î,!‘‘JInrtlanb ©bseruer Page A6 February 15. 2006 BLACK HISIORY M O N IN und the American l.xpericinc J a Z Z for Ail Ages PIONEER, LEGEND, UNCLE on Hendricks was born in 1921 in Newark, Ohio. One of 15 children, he J began his music career a t’ the age of 7 singing on the local radio with Great Art Tatum. Mr. Hendricks went on to perform with jazz legends such as Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Count Basie, George Benson. Wynton Marsalis, and Bobbie McFerrin. Nicholas Payton * • * continued fro m Front Jazz, a presentation which paral­ lels the African American experi­ ence and jazz history, at a free public perform ance, M onday, Feb. 20 at Reed College. M ost educational p rogram ­ ming is free and open to the public, with the exception o f one vocal workshop. To round out the full jazz im­ mersion, the Festival also offers jazz films, jazz exhibitions, and jazz while you dine at brunch, lunch, or dinner at numerous jazz events - or taking in a jazz cruise along the W illamette River. Jazz lovers will also hear mu­ sic by the New Orleans musi­ cians, w ho have relocated to Portland, perform throughout the festival calendar. For the full schedule o f events, artists’ biographies, tickets and a d d itio n a l in fo rm a tio n , visit www.pdxjazz.com or call 503- 228-5299. Individual tickets are available by visiting pdxjazz.com or by calling 503-224-8499 or 1-800- 992-8499. | Today Jon Hendricks is considered the “father of vocalese” and is a distinguished Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Toledo. He is a Grammy award winner, a French Legion of Honor awardee, and has been called the Poet Laureate of Jazz. Mr. Hendrick's nephew, Art Hendricks, works at the Portland Development Commission as a Public Participation Coordinator. We thank Art for helping make city government more accessible to the citizens of Portland. And we salute Jon Hendricks for his contribution to America’s original art form, jazz. Celebratiti& Mack History Month hnasttug zzz I*ori tanti ' i itiurt PDC P O R T IA N D D F V f l O P M f N Î C O M M IS S IO N 22? NW Fifth Avenue, P ortland, OR 9 /2 0 9 Stefon Harris tel: 503.823.3200 • fax 503.823.3368 • www.pdc.us FEBRUARY 2006 It’s N ot Too Late to G et a F lu S h o t and N ot th e Flu. photo by M ark W ashington /T hf . P ortland O bserver PCC Cascade President Dr. Algie Gatewood leads the largest African and African American student population within the Portland Community College system and one of the most diverse campuses in Oregon. Blasting Through Barriers • * continued fro m Front PCC’s Cascade campus is a liv­ ing thing; drawing in high school graduates, returning students, ca­ sual course takers, and culture- hungry patrons. What they learn and experience inside those urban Walls is pumped back into the com­ munity. It spreads across the street to Jefferson High School, up and down Killingsworth, and snowballs into the area's revitalization. The school’s growth over the past 35 years is pretty impressive, considering the concentration of minorities it serves. Cascade has the largest African and African A m erican student population within PCC, and Gate wixxl believes they may have one of the most diverse campuses in Oregon. Enrollment at Cascade is on the rise, last year's enrollment was nearly 16,00() students. Gatewood would love to see that number grow in the next few years, to 20,000. It's a lofty goal, but with their focus on accessibility, coupled with commu­ nity dynamics and economic resur­ gence. the chemistry is good. In an effort to realize this growth. Cascade recently hosted PCC's first financial aid day, a program i offering tree specialized assistance in completing, or conquering, the formidable free application for fed­ eral student aid. Much like an accountant shed­ ding light on tax breaks, the program lips off students eligible for federal, state, public and private money. “It we can ge, money into their hands,” he said, “then we have a better chance.” Another tactic to break down barriers: changing the negative mindset that people aren't college material. A campus connection with Jefferson across the street lets high school students take PCC classes that count toward college and high school credit. “The idea was to get students excited about going to college early." he said. “Get them enrolled and dispel the myth of ‘I can' t go to college.' The thought then be­ comes ‘I can continue college.” ’ Amidst the rapid change and gro w th , G atew ood e n v isio n s Cascade's future as improving its role as educational hub and com­ munity leader. “Education is the common de­ nominator to economic success,” he said. “This is where it takes place.” Flu Shots are Covered for People with Medicare Part B For Information, call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov dedn tzzc / ’(/