ìbl' sportiani» (Observer
November 17. 2010
Page 7
Education Careers
Career Path
Success Initiative
International
Focus Brings
Diversity
Leaders announce sweeping effort
Hundreds of education, busi­ edge that we have of what works
ness, and com m unity leaders have and put them into action?”
launched a new “cradle to career”
Partners in the new strategy
initiative that creates a new path in clu d e the city o f P o rtlan d ,
to success for local young people. M ultn o m ah C o u n ty , P o rtlan d
The effort will track key m ea­ P u b lic S c h o o ls an d o th e r
sures of educational, social, and M ultnom ah County school dis­
econom ic progress from birth to tr ic ts ,
P S U , th e
L e a d e rs
jo b entry in an an­
R oundtable, P ort­
nual report that will
land Business A lli­
g u id e c o m m u n ity
a n c e , and o th e r
le a d e rs and h o ld
civic organizations.
them a cc o u n ta b le
The
n o n -p ro fit
for results.
P o rtlan d S chools
A broad coalition
F o u n d a tio n w ill
o f supporters - in­
g u id e the e ffo rt.
c lu d in g P o rtla n d
PSU re s e a rc h e rs
M ayor Sam Adams
developed the key
and Portland State
m etrics in the re­
U n iv e rs ity P r e s i­
port.
dent Wim W iewel -
“O ur co m m u ­
cam e together Nov.
nity is frustrated by
Marcus Mundy
4 to announce de­
the failure rate and
tails of the new strategy, review the dropout rate in our schools,
the first report, and discuss how and we need a com m unity-w ide
to coordinate their work to better effort to help more students suc­
support children, teenagers, and ceed,” W iewel said. “The initia­
young adults.
tive is more prom ising than past
“Every Portland parent - every efforts because it will be based on
M u ltn o m a h C o u n ty p a re n t - proven strategies and by prac­
should have the expectation that tices that can be sustained over
their kid will cross the stage (to time.”
get a diplom a),” Adams said. “We
The initiative is m odeled after
can do it starting today.”
an effort in Cincinnati called the
M arcus M undy, president of Strive Partnership, which brought
the Urban League of Portland, together more than 300 organiza­
urged supporters to find a better tions to focus on education across
way to work collaboratively to a m etro area that includes south­
improve educational outcomes for ern Ohio and northern Kentucky.
all students.
A fter more than four years, Strive
“One thing people in this room reports increases in reading, w rit­
can do is put the urgency back in ing and math achievem ent as well
urgency,” M undy said. “How can as the high school graduation rate
we take the data and the knowl- in Cincinnati schools.
Rose Court Grows Again
A pplications are out and re­
cruiting is underway for the 2011
Portland Rose Festival C ourt pro­
gram presented by Pacific Power.
A fter expanding the court in
2009 to accept metro area schools,
the Rose Festival is again loosen­
ing its eligibility requirem ents to
allow students from metro area 4 A
schools to apply.
Now for the first tim e in Rose
Festival history students from
M olalla, Estacada, G ladstone and
LaSalle can compete for the crown
o f Queen of Rosaria. In all, 46
schools in Multnomah, Clackamas
and W ash in g to n c o u n tie s are
now eligible to participate in the
court program .
The selection o f Rose Festival
princesses from local high schools
has been a Rose Festival tradition
since 1930.
The mission of the court is to
provide scholarships for higher
education, to promote community
outreach and volunteerism, to offer
networking and mentoring oppor­
tu n ities to o u tstan d in g young
women in a program that perpetu­
ates an appreciation for Rose Festi­
val history and tradition.
Nguyen Truong is one of
many Vietnamese students
at Portland Community
College, and one of 700
students from 90 countries
enrolled at PCC. The col­
lege has been growing its
International Education
Program to help meet its
mission of achieving diver­
sity goals.
Making a
Difference
Marneet Lewis of northeast Portland has
earned a “Making a Difference” youth leader­
ship award from the Portland Office of Neigh­
borhood tor her leadership in advancing the
inclusion and recognition of people with dis­
abilities.
"This distinction recognizes the efforts of
not only me but that of many young people
who daily challenge the cloak of disability not
as defining barriers but rather as opportunities
to educate,” Lewis said.
Lewis is a senior at Concordia University
and a member of the Judicial Committee of the
Associate Students of Concordia University.
Having experienced learning disabilities in
her own life, she has never minimized her
academic potential. She has been an honor
student and a national voice for young leaders Marneet Lewis of Portland stands up for disability
with disabilities.
rights as a student leader.
The ICTC
is an infant
mortality prevention, breastfeeding pro­
motion and a midwife and doula training
non-profit. We empower mothers and
fathers during their pregnancy with child­
birth education classes, Full Circle
Doula/Birth Companion services,
breastfeeding and after birth support. Because pregnancy and
parenting should be a special time.
To learn more call 503-460-9324 or visit www.ictcmidwives.org.