April 16. 2008 PageA2 Nonprofits Repair Homes % “ ,le When her 1895 north Portland home fell into disrepair, V icki W ill­ iams, a retired special education teacher, reluctantly sought help. Although it was hard to make the phone call, she contacted the C om ­ m unity Builders Program. When REACH Community Development staff and volunteers from Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., arrived this month, V ic k i was amazed that all the tool belts and hard hats were wont by women. out their neighbors. It s the very definition o f community building.” Soon this class w ill graduate and begin the pursuit o f jobs in their chosen fields as carpenters, electri­ cians. ironworkers or, in one case, a Northeast Portland-based non­ profit Oregon Tradeswomen student volunteers have completed over 20 home-repairprojects, mostly in north and northeast Portland. A t the W illiam s' residence, stu­ dents replaced the rotted front porch, installed outside railings and steps. "Eor many, this is the first time they've volunteered out in the com­ m unity," said Dawn Jones, O i l in­ structor. "This is a chance to give back and see what it feels like to help heavy equipment operator. The group is planning its annual Women in Trades Career Fair on May 3 at 16021 N.E. Airport Way. For more information on the jo b fair, visit the Website Tradeswomen.net. The free home repairs through the Community Builders Program are for homeowners with low income due to age o r disability throughout Port­ land. The program keeps seniors safe in their homes and avoids the dis­ placement o f longtime residents from their neighborhoods. For more inform ation, contact Laurel Lyon at 503-231 -0682, exten­ Minority Success in the Trades A panel o f experienced and suc­ cessful A frica n Am ericans in the trades w ill help others fin d em ­ ploym ent in construction on Sat­ urday, A p ril 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oregon Association o f M in o rity Entrepreneurs, 4134 N. Vancouver Ave. A 1 0 -ye a r p ro je c tio n o f O regon's construction industry in d ica te s th a t a p p ro x im a te ly 14,000 new workers w ill be needed to fill openings created by jo b grow th, com petition from other states and retiring workers. Oregon Tradeswomen Inc. and the Oregon Department o f Trans­ portation are hosting the Success! outreach event. Inform ation on ca­ reers and apprenticeships in high­ sio n 134 o r by llyon@reachcdc.org. way construction, cement ma­ sonry, iron w orking, carpentry, laborer and operating engineering e -m a il at Volunteers from Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc. celebrate the completion o f a day's work at Vicki Williams' house in north Portland. w ill be available. For information and to sign up fortheevent. contact Roberta Hunte at503-335-8200, extension 32, ore- mail roberta@tradeswomen.net. Author Speaks on Racism at PCC FOCUS is on diversity J at Sylvania Campus 1 a nearcapacity crowd o f 200 students, laculty school cafeteria at Portland C o m ­ m unity College's Sylvaniacampus and staff stopped by the in southwest Portland last Wednes- •V day to hear a presentation about racism given by a locally-based artist, author and public speaker. D am ali A y o , whose popular book, “ H ow to Rent a Negro,” served as the foundation o f the talk, used humorous stories and creative visuals to highlight meth­ Damali Ayo, a locally- based artist, public speaker and author, | addresses racism during a slate o f diversity activities at Portland Com­ munity College's [ Sylvaniacampus in southwest ods that can create healthier, more productive racial interactions. Her presentation served as the k ic k -o ff fo r a long list o f diversity events and activities taking place during the college's spring term, planned by PCC S ylvania’ s d ive r­ •> - , five cents... • On May 1, the price of an Adult cash fare sity committee. “ D iversity is an integral compo­ nent o f what Sylvania is, in terms o f our student body, our faculty and will increase one nickel. Monthly passes, and special reduced fares will increase too. staff, and the programs and classes we o ffe r," said L in d a Gerber, Sylvaniacam pus president. “ W ith this in m ind, our spring term events enable us to embrace and celebrate the richness diversity brings to our ■ C-TRAN's Go Anywhere Day Pass, C-Zone Day Pass, and Express fares will not increase. ■ Visit www.c-tran.com or call 360.695.0123 for more information. C-TRAN com m unity." Entitled " I Can Fix It!: Racism,” A y o 's presentation addressed the need fo r races to acknowledge and id e n tify themselves. T hrough a step-by-step process, individuals - o f al I colors - need to I i sten, learn, broaden personal experiences, speak out and take action. A lte r the presentation, A yo engaged in an hour-long discussion about racism and diversity w ith in Portland. “ We are delighted that Damali could jo in us this year," said Claire O liveros, coordinator o f the PCC Sylvania M u lticu ltu ra l Center and a member o f the d iversity co m m it­ tee. “ As expected, her presentation was thought-provoking and w ell- received.” 82nd Avenue Parade on Saturday The Eastport Plaza 82nd Avenue o f Roses Parade is set to lake o ff on Saturday, A p ril 19 w ith Portland C om m unity College D istrict Presi­ dent Preston Pulliams serving as grand marshal. The parade w ill recognize how S -J |NEW SEA SO N ____ the new PCC campus on Southeast 82nd Avenue and D ivision is serving students young and old and from all walks o f life and cultures. The sanctioned Rose Festival event begins at 9 a.m. at Eastport Plaza, 4(XM) S.E. 82nd, and w ill travel north on 82nd, turning west onto S.E. Y a m h ill and disbanding at S.E. 78th. Participants w ill in ­ clude the G et a L ife M a rc h in g B and and Preston Pulliams many other groups. Ask Dtwz/z«! M A R K E T H is house. Deanna! Real People, Dear M y b rother acts nice, lo v in g and Real Advice sincere when he’ s in pu b lic. H o w ­ N O W D E L IV E R IN G An advice calunni known fa r reality based subjects! Y o u r fa v o r ite n e ig h b o r h o o d g r o c e r y s to r e n o w d e liv e r s g r o c e r ie s r ig h t to y o u r h o m e o r o ffic e . Dear Deanna! I saw m y pastor shopping w ith the church checkbook. I could see the church logo, name and e ve ryth in g on the outside cover. A cle rk was try in g to refuse the check because it was a business check and required signatures. M y pastor pulled rank and said he was a u th o riz e d . T h e n he signed tw o signatures, w in ke d at me and to ld me to turn the other cheek. W hat do I do about this? - S y lv ia M .; St. Louis. M o. 1« Dear Sylvia: • tans3 w w w .n e w s e a s o n s m a r k e t.c o m you click, we deliver, (or pull up for pick up) You sure that w a sn 't Jim Baker? Y o u r pastor is a th ie f setting a bad exam ple fo r the congrega­ tio n . The pastor knew th is was w rong especially i f he advised you to lo o k the other w ay. W hat part o f Exodus 20 Verse 15 Thou Shall N ot Steal doesn't he under­ stand? Pray fo r yo u r pastor and G o d 's guidance as you report this to the church gove rn in g board. T e llin g is not between you and man. but you and y o u r dedica­ tio n to G o d and p r o te c tin g ever, he tells a lo t o f lies, curses and ve rb a lly abuses his spouse behind closed doors. M y fa m ily ignores him and looks the other w ay. It's h a rd fo r me to ignore his huge lies because we share the same crow d. When I make a nega­ tive com m ent o r te ll the truth, people call m e a lia r. N o w th a t I'm exposing h im , people are accus­ ing me o f being a hater. W hat do Id o ? —T ire d o f L ie s; Tam pa, Fla. Dear Tired: It's strange that you w o u ld want to expose yo u r brother instead o f d e aling w ith h im p e rsonally to help him . T ry in g to cause em bar­ rassment and a irin g his d irty laun­ d ry is not the s o lu tio n . Y o u r b rother has a self-esteem issue and a ly in g problem . Y ou can give yo u r brother a g ift o f love by paying fo r a life coach so he can address, sort and fix his issues. T h e re 's no value o r b e n e fit from fa m ily destruction. T herefore, i f y o u 're not w illin g to help then m ind yo u r business. Ask Deanna is written by Deanna M. Write Ask Deanna! Email: askdeanna I (fPyaltoo.com or 264 S. LaCienega Blvd. Suite 1283 Beverly Hills. CA 90211. Website: