FEBRUARY 22, 2017
Portland and Seattle Volume XXXIX No. 21
Opinion ...................................2
Calendars ...............................4
A & E ........................................5
Bids/Classifi eds ....................11
CHALLENGING PEOPLE TO SHAPE A BETTER FUTURE NOW
25
CENTS
INSIDE:
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Special Edition
PHOTO BY CHRISTEN MCCURDY
LEGISLATIVE DAY
Omar Shabazz (left), Deerk Rasheed, Imam
Muhammad A. Najieb, Imam Mikal Shabazz, Waleed
Sadruddin, Hakeem Muhammad, Wesley Salauddin
(Johnson ), and Wali Lucas (standing behind line)
pose for a photo at a Feb. 18 open house to raise
funds for a new physical space for the Muslim
Community Center of Portland.
By Christen McCurdy
Of The Skanner News
T
he Muslim Community Center of
Portland hasn’t had its own meet-
ing space for more than three
years, but expects to settle in next
month in a modular structure on North
See CENTER on page 3
Joy Sanders reacts to Karen Johnson from the Black Alliance of Thurston County during her speech about the importance of passing HB 1529 out of
committee, during the Charles Rolland African American Legislative Day Feb. 20 at the capital in Olympia. The annual event brings the Black community
to Olympia to talk to their legislatures and the Governor about issues of particular importance to the community. SB 1529 deals with recommendations
from the joint legislative task force on the use of deadly force in community policing.
‘Amplify’ Works to Elect People of Color
Progressive initiative seeks to train, embolden candidates
By Melanie Sevcenko
Of The Skanner News
PHOTO BY DILIFF (CC BY 2.5) VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
I
Trump to
Meet With
CBC
page 10
n the spirit of disrupt-
ing the status quo of
“politics as usual,” the
organization Color PAC
has joined forces with Pro-
gressive Majority Wash-
ington to jumpstart a new
initiative for transforma-
tional politics.
And the timing couldn’t
be better. In the Trump era
of rising White national-
ism and politics guided by
big money, Amplify is set-
ting a defi ant example in
page 7
director, Mario Park-
er-Milligan. “But it also
(signifi es) a need to have
individuals who are not be-
holden to corporations or
outside infl uence, which
can sway their ability to
make decisions that posi-
tively impact their commu-
nities.”
With reach in both Ore-
gon and Washington, Am-
plify hopes to challenge
policies that do little to
serve marginalized com-
munities.
“We have recognized that
on a national, state and
local level, we have deci-
sion-makers in offi ce that
have not been refl ective of
the communities they are
representing,” continued
Parker-Milligan.
And underrepresenta-
tion, says the Coalition of
Communities of Color, is at
the heart of inequity.
“Right now, we have an
out-of-balance system that
is full of barriers prevent-
ing people — particularly
people of color and wom-
en — from running for of-
See AMPLIFY on page 3
Champions Opens Barbering School
10-month course includes training on all types of
hair — and the business aspect of barbering
By Melanie Sevcenko
Of The Skanner News
M
Kam’s Oscar
Picks
the Northwest region.
The organization works
by recruiting, training and
electing into public offi ce
candidates from under-
represented communities,
like people of color, wom-
en and LGBTQ individuals.
Because, says Amplify, all
people should have equal
access to lead, not just
those with wealth and priv-
ilege.
“Amplify has defi nite-
ly been an answer to
a lack of demographic
representation,” said its
Portland-based
deputy
any people may not realize
that the ancient craft of bar-
bering harkens back 6,000
years. Or that a “barber-sur-
geon” in medieval Europe was trust-
ed not only with a haircut, but the am-
putation of a limb or the extraction
of a bad tooth.
These are just some of the lit-
tle-known origin stories taught
alongside the traditional art of bar-
bering at Champions Barbering In-
stitute. With a recent grand opening
on Jan. 10, the institute proudly holds
its title as the only barbering-specifi c
career school in Oregon.
While Portland is teeming with hip
salons and edgy haircutters, along
with a plethora of cosmetology and
beauty schools, Champions’ insti-
See CHAMPIONS on page 3
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAMPIONS
Modular structure
expected to arrive at
N. Killingsworth and
Vancouver site in March
PHOTO BY SUSAN FRIED
Muslim
Community
Center Awaits
New Home
Champions Barbering Institute, the fi rst
babering-focused school in Oregon opened
Jan. 10.
