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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 19, 2021)
Page 4 May 19, 2021 Scholarships Build on Community VOA names annual Al Forthan scholars Volunteers of America Ore- gon recently awarded $60,000 in scholarships to 29 Oregon students coming from families impacted by alcohol and drugs in an effort to break the cycles of addition. The Al Forthan Scholarship awards on May 5 paid tribute to each scholarship recipient for the tremendous courage they have shown. “A lot of times I don’t want to share my story because I want to avoid the pity and the pain that follows from remembering,” said Al Forthan scholarship recipient Yahir Gon- zalez. “Applying to the scholar- ship has been immensely liber- ating. I have found a community that encourages one to find solu- tions to generational patterns of addiction. A community that be- Show of Force Grows C ontinued froM p age 3 According to a statement an- nouncing the joint police and FBI effort from the mayor and city commissioners, authorities found that there are “imminent” efforts from outside groups, some travel- ing from Washington and Califor- nia, to “engage and advance gun violence” in the city. When pressed about what kind of groups were involved, Lovell We are Open! 503.281.0453 • Fax 503.281.3408 3901 N. Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227 Web: www.sunlanlighting.com E-mail: kay@sunlanlighting.com Avalon Flowers 520 SW 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97204 • 503-796-9250 A full service flower experience Cori Stewart-- Owner, Operator • Birthdays • Anniversaries • Funerals • Weddings Open: Mon.-Fri. 7:30am til 5:30pm Saturday 9am til 2pm. Website: avalonflowerspdx.com email: avalonflowers@msn.com We Offer Wire Services C ontinued on p age 10 year, compared with four by this time last year and three at this time in 2019, he said. Seven people that were shot at a vigil for a shooting victim in Gresham last month. A statement from Wheeler and the City Coun- cil noted that there are several upcoming vigils and funerals that could be targets for more shoot- ings. “Our goal is to deescalate and lower the tensions in the commu- nity that are fueling this crisis,” they said. COVID Business Help Back on Track C ontinued froM p age 3 For your light bulbs & parts to repair or make fixtures said thought the shootings were gang-related and involved retali- ation. “There’s a cycle of violence here that we’re trying to break,” he said. Since the beginning of May, before Sunday, police have re- sponded to 40 reports of shots fired, with four people killed and 14 injured in shootings, Lovell said. There have also been 31 homicides in the city so far this lieves in me.” Another student talked about the pain of her parents’ addic- tion, “It has led to personal in- securities and harmful situations throughout my life. However, it has also made me stronger than anyone could imagine a teenager being,” said Rena Howard. Author Nicholas Kristof was keynote speaker for the ceremo- ny. “Addiction is a hard subject to talk about. I tend to think that as a country the issues that we are worst at tackling, as a public policy matter, are those issues that are hard to talk about.” Kris- tof continued, “If we don’t talk July by the Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board. The monies had been locked up because of a lawsuit that was recently settled. “We are working as fast as possible to notify applicants and distribute awards, while ensuring security and compliance,” said Anthony Jordan, president of The Contingent, the nonprofit admin- istering the funds. Grant awards will go to those entities and individuals that ap- plied for the fund in Novem- ber and December of 2020 and demonstrated financial harm due to COVID-19. No new grant ap- plications are being accepted. Applicants do not need to re-ap- ply or take any further action. Officials said that due to the need for COVID-aid outpacing the amount of aid available and the need to follow U.S. Treasury guidelines regarding Federal fund disbursement, not all applications are guaranteed funding. In March, The Oregon Cares Fund reached a settlement agree- ment with plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit filed against the fund. The agreement allowed the remaining $8.8 million temporarily held by the court to be distributed to Black Oregonians, Black-owned businesses and Black-led non- profits. The court immediately re- leased $5.3 million. The remain- ing $3.5 million continues to be held by the court, but those funds are expected to be disbursed in the future upon court approval, officials said. The Oregon Cares Fund was a targeted grant program available to help Black individuals and families, Black business owners and Black-led nonprofits across Oregon weather the financial harm caused by COVID-19. This was necessary because the Black community often re- ceives a disproportionately lower amount of financial support from relief funds, such as last year’s CARES Act passed by Congress, officials said. Jazz Phenon Eyes Artists’ Sanctuary C ontinued froM f ront plinary restoration-themed music projects. “The environment most condu- cive to my wellness and creative productivity is one where oth- er frontline cultural-workers are supported and immersed in their own artistic devotions,” Spalding said. “Hence, my intention for this Sanctuary to serve a very real need among my community for BIPOC artist-led space to gather, share ideas, and practice regenera- tive gardening.” Spalding has a goal of recruit- ing 300 individuals to donate $1,000 by June 3 to complete the purchase of a property at 10302 N. Charleston Ave., with contributors receiving an invitation to watch her perform in an exclusive zoom concert. To donate, visit gofundme. com/f/esperanzas-bipoc-art- ist-sanctuary-in-portland.gofund- me.com/f/esperanzas-bipoc-art- ist-sanctuary-in-portland
