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The
Portland Observer Black
L AW &J USTICE
History Month
Voices for Human Rights
Beaverton’s Human Rights Ad-
visory Commission is getting stu-
dents to express their ideas about
the importance of human and civil
rights as part of its annual Creative
Expression Contest.
“Every year, our students create
inspiring work through this con-
test,” said Mayor Denny Doyle.
“The submissions we receive serve
as reminders that we must uphold
human and civil rights in our com-
munity.”
Creativity is highly encouraged.
Entries may take the form of any
artistic medium, including poems,
stories, essays, original songs (or
other musical compositions), any
type of two- or three-dimensional
artwork, film, dance, or any combi-
nation of these.
The entries should convey the
importance of respect and accep-
tance at home, school, in the com-
munity or the world.
Informational flyers about the
contest can be found at all
Beaverton-area libraries. For more
information, contact the human Kayla Rodrigues and her 2014 winning entry from Beaverton’s
rights commission at 503-526-2569. Human Rights Creative Expression Contest.
February 11, 2015
How to End Poverty
in 90 Minutes
Stage production engages community
The Portland Playhouse in northeast Portland and Sojourn The-
atre present “How to End Poverty in 90 Minutes,” a collaboration
conceived and written by Michael Rohd and directed by Sojourn’s
Liam Kaas-Lentz.
The world premiere production, now playing through Sunday,
Feb. 22, is not a play; it is not a lecture; it is not an interactive
workshop; it is not a physical theatre piece; it is not a public
conversation. It’s a blend of all of these things.
Most significantly, it’s an opportunity to challenge a different
audience every show with the question: How do you attack the
problem of poverty in America, with a lens specifically focused on
Multnomah County.
Over the course of 90 minutes, the audience will listen, explore and
ultimately choose how to spend $1,000 cash from ticket sales sitting
onstage at each performance. The show is an experiment in dialogue,
in collective decision-making, in shared responsibility, and in the
potential for art to help us make our world a better place.
Spectacularly eclectic in form, often delightful and occasionally
uncomfortable, How to End Poverty in 90 Minutes will engage
audiences alongside community experts.
The Portland Playhouse is located at 602 N.E. Prescott St. For more
information or to buy tickets, visit portlandplayhouse.com or call
503-488-5822.
PHOTO BY O LIVIA O LIVIA /T HE P ORTLAND O BSERVER
Racial Justice Organizer for Basic Rights Oregon Khalil Edwards
and Zack Mo help celebrate last year’s overturning of the gay
marriage ban in Oregon.
Born Perfect!
Basic Rights
Oregon campaign
kicks off
Basic Rights Oregon is inviting
the community to join them in a new
campaign, and at an upcoming open
house, to learn more about what is
happening with justice work on
behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people.
A new social media campaign
asks that LGBT community to share
baby photos of themselves or their
loved ones and send along a state-
ment to support legislation that
would ban conversion therapy in
Oregon, a debunked and often harm-
ful treatment for reversing a person’s
sexual orientation that has been
condemned by the American Psy-
chiatric Association.
Going by the Twitter handle
#BornPerfect, the campaign will
showcase individuals who were
born perfect and talk about why
attempts to change who they are
should not be allowed in the state.
The civil rights group is also hop-
ing to collect other forms of support,
continued
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