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Y.O.U.t.h.
Lift Up
acknowledges that racial disparities can
lead to economic injustice, obesity, sub-
stance abuse, teenage pregnancy, and other
education health and social problems,” says
organizer and founder Imani Muhammad,
past winner of The Skanner News Drum
Major for Justice Award.
Workshops include:
— The Real Gangsta’s of Rap, for youth
and adults, by Jasiri X
— Soulfly Groovment, for youth, by
Erica Brannon E-Rocca; an exercise dance
focusing on community support services to
reduce the rate of recidivism, while re-
building & transforming lives as we help
them transition into a healthy life, and soci-
ety;
— Being Calm and Focused Under Stress,
for adults, by Dr. Jay Klusky; introduces the
participants to two exercises: Breathing and
Positioning. This workshop will also use
“Ki Training” as a teaching tool.
— Undoing Institutionalized Racism, for
youth, by Mireaya Medina, Portland Peace
Program; participants will share
what they have learned about race,
poverty, and how to organize to
create change. Participants will
learn about how racism affects us
mentally, emotionally and physi-
cally.
— What is Money…Really?, for
adults, by Kaon-Jabbar East El;
participants will learn the differ-
ence between money and debt;
abusive practices of collection and
debt collectors; the difference
between approved money and debt
notes.
— Human Rights Education Workshop,
for youth, by teen leader Karla Dana; the
workshop aims to teach youth to operate
peacefully in a way that will encourage
leadership among their peers and help them
make healthy decisions; also participants
will learn about human rights and the
The annual event is in
memory of 14-year-old
Davonte Lightfoot, who was
shot to death on North
Killingsworth Street in
January of 2007
workout various styles from the African
Diaspora;
— Holistic Approach to Health, for youth,
by Royal Harris; providing “health literacy”
tips on learning more about your health;
— Made a Mistake?…So What, for
youth, by Emanuel Price of Second
Chances Are For Everyone (SCAFE),
PHOTO COURTESY PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS
continued from page 1
Lift Up America, the Portland Trail Blazers and Tyson Foods, Inc. distributed
30,000 pounds of frozen chicken last Thursday, donated by Tyson to the
Oregon Food Bank at the Rose Quarter. The donation marked the first
distribution event involving a Portland sports team with Tyson’s KNOW
Hunger national campaign. More than 270,000 Oregonians per month
eat meals from emergency food boxes.
responsibility of youth in creating a brighter
future through educating others in their
rights as laid out in the United Nations Uni-
versal Declaration of Human Rights.
— Self Defense and Health, for youth, by
Carolyne Haycraft; Prevention in Strength
Programs for girls and boys will present two
coed workshops for youth 13-15. The focus
will be on building successful relationships
that are safe, fun and healthy.
Northeast Portland to the outskirts of the
city, while middle- and upper-income
Whites moved in.
“The City of Portland and the Portland
Development commission have a history of
broken promises and backroom processes
that have resulted in the gentrification of
African Americans and our community has
suffered.”
Maxine Fitzpatrick, executive director of
housing nonprofit PCRI, laid out the
group’s demands, which she called simple,
necessary and possible:
1. A full accounting of tax increment
financing (urban renewal) in the Interstate
Urban Renewal and Oregon Convention
Center areas, to include all funding recipi-
ent names and amounts.
2. Creation of a Vanport small business
assistance fund to support small businesses
in the neighborhood of the develop-
ment site.
“ PDC has taken too long to fulfill
promises to many of us and they
should actively undertake restorative
policies in order to make right on
those promises,” Fitzpatrick said.
3. A legally enforcable community
benefits agreement —negotiated by
an independently controlled commu-
nity body —to ensure the
employment of African Americans and
other community members.
Fitzpatrick also said the group hopes that
affordable housing will be built on the site
and made available to displaced former res-
idents.
Cyreena Boston, PAALF co-chair said the
group believes, ”development in the Inter-
state Corridor Urban Renewal Area and by
extension, all development, should serve
the needs of the diverse communities that
live in it, especially low-income people,
people of color and immigrant communi-
ties.
“These communities must be central to
the decision making process about the
development and management of their
neighborhoods.
“Beginning this month, PAALF will host
community visioning sessions that will
bring together neighbors and community
members who have been displaced to deter-
mine what outcome they would like to see
for this property, and other city of Portland
owned vacant lots -- be it housing, a grocery
store, retail space or a community center.”
The controversial development drew fire
after the Portland Development Commis-
sion announced it had sold the land to
developer Majestic Realty for $2.4 million
less than its appraised value. Protesters also
disagreed with the city’s claim that the
neighborhood is a food desert that needed a
grocery store.
In a statement, Mayor Hales and the Port-
land Development Commission said they
intend to work with both supporters and
opponents of the plan to find a development
plan that works.
the next seven years.
Beemer, who left Sisters of the Road’s
chief position after helping the staff create a
collective management structure last year, is
also co-chair of the U.S. Assembly to End
Poverty; a former member of the National
Coordinating Council of the Poor Peoples’
Economic Human Rights Campaign; and a
founding board members of the Western
Regional Advocacy Project.
She has been honored for her work by the
Red Cross’ Red Dress Society.
The spate of good news is a noteworthy
development for the little station, where bad
press and infighting on the board of direc-
tors led to an identity crisis last year and the
resignation of an interim station manager.
Crenshaw has for many years been active
in anti-poverty and anti-racism community
activism. He recently partnered with Dead
Prez on a new recording, “Superheroes,”
described as “a classic tribute to everyday
people.”
Crenshaw will be presenting at Concordia
University’s TedX conference next May on
The Power of Words. He also participates
with the Afrikan Hip Hop Caravan and
plans a trip to that continent later this year.
“I think that the co-leadership arrange-
ment is going to be ideal for KBOO,”
Bristow said on Facebook yesterday. “Mon-
ica has a lot of experience co-directing at
Sisters. Mic & Monica have been working
well together for many years.”
For more information on KBOO Commu-
nity Radio go to www.kboo.fm.
Trader Joe’s
continued from page 1
effect for displacement.”
About 10,000 African Americans have
left traditionally Black neighborhoods in
North and Northeast Portland because of
gentrification, Gilliam said.
“This doesn’t disqualify Colas from any
projects in the future and hopefully we can
work with all minority contracting firms to
make sure that money spent by city
goes to benefit those that need it the
most.”
Tony Hopson, PAALF co-chair
and executive director of the educa-
tion nonprofit Self Enhancement Inc.
urged reporters and the public to read
up on the impact of gentrification
and racism in Portland. Hopson cited
the Urban League of Portland’s 2010
State of Black Oregon report, the
recently released Communities of Color
report on Portland’s African American com-
munity, and the other communities of color
reports.
“We are here today to move the action
down the field,” he said.
Former Sen. Avel Gordly said she is a 67-
year resident of Portland.
“Gentrification is the forced removal and
population replacement from land, of one
group of people by another,” Gordly said.
“Gentrification is a process, not just an
event. It is intentional and planned, with
specific policies, programs and develop-
ment decisions, used to accomplish the
objective of moving one group of people
out, and another group of people in. Specif-
ically in Portland, this resulted in the forced
removal of African Americans and other
low-income groups from inner North and
The development drew fire
after the PDC announced it
had sold the land to developer
Majestic Realty for $2.4 million
less than its appraised value
Read the rest of this story online at
www.theskanner.com
KBOO
continued from page 1
the full board unanimously approved the
hire of Monica Beemer (well-known/loved
from Sisters Of The Road) and Michael Mic
Crenshaw (literally the most respected hip-
hop artist/activist in town) as the new radio
station co-managers! They are two of the
most amazing people in Portland (and the
planet), and a perfect fit for the job. Check
‘em out!”
Bristow also announced that the Federal
Communications
Commission
has
approved the station’s operating license for
February 5, 2014 The Portland Skanner Page 3