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November 20, 2013
‘All Hands on Deck’ for Veterans
Local governments pledge to help with jobs and services
Commander Mike Morris o f the Oregon American Legion Post 21
signs the Community Covenant Thursday, Nov. 14 at Veterans
Memorial Coliseum.
O regon’s top veterans official
says that it will take a broad com ­
munity effort to m eet the needs o f
four generations o f m ilitary vet­
erans who've served in five m ajor
wars. On Thursday, M ultnomah
County pledged to lead the way.
The county signed a historic
“Community Covenant with Vet­
erans and Military Families” along
with cities o f Portland, Gresham,
Troutdale, Fairview and W ood Vil­
lage.
The pledge took place at a for­
mal signing with Commissioner
Diane Me Keel and Cameron Smith,
director o f the Oregon Department
o f Veteran Affairs. It came in the
closing moments o f a “Hiring our
Heroes” job fair at Veterans M e­
morial Coliseum where more than
4 4 0 unemployed veterans had come
looking for work.
“No one organization can m eet
all the needs o f our military and
veteran population,” said Smith,
a form er M arine who served three
tours in Iraq. “Stronger collabo­
ration across m ilitary, govern­
m ent and com m unity partners is
essential if service m em bers, vet­
erans and their fam ilies are to
thrive in Oregon.
It is all hands on deck.”
There are nearly 40,000 veter­
ans o f all ages living in M ultnomah
County, according to the state,
including those who served in
Iraq and A fghanistan. A s the
troops are being w ithdrawn from
A fghanistan, federal spending to
support returning soldiers is ex­
pected to end, as well.
In response to that loom ing
gap, C om m issioner M cKeel or­
ganized a steering com m ittee to
create "a road map" for local gov­
ernm ents to help vets find local,
state and federal paths to jobs,
healthcare, and other benefits.
It is expected to be an exam ple
for all Oregon counties as they
develop their own approach.
“This covenant is our com ­
m itm ent, as a com m unity, to serve
those who have sacrificed for our
country,” said M cK eel.“This is a
com m itm ent to offer a hand up to
those w ho are struggling with
hom elessness, unem ploym ent, or
m ental health issues. It is an in­
vestm ent in our veterans who are
using their leadership and work
ethic to enhance our local busi­
nesses, schools, and com m unity
organizations.
"Above all," she said, "this is
our com m unity’s pledge that we
each have a role and responsibil­
ity to help im prove the lives o f our
veterans and m ilitary fam ilies.”
S m ith th an k e d M cK eel, as
m em bers o f the steering com m it­
tee, veterans and advocates be­
gan signing the prom ise.
M ike M orris, C om m ander o f
the Am erican Legion in Oregon,
said “this is w onderful.”
“It’s about helping people find
a hom e, get a jo b , it’s all about the
A m erican dream .”
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Studying African American history at PCC led Martina Clemmons to
discover a new passion. She now balances classes at PSU with work
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as an archivist, helping to preserve a collection of documents that
showcase Portland's early African American community
Prepare!
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