News
Ministers Bid to Stop Violence
By Helen Silvis
Of The Skanner News
A
n increase in violence this year, has
brought community leaders and
grassroots activists together in an
attempt to strengthen community networks
and support minority youth. African
American ministers called a meeting Friday
at Life Change Christian Center on N.
Williams St. to coordinate that effort.
The ministers said they wanted 100 peo-
ple to make a commitment of 45 minutes,
once a week for a year. But many more
people responded to that call, packing the
church and signing up to be trained to help.
Dr. Mark Strong, speaking for the church
leaders outlined a four-point plan. THERE
“A visible presence,” SHARE: “A connect-
ing presence,” CARE: “A supporting pres-
ence” and Prayer: “an interceding pres-
ence.”
“If we can just do a little something, we
have an opportunity to make a great differ-
ence,” said Dr. Strong introducing the plan.
We will show our young people that we
love them, we care about them, and we are
there for them. We want everyone to take
part, because violence doesn’t discrimi-
nate.”
Adults were asked to commit to one of the
actions. Those who choose to be THERE,
will create a caring visible presence on the
street and everywhere adults encounter
youth. ‘Connected’, the group of men and
women brought together by outreach spe-
cialist John Canda, is leading this effort.
Those who choose to SHARE will work
through the nonprofit mentoring agency Big
Brothers, Big Sisters to mentor youth who
lack support. Some are young people who
have been in trouble with the law. Evidence
shows that mentoring is a powerful way to
support young people.
Those who commit to CARE will work
with
community
agencies
Self
Enhancement Inc. and Cascadia Behavioral
Health to support families and children.
George Merriweather, support and aftercare
pastor, and Serena Stoudamire Wesley are
coordinating the CARE group.
Those who commit to PRAYER will do
just that, offering a spiritual uplift to the
community, through focused, concentrated
and consistent group prayers. Bishop
Steven Holt will lead the prayer group.
Antoinette Edwards, the mayor’s public
safety advocate helped plan and organize
the meeting. She introduced Mayor Sam
Adams, who turned out to support the effort
and detail the anti-violence strategy he had
unveiled earlier in the day at the Gang
Violence Task Force. The strategy includes:
Promoting volunteer community efforts,
such as the Restore the Village campaign,
Connected, and the church leaders initia-
tive; Adding six officers and a sergeant to a
reactivated gang enforcement team; Longer
federal sentences for more gang crimes;
Direct outreach to gang members (No men-
tion of any change to the number of the
city’s outreach workers — 10 for the entire
city); Tougher gun and sex trafficking laws;
Safety summits; Activities for youth
through the Parks Bureau and the Summer
Youth Connect program, which works with
targeted youth (1,650 students last year)
“If I never have to see another victim of
the violence sweeping through our commu-
nity it would be too soon,” Adams told the
crowd assembled in the church.
“It is a tragedy that is avoidable and pre-
ventable.”
That was the message too from Russ
Corno, a longtime gang enforcement officer
with Portland Police Bureau. Despite more
than 40 gang-related shootings this year, the
problem is nowhere near the level of the
mid-90s, Corno said. In 1997, for example,
13 people were killed by gang-related vio-
lence. Portland is equipped to deal with the
problem.
“I can tell you we know how to solve the
problem,” he said. “I can tell you we can’t
See MINISTERS on page 10
Unthank Park Dedication
His mother died when he was just
nine years old. His father was a
poor cook who couldn’t afford to
feed him and his seven brothers and
sisters. Sent to to live with his aunt
and uncle he worked hard to earn a
path to university and a career as a
doctor. But that wasn’t the end of
his struggles. Why? This doctor was
Black at a time when the color of
your skin was way more important
than the content of your character.
Yet he was not deterred. He became a civil rights warrior, and a legend. His
name now honors one of ’s most-used parks: in .
“Many of the African American leaders in this community were delivered by
Dr. Unthank and live by his example,” said Art Hendrix, security manager for
the Parks department.
If you haven’t heard the story of Dr. DeNorval Unthank, you’re not alone.
Many Portlanders have no idea where the park got its name. That’s just one
reason why and Recreation is inviting you to a rededication celebration in
the park from 5 pm to 8 pm on Friday June 17.
The park has had a facelift and new lighting, and much more is planned.
Five recreation workers, hired from the Northeast community have been
hired to organize events in the park this summer from 4pm to 7 p.m. Along
with fun activities, free meals for youth will be offered at 5 p.m. A movie
night and other events also are in the works.
Mooney
continued from page 7
said, “If you scrutinize Jay
Leno and David Letterman
the same way you scrutinize
me, then I’ll agree with you,
but if you don’t touch them
white folks don’t touch me.
They say whatever they
want to say every night.”
But don’t get it twisted;
it’s not all about race. At
least that’s not the only topic
there is to debate, even
though it may have been the
one that got him into the
most trouble (along with
cracking jokes about Diana
Ross’ DUI arrest, oh and of
Caldwell’s, Hennessey, Goetsch
& McGee Funeral Home
Von D. Bailey
Funeral Director
20 NE 14th Avenue
Portland, OR 97232
503-232-4111
Fax 503-231-1586
von.bailey@sci-us.com
course that one about Mom
Bush…). Even Negrodamus
is willing to admit his own
premonitions might be off
occasionally. And after his
public battle with Michael
Richards from Seinfeld
about the use of the n-word,
Mooney had this to say: “I
am no longer going to use
the n-word. Instead of say-
ing ‘What’s up my n——,’
say ‘What’s up my Michael
Richards.’” At a summit
with
Jesse
Jackson,
Reverend Al Sharpton, and
Richards, Mooney forgave
Michael. In his first “n-word
free” show after his procla-
mation, he made it about an
hour, and then…
See Paul Mooney June 15-
18 at Helium Comedy Club-
1510 SE 9th. www.helium-
comedy.com.
FGPA
JUNE CONVENTION CONFERENCE
June 23, 24, 25 2011
THEME
“The Faith Jesus Seeks On The Earth At His Return"
Luke 18:1-14
Presiding Bishop A.A. Wells
•June 23rd, Evangelistic Service @ 7:00pm
•June 24th, Evangelistic Service, Women @ 7:00pm
•June 25th, Christian Education, Organization @ 10:00 – 2:00pm
•June 25th, Official Night @ 7:00pm
Vancouver Full Gospel Church
311 W. Evergreen Bv
Vancouver, Wa 98660 (360) 694-5236
Page 8 The Portland and Seattle Skanner June 15, 2011