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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 24, 2015)
November 24, 2015 The Skanner Page 3 News cont’d from pg 1 where I could utilize my artistic abilities. I was proven wrong when, in the marketing depart- ment, I realized that there were multiple ways creativity was needed. Coming up with differ- ent strategies to promote the Boys and Girls Club’s brand took a lot of work. I was able to tag along in the summer programs and document their mis- sion at its core, filming and editing a series of All along there were people who actually cared for my future videos of children ben- efiting from the service they were providing. TSN: What did you en- joy about interning with the Boys and Girls Club? CM: I remember grow- ing up next to a Boys and Girls Club, but never really bothered to step foot in it. I thought that I was alone in my strug- gle to better myself as a first generation Latina student. All along there were people who actu- ally cared for my future and many futures like mine and I believe if I would have gone there, I would’ve had more op- portunities. Even as an adult intern- ing for them, I felt the support and care they exerted as they worked endlessly, providing a platform where all youth could achieve their goals and rise. I really enjoyed being surrounded by people who are passion- ate about making a dif- ference in our commu- nity. TSN: In your opinion, how does art help to change the world? CM: What a lot of peo- ple don’t realize is that art is all around us. It’s in the way we talk, the way we write, how we dance and draw; it is how we express our inner selves and identity. Being able Joy TSN: What did you learn from the Washing- ton D.C. Leadership Sum- mit? CM: The beautiful sights and historic land- marks were only part of the reason I enjoyed the Bank of America Wash- ington D.C. leadership summit. Everyday there was something new to learn and to connect with. I was made aware of the gravity of social issues like gun control, health care accessibility and education, to name a few. The most valuable things I learned were from the students them- selves. This proves that as a force we can collec- tively use our stories and different perspectives to lead the next generation into the impossible fu- ture we always dreamed of. TSN: What does the fu- ture hold for you? CM: I haven’t met any- one whose life turned out just the way they planned it to be. My path isn’t so clear myself, but I am figuring it out day by day. However, there are some things that I know are certain: I want to defy all Latino stereo- types holding many of us back, and be a role model that people with my simi- lar background can look up to. African American Housing Fair Wendy St. Clair-Smith (left), senior loan origi- nator at Axia Home Loans, Carol Collier, a broker with Coldwell Banker SEAL Realty and Daniel Lechuga, a counselor with the African American Alliance for Homeownership, pose at the 17th annual African American Homeownership Fair, which took place Oct. 24 in Portland. The event Box included vendor booths staffed by more than 40 different organizations, workshops for first-time homebuyers and workshops on foreclosure pre- vent and a presentation on the “Renter State of Emergency” by the Community Alliance of Ten- ants as well as a tour of homes for sale. cont’d from pg 1 Should they decide to terminate their offer, they must explain why in a series of written documents. The Bureau of Labor and Indus- tries will oversee and enforce the new law if it is adopted. “The best way to end the cycle of imprisonment is a job,” Mayor Charlie Hales said as he opened up the floor for comment. Hales, now in his last year of office, has been a vocal supporter of the ban- the-box movement in the past year. “What we’re proposing here is an intentional and persistent breaking down of barriers. This summer, Gov. Kate Brown signed a measure into law that will remove the question of crim- inal histories from job applica- tions. However, the state law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, still leaves employers with the option to in- quire about criminal histories during interviews. Commissioner Dan Saltzman had a number of questions re- garding the ordinance, including what would happen in the event of a potential hire voluntarily divulging information about a criminal past. City Deputy Attorney Judy Prosper, offered some explana- tion to the inquiry — likening such a disclosure to knowing if a candidate is pregnant, disabled or of a particular race or ethnicity. “This is a similar thing. Some- times we know things that we are not allowed to use in our de- cision-making process,” Prosper said. “The employer is already so- “ intense version of the state law, by pointing to the racial dispar- ities in the criminal justice sys- tem. She says 80 percent of Oregon’s small Black population lives in Portland, yet are six times more likely than Whites locally to be imprisoned. “ Po r tl a n d is indeed the hub of Ore- gon’s com- munities of color -- and as such, you as elected officials representing Portland, have the greatest responsibility to address those unemployment numbers for Black Portlanders and others,” Harmon Johnson said before rhetorically asking why the law should be passed. “Be- cause we know the playing field is not level for people of color.” Unemployment among African Americans is about 10 percent higher than the state average with about one of five of Black Or- egonians out of work -- according to data found in the State of Black Oregon report released by the Ur- ban League this year. Rep. Lew Frederick (D-N/NE Portland),who recently declared his candidacy for the state Senate, offered his support of the law too. The best way to end the cycle of imprisonment is a job phisticated enough to know that they can’t not hire them for that reason.” Commissioner Nick Fish, a for- mer employment lawyer, raised concerns that while employers may not ask about criminal his- tory, those who have done time in prison may have large gaps in their employment records -- rais- ing potential red flags in the hir- ing process. As a result of the hearing, the ordinance was altered slightly. The Bureau of Labor and Indus- try would oversee the enforce- ment of the law rather than the Attorney General’s office. Urban League of Portland pres- ident and CEO Nkenge Harmon Johnson talked about Portland having what is effectively a more cont’d from pg 1 is focused on unapologetic self-accep- tance. She said Black Oregonians in partic- ular have struggled against racist laws and practices, such as the Black exclu- sion clauses in Oregon constitution and redlining in Northeast Portland. She said these policies purposefully kept the state’s Black community small. “It’s important to reclaim that Black folks do have a space here and we can create our own,” Oldham said. “I think it is also important to just have spaces that are for ourselves, without any al- lies.” Oldham envisions bringing more “Black Joy” events to the area, mixed-gender festivities such as game nights, movie nights, potlucks and dances. She intends to grow this event into an even larger For Black Girls Only local “ day, she called for a space to deal with the trauma of being a Black woman without having to defend her pain to White allies. Similarly, Oldham said many Black people are constantly It’s important to reclaim that Black folks do have a space here and we can create our own movement in 2016. Oldham said this Black Joy day will plan for the needs of Black women and girls in Portland and the surrounding areas. When Sivu Onesipho Siwisa created the Cape Town For Black Girls Only working against racism, implicit bias and White allies who co-opt Black lib- eration movements. “So many of us take on so many roles all the time, we don’t just get to be,” she said. PHOTO BY HELEN SILVIS “ to convey your story or message in artistic medi- ums is just another way of showing the world your beautiful voice. There is nothing more dangerous than being silenced and it is in uti- lizing the craft of art as a tool for communicating and learning about the wrongs and the beauty of our society that will make the world a better place. PHOTO BY JERRY FOSTER Monroy This Saturday, Black Lives Matter Portland will host “For Black Girls Only” – a self-care event open to Black women, girls and non-gender-conforming people.
