Jackson’s Doctor
Sentenced
UO President Fired
Richard Lariviere's
work for diversity
had supporters
Judge gives Dr.
Conrad Murray
the maximum
See page 3
See page 2
bserlier d 2
Read back issues of the Portland Observer at www.portlandobserver.com
City of Roses’
Volume XXXXI, Number 48
Wedne:
Wednesday • November 30. 2011
Estahl¡shed ¡n 1970
Com m itted to Cultural Diversity
of
communin' service
Louise Wedge
(right) and
Waynette Dodson
are peer mentors
and licensed drug
and alcohol
counselors who
are advocating
for a new transi­
tional home for
women just out
of prison. The
site is near the
Highland Chris­
tian Center in
northeast
Portland, spon­
sors of the
Highland Access
Recovery Reentry
Program.
PHOTO BY
M indy C< x > per /
T he P ortland
O bserver
Transitioning Futures
Challenges rise for
women after prison
by M indy C< x > per
T he P ortland O bserver
With the number of homeless women throughout the city
on the rise, one local non-profit organization, in association
with a historically African-American church, is dedicated to
provide additional transitional housing for women just out
of prison.
The non-profit Highland Access Recovery Reentry Pro­
gram (HARRP) will be renovating an eight-bed residence
near the campus of Highland Christian Center in northeast
Portland to become a part of a six-month residential program,
which will emphasize clean and sober living with strict rules,
24-hour supervision, a vegetable garden, counseling and
mentoring.
“We keep seeing more and more women coming out of
prison with no place to go,” said Louise Wedge, a licensed
drug and alcohol counselor and peer mentor at HARRP.
“There has always been a need for transitional housing, but
there is just more of a need now.”
Wedge, who was in and out of prison for a number of years
while battling drug and alcohol addiction, said she knows
what it’s like first-hand.
“It’s like wearing the Scarlett Letter,” she said. “Women
get out of prison, and they feel alienated, left behind and that
no one understands them.”
continued
on page 2
Youth Violence Prevention Advocate Dies
Rob Ingram life’s
work remembered
by M indy C ooper
T he P ortland O bserver
Rob Ingram, director of Portland's Office of Youth Violence,
and Prevention, died on Sunday after suffering a heart attack at
photo by M ark
W ashington /T he P ortland O bserver
Robert Ingram addressed gang shootings near North
Killingsworth Street in this 2009 photo. Ingram died
of a heart attack Sunday at the age of 38.
the age of 38.
Ingram’s life work was dedicated to helping local youth live
healthy and safe lives. He helped youth achieve while directing
programs in various capacities, including as president of the
Urban League of Young Professionals, and former executive at
the Blazer Boys and Girls Club.
“Sadly, we lost a friend and public servant Rob Ingram, who
was passionately dedicated to the success of all Portlanders,
especially our youth of color,” said Mayor Sam Adams. “Our
thoughts and prayers are with his spouse Dana and his entire
family.”
The husband and father of five worked diligently as the
continued
on page 5