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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 19, 2019)
Promoted to Fire Chief Images from Juneteenth Sara Boone rises from the ranks Highlights from Clara Peoples Freedom Trail Parade See Local News, page 3 ‘City of Roses’ See Metro, page 6 Volume XLVIII • Number 22 www.portlandobserver.com Wednesday • June 19, 2019 Established in 1970 Committed to Cultural Diversity photo by D anny p eterson /t he p ortlanD o bserver Veteran Portland rapper Mic Crenshaw is using his music to fight racial and economic injustice and empower young people to thrive in their creative fields. His work will get a boost over the next two years because of the support of local organizations providing grant funding. Mentoring on Rap Mic Crenshaw expands reach with new support D anny p eterson t he p ortlanD o bserver Veteran Portland hip-hop em- cee Mic Crenshaw is one of Port- land’s best known rap artists who this month releases a new album with fellow rapper and Max train stabbing survivor Micah Fletch- er. But Crenshaw is also a prov- en mentor to kids, a role that will grow vastly in the next two years because of the support of two lo- cal organizations. Crenshaw, 48, is the recipient of the Oregon Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Program grant, providing $4,000 in salary to teach hip hop to aspiring stars of by photo by D anny p eterson /t he p ortlanD o bserver Workers in Construction Construction workers put the finishing touches on the Alberta 13 Apartments, the culmination of an 18 month build and representing a boom in construction across the city, mostly related to housing and mixed use retail. This week’s Portland Observer issue gives special coverage to construction and the boost it gives to family wage jobs. a new generation; and an Oregon Humanities Fields Artist Fellow- ship that will pay him $100,000 over a two year period to advance his artistic practice while helping young people get past the “op- portunity gap” the disparities in life outcomes for Oregon children born into poverty and children of color. “To me, it’s a life changing blessing. It’s one of the biggest opportunities I’ve ever encoun- tered,” Crenshaw told the Portland Observer when we caught up with him at Portland Underground Re- cording Studio in southwest Port- land, fresh off of recording seg- ments for two collaborative songs with his longtime producer Prince Strickland. The financial support will give him the chance to solely focus on his entertainment career, some- thing he said he’s rarely gotten the chance to do. “There’s an opportunity to work less, to hustle less, and to be more creative. So I’m looking for- ward to that,” Crenshaw said. Crenshaw currently is a teach- ing artist in high school and other educational organizations, such as at the alternative program inside C ontinueD on p age 5
