Committed to Cultural Diversity
www.portlandobserver.com
1
1
M etro
f t
Jr,
Decem ber 20. 200 6
Step Back with
the ‘Dreamgirls’
À
Movie puts Motown s
girl groups in spotlight
•fjortlanit ODb
See story in Focus, page B3
-
SECTION
Street Turns
to Rosa Parks
First new
signs unveiled
The official unveiling of new street
signs for Rosa Parks Way were unveiled
last Thursday in aceremony drawing com
munity leaders to the thoroughfare's sym
bolic intersection with Northeast Martin
Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
City Commissioners Dan Saltzman and
Eric Sten attended theevent with members
of the Albina Ministerial Alliance, Pied
mont neighborhood representatives. Ur
ban League of Portland President Marcus
Mundy and other community leaders.
The Albina Ministerial Alliance brought
the proposal to rename Portland Boule
vard to Saltzman, who introduced the or
dinance toCity Council for consideration.
Council’s unanimous decision Oct. 18
followed six months of outreach efforts
about the proposal to honor Rosa Parks,
considered the mother o f the modem civil
rights movement.
“This unveiling is a tribute to Rosa
Parks’ courage and triumph over racial
segregation.” said Saltzman. “It is an
honor to be involved in this event along
with other community leaders and our
citizens to honor the memory of this icon
of civil rights”
After brief comments from those in
volved in making the name change pos
sible, the first Rosa Parks Way sign was
unveiled.
City Commissioner Dan Saltzman, Piedmont neighborhood repre
sentatives, members of the Albina Ministerial Alliance and other
community leaders gather to unveil the street signs going up in
honor of Rosa Parks, the new name replacing Portland Boulevard.
¿s «**'..* JL *
■ \
s>-
H m Bai
«
tSW
M
i
* IB
JflH
T
$
J
,
photo by M \ rk
Y\ ashington /T iie P ortland O bserver
Brandon’s Story:
The Ultimate Rebound
Break from past
is path of success
At the age o f 18, Brandon Hoggans was sent
to prison. At the age of 27, he is making sure he
never goes back.
Hoggans, who went to Roosevelt High School
in north Portland, spent more than seven years
incarcerated for robbery after his conviction nine
years ago. He admits he hung with the wrong
crowd. However, the experience of being locked
up woke him up and made him vow that he
wouldn't turn into a career offender like his cell
mates.
Since being released, he has been good on his
word.
You’ll find Brandon now either studying to be
a nutritionist at Portland Community College's
Cascade Campus or grabbing rebounds for the
school's men's basketball team. Once he gets his
transfer degree, he plans to go on to Oregon State
University for his bachelor's degree. Following
that up with a master's degree isn’t out of the
question.
"I've made some poor choices in life," Hoggans
said. "But this term I have a 3.5 GPA. I do like the
atmosphere at Cascade. There is no reason why
anyone shouldn't succeed. Everybody, staff and
students, are nice and very helpful."
He alsocredits his family and his inner strength.
"I have strong support from my family," he
said. "My will and determination to be a success
and stay grounded is why I'm here today. 1 always
stay positive."
He chose the area of nutrition because some of
his family members suffer from diabetes and he
continued
on page B5
Freemont St. Contact 503-413-1850, for
reservations, seating is limited. RSVP to
day.
Season for Giving
Fort Lantern Tours
The African American Health Coalition, a
non-profit that touches the lives of mil
lions of African Americans each year,
reminds you to support your community
organization. All donations, grants, and
gifts are tax deductible. For more informa
tion, visit aahc-portland.org.
Fort Vancouver National Historical Site,
1001 E. 5 St., will host the highly antici
pated lantern tours from 7 p.m. to9 p.m. on:
Friday, Jan. 5, Saturday, Jan. 20, Friday
Feb. 2, and Saturday, Feb. 17. Reserva
tions are required. For information; call
360-816-6230.
Diabetes Support Group
Holiday Art Exhibit
Legacy Emanuel Hospital hosts a diabe
tes support group the first and third Thurs
days of every month, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.,
in Room 1027. Next meetings are Thurs
day, Dec. 21 and Thursday, Jan. 4.
WSU Vancouver, 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek
Ave., presents Acrylics on Clay, by local
artist Linda Sawaya, through Jan. 12, in the
Student Services Gallery and selected
works by Ines Epperson thru Jan. 28. in the
Engineering and Life Sciences building.
F or
m ore
in fo rm a tio n ,
visit
vancouver.wsu.edu.
Weight Loss Series
New Seasons Market at Northeast 33rd
and Killingsworth Street will host the free
weight loss classes on Jan. 31, Feb. 28.
March 28, and Apri 125 from 7 p.m. to 8:30
p.m.
Nutritional Cooking
OnTuesday,Jan.9.from6:30p.m.to8p.m.,
the National College of Natural Medicine
will host a free nutrition class and cooking
demonstration by the Nike chef at 2 2 1 N.E.
Brandon Hoggans of
northeast Portland has
bounced back after
serving more than
seven years in prison.
He serves as an
inspirational leader of
the Portland Commu
nity College men's
basketball team.
Bradley-Angle House
The Bradley-Angle House needs volun
teers to help its outreach against domestic
violence. Women of color and bilingual
women are encouraged to call. For more
informa, ion.call 503-282-9940.
Write Around Volunteers
Are you interested in becom ing a facili-
tator for Write Around Portland’s vol
unteer-run ten-w eek w orkshop? The
w orkshop is for low -incom e adults,
homeless or m entally disabled people
or others who face harriers to w riting
w orkshops. C ontact Jill Tuleya at 503-
796-9224.
The Oregon Food Bank seeks volunteers
on Mondays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
and Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, to sort and
repack perishable foods. Call 503-282-0555,
e x te n sio n
272
or
visit
Oregonfoodbank.org.
Work Against Abuse
Volunteer for Crisis Line
Community Advocates invites those in
terested in protecting children from abuse
to become an event volunteer, event out
reach, technology expert, graphic artists
or office support team member. For infor-
mation.call 503-280-1388.
W anttom akeadifferenceinyourcom m u-
nity? Volunteers and advocates are needed
forthe Portland W omen's Crisis Line. The
needs include on-call advocates to re
spond in person or over the phone, out
reach and e d u catio n al e ffo rts, and
fundraising and administrative duties. Call
503-232-4176 for more information.
Women in Community Service
Volunteer female mentors are being sought
by Women in Community Service to work
with incarcerated women at the Coffee
Creek Correctional Facility. The women
provide support and encouragement for
inmates transitioning from prison back
into the community. For information, call
503-570-6614,
Oregon Food Bank
Home buying Classes
Portland Community Land Trust helps
first time and low-income homebuyers
purchase homes at below market price.
Attend a tree, one-hourclass to learn more
about
the
p ro c ra m .
C o n tact
breastfeeding to infant CPR and much
more. For a schedule of events, call 503-
574-6595 or visit: providence.org/classes.
Stroller Class for Moms
Are you a new mom or have a toddler? Get
some exercise and meet other moms at the
free Stroller Strides class, 9 a.m. to 10a.m.
Tuesdays and Thursday at Peninsula Park.
All you need is a stroller, water, a mat or
towel and comfortable shoes. Call Helen at
5(>3-26< )-5() 18 for more i nftirmal ion.
Hatha Yoga Class
In Other Words Books and Resources
hosts Hatha Yoga classes for beginners
and all levels, every Monday, Tuesday
and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at In
Other Words. 8 N.E. Killingsworth. All
genders and ages and donations are wel
come.
Black History Museum
I he Black History Museum o f Oregon
is seeking brilliant minds o f concerned
individuals to help in restructuring the
museum foundation's com m ittee. For
information, call 503-284-0617.
community service