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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 2020)
Page 12 December 9, 2020 Heroes American Café owner John Jackson in downtown Portland. The small business was one of eight Black-owned firms hit hard by COVID-19 receiving marketing and technology help from Comcast. (Photo courtesy Comcast) Comcast Lifts Up Black Businesses Eight Black-owned, small businesses in Portland are re- cipients of new Comcast RISE awards, allowing them to receive consulting, media and creative production services from Ef- fectv, the advertising sales divi- sion of Comcast Cable, or tech- nology upgrades from Comcast Business based on their specific needs. The financial help is part of Comcast’s broader announce- ment of more than 700 businesses that were selected as winners in the first round of Comcast RISE. The award recipients in 285 cities in 29 states include a diverse ros- ter of small business from restau- rants and salons, to professional services and retail shops. Comcast RISE awardees in Portland were Zen Nail Spa; American Heroes Café; Amal- fi’s Restaurant; Raap Counseling and Consulting; Cottontails Per- sonal Styling; Batter On Deck food truck; Meals for Heels and Third Eye Books. “It’s great to see Comcast, a leader in technology and enter- tainment, focus on the economic divide. I’m honored to be a re- cipient of this new program to give Black-owned small busi- ness a much-needed boost,” said Heroes American Café Owner John Jackson. The next phase of Comcast RISE, a multi-year, multi-facet- ed initiative launched in October to help strengthen small busi- nesses hard hit by COVID-19, will open eligibility to include Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)-owned, small businesses. They can apply at ComcastRISE.com. Kelly Schrader, the president and chief executive officer of Van- couver-based iQ Credit Union, is departing the Northwest finan- cial institution to pursue a new philalantropic opportunity, and Eric Petracca, currently iQ Credit Union Chief Operations Officer, will be the incoming president and CEO, company officials an- nounced Monday. Schrader was instrumental in the credit union’s rapid growth over her 4 years tenure, including officially surpassing $1.5 billion in assists and expanding into the Portland market with the opening of the Williams Avenue and St. Johns iQ Credit Union branches. Through her passion for philan- thropy, iQ’s foundation raised more than $160,000 to support children in local communities. Kelly Schrader Her focus on employee develop- ment led to more than 340 em- ployees promoted from within iQ, officials said. Petracca began his career as a teller at Lacamas Community Eric Petracca Credit Union. Over the years, he grew his career and held leader- ship positions in many of the cred- it union’s departments. He cur- rently serves on the board of the Clark County Parks Foundation. amidst mistakes. You witness the inevitability of their dreams, fueling and driv- ing their responses to tragedy as they formulate a plan predicated on bold and big moves. It is that plan which ultimately protects them such that the harm of seeing T’Challa tossed over a cliff, does not become the trauma that would continuously disconnect them. Chadwick Boseman, you were once king, you will forever be king. May you be welcomed with open arms to your eternal rest as we posthumously induct you into the Portland Chapter of Black Male Achievement. C ongratulation to t he P ortland IQ Credit Leadership Changes o bserver 50 years of business in our Community Marvin Barber, Owner pdxcleaners79@gmail.com MBE-DBE-ESB certified Green Cleaning certified Cell 541 513-3265 Fax 503 289-3099 PDX Cleaners Residential and Commercial Five Things C ontinued froM P age 8 from the description of the city and its potential ability to help the world, to how each of the char- acters defines redemption, even