D e c e m b e r 14, 200S-J
w w w .p o rtla n d o b s e rv e r.c o m
Page AIO
Committed to
M etro
Cultural Diversity
ÍIk JJ n rt Ia n b ffihserver
o m m u n ity
C a l e n d a r
Soccer
Heroes
Salvation Army Hair Cuts
The Salvation Army M oore
Street W orship and Community
Center, 5335 N. W illiam s Ave.
offers free professional haircuts
for children in need, on a first
com e first serve basis, from 10
a.m. to 3 p in. on Monday , Dec
19. For more inform ation call
503-493-3927.
Meet Fans
Portland Jazz History
Bob D ie tsc h e , a u th o r o f
Jumptown, a history of Jazz in
Portland and the African Ameri­
can community, will hold a book
signing and reading event Satur­
day, Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. at Talking
Drum Bookstore and Reflections
C o ffe e h o u se ,
446
N.E.
Killingsworth. He will be joined
by Portland Observer writer Ron
W eber w ho w orked w ith
Dietsche on the book.
The Pilots, University of
Portland’s Soccer Champions,
braced the cold, signing auto­
graphs for faithful fans Friday at
Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Red Cross Teaches Safety
The American Red Cross offers a
range of safety classes for crisis
situations, from learning how to
baby sit to performing CPR. The
courses are intended for children
aged 8 through adult. For more
information visit www.redcross-
pdx.org.
photos by I saiah B o i \vJ
T he P ortland O bserver
The University of Portland
Pilots’ latest national
women's soccer championship
is sweet for Pilot fans who
braced the cold to rejoice with
the team at Pioneer Court­
house Square Friday. The fans
were thanked for being sup­
portive all season.
Winter Solstice Blood Drive
The 3rd annual W inter Solstice
Blood Drive at the American
R ed
C ro s s
on
N o rth
Vancouver, Dec. 19-23, features
free gift-w rapping for partici­
pants. To make a blood dona­
tion call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
African Drumming, Dance
The North Star Ballroom, 635 N.
Killingsworth Ct., hosts begin­
ning drumming and Ghanaian
rhythm classes on Tuesdays at 6
p.m. On Wednesdays, intermedi­
ate drumming is offered in addi­
tion to an African aerobics and
dance. Chata Addy teaches all
classes. For more information call
503-6324)411.
Al-Anon Meetings
Al-Anon meetings are held Mon­
day evenings from 7:15 to 8:30
p.m. at Miracles Club on the cor­
ner of Northeast Martin Luther
King Jr. Boulevard and. Mason
Street. Al-Anon is for friends and
loved ones o f alcoholics and
addicts.
Bradley-Angle House
The Bradley-Angle House needs
volunteers to help its outreach
a g a in st d o m e stic v io le n c e .
Women of color and bilingual
women are encouraged to call.
For more information, call 503-
282-9940.
Work For Change
Community Advocates invites
those interested in protecting
children from abuse to become
an event volunteer, event out­
reach, technology expert, graphic
artists or office support team
member. For more information,
call 503-280-1388.
Women in
Community Service
V olunteer m entors are being
sought by W omen in C om m u­
nity Service to work with incar­
cerated women at the Coffee
Creek C orrectio n al Facility.
M entors provide support and
e n c o u ra g e m e n t fo r w om en
transitioning from prison back
into the community. Volunteers
must be fem ales, age 24 and up.
For more inform ation, call 503-
570-6614.
years«
* community service
Bar to Codes
Bar Member
BPA attorney got start
with Saturday Academy
A ndrea D yal
F or the P ortland O bserver
by
When Melanie Spraggins at­
tended Reynolds High School her
skills in math and science wereclear.
Her career plan, however, was not.
But soon an apprenticeship
th ro u g h S a tu rd a y A c a d e m y
played a springboard role, shap­
ing the young woman she would
become.
Spraggins’ talent and hard work
in the high school program cap­
tured the attention of a Saturday
Academy instructor, who encour­
aged her to apply for an apprentice­
ship. In 1994. the pursuit was suc­
cessful and she was working and
learning about science and engi­
neering with the Bonneville Power
Administration.
At BPA, she solved complex,
real-world problems, learning re­
sourcefulness and engineering
skills. One of her accomplishment
was the development of a system of
bar codes for power substations
that are still in use today.
The experience gave Spraggins’
a glimpse of her future.
She completed a second summer
with BPA as an advanced appren­
tice. teaching new interns. After­
wards, Saturday Academy con­
nected her to an internship at O r­
egon Health and Sciences Univer­
sity, which helped clarify her career
goals.
At Oregon State University, she
was elected vice-president of the
student body and later president
on the first African-American ticket
for student body president and
vice-president.
Spraggins’ felt the experience
from her apprenticeships set her
apart and gave her distinct advan­
tages in pursuing her career. She
better understood the value of tak­
ing a more comprehensive approach
to her performance. Daily distrac­
tions carried less importance.
photo by
M ark W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
Melanie Spraggins is a successful attorney with the Bonneville Power Administration in Portland. Her
springboard into the professional world began as a Portland area student in Saturday Academy.
She had a clear picture o f how
excellence in learning could lead
to excellence in her professional
life.
Before she graduated from col­
lege, the BPA hired Spraggins as an
environmental scientist. When she
decided to enter law school, BPA
helped her out.
Fast-forward to 2005. Spraggins
is now a lawyer for the BPA. With
nearly 12 years experience at the
federal agency, she has a firm grasp
on the technical aspects of high
voltage electrical transmission sys­
tems and enjoys a unique niche at
the organization.
In retrospect, Spraggins says
that her Saturday Academy appren-
continued
on page A 6
No Homes for Thousands of Oregon Kids
Heartbreaking report
measures impact
O regon's homeless student population
from the most recent school year was 11.294
kids between 5 and 18 years old. a stagger­
ing figure, according to state Schools Su­
perintendent Susan Castillo.
‘‘This is a heartbreaking report that
shows thousands of children in Oregon
attend school despite lack of safe and
sta b le living situ a tio n s ,” C a stillo
said. "Homeless youths face huge chal­
lenges before they even get to the school
door, and schools work hard to provide
Homelesschildren are de­
these students with what
fined as minors who lack fixed,
they need to ensure they can
regular and adequate night­
access the same educational
time residences. A homeless
opportunities available to
family could live in an em er­
every other student.”
gency shelter or share hous­
The Census Bureau esti­
ing with others due to loss of
mates that I -2 million youth
housing or economic hard­
are hom eless nationw ide,
ship, stay at motels or live in
about 2 percent of all 5-18
cars, parks, public places,
yearolds. The same percent­
tents, trailers, or other similar
age was found in Oregon.
Susan Castillo
settings.
Out o f the state’s 552,320
In Oregon, 56 percent of homeless stu­
students from kindergarten through high
school, 5,052 were homeless in grades K-5. dents reported sharing housing with rela­
2,464 were homeless in grades 6-8, and 3,778 tives or friends due to economic hardship or
similar reason; 17 percent reported living in
were homeless in grades 9-12
a homeless shelter; 9 percent reported being
unsheltered; 5 percent reported living in
motels; 13 percent were unknown
Federal law requires that hom eless chil­
dren have equal access to the same edu­
cation provided to other children. Each
school district is required to have a H om e­
less Liaison to coordinate outreach e f­
forts and services for hom eless students
in their area.
Castillo credited the work of school offi­
cials for compiling the data and for providing
services to homeless students that include
school enrollment, extra tutoring, referrals
for shelter, housing, health care and coun­
seling services.