Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 2024)
January 24, 2024 ocaL N ews INSIDE L Instilling Hope, Courage, and Page 3 Healing Among the Community Arts & ENTERTAINMENT page 7-8 c Lassified /B ids pages 10 Established 1970 USPS 959 680 1727 NE 13th Ave. Suite 201 Portland, OR 97212 The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope. All created design display ads become the sole property of the newspaper and cannot be used in other publications or personal usage without the written consent of the general manager, unless the client has purchased the composition of such ad. © 2008 THE PORTLAND OBSERVER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. The Portland Observer--Oregon’s Oldest Multicultural Publication--is a member of the National Newspaper Association--Founded in 1885, and The National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc, New York, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers Association Publisher: Mark Washington, Sr. Editor: Shawntell Washington Office Mngr/Clasfds : Lucinda Baldwin Admin Coord : Quayuana Washington Creative Director: Kenya Anderson Web Editor: Zoe Holman-Kragero CALL 503-288-0033 • FAX 503-288-0015• news@portlandobserver.com ads@portlandobserver.com• subscription@portlandobserver.com Postmaster: Send address changes to Portland Observer, PO Box 3137, Portland, OR 97208 2023 Lowenstein Trust Award to Dr. S. Reneé Mitchell Dr. S. Reneé Mitchell has sur- vived a lifetime of trauma and channeled these experiences for good, including identifying op- portunities and creating programs to heal and inspire others. Dr. Mitchell has a long-term and deep commitment to Portland’s Afri- can-American community. She has worked for decades as a jour- nalist, author, poet, playwright, and educator. In 2018, Dr. Mitchell created the Soul Restoration Center to help low-income youth of color channel their creativity and to find their voice and clarify their pur- pose. As a result, in early 2022, Dr. Mitchell transformed a neglect- ed building into a vibrant cultur- al center. The Soul Restoration Center is a place where Black Renee Mitchell people of all ages can experience what it feels like to be culturally seen, centered, and authentically cared about, and was recognized for its extraordinary capacity to convene, celebrate, and build a strong sense of community in gentrified North Portland. Dr. Mitchell’s vision combined with her commitment to community helped create a project that be- gan during the pandemic and has evolved into a national effort – to help the Black community in Port- land – and elsewhere – to embrace and spread joy and to empower others to take the time to acknowl- edge and affirm one another. The Soul Restoration Center helps heal the traumas of Port- land’s racism and gentrification experienced by many African American youth and provides a safe gathering space where Black youth and adults can experience Black joy “… Black joy serves as an act of resistance, amidst the tidal waves of racial oppres- sion. Dr. Mitchell developed the I Am M.O.R.E.’s theory of change, called Empowered Resil- ience™, as a doctoral candidate at the University of Oregon (2021). She created an award-winning, evidence-based example of how to empower and build hope and resiliency in Black youth with cul- turally relevant skill building and programming. The Center also shines a light on Black elders and honors who they are, what they’ve done, and the important role they play in holding space for young people to thrive. As a survivor of domestic vi- olence, childhood bullying, and other trauma, Dr. Mitchell con- Continued on Page 9 Garbage Companies in Recovery Mode Ice storm causes delays Last week’s snow and ice storm caused a nearly unprece- dented disruption in Portland’s waste collection system. Hazardous road conditions and closures of key facilities in the regional garbage system resulted in many garbage companies be- ing unable to collect for the entire week. Companies had planned to start catching up on Saturday but were unable to after freezing rain made road conditions unsafe. Waste collection companies are operating in storm recovery mode and focusing their trucks and staff on picking up garbage this week. If your garbage was not picked up last week, leave your garbage bin at the curb, and it will be col- lected as soon as possible. If this week is your usual garbage week, set out garbage on your regular collection day. Garbage companies expect to be able to pick up recycling this week. If your recycling was missed last week, you can set out twice as much this week. Snow covered waste bins in Portland 2023 (Photo Courtesy of Portland BPS) Some companies have post- all remaining cardboard, bundle poned compost collection un- it together, secure the bundle with til next week, as they redirect tape, and lean the bundle against their trucks and staff to catch your blue recycling bin. up on missed garbage collection Glass should be set out any from last week. If your compost rigid plastic container filled with wasn’t collected last week and/ glass bottles and jars next to your or this week, you can set out ex- regular glass recycling bin. A tra yard waste next week for no 5-gallon bucket with a few holes extra charge. drilled in the bottom to let rain If you’ve got more recycling through works well. and yard waste than can fit in your Leaves, branches, or other yard bins due to weather-related ser- waste can be placed in a yard vice delays, here’s how to set out waste bag or can (32 gallons and extras: put recyclables in a card- 45 pounds max each). Branches board box or a paper bag and set can be bundled and tied securely next to your blue recycling bin. with string or twine (do not use Cardboards should be flatten wire). Branches cannot exceed 36 boxes and cut into smaller pieces inches in length and 4 inches in di- to fit as much as possible into your ameter. Set bags, cans, or bundles recycling bin. Flow with flatten next to your green compost bin.
