Posts Tagged by local
Community Building is Revolutionary
| May 20, 2013 | Posted by admin under Musings |
Last week I took the opportunity to attend the PAALF (Portland African American Leadership Forum) intergenerational forum. Whenever Black people get together to talk, skeptics ask questions like, “Why? What’s the point? What are you actually going to get accomplished?” People have no shortage of excuses for passing up these events. They will focus…
Female MCs Get No Shine and I’m Part of the Problem
| April 28, 2013 | Posted by admin under Music for Thought, Musings |
The biggest irony of the Rick Ross “date rape” controversy was that everyone saw a rise in their profile except female MCs. Everyone from Rosa Clemente to Crunk Feminist to Talib Kweli to Jasiri X made their presence felt in the conversation. I even read an article today interviewing children. With everyone talking about what…
The Privilege Bubble
| April 6, 2013 | Posted by admin under Musings |
Lack of Foresight and Bad Examples While enjoying some pizza earlier this week, a friend posed the question, “What was your favorite part of the LO (Lake Oswego) Woodshop class?” The three of us at the table chuckled. If you missed the joke, it’s because we never had such a class. Our education was based…
Check Me Out on Oregon Voter’s Digest
| May 22, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism, Musings |
This past Sunday I was the guest for an hour on Oregon Voter’s Digest, hosted by Bruce Broussard. I discussed cultural ignorance in education and the role of parenting in helping students thrive in school. Check it out here.
Journey to Freedom to Host Malcolm X Birthday Weekend
| May 17, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday is a widely celebrated national holiday, there is considerably less fanfare for the birthdate of Black icon Malcolm X. “We don’t see events that honor him like Dr. King,” says Karanja Crews, founder of the Journey to Freedom Project (JTF). As a response, JTF is hosting its Malcolm…
NPR’s Michele Norris Graces YWCA’s Inspire Luncheon
| May 15, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
When National Public Radio host Michele Norris came to Portland last Wednesday to address the YWCA Inspire Luncheon, she focused on the pressing issues of racism and domestic violence. In her keynote speech before the multiracial crowd of YWCA supporters, Norris talked about an online initiative she started called The Race Card Project, in which…
Chaplain Maj. Trisa Kelly: Making History in Oregon — Again
| May 8, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
Trisa Kelly is surprised she is making history. “I’m amazed that in 2012 you can still be a first Black anything,” she says. Last month, Kelly was named to Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (ODVA) governor-appointed Veterans’ Affairs Advisory Committee — the first Black woman to be appointed, and the youngest to serve. She was…
Portland Urban League Forum Brings Black Vote to Forefront
| May 3, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
The Black vote took the forefront last Tuesday at the “Countdown to Election Day: Candidates Forum on Equity and Accountability.” Lack of representation, funding for programs that have an impact on communities of color and accountability were the defining issues of the evening. The Urban League of Portland (ULPDX), the African American Alliance and the…
My turn: Essay on racism in Lake Oswego prompts wide-ranging response
| April 29, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism, Musings |
When I wrote a personal essay about racist tweets among students at Lake Oswego High School (“Lake Oswego’s worst-kept secret,” published March 17 in The Oregonian), I never expected such an outpouring of responses. The nickname “Lake No Negro” is known in many circles, and yet many people were shocked and frustrated to learn institutional…
54 Hours + Your New Business Plan = Portland Startup Weekend
| April 28, 2012 | Posted by admin under Journalism |
When Jeff Martens came to Portland Startup Weekend (PDXSW) two years ago, he had left his last employer and was looking for a fresh start. “I was going to look for a job but then I thought it would be great if I could start my own business instead of getting a job with someone…
