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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 2011)
WWW . ThESkANNER . COM O CTOBER 26, 2011 P ORTlAND , O REGON V OluME XXXIII, N O . 52 25 CENTS i nSiDe Gem of the Ocean page 6 Women’s Reentry page 8 Worship in Pink C hallenging P eoPle to S haPe a B etter F uture n ow Wealth in Black America page 9 Honoring Carter Mike Green keynotes The Skanner News’ 2012 King Breakfast by helen Silvis of The Skanner News photoS by Dietrich williamS-mott F asten your seat belts. It’s time to blast off and power up into the innovation economy. Set your course for a 21st Century where Black Americans have the power to create wealth and jobs. That’s the message from Mike Green, co- founder of The America 21 Project and the Black Innovation and Competitiveness Initiative. (BlackInnovation.org) Green will be the keynote speaker at the Skanner Foundation’s 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast. “All of the net new jobs in America have been created by companies that are 5 years old or younger: essentially they are start- ups,” Green says. “They are fueled by angel investors and venture capital, but Black folks are not in any part of that equation. That’s a problem because it means we have no wealth creation and no job growth.” As a journalist and later as a blogger for the Hufington Post, Green learned a lot about how the technology sector works — and doesn’t work for African Americans. When he left journalism to start his own educational technology business, he soon realized he was a rare breed. “I saw very few people who looked like me,” he said. Green wrote a four-part series on the Innovation crisis in Black America, and found two like-minded allies: economic development guru Johnathan Holifield and biotech engineer Chad Womack. The three realized that what was missing was that nexus of investment and tech startups. “We saw this disconnect. So what are we going to do about it?” Green says. “And nobody was doing anything so we felt if we don’t do something then nobody will.” They formed The America 21 Project to bring wealth and job creation into African American communities, using the same angel and venture capital investment model Dietrich Williams-Mott, former Margaret Carter Skill Center student Tamiko Phillips and Carter smile for a photo at the special celebration of the former state senator’s legacy at Portland Community College last week. The school, which is marking its 50th anniversary year, rechristened its technology building as the Margaret Carter Technology Education Center. PCC Marks 50th Year in Community Lawmaker, education advocate gives name to tech center F ormer State Sen. Margaret Carter has been honored as the namesake of the Portland Community College Tech - nology Education Building, in ceremonies marking the col- lege’s 50th anniversary. Officials there say it is the first time in PCC history that one of its buildings has been named for a woman. On hand for the event was Gov. John Kitzhaber; U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Kurt Schrader; former Margaret Carter Skill Center student Tamiko Phillips (who is now attending the University of Nevada at Las Vegas on a scholarship); and Oregon Historical Society Director Kerry Tymchuk. “It is our great honor to name one of our buildings for Senator Carter,” said Cascade Campus President Algie Gatewood. “She has spent her adult life working and advo- cating for the people of North and Northeast Portland. I don’t think one can find a more committed proponent of education, nor a more dedicat- ed champion for members of traditionally underrepresented communities.” Officials said Carter’s histo- ry with the school goes back almost to its opening. “Portland Community College has been the access and success to the renewal of my life,” she said. “I began my renewing journey with PCC as a student in the fall of 1968. After completing my master’s degree, I interned as a student in the spring of 1973. The rest is history.” “Sen. Carter’s history with the college and the campus is deep and abiding,” said Gatewood. “And it’s only fit- ting that we name a building in her honor.” Carter eventually became the first African American woman to be elected to the Oregon Legislature, in 1984; she was elected to the state Senate in 2000. She currently works as the See carter on page 3 See wealth on page 3 inDeX News .................2,3,10 Opinion ..................4,5 A & E ......................6,7 Church ...................8,9 Books.......................11 Bids/Classifieds ........11 Back and Neck Pain: Finding Treatment Specialist says too many people spend years avoiding help by lisa loving of The Skanner News B rain surgeon Dr. Warren Roberts recently spoke to community mem- bers about why they should seek out specialized help for back and neck pain – instead of suffering with it, sometimes for years, to avoid going to a doctor. He says many of his patients regret not seeking attention sooner rather than letting it make their lives miserable. On the staff of The Aspen Spine and Neurosurgery Center affil- iated with Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center, Dr. Ward spoke with The Skanner News about what causes neck and back pain, what can fix it, and why so many peo- ple don’t an important event. Can you talk about that? Dr. Warren Roberts: The topic was neck pain evaluation and management. This was a talk focused on the community, and to go over the many causes of neck pain as well as the appropriate evaluation and treatment options for people with neck pain. The underlying message is to avoid patients The Skanner News: You recently spoke at See pain on page 3
