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J uly 22, 2015
s eattle , w ashington
V olume XXXVii, n o . 42
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C hallenging P eoPle to S haPe a B etter F uture n ow
ACLU
Looks at
Bills
25
HEAT WAVES
The advocacy group
discusses this session’s
hot-button bills
By Arashi Young
Of The Skanner News
See ACLU on page 2
INDEX
News ........................1,2
Calendar.....................3
A & E ...........................4
PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED
P
ropelled by the deaths of Eric Garner,
Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Walter
Scott, Freddie Gray and others, the
Black Lives Matter movement has made po-
lice accountability a national discussion.
This session, the Oregon Legislature re-
sponded by passing a number of bills that
protect civil rights and increase police trans-
parency. The Skanner News contacted the
American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon
to discuss these new laws and what they
mean for Oregonians.
The new police accountability bills that
have been signed into law are:
House Bill 2002 B--expands the definition
of profiling and requires law enforcement
agencies to adopt written policies on profil-
ing. The bill creates a system for reporting
complaints and a way to analyze grievances.
House Bill 2571 B--creates rules about the
use of body-worn cameras by police.
House Bill 2704--allows the recording of
conversations of police officers when they
are performing official duties.
Senate Bill 641--co-sponsored by the
ACLU of Oregon, requires law enforcement
to obtain a warrant before accessing data
stored on a cell phone and information about
cell phone location.
All three house bills were sponsored by
Rep. Lew Frederick, who represents North
and Northeast Portland.
Kimberly McCullough, the legislative
director for the ACLU of Oregon, said the
bills check authority with increased ac-
countability.
“We entrust police officers with extraordi-
nary authority, including the ability to use
force when needed, even deadly force,”
McCullough said. “This authority must be
balanced with transparency and accountabil-
ity in order to deter and expose misconduct,
protect individual rights and liberties, and
promote public safety.”
People gathered at swimming areas along Lake Washington Sunday, July 19 to get some relief from another hot day
in Seattle. The 95-degree day was the 8th day in the 90s this year. The record is 9 and it was set in 1958. Fortunately
for most Seattleites, a cooling trend is coming and the temperatures are supposed to be in the mid-to-high seventies
for the next 10 days or so.
Promoting Black Entrepreneurship
Workshops provide inside knowledge to aspiring business owners
By Donovan M. Smith
Of The Skanner News
G
o to school. Get a job. Make
a career.
It’s the most commonly pro-
moted path for the American
worker. But Self Enhancement
Inc. has a different message this
summer: work for yourself.
“Be Your Own Boss” is the
title of an in-progress workshop
series the North Portland non-
profit is offering this summer to
empower Black Americans with
the knowledge necessary to be
a successful entrepreneur in to-
day’s field.
“I think it’s just really import-
ant to give opportunities, just
kind of leveling that playing
field of access to opportunities
to be your own boss, to start
your own business,” said Melis-
sa Hicks, community and family
programs supervisor at Self En-
hancement Inc.
SEI filled all 20 of its available
spots within hours of announc-
ing the program last month, ac-
cording to Hicks.
Workshop topics include
transforming an idea to a busi-
ness, marketing, reaching the
right customer and perhaps the
most important thing in the busi-
ness world: building revenue.
In addition to the program for
adults, SEI is also offering en-
trepreneur classes at their mid-
dle and high school programs
this summer. In the program ti-
tled Black Oregon Social Start-
up Innovators (or “BOSSI”),
students will create their own
logo and poster for the business
along with an executive summa-
ry of their mission all of which
will be also be on display during
the pitch fest.
Twenty high school students
will spend a month learning
about the unique business op-
portunities available to Orego-
nians, and subsequently use that
knowledge to create their own
imaginary startup, complete
with a business plan.
The startups will then be
pitched to area professionals, in
an event mirroring the popular
ABC television series “Shark
Tank,” on Aug. 4 at Self En-
hancement Inc., in an event that
is free and open to the public.
See SEI on page 2
Mural Shows Legacy of Black Women
Painting called a testament to Black United Fund’s staying power
By Donovan M. Smith
Of The Skanner News
N
ot much about the Black United
Fund of Oregon’s building on Al-
berta Street makes it jump out as the
powerful civic and economic conduit that it
is.
But a new mural, highlighting the contri-
butions of several female African-American
freedom fight, may help to change that.
The nearly 25-foot by 100-foot piece pays
homage to freedom fighters through the gen-
erations, with depictions of activists, lead-
ers and artists including Ruby Bridges, An-
gela Davis, Coretta Scott King, Ruby Dee
and Maya Angelou.
To Angelou’s left stands a young girl look-
ing at the dynamic women. She represents
the continuation of leadership across time,
according to Black United Fund executive
director, Kimberlee Sheng, who also over-
saw the image’s creative direction.
“I felt whatever we did [had to be] really
significant in terms of this neighborhood,
the history of the Black United Fund and
just the grit and determination we’ve had
to exhibit in order to push through,” Sheng
said.
Furthermore, Sheng said, the work of
See MURAL on page 2