PHOTO: Portland Parks & Recreation’s first-ever permanent nature-based play area is now open at Westmoreland Park, SE McLoughlin and SE Bybee Boulevards. The Westmoreland natural play area is the first such permanent playscape across the PP&R system and features play elements made of logs and boulders, sand & water play, plants, hills, and opportunities for building with “loose parts” such as branches, sticks, pinecones and more. From left, 7 year-old Dori Bond and her grandfather, Amir Fathizadeh, play in the sand feature, one of the most popular spots in the new playground. Photo courtesy Portland Parks & Recreation

Teaching With Purpose Conference Friday Oct. 10 and Saturday Oct. 11

Chris Edmin an expert in using conscious Hip Hop to educate youth and Geneva Gay, an expert in culturally responsive teaching will headline the 5th Annual Teaching With Purpose Conference. The conference will take place Oct. 10-11 at Roosevelt High School in North Portland.

The theme of the conference is A Call to Culturally Responsive Teaching. Edmin and Gay are nationally recognized for their pioneering work in culturally responsive education in mathematics, science, literacy, and leadership. Breakout sessions will focus on preparing students to become leaders.

When: Friday-Saturday, October 10-11, 2014

Time: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, and 8:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Saturday

Where: Roosevelt High School, 6941 N. Central St., Portland, Oregon 97203

Cost: $165, includes 10 PDUs or CEUs

The conference collaborates with the Teaching With Purpose Leadership Institute at Lewis & Clark College. It will also feature a town hall discussion with Oregon State Superintendent Rob Saxon and Oregon Department of Education’s Equity Department.

PAALF Accepting Applications for 2015 African American Leadership Academy

The Portland African American Leadership Forum (PAALF) is pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2015 African American Leadership Academy, a year-long training program that address the personal, cultural, civic and professional needs of emerging Black Leaders in Portland.

Through the Academy, PAALF works to build a group of transformative Black leaders who hold a lifelong commitment to fighting for racial justice and creating lasting change in their community. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 13.

Although there are many training programs available to emerging leaders, PAALF’s African American Leadership Academy seeks to fill a critical gap by addressing not only the professional skills necessary to succeed, but the culturally-specific needs of Black people, including racial pride, psychological development, collective consciousness and community building. AALA was designed in conjunction with the Coalition of Communities of Color, who has prioritized the development of culturally specific leadership trainings for other diverse populations in Oregon.

Through training, fellowship, mentorship and project-based learning, AALA participants spend twelve months, exploring what it means to be a transformative Black leader rooted in a historical context of the African Diasporic experience. They also gain the specific skills necessary to actualize this concept in the everyday work they are doing in the community. Specific elements of transformative leadership that are addressed include: racial and cultural identity development and pride, collective consciousness vs. individual gain, our history of innovation and improvisation, navigating the contradictions of double consciousness, value-based decision making and the need to avoid tokenism and co-option.
How to Apply: For more information, or to download an application, please visit www.aalfnw.org/portland/leadership-academy.

Basic Rights Oregon Launches Ad Campaign

More than 140 leaders and organizations have signed on in support of Basic Rights Oregon’s “Come Out for Our Families” ad campaign. This series of ads published in local ethnic media throughout Oregon on or around Oct. 11, celebrates National Coming Out Day, a day of awareness for people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

The ads feature straight leaders of color and organizations that work in communities of color. Endorsers state that they believe communities are strongest when all families—extended families, multi-generational families, single-parent families and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families—have the resources, respect and love they need to thrive.

The ad campaign is led by Our Families, an education and advocacy volunteer team that is part of Basic Rights Oregon’s racial justice program. The volunteer team works to raise the visibility, experiences and public support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families of color. The team does this work within predominately-straight communities of color, within racial justice organizations and within lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender justice organizations.

Read more on their work at www.basicrights.org/ourfamilies.

State Job Fair for Disabled Workers

The Department of Business and Consumer Services in partnership with Incight and Oregon Vocational Rehabilitation Services (OVRS) will host an informational and networking event to introduce job seekers with disabilities to career opportunities with State of Oregon agencies.

The event is Thursday, Oct. 9, from 1 – 5 p.m., at the The Labor and Industries Building, 350 Winter Street NE, Salem. Fifteen to twenty State of Oregon agencies will participate.
Find out more at http://meetstateagencies.eventbrite.com.

Clark County Free Flu Vaccinations

Flu vaccine is widely available in Clark County, and health officials are recommending everyone six months and older get vaccinated soon.

Flu occurs primarily from October through May. A contagious respiratory disease, flu kills more people in the U.S. than any other vaccine-preventable disease. On average, nearly 24,000 people die each year of flu, and more than 200,000 are hospitalized.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends flu shots for everyone six months and older, with rare exceptions. Vaccination with a live, nasal-spray flu vaccine (FluMist) is an option for people two to 49 who are healthy and not pregnant. FluMist is the preferred vaccination for children ages two to eight.

People at greatest risk of complications from flu are especially urged to get vaccinated. They are young children, pregnant women, people 65 and older and people with asthma, diabetes, heart disease and other long-term health conditions.

To get vaccinated, call your health care provider or pharmacy. If you don’t have health insurance, call Sea Mar Community Health Centers at (360) 852-9070 or the Vancouver Free Clinic at (360) 313-1390 to make an appointment for a low-cost flu shot.

For more information, see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/index.htm.

Portland Rescue Mission Hosts Free Flue Shot Clinic For Uninsured 

Portland Rescue Mission, Immunize Oregon and The Portland Clinic are partnering to host a free flu shot clinic for uninsured people at the Mission's Burnside location, located at 111 W. Burnside St. on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Up to 100 flu shots will be administered by The Portland Clinic from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Any person who currently does not have health insurance is eligible for a free flu shot.
For more information visit www.theportlandclinic.com.

Voter Registration deadline is October 14th for November General Elections

 The voter registration deadline for Oregon’s Nov. 4 general election is Tuesday, October 14. New voters must register before the deadline. Oregon voters can register online at www.oregonvotes.gov. To register you need a valid Oregon driver’s license, permit or ID card. The system allows new registrations, changes in address and party changes. Voters can also check their registration status online.

You can also register at: the Multnomah County Elections office, 1040 SE Morrison St. in Portland; or at Department of Motor Vehicles offices, post offices and libraries. Deadlines to register are as follows: 5 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Multnomah County Elections office, a US Post Office postmark of October 14 for mail submission, or online registration by 11:59 p.m. Oct.14.

Ballots for the November 4 Oregon general election will be mailed to voters on October 15. Multnomah County voters who have questions should call Multnomah County Elections at 503-988-3720.

Dancing Zombies Take Over the World; Portland Hosts 8th Annual Thrill the World 

Thrill the World, where hundreds of locals dress like zombies and dance Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” choreography, is coming up Oct. 25, for the eighth year in a row.

Each year, all proceeds from Thrill the World Portland benefit the Sexual Minority Youth Resource Center (SMYRC), a local organization that provides services and a drop-in center for queer youth.
Dancers will have to learn the dance ahead of time. Practices will be at Fremont UMC, 2620 NE Fremont in Portland (practices are optional; dancers can learn at home with instructional videos on youtube).

Practices occur Sundays from 2-4 p.m., and Fridays from 6-8 p.m., through Oct. 25.

For more information go to http://www.facebook.com/thrilltheworld.portland or email ttwpdx@gmail.com

RACC Seeks Applications for New Public Art Murals

The Regional Arts & Culture Council is now accepting applications for mural funding through its Public Art Murals Program. Applications are due the first Wednesday of every month through June 2015.
Applications and guidelines are available at racc.org/public-art/mural-program. Proposals must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month. RACC’s review and approval process takes 4-6 weeks, and all proposals are reviewed by the Public Art Murals Program Committee, whose members include artists, arts advocates and other creative professionals. For more information, contact Peggy Kendellen, public art manager, at 503-823-4196 or kendellen@racc.org.

On Saturday, Nov. 8 from 10 am to noon, RACC will offer a free workshop to help artists understand the mural application process at the Rosewood Initiative, 16126 SE Stark St. For more information and to RSVP, contact Peggy Kendellen, public art manager, at 503.823.4196 or kendellen@racc.org.

Another route for painting a mural in the City of Portland is through the city’s Original Art Mural Permit, which has different requirements and a fee of $50. Funding is not available through the City’s permitting process. Visit www.portlandoregon.gov/bds/50737 for more information.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 2014 Light the Night Walk 

The Light the Night Walk, a fundraising event for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. starts at 5 p.m. on Oct. 25 at the Oregon Convention Center.

The LLS’s Light the Night Walk honors survivors and patients but it’s also a chance for anyone whose life has ever been touched by blood cancer to share their story.

Directly before the walk, a remembrance ceremony will take place to remember all of the loved ones who have been lost to cancer and pay tribute to their lives and legacies. Once the walk starts, lanterns will be held high in the air as supporters march down the Portland Waterfront. Entertainment, food and beverages will be provided throughout the 1.75-mile non-competitive walk.

For more information, or to register, visit the walk online at www.lightthenight.org/oswim, call 971-230-2291 or visit the group’s Facebook page.

Find more events in the Portland and Seattle areas on The Skanner News Community Calendar