Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 2016)
Page 4 July 6, 2016 Spreading Cultural Harmony among others. Though Leonard technical- ly retired in 2012, she hasn’t stopped her endeavors in spread- ing her faith and knowledge in peaceful equality. She still heads the Multicultural Education of- fices for PPS’s Allied Services Team, where the education of youth in diversity is of high im- portance. “I think youth especially in the United States don’t have the same prejudices we have because of technology. The challenge is not to see ourselves as better than other people, we are all different people. The challenge is to make sure everyone gets an education,” Leonard says. “If we want our child to be free, we have to make sure that every child has that opportunity. Every one of us needs to be able to understand that there are no throw away children.” SEI to Close Academy Tubman Middle School it would maintain an African American culturally specific option that our students can take part in,” Hopson stated in the letter. SEI has won praise for work- ing with students enrolled in lo- cal schools. At Jefferson High School, for example, SEI men- torships have helped the school drastically improve its graduation rates. The alliance between the non-profit and PPS has produced graduate Sekai Edwards, for ex- ample, who has been accepted to Juillard for the upcoming term. JHS has also been named a Title I Distinguished School and the Na- tional Excellence in Urban Educa- tion Award winner with SEI assis- tance. Hopson hopes to transition SEI’s achievements to Tubman specifically. “We believe that Tubman ought to have an African-American fo- cus in some form. What shape that takes, I’m not sure,” Hopson told OPB. “But we expect that if we’re involved, that we could pro- vide additional culturally-specific services to the African-American students and any other students.” C ontinued froM f ront “As a teacher I felt that there were things I needed to do,” Leonard says. “We can erase some of those stereotypes we have. If we change that paradigm we’re in a better position to pro- mote peace around the world.” Her educational efforts have taken her to places like Eqypt, Guyana, the United Arab Emir- ates, Switzerland and Ghana C ontinued froM P age 3 The Law Offices of Patrick John Sweeney, P.C. Patrick John Sweeney Attorney at Law 1549 SE Ladd, Portland, Oregon Portland: Hillsoboro: Facsimile: Email: (503) 244-2080 (503) 244-2081 (503) 244-2084 Sweeney@PDXLawyer.com Avenue will likely reopen as a grade 6-8 middle school by fall of 2017. The SEI Academy was limit- ed to about 50 students per year. Since there will be no incoming 6th graders and the current 8th graders will be moving on to high school level education, the 7th graders going into their next year will be the most affected, accord- ing to SEI’s Strategic Partnerships Manager Lisa Saunders. Grade 7 students will be moved into one of the other middle schools for their 8th grade year. The fate of the staff that works with the Academy pupils has not yet been figured out. SEI intends to continue their services through PPS by collabo- rating with its student within the new middle schools, particularly focusing on minority pupils. “We believe that now is the time to not only partner with Portland Public Schools to increase the SEI services at both Ockley Green and Tubman to make them the best schools possible for all students, but also to increase attention on our African-American students,” Hopson wrote in the letter. Tubman is the highest focus for Hopson because of its deep ties in the African American populated neighborhoods of inner north and northeast Portland and where PPS hasn’t operated in its own middle school grades since the Young Women’s Leadership Academy closed there in 2012. The school currently hosts K-8 students from the Faubion School while that building is be- ing rebuilt, but OPB reports the blueprint going forward for Tub- man would involve pulling stu- dents from Boise-Eliot/Humboldt, King, Sabin and Irvington schools as the transition into elementary structures. “We hope to fully integrate our efforts into Tubman Middle School going forward. It is our hope that given the past history of Joining Port of Portland Commission C ontinued froM P age 3 ship Forum of Oregon, the North- west Health Foundation, and Black United Fund. Alexander is a graduate of Lewis University and Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of So- cial Work and Social Research. He is a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., and relocated to Oregon in 2005. Alexander lives in Portland’s Sell- wood neighborhood with his wife, Nancy, and has three children and three grandchildren. Alexander replaces Port of Portland Commissioner Peter Bragdon. The nine-member panel sets Port policy during its monthly meetings. They are unpaid volun- teers who serve four-year terms and can be reappointed for an ad- ditional term. L egaL N otices Need to publish a court document or notice? Need an affidavit of publication quickly and efficiently? Please fax or e-mail your notice for a free price quote! Fax: 503-288-0015 e-mail: classifieds@portlandobserver.com The Portland Observer
