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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 2019)
April 3, 2019 Page 3 L O C A L N E W S INSIDE The Week in Review C ALENDAR page 2 page 6 Johnell Bell Keith Edwards Nathan Nayman Joe Esmonde Baseball Group Hires Team Taps leaders with ties to the community page 7 M ETRO Portland Diamond Project, the organization behind a push to bring Major League Baseball to Portland has expanded its com- munity engagement efforts by hiring a new team led by long- time African American communi- ty leader Johnell Bell and others with deep ties to the community. Bell previously served as U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkely’s Oregon field director and before that a long- time executive at TriMet where he was director of the Department of Diversity and Transit Equity. Keith Edwards, another longtime African American community leader in Portland, and two other engagement professionals—Na- than Nayman and Joe Esmonde- -round out the team. “As a native Portlander whose grandparents survived the Van- port Flood to raise a family in Portland, I have witnessed the transformation of our city and state,” Bell said. “This history— and transformative opportunity— are the reasons I am thrilled to join the Portland Diamond Proj- ect. Working in partnership with the community, we will not only build a world class ballpark; we will also help advance social eq- uity and ignite economic empow- erment in intentional and impact- ful ways.” “We’re extremely happy to have him on board to further our mission of listening, learning and ultimately partnering with all Portland to make it better with baseball,” Portland Diamond Project President and Founder Craig Cheek said. Edwards, an electrician and labor leader, sits on the TriMet Board of Directors and has been a member of the Coalition of Black Men since its inception 1988. He was a member and past president of the Portland Chapter of the NAACP, served on the Board of the Columbia Willamette Unit- ed Way, and was a co-founder of Constructon Apprenticeship Workforce Solutions, an organi- zation formed to diversify and enhance the construction work- force. Nathan Nayman recently moved to Portland after decades building coalitions and advocat- ing for legislative, regulatory, corporate, community, and indus- try initiatives in the San Francis- co Bay Area; and Joe Esmonde, who handles labor relations work for PDP, was a longtime labor union business representative for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Ministries Group Honors Toran Arts & ENTERTAINMENT C LASSIFIEDS pages 7-9 pages 10 Ecumenical Ministries of Or- egon will honor Kay D. Toran, president and chief executive of- ficer of Volunteers of America Or- egon, as “Ecumenist of the Year” on Wednesday, April 24 at its Benefit Dinner and Awards Cele- bration. Toran has directed Volunteers of America Oregon since 1999, a nonprofit which serves children and families, single adults and the frail elderly. She previous- ly served as director of Oregon’s Services to Children and Families Department and as the director of affirmative action for the state. She also worked as an assistant professor in the Graduate School of Social Work at Portland State University. Subscribe! 503-288-0033 O PINION pages 11 Kay Toran Toran’s choices in life were motivated by her background. “My parents, who were suc- cessful small business owners and deeply religious, modeled to us Fill Out & Send To: Name: Telephone: Address: or email subscriptions@portlandobserver.com the importance of service to oth- ers, giving back to those in need,” she said. “My parents’ imprint, my personal belief system informed by my religious beliefs, and my love of others is what fuels my leadership. It is my personal joy to serve others whether it is chil- dren, adults, families or those who are temporarily off-track. Helping individuals to get back on track is truly my life’s mission.” Ecumenical Ministries of Or- egon’s April 24 celebration is the single most important annual fundraiser for the organization’s vital ministries to the poor, the vulnerable, the hungry and the sick throughout the state of Ore- gon. For reservations and more information, visit emoregon.org. Attn: Subscriptions, PO Box 3137, Portland OR 97208 $45.00 for 3 months • $80.00 for 6 mo. • $125.00 for 1 year (please include check with this subscription form)
