More than 250,000 people in the Portland metropolitan area and Southwest Washington – a third of them children – don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Everyone is at risk of falling on hard times and needing the support of a food bank.

The goal of the second annual Legacy Health system-wide food drive was to bring in 22,000 pounds of food to represent Legacy Health’s more than 11,000 employees. Based on 11,176 pounds of food and $11,214 in monetary donations it represents the equivalent of 22,390 pounds of food going to 14 different food banks in the Portland metropolitan area and Southwest Washington area. Legacy

“The health of our communities is fundamental to Legacy’s overall mission,” said Brian Willoughby, director, community benefit. “It’s amazing to see over 11,000 Legacy employees believing in that mission and helping to make an incredible impact for people in need.”

Last year, Legacy Health raised 9,319 pounds of food and $6,766 in monetary donations going to 11 different food banks with a goal of reaching 10,000 pounds. Not only did we match donations from the previous year, we met and exceeded our goals and added three new organizations in our communities. Legacy Emanuel and Randall Children’s Hospital contributed 2,700 pounds of food and almost $1,000 to this total.

Legacy holds the drive in May to provide a significant amount of food during the “off” time of year, when food pantry cupboards often are growing bare. During the summer, many children no longer have access to free meals at school and families need the support of our community food banks more than ever. Our theme, tied to the month the drive occurs in, is “May no one go hungry.”

Donations will go to the following organizations in the Portland metro area and SW Washington:

• AWARE Food Bank (Woodburn)
• Birch Community Services (Portland)
• Clark County Food Bank (Vancouver)
• Columbia Pacific Food Bank (St. Helens)
• Community Action (Hillsboro)
• Lift Urban (Portland)
• NE Emergency Food Program (Portland)
• Sandy Action Center (Sandy)
• Share Vancouver (Vancouver)SnowCap Community Charities (Portland)
• St. Vincent de Paul Canby Food Bank (Canby)
• Tualatin School House Pantry (Tualatin)
• West Linn Food Pantry (West Linn)
• WSU Cougar Food Pantry (Vancouver)

By Vicki Guinn

The Emanuel Medical Center Foundation board of trustees recently approved 42 projects, totaling $692,821, in support of programs and services at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center. Donations from patients, their families, Legacy Health employees and the broader community made funding these projects possible.

Among the programs receiving funds is the Trauma Nurses Talk Tough Helmet Program, which will provide over 6,000 bicycle helmets to families, along with instructions on how to fit and use the helmets effectively. More than 300 volunteers will also be trained to instruct community members on how to properly fit a helmet to prevent a head injury.

Other programs receiving funding include the Burn Summer Camp for children, teens and young adults coping with burn and wound scars; compassionate prescriptions for patients who cannot afford the medication required to be discharged from the hospital and charity care for patients who need to continue their treatment regimen at a skilled nursing facility, adult foster home or other safe environment.

“As a board, the health of our community is important to us. We are committed to providing the necessary resources that will make a difference in the lives of Legacy Emanuel’s patients and their families,” said Edgar McCall, chair of the Emanuel Medical Center Foundation board of trustees.

The Foundation advocates and raises funds for Legacy Emanuel, part of Legacy Health – the largest nonprofit, locally-owned health care provider in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

To learn more about supporting any of Legacy Health’s hospitals or programs, call the Legacy Health Office of Philanthropy at 503-415-4700 or visit www.legacyhealth.org.

By Vicki Guinn

We’ve all heard about “The Big One”—a major seismic event that could hit Oregon within the next 40 years. While many efforts are underway to retrofit Oregon’s schools and commercial buildings, homeowners can also act to keep homes and people safe. Here are some earthquake preparedness tips to get you started:

Build An Emergency Kit

Gather supplies, such as flashlights, sturdy shoes, food, water, and a first aid kit. Store supplies in an easy-to-access location. Visit ready.gov for more on building and maintaining your kit.

Identify Home Hazards

Heavy objects that can be dangerous if they move or fall during an earthquake. Secure bookcases, electronics, appliances, and any other items to walls with fasteners, or move them away from beds and seating.

Make a Plan

Identify a meeting spot for friends and family. Pick an emergency contact, someone out-of-state to coordinate with. Everyone should know this person’s phone number.

Retrofit

Reinforcing older homes—bolting them to the foundation, reinforcing the “cripple wall” between the first floor and the foundation and shoring up weight-bearing posts and beams—helps them stay standing after an earthquake. A seismic retrofit can also help you get earthquake insurance, and since your home is your biggest investment, make sure it’s protected.

Portland has about 100,000 older homes that may be vulnerable. Learn how our non-profit can help you retrofit, and secure a spot now for a seismic assessment.

Enhabit (formerly Clean Energy Works) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Portland, Ore. that’s focused on building more resilient communities. Enhabit is the next step for homeowners who want to make their homes work and feel better. From the initial review of your home, to choosing a trusted contractor and financing to make the right efficiency, health and safety upgrades affordable, Enhabit is committed to high-performance home renewal that makes sense.

By Stephanie Swanson

Earlier this year the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon (FCCO) was hedged out of its home of twenty plus years in the Eliot neighborhood by rising rent and a need to expand into a larger space.  Now based in Southwest Portland near the Hawthorne bridge, Executive Director, Karen Kraus says, “They are still able to conveniently manage the population of feral cats in Eliot with the assistance of local residents.” They purchased the building in Southwest Portland, completely remodeled it to suit their very specific needs, and on June 25th celebrated the grand opening as well as the organization’s 21st birthday. Their new building is easily accessible from I-5 or the Hawthorne Bridge.

FCCO does high volume spraying for feral cats and stray cats which are being fed in the neighborhood. Now they have services for low income people to get their pet cats neutered. Kraus says, “We are low cost and affordable for anyone who has a need.” Call for an appointment for feral and stray spay/neutering or affordable pet services.

What is the difference between a feral can and other stray cats? Feral cats are untamed and easily frightened and qualify for vaccines, are treated for ear mites, get ear tipped (international symbol), and spayed or neutered. A stray cat is one whose owner moved away, abandoned it, or is just being fed a bowl of food left out. They are not ear tipped. These two categories of cat are offered services at a suggested donation to FCCO. Low income pet care is offered at a fee for service basis. See the website for rates.

Summer time is kitten season. Cats have an average 61 days gestation, then can be back in heat as soon as a litter is born, even while nursing and kittens can get pregnant at 5 months of age. With the increasing population of residents in Eliot and Portland Kraus says, “with many different attitudes around the country-…we want folks to do it the Portland Way! Get your kitty spayed or neutered -Stop future generations!”

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 10, 2016 for the 4th Annual Catio Tour! FCCO and the Audubon Society of Portland have formed a truly unique partnership to motivate a change in our community. Both organizations agree that by having fewer pet cats roaming freely it is better for the cats and for wildlife. “We created the Catio Tour to offer inspiration for those looking for ways for their cats to have safe outdoor time,” says Kraus.

There is so much more to raising a child today than just loving them unconditionally and teaching them the right values. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 64.2 percent of women with children under 6 years old were either working or looking for jobs in 2015. If both parents are working, you may have to think about leaving your kid in a childcare facility.

What’s more, childcare costs in the United States are ridiculously high. American families spend an average of $18,000 per year on childcare costs. Looking at this amount, it is perfectly normal to think that you cannot afford a daycare, nanny, or even health insurance! The good news is that there are various ways in which you can get financial assistance for childcare. Some of them are:

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit

You may not know about it, but you can enjoy some tax savings when you send your kids to daycare facilities. When you are paying someone else to take care of your kid for you, you can claim a tax credit using Form 2441 (https://www.irs.gov/uac/about-form-2441), or the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. This form can be used to enumerate up to $3000 of childcare expenses, and that too for each child.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

A Flexible Spending Account is an account that allows you to keep money aside for various health expenses. These funds can also be used for medical and dental expenses of your children. An FSA account is usually managed through a health plan offered by your workplace. The best thing about the money saved in the FSA account is that you do not have to pay any federal income or employment taxes on it.  The key to remember here is that there is a cap on the amount that you can put aside in this account. As of 2016, the amount of money that you could put away in an FSA account was $2600.

Childcare and Development Fund

No matter what state you live in, you will find some sort of governmental financial aid when it comes to childcare. Most of the financial assistance will be administered through the Childcare and Development Fund (CCDF). Developed by the US Department of Health and Human Services, this fund aims to help individual states offer childcare facilities for working parents, low-income families, and even for parents who are attending school. The thing to remember about CCDF is that it has strict guidelines about income groups and the age of the children. So you may only be eligible if your children are under 13 years of age.

Military Subsidies

If you belong to a family that has served in the US military, you can definitely take advantage of the military subsidies offered by the government. Childcare Aware of America offers subsidies to eligible military families to take care of the childcare expenses in the US. The amount given is based on the Total Family Income (TFI) of these Army families. If you belong to one of these families, you will receive monthly payments through Childcare Aware of America.

Children’s Health Insurance Program

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is mainly for those kids who are not eligible for Medicaid. This program gives children up to 19 years of age all the benefits of the standard Medicaid package, as well as the benchmark or benchmark-equivalent coverage.

Free and Low-Cost Summer Camps

When money is tight, it can be difficult to find funds to cover fun extras such as summer camps. But the good news is there are some summer camp options that won’t break the bank. One of the first places you might look is at your church. Does it, or any other place of worship in your area, offer a low-cost summer program? Next, you might look into which non-profits in your area are offering camps. Often, these organizations offer programs funded by outside donations so the amount camp-goers have to pay is limited. The same goes for local businesses and even some public/local government departments. If your child really wants to go, don’t count summer camp out based on financial concerns. Chances are you’ll be able to find at least one free or low-cost option in your area.

Apart from these, you can also check if your workplace provides any childcare assistance. There is financial aid out there; you just need to figure out what you are eligible for.

By Jackie Waters

In Honor of MLK Jr.:  It’s Time to be Blunt about Oregon’s “Progressive” Past and Present.

On Sunday, January 15th, at an MLK Jr. Celebration titled “Advancing the Dream,” Portland’s new Mayor, Ted Wheeler, listed milestones of Oregon’s dark, racist past. Wheeler noted, “The 1857 Oregon Constitution explicitly excluded black people from living in Oregon. There were 20,000 KKK members in Portland in 1920. During WWII, Portland wanted black workers, but didn’t want black neighbors. Vanport was created outside of the city limits for a reason. 18,000 people were displaced by the Vanport floods, 25 percent of whom were black.”

Wheeler hadn’t planned to give the crowd a run-down of Oregon’s exclusionary past during his speech. He had come with a written speech, likely full of inspirational and justice-oriented rhetoric , but admitted to the crowd that he rewrote it while other leaders were speaking in order to reflect their perspectives.

One of those leaders that Wheeler listened to was NAACP Portland Chapter President, Jo Ann Hardesty. Hardesty illuminated the need to be honest with ourselves about the outcomes of progressivism:

“We know we’re in for a storm. We have to be prepared for the storm. We are not living in a time where liberalism passes for equality. When you look at the outcomes, we don’t live in a progressive state. Our first order of business is we have to tell the truth. As I get older, I have less and less patience for pretend liberals and people that accept the status quo as it is.”

There are many statistics that uphold the truth of Hardesty’s statement about outcomes. The Southern Poverty Law Center recently published an analysis of hate crimes reported within the first 10 days after Donald Trump was elected president. With 33 hate crimes reported, Oregon came in as 10th in the nation.. However, due to our small population in comparison with the other nine states in the rankings, we were ranked 1st in hate crimes per capita. How could such a “progressive” state reflect such regressive behavior?

In 2013, Oregon’s high school graduation rate was the lowest of any state in the country, at 68.7 percent, with a graduation rate for Black students at 57%. How could a “progressive” state have the lowest high school graduation rate in the country, with such a wide racial disparity, only a few years ago?

It’s time to be blunt about Oregon’s “progressive” past and present. What does progressive connote in Portland? Many young liberals from across the nation have flocked to Portland for its relatively cheap prices and “progressive” culture: music, art, bike lanes, innovative restaurants, abundant parks, and access to the outdoors. Portland developers have sold Portland as a liberal haven. Consequently, the city is rapidly gentrifying, and affordable housing is increasingly rare. Instead of empowering our most vulnerable community members, progressivism has pushed them out.

We need to focus on being radical instead of on being progressive. One aspect of being radical is recognizing all of our privileges, whether they be race, gender, age, physical, or class related, and using the privileges we do have to advocate for family and community members who have less privilege or less access to institutions.

At the MLK Jr. Celebration on Sunday, January 15th, Mr. Wheeler locked eyes with Ms. Hardesty. Wheeler told Hardesty that he would advocate for her, in recognition of the fact that she does not have access to the same decision-making spaces that he does. On that day, Wheeler laid his white, male privilege across the podium and declared that he would use it in the fight for pluralism.

As Hardesty attested, we live in a dystopian political landscape, reigned by hate, trolling, and being offensive. We are lucky to have local representatives, such as Commissioner Loretta Smith and State Representative Janelle Bynum, who are women of color and mothers committed to justice and dignity for all people. At the MLK event, Bynum recited Langston Hughes’s poem “I, Too” and elaborated, “I represent the numbers, the 100+ club. I powered through over 4,000 doors myself, determined to gain my seat at America’s table. I didn’t want our children to be banished to the kitchen. That’s why I marched.”

Smith and Bynum now have a seat at the legislative table. They work in tandem with other elected officials, all of whom we must hold accountable.

On January 15th, Ted Wheeler asked the crowd:

“Do you all feel like we’re being tested? The test is this: can we celebrate and embrace pluralism in this community in the toughest political environment? Are we willing to be deliberate in our defense of our values? You can’t stand in the middle. It’s on one side or the other. We stand on the side of justice. Pretty words. Tough actions. We have to fight for pluralism.”

Now I ask myself and you, dear reader, “Are we willing to hold Ted Wheeler and other elected officials accountable for their pretty words and speeches?” Let us redefine what progressive means in Portland. Let us make radical demands in defense of our neighbors and families and those who have less privilege than we do.

In the words of Dr. LeRoy Hayes, the chair of the Albina Ministerial Alliance’s Coalition for Justice and Police Reform, “There is a present state of insurgency and turning back the clock. We must go forward. We must keep advancing the dream, a community of beloved justice.”

By Anna Daggett

A Portland effort to rally businesses in support of refugees started in the Eliot neighborhood. We Hire Refugees was launched by Indow on N. Interstate Avenue in partnership with the nonprofit Immigrant Refugee Community Organization. The initiative is designed to rally businesses of all sizes to declare that refugees make our communities and businesses stronger. More than 45 businesses have signed including New Seasons, Ziba Design, Zapproved, Neil Kelly and IdeaLegal.

If a business isn’t in a position to hire refugees, it can still sign the declaration and use the We Support Refugees or We Welcome Refugees badges.

Sam Pardue, CEO at Indow, began working on the initiative last spring with IRCO when he became worried about the negative political rhetoric around refugees. Indow employs four refugees, three from Burma and one from Iraq. They are some of the most hardworking people at the company, Pardue said.

“What I was hearing didn’t describe the people I have the honor of working with every day. I hated seeing them feel scared.”

President Trump issued an executive order Jan. 27 that barred people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen from entering the U.S. for 90 days, banned refugees for 120 days and called for indefinitely stopping Syrian refugees from entering. Immediately after that, Pardue put his company in overdrive to roll out the initiative and rally the business community to support refugees and educate the public.

When refugees are granted entry, they have gone through extensive background checks and are here legally and are fully authorized to work. But that doesn’t make it easy for refugees to find jobs, the cornerstone of a stable life in the U.S.

The We Hire Refugees initiative reads in part:

“We, the undersigned, believe hiring refugees makes our communities stronger and our companies more competitive. We know refugees are often highly skilled and have strong work ethics, in keeping with a nation built by hardworking immigrants. We know refugees often become valuable and loyal team members. They become one of us.”

Indow makes custom interior thermal window inserts to create a more energy efficient built environment to fight climate change. Climate change induced drought contributed to the Syrian conflict and its refugee crisis. “Over time, rising seas and increased drought will displace more people and so it’s incumbent on the world to be open to helping and welcoming refugees,” said Pardue.

By Carrie Sturrock

There are many yoga studios and yoga instructors in the city of Portland, but we want to focus on an instructor from The People’s Yoga who is from our northeast quadrant of the city with an expansive resume and who has trained instructors in an unexpected venue.

With over 20 years’ experience studying and teaching various forms of movement disciplines, Gina Kieval is known for her soulful and empowering teaching style. She infuses her lifelong study of dance, Gyrotonic, and qigong into a unique synthesis of yoga asana, meditation, and creative process. A former professional dancer, Kieval initially started teaching Yoga through the volunteer organization, Living Yoga, a local nonprofit focused on bringing yoga to youth and adults in correctional facilities and drug treatment centers. She completed her 200 hour certification in 2012. Kieval brings to her classes her love of music as a ritual backdrop, kinesthetic awareness and structural integrity to cultivate both strength and a sense of freedom within each individual student’s capacity.

In addition to her current classes at The People’s Yoga, she continues to teach yoga in prisons. Starting in 2009 she started teaching classes at a few of our correctional institutes.  Seeing its benefits to the inmates she wanted to take the yoga instruction further. In 2015 she worked with the Daya Foundation to co-facilitate a 200 hour teacher training at Oregon State Correctional Institute for inmates who are now Yoga Alliance certified yoga teachers and are conducting weekly classes on the inside.

Kieval also teaches Gyrotonic, a unique movement method that’s designed to stimulate and open new neural pathways, increase range of motion, and improve strength and movement efficiency.

Kieval’s yoga classes at The People’s Yoga focus on fluidity in asana, precision and subtlety of alignment, and a reverence for the body’s innate intelligence. She invokes a sense of artistry of movement and believes teaching is very much an experience of reciprocity. “We come together to share a sacred space for a brief moment in time and there’s an exchange that happens…bodies moving in unison, yet in different individual rhythms, souls speaking their own private languages yet still connecting to something common.”

Even though she has been practicing yoga for over two decades she says that she still feels like there is so much to learn so we should never think that this is a class with a definite end point but a journey.  Try out a class with Gina at the Mississippi Street location of The People’s Yoga and maybe you will find that yoga is just the thing that you were missing in your life or a welcome continuation of your own yoga practice.

Kieval’s classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:00-1:30 pm and Saturdays from 10:30-11:45 at The People’s Yoga at 855 N Failing Street (at Mississippi Avenue).

For questions or more information you can reach her at: Ginakieval@gmail.com.

Using Laser Treatment to Erase Memories — Legacy Emanuel’s Oregon Burn Center Celebrates 1 Year of Laser Treatment Therapy.

Janelle Roha, blinded by the thick smoke from her burning home, frantically searched for a way out. She felt the coolness of the window and thought, “safety.”

But the heavy black smoke she was forced to breathe was too much and she passed out. She came tolong enough to feel a tube in her throat and the vibrations from an engine. That was September 3, 2015.

Weeks later, Janelle woke up from a medically-induced coma and learned she was airlifted by Life Flight that fateful day to Legacy Health’s Oregon Burn Center (OBC). Heavily sedated and wrapped in gauze, she learned she had suffered third degree burns on her neck, back, legs, arms, hands, and face – 30 percent of her body.

Janelle’s 17-year-old daughter had run out the burning home that morning to get help from a neighbor and an off-duty firefighter. They knocked down the door and pulled Janelle to safety. She heard their beloved dog, whose barking woke her up that morning, perished in the fire.  Although the fire had almost devoured the family home, she was alive and thankful she had a loving husband, family, and friends there to support her on a long journey to recovery. This was October 4, 2015.

After 49 days, Janelle was released from the OBC and went to the Legacy Rehabilitation Institute of Oregon for one week then discharged to home. The scars went with her. Scars can cause emotional pain too. Burn survivors get looks of horror from total strangers and are shocked when they see their own reflection. “Getting looks of pity or catching my own reflection in a window or mirror was startling,” says Janelle. She was also left with limited movement in her hands making it difficult to pull on clothing and continue her work as a full-time florist.

After multiple skin grafts, Janelle still had physical reminders of that morning. Thick scars from her burns and patches of discolored skin where doctors had to take grafts were visible reminders of what happened that day. Nathan Kemalyan, M.D., a burn surgeon with the OBC, recommends laser therapy treatment for patients like Janelle. The treatment appealed to Janelle and she became one of the first patients to receive laser treatment for burns.

Legacy Emanuel began offering pulsed–dye laser and fractional CO2 laser treatment therapies in 2016 to treat patients with hypertrophic (raised) scars caused by burns and other traumatic injuries. These treatments are designed to reduce stiffness and reduce the appearance of scars.  Typically patients need four or more laser treatments, with several weeks between each one. They go home the same day as treatment and use medication to manage any discomfort.

Dr. Kemalyan says specialists in other burn centers across the country have been using this technology with good results for several years. “Most patients reported their scars were improved; they’re more flexible, flatter and smoother with less itchiness.”

The pulsed dye laser goes through the skin — without breaking it — to destroy tiny blood vessels near the surface of the scar. This causes the scar to shrink, become less red, and less itchy.  The fractional CO2 laser therapy, is used to treat older scars. It is designed to reduce feelings of tightness and to improve the appearance of the scar. This laser removes a very thin layer of tissue from the surface of the skin without removing deeper layers.

“I encourage burn patients to get the laser treatment,” says Janelle. “The tightness, pain, itchiness, and sunburn feeling have completely gone away.” Janelle says her scars are greatly reduced. Before the fire, she was an outdoors person who enjoyed fishing, camping, and gardening. She’s hoping to regain more functionality in her hands with the remaining treatments.

Janelle says it was the support of her grandchildren, husband and family that helped her healing. “They are my world. Things can be replaced but they can’t.”

Since Janelle, more than 37 patients have received laser treatment at Legacy Emanuel. Drs. Kemalyan, Thakar (plastic surgeon), and Eshraghi (burn surgeon) are trained and certified in laser treatment therapy.

For more information, contact Vicki Guinn, Legacy Emanuel public relations, vguinn@lhs.org or 503-413-2939.

By Vicki Guinn

Members of a new Toastmasters speaking club in Northeast Portland are issuing an open invitation to all interested community members to participate.

The Tall Tales Toastmasters club meets from 6-7 p.m. each Tuesday at Whole Foods Market, 3535 N.E. 15th Ave., Portland. The meetings are conducted upstairs in the Mount Bachelor Room.

“Having just formed this club, we are excited about drawing in new members who want to improve their public speaking skills and gain self-confidence,” said longtime Toastmasters member Kyle Dukelow. “I’ve seen Toastmasters change lives, and I know Tall Tales will do the same.”

The club is part of Toastmasters International which teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Toastmasters International has more than 345,000 members in almost 16,000 clubs in 142 countries. The organization, founded in 1924, is headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

The registration and membership cost is $51 and includes helpful speaking manuals. Membership renewal is $51 every 6 months thereafter.

Visitors are welcome, and there is no obligation to speak. For questions, contact Kyle Dukelow at 503-720-3413 or kbdukelow@msn.com.

By Kyle Dukelow and Katie Essick

In the midst of Portland’s record-setting, $2.5 billion building frenzy, upwards of 10,000 skilled construction jobs are going unfilled.  Chronic labor shortages could be “the new normal,” according to a recent article  in the Oregonian.

Constructing Hope is using this demand to fulfill their mission of helping low-income residents in their NE Portland community, especially those with a legal history, start careers in construction.  Executive director Patricia Davis, who spent years working in HR, saw firsthand how ex-offenders were discriminated against in the hiring process.  “If you had a felony, your application always went in the ‘no’ pile,” she says. Now, she’s working with people trying hard to get back in the system.

Founded in 1995 as part of the Irvington Covenant Church Community Development Corporation, Constructing Hope separated from the church in 2009 to focus exclusively on its state-certified pre-apprenticeship training.  The 10-week, hands-on program “gave us the teeth to help these guys walk through the door,” says Davis.

The organization treats its program as a “holistic approach” for reintegrating someone coming from incarceration and reentering society.  Modeled on a construction work schedule, the trainees show up and punch a timecard at 6:30 am for the 10 weeks of classes, and submit to random drug testing, like they will face in the workforce.  “Because we targeted minorities, we knew they would have to be on top of their game,” says Davis, “to get and keep these jobs.”  Participants graduate with flagging, forklift, and OSHA 10 certifications, which are crucial for landing industry jobs.

Recruitment comes from partnerships with over 30 community organizations, including state employment offices, parole and probation officers, and the Central City Concern.  Constructing Hope even travels to prisons and jails to give presentations on their resources.

And Constructing Hope is still expanding.  Their newest program–still in its first year–targets local high-school aged youth in low-income families.  Through a partnership with Airway Science, youth learn airplane-building skills, including riveting and sheet metal working.  In the 3-5 week summer program, which also includes a 2 week STEM component, the boys and girls receive a grant-funded stipend.

Though Davis has struggled to find the funding for a stipend for the adult pre-apprenticeship program, she is confident that the training rebuilds lives and starts careers.  The average starting wage of $17 per hour can go up to $26 per hour in a few years.  Davis encourages her graduates to think ahead: “You can become a journeyman, even an owner. Contractors who have worked in the trades make the best construction business owners.”

Davis has seen that many of the men and women who come to Constructing Hope from incarceration are skeptical.  They’ve been led on and let down time and again by a final background check.  But they’re eager to work, build confidence, and start a career.  “They’re the ones who stick in the jobs,” she says enthusiastically.  “And that’s what gives me gratification.”

By Alex Freedman

The team at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center made sure Thomas “Tom” Frisch saw the eclipse – despite being in a hospital bed.

On the morning of the eclipse, Tom, 42, an independent videographer who lives in North Portland, and some friends took public transportation to Oregon City; they then set out on bicycles en route to Molalla to view the total eclipse.

Unfortunately, Tom was struck by a vehicle while cycling. Taken by ambulance to Legacy Emanuel — arriving about 9:30 a.m., some 30 minutes before prime viewing — Tom told the medical team he still wanted to see the eclipse. Staff in the emergency room evaluated him, stabilized him, gave him eclipse glasses and wheeled him in his hospital bed outside in time to see the moon pass over the sun.

His injuries were not serious, and he was appreciative of the staff for letting him see the eclipse.

By Vicki Guinn

Our Eliot Neighborhood Association, ENA, Board has been busy this past year with traditional activities and on clean-up. However, the Board is evolving, as is our neighborhood, to be more diverse and more action oriented. This fall four new members joined the Board (see Board profiles in this issue). We have set our sights on 2018 to address issues brought up during our Community Conversations (safety and parking) issues brought to us from groups (air pollution and traffic).

The ENA Board meets the third Monday of each month from 6:30-8:30pm at 120 NE Knott. Everyone is welcome to join us!

Eliot Neighborhood Association activities during 2017:

• Annual Clean-Up in May, another great success, was supported by NECN and organized by Board member and Eliot Newsletter Editor, Sue Stringer
• Good in the Hood parade and fair in Lillis Albina City Park in June was well attended
• Open Signal had its open house block party on NE Graham in August where we had an information booth
• Community Conversations in April and October centered around neighbors concerns around safety in parks, on streets and in their homes and about the increase of traffic and parking issues. As a result of these conversations the ENA Board is setting Safety, Parking and Livability as our main goals for 2018. Action goals around these issues will be the agenda of Jan 15, 2018 meeting.
• Litter Pickup events in Spring and Summer supported by Solve had many Eliot volunteers and others all over the neighborhood. Next event is on MLK Day.
• Adopt-a-Block program grew to 18 blocks – for details see article in this issue.
• Clean Start pilot program began in August. This quote is from NECN: “Members of the Eliot neighborhood’s Livability Team met with Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods in January to discuss an increase in trash and debris in their area. During the conversation the most progressive and productive idea was to partner with Central Eastside Industrial Council, Central City Concern and the City of Portland’s Office of Neighborhood Involvement to pilot Clean Start PDX for a year… With the support of ONI Interim Director David Austen and others, the Portland City Council voted unanimously to approve the proposal on June 14th. ‘I just want to say how impressed I am with Northeast Neighborhood Coalition and all of our neighborhood coalitions. They’re all doing really innovative, vital work in our community,’ Commissioner Chloe Eudaly, who oversees the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, said prior to the vote.”

Also, in case you haven’t heard about it, the PDX Reporter app is a very important new way to interact with the city concerning problems or issues with publicly maintained infrastructure. Access PDX Reporter from any smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer at http://www.pdxreporter.org.

Portland’s storm drains help drain storm water quickly and efficiently and keep our streets safe. But when drains get clogged with fallen leaves and other debris, it can lead to ponding water in our streets and at our intersections. That makes it harder to drive, walk, bike and roll around town. Portland Bureau of Transportation crews work hard to keep the drains clear. But with over 58,000 drains in the city, they can’t get to all of them.

That’s why we’re asking Portlanders to adopt storm drains in their neighborhoods and help to keep them free and clear of leaves.

When clearing a storm drain, please keep these tips in mind:

• If possible, clear the drain before it starts raining.
• Clear about 10 feet on both sides of the drain.
• Clear from the sidewalk, not the street. Wear reflective clothing so people driving can see you.
• Always wear gloves and be careful of sharp objects!
• Use a rake, shovel, or broom – not your hands.
• Watch out for traffic. Don’t clear drains that are in the middle of a street.
• Be careful of standing water to avoid slipping or stepping on sharp objects.
• If children are helping, make sure adults are supervising.
• Don’t try to lift storm drain grates. They are very heavy.
• Let our crews handle garbage or any hazards in the catch basin. Clear surface debris only.
• Don’t put leaves in the street! Place leaves in your yard debris roll cart for curbside pickup. If you have too many for the cart, simply bag them and place them next to the roll cart for pickup.
• Snow or ice blocking the drain? Clear a 10-12 inch path along the curb, for melting snow and ice to reach the drain.

If the drain is still clogged after you’ve removed the surface debris, please call our Maintenance Dispatchers at 503-823-1700 or email pdxroads@portlandoregon.gov  to report it.

Thank you for helping keep Portland’s streets clear and safe!

Report a clogged storm drain or stormwater drainage problem in city streets:
503-823-1700
pdxroads@portlandoregon.gov

Portland Bureau of Transportation
Phone: 503-823-5185
Fax: 503-823-7576
1120 SW Fifth Ave, Suite 800
Portland, OR 97204

Find out more more information about what how and why PBOT works with stormwater and drainage.

By Portland Bureau of Transportation

Joe Tanner isn’t the typical recipient of the Oregon Health Authority’s Life Saving Medal. It’s usually given to an emergency medical technician, or EMT. Tanner is a registered nurse on the Neuro Trauma Intensive Care Unit at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center who cares for patients brought in through the hospital’s emergency room. What makes this unique is what he did for himself that will help others.

Tanner received his trauma certification in early 2016. Later that year on a perfect fall day he headed to the Oregon Coast to surf at Ecola State Park. “The day was beautiful, the water was clear, no clouds in the sky and the surf was phenomenal,” says Tanner. “I had one of the best surfing days on the Oregon Coast.” He took a moment to rest vertically on his surf board that’s when he felt something hit him. “I was jarred like I’d been rear-ended.”  When he saw the shark’s gills a foot from his face he knew he was in trouble. Survival mode kicked. Tanner repeatedly hit the shark until it swam away then he saw the trail of his own blood. Thinking the shark would smell the blood and return, Tanner wondered, “is this how people die”?  Clearly injured, he hung off the surf board and hurriedly paddled toward the shore and stopped when he felt his fins dig in the sand. “That’s when people came running to help.”

His trauma nurse training kicked in. He asked bystanders to call 911 and ask for a medical helicopter then he directed them on how to save his damaged limb.  “I asked what they saw on my body, was there any gushing blood or arterial bleeding.” Tanner instructed them to tie a tourniquet just in case. He said someone ripped off their t-shirt and placed it around his leg but he knew it wasn’t tight enough. He told them to get the leash from his surf board and tie a square knot so it wouldn’t come lose. By this time, the police showed up and began packing the wound. The EMTs arrived shortly afterwards and confirmed the arterial bleed.

When the medical flight team arrived, Tanner directed them to take him to Legacy Emanuel, his own hospital.  Though a little foggy, Tanner remembers arriving in the emergency room and seeing colleagues who began taking care of his injuries then he was whisked away to surgery. Tanner spent several days in the Neuro Trauma ICU. His clear thinking, leadership, recent trauma certification, and calmness contributed to saving his own live. Better yet, in that critical moment, he trained others on how to tie a tourniquet and save a live. For that reason, this non EMT received this statewide award during a recent ceremony in Bend, Oregon.

By Vicki Guinn

The PDX Reporter app is a convenient way to interact with city bureaus and report problems and maintenance issues within Portland city limits. This app was previously released for iPhone and Android mobile devices, but now it’s available as a web app that can be used on any web-enabled smartphone, tablet or desktop computer. The previous mobile-only version of the app will be retired in late 2017.

Not only does the new web app offer a better user experience, but it also provides more frequent bug fixes and updates without having to download a new version. The update process is simpler for our developers and transparent to you. It allows us to more easily implement new features and ensures it will be a useful tool for years to come.

To use the new app, visit http://www.pdxreporter.org and log in using your PortlandOregon.gov account, or the account you used with the previous version of the app. Login is required, but registration is free and open to the public–just use the “sign up” link on the login page. If you save the app to your home screen, you can use it just like any other app on your smartphone or tablet. See the in-app help page for more information.

For questions or more information call the Bureau of Technology Services at 503-823-5199.

By City of Portland Bureau of Technology Services on portlandoregon.gov

This quick, simple, and meat-free vegan taco recipe will surely have everyone begging for more!

Vegan Tacos

Ingredients:

• Soft tortillas
• Small onion (diced)
• 1 cup of TVP (texturized vegetable protein)
• 2-3 tablespoons of Taco seasoning (bulk)
• 1/4-1/2 cup of water
• Taco/Hot Sauce
• Lettuce
• Tomato

Directions:

1. Sautee diced onions until brown
2. Boil 7/8 cup of water and pour over TVP (mix well) let sit for at least 10 mins.
3. Add the rehydrated TVP to onions and sauté for 3-5 mins (longer if needed)
4. Mix water with taco seasoning in a bowl
5. Pour over TVP and onions (mix well)
6. Bring to a quick boil then reduce heat to low; simmer about 10-15 mins
7. Heat tortillas in oven until warm
8. Fill tortillas with meatless dish
9. Add all your favorite taco trimmings ( i.e. lettuce, tomato, taco sauce, etc. )

ENJOY!

By Shireen Hasan

The Portland Water Bureau is working on new treatment processes for the Bull Run drinking water source to meet state and federal regulations for water quality. Future projects include:

• Corrosion Control:  Reducing the corrosiveness of Bull Run drinking water to minimize lead in home plumbing from entering drinking water.
• Bull Run Filtration: Installation of a filtration plant to remove potential contaminants such as Cryptosporidium.

The Water Bureau wants to hear from you to help guide initial decisions that will be made on some of the key aspects of the future filtration plant.

Take the 5-Minute Filtration Survey

Take this 5-minute survey to tell the Water Bureau what matters to you most about the quality of your drinking water and the filtration plant.

Background Information

While water from the Bull Run Watershed is considered some of the cleanest in the nation, it still requires treatment to meet federal standards and to provide additional public health protection.

Last August, Portland City Council held a hearing to discuss options for compliance with a federal rule requiring water treatment for the parasite Cryptosporidium. City Council voted unanimously to direct the Water Bureau to begin planning for a water filtration facility.

Since then, the Water Bureau assembled a team that has started work on the planning for the 10-year filtration project.

Read more about Bull Run water treatment, including project schedules and other information, at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/water/76428.

To request translation, interpretation, accommodation, modifications, or additional information, please contact 503-823-1058, or use City TTY 503-823-6868, Oregon Relay Services: 711.

By Terry Black
Senior Community Outreach & Information Representative
Portland Water Bureau

Anxiety and depression among teens are at an all-time high, largely because of social media and technology. Before smartphones, children and teenagers used to go to school and deal with bullying and social pressures for six to eight hours a day, Monday through Friday. Now, with the advent of social media and ample access to screens, there is no break. The pressure to be liked and accepted on social media is unrelenting, 24/7, because kids are constantly connected to their phones and social media.

In addition, serious themes like teen suicide featured in the Netflix series, “13 Reasons Why”, are being discussed often and openly between teens. In part due to the success of this series, suicide is a reality that kids are exposed to in online chat rooms, web pages, and entertainment programs. Not only are they seeing it visually depicted throughout the media environment, they are also able to look for it specifically through online searches. When information like teen suicide is presented so frequently to kids in the form of Hollywood entertainment, and they are already struggling with mental health issues, suicide attempts, suicide ideation and suicide deaths tend to increase dramatically.

“Working in the emergency department at Randall Children’s Hospital, we are frequently the initial point of contact for many patients and families dealing with mental health issues,” said Zoe Orcutt, pediatric social worker. “Teens are experiencing higher anxiety, stress, and depression due to social media and social programming that addresses heavy issues without the correct support they need to understand it. Because of this, teen suicide has increased substantially over the past few years.”

Unfortunately, many of these topics are either avoided or not discussed honestly by parents. Often, parents are afraid to even say the word “suicide.” With the upcoming second season of “13 Reasons Why”, there is a national push to educate, support and provide ample resources to teens and families in crisis. So, what can parents, caregivers, teachers or caring adults do to support and/or prevent mental health emergencies with our teens?

• Talk with them about suicide. Don’t be afraid of the word “suicide” or how it affects those left behind. Be honest and listen.
• Keep teens active in extracurriculars. If kids are participating in sports or after-school clubs or activities, they are not only doing things that make them feel good about themselves, they are connecting with other kids without being on social media.
• Establish mutually agreed upon rules prior to buying technology. For example, what time is reasonable to turn in the cell phone at night, what social media platforms are allowed and what restrictions are put in place to keep your teen safe.
• Model healthy technology use for your teens. If they see you on screens, they will be on screens.
• Encourage healthy support systems and relationships. Get to know the people your teens spend time with and look for opportunities for positive role models outside of the family unit.
• Be present. Whether it’s at school, a faith community, or even in your home, do things with your kids in their different environments.
• Watch with them. If your teen asks to watch “13 Reasons Why” or another program with similar themes – watch the show together to provide context or have follow-up discussions to touch on major issues.
• Seek therapy. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help for your teen. Be willing to attend with them and be part of the solution.

“The most important thing a parent can do for their teen is to be open about mental health,” said Orcutt. “Talking to them, as well as listening, will not only prevent teen suicide, it will allow for earlier support for your teens.”

For more information on local resources available for teens and their families, please visit Lines for Life, YouthLine, a peer-to-peer youth crisis and support service dedicated to preventing substance abuse and suicide in Oregon.

Lines for Life: 1-800-2738255 or text “273Talk” to 839863. Teens can also talk to other teens by calling 1-877-968-8491 or texting “teen2teen” to 839863.

If you or someone you know might be experiencing a behavioral or mental health crisis, dial 9-1-1 or contact the mental health crisis line in your area:

• Multnomah County – 503-988-4888
• Clackamas County – 503-655-8585
• Washington County – 503-291-9111
• Clark County – 360-696-9560, 800-686-8137
• Columbia County – 503-397-5211 or after hours 1-800-866-1426
• Marion County- 503-585-4949

Crisis lines are available 24/7 and are staffed with mental health professionals that can help provide support, crisis assessment, and access to further resources. Some counties also have mobile crisis teams that can provide on-site support. Services are provided regardless of insurance or age and interpreters are available.

For information on teen mental health see these mental health warning signs.

For more information contact Ashley Stanford Cone at astanfor@lhs.org

By Ashley Stanford Cone

St. Philip the Deacon Episcopal Church is an historic African-American and diverse community church located in the Eliot Neighborhood. The Reverend Dr. Maria McDowell has recently become the newest priest-in-charge, and yes, she is a woman! Rev’d Dr. Maria is from Portland and has studied theology at schools in Los Angeles and Boston. She always knew that she wanted to serve so that she can do what she loves – to teach and think deeply with others about things that matter. She loves being with people where God and life meet, where the rubber hits the road.

Rev’d Dr. Maria says that Mother Alcena Boozer, a former Rector and current member who also grew up in Portland, was the first female African American priest in Oregon. She has paved the way for women and African Americans. Rev’d Dr. Maria was raised in the Russian Orthodox Church. However, Eastern Orthodox churches do not ordain women. The Episcopal has given her the opportunity to do what she loves – to serve as a priest. Even though women have been recently ordained, there are still barriers and sexism that exist in Christianity.

Rev’d Dr. Maria believes that God is everywhere, in all things, and we are all called to work alongside God. She likes working with others to figure out what God does in one’s life, and then nourishing that work. She loves to help people recognize their gifts, hone in on them and share them with everyone. She loves her job, and believes all human beings have gifts which can bless others.

As a new priest in the neighborhood, Rev’d Dr. Maria’s goal is to listen to what the parish and the neighborhood needs and to figure out what is important for everyone. Being a white woman herself, Rev’d Dr. Maria has expressed that she is very concerned that the neighborhood is becoming whiter and whiter, and that the parish and neighborhood has changed primarily due to gentrification. She does not want to lose the African American parish, and says that the church used to draw folks who lived in the neighborhood, but families dedicated to the parish for generations and the members who live further out now, still come to the church. She hopes that even if the parish is no longer primarily African American, it continues to be diverse and welcoming.

Her desire is people living well together and willing to work together to achieve that. Rev’d Dr. Maria says, “I do not want a homogeneous neighborhood and church. I want positive energy, and a welcoming environment for visitors and members.” She is married to a woman and says, “I want it to be welcoming to LGBTQ persons and communities – to be clear that all bodies, all people – racially and sexually diverse, are welcome in God’s house.”

On Saturdays, St Philip the Deacon Episcopal Church provides free hot meals and groceries to about 150-300 people in the community. It has been doing this for over 20 Years. The parish is dependent upon the Oregon Food Bank, and is working with their tiering system to get better and more stable selections of food. Volunteers run and participate in this event, and anyone can come and volunteer. Everyone is welcome to come and eat (I grabbed myself a bag of groceries and chowed down on some chicken tortellini with salad, and it was delicious!). St. Philips the Deacon Episcopal Church also allows homeless people needing a safe place to sleep on the porch. There are rules on how to use and share the space. Rev’d Dr. Maria mentioned her desire and ideas for building appropriate shelter and accommodations to mitigate homelessness (with an immediate need for a porta potty for those utilizing the space at the church, right now).

Prior to interviewing Rev’d Dr. Maria, I visited the parish’s services on Sunday. Upon entering the church, I experienced and observed a very warm, welcoming, inclusive, and diverse environment. The members are very friendly and seem to connect well with each other and their guests in a peaceful and loving manner. Members went out of their way to introduce themselves.

Rev’d Dr. Maria is the ‘Real Deal’. Her sincerity and passion for people, especially about those who are less fortunate, only scratches the surface of who she is and the work that does, and is destined to do. She is extremely energetic, enthusiastic and she highly encourages the children’s participation, as young as 3 and 4 years of age. The children seem to love to be up front, says one member, partaking in the services. One small child in particular, kept shouting Amen! It seems the spirit of the lord was moving through his little soul, as well.

I do not practice this faith, but I enjoyed the service, and I plan to visit again, on just the vibe alone. Rev’d Dr. Maria definitely practices what she preaches! So, if you are up for a positive shift of energy on any given Sunday, consider coming on down to St. Philip the Deacon Episcopal Church and checking out the new priest in town!

Amen!

By Shireen Hasan