Portland News and Events for Feb. 26-April 15, 2015

Tap dancer and vocalist Ted Louis Levy performs with the Oregon Symphony in a program of flamboyant dance styles from all over the world -- Let’s Dance! The event riffs off “Dancing with the Stars,” but skips the stars and sticks with internationally-renowned dancers. Two shows are Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Mar. 1 at 3 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The program includes tango, flamenco and jitter-bug danced to the music of Leonard Bernstein, Johann Strauss, Jacques Offenbach, Georges Bizet and Camille Saint-Saëns.

Levy made his Broadway debut in the smash hit Black and Blue and returned to Broadway as Papa Jack in Susan Stroman and Harry Connick, Jr.’s Thou Shalt Not. He collaborated with George C. Wolfe and Gregory Hines on the choreography of Jelly’s Last Jam, for which he received a Tony nomination, a Drama Desk nomination and the 1993 Outer Critics Circle Award. He also assisted in the choreography of Broadway’s Tony Award-winning hit Bring in ’da Noise, Bring in ’da Funk. Tickets start at $22 and can be purchased online at any time from the orchestra’s website, www.OrSymphony.org; at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office, 923 SW Washington St., in downtown Portland; by phone at 503-228-1353 or 800-228-7343; and at the concert hall box office starting two hours before the performance.

Mayor Shane Bemis Proclaims Feb. 25 'Jerome Kersey Day'

Mayor Shane T. Bemis today honored the memory of legendary Trail Blazers small forward Jerome Kersey by proclaiming Feb. 25 "Jerome Kersey Day" in Gresham and encouraged all Gresham residents to find an appropriate way to honor the hustle artist's memory.

Mourning Kersey's passing last week, and recognizing his deep roots in Gresham, Bemis asked his social media followers for ideas on how the City could best honor Kersey's memory. The leading idea was to proclaim a day of observance on the 25th, to coincide with Kersey's former jersey number.

"I always admired Kersey's strong contribution to my favorite Blazers squad of all time. He was a fixture in the Gresham community, and it seems like nearly everybody here has a story to tell about Jerome's magnetism and kindness," Bemis said.

After getting the idea from a fan's sign during the Trail Blazers game on Sunday, Bemis further encouraged the Trail Blazers organization to rename the Hustle Board inside the arena the "Jerome Kersey Hustle Board" to recognize the enduring legacy of Kersey's grit, determination and unrivaled work ethic.

Ahjamu Umi Book Reading

Local activist/organizer/author Ahjamu Umi has released the 500 page literary fiction book entitled The Courage Equation. The book has a social justice focus on highlighting and uplifting the role of women in fighting against racist and sexist attacks as well as other forms of oppression, like rape culture.

There is also a strong emphasis on daily life in Africa, and a strong presence of women and men from Africa in the worldwide struggle for justice and liberation. Finally, the book travels a unique path of having the character victims of white supremacist attacks decide to organize and wage an unrelenting battle against the racists.

A book release party is Friday, Feb. 27, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the newly opened Columbia International Cup Coffee Shop and Cafe at 9022 N. Newman Ave in Portland. The party will feature music, food, and drink. All are welcome and admission is free of charge.

The Courage Equation is published through the New York based Raider International Publishing House. It is Umi's second literary fiction work, following as a sequel the 2010 released “Find the Flower that Blossoms.” Find out more about his work at www.abetterworld.me.

Local Grassroots Organization Offers Free Health Screening

On Saturday, Feb. 28, Fresh Start Restorative Health Services and the Linfield Good Samaritan School of Nursing, holds a free public health screening.

Participants can get their blood glucose tested (requires a 3 hour fast), blood pressure, height, weight and even body mass index checked. Fresh start will provide free healthy snacks for attendees and even a free door prize.

The event runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Celebration Tabernacle, 8131 N. Denver, Portland. Fresh Start encourages attendees to bring their children, who can participate in Kids Club, a program that educates children on the benefits of healthy eating and exercise. Kids ages 7 to 13 are welcome.

For more information, call Robin at 503-890-5393 or visit:

www.freshstarthealth.org

Humane Society’s Summer Camps Offer First-Hand Look at Careers with Animals

The Humane Society for Southwest Washington is now enrolling campers for Discover Camp. For kids entering grades 3 – 6, Discover Camp offers an in-depth look at a wide variety of careers with animals. From doctors and trainers to farmers and law enforcement, campers will learn about animals big and small from the professionals who work with them.

Camp includes encounters with animals, crafts, games, guest speakers and field trips. Discover Camp is a one-week camp organized by grade level and occurs daily from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The cost is $225.

Dates for the 2015 Discover Camp are as follows:

June 22-26: 3-4 Grade*

July 13-17: 4-5 Grade*

July 27-31: 5-6 Grade*

*Grade in fall, 2015

Camps are filling fast with limited space available in two of the three sessions. Register for Discover Camp at southwesthumane.org. For more information, contact Sam Ellingson at sellingson@southwesthumane.org or 360-213-2626.

Portland’s Black Creative Collective @ Work
Stop by the Collins Gallery at the Central Branch of the Multnomah County Library from through March 8 to check out a curated installation of Portland's Black creatives mobilizing visual art, printed materials, movement, and voice to honor and celebrate the intersection of interests, histories, and cultural production of our community.
Then join the poets, performers, and image makers of Portland’s Black Creative Collective: BrownHall for an art-filled Opening Reception on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 2 pm.
Featuring: Akela Jaffi Auer, Turiya Autry, Samiya Bashir, Aasha Benton, Aisha Edwards, Diamond Ferguson, Chris Fuzell, Keyon Gaskin, Jamondria Harris, Elijah Hasan, Lin Lucas, Nakeia R. Medcalf, André Middleton, S. Renee Mitchell, Sidony O'neal, Alex Riedlinger, Jonny Sanders, Sharita Towne, Tasha Triplett, David Walker.
Free and open to the public, Collins Gallery, 3rd Floor Central Library, 801 SW10th Avenue, Portland.
For more information go to www.multcolib.org/events.

RACC Hosts Public Art Murals Information Session

On Saturday, March 14, RACC hosts a free information session to help local artists and other community members learn how to organize, fund and navigate two different approaches to creating murals in the City of Portland.

The event is Saturday, March 14, 10 a.m –noon, at RACC, 411 NW Park Ave., Suite 10.

Coffee and light snacks will be provided.

Presenters include Gage Hamilton, an organizer of Forest for the Trees Northwest—a public art mural project that brought twenty artists together in August to paint murals—and Robin Corbo, a local artist known for her skill at organizing and creating community murals. Peggy Kendellen, Manager of RACC’s Public Art Murals Program, and Doug Strickler from the City’s Bureau of Development Services will also be on hand to help participants navigate the two options available for creating an exterior mural on a wall in Portland.

The workshop is free and open to artists, property owners, business owners, and community and neighborhood association members. To sign up, email publicartmurals@racc.org with the subject heading “Public Murals Workshop” and include contact information in the text of the email.

TENTH ANNUAL NATIVE CARING CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 15-16, 2015

The tenth annual Native Caring Conference will be held on April 15-16 at the Three Rivers Casino and Hotel in Florence, Oregon. All Native Elder caregivers and relative caregivers of children from Northwest Indian communities are invited to attend.

The two-day conference features local and national spokespersons on Caregiver Well-Being, Medication Management, Elder Abuse, Children's Alcohol and Drug Use, and How to Communicate with Health Care Providers.

Registration deadline is April 3rd. The cost is $150 with a $25 discount if registration is received by March 3. The registration fee includes two lunches, dinner, and breakfast.

For more information contact: Doug Morrison, CTCLUSI (541) 997-6685; Wilson Wewa, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (541) 553-3313; or, Michelle Carson, The Klamath Tribes (541) 783-2219 ext 175.

The Native Caring Conference is hosted by: Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, The Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians, Coquille Indian Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indians Reservations, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, The Klamath Tribes, Burns Paiute Tribe, AARP and the Oregon Department of Human Services State Unit on Aging.