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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2013)
8 JANUARY 1,2013 Smoke Signals $(541, o cm gjrainiGs iddd "1 I n 7 Photo by Michelle Alaimo Tribal Council Secretary Toby McClary says'Hayu Mas!" as ho taachos tha Chinuk Wawa phraso to Spirit Mountain Community Fund grant recipients during the fund's quarterly check presentation held In the Governance Center Atrium on Wednesday, Dec. 12. Thirty-three nonprofit organizations received more than $640,000 in grants this quarter. FUND continued from front page A $25,000 grant to Groundwork Portland will help the group "edu cate the public about issues related to the cleanup of the Portland Har bor Superfund site," said Executive Director Cassie Cohen. Cohen works with volunteers to battle an industry public relations onslaught aimed at keeping clean up costs as low as possible for the "potentially responsible parties," a term describing the companies responsible for some of the pollu tion that has damaged the Portland Harbor area and devastated fish runs. At issue now is how much each company will pay for its part in the contamination. Groundwork Portland is part of an international group that includes Groundwork USA and Groundwork UK, and works to educate the public about a number of environmental issues. This is the second grant for Groundwork Portland, which start ed operations in 2008. The Groundwork Portland proj ect, "Portland Harbor Storytelling and Engagement of Environmental Justice Communities," also features stories about people's experiences in the environmental trenches. Silverton-based Oregon Center for Public Policy received $50,000 to increase public knowledge about state budget and tax issues, said Executive Director Chuck Shek etoff. The group, which has received one previous grant from the Com munity Fund, holds workshops for community groups, including low income communities and communi ties of color, Sheketoff said. The Salem Schools Foundation received $29,050 to expand a proj ect called "Learning Gardens and Nutrition Education" to 1 1 schools, including elementary, middle and high schools, said Executive Direc tor Brent Neilsen. The program gives students a hands-on experience with growing and preparing foods and is cur rently in "eight creeping into nine schools," said Neilsen. ... "If I say to eat a carrot," said foundation Board President Krina Lemons, "a student may not be interested, but if they plant it and grow it, the reaction is different." When the program started, a lot of children did not know what kale was, she added, but now students are asking for kale. "It opens up the diversity of their food choices," she said. "We're changing their behavior from the ground up." 'The projects funded this quarter are truly community investments," said Kathleen George, Community Fund executive director. "With the Tribe's support these charitable groups will help children learn to eat better and grow their own food, allow people affected by Willamette pollution to have their stories heard and help educate Oregonians about how our tax system works and how it affects all our families. Support ing our friends and neighbors has always been a Tribal value. We are proud to support the work of these community charities that are help ing the people." "You're the people who do all the work on our behalf," said Commu nity Fund Board Chairman Sho Dozono to the recipients, who were sitting in Tribal Council Chambers in chairs extending out into the Governance Center Atrium. Dozono was joined at the check presentation by Tribal Council members who are also on the Com munity Fund board: Secretary Toby McClary and Tribal Council member Steve Bobb Sr., and Board member Ron Reibach, facilities director for Spirit Mountain Casino. Tribal Council Chair Reyn Leno also is on the Community Fund board, but was out on health-related leave. "It's always a pleasure to have people out here to see the things we have beyond the casino," said Mc Clary. 'The casino is helping people become self-sufficient. It's not just to make Indians rich." The Community Fund also made awards Helping Hands awards to one volunteer working in a nonprofit program and to one non management staffer. Angela Frome received the non manager award for her work with the Northwest Down Syndrome Association. She was described as a passionate disabilities advocate. Caity Hatteras received the vol unteer award for helping deliver 20,000 pounds of food to families in need through the Metro Affordable Housing program. Caity gave more than 500 hours for Metro Affordable Housing, while also helping out in three other housing communities. Finally, two previous grants one to Forest Grove-based Ad elante Mujeres and another to Portland-based Playwrite were announced. Recipients received the funds at the last meeting, but were unable to attend. B Recreation starts fitness classes The Tribe's Recreation Program has started two new exercise programs in the Tribal gym. Led by Melisa Chandler, Vinyasa Flow Yoga is offered from noon to 1 p.m. Monday and Friday. Vinyasa Flow Yoga focuses on the synchronization of breath with postures and is one of the more active, athletic forms of yoga. Led by Recreation Coordinator Matt Mosley, a cross training-style fitness class is offered from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Monday. Workouts will consist of timed stations, max reps and minute-for-minute exercises. For more information about either exercise class, contact Mosley at 503-879-1369 or matthew.mosleygrandronde.org. Youth Center seeks volunteers The Tina Miller Community Center Thrift Store, 110 B. St., Willamina, helps fund the after-school and weekend youth community center located in the old high school gym. The thrift store is seeking volunteers who can help run the store, in addition to donated items and customers. The store accepts clothes, books, knickknacks, etc., as donations. It is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.Dona tions also can be left at the Wildwood Hotel and Restaurant in Willamina. For more information on volunteering, call 503-876-7897. The youth center and thrift store are nonprofit and 100 percent self sustaining and volunteer-run. ;! ,X 1 lTSf III & TMMIL ClMJOllP 1 '" 1 "-v . ; ; i . ,':.'- k '
