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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 2011)
‘City of Roses’ n rt (¿i itó (Ohsertu'x* 4 WWW n n r t Ip n rln h c p rv p r m m w w w .portlandobserver.com Volume XXXXI, Number 5 Wednesday • February 2, 2011 7 0 Established ir» in 1 0 1970 Committed to Cultural Diversity F c ts ih l ic h ^ /4 «Z ice Jefferson’s Middle College Point Man Damon Hickok is a key figure in school’s future by C liff P fenning T he P ortland O bserver At the public meeting promoting the Middle College at Jefferson High School, parents and students heard from a variety of speakers, including Self-Enhancement Inc., founder Tony Hopson, Jefferson Principal Toni Hunter and Portland Community College Cascade Campus President Algie Gatewood. They didn't hear from Damon Hickok, although he got acknowledged several times for his efforts. Hickok is in charge ol the Middle College program on the PCC Cascade Campus, which makes him something akin to a coach of a sports team as he works to produce a healthy program while attracting new students. His outlook on the Middle College program is similar to a college coach as well. “We have a great program here and we want it to reach as many kids as possible,” says Hickok, 39. “I’m on the lookout for kids who are doing things above and beyond going to school because they’re good candidates for success here. "But, they have to want to come here. They have to put that effort in. They have to be able to walk across the street, make that first, basic, commitment to be in our program. If they can t do that, they’re not going to be successful here,” he said. The Middle College program will become the main focus at Jefferson in the fall when the new school year begins. It’s such a major selling point to parents that Jefferson’s name will change to Jefferson High School - Middle College for Advanced Studies. While students are not required to en gage in the Middle College program currently, they will be in uarnon hickok works to get Jefferson students ready for college as director o f the Middle College program , ort and Community College's Cascade Campus, which sits directly across Killingsworth Street from the nor Portland high school. the future, starting with the upcoming freshman class. During their lour years, they’ll take between two and 15 classes on the PCC campus. continued on page 17 Film Director Opens Festival Series puts Africa and black history into focus Portland Community College’s Festival of African Films, organized by dedicated volunteers, is bringing an acclaimed director to Portland this week to kick off the 21st annual event. The festival honors Black History Month and is held Acclaimed film director Mahamat-Seleh Haroun will be in Portland this week to help kick o ff Portland Community College's 2 1 s t Cascade Festival o f African Films and attend a screening o f his award winning film, ‘A Screaming Man. ' Thursdays through Saturdays from Friday, Feb. 4 through March 5. It will open with the visit of Mahamat-Saleh Harun, who will show his latest award-winning film, “A Screaming Man” at the Hollywood Theatre, 4122 N.E. Sandy Blvd. on Friday Feb. 4. The director fails from Chad and lives in France. “A Screaming Man' won the prestigious Jury Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010 and Haroun’s previous films have been festival favorites over the years. Attendees will continued on page 21