lune 13. 2012
®*?t Fortiani» ©bscruer
Page 9
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North Portland
The University Park Community Center in north Portland will be renamed in honor of Charles Jordan, the former Portland City Commissioner and Director of Portland
Parks and Recreation. Jordan has been a champion for children, families and building community.
Honoringa Visionaryfor Community
University Park
Center is renamed
for Charles Jordan
The Portland City Council voted unanimously last
week to rename the University Park Community
Center in north Portland in honor of Charles Jordan, a
longtime African-American civic leader who formerly
served as a Portland City Commissioner and Director
of Portland Parks and Recreation.
“No one in the Parks family is more deserving of this
honor,” said Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish.
“Charles Jordan took Portland Parks and Recreation
to the next level. He was a champion for the environ­
ment and conservation nationwide. His commitment to
children, families, and to building community is ex­
traordinary.”
The community center at 9009 N. Foss Ave. will be
. re-dedicated on Sunday, July 22 with a free public
Charles Jordan Community Celebration from 3:30
p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and including a joyful ice-cream
social featuring music and activities for the whole
family. The event will be followed by a free concert in
neighboring McCoy Park.
Originally built to house World War II shipyard
continued
on page 20
From a Refugee Camp to American Idol
Mt. Hood graduate to
perform at commencement
by T eresa
L ane
Mt. Hood Community College graduate Romeo Diahn
will sing “America the Beautiful” this weekend in front of
the biggest live audience he’s ever had.
Romeo Diahn takes the stage in the most current
season of the hit TV show American Idol. A former
refugee from civil war in Ghana, Diahn will gradu­
ate from Mt. Hood Community College and perform
this weekend at the college's commencement
celebrations.
“It means the world to me to be able to sing in front of my
college. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” says Diahn,
who will be one of about 600 MHCC students to walk across
the stage to receive a diploma or certificate.
The graduation ceremonies are Friday, June 15 for adult high
school diploma and general education development learners,
and Saturday, June 16 for other students.
Bom in Liberia, Diahn’sfamily fled to Ghana after a civil war
broke out in his home country in 1989. Singing became a way
for him to cope with life in a refugee camp.
After reaching the U.S., he knew he wanted to pursue a
college education. A high school field trip made this choice
simple: “Once I came to MHCC 1 did not want to leave. There’s
continued
on page 18