M a r tin L u h ie r K in g J r .
January 9, 2008
Page B/
200W snecial edition
King's Impact Spans Time and Culture
East County kids focus
on respect for character
R aymond R endleman
T he P ortland O bserver
by
A skeptic could contend that the messages of
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. resonated for a
specific place in his nation’s development. But,
a YWCA program in east Multnomah County
proves King’s wisdom is relevant today as chil­
dren in low-income families are just beginning to
learn English.
The LearnLinks homework club at Lincoln
Woods has focused on King’s I Have a Dream’
speech as jumping-off point for discussions and
activities.
“It’s about children judging each other not by
the color of their skin, but by the content of their
character," says Jackie Culver, developer of
LearnLinks curriculum.
The students are designing their ow n squares
for a civil-rights quilt after further discussions
about equality and respect for others.
The kids seem to enjoy it a lot. They get
the instant gratification of it being fun
while the projects help them learn to
organize ^
WICSSCIQC,
p ilo r o io
- Jackie Culver, developer of YWCA LearnLinks curriculum
R aymond R endi . eman /T he P ortland O bserver
YWCA volunteer Anna Christenson intertwines lessons from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. into a LearnLinks class in the community room of the Lincoln
Woods Apartments, 2333 S.E. 130th Ave.
"The kids seem to enjoy it a lot," Culver says.
"They get the instant gratification of it being fun
while the projects help them learn to organize
and provide an important message."
Culver remembers seeing King deliver his
most famous speech on TV, and uses the con­
cept of character trumping color with student
groups because it stands out most in her mind.
She recalls being overwhelmed by the broad­
cast images of King looking over the crowd in
Washington, D.C.
"I wanted people not the look at me as one of
the only Native Americans in Beaverton," she
says.
Lincoln Woods, located at 2333 S.E. 130th
Ave..just north of Division Street, spreads across
a 2.3-acre lot that formerly held an abandoned
house claimed by transients and drug users.
While clearing the land, workers uncovered a
garage that they didn't know existed under a
swathe of blackberry bushes.
Somali immigrants make up about 40 percent
of the70-unit building that saw its first residents
a little over a year ago. The diverse group's quilt
will go on display in some of the area's public
schools before YWCA auctions it off to raise
money for its effort "Eliminating Racism and
Empowering Women."
Oregon Volunteers awarded a $355 grant for
the program in conjunction with help from orga­
nizations called Quilt Savvy and Friends of Mar­
garet Carter.
Program leaders will carry on for as long as
possible to continue King's dream of civil rights,
quality education and basic amenities for all.
"The actions of Dr. King are becoming a more
distant memory, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do
his work," Culver says.
E C O N O M IC
EM PO W ERM EN T
The Portland Development Commission
believes that economic opportunity
should be shared throughout the
community. PDC is com m itted to
working with its partners to increase
m inority home ownership, to create
opportunities for minority-owned,
women-owned, and emerging small
businesses, and to value employee
diversity. For more inform ation about
how PDC is inventing in Portland's
future, visit www.pdc.us.
PDC honors Martin Luther King, Jr.
on the 79th anniversary of his birth.
ImtSlillR in
I'nrtlniufs t Mure
PDC
FULFILL THE DREAM.
PORTLAND
DEVELOPMENT
C O M M IS S IO N
State of Oregon
Legislative Administration
- M a rtin L u th e r K in g , Jr. (January 15, 1929 - A p ril 4,1968)
—^intern programs
*
Proud to honor the man who
gave all Americans a share oi
"Everything that is done in
The zvorld is done by hope."
A
Believing that life works
when you get the support you need,
LifeWorks N W helps clients break down harriers
and build hope for the future.
volunte
L ife W orks
em ployaient
Legislative Administration
900 Court St. NE, Room 140A
Salem ( >regon, 97301
Phone: 503-986-IMS
Web Site, http://www.leg.state.or.us
few » Hr
Locations: NE Martin Luther King. Jr Blvd . N Albina, N Mississippi, and other sites
throughout the Portland Metro area