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