February 4, 2015
The
Portland Observer Black
Sam Ashby, managing principal for Speed of Thought Consulting,
LLC, brings his voice and experience to a grass roots initiative for
black males in Portland to address education, employment, family
stability and criminal justice.
My Brother’s Keeper
continued
from page 3
Initiative by the National League
of Cities is designed to address
education, employment, family
stability, and criminal justice.
The Portland effort will include
the participation of men of color
from 20 local organizations who
will act as conveners, facilitators,
policy guides, and collective
voices to exert influence and
push for change for the better
treatment of males from
Portland’s African-American
community.
Mayor Charlie Hales took a lead
in the project which will be carried
out through the city Office of
Equity and Human Rights. He
joined supporters to explain the
details of the initiative during a
Jan. 26 press conference at Self
Enhancement Academy, the pub-
lic charter school serving the black
community on North Kerby Av-
enue.
“I believe that it is possible to
move from disparity to possibil-
ity, and that’s what the Black Male
Achievement Initiative is about,”
Hales said, “I do believe that with
support from the community, sup-
port from elected officials, like
those who are here today, and
with community leadership, that
it is truly possible.”
A two-year process of commu-
nity engagement and visioning
was undertaken to gain feedback,
clarity, and direction for the work
planned by the initiative.
Multnomah County Commis-
sioner Loretta Smith attended the
announcement ceremony and has
pledged her office’s support for
jobs and mentoring.
Dante James, director at the
Office of Equity and Human
Rights, said black males face
unique and persistent systemic
barriers that demand a focused,
holistic response.
“Those barriers have created
outcomes that are unacceptable,
outcomes that are keeping fami-
lies in poverty, maintaining an
educational atmosphere that
does not allow for success, pro-
motes the continuation of the
school to prison pipeline, and
History Month
inhibits employment opportuni-
ties,” he said.
The Black Male Achievement
Initiative will use a data-driven
approach to highlight disparities
and hold systems and leaders ac-
countable for ensuring black men
and boys have sufficient access
and opportunity to the factors that
lead to good health, safety and
success.
The mayor’s office has commit-
ted $150,000 of funding to boost
additional monies that were al-
ready set aside to fund summer
youth employment. Additionally,
there will be on-going discussions
with philanthropic organizations
for financial support to sustain
the program.
Page 9
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