May 4, 2016
Page 3
INSIDE
The
Week in Review
This page
Sponsored by:
page 2
L OCAL N EWS
A Fitting Choice
pages 6-7
O PINION
Diversity grounds race for state representative
by C ervante p ope
t he p ortland o bserver
Oregon House District 43 is
one of the most racially diverse
legislative districts in the state, en-
compassing inner north and north-
east Portland and the heart of the
city’s historic African-American
community. Having Lew Fred-
erick as its state representative,
this heavily Democratic district
has had a black leader ighting for
issues important to minority com-
munities since 2009. Now, with
Frederick stepping down to run
for an Oregon Senate seat, inding
a itting replacement for his House
seat may seem dificult.
Focusing on the two main can-
didates running in the May 17
Democratic Primary, Tawna San-
chez and Roberta Phillip-Robbins,
both minority females, stand up
against one another pretty fairly.
What it boils down to, is how each
of them plans to go about allevi-
ating pertinent issues, as well as
their particular prioritized agen-
das.
Coming from both an educa-
tional background as a former
teacher and a legal background af-
ter earning her law degree and do-
ing policy work for children and
families, Phillip-Robbins aims to
focus her campaign and time in
ofice around stabilizing disad-
vantaged families.
“The reason I’m seeking ofice
is to really create the opportuni-
ties for families to thrive and not
just make things meet,” says Phil-
lip-Robbins. “A good quality of
life, to me, is not just something
rich people should have. That’s
what our country has turned into
page 8
S PORTS
page 11
M ETRO
Tawna Sanchez
and I vehemently oppose that.”
Other top priorities for the Af-
rican-American candidate who
serves as a youth and gang vi-
olence prevention specialist for
Multnomah County, is bringing
quality and affordable childcare
to the state, supporting a livable
wage, and making sure everyone,
regardless of race or economic
standing, has equal access to jus-
tice.
Yet this isn’t to say that San-
chez, a Native American, doesn’t
come from and support some of
these same ideas.
As a former foster parent, pris-
on volunteer and director of fami-
ly services at the Native American
Youth and Family Center, San-
chez has experiences with family
stabilization and justice issues.
She lists some of her major polit-
ical priorities as providing good
schools for children, advocating
for a higher minimum wage and
workers’ rights, and reforming the
criminal justice system.
“It’s not necessarily what we’re
trying to do, it’s how we’re trying
to do it. I have a broad spectrum
of experience and I think I look at
things from a very community ac-
tivist perspective,” Sanchez says.
“I’ve stood outside places protest-
ing, that very direct on-the-ground
activism. I’m deinitely not afraid
to do that.”
One of the most crucial topics
both candidates have to address
right is opening up access to hous-
ing and preserving the cultural
fabric of an inner city population
that has lost thousands of residents
to gentriication.
Creating affordable housing
across the district is a given, but
each candidate feels that the Cul-
ly Neighborhood which is situat-
ed across several blocks on both
sides of Northeast Killingsworth
Street between 42nd and 82nd Av-
enues could use the most attention
for multiple reasons.
C ontinued on p age 15
Black United Fund Scholarships
Arts &
pages
10-13
ENTERTAINMENT
C LASSIFIEDS
C ALENDAR
Roberta Phillip-Robbins
page 14-15
page 15
The Black United Fund of
Oregon’s annual Scholarships
Awards Luncheon will be host-
ed at Sentinel Hotel on Wednes-
day, May 25, from 11:30am to
1pm. Many deserving Portland
and southwest Washington area
students will be awarded schol-
arships.
The Black United Fund builds
on a legacy of philanthropy and
education support services that
positively impact students and
academic institutions throughout
the state of Oregon. Supporting
unlimited futures for young peo-
ple in the community with edu-
cation attainment at the core is
the goal of the community effort.
This year the Black United Fund
of Oregon welcomes home Renee
Watson, an accomplished author,
Oregon native and Jefferson High
School alumna who will deliver
the keynote address.
The awards luncheon is open to
the public, a great opportunity for
the community to come together
and celebrate the bright futures of
our amazing students. Tickets and
tables can be purchased at bufor.
org. All proceeds will go to the
Mentor4 Success program.