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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 2003)
O ctober 15. 2003 ®lje ^portlanh (ßbecruer Page A5 Midwives Share Experiences Supporting Women Healers to Connect at PSU bv J a v m e e R . C irr i T he P ortl and O bserver From hair care to healthcare, alternative m edicine and natural cures have becom e very trendy. Some say household rem edies are more affordable. O thers like the com m on-sense holistic approach to good health. M any are casting a line to their ancient ancestors and adopting cures once trusted by healers. O ne Portland-based organiza tion is making history by bring ing African-American healers and m idw ives together to share tech niques, philosophy and provide support for an underrepresented, yet age-old profession. P ortland S tate U n iv ersity ’s W om en's S tudies D epartm ent h asjo in ed with the International Center for Traditional C hildbear ing for the second annual Black M idw ives and H ealers C onfer ence from T hursday, O ct. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 1 9 atP S U ’s campus. “ I’ve attended many confer ences for midwifes, but none have really addressed issues that black midwives face,” said Shafia Mon roe, board president and confer ence organizer. “With an increase ofblack healthcare providers in the profession, no one is addressing what we can do to help decrease disparities for women o f color who have the highest infant mortality and premature birth rates.” The conference, the only o f its kind, is draw ing about 200 people from Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Alabama, Georgia, Canada, G hana and Berm uda. Participants are reconnecting with ancient traditions through w orkshops such as "W hat is the B lack D iet,” "M o th erin g the M o th e r an d th e T ra d itio n a l Doula,” and “ Health, Healing and W h o le n e ss fo r th e A fric an - Am erican W om an” and activities such as W est A frican dancing and creating a com m unal alter. R eturning to ones roots is in tegral to the work o f the m odem m idw ife, according to M onroe, a m idw ife for 23 years and m other o f seven. She taught practical les s o n s in n u tr itio n , m a ssa g e therapy and proper posture from an A frican perspective during a recent session w ith a client. Robyn H arris, w ho is seven m o n th s p r e g n a n t, sa id she sought out a m idw ife for the em o tional support she would provide. “ I w ant the cultural reference o f having a m idw ife,” she said. “ It ties the cultural aspect o f a vil lage raising a child and makes the birth m ore special if the baby is delivered by som eone w h o 's ap proachable.” M onroe says she agrees that m idw ifery incorporates a "v il lage” approach to childbirth. N u rs e M id w ife B a rb a ra D ouglass, a keynote speaker at the conference, will speak on “ U nity is O urs.” “ P rofessionals d o n ’t always work collaboratively,” said M on roe. “ If professionals are collec tively unified in the health out com es o f a client, a reference sys tem could include a chiropractor, m assage therapist, nutritionist, breastfeeding advocate and m en tal health councilor that all have the sam e philosophy.” The documentary "B ringin’ In Da Spirit,” which heralds the ac complishments o f African-Ameri can midwives in the Unites States, wi 11 debut at the conference. Rhonda L. Haynes, the film ’s director, pro- PHOTO bv J avmee R. Cirri/T he P ortland O bserver M idwife Sh a fia M onroe (left), fo u n d er o f th e International C enter for Traditional Childbearing, h elp s Robyn Harris learn s a fe p o sitio n s for sta n d in g a n d b ending during pregnancy. ducer and cinematographer, will take questions during a discussion after the viewing. For more information about the conference or the various pro- gram s that International C enter IL Hispanics in Military’s Lowest Ranks (A P ) — T he P entagon needs to review the p ro m o tio n p ro ce ss that has left m ost H isp a n ics serving in the m ilita ry ’s low est ranks, H ispanic lead ers say. “ W e have no fo u r-sta r g e n eral or adm iral th a t’s H ispanic,” said A lb ert C. Z ap a n ta, c h a ir m an o f the D efense D epartm ent re se rv e fo rc e s p o lic y b oard. “O ut o f all the eth n ic g roups ... we are th e o n ly ones u n d e rre p re s e n te d , u n d e rp ro m o te d , u n d e r-e v e ry - th in g .” Z apanta spoke to H ispanic journalists, businessm en and aca dem ics as they assem bled for a speech by D efense S ecretary D onald H. Rum sfeld, as part o f H ispanic H eritage m onth, that honored H ispanic contributions to the m ilitary. The group w ants the depart ment to set up a group that w ould begin to look into the prom otions and find away to lift more Hispan ics am ong the ranks. A fter his sp eech, R um sfeld ac k n o w led g ed th e plea for a review o f the p roblem . He said “ the fu n ctio n in g o f th is force d ep en d s on our b ein g able to reach out to the en tire so c ie ty ” and for peo p le to know there w ill be good o p p o rtu n itie s for them if they jo in the arm ed fo rces. Black Caucus Praises Hispanic Leadership Calls for the celebration of different cultures This is a historic time in America, where the voice and collective power o f African Americans and Hispanics have never been stronger. The Congressional Black Cau cus is praising the work o f His panic leaders past and present as part o f Hispanic Heritage Month. “The progress our great n a tion has m ade is a testam ent to all that can be achieved when people o f all races, religions, and ethnicities put aside their differences and com e together to work for a stronger more in clusive nation, said U.S. Rep. Elijah E. C um m ings, D-M d., chairm an o f the caucus. Cummings called foran America where different cultures are cel ebrated, "an America where an in - U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, chairman of the Black Congressional Congress dividual isjudged on his or her merits sacrifices delivered rights to thou rather than their skin color or coun sands o f workers. try of origin, and a nation where Healso saluted Celia Cruz whose every single child is able to realize hypnotic rhythms spread across their full potential regardless oftheir borders and touched millions, and economic background.” Severe Ochoa whose scientific dis He said all Americans should coveries won him the 1959 Nobel rem em ber the trailblazers who Prize and helped save countless helped our country move forward, numbers o f lives. like Cesar Chavez whose selfless "This isa historic time in America, ■MMMMMMMMMMNMHM WHM Estefan Receives Humanitarian Award (AP) — Gloria Estefan, this year’s re cipient o f The Buoniconti Fund Humani tarian Award, autographed drums at a fund-raiser to raise awareness o f spinal cord injury. Cal Ripken Jr., Oscar De La Hoy a, David Robinson J im Brown, Dorothy Hamill and Roger Penske were among those honored at the “Great Sports Legends Dinner” in New York. Marc Buoniconti, son o f Hall o f Fame linebackerNick Buoniconti, was paralyzed in a college football game in 1985. The dinner, now in its 18th year, brings to gether business, sports and entertain ment leaders. Hispanic Heritage Celebration, Protest S inger a n d humanitarian Gloria E stefa n autographs drum s b efo re a ttending th e 1 8 th Annual Great S p o rts L eg en d s Dinner in N ew York. (AP photo) where the voice and collective power o f African Americans and Hispanics have never been stron ger," Cummings said. "In Congress, I am proud o f my partnership and friendship with Congressman C'ire Rodriguez, Chair o f the Congres sional Hispanic Caucus. He and I believe that the liberties espoused in the Constitution will not be real ized unless we come together as one nation, united for a prosperous future.” for T raditional C hildbearing of- fers, cal 1503-460-9324 extension 3orvisitwww.blackm idwives.org. Party S upports El S alvador M ission V olunteers w ith N orthw est M edical Team s will host a ben efit on Friday, O ct. 24 to raise funds to cover expenses for an upcom ing m ission to El Salva dor. The event is from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at Urban W inew orks, 407 N.W. 16th Ave. The evening will feature live music by jazz artists, the City Lights Project, plus a selection o f fine wines and a collection o f eclectic art by N orthw est art ists. Become a community radio hero» Donate some o f your valuable time The level o f commitment is up to you. Volunteers are needed to answer phones October 23—28 Get involved... Call 503-^92-7607 Do the bright thing Pacific Pow er w an ts to help you use elec tricity wisely. W hen your hom e is energy-efficient, you can save m oney an d be m ore com fortable. G et started w ith these sim ple tips: ■ W h e n co o le r w e a th e r hits, se t y o u r th e r m o s ta t b e tw e e n 65° an d 68°F, if your health perm its. Each degree you low er y o u r th erm o stat can save up to 3 percent on y o u r bill. S inger a nd songw riter Victor M anuelle p erfo rm s in honor o f H ispanic Heritage M onth in th e E a st R oom o f th e W hite H ouse. (AP photo) ■ D o n ’t block h ea tin g reg isters, b aseb o a rd s, ra d ia to rs o r cold air re tu rn s. Air has to circulate for y o u r heating system to w o rk efficiently. ■ P u t c o m p a c t flu o re sc en t bulbs in light fix tu res that are heavily used. These bulbs use o ne-quarter the energy an d last 10 tim es as long. ■ Install en erg y -efficien t sh o w erh ea d s an d fa u c e t a e ra to rs . They can save on hot water, an d the new est m odels deliver excellent w ater pressure. (AP)— Thelively beat and smooth rhythm ofCaribbean music li lied the White House on Thursday as Presi dent Bush celebrated Hispanic Heri tage month with several hundred Hispanics - a voting bloc that’s cen ter stage in the 2004 presidential race. “Mi casa es su casa (My house is your house)," Bush told the au dience, a w ho’s who o f Hispanic musicians, sports figures, govern ment officials and celebrities. TheCongressional HispanicCau- cus called the more than hour-long event a photo-op and declined to attend. I 1 ■ Look for th e E nergy S ta r ' label w hen buying new appliances. You'll save m oney on energy costs and help protect the environm ent by using less energy. The Energy Trust of O regon is offering FREE Energy Reviews for residential custom ers. They might suggest program s - from low-cost d u ct sealing to efficient heat p u m p s - to help you use less electricity an d save money. C ontact them at at 1-866-ENTRUST o r visit their Web site at w w w .energytrust.org. 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