www.portlandobserver.com
Committed to Cultural Diversity
M etro
lanuary 24, 2 0 0 7
Eye-Opening Visual
Hurricane on the
Bayou' at OMNIMAX
See page B2, inside
11,1 ^ lo rtlau b CDbseruer
SECTION
B
Video Students Share Jefferson’s Story
Challenge
media spin with
introspective
film project
by S arah B lount
T he P ortland O bserver
E veryone has an opinion about Jefferson High
School, but have you heard from the students them ­
selves?
You are likely to get a unique view from those who
w alk the halls each day. But these students’ voices
rarely rise above m edia im ages o f drive-by shootings
and drug deals, or concerned board m em bers keeping
the school in a constant state o f upheaval.
A group o f 31 Jefferson sophom ores got behind
the cam era last spri ng to share their own story through
a docum entary called "R eading Betw een the Lines.”
By producing their own ft Im they learned not only the
technical aspects o f the craft, but w ere able to chal­
lenge the stereotypes plaguing Jefferson’s identity.
The docum entary allow s students to share their
opinion o f the sc h o o l's reputation as well as their own
am bitions. C ity leaders, including Portland activist
and form er broadcaster Lew Frederick and C ity C om ­
m issioner Dan Saltzm an, contributed to the film as
well.
The 21 -m inute fi 1m received a standing ovation at
its prem iere at the Portland Art M useum in November.
A second screening and reception took place Jan. 11
at Portland C om m unity C ollege'sC ascadeC am pus in
north Portland.
T he teens took part in the Y oung F ilm m aker’s
Program at the N orthw est Film C enter, w orking with
photo by S arah
B i . oi nt /T he P ortland O bserver
Local documentary filmmaker Sue Arbuthnot (left) and Jefferson High School junior Tiffany Stewart attend a screening of "Reading Between the
Lines: Jefferson - Our Story" at Portland Community College in north Portland.
resident artist and local film m aker Sue Arbuthnot.
T he substance abuse prevention organization O r­
egon Partnership secured a grant for the film project,
w iththe intention o f studying how m ediafilm m aking
positively im pacts prevention measures.
A rbuthnot offered the students technical experi­
ence w hile the teens lent their own am bition to dispel
preconceptions o f gangs, drugs and violence.
“ It was very clear to me they had a passion and a
unified message tochange the perception,” Arbuthnot
continued
on page lift
■MMMHMttMOMH
Finding Strength to
Go and Do Anything
PCC student overcomes obstacles
Portland Community College student Gente Traylor (left) and college district president Preston
Pulliams.
/community
C a I e n d a r
Scholarships Available
D eadlines are approaching for college
scholarships from the Black United Fund
o f Oregon. For detailed inform ation, co n ­
tact bufor@ bufor.org.
Neighborhood Election
The Historic M ississippi Business A sso­
ciation in north Portland rem inds mem bers
o f the im portance o f attending the election
m eeting; w hich has been rescheduled for
Noon. W ednesday, Jan. 3 1. at M ississippi
Pizza.
People of Color Activism
An ‘Action A cadem y’ to galvanize co m ­
m unities o f color to take action regarding
issues affecting their com m unities in the
O regon Legislature will take place S atur­
day, Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m ., at the
C hem eketa C om m unity C ollege, 4(XX)
Lancaster Dr. N.E., Salem, Building 2. For
more inform ation, call: 503-984-6816 or
em ail aeryca@ causaorcgon.org.
Black History Foundation
The Black H istory M useum o f Oregon is
seeking the brilliant m inds o f concerned
individuals to help in restructuring the
museum foundation'scom m ittee. Call 503-
284-0617 for more information.
Valentine-A-Grams
Extra-special V alentine gift boxes loaded
with delicious goodies and with 100 per­
cent o f the $24.95 cost benefiting the
M eals-On-W heels program can be ordered
through Monday, Fcb.5.Call 503-736-6325
or visit: loavesandflshesonline.org.
Camp Fire Candy Sale
Local kids from C am p Fire USA will be
outside many storefronts in M ultnomah
and W ashington counties through Feb. 5
selling delicious candy boxes. The pro­
ceeds help with sum m er cam p expenses.
C a ll
5 0 3 - 2 2 4 -7 8 0 0
or
v isit
[
portlandcam pflre.org.
Free Eye-Screening
T he D evers Eye Institute at Legacy Health
System s will conduct free visual field
screening test for glaucom a and other
serious eye diseases. No appointm ent is
necessary. T he testing schedule is T hurs­
day, Jan. 25, from 11 a.m. to I p.m at 19300
S. W. 65 Ave. in T ualatin, M onday, Jan. 29.
from 11 a.m .to I p.m. at 2 2 11 N.E. 139St. in
V ancouver, and on W ednesday, Jan. 31.
from 11 a.m. to I p .m .a, 1225 N.E. Second
Ave. in Portland.
Community Support
The African American Health Coalition, a
non-profit that touches the lives o f m il­
lions o f African A m ericans each year,
rem inds you to support your com m unity
organization. All donations, grants, and
gifts are tax deductible. For more inform a­
tion, visit aahc-portland.org.
G ente T raylor may look like the stereotypical 18-
year-old. but in reality she possesses maturity and
w isdom beyond her years.
Traylor, w ho is studying to get her associate's o f
arts degree in psychology at the Cascade C am pus in
north Portland, helped raise her brother and care for
her m other, w ho battled a crack cocaine addiction for
ten years.
"H er addiction began when I was four." T raylor
said. "Although she was an addict, my younger
brother and I had clothes, food and a house, how ever,
we ju st didn't have a ’home."'
But don't think that T raylor is a statistic. She has
overcom e this experience and used it to develop her
Men’s Wellness Screening
character.
Tray lor grew up in Jackson. M iss., attending Murrah
High School. W hile there, she m aintained a high
grade-point average, w as honored with inclusion in
the W ho's W ho A m ong American High School Stu­
dents, National Honor Roll and Principal's List Award.
She was also a m em ber o f the school's ROTC and its
C olor Guard.
H er fam ily recently moved to Portland w here her
uncle is a pastor. T he m ove was hard enough but
getting back to school took a lot o f courage too.
"The experience o f my mom's addiction taught me
Girl Scouts Screen Video
Saturday. Feb. If), from 8 a.m. until Noon
Sunday, Feb. 11. from 2 p.m. to4 p.m.. at the
at Legacy Emanuel H ospital, Lorenzen
Kennedy School theater, the Girl Scouts
Center, for a minimal fee o f $10. a m en’s | will raise funds for its Family G iving Pro­
health screening test will be available,
gram with the screening o f the locally
appointm ents are required by calling 503- j produced video "A Circle is R ound”. Call
335-3500.
503-287-514 0 o r503-977-6805 for more in­
formation.
continued
on page B4
nity? V olunteers and advocates are needed
for the Portland W om en's Crisis Line. The
needs include on-call advocates to re­
spond in person or over the phone, o ut­
rea ch an d e d u c a tio n a l e f f o rts , an d
fundraising and adm inistrative duties. Call
503-232-4176 for more information.
Weight Loss Series
Home buying Classes
New Seasons Market at Northeast 33rd
Work Against Abuse
and K illingsw orth Street will host free
Com m unity A dvocates invites those in-
w eight loss classes on Jan. 31, Feb. 28, | terested in protecting children from abuse
March 2 8 .and April 25 from 7 p.m. to8:30
to becom e an event volunteer, event out-
p.m.
, reach, technology expert, graphic artists
or office support team m em ber. For infor­
Diabetes Support Group
mation.call 503-280-1388.
Legacy Em anuel Hospital hosts a diabe­
tes support group the first and third T hurs­ Women in Community Service
days o f every month, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.,
Volunteer female mentors are being sought
in Room 1027.
by W om en in Com m unity Service to work
I with incarcerated women at the Coffee
Bradley-Angle House
Creek Correctional Facility. The women
T he Bradley-A ngle House needs volun­
provide support and encouragem ent for
teers to help its outreach against dom estic
inmates transitioning from prison back
violence. W om en o f color and bilingual
into the com m unity. For inform ation, call
w om en arc encouraged to call. For more
5O3-57O-66I4.
information, call 503-282-9940.
Portland Com m unity Land Trust helps
first tim e and low -incom e hom ebuyers
purchase hom es at below market price.
Attend a free, one-hourclass to learn more
about
th e
p ro g ra m .
C o n ta c t
Kelly @ pclt.org or call 503-493-t 1293.
Parenting Classes
N ew borns d o n ’, come with instruction
m anuals but parents and parents-to-be
can attend classes through Providence
I lealth System s to learn about a variety of
to p ic s fro m p ain and c h ild b irth to
breastfeeding to infant CPR and much
more. For a schedule of events, call 503-
574-6595 or visit: providence.org/classes.
Oregon Food Bank
The Oregon lix x l Bank seeks volunteers
on M ondays from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m..
and T uesdays, 9 a.m. to noon, to sort and
repack perishable hxxls. Call 5,J3-282-O555,
e x te n s io n
272
or
v is it
O regonfoodbank.org.
Volunteer for Crisis Line
W ant to make a difference in yourcom m u-
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 10 a.m.
Tuesdays and Thursday at Peninsula Park.
All you need is a stroller, water, a mat or
towel and com fortable shoes. Call Helen at
5O3-26O-5O18 for more information.