July 9, 2014 Çortlanh (Observer Page? Visits Portland Newspaper group welcomed to the Rose City VOICE OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY photo by M ike N orris U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., (left) receives a warm welcome at the NNPA convention from Portland Observer Pub­ lisher Mark Washington. Female publishers o f black newspapers surround former San Francisco mayor Willie Brown. Pictured, back row, from left are Natalie Cole, Our Weekly; Denise Rolark Barnes, Washington Informer; Dorris Ellis Robinson, Houston Sun; The Honorable Willie Brown; Amelia Ashley-Ward, Sun Reporter Publishing, Inc., Jackie Hampton, M ississippi Link; Karen Carter Richards, Houston Forward Times. Front row, from left are Dorothy Leavell, Chicago Crusader; Mollie Finch Belt, Dallas Examiner; and Mary G. Denson, Windy City Word. Patrick Quinton (left) and John Jackley o f the Portland Development Commission hold up their copies o f The Portland Observer, Oregon oldest minority publication, at the NNPA convention in Portland, joined by the newspaper’s publisher Mark Washington. Doni Glover o f Bmorenews.com with Onita Frazier o f the NNPA. Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown (left), the NNPA’s Legacy o f Excellence award winner at the group's national convention in Portland, is jo in ed by Portland resident and former state Sen. Margaret Carter, and NNPA chair Cloves C. Campbell. Renowned Civil Rights leader and NNPA President Dr. Benjamin Chavis (second from right) pictured with Self Enhancement Inc’s Tony Hopson Sr. (from left), Pastor Hardy o f Highland Community Church and Chris H. Bennett, founder o f the Seattle Medium. John Stanford (left), president o f the MJWJ Global Radio Network out o f Houston, Texas, and Michael McCall, the network's vice president o f operations, enjoy the NNPA festivities.