Page B3 œ*!l o rtUntò (Oh seruer August I, 2007 Stressed out? Learn to Cool-down PCC C ascade C onnection Envision Yourself in the Classroom by A lgie C. G atewood Children are a never-end­ ing source o f joy and humor. The wonder with which they view the world can he a wel­ come rem inder to adults who h ave so m e tim e s b ec o m e jaded by the demands o f work­ ing life. 1 got to experience this firsthand recently when a group o f students from Ockley Green Middle School paid a visit to Cascade Campus. The kids got the red-carpet treatment. They checked out o u r classroom s and science laboratories, took a look at our music studios and m ultimedia labs, and enjoyed a barbecue lunch. They spoke with pro­ fessors and students, and gen­ erally got a taste o f what col­ lege life is about. More importantly, they saw students not so very much older than they are, who rep­ resent diverse cultures, study­ ing hard and working to im­ prove themselves. Once young people have this firsthand perspective, it is a short step to envisioning them selves in the classroom, behind a microscope, or at the controls o f a studio mixing board. O nce they see that people just like them selves are on their way to bigger and better things, the idea o f a college edu­ cation begins to seem less like a far-off dream and more like a natural step waiting to be taken. Overcom ing this perceptual barrier is o f critical importance. Too many young people, espe­ c ia lly th o s e from Expert shares communication tips close-up look at a college cam ­ pus is the first step toward one day becoming a col lege student. Seeing that something is pos­ sible can make it possible in som eone's mind. T hat’s why 1 was happy to host the Ockley Green kids and their teacher, Mr. Lee W illiams, during their day at Cascade Campus. And office to listen to me speak about education and working hard to better oneself. When I was through, they asked me a few questions, a couple of which we adults have been trained not to ask. “ How much money do you make. Dr. Gatewood?" Leave it to a child to cut right to the chase. “Did you have to go to school for a long time to be a Campus President? What kind o f car do you drive? Do you have to wear a suit every day?" Important stuff, re a lly -e x - actly what I would be won­ dering in their shoes. I was th at's why I was so pleased to only too happy to answer, es­ receive a bundle of handwritten pecially if in doing so I helped letters from them, recalling what some o f them connect the dots they saw here with such w on­ between higher education and the car, the suits, and the of­ der and delight. The opinions expressed in fice. And o f course, one of the the letters as to w hat each Ockley Green students hit on student enjoyed the m ost were the most important question as diverse as the kids them ­ o f them all: “ Do you like b ein g in selves, but all o f them were excited and inspired by w hat charge?" Again - leave it to a child. they saw. But it was after the tour was Algie C. Gatewood, Ed.D., over when the fun really began, is p r e sid e n t o f P ortland at least for me. The kids as­ Community College's Cas­ sem bled in the hallway near my cade Campus Sometimes, getting a close­ up look at a college campus is the first step toward one day becoming a college student. underrepresented backgrounds, believe that a college education is something that is denied by the hand that circum stances have dealt them. In reality, how ­ ever, this could not be further from the truth. C o m m u n ity c o lle g e s are relatively inexpensive, em i­ nently accessible, and o ffer a high level o f instruction and academ ic support. And for those with social and econom ic obstacles in their path, signifi­ cant financial aid is available. And som etim es, getting a Feast to Delight the Tastebuds meals to in northeast Portland. Zydeco music and dancers will provide entertainment, as well as help diners learn the steps. “The daily menu at the M ar­ & Fishes C enters Executive tin Luther King. Jr. C enter has Director Joan Smith, both of evolved over the last year to w hom have c o n n e ctio n s to include a variety o f soul food entrees," said Center M anager Southern Louisiana. The pair will be using a tradi­ David Lomax. "The food has tional Creole-style recipe passed received such good reviews that down in Benjamin's family. This we decided to make it available is the second year for the Creole to the general public for one Jambalaya event, which raises special night. We guarantee a needed funds to help serve hot sum ptuous feast to delight the Creole Jambalaya dinner supports meal site The Martin Luther King, Jr. Loaves & Fishes Center is host­ ing its second annual Authentic Creole Jambalaya Dinner on Sat­ urday, Aug. 11, from noon to 5 p.m. The culinary team for this event is headed by Loaves & Fishes Centers Board M ember Teletha Benjamin and Loaves tastebuds!" The menu includes authen­ tic Creole-style jam balaya (a non-seafood version is avail­ able), along with bread, salad, beverage and dessert. Cost is $ 10 for adults and $7 for chil­ dren. T ickets are available from the center. M eals are available for take-out. Martin Luther King, Jr. Loaves & Fishes is located at 5325 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For more information, call David Lomax at 503-988-5211. You Can Get: Honesty, Experience, Superb Training, and Patience from a “Twice-as-Good” Brother A-ZEBRA Realty Inc • Since 1992 George Hendrix, MBA, Ed. D. ABR, CIPS, CRB, GRI Broker/Owner 503-281-9900 a-zebra@a-zebra.com Shareefah Abdullah, a local authority in business com m uni­ catio n s, will keynote C lark C o u n ty C ham ber of C om m erce's August meeting with the presentation “ D on't Sweat the Small Stuff: Curbing C onflict by Learning to Chill." T he sessio n , p art o f the c h a m b e r 's fre e M o n th ly Speaker Series, includes re­ freshm ents and time for net­ working, is 7 to 9 a.m. T uesday, Aug. 14,at Big A l’s. 16615 S.E. 18th St., in East Vancouver. A bdullah - w hose Hot O v a­ tions com pany earned a ch am ­ ber B est-in-C ounty A w ard in 2005 - has garnered reco g n i­ tion for her com m unications work and civic achievem ents. She also operates the com m u­ n ity -serv ice program Black E n tr e p r e n e u r s o f C la rk Shareefah Abdullah C ounty, a m ulticultural b u si­ ness round table providing free e d u c a tio n a l s e s s io n s a n d m entorship. RSVP to the cham ber at 360- 2 5 8 -1 1 8 1 o r in fo @ c la rk cham ber.com . Trust Supports Concordia Library The M. J. Murdock Charitable T ru s t o f V a n c o u v e r has a w a rd e d $1.1 m illio n to Concordia University for state- of-the-art technology in the new library building planned for its Northeast Portland campus. “We are so grateful that the M u rd o c k tru s te e s affirm C oncordia's mission to prepare leaders who will transform so­ ciety,” said Concordia Univer­ sity President Chuck Schlimpert. “We will apply these funds to­ wards providing excellent edu­ cation, and we hope this grant will attract additional resources to help Concordia serve our stu­ dents and our com m unity.” M urdock C haritable Trust E x e c u tiv e D ire c to r S tev en M oore said the grant was a natural next step in a long part­ nership with the school. "We believe that Concordia is making a tremendous contri­ b u tio n to th e P o rtla n d / V an couver co m m u n ity ," he said. In January, Concordia an­ nounced an anonymous gift of $ 1 million to be divided equally between construction of the new library building and an endow­ ment dedicated to long-term support o f service learning through community engagement programs. I Q n h c r r i h p ! 503-288-0033 I □ U U d U lU C ; Fill Out & Send To: I I |Jortlanb (Dbseruer I I Azz/z: Subscriptions. PO Box 3137. Portland OR 97208 I s u b s c r i p t i o n s a re j u s t $ 6 0 p e r y e a r I (please include cheek with this subscription form) I I N ame : _____________________________ I I T elephone : ________ A ddress : ________ I I orewzizz7subscriptions@portlandobserver.com L Any Property Anywhere Have you seen me? Missing and Exploited Children 1-800-THE-LOST Endangered-Missing Non-Family Abductions g Leon's Barber Shop 1319 NE Freemont SL Portland. OR 97212 S am - 0 pm Tues.-Sat. 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