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Committed to Cultural Diversity
February 13. 2008
Leroy Vinnegar Jazz Presents:
M etro
John Nastos and a stellar lineup
for Young Artist Jazz Concert
See story in A & E , page B4
(Jf)hseroer
African Dance Program Thrives
Kukatonon
nurtures sense
of pride
by R aymond R endleman
T he P ortland O bserver
Rolia M anyongai-Jones, w hose
K ukatonon d an ce program has
lasted at W oodlaw n Elem entary in
northeast Portland for 25 years now,
has m ultiple reasons to be espe­
cially excited about this y e a r's cu r­
riculum.
A fter decades o f struggling with
budget cuts, a leave o f absence
gave her the opportunity to secure
grants that allow course offerings
w ithout adm ission fees for the first
tim e this year.
In addition, the lead choreogra­
p h e r an d p e r c u s s io n is t fo r
Kukatonon since 2003, Sekouba
W alker, ju st returned from a m onth
o f traditional training in Guinea.
He is sharing som e authentic
foundation points for this y ear’s
them e, G row ing Up and G row ing
Together, w hich will culm inate in
the entire troupe’s perform ance this
spring o f an initiation rite.
H aving lived in Liberia through
her late 20s, M anyongai-Jones has
com e to recognize her program ’s
ow n m aturation as a blessing for
her adopted com m unity. She gradu­
ated from Portland State University
in the early ‘80s with the plan to
return hom e soon to teach, but was
forced to stay because o f em erging
civil war.
Young people trying to make it in
the U.S. may have benefited even
m o re fro m M a n y o n g a i-J o n e s ’
teachings. T he process o f learning
the dances, along with the m eaning
and technique behind each m ove­
ment, provides avenues o f self-dis­
covery she notices especially for
her black students.
“I feel as an A frican w om an, it is
my responsibility to teach w hat I
know best, to connect the A frican-
Longtime Woodlawn Elementary teacher Rolia Manyongai-Jones leads a Kukatonon dance with her students
(from right) Honni Brown, Jehdah Walker and Jeda McClendon.
PHOTOS K\
R aymond R endleman /
T he P o r il a n d O hsers i • k
Jehdah Walker
(left) and Jeda
McClendon finish
off a duet during a
Kukatonon African
dance performance.
continued
Ockley Green
student honored
Honored for
community spirit
/com m unity
c a le n d a r
Valentine's Day Fun
on page H5
Student Ambassador Explores the World
Local
Resident
Leads by
Example
Bobbye Brow n, a Portland resident
w hose steadfast com m itm ent to the com ­
m unity com es by the way o f enriching the
lives o f others, has been nam ed Portland
G eneral E lectric's outstanding volunteer
for 2007.
B row n’s PGE w orkspace in the W orld
Trade C enter’s em ployee records room
may be filled with the files she m anages,
but it is also full o f donation items brought
in by her co-w orkers for the many organi-
American children with their roots,"
she says. "B ecause if they know
who they are, they can be w hatever
they want to be."
The connections com e through
a curriculum extending to the an­
cient origins o f tribes in W est A f­
rica that represent the heritage of
most black Americans. " It's im por­
tant for them to know all the people
who have paved the way to get
them where they have to be, w here
they have gotten to now, so that
when these kids com e to dance,
they d o n 't ju st learn to dance,” she
says.
O n e o f th e s tu d e n ts o f
K ukatonon’s inaugural troupe a
quarter century ago turned full circle
to become a first-grade teacher at
Woodlawn. Lionel Clegg recalls
delight in learning some language
indigenous to Africa, excitem ent in
wearing authentic costum es and
the honor o f visiting M anyongai-
Jones' house to experience a tradi­
tional dinner.
"These are opportunities that
you cannot get from just any dance
group," he says. "It gave me a new
sense o f pride that 1 had never
experienced before."
The positive feedback contin­
ues to be heard from current partici­
pants. "I like the energy," says
Honni Brown, a sixth grader w ho's
stuck w ith K ukatonon for four
years. "It isn 't like you c a n 't mess
up or you get ridiculed.”
Brown joined the other 10 most
experienced dancers for a perfor­
mance last week at Papa M urphy’s
c o r p o r a te
h e a d q u a r te rs
in
Vancouver. Wash. The crow d o f
more than 50 pizza-com pany em ­
ployees flapped to keep up with
the drums throughout the perfor­
mance.
"I was mesmerized by the energy
these children exude," com m ented
Lynette Speed of Papa M urphy’s
human resources. “As I looked at
them, it was hard to take my eyes off
B o b b y e Brown e n r ic h e s th e lives o f
o th e r s b y vo lunteering.
zations she supports.
T here are hats, gloves and toiletries for
a nearby w om en's shelter, teddy bears
and toys for a ch ild ren 's organization,
continued
Josephine M. G am ez-Reyes, a stu­
dent at O ckley G reen Middle School in
north Portland, has been accepted into
this sum m er's People to People Stu­
dent A m bassador educational travel
program.
Gam ez-Reyes will explore the M edi­
terranean for 20 days and can earn
academ ic credit w hile getting to know
the people, culture and history o f the
places she visits.
She will lake part in a variety of
activities such as a com m unity service
project, attending a bullfight in Spain,
learning to cook a dish in Italy, partici­
pating in a soccer match in Spain, a
challenging rope course in Assisi and
touring Rome and Vatican City.
A cceptance into the Student A m ­
bassador Program is an honor. After
being invited to enroll. G am ez-Reyes
subm itted letters o f recom m endation.
J o s e p h in e M. G a m ez-R ey es s m ile s a s s h e ta k e s a s n a p s h o t on h er travels.
She also earned m erits for her successful
enrollm ent in a prior People to People
program.
Before departing this summ er, she will
attend new orientations to learn about the
M editerranean and prepare for the jo u r­
ney.
G am ez-Reyes will travel under the
leadershipof Jessica Morgan, a teacher-
leader from Lee Elementary School in
Salem. A local delegation m anager w ho
cixrrdinates the cultural and recreational
the school library. Both program s are full-
day and fully funded.
Cycle of Life Festivals
continued
on page H5
on page H5
north Portland and at the H ollyw ood and
M cM enam ins K ennedy School theaters.
F oracom p lete schedule, visit the Cascade
F e s tiv a l o f F ilm s ’ W eb s ite at
A fricanfilm fesitval.org.
Campus, 705 N . K i 11 i ngs worth - Terrel IH al I
Room 124. will host a free class to assist
low -incom e hom ebuyers in qualifying for
affordable housing. T o register, visit
pelt.orgorcall 503-493-0293. extension 10.
Roses are nice and chocolate is too, but
w hat can be m ore fun than w atching the
sea otters get ice treats at the Oregon
Z oo?O n V alentine's Day, Thursday, Eeh.
14, at 10:20 a.m „ the elephants receive
heart-shaped boxes o f fruits and veggies.
V isit O regonzoo.org for m ore inform a­
tion.
‘Raise the Standard' Revival
King School Benefit
T uesday, Feb. 19 through Friday, Feb. 22
at7 p.m. nightly, the Kings Tem ple C hris­
tian Center, 4744 N.E. 15 Ave., will host the
Pacific NW Holy G host C onference R e­
vival; featu rin g g u est sp eak ers from
around the country.
Tuesday. Feb. 26, from 5 to 11 p.m., bring
your family and friends to M cM enam in's
Chapel Pub, and h alf o f the evening's
proceeds will be donated to purchase
m uch-needed playground equipm ent for
King School.
Festival of African Films
Homeownership Class
Kindergarten Roundup
The Portland Com m unity C ollege’s C as­
cade Festival o f African Films takes place
all m onth the PCC Cascade cam pus in
Thursday,Feb. 2 3 ,from I2 :3 0 to 1:30p.m.
the Portland Com m unity Land Trust and
the Portland C om m unity Col lege Cascade
W ednesday. Feb. 27, King School, 4037
N.E. G arfield, will host the annual kinder­
garten and pre-K roundup at 1:30 p.m.. in
Catch the Authors
T hursday, Feb. 28. at 6:30 p.m.. In O ther
W ords, 8 N.E. Killingsw orth St., will host
the reading night featuring live gay, les­
bian and transgender authors. For more
i nform at ion, visit inotherw ords.org o r call
503-232-6003.
Volunteer Elder Advocates
Thursday, March 6, certification classes
begin for volunteer advocates and inves­
tigators representing the needs o f the
elderly in assisted-living centers to insure
they receive the proper care. Call Kathy
W alters at 800-522-2602 to volutecr.
Friday. Feb. 29through Monday. March 3,
the Portland Japanese Gardens will host
the Hina Matsuri. Doll Festival in English.
Town Hall Education Forum
Saturday, March 8, from 10:30a.m. tonoon.
Rep. Chip Shields will host a Town Hall
forum on education at the PCC-Cascade
Cam pus Student Services Cafeteria: for
more information,call 503-231 -2564.
Tax Help in Rockwood
VITA tax aide for low -income families will
assist clients by appointm ent only on
W ednesdays, from I to 5 p.m. at the
Rockwood Community office. 18709S.E.
Stark. Forreservations, call 503-816 - 1530.
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