St. in Vancouver | www.portlandobserver.com Democratic Leader Deborah Kafoury o f Port than $50,000. Keeping them out o f the next land made a last ditch effort to save the two-year budget cycle would save about commissions. $642,000. Kafoury said if they .didn’t stay in the If the cuts stand. Rice said minorities in budget, Democrats would walk. Oregon will suffer. He fears the voice o f The move infuriated House Speaker Karen A frican Americans and all peoples o f color Minnis o f Wood Village who temporarily will be lost. shut down budget negotiations. ___ The next day, M innis w arned the b u d g et deal w ould go fo r w ard w ith o r w ith o u t D em o cra tic votes. Everette Rice.executivedirec- tor o f the O regon Com m ission on Black A ffairs echoed the hope that despite the vote, the L egis - Everette Rice, Oregon Commission on Black Affairs lature w ould eventually restore funds. “I think the commissions will be here,” The commissions have served as a voice Everette Rice of the Oregon Commission Rice said. and pipeline between minority communities on Black Affairs The state provides about $80,000 a year to and the legislature for years. the commissions representing women, Afri “ If the commissions are allowed to be unanimous. But beneath the surface, legisla can Americans, Hispanics and Asian Ameri wiped out com pletely it is going to put the tive discussions were much more volatile. cans. state at a disadvantage," Rice said. “ I love The deal to balance the state’s 2001-2003 By eliminating them from the current bud this state. But I’m concerned about where budget was nearly jeopardized when House get, which ends June 30, the state saved less it is going.” I f the commissions are allowed to he wiped out completely it is going to put the state at a disadvantage. Woman o f Faith Local resident Annette Steele honored fo r family achievments and contributions to her community The Beaverton City Library will present a workshop in the Indian artofM ehndi ledby Harsha Parikh on Sunday, March 23 at 2 p.m. in The Blazers honored local resident technician are her legacy. Annette Steele, a strong woman o f faith, for the library'sconferenceroom lo Steele was one o f eight local African- cated at 12375 S.W. 5* St. in her perseverance as a single parent o f seven, A mericans to be honored at each home game working six days a week, cleaning houses as during February for Black History Month. Beaverton. Mehndi is the art o f decorating the hands and feet faraway as L.ake Oswego with walking as her She was selected for the honor based on mode o f transportation. using dye made from the leaves of her outstanding achievements and contri the henna plant. For more infor Steele takes pride in the success her chil butions to her community. She received a mation, call 503-644-2197, exten- | dren have achieved through her tireless ef $500 stipend and a Black History Month sion5262. forts to put them through college. Steele's ticket section, both o f which she has c h o s e n ______________ children: an attorney, two teachers, a state todonate to Fellowship Missionary Baptist Portland Trail Blazer executive Nick Jones (left) and Blazer star Rasheed Wallace continued on page B7 worker, a grocery executive and a medical Church. introduce Annette Steele during ceremonies honoring leaders in the community. I
