Portland observer., December 05, 2012, Image 1

‘Calf is here
to Stay’
Past and Future
Struggles
Zoo says breeding
loan won’t impact
new arrival
Playhouse presents
another August
Wilson play
See story, page 3
VolumeXXXXI
‘City o f Roses'
Number 47
See Metro, page 11
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Wednesday • December 5, 2012
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Committed to Cultural Diversity *
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PHOTO BY C a RI H a CHMANN/T h E PORTLAND OBSERVER
Chabre Vickers is motivated by the kids in the community. ‘I am these kids, ” said the Big Brothers Big Sisters executive.
A C onduitfor Kids ’ Futures
Portland woman devoted to positive role models
C ari H achmann
T he P ortland O bserver
by
It’s been a busy year for Chabre Vickers,
but also a rewarding one. And her work isn’t
finished yet.
As Big Brothers Big Sister’s director of
public relations and diversity programs,
Vickers is leading efforts to recruit more
people of color, African-American men in
particular, to mentor children who need posi­
tive role models.
Her devotion to her work and community
is evident by the four awards she has re­
ceived in the last year, including the Spirit of
Portland Award as the city’s Emerging Com­
munity Leader.
However, Vickers says she wasn’t look­
ing for recognition or compensation when
she first became involved with Big Brothers
Big Sisters as a volunteer in 2007.
She is motivated by the kids in the commu­
nity, “I am these kids,” she said.
Vickers more or less grew up homeless
after living her first eight years in Portland
and moving to southern California with her
single-working, though college-educated
mother.
As the eldest child, she helped take care
of her siblings while their family slept on
living room floors and in the back of her
mother’s van in grocery store parking lots.
As a young girl, Vickers recalls still having
more than other families and thinking her life
a blessing. Somewhere along the way, a
mentor vested in Vickers, telling her that
bettering herself would ultimately better the
community. The rhetoric stuck.
Now, the Howard University graduate
returns the favor by fighting for kids worse
off.
“Children need authentic relationships
with adults in their life,” said Vickers, “Once
that is established, kids have a better chance
of truly realizing what they ’ re contribution to
the community can be and they can find
value within themselves.”
Poverty is one of the largest adversities
facing kids’ quality of life, Vickers said. She
continued
on page 5