Portland observer., April 03, 2024, Page 5, Image 5

April 3, 2024
Page 5
Fruit Tree Project and
Leaven Center Host
Street Festival
Members of the FBI Teen Academy. Photo courtesy of FBI
Photo courtesy of Earth Day Oregon’s facebook
A Fundraiser For
Climate Justice
and Community
Resilience
Portland Fruit Tree Project and the
vibrant community of nonprofit organi-
zations housed within the Leaven Com-
munity Center are excited to announce a
collaborative street festival, spring plant
sale, community forum and fundraiser
aimed at promoting climate justice and
community resilience. The event, Earth
Every Day at Leaven Community, will
take place on April 20th from 11am to 8pm
at the Leaven Community Center, located
at 5431 NE 20th Ave.
Sparrowhawk Native Plants will be
present to fulfill pre-ordered plant pickups,
and for those who missed the pre-order
deadline, there will be a FLASH SALE of
leftover plants at incredible prices starting
at 2pm. Attendees will have the opportu-
nity to explore an array of garden plants,
fruiting trees, and shrubs offered by Port-
land Fruit Tree Project throughout the
day. In addition to plant sales, attendees
can indulge in refreshments from 2Towns
Ciderhouse, Deschutes Brewery, a Lav-
ender Lemonade Stand, and food for sale
from Leaven Community. Family-centric
activities, facility tours, and informational
booths hosted by neighborhood nonprofits
will provide entertainment and education
on topics ranging from wildlife tracking to
eco-justice initiatives.
Guests will have the chance to win
prizes generously provided by Freeya,
Portland’s Homegrown Free Market-
place. Furthermore, all attendees will
receive a Pro membership to Freeya via
email after the event, valued at $60.The
event schedule is packed with engaging
activities including crafting for kids with
SCRAP PDX, wildlife tracking with Cas-
cadia Wild, a meet and greet with Pyxis
the Miniature Therapy Unicorn, and live
music by Jessa of Jessa Campbell & The
Saplings, among others. A community
forum hosted by Leaven Community at
3:30 pm will ask neighbors to imagine
what a neighborhood rooted in com-
munity resilience and climate justice
would look like for them. The day will
culminate in a Downtown Portland Raf-
fle Package drawing and a rock concert
from 6 to 8pm, donated generously by
local group Paper Plane.
"We're thrilled to partner with Leaven
Community Center and our fellow non-
profits to bring this dynamic event to the
Portland community," said Heather Kes-
sler-Fornes, Executive Director of Portland
Fruit Tree Project. "It's an opportunity for
us to come together, celebrate our shared
values, and take meaningful action to-
wards community resilience." Founded in
2013, Leaven Community is dedicated to
igniting the power of relationships within
neighborhoods for more equitable, diverse,
and thriving communities. Portland Fruit
Tree Project annually harvests and donates
over ten thousand pounds of fruit, con-
tributing to the community's food security
while reducing waste.
"We invite everyone to join us for a day
of fun, learning, and community build-
ing," said Alison Killeen, Director-Or-
ganizer of Leaven Community Center.
"Together, we can make a difference and
create a more resilient future for all."
Sliding scale tickets are available start-
ing at a $5 donation, and children under 5
are admitted free of charge. Additionally,
free tickets are available upon request, as
inclusivity and accessibility are priorities
for the event organizers.
Accepting Applications for
the FBI’s Teen Academy
Learn about exciting
careers in law
enforcement within
the FBI with the
Portland Division
Have you ever wanted to be part of a
SWAT Team? Or fingerprint a suspect?
Or learn how to catch a cyber-criminal?
Then consider participating in the FBI
Teen Academy.
The FBI Teen Academy program pro-
vides an excellent opportunity for rising
high school juniors and seniors to learn
about exciting careers in law enforce-
ment within the FBI and beyond. Ap-
plicants chosen for the program actively
engage with FBI agents and leaders in
the Bureau to learn about case studies,
crime prevention, evidence gathering,
and investigative techniques related to
criminal activity. The Teen Academy al-
lows students to delve deeply into levels
of law enforcement unavailable to them
in a general classroom setting.
"Last year this office received a re-
cord number of applicants for the FBI’s
Teen Academy, and we are excited to
host them again this year,” said Aubree
M. Schwartz, Acting Special Agent in
Charge of the FBI Portland Field Of-
fice. "This is a unique opportunity for
these teens to see how the FBI fits into
the greater Department of Justice. They
will interact with FBI Special Agents
and learn how the FBI conducts inves-
tigations, from interviewing to evidence
gathering and analysis, using deductive
reasoning and logic-based skills. This
week-long program is an excellent intro-
duction into the field of federal law en-
forcement and will hopefully inspire the
next generation of FBI employees."
Students learn about how criminals
are captured, hear from FBI agents about
actual cases, and learn how to raise their
self-awareness online and watch for cy-
ber-predators. Graduates of the Teen
Academy program develop a keen un-
derstanding of how the FBI interacts with
local law enforcement agencies and how
participants can raise crime prevention
awareness in their communities. In addi-
tion, hands-on instruction by FBI experts
and other law enforcement agents allows
students to understand the importance
of communication between national and
local agencies.
Teen Academy members engage in
group activities ranging from small
group exercises to hands-on simulations.
As a result, students learn valuable life
skills and increase their knowledge and
understanding of how law enforcement
agencies interact around the country.
Participation is free to the applicants
chosen, and volunteer organizations pro-
vide supplies for the events. Applicants
must be rising juniors or seniors in high
school in the state of Oregon or South-
west Washington. Attendees will need to
provide their own transportation to and
from the FBI Portland Field Office.
FBI Portland is currently accepting
applications for its 2024 Teen Academy.
The session will take place Monday, July
15 to Thursday, July 18, 2024. Submit
your application to outreach.pd@fbi.gov
by Friday, April 26, 2024