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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 9, 2021)
Page 4 June 9, 2021 Healing Roots Expands Reach C ontinued froM f ront 971-276-8674 Cut, trim, edge, power washing, hauling, leaf removal, cleanup, anything! FREE ESTIMATES FAIR PRICING 5010 NE 9th Ave Portland, Or 97211 Phone: 503 284-2989 We specialize in a variety of cuts for men and women, hot towel razor shaves, braiding, hair extension, Shampoo, blow dryer and Platinum fade. Call Today or Walk in !!! $5.00 TEES CLUBS FAMILY REUNIONS SCHOOL CLUBS BUSINESSES SCREEN PRINTING 971-570-8214 tic violence and the intergener- ation trauma disproportionately experienced by Black, African and African American families in Portland. The focus to “positive- ly interrupt generational trauma,” will also support another impact- ed population, LGBTQ domestic violence survivors. It’s estimated that more than half of women who experience domestic violence also have chil- dren who are impacted by the serious physical and emotional harms. “Children and young peo- ple need to grow up in a secure and nurturing environment,” the Bradley Angle website explains. “Where domestic or family vio- lence exists, the home is not safe or secure, and children are scared about what might happen to them and the people they love.” Bradley Angle Executive Director Bri Condon expects Kinship to receive a matching amount of financial support next year as the White House disburs- es funds for specialized services for domestic violence and their children. Other efforts give hope the program will continue for at least three years and beyond, she said. Program activities for now will include individual and group therapy, mentoring support, men- tal health services and more “op- portunities for families to learn and heal together,” according to a description of the program. The families will be served at Bradley Angle’s Resource Center in north Portland, Condon said. But as more space was needed to “become youth-focused as well as trauma-focused,” the center was transformed with the help of remodeling and home improve- ment company Neil Kelly, a long time Portland firm headquartered 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 whole stay, so they are not jos- tled around, and during that same time, their parent is receiving ser- vices in Healing Roots. “We’re levering experiential activities to help the kids and family feel more inspired, more confident,” she said. As social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic are lowered because of increased vaccinations, Condon said they’ll be able to offer many more activ- ities to promote the parent-child bond, such as group meals. Testimonials from former cli- ents on the Bradley Angle web- site, bradleyangle.org show the effect of its Healing Roots pro- grams, like Evelyn, who only found the courage to leave a vi- olent relationship after the birth of her son, but didn’t know what to do. “After months of living in my car, paralyzed by fear and grief, I finally worked up the courage to look for help. That’s when I found Bradley Angle’s Healing Roots program — my strength, support and lifeline. They helped me rebuild my life and rediscover the person I once was.” Condon, who’s been on the job for two years, said the agency is named for Sharon Bradley and Pam Angle, domestic violence victims who did not survive. “They were on the street, with ongoing homelessness and drug use, and did not make it off the street,” she said. Domestic violence is “sky- rocketing,” Condon said, and much work is needed and much help is wanted. Additional financial contribu- tions and new pledges of volun- teer help are welcome, Condon said. More information is avail- able at bradleyangle.org. For anyone needing help for domestic violence, the Bradley Angle crisis line is 503-235-5333. New Round of Business Support C ontinued froM p age 3 Avalon Flowers in the same neighborhood. Included in the transformation will be a library and computer lab, a sensory room and dedicated spaces for both older and younger youth. LaVonda Johnson, a member of Portland’s Black community who served as the former eco- nomic empowerment coordinator for Bradley Angle, will lead Kin- ship with the help of two youth mentors. Johnson will be working closely with Healing Roots direc- tor Kristy Hines, Condon said. “The entire downstairs of the Resource Center, about 2,700 square feet, will be dedicated to Kinship programs and activities, with administrative offices on the second floor,” she said. Condon said the experienced staffs of Healing Roots and Kin- ship serve their own communities in their goal of interrupting gen- erational trauma from domestic violence. “We have two marginalized communities we’re focused on, Healing Roots (which serves the Black community), and LGBTQ,” she said. “Whether it’s emergency shelter or Kinship, we are making sure of a cultural match whenever possible. That’s critical and one of the reasons we applied for the money.” The grant was extremely com- petitive, and Condon said she and her staff worked long hours on the application. It’s important that people of color who need help interact with people like themselves Condon said, and listen to those commu- nities when determining parame- ters. The goal, Condon said, is to serve 40 kids the first year, and they’re already at 70 percent of that goal. “Every kid that comes through that door will have access to one professional mentor their Investment, Strength and Em- powerment” program is accept- ing applications through July 31, 2021, officials said. To apply, visit comcastrise.com/apply/. Small businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and Asian Americans are en- couraged to apply for the chance to receive the RISE package, which may include a 90-day, linear TV media campaign; a 30-second TV commercial pro- duction; a technology makeover, including computer equipment and Internet services, along with 12-month voice and cybersecuri- ty assistance; or advertising and marketing consultation. Applicants do not need to be current Comcast customers, but do need to live in the Comcast service area. Sharon Maxwell, owner of Bratton Construction in north- east Portland, received a tech- nology makeover as one of the earlier Comcast RISE recipients. “I had to furlough all my em- ployees at the height of the lock- down,” she said. “I’m slowly bringing them back, and the new technology I received from RISE is helping me speed up the trans- fer of blueprints among offices, with improved security.” “Independent small business- es are the backbone of our com- munities,” said Mark Nugent, di- rector of business development for Comcast Oregon/SW Wash- ington. “And today, more than ever, small businesses owned by people of color are hurting.” Comcast RISE is part of a larger $100 million Diversi- ty, Equity and Inclusion ini- tiative that Comcast launched this summer. In June, Comcast NBCUniversal announced the development of a comprehen- sive, multiyear plan to allocate $75 million in cash and $25 million in media over the next three years to fight injustice and inequality against any race, eth- nicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or ability.