APRIL 4 -- March to commemorate the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King is being led by the Albina Ministerial Alliance (AMA) on The NAACP-Portland Branch (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon are co-organizers. The First Unitarian Church will co-sponsor.
When Dr. King was assassinated in 1968, he was actively working to build the Poor Peoples' Campaign which focused on the three social evils of racism, war and poverty. The march coincides with the re-igniting of the Poor Peoples' Campaign here in Oregon and nationally. It is a non-violent action to demonstrate we have not forgotten the vision articulated by King and to show that we continue to strive for the beloved community.
The Interfaith Alliance encourages everyone to join the march. We will gather at the Japanese American Historical Plaza (W Waterfront & NW Davis at 5:00 PM. From there at 5:30, march across the Steel Bridge on Pedestrian Path to join a 6:30 Rally at Martin Luther King Statue at MLK Blvd and NE Holladay Street.
APRIL 5 - INTERFAITH ALLIANCE MONTHLY MEETING
St. Andrews Catholic Parish, located at 806 N. E. Alberta Street. will be hosting the Interfaith Alliance on Poverty’s monthly meeting on Thursday, April 5th from 12:00 to 2:00 pm.
Guest speaker will be Scott School Principal, Gina Roletto She will share her insights educating students from the multi-cultural, socio-economic diverse families of the Cully neighborhood.
CANDIDATE FORUMS - THE INTERFAITH ALLIANCE ON POVERTY AND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS ARE CO-SPONSORING TWO CANDIDATE FORUMS FOR THE MAY 15TH PRIMARY ELECTION:
April 10, Tuesday at 6-9pm, Multnomah County Board Room, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. .Candidates invited to participate are running for Portland Metro President, Multnomah County Auditor, and Multnomah County Chair and Commissioner District 2
April 24, Tuesday at 6-9pm, Multnomah County Board Room, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Candidates invited to participate are running for Portland Commissioners, Districts 2 and 3; and Portland Metro Councilor, Positions 2 and 4
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
April 14, Saturday, • 1:00-4:00pm - St. Vincent de Paul needs volunteers to revitalize Oak Leaf Mobile Home Park. Join us to learn how you can help.
1:00-3:00pm – “ Training on Poverty” and
3:00-4:00pm - “Specific Oak Leaf Needs and How You Can Volunteer”
Living Cully Plaza 6723 NE Killingsworth, Portland, Oregon
We will cover Systematic barriers, how to build hope through meaningful relationships and networking, the whys behind behaviors and how to better communicate
PRESENTERS:
Gienia Baines earned her Bachelor of Education degree in Family and Human Services at the University of Oregon. She has over 15 years experience working in the social service field with her primary focus being people who are experiencing poverty. Gienia is also a certified Poverty 101 trainer through Poverty Bridge, a non-profit in Portland Oregon. Gienia now works as the Social Service Director at St. Vincent de Paul in Oakridge, Oregon, the community where she grew up and raised her 6 children. Both her parents struggled with addiction and mental health issues. She and her children are the first people in her family to graduate from college and to break the cycle of abuse, drug addition, and poverty. Her education and work experience combined with her personal experience of growing up in generational poverty has inspired Gienia to be a consultant to help educate others about the realities of living in poverty, and how to overcome the barriers professionals often face when working with this culture. Gienia was in charge of the revitalization of Oakridge Mobile Home Park where crime was reduced by 94.5% within the first year of St. Vincent de Paul purchasing it. The clean up removed over 300 yards of garbage. Community Caring Days were created to revitalize the neighborhood.
Rhea Cramer studied at the University of Oregon where she earned her undergraduate degree in Family and Human Services and her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education. Rhea started her career as an early childhood educator at First Place Family Center’s Preschool program, where she worked with families experiencing homelessness. Rhea then worked for Options Counseling Services as a Family Builder providing home visits and case management in hopes of family preservation for families who have involvement with child welfare. Rhea has also served as a University Supervisor in the Family and Human Services Program at the UO and taught courses on generational poverty and addictions in the Substance Abuse and Prevention Program. Rhea also has collaborated with her mother to deliver presentations on generational poverty all over the state of Oregon. Currently, Rhea works as an Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Educator at Early Childhood CARES to provide preschool consultation and home visits to children