local news
Northeast Portland Held Anti-Violence Events Saturday
by Helen Silvis
of The Skanner News
T
hree events Friday and Saturday,
brought together men, women and
youth in a community-led campaign
to stop the violence that has taken the lives
of five Black teens this year. Organizers are
pushing to strengthen support networks in
Portland’s African American and minority
communities. Advocates say the increase in
shootings and the death of five teens this
year are simply the most visible signs of an
environment that is failing many children
and teens.
On Friday, men and women gathered at
Holladay Park near the Lloyd Center. The
aim? To demonstrate a caring presence in a
park where 14-year-old Shiloh Hampton
was shot and killed just weeks ago.
On Saturday, a ‘Teen Walk Against
Violence’ made a statement in inner
Northeast Portland.
Later that afternoon, the Restore the
Village campaign brought community
members to the Police Activities League
Youth Center at 422 N.E. 172nd Ave., to
share ideas and plan events.
Each group has plans for more events and
activities in the weeks and months to come.
At the Teen Walk Youth Lead but Adults
also Support
About 30 people set out from the Blazer
Boys and Girls Club, Saturday, taking part
c
o
in a Teen Walk Against Violence, organized
by LaQuoya Tyler, her grandmother
Roberta Tyler and friends from her church
youth group. Along the way, more men
women and children joined the group, and
the numbers swelled to about 70. A chant of
‘Stop the Violence’ was delivered with
upbeat energy as the walkers processed
south on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
“I am going to help you lead this one,
since it is the first,” said Roberta Tyler to the
young people. “Next time it’s going to be up
to you.”
Many of the walkers had been personally
touched by the loss of a loved one to vio-
lence. Shelteria McDonald, 20, said her
boyfriend was shot at the mall a year ago.
Teressa Raiford lost her nephew Andre
Payton last year. Others cited the recent
shooting deaths of Shalamar Edmond,
Shiloh Hampton, and Mario Alexander
Marin. Sgt. Willie Halliburton came with
his two teen children, and provided a police
escort, even though it was his day off.
Ms. Shaquita Louis walked along with
family and friends of her daughter, missing
teen Yashanee Vaughn.
The first stop was Irving Park where
Roberta Tyler asked people to come forward
and say whatever was on their minds. Many
spoke with inspirational effect, including:
Pastor J.W. Friday, Troy Tate, Karen
Jackson, Marsha McDonald, Teressa
Raiford, Karl Acker and many others.
m
m
u
n
I
t
Parenting and families was high on the list
of topics. Speakers urged parents to get
involved with their children, help them
focus on school, and also that everyone
should look out for their neighbors’ chil-
dren.
”I want to say to the youth: We care about
you. We love you,” said Karen Jackson. “It
takes a village. So we need to push, pray
until something happens. Push, pray until
something happens. And it’s happening
right now.”
The activists say they want to build a net-
work of support around struggling teens,
offering alternatives to poverty, school fail-
ure, isolation and gangs.
Marty Williams, a coach at Grant High
School told the Skanner News during the
walk that parents may need support to get
their kids to school on time every day. It
isn’t easy to keep teens on track, he said, so
sometimes parents just give up. Three
things are vital to student success, Williams
said. “Number one: You’ve got to show up,”
he said. “Number two: You’ve got to follow
through. You have to try because through
trying you can recognize your potential and
where you have to do better. It builds your
confidence. Number three: You’ve got to
finish. You have to finish that race. If you’re
playing football, you can’t get to that line
and not score the goal.”
Marsha McDonald urged teens to get
involved with positive activities. Her own
y
c
a
l
e
n
church, Highland Christian Center, wel-
comes any teens, she said. After service on
every fourth Sunday, the church offers bas-
ketball, food and other activities from 11
am. And the youth ministry is open to sug-
gestions from youth.
Karl Acker, a former Grant High School
track star, who now attends Louisiana State
University, spoke about the challenges fac-
ing young black males.
“As young Black males, as young Black
females, we are targets,” he told the group.
“There’s a war for our minds out here. We
live in an information age… and we can get
a piece of information so fast with the tech-
nology we have. And what is it in the form
of: advertising. They all want us to spend
money.”
Acker said having two involved parents
was what helped him make it to university.
For those who don’t have that, the commu-
nity is the key.
“If you are in our lives, you are going to
have an effect,” he said. “We are only as
strong as you all make us. We need y’all,”
he said. “With you all telling us what’s real
and what’s not we are not going to be fooled
by an advertisement because they are telling
us how to think they are telling us who we
are and who we’re not. BET, MTV, looking
at that and seeing the rappers you think:
Read the rest online at
www.theskanner.com
d
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P ortland J une 2011
B ulletIn B oard
INFORMED. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT
THIS SUMMER’S YOUTH VIOLENCE? We will discuss
Intervention Programs, Foot Patrol Possibilities,
Mentoring Possibilities, what can be done
between 12 a.m. and 3 a.m. University Park,
9009 N. Foss 6 – 7 p.m.
Saturday June 4
If you have an event you want to share
with the community, email it two weeks
in advance to The Skanner at
info@theskanner.com
Friday & Saturday June 3 & 4
PARTY ON THE PATIO AT ALBERTINA’S RESTURANT AND
SHOPS! Volunteer-run Albertina’s Restaurant and
Shops will hold a Party on the Patio to officially
open one of Portland’s most beautiful outdoor
dining for the summer season. Friday 4 – 7:30
p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 424 NE 22nd
Ave. Cafe benefits Albertina Kerr Centers.
Friday June 3
COMMUNITY FORUM: GET INVOLVED, STAY
Page 2 The Portland Skanner June 1, 2011
SUMMER KICK-OFF! OREGON STATE PARKS DAY!
Enjoy free park admission, free camping for
Saturday night (at regular campsites) and events
at many of the parks. Check your Oregon State
Parks.
STARLIGHT PARADE! Grab your spot early to see
the parade. The parade begins at NW Burnside
and 9th Ave. It then travels through downtown
Portland and ends at Lincoln High School.
Parade starts at 8:30 p.m.
TRIBUTE TO MARSHALL: A tribute to Marshall,
celebrating Marshall High School’s 51 years
educating students in Southeast Portland. The
event will include food, entertainment,
memorabilia displays and raffles. Noon to 3 p.m.
Marshall High School campus 3905 SE 91st Ave.
Sunday June 5
BEAVERTON HIGH SCHOOL 6TH ANNUAL POWWOW:
Native American dancing, drumming, vendors
and more. 1 – 10 p.m. 13000 SW second St.
Beaverton, OR
FriDay JuNe 10
2ND ANNUAL CARNIVAL AND SILENT AUCTION!
Calling on the community to support the
Humboldt Elementary Carnival and Silent
Auction. 5:30 p.m. Humboldt Elementary School.
Saturday June 11
KING NEIGHBORHOOD GARAGE SALE DAY! 9 a.m.
– 4 p.m. Individual sales subject to various hours.
Registrations must be received by June 8th to be
listed on the map. For more info, contact us at
info@kingneighborhood.org
KIDS FREE FISHING DERBY! Free lunch &
beverages, free fishing, casting contest, games,
prizes and much more. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Merwin
Park in Ariel, WA 12 miles east of Woodland, off
SR 503.