Foster Care Forum on April 8

The Multnomah County Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) Citizen Review Panel hosts a public forum on foster care, Wednesday, April 8, 4 to 6 p.m. at the ¬-PCC Training Center, Auditorium Building #2, 5600 NE 42nd Ave., Portland.
The Panel invites the public to share recommendations to ensure that children who must be placed in foster care are placed with relatives whenever possible. The CAPTA Panel is supported by the staff and volunteers of the Citizen Review Board, Oregon’s Foster Care Review Program.
For more information, ADA accommodations, or interpreter requests, contact Dave Smith, J.D., Citizen Review Board Field Manager, at 503-731-4356.

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.

Scholarships Available for Executive Training

Funding is available to help pay tuition costs for a limited number of Oregon DBE firms to participate in this year's Minority Business Executive Program at University of Washington's Foster School of Business in Seattle, Washington, June 14 - 19.

The intensive program focuses on a variety of subjects that are critical to business success including finance and accounting; leadership; brand and marketing strategy; strategic thinking, and human resource management.

The Oregon Department of Transportation will sponsor a limited number of Oregon DBE firms to participate in the training. Selected recipients will receive their tuition costs paid in full ($4,250 value). To apply for an ODOT scholarship please submit your company name, participant name, phone and email address to OCRINFOREQUEST@odot.state.or.us by May 1, 2015. A third party firm will review the interested companies, interview the person who would like to attend, and create a short list of firms they recommend.

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.

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.

Song Contest Opens

Registration is open for auditions for this year's Sing Fourth Teen Vocal Competition presented by Davidson & Associates Insurance and Pemco Insurance Company.

Auditions will be granted to the first 45 Clark County high school students who register online or contact contest organizers at the Fort Vancouver National Trust, at 360-992-1804 or email events@fortvan.org, by May 13.

Auditions begin at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 16. Contest information including the registration form is available on the Trust's website, www.fortvan.org/fourth.

Public Feedback Sought Regarding Police On-Body Cameras

The Portland Police Bureau is currently researching on-body cameras for police officers and would like to hear from the community about this important topic. The Bureau believes that the use of on-body cameras by police officers can improve community relationships, build trust and enhance officer accountability.

This link has been created for you to provide your feedback, input and concerns.
http://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/521411

Questions to consider include:

• Privacy issues that concern you.
• How to use the technology during sensitive investigations: domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, response to care for someone needing mental health assistance?
• Should footage be available to anyone who asks (this could include victim interviews, interior of homes, children or uninvolved community members, etc.)?
• Once footage is released, should there be any restrictions on sharing and posting that video?
• Other thoughts, suggestions or concerns you may have should also be shared regarding on-body cameras.

Give feedback on the website or send a letter to: Chief Larry O'Dea, Re: On-Body Cameras, 1111 SW 2nd Avenue, Room 1526, Portland, OR 97204.

Portland Seniors invited to Giving Forward Workshop

Those older than 50 are invited to attend a Giving Forward Workshop to learn ways to make a lasting difference in the world. The workshop will be held at the Overlook House, 2829 N. Melrose Dr., Portland, Saturday, April 25, at 8:30 a.m. and is sponsored by SAGE, Senior Advocates for Generational Equity.

Portland-based SAGE seeks to inspire older adults to give forward their time, talent and passion to enable younger and future generations to thrive. Call 971-717-6570 for more information.

The public also is invited to attend the free MusicianFest Performance Series April 21 and April 28, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Hollywood Senior Center, 1820 NE 40 Ave., Portland.

Also during April and May, the Hollywood Senior Center is hosting a new class on visual storytelling. Classes will be held on Thursdays, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., running April 16 through May 21.

For a full schedule of events at the North Portland Senior Center and the Hollywood Senior Center, visit hollywoodseniorcenter.org and click on the “What’s New” tab.

The Friends of the Multnomah County Library’s Annual Spring 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 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 4 PM.

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.

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.

For more Portland and Seattle area events, check the Community Calendar.