Bids/classifieds
Advertising deadlines 12:00 Noon Monday
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
To place your ad, email
advertising@theskanner.com
Rob
continued from page 9
gling youth and families through the 24/11 initiative.
“He was like my son in the Gospel,” said Bishop Holt. “
Rob I think, is an example of manliness: committed to his
family, to community, to his children and to his church. He
didn’t just talk about it; he walked it.”
As the leader of the city’s efforts to end gang violence,
Ingram was outspoken in his view that the root of the prob-
lem lies with a society that denies basic resources and care
to poor children and families.
“These are our children and they are exactly what we
have created,” he said last September, after an apparently
random shooting left six teens wounded. “So if we are so
angry and disgusted, then we need to do something.”
Doing something was exactly what Ingram was known for.
His upbeat personality inspired and uplifted others. His
daily Facebook posts were full of hope, encouragement and
fun. He loved stylish shoes and wore them well, as com-
fortable in his immaculate suits as he was in casual sports
clothing. A connector of people, places and ideas, he moved
between worlds building understanding and community
wherever he went.
I expected him to be a force
in this community for decades
to come
—Marcus Mundy
As President of the Urban League of Portland’s Young
Professionals, Ingram pushed his group to achieve and
strive. His expectations were high, but no higher than the
standards he had for himself. Ingram told The Skanner
News he planned to write his autobiography one day, but
had work to do first.
“He had a tough job to do with the city in trying to cur-
tail youth violence,” says John Canda, who previously held
his position. “I still don’t believe people understand what an
awesome responsibility that is. Rob did it well.”
Rob left no doubt how proud he was of his family. And he
had good reasons to be proud. His oldest son Derriel
Ingram, now a student at Lane Community College, led the
Black Students Union at Benson High school last year, and
also won the state wrestling championship.
Rob Ingram with Chabre Vickers at the Big Brothers
Big Sisters Columbia Nw annual breakfast
Many others in the city, who knew Ingram through his
work for at-risk youth or through his inspirational leader-
ship of the Urban League’s Young Professionals, can hard-
ly believe he has gone forever. Many hoped and expected
that he would rise to greater prominence some day, maybe
running for mayor or to be Oregon’s first Black Senator.
“He was here to make an impact and he did,” says rep.
Lew Frederick. “We needed to have him a lot longer than
we did.
“He left a legacy and a challenge. I hope we are up to it.
I think we are up to it.”
Here are tributes from some of those who knew
him well
“Rob’s face was a face that lit up a room. When he walked
into a room, everyone noticed. His caring for at-risk youth
was his primary responsibility and it was his passion. He
loved family. He loved what he did. And you could see it in
his face.” Tom peavey, policy director for portland’s
office of Youth violence prevention.
“Rob was a definite pillar in our community. He was
somebody who could relate to multiple generations – the
old and the new, He will be dearly missed.” robert blake,
outreach worker brothers and Sisters keepers.
“He was an excellent leader and I expected him to be a
force in this community for decades to come. Everything
he did in the community was positive. He had a lot of pas-
We honor the many
accomplishments of
African Americans.
sion and he worked very hard. He was a good family man:
a loving family man and husband. He was just a very nice
person on top of everything else. It’s a very sad day for
Portland.” marcus mundy, president of the urban
league of portland.
“There is not one single person in this city who needs a
role model who wouldn’t want Rob Ingram to be that per-
son. Rob’s commitment to work was unsurpassed – even
when he should have stopped and taken a break. For some
reason I was blessed to have a close relationship with Rob.
Who is going to do all that work? He was doing the work
of 10 men. And his work impacted people in a way that no
other person’s did. The loss is just monumental.” Chabre
vickers
“Rob Ingram was different. He did not just hold positions
which signified change, nor did he simply work for change,
he was the change…He was unapologetically committed to
the improvement of the lives young men of color – a matter
that was urgent and always on his mind.” rochell ‘ro
Deezy’ Hart
“Rob’s death has affected me a great deal. It’s like losing
a young brother or maybe an older son. He was a leader,
and he understood that change doesn’t happen by intuition
but by hard work. And he was willing to put in that hard
work. He left a legacy and a challenge. I hope we are up to
it. I think we are up to it.” rep. lew frederick
We went to the Whitney M. Young Conference in Atlanta:
Rob, myself and Crystal Robinson. We all did the Myers
Briggs (a personality profile). Rob’s Myers Briggs came out
as the Champion and I think that title is perfect for
him.‘Champions are greatly concerned with ethics and jus-
tice and have a strong desire to speak about current issues
and events. Champions can be tireless in talking with oth-
ers, like fountains that bubble and splash, spilling over their
own words to get it all out. Their strong drive to speak out
on issues and events, along with their boundless enthusiasm
and natural talent with language, makes them the most viva-
cious and inspiring of all the types.’ He was a champion of
people, and of life and a steward of the community.”
jazzmin reese, formerly vice-president of the urban
league’s Young professionals, now stepping into the
role of president.
“What I remember about Rob is his style. Rob was a gen-
tleman. He had a tough job to do with the city in trying to
curtail youth violence. I still don’t believe people under-
stand what an awesome responsibility that is. Rob found
ways to deal with the stress of that position and I think he
did that very well. I’m very sad for his family, his children
and the entire City of Portland.” john Canda outreach
worker and former director of the office of Youth
violence prevention
“Rob’s heart was deep into community building. He was
such a great guy – always positive. He was one of those
solid rocks in the community giving so much from his
heart. Like a lot of people I’m still reeling. He was so
young.” renee mitchell
“As a citizen he represented the best of what a public ser-
vant should be. His actions and interactions with people all
represented shared community. No matter who you were –
Black or White, rich or poor, he made sure you got the same
attention. He treated everyone the same.” kelvin Hall
“We loved him and we will miss him. He was like my son
in the Gospel. Rob I think, is an example of manliness:
committed to his family, to community, to his children and
to his church. He didn’t just talk about it; he walked it.”
bishop Steven Holt
“As shown by how he lived his life my husband, Robert
Ingram, was passionate about our community. He loved
mentoring and leading. He believed in every person’s
capacity to change, to be a good citizen. Your prayers have
given us strength—please continue to offer them for us all.
Dana fuller Ingram
“It’s an unbelievable tragedy. I was in shock and still am.
Rob was a great dude; motivational, inspiring and hard
working. He had a passion for helping our community and
he was able to go through doors a lot of us couldn’t. He was
a voice for the hood bringing our perspective to City Hall.
He helped me a lot. He was a mentor and a great family
man. A picture of what a Black man could be. We all must
step up to the plate and carry on his work.” Samuel
More stories about Rob are
online at
www.theskanner.com
page 10 The Portland Skanner
november 30, 2011