February 24, 2021
Page 2
Named Youth of the Year
TreNisha Shearer honored for giving back
TreNisha Shearer, a senior at
De LaSalle North Catholic High
School and a youth volunteer at
the Boys & Girls Club in New
Columbia, has been named
2021 Youth of the Year for the
organization’s Portland metro
area.
Shearer has been a member
of the Regence Portland Boys
& Girls Club in north Portland
for 12 years.
She shared her motivation
to give back to the community
upon being presented the award
in late January.
“I have witnessed the con-
nection that can be formed be-
tween club members and staff.
Seeing these connections and
knowing how big of an impact
the club has on people such as
myself,” Shearer said.
Over the course of the teen-
ager’s time at the club, she has
traveled to Atlanta for a leader-
ship program, participated in a
club internship in partnership
with the Portland Timbers, and
created a short film, Black ‘Till
It’s Backwards.
Along with the title, Shearer
received a $1,000 scholarship
and will represent the Portland
Metro Clubs at the Oregon State
Boys & Girls Clubs Youth of the
Year competition in April. She
has plans to attend Georgia State
University and study business
TreNisha Shearer, a senior at De LaSalle North Catholic High
School, has been named 2021 Youth of the Year by the Boys &
Girls Clubs of Portland Metro area.
management after graduation.
were runners-up to the Youth of
Six other outstanding club the Year title and each received
members in the Portland area $500 scholarships.
Rethink Police Panel Forms
Group forms to shape oversight
The Portland City Council is
now accepting applications for
Rethink Police Accountability, a
volunteer group that will shape
the framework and structure of a
new police oversight committee
approved by 82% of voters last
November.
The process will be community
driven and members of the group
will be composed of community
justice organizations, small busi-
nesses impacted by community
safety issues, and people from
over-policed communities, such
as Black, Indigenous and People
of Color (BIPOC), immigrants,
refugees, people living with
low-income, experiencing house-
lessness, and/or mental health or
substance use, officials said.
Membership on the panel is an
opportunity for people who want
to have an impact on future poli-
cies and practices related to police
reform. Potential members who
are innovative, collaborative, and
equity-focused or who like the
idea of building something from
scratch are encouraged to apply.
Those selected should also plan
for a committed minimum of
four hours a month and to meet
monthly on Zoom for 18 months,
officials added.
“We have a lot of work and
community conversations that
Jo Ann Hardesty
must happen as we rethink
community safety in Portland,”
said City Commissioner Jo Ann
Hardesty. “An important piece
of building trust in our police
bureau will be a system of over-
sight and accountability with a
structure that centers the com-
munity the police are sworn to
protect and serve.”
Mayor Ted Wheeler said its
clear Portland wants a new and
improved police oversight sys-
tem and that they want regular
Portlanders involved in making
it happen.
“The city is responding to that
clear demand,” he said. I encour-
age people who are innovative
and dedicated to equity to apply
to help us construct a new evolu-
tion of community safety rooted
in improved trust, transparency,
and accountability.”