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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 20, 2024)
Page 8 March 20, 2024 Black Change Makers Ending Domestic Violence A New Limited Podcast Series for Domestic Violence Prevention Experts Blue Shield of California Foundation is presenting the lim- ited series podcast Let’s End Do- mestic Violence: Heal, Restore, Prevent, which spotlights Black leaders in California who are working to end domestic violence and create a safer future for Black families and communities. The podcast series celebrates Black trailblazers who all share a common goal to end domestic violence in California including Karen Earl, Executive Director of the Jenesse Center; Dr. Teiahsha Bankhead, Executive Director of Restorative Justice for Oak- land Youth; Kelli Dillon, Gen- der-based Violence Prevention Program Analyst with the City of New Podcast Features Angela Davis & Black Change makers Ending Domestic Violence Oakland; and Sonya Young Aad- I admire about young people of hope and the current moment am, CEO of the California Black is that they still have curiosity; of change for domestic violence Women’s Health Project. they still have a radical imag- prevention and healing. In Episode 4, “Elevating ination. And I feel like trauma, “This is a period unlike any Solutions and Impacts in the racism, white supremacy, all the other. People would like to think Black Community,” Trina things — all the -isms — it strips about the 60s as the revolution- Greene, founder and Executive us of that as adults. We don’t be- ary period. But I think this is the Director of Parenting for Lib- lieve things are possible. And so revolutionary period,” said Da- eration, spoke to the hope that what brings me hope is support- vis. “If we do the work we say youth provide in the fight to ing the folks that I work with,” we’re doing, and if we do move change systems that perpetuate Greene said. forward, there will be those who all forms of violence. In the fifth and final episode, want to go back to the old days. “The children are our future, renowned activist and author An- Those who want to go back to but not in the cliche way. What gela Davis reflects on the idea the period when racism was Black Health unchallenged when patriarchy was the way people thought the world functioned. So that’s actu- ally an indication of the fact that we’re making progress. I feel very hopeful.” Both conversations also touched on the need to engage whole communities in prevention and healing solutions in order to address the multi-generational nature of domestic violence. “Part of the reason why we use [the phrase] ‘intimate partner vi- olence’ is to really highlight the fact that this is actually an issue that impacts entire families,” said Eric Morrison-Smith, Executive Director of the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color. “I think in a lot of times people think it’s just interpersonal between maybe a husband and a wife, or partners, but these issues actually bleed into impacting children and then it also impacts the entire commu- nity. We’re really talking about safe relationships, and that’s what builds safe communities.” All 5 episodes of Let’s End Domestic Violence: Heal, Re- store, Prevent can be found at letsenddv.org/podcast as well as on Spotify, Apple Music, and Buzzsprout. Matters North by Northeast Community Health Center is the only clinic in Oregon devoted to African American health. We provide welcoming, high quality health care to adults who have Oregon Health Plan. Since 2006, our priority has been to serve the local African American community and to reduce the deadly effects of high blood pressure and diabetes. We are accepting new patients, and if you’re uninsured, we can help you get covered! To make an appointment or learn about our services, contact us: www.nxneclinic.org (503) 287-4932 714 NE Alberta Street Portland, Oregon 97211
