Portland and Seattle
Free Subscription to Breaking News
Free Subscription to Breaking News
Below are fast-breaking news items.
Mackenzie River Gathering announced its end of year grants. MRG awarded $225,000 to 20 grassroots groups working throughout Oregon:
Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, Portland: $19,500
APANO builds Pan-Asian/Pacific Islander civic leadership to address racial disparities and discrimination. APANO builds unity across generations, ethnic groups, and immigration experiences to advocate for the common good of Oregon's diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
Beyond Toxics, Eugene: $10,000
Exposure to toxins can cause irreparable damage to human health. Beyond Toxics challenges the widespread practice of spraying pesticides on forests, farms, and public areas. They champion the right of everyone to live free from unwanted chemical exposure. Beyond Toxics, partnering with Centro Latino Americano empowers Latino residents in West Eugene to take leadership in organizing for environmental justice.
CAPACES Leadership Institute, Woodburn: $15,000
Founded by a network of nine community based, Latino-led social change organizations in the Mid-Willamette Valley, CAPACES Leadership Institute develops the skills and abilities of Oregon’s Latino leaders. CAPACES empowers emerging and established progressive leaders to put into practice the big ideas and values that define the Latino movement.
Center for Intercultural Organizing, Portland, $20,000
The “War on Terror" has had a very real and human impact on immigrant families, communities and lives. Founded by Portland-area immigrants and refugees in 2003, CIO protects and expands immigrant and refugee rights through education, civic engagement, policy advocacy, community organizing, and intergenerational leadership development.
Central Oregon Jobs with Justice, Bend: $5,500
Central Oregon Jobs with Justice is a coalition of 25 labor, community, and human rights groups. They have won concrete victories, including higher living standards, better working conditions, and increased rights for immigrants, people of color, mobile home park residents, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ community.
Common Cause Oregon, Portland: $8,000
Common Cause Oregon believes the concerns of every Oregonian deserves consideration - regardless of ability to make large campaign contributions. By leading the way in progressive campaign finance reform, CCO empowers people to speak out for an open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest.
Community Alliance of Tenants, Portland: $17,000
As Oregon's only grassroots, tenant-controlled, tenant-rights organization, CAT develops the leadership of low-income tenants to hold landlords and public officials accountable for unjust housing policies and practices. CAT's tenant leaders take collective action to create more affordable, safe, and stable rental housing.
Disability Art and Culture Project, Portland: $8,000
Disability is a natural and valuable variation of the human form and affirmative disability identity is intertwined with racial, gender, and economic justice. Disability Art and Culture Project furthers the artistic expression of people with disabilities and utilizes the performing arts as a method of developing disability culture and pride.
Human Dignity Coalition, Bend: $7,000
Founded in response to the virulent anti-gay ballot measures of the 1990’s, Human Dignity Coalition brings together diverse voices to create a grassroots social change movement in Central Oregon. HDC advances human dignity and equity for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) people through their organizing, education, and leadership development work.
KPOV High Desert Community Radio, Bend: $10,000
KPOV is radio by the people and for the people of Central Oregon. KPOV strengthens community and democracy by providing quality programming on topics of local interest and giving a voice to local communities through grassroots participation in independent, non-commercial radio.
KSKQ Multicultural Association of Southern Oregon, Medford: $8,000
Multicultural Association of Southern Oregon is home to KSKQ Community Radio. KSKQ provides a venue for grassroots groups to present their views while challenging the corporate-owned media that dominates the airwaves.
Latino Club, Salem: $7,000
Located in the Oregon State Penitentiary, the Latino Club’s vision is to create an environment within the prison that ensures everyone has the same access to education and work opportunities, regardless of race or ability to speak English. By tackling issues of racism and discrimination, the Latino Club help their members successfully transition back into their communities.
Lotus Rising Project, Medford: $9,000
Lotus Rising Project supports, organizes, and builds the leadership of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) youth and young adults in Southern Oregon. Their mission is to create an inclusive, affirming, and safe community for queer youth and to combat intolerance in all forms.
NAACP Eugene-Springfield, Eugene: $7,000
The Eugene-Springfield NAACP combats racism in the Eugene/Springfield area. Their Back to School/Stay in School project is working to eliminate the racial achievement gap in local schools by establishing an effective tutoring program for African American students and increasing parent involvement in the education system.
OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, Portland: $19,500
OPAL organizes low-income communities of color in East Portland to advance racial, environmental, and economic justice. Through their Bus Riders Unite initiative, OPAL is putting transit-dependent riders at the decision-making table with TriMet and establishing a more equitable transit system for all Portland Metro area riders.
PFLAG Portland Black Chapter, Portland: $10,000
PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) Portland Black Chapter promotes the health and well-being of Black LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) Portlanders. The first African American chapter of PFLAG in the nation, the PFLAG Portland Black Chapter organizes and engages the LGBTQ community and allies in organizing, education, and advocacy.
Red Lodge Transition Services, Portland: $9,000
Native Americans are grossly over-represented in Oregon’s prison population. Red Lodge Transition Services is a Native American organization working to reduce recidivism, prevent intergenerational incarceration, and challenge the Oregon Department of Corrections to address religious freedom and basic human rights of Indigenous people.
Rural Organizing Project, Scappoose: $18,000
ROP works with 65 member groups throughout rural Oregon to build the grassroots movement for social justice. Tackling issues from immigration to peace to healthcare to the economy, ROP is building rural progressive power and taking a stand for human dignity for all people.
Unete, Medford: $9,000
Through community education, cultural presentations and advocacy, Unete is creating a movement of farm workers and immigrants in Southern Oregon who have the power to defend their rights while also developing and implementing programs that directly benefit the community.
Voz Hispana Causa Chavista, Woodburn: $8,500
Latinos in Oregon are marginalized in most mainstream institutions, and especially in Oregon’s K-12 education system. VHCC is developing the leadership of Latino children to understand their history, think critically, speak out, and to take leadership in their community for social justice.
Enjoy this African American Holiday with refreshments, family activities, music, drumming, children’s gifts, and a visit from the Brown Clown. Drink from the Unity Cup and learn why our collective work will strengthen our whole community and support healthy families.
Celebrating and acknowledging our Collective Work and Responsibility
Principle #3 Ujima: To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.
When: Saturday Dec. 28, 2013
3 to 6 p.m.
Where: New Columbia Community Education Center
4625 N. Trenton
Portland, Oregon 97203
Let us know if you plan to attend by calling (503) 460-9324
Cost: Free to attend
Sponsored by: African American Breastfeeding Coalition, Care Oregon, Healthy Birth Initiatives, International Center for Traditional Childbearing (ICTC), Legacy Lactation & Prenatal and Parenting Education Services, Men’s Health Project, City of Portland Water Bureau, Multnomah County Health Department Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Program, Oregon Health Authority Office of Equity and Inclusion, Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette and The-TREE Institute.
KGW will air the 5th annual Oregon History Makers Dinner at 7 p.m., Christmas Day. The event, which took place in September honors Oregonians who have made significant contributions to the state. Honored this year were:
Bernie & Bobbie Foster, trailblazing publishers and community advocates
Melvin “Pete” Mark, businessman, civic leader, and visionary philanthropist
Pendleton Woolen Mills, weaver of world-renowned woolen blankets & clothes
Alberto Salazar, legendary distance runner and coach of Olympic athletes
Police accountability activist JoAnn Hardesty
U.S. Federal Court Judge Michael Simon set a date Dec. 19 for a fairness hearing on the Department of Justice Settlement Agreement with the City of Portland. The fairness hearing will open at 9 a.m. Feb. 18, 2014 in the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse, 1000 Southwest 3rd Ave.
The Albina Ministerial Alliance supports the settlement agreement, which was approved by Portland City Council at a hearing Dec. However Dan Handelman of Portland Copwatch believes the changes in the Agreement, and in the police contract, don’t go far enough.
“Community testimony at that Fairness Hearing, expected to be held sometime in February, could prompt the judge to order changes to the DOJ Agreement that better fix Portland's troubled oversight system and clarify issues around use of force,” Handelman said in a statement.
You can find the “Notice of Fairness Hearing” and the “Testimony Form,” online at http://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/64070 Members of the public are invited to testify, in writing or orally, on the following topics:
Is the Agreement fair to everyone affected?
Is the Agreement reasonable? s the Agreement adequate to solve the problems identified in the Complaint?
You must submit the Testimony Form or a similar written submission no later than January 31, 2014 to the Clerk of the Court in person or via first class mail, or via email to [email protected]
If members of the public wish to make comment to the court, they should follow the instructions on the testimony form. If anyone is unable to attend the scheduled hearing and wishes to provide oral testimony, he or she may do so by video and submit a DVD.
Submissions will be retained by the Court until the close of the case, but will not be part of the public record unless the Court orders otherwise.
The Portland Police Bureau website includes information regarding the Department of Justice investigation into the Bureau: http://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/62044
Groundwork Portland is holding its Annual Fundraiser and Network Social Thursday, Dec. 12.
“Groundwork Portland's strength and vitality is grown through community support, so please join us in our celebration.,” the group says in its email.
Groundwork’s projects have included creating the Emerson Street Community Garden, which brings together youth and elders in events that honor the history and diversity of the neighborhood. Groundwork’s green team program offers internships to youth, and its brownfields program seeks to bring the benefits of green spaces to underserved communities in North, Northeast and East Portland.
Spoken word artist S. Renee Mitchell and Blacque Butterfly, are among the headline entertainers for the event, which also features music from Tito Amaya and DJ Doc Rock.
Enjoy delicious food, raffle, silent auction and the opportunity to meet fellow community members, Groundwork Portland board, staff and volunteers, and other environmental, community and social justice activists.
What: Groundwork Portland 4th Annual Fundraiser & Network Social
Time: Thursday, December 12, 2013, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: 700 N Killingsworth Street, Portland, OR 97217
Details: Raffle includes 2 tickets (with great seats) to a Wynton Marsalis show
RSVP Online
The new Empirical Theater is open at Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. The theater, whose name means knowledge through scientific observation, has been renovated to include live satellite feeds, blu-ray technology and a state-of-the-art Dolby surround sound system.
Extra legroom, a table for food and drinks, will add comfort to the giant-screen experience, says Russ Repp, OMSI's associate vice president of marketing, retail and sales.
“In keeping with our mission of making science exciting and relevant, The Empirical provides audiences the opportunity to experience firsthand some of the most recent developments in cinema technology,” Repp says.
This month The Empirical's screenings include Man of Steel, Polar Express, Elf and A Christmas Story. And the theater is also showing 50-minute daytime documentaries, which include:
Great White Shark
Unraveling the mystery of a creature that haunts our imaginations, Great White Shark explores this iconic predator's much maligned reputation as it takes viewers around the world to tell the true story of the great white's threatened role atop the oceanic food chain.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is a thrilling immersive experience about one of the world's most beloved cities. Discover why this tiny piece of land is sacred to billions of people and how archaeology is revolutionizing our understanding of Jerusalem's past.
Mysteries of the Unseen World
In the National Geographic tradition of powerful natural-history imagery and storytelling, Mysteries of the Unseen World reveals once-invisible dimensions of nature that are filled with beauty and wonder--and hold secrets crucial to our survival.
In January, The Empirical will launch Reel Science, a monthly program that which combines the fun of movie night with OMSI Science Pub's reputation for expert speakers.
Perfect for science and film lovers alike, the first event will be January 15 when Laika studios will take the audience inside the magic--and science--of the popular children’s film Coraline.
For more information, visit omsi.edu/empirical-theater.
A wrestling competition that pits Jefferson High School against Roosevelt High School will support families in need this holiday season. Two cans of food wins you entry to the youth wrestling event at Jefferson High School, 5:30 pm Dec. 18. The event is organized by the Police Sunshine Division.
Please join PAALF for the next intergenerational forum in our quarterly series.
Topic: Bringing together generations to explore community strength and resiliency within the cycle of displacement and gentrification
Date: Wednesday, December 11
Time: 6:00-9:00 PM
Location: Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME)
4134 N. Vancouver Avenue, Portland, OR 97217
(Parking available. Bus and Bike friendly)
TO RSVP, please click here.
Questions? Please contact Rachel Gilmer at [email protected] or ph. 503.249.1721 Ext. 230.
The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education reports that the University in Washington will enroll 6,255 students, its largest first-year class ever.
READ MORE
Portland Police Bureau have released two surveillance camera images of possible witnesses to the shooting of Durieul Harris. Harris, pictured left) was shot in the early hours of Nov. 9, outside the Fontaine Bleau Nightclub, at 237 Northeast Broadway in Portland.
Police say they found a crowd of 75-100 people fighting as Harris, 30, lay bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds. Harris died at the scene. Two other people suffered non-life-threatening gunshot wounds during the disturbance.
Homicide detectives have conducted several interviews, but say many people fled the scene without talking to police. They are asking those people to come forward, saying they may have critical information.
The surveillance images, released show a man that possibly witnessed the shooting. Detectives are asking for the public's help in identifying this possible witness.
You can give information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers. Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 that leads to an arrest in this case, or any unsolved felony. 
Leave a Crime Stoppers tip online at http://crimestoppersoforegon.com/submit_online_tip.php text CRIMES (274637) and in the subject line put 823HELP, followed by your tip, or call 503-823-HELP (4357) and leave your tip information. 
