Committed to Cultural Diversity
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Healthy Kids Fair
Join the Emanuel Children’s Hos­
pital Healthy Kids Fair and Easter
egg hunt on Saturday, April 15
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 501 N.
Graham.
PFLAG Celebrates
Student
Ambassador
For People to People
See inside, page B5
See inside, page B6
Youth Make I Turiis at Project Hope
The school-to-work
program provides
schooling and skills
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51
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H J 'I I
A weekend devoted to celebrat­
ing diverse cultures at the North­ by S arah B lount
west regional conference hosted T he P ortland O bserver
A 21-year-old with a criminal history and no
by Parents, Families and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). high school degree faces many barriers to employ­
Participants from five states will ment and homeownership. Project Hope, a non­
g a th e r at the Lloyd C e n te r profit school-to-work program, helps young people
DoubleTree, April 21-23 for an overcome those obstacles. Youth advocate Reba
workshops and entertainment, Strickland runs the project, located at 223 NE
and an address from Mayor Tom Russell St, with Scott Espedel and Pastor Richard
Potter and keynote address from Porbasco. Through its partnership with Portland
PFLAG National president Sam CommunityCollege’sCascadeCampusSkillsCen-
Thoron. Formore information call ter, the project helps at-risk young men and women
Patricia Keeney at 503-233-5683 between the ages of 15 and 21 to build a better
or
v isit
h ttp :// future by getting their GED, college degree or trade
certificates.
nwpflagconf.tripod.com/.
Project Hope pays for students' school fees,
State of the Zoo Address:
and sets them up with after-school employment
Director's Luncheon
assembling furniture. They sell the various items
Director Tony Vecchio will de­ including chairs, bookcases, dressers, and beds
liver his annual "State of the Zoo” on site and through an e-Bay business. Profits go
address on Thursday, April 13 at to school costs and students’ paychecks, which
11:30a.m.,attheOregon Zoo. For average between minimum wage and $8.50 an
general information call 503-226- hour.
1561 orvisitwww.oregonztxi.org.
Project Hope serves lunch each Friday with
guest speakers on a range of topics from business
Candidates Forum
to financial matters. Strickland is looking for busi­
Meet candidates for Multnomah
ness leaders and others in the community to speak
County Commissioner District 2
at these lunches.
on Tuesday, April 18 from 7:00
“A lot of kids don’t know how to handle their
p.m. to 9 p.m. at University Park
finances and lifetime skills,” Strickland said. "What­
United Methodist Church, 4775
ever they have to offer these young adults, they
N. Lombard at Fiske.
need a lot of help.”
Strickland said the three-person staff is looking
Brown Bag Lunch Series
Attend the Parkinson’s Disease for volunteers to mentor and tutor, and are seeking
lunch series, “How to Get the grants and donations. Those interested in pur­
Most Out of Medicare: purchas­ chasing furniture, donating or volunteering can
ing the appropriate durable medi­ contact Strickland at 503-287-4914.
cal goods” on Friday, April 21
from noon to 1 p.m. at Providence
Project Hope helps 15 to P
St. Vincent Medical Center, 9205
21-year-olds
get their education
SW Barnes Rd, in Conference
and offers them after-school
Room 12 in the lower level. For
more information and to RSVP
employment.
call 1-800-426-6806 or v isit)
www.providence.org/brain.
_
n a n
W alkof the
Heroines
New open plaza coming
Nursing Mothers Classes
Nursing Mothers Counsel of O r­
egon actively seeks volunteers
to help advocate a woman’s right
to breastfeed her child. If you
have had at least six months
breastfeeding experience, attend
the free training on Saturday, April
22 at Legacy Emanuel Hospital.
Women of diverse ethnic back­
grounds and bilingual women are
in high demand. For more infor­
mation, contact Rachel at 503-
3 8 0 -2 3 0 8
or
Rachel@nursingnxttheiscttunsel.org.
to Portland State
by S arah B lount
T he P ortland O bserver
Portland State University asks
the question: Who is a heroine?
The answer will lie within the
confines of new open plaza and
walkway on the PSU campus, in
what will be one of Portland’s most
impressive and beautiful manifesta­
tions of urban design.
The W alkofthe Heroines, acam-
f1. ?
4 ♦
pus and community partnership, is
v
designed to be both a cultural at­
traction and lasting tribute to
---------- ------------------------------- ----------------- | Oregon’s women. It will be located
Reach the Beach
Registernow forthe May 20cycle
through wine country to Cape
Kiwanda, in a ride benefiting the
American Lung Association of
Oregon. The event provides full
support, food, hot showers, etc.
To
re g iste r,
v isit
www.reachthebeach.org or call
503-459-4508.
Write Around Portland
Seeks Volunteers
Are you interested in becoming a |
facilitator for W rite A round
P ortlan d 's volunteer-run ten-
week workshop? The workshop
is for low-income adults, home­
less or mentally disabled people
or others who face barriers to
writing workshops. Contact Jill
Tuleya a, 503-796-9224.
Jefferson Alumni Basketball
On April I4at6p.m.Jeffalums will
play a total of three games: late
80s versus early 90s; late 90s ver­
sus 2000s; winners’ champion­
ship. Tickets are $5 for adults and
$3 for students. For more informa­
tion, call 503-916-5180(ext) 1352.
years
r community
n m m i / n i t v service
w rvi
An a rtis t's design o f the future Walk o f the Heroines, a new com m unity space paying tribute to
women, com ing to Portland State University.
Clash of the
Ol&ss
High school comedy champs give new
meaning to “sophomoric humor”
The N orthw est’s first annual High School
Improv C om edy Cham pionship is set to begin
April 14. The even, includes the best high
school improv com edians from high schools
in the Portland metro area battling for the
honor to be top improv comedian. Jam Night,
P o rtlan d 's prem ier im prov-sketch com edy
show, along with Empyrean Perspectives Inc.
and Perspec+, will be hosting the Friday
nights of com petition in the M ahalia Jackson
Hall in North Portland.
This first o f its kind com petition is a great
T u alatin , W ilso n v ille, and G len co e h ig l
schools. T he second night, Friday A pril 2 1
will feature three V ancouver schools — Ev-
ergreen, H ockinson, and M ountain View ,
The last night o f prelim inary co m p etitio r
w ill take place on Friday A pril 28 betw eer
Sunset, G resham , Lake O sw ego and Lin
coin high schools.
The finals will be held on Friday May 5
featuring the three winners from each o f the
prelim inary rounds.
Each nigh, o f com petition will begin at 9
opportunity tor students to show case their
corned,c prowess, theater skills, and to actu-
ally be rewarded for being the class clow n.
T he first night. Friday A pril 14. w ill
sh o w c a s e c o n te s ta n ts fro m R iv e rd a le .
p.m. in the M ahalia Jackson Hall located at
8131 North D enver Ave. Tickets arc $5 for
general public and $2 for students with high
school ID. For more information call 503-
735-4184 or visit w ww iam-niah, com
dicular.oneblock west of the blocks.
The w alk's executive committee
aims to break ground this summer,
with a grand opening in the fall.
To experience the walk will be
more than a quiet stroll. Once com­
pleted, the impressive display will
combine several dimensions o f trib­
ute to individuals, with a park and
community setting. The project’s
designers are committed to creating
a diverse tribute, honoring women
o f many different cultures and eras, i
“W e’ve done a bit of outreach in i
at the juncture of the university and
South Park Blocks, running perpen-
continued
yf
on page R6
(JO Law School Honors
Judge Clifford Freeman
Multnomah CircuitCourt 1
Judge C lifford Freemati w ill
receive the 2(106 I rolln
mayerawardfoi PublicSer
vieeatabanquet in Portland
FF
1
i
JBL
on Apri I 2 1.
I lie aw ard cerem ony .
ei\eii b\ Ibe I n o eisiK ot
J
tor 30 years.
Freeman, a Portland na-
tive, earned degrees in eco-
nomics, education, and law
from the University o f Or-
egon. A circuit court judge
HHk
since 1996. Freeman was
r sB volved
at the beginning of
O regon School o f Law
?em an P o r tla n d ’s
C o m m u n ity
Alumni Association, will
C ourts and presided over
begin at 7:00p.m. at the Embassy Suites. them from 1998 until 2002. In addi­
3I9S.W . PineS,.
tion to his extensive legal career, he
“Judge Freeman personifies the has been a m em ber of num erous lo­
qualities of a good judge, a public cal, state, and national boards and
servant, and a mentor - he doesn't com m issions. Freeman is currently
seem to be affected by his own con­ O regon's only African-American cir­
siderable power as he goes about cuit court judge.
living an exemplary life for the gotxl
The Frohnmayer A ward is given out
o f his c o m m u n ity ," said E llen yearly to recognize a graduate, faculty
Rosenblum, Oregon Court o f Ap­ member, or friend whose public service
peals judge who has known Freeman brings honor to the School of Law.