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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 26, 2012)
WWW . THESKANNER . COM S EPTEMBER 26 , 2012 P ORTLAND , O REGON V OLUME XXXIV, N O . 39 25 CENTS MBE 2012 Minority Business Enterprise Special Edition Inside C HALLENGING P EOPLE TO S HAPE A B ETTER F UTURE N OW Foreclosure prevention, home repairs and more Lisa Loving Of The Skanner News S eniors facing home foreclosure can keep relying on the Minority Home- owners Assistance Collaborative (MHAC) for another year for free assistance in keeping their homes. The Portland Housing Bureau has again handed out grant funding for the program, which includes Portland Community Rein- vestment Initiatives, Inc. (PCRI), the African American Alliance for Homeown- ership (AAAH), Hacienda CDC and NAYA Youth and Family Center. “Some of the challenges that our elders of color are facing are in not having access or knowing what programs are out there – but also the challenge of budget shortfalls that are out there,” said Shalonda Menefee of PCRI, pictured at left. This past year an array of housing support organizations faced defunding through City of Portland budget cuts. However Commis- sioner Nick Fish, who oversees housing, found ways to keep most funding for the “housing safety net” a term coined by hous- ing advocates seeking to unify their nonprofit groups and programs into a con- tinuum of services from shelters to home ownership. Housing advocates say the MHAC has served over 200 clients living in the City of Portland over the past two years. The service specifically helps connect sen- iors to organizations that offer free services to help seniors stay in their homes, includ- ing: free home repair, free foreclosure prevention services, and free one-on-one counseling. The Free Homeownership Retention Pro- gram is for seniors ages 55 or older who live in the City of Portland, own their own home and need supportive services or referrals to prevent foreclosure to maintain homeown- ership. If you are a senior homeowner over the WORLD PREMIER The performing arts nonprofit White Bird launches its gala 15th anniversary season with the biggest public dance event ever attempted in Pioneer Courthouse Square, on Sunday, Sept. 30, at 2 and 4 p.m. Some 150 Portlanders from all walks of life will perform the West Coast premiere of a line dance ‘infused with contemporary movement that incorporates the rhythms of country, techno, cumbia, waltzes, and R&B.’ The performance is choreographed by Montreal’s Sylvain Emard. Here, JaVonda Dillon rehearses for the big event, which the dancers have been working on since July. Find more info at www.whitebird.org. Emanuel Reconciliation Project Medical Center seeks to right historic wrong on 100th anniversary Lisa Loving Of the Skanner News A s part of the ongoing commemoration of its 100th year in operation, Legacy Emanuel Medical Cen- ter has launched a reconciliation project aimed at rebuilding its ties to the inner Northeast African American community, scattered through urban renewal development decades ago. The project was kicked off Friday morning at a Black lead- ership breakfast event where See HOUSING on page 3 INDEX News ..............2,3,9,10 Opinion ..................4,5 A & E ...................6,7,8 Bids/Classifieds ...10,11 PHOTO BY CAROLYN CAMPBELL Housing Help for Seniors local consultant and business- woman Jeana Woolley presented the fruits of a year- long research effort she conducted on the history of the Emanuel Hospital expansion in the 1960s and 1970s. The results, along with addi- tional research done about the history of the Eliot neighbor- hood, will be turned into a permanent exhibit to be unveiled at the Emanuel Med- ical Center 100th Anniversary Party and Community Celebra- tion, Saturday, Oct. 6, from 1-4 p.m. at the facility’s Atrium. “As we start our next century of service, Legacy Emanuel would like to strengthen our relationship with the local com- munity, its leaders, institutions and organizations,” Dr. Lori Morgan, Chief Administrative Officer of Legacy Emanuel, said in its invitation to the event sent to local leaders. “It’s our desire to build a stronger, healthier and more collaborative alliance moving forward.” Woolley’s detailed historical research was complimented by the testimony and participation of a panel of displaced former residents, now quite elderly, who were also invited to the breakfast and repeatedly hon- ored. The discussion about “next steps” after Woolley’s presenta- tion was quite frank, with several community leaders tak- ing Emanuel to task for not offering some substantive remu- neration or “restitution” to the survivors of displaced families. Dr. George Brown, Legacy See EMANUEL on page 3 Carolyn Leonard Reflects on Career Longtime administrator considers a bid for school board in 2013 By Helen Silvis Of The Skanner News E ducator Carolyn Leonard retired from Portland Public Schools this year. But she’s showing no signs of stopping work. An internationally recognized scholar in multicultural education and civil rights, she has too many awards and accomplishments to name. Leonard’s philosophy? “Everyone has a responsibility to make things better.” She certainly does her part. Nationally, she has served on the Executive Committee of the National Council for Black Studies. Closer to home, she has been chair of both the Metropolitan Human Rights Commis- sion and the Oregon Commission for Black Affairs, as well as president of the library’s Black Resource Center, based at the North Portland branch. She’s also made history, as chair of the committee that fought successfully to rename Union Avenue as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Leonard’s commitment to public educa- tion has deep roots. See LEONARD on page 3
