Page A4 JJnrtlanb (Obserucr O pinion Opinion articles do not necessarily reflect or represent the views o f The Portland Observer Advertise with diversity in ' ’ ’Jn rtk tn h ¡COhseruer ( al I 503-288-(M)33 ads@portlandob sçrver.com Interested in a rigorous education for your child? Come and learn about an excflSpg new Charter School The SEI Academy a holistic commuait exposure that includes values, and critical thinking. to e, drama, music and fine arts. an envir meaningful peers. SEI May 05. 2004 Posey for Portland Mayor The fo llo w in g is a Portland O bserver editorial: Jam es L. Posey has earned our endorsem ent for election as Mayor o f Portland. The long-time northeast Port land businessman has kept issues important to minority populations before the public. He has a long record as a community leader who understands the need for business developm ent to create jobs and social justice to protect our most vulnerable citizens. You can count on Posey to push James L. Posey (■where your child w ill build i'ionships w ith teachers and for a highly professional and ethi cal police force. He has extensive experience in affirmative action through his many years o f work in local construction and local government contracts. Finally, we are impressed with Posey ’ s tireless and honorable cam paign. He has spoken on the issues clearly and passionately, attend ing nearly every com munity event and debate in this year’s m ayor’s race. James Posey is one of us and he deserves our support. www miiKjtemunmediaorg ^¿4 Opening this fall - enrolling 6th grade students for a three year middle school Parent Informatioi Tuesday, HoW COM G ro llm e n t Night* $004 AU- <?F A SUDDEN <$0 DW i ' p EB. , C e n te r fo r S e tf •-ÍL 3920 For * you m ust be present a t this receive an application. A ¿ i - • • A ll classes are free of charge! Ä African Americi / X Coalition, Inc. \ WeOness Within REACH Activity Calendar Aerobics M allory Ave. Christian Chun Hon. Wed. Fn, 6-7am, Pierce • 5:3O-i:2Opm, Granville • 6:3Q-7:30pm, Nickerson H u m b old t E lem entary Tue. Thu, 6-7pm, Keller fib m a n 1'l2 :IS -l:IS p m , Jenkins tody Sculpting Hope in the ‘Hood Worst of violent times can still bring peace courtesy o f H u t Dishman) M a tt Dishman Tue, Thu, 7-8am, Lois Low Im pact Aerobics D aniel’s M em orial Church Tue, 7:15-8:15pm, Granville W a te r Aerobics (Contact AAHC) Salvation A rm y M a tt Dishman W a lk in g Group Peninsula Park Satd2;J0pm. Woods '■ ■ re . { M g n t./C onditioning Portland Indoor Track 9 -1 Oam, Hasan A fr ic a n D a n c e 1WB- M a tt Dishman Sat, 10-1 lam, Addo W ild O ats M arket 7:30-8:30pm, O’Rourke Bady C ond itioning W ild O ats M arket Sat, 9 :30-10:30am, Nickerson Darnel’s Memorial Church 1234 NE Killingsworth Malt Dishman. 7 7 NE K nott (1 2 th & Kilhngsworthi Peninsula Parli. 7 0 0 N Portland Humboldt Elementary. 491S N G antenbein S ahratx» A rm y. S32S N W illiam s Malory Avenue Christian Church (Gym), 126 NE U. of Portland Indoor Trade, SOO N W illa m ette A lberta Wdd Oats H a rk e t. 3S3S NE IS th "H u s t be 21 or older to participate. Please contact AAW befSre showing up to the first class and for more information at 5O3-4I3-I8SO or k d e m p s e y j^ a ^ p d rttth d o rg . Please receive approval from your doctor before beginning. «terrise class. •v R a c ia l and Ethnic A R jK W e h « « to C om m u nity H ea lth A Program ol the African wS Shban Health Coalition, Inc Sponsored by the Centers tor Otoe-i ,n Control and Prevention (CDC) Contact AAHC at 503-413- ISSO or viat our web site at www.aahc-portland.org by K ris R ichards A few months ago on a Friday night I was watching the news, but it was so negative I had to switch channels. I turned to 20/20 and watched a very moving story o f a young man from the inner city. He was in the Marines to earn a way to college and escape a difficult set ting in Long Beach. Captain Sok Khak Ung fought bravely in Iraq, where he received a Pufple Heart for assisting in the rescue o f Jessica Lynch. The irony is he survived the battles o f Iraq, on’.y to be gunned down at a family barbeque in his dad ’s backyard. Accordi ng to 20/20, there have been lO.(XM) homicides o f youth in the past decade in our country. The show concluded with posing, “How can we take back our youth?” The next day, I attended a ser vice at New Song C om m unity Church. I don’t rem em ber much about Pastor Richard Probasco’s sermon, but I remember being riv eted by an event he relayed to us. He had announced the week before o f the passing of 17-year- old Isaiah S trickland. Isaia h ’s mother. Reba, is a Sunday school teacher at the church on northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. H er son had died o f gu n sh o t wounds at a party where noone, according to the news, was talking. The ceremony included heart felt poem s, songs, and strong urgings from family members and “S hell-shocked” is how Juaqutter friends from the community. A poli J o n e s , lo n g - tim e f rie n d o f tician named W oody Broadnax Isa ia h ’s m o th er d escrib ed the challenged the youth to “not let youth. But then, after they heard another one go.” Then, he asked P a sto r R ic h a rd ’s m e ssag e o f who would be willing to stand and G o d ’s hope and kindness, fo r be leaders when others are too afraid giveness, mercy and love, “ It was to stand. Many people stood. like iheir faces said, ‘W ow! This Pastor Richard began his short is good n ew s!” ’ message. It was straight-talk, a bit About 200 young people stood in-your-face hope. that day to fol low the one who came O f the crowd of about 500 on that to serve. They were willing to make “Shell-shocked" is how Juaqutter Jones, long-time friend o f Isaiah’s mother described the youth. But then, after they heard Pastor Richard’s message o f God’s hope and kindness, forgiveness, mercy and love, “It was like their faces said, ‘Wow! This is good news!”’ Nov. 7, about 400 were young a change in their lives. To date, people. They w ere dressed in many of those youth have con clothes more appropriate for the tacted Reha to talk and pray about street than fo ra funeral at a church. their decisions. There were middle school aged Yes, there is hope in the neigh girls with babies, a few young la borhood. dies in very short skirts, and one Ifyouw ouldlikeafreetapeofthe young man— who came in after the funeral, call Dawn at New Song ceremony started and walked up Community Church at 503-493- the center aisle to take a seat up 1301. If you would like a special front— wore a shirt that said a mes Bible from Isaiah's mother, contact sage about sticking w ith your Reba Strickland at Box 56021, Port homies. land, OR 97238. T hey cam e as they were. They Kris Richards is a resident o f cam e to show respect for a friend. northeast Portland. Letters to the Editor Coverage Supports Grant High Team Wise up Don’t try to beat MAX Respect the signals & crosswalks T p 1 I fP r T > Y ou and y o u r sta ff, s p e c ifi c a lly Jay m ee C u ti and M ark W a sh in g to n , d id a w o n d erfu l article on the G rant High School M e n ’s B ask etb all P rogram . T h e M arch 10 issu e w as in o n e w o rd f a n ta s tic ! Ja y m e e c a p tu re d all o f th e facts and q u o te s and p ut them in to an ex c itin g , h ea rtw arm in g article . T he p h o to w as g reat as w ell and wa» c o n fid e n c e b o o st fo r the k ids, w ho a lth o u g h play ing really w ell, w e re n 't getting m uch re c o g n itio n . T h e p o sitiv i feed b ack w e h av e rec eiv e d a: resu lt o f the co v e rag e w as o v er w h elm in g to say the least. T hank you and may G od blesi you to c o n tin u e to do fantastic work. Tony R ro a d o u s, G ra n t Has k e tb a ll H ea d C oach