Sybrina Fulton at Community Event

The African American Alliance in collaboration with sponsoring organization, the YWCA of Greater Portland, is coordinating a community unity event featuring special guest, Sybrina Fulton, mother of 17 year old Trayvon Martin who was attacked and murdered in 2012.

Fulton will share her powerful inspirational message on “Empowering Our Youth,” Monday, April 13, from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. at Maranatha Church, 4222 NE 12th Ave. Please plan to arrive by 6:15 pm since seating is limited.

The program will include spoken word, poetry, and music from our youth and other community members. This event is free and open to the public. For additional information please leave a message at 503-288-8429.

Youthbuild Vancouver GED and Construction Skills Program

Clark County residents, ages 17-24, who do not have a high school diploma and are interested in obtaining a GED and job-related skills are invited to attend a YouthBuild Vancouver information session to learn more about the program.

The session is Tuesday, April 21 from 4-5:30 p.m. at Partners in Careers, 3210 NE 52nd Street, Vancouver. To register for the free information session, contact Dave Cole at 360-696-8417 or dave@swwpic.org.

To participate in YouthBuild, an individual must be:

• A Clark County resident
• 17 to 24 years old
• A high school dropout in need of a high school diploma or GED
• Interested in gaining job skills and experience

Those enrolled in YouthBuild will have the opportunity, at no cost, to:

• Obtain their GED or high school diploma
• Gain two nationally-recognized construction certifications
• Participate in building a house for a family in need
• Receive services, including job, college and career preparation

Led by the Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council (SWWDC), the YouthBuild team is a collaboration of nonprofit organizations that includes Partners in Careers, Evergreen Habitat for Humanity, Vancouver Housing Authority and WorkSource.

YouthBuild is a community-based alternative education program that provides classroom instruction and occupational skills training to youth who have been in the juvenile justice system, are aging out of foster care, have dropped out of high school or are otherwise at risk of failing to reach key educational and career milestones.

Help with Health Insurance Sign Ups

Thousands of Oregonians are eligible for free or low-cost health insurance. Adults earning up to $47,000 per year could qualify for financial assistance. Learn more about your health insurance options and get help signing up at one of the following CCHC enrollment events:

April 13, Woodstock Elementary School, 5601 SE 50th Ave., Portland, 5:30 -7 p.m.

April 27, Coalition of Community Health Clinics; 619 SW 11th Ave., Portland, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

April 25, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 8101 N. Fiske Ave., Portland, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Make sure to bring:

• Pay stubs for the last 30 days OR your most recent tax return
• Social Security Numbers for each person you are applying for OR a certificate of naturalization or U.S. citizenship

To schedule an appointment, call 503-546-4991.

Bring the Black Baccalaureate Back in 2015

In a commitment to honor the Bridge Builders historic celebration of Black scholarship among high school seniors from 1997 through 2009, members of the Portland African American Leadership Forum (PAALF) are organizing to bring the Black Baccalaureate back in June of 2015.

The Black Baccalaureate exemplifies the importance of recognizing people of the rich, diverse cultures that make up the African diasporas for attaining a high school diploma. This recognition will offer an opportunity, for some, to graduate in preferred surroundings. We commit to honoring their experiences and unyielding perseverance which we believe would otherwise go unnoticed in the other commencement ceremonies.

If you are interested in planning in this endeavor, in any way, able to provide support or resources, please contact the coordinators: Ebony Oldham at 503-302-2322 ebonyoldham@gmail.com and Sah’Rah Kisha Kelsey Bey sahrahstylz@gmail.com 503-286-2064.

Wealth Inequality Talk Commemorating Earth Day

On April 15 at 7 p.m. in Cone Chapel, Willamette University will host a student-led interdisciplinary discussion about capitalism and climate change. Featuring four of the university’s leading faculty experts, the event is free and open to the public.

Participants include: Nathan Sivers Boyce, chair of the university’s economics department; Wendy Petersen Boring, chair of the history department; William Smaldone, E. Jerry Whipple Professor of History; and Elliot Maltz, marketing professor for the university’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management.

These distinguished scholars will contribute their expertise to a conversation that identifies how the structure of our economy contributes to climate change and rising wealth inequality. The inquiry and discussion is focused on identifying solutions, and the students leading the effort hope that this is the first of many such discussions across the state.

Multnomah County Library Used Book Sale

More than 20,000 items will be offered at the Friends of the Multnomah County Library’s Annual Spring Used Book Sale the weekend of April 17-19 in the Gresham Station shopping center, 1271 NW Civic Dr., Gresham.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the Multnomah County Library.

Kicking things off is a Members-Only Night on Friday, April 17th, from 6 PM to 9 PM. Annual memberships start at $10 for individuals and $15 for families. Memberships can be purchased at any time, including at the door Friday night.

Admission is free to the public on Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sunday will be a 50 percent off Discount Day on all remaining regular items.

The sale offers 20,000 items at great prices. Hardcover and quality trade paperbacks start at $2, mass market paperbacks and children’s books at 50 cents, CDs at $2, and DVDs at $3. Also available in this new and used collection are audio books, pamphlets, sheet music, and maps in good to excellent condition.

The sale space is at 1271 NW Civic Drive in the northwest corner of the Gresham Station shopping center. Free parking is available, and the site is served by TriMet No. 4 bus on Division and MAX—use the Civic Drive stop one block north.

May Day Fundraiser for Black Midwives

Come celebrate International Midwives Month with a special screening of "Bringin' In Da Spirit," an evocative and passionate documentary that celebrates the history of the Black midwives who committed themselves to holistic answers in the face of powerful misconceptions about the practice of midwifery and virulent opposition from practitioners of Western medicine. Narrated by Phylicia Rashad, this film won the Paul Robeson Award Initiative Special Prize, FESPACO, Burkina Faso, 2005.

After the film, Shafia Monroe will moderate a panel discussion with Pastor E.d. Mondiane, Mariah Taylor and Willie Poinsette with reflections on the film and their stories about the midwives in their lives, the role that Black midwives play today and how to get more women to become midwives. After the discussion join the panelist, guests and the ICTC members for refreshments, socializing and purchase ICTC -T-shirts.

For more information go to www.ictcmidwives.org.

Portland Rescue Mission Seeks Presents for Annual Birthday Party for Homeless

On Monday, May 11, hundreds of Portland-area people in need will celebrate their birthday at Portland Rescue Mission’s seventh annual Birthday Party for the Homeless, at the Mission’s Burnside Shelter in downtown Portland. The Mission seeks birthday presents and cards from the community to provide each guest to help them feel loved and remembered.

The Birthday Party celebration includes music, games, decorations, gift bags, and a special dinner for all guests, thanks to the generosity of our community partners including Fred Meyer, Beaverton Toyota and A Jesus Church - Bridgetown.

Community members can support the birthday celebration by donating a gift of $16 to provide 10 hot, nutritious meals for people in need. Participants can also download a birthday card template, and all cards should be mailed by May 4 to Portland Rescue Mission at P.O. Box 3713 Portland, OR 97208. For more information, visit www.portlandrescuemission.org/birthday.

For more Portland and Seattle events, visit our Community Calendar.