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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (July 9, 2014)
Local News By Lisa Loving Of The Skanner News T he Portland African American Lead- ership Forum is building a new project to counter the geographic scattering of the African American commu- nity caused by gentrification. Their vision also includes reaching out to connect with other Black communities around the nation facing the same issues. The “’We are Black. We are...’ Kick-off Community Celebration and BBQ” is Satur- day, July 19, 2 -6 p.m. at Montavilla Park, 8219 NE Glisan. Behind the motto, “Celebrating all that we are from the North to the Numbers,” the group is setting the table with free food, games, live music and DJs to bring people together for a six-month initiative aimed at a common cause. The group is hosting monthly breakfast events and a branded “We are Black. We are as a community- one that is defined FOR us and BY us, rather than reacting and building our narrative based on stereotypes or depic- tions of our community that don’t come from within,” says spokeswoman Rachel Gilmer. “What does it mean to be Black in Port- land? How does this connect to our struggles as Black people globally? What is needed to carry the baton of the Civil Rights Movement to the next level and achieve jus- tice for our people? “Throughout the next six months, we hope to engage the community in these types of questions, so that we can build the connections and shared understanding nec- essary to advance a movement in Portland,” she said. Gilmer added that the group is reaching out to other communities nationally who are experiencing similar challenges to magnify the effort. “In addition to lacking a cultural and com- ‘We are Black. We are...’ Kick-off Community Celebration and BBQ is Saturday, July 19, at Montavilla Park, 8219 NE Glisan Portland” t-shirt and merchandise campaign to get people together and “crowdsource” a message of community pride and self-defi- nition. “By creating opportunities for our com- munity to come together in celebration, we hope to build deeper community relation- ships and a deeper sense of self and purpose munity center, we also recognize that one grave consequence of gentrification is that many of our people have been displaced to areas that lack adequate service options, especially those that are culturally compe- tent and responsive,” Gilmer says. “We also recognize the need to build rela- tionships between community members and PHOTO COURTESY OF PAALF PAAlF ‘Crowdsources’ New Anti-Gentrification Project Through the campaign website and social media accounts, PAAlF is inviting Black people locally and nationally to complete the statement: “we are Black. we are _________. “ service providers by bringing resources directly to them.” In addition to the kickoff barbecue, the ongoing breakfast events and the t-shirt campaign, PAALF is mounting a social media project allowing community mem- bers to connect and speak out on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram – literally building a virtual community center where the forces of pushout have crumbled so much of the face-to-face connections of past generations. Through the campaign website and social media accounts, PAALF is inviting Black people locally and nationally to complete the statement: “We are Black. We are _________.” “We have launched ‘We are Black. We are...’ to build our power and connections as a community,” Gilmer says. For more information, go to: www.weareblackweare.com On twitter: www.twitter.com/WeAre- Black_WeAre On Facebook: www.facebook.com/weareblack0weare On Tumblr: weareblack- weare.tumblr.com/ On Instagram: www.instagram.com/weareblack_weare We honor the many accomplishments of African Americans. It is our primary goal as a labor union to better the lives of all people working in the building trades through advocacy, civil demonstration, and the long-held belief that work- ers deserve a "family wage" - fair pay for an honest day's work. A family wage, and the benefits that go with it, not only strength- ens families, but also allows our communities to become stronger, more cohesive, and more responsive to their citizens' needs. Our family wage agenda reflects our commitment to people working in the building trades, and to workers everywhere. In this small way, we are doing our part to help people achieve the American Dream. This dream that workers can hold dear regard- less of race, color, national origin, gender, creed, or religious beliefs. The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Representing more than 5.000 construction workers in Oregon State. Do you want to know more about becoming a Union carpenter? July 9, 2014 The Portland and Seattle Skanner Page 9
