Search Results

‘Silent Sky’ Opens At Clackamas Community College “Silent Sky” featuring CCC theater students Raven Woods, Camden McCorkle and Maggie Frackenpohl.  Clackamas Community College's Theater Department will present Lauren Gunderson's "Silent Sky," a luminous tribute to women, scientific discovery and music as its winter main stage production.   "Silent Sky"   is the remarkable true story of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, whose groundbreaking work helped us understand our place in the universe. In 1905, Leavitt started work at Harvard Observatory as one of the few female "computers" set to catalogue the night sky. Leavitt and her trail-blazing colleagues had to fight social norms and biases to make their voices heard in the male-dominated astronomy field.   With humor, romance and reverence, "Silent Sky" celebrates the tenacity of Leavitt to map the night sky, leading to great leaps in our understanding of the galaxy and how we fit in.   Directed by Allison Moon, "Silent Sky" features a dynamic ensemble of CCC students, with scenic and lighting design by Chris Whitten and costumes by August Hemlock.   "Silent Sky" runs Feb. 27-March 9, Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. and Friday, March 7 at 10 a.m. in the Niemeyer Osterman Theatre, 19600 Molalla Ave., Oregon City.      Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors (62+) and free for students. Tickets are discounted by $1 if purchased online. Visit www.clackamas.edu/theatre  or call 503-594-3153 for reservations.

Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia teaching a class. Portlander Dr. Alisha Moreland-Capuia, and her husband Daniel Capuia, a native of Angola, are determined to make the world a better place.   They formed the Capuia Foundation with the goals that include health care, education, social sciences and agriculture. They’re meeting the health care goals at their clinic which they opened in the province of Cacuaco, a suburb of the Luanda, the capitol of Angola.   And now they’ll address their education goals since Moreland-Capuia secured a $100,000 grant to build a nearby center for trauma education and as a community gathering place, including an internet café.   Moreland-Capuia wears many academic hats and teaches in a variety of disciplines. She’s an affiliate clinical associate professor at Portland’s Oregon Health and Science University, and is currently teaching at Harvard Medical School as assistant professor of psychiatry. A trauma expert, she is the founder and director of McClean Hospital’s Institute for Trauma Informed Systems Change within the Center of Excellence in Depression and Anxiety Disorders.   To put it basically, she wants to help people overcome the trauma in their lives so they can be masters of their own destiny by extending the Institute for Trauma Informed Systems Change to Angola.   “I teach in multiple disciplines and have trained folks all around the world,” she said. “My ultimate mission is that when folks are trauma informed, and their systems are trauma informed, that systems are society are safer and better. So that’s the goal and I’m teaching and training to that end.”   Angola’s social structure is still suffering from the effects of a 27-year civil war that only came to an end in 2002 and that cost the lives of between 200,000 and 500,000 citizens. Angola had been under colonial rule by Portugal until its dictatorship was overthrown in 1974. Angola achieved independence the following year which brought about the war fought for decades by different anti-colonial factions.   The country is slowly healing but the 30.8 percent unemployment is high, especially for young people, and unemployment creates stress.   “If I’m chronically stressed because I don’t have a job, and there’s food insecurity and I’m struggling to make ends meet, that level of stress and that level of chronic fear, that is a form of trauma, especially in a country that has experienced the great disruption of a civil war,” Moreland-Capuia said.   Part of that healing has to include economic liberation, freedom and opportunity, she said. “And the best way to do that is to open up opportunities for greater academics, access to health care and opportunities to be innovative and be entrepreneurs.”   What that boils down to is that basic needs are hard to come by because of economic conditions, which creates stress that creates trauma.   That’s where the new center comes in, because it will provide the tools for people to be self-determined and overcome obstacles to economic independence. Ground has already been broken for the new center, which Moreland-Capuia projects will be completed by the end of fiscal year 2026.   Moreland-Capuia has already put her ideas for addressing trauma through teaching thousands of global leaders, which she says has the impact of 30-plus million, from what was learned and put into practice about to implement trauma informed system change.   “We trained these individuals and then have them take it back and make changes for the betterment of their communities and it’s been amazing,” she said. “So we thought, what would it look like if we too this institute and scaled it up and expanded it and took it to Angola?”   But Moreland-Capuia said she wanted to be “very strategic” and began by training five Angolans over the past four years who were taught her Training for Change curriculum model she uses at the institute.   “So they’re looking at things like the impact of colonialism and the impacts of civil war in order to help the country heal so they can move forward and so they can do things that they want to do for themselves economically and in a sustainful way,” she said.   In a video about plans for the new center, Moreland-Capuia gives a tour that includes the clinic, housing for visiting health care professionals, and a big empty lot of about a third of an acre where the new building will go.   She recently approved the architecture blueprints for the new building, which she refers to as an edifice, to serves as a place for trauma training, education and a community gathering place.   “This is exciting stuff,” she said.

Community Gathering Space In Mulieribus Group Image by Ilsa Payne Portland’s beloved women’s vocal ensemble, In Mulieribus, invites the public to celebrate and honor bold, visionary women artists, both past and present, who inspire us to change the world every day. Entitled Among Women, this first-time community event, presented by In Mulieribus, is open to all, free of charge, and will take place on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2025, 4:00-6:00 pm at The Old Madeleine Church, 3123 NE 24th. This day traditionally honors collective activism for women’s equality around the world. The afternoon will feature a vibrant mix of artists, including musical offerings and presentations by In Mulieribus, Naomi Littlebear Morena and Izetta Smith, Judy Rose, and Flamencas Silvestres (Janna Auslam and Christy Yenni), poetry by Alicia Jo Rabins, and visual art by Deb Stoner, Rita Robillard, and Junko Iijima. The event will be complemented by a participatory pop-up tribute quilt that celebrates women’s spirit of creativity and resilience. In addition to performances and visual art, the event will include activist information tables that build awareness about current women’s issues and activities. Guests may indulge in delectable desserts and refreshing libations while connecting with fellow appreciators of women artists. Among Women will serve as a gathering space for community members to share their creativity while honoring the enduring legacies of admired women. This event serves as a reminder of the essential role women play in shaping the cultural and social landscape. Community members are invited to uplift the voices and talents of women artists who continue to illuminate the world. This gathering will celebrate their resilience and the creative spirit that inspires and sustains the community. In Mulieribus (een-moo-lee-EH-ree-boos), meaning "among women" in Latin, is a women's vocal ensemble dedicated to strengthening community through the art of music. Founded in 2004 and incorporated as a nonprofit in 2007, the ensemble has presented a highly acclaimed annual concert series in Portland since 2007 and frequently appears as a guest artist throughout the region. Committed to social impact, In Mulieribus has partnered with organizations supporting those in need, including homeless youth, recent immigrants, women, and children. Specializing in works composed before 1750, the ensemble also champions new repertoire by women composers and for women’s voices. Their most recent album, Cycles of Eternity , highlights significant 21st-century contributions to the repertoire for women’s voices, featuring works by living, local composers as well as women composers and poets from the past and present.

Presenting George Bizet’s Carmen in Peninsula Park Nick Fox (Photo Credit: The-Weekend-Photographer.com) OPERA IN THE PARK Portland is excited to announce its return to Peninsula Park this summer! On July 27, 2025, OPERA IN THE PARK Portland will present George Bizet’s Carmen in Peninsula Park, with a stellar cast, union orchestra, full chorus and renowned conductor Nicholas Fox leading the performance. The concert will be entirely free, continuing OPERA IN THE PARK Portland's mission to provide high-quality opera to all Portland residents without charge. OPERA IN THE PARK Portland has become a key cultural offering in Portland. It is the only local organization offering grand opera concerts free of charge to the public. Last summer, 5,000 people attended the outdoor performance in Peninsula Park—1.5 times as many as the maximum seating capacity at Keller Auditorium. The event brought together individuals from all walks of life to enjoy a unique cultural experience set against the backdrop of the oldest rose garden in the rose city. After 22 years of collaboration with Portland Parks & Recreation, OPERA IN THE PARK Portland will be self-producing its 2025 summer concert. Its first year creating the concert without support from Summer-Free-For-All is forcing the non-profit organization to add 25% to its budget. OPERA IN THE PARK Portland is actively working on securing the necessary funding, community partnerships, and logistical support to ensure the event’s success. Despite this setback, OPERA IN THE PARK Portland remains unwavering in its commitment to making opera accessible to all. “Regardless of fluctuating government support for the arts, we remain committed to our mission of delivering truly remarkable opera performances to the public—entirely free of charge,” said Jocelyn Bates-O’Brien, Board President. “Our community has made it clear that these performances are important, and we are determined to bring another incredible opera experience to the heart of Portland. We hope that Portlanders will continue to show their support and join us for what promises to be a truly unforgettable evening.” OPERA IN THE PARK Portland is a non-profit organization dedicated to the enrichment of cultural life in Portland. We believe that OPERA IS FOR EVERYONE, and are committed to presenting annual free operatic performances in beautiful and accessible venues in the Portland Metro Area. All are welcome! If you would like more information, please visit https://operaintheparkportland.org , or email: operaintheparkpdx@gmail.com

Black Wellness, Amplifying Multitudes & Flourishing in Community L ast year’s Black Excellence event at Clackamas Community College featured a panel discussion of “Truths and Transitions: Living His-Story, as Experienced by Black Men.” The Clackamas Community College Office of Leadership, Education and Advocacy for Progress is hosting its third annual Black Excellence event Feb. 27, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.  This event is free and open to the public. This year, the college will host a virtual panel discussion on "Black Wellness: Amplifying Multitudes and Flourishing in Community." This discussion will center on how Black leaders in the community think about and engage in the notion of "wellness."   "Our panelists will share their perspectives in an attempt to challenge monolithic assumptions of Black culture while highlighting that both a multitude of realities and similarities can exist. Please join us," Rashida Quinn, executive assistant to the president and board of education, and member of the Black Excellence event planning team, said.  This year's panelists include: Erica Bailey, MS, RN, CNE -- Instructor, certified nurse educator, president of the Alliance of Black Nurse Association of Oregon Violet Larry, RN, BSN -- Nurse, vice president of the Alliance of Black Nurse Association of Oregon Dejuan Tanner -- Director of information technology services at Clackamas Community College Tosha Bock -- Policy and program lead analyst at Oregon Health Authority Ashi Dancler -- Dancer and artist To attend, register at https://bit.ly/Black-Excellence . For more information about events at Clackamas Community College, visit www.clackamas.edu/events .

Concert Honors Band’s Journey Norman Sylvester Band The Norman Sylvester Band proudly presents 40 Years of the Norman Sylvester Band: Celebrate Our Journey  on Sunday, March 16, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Alberta Rose Theatre. Norman Sylvester’s musical journey began when he moved from the farmlands of Louisiana to the Pacific Northwest in 1957, experiencing integration for the first time as a shy country boy. Balancing work as a truck driver with playing in Funk and Soul bands, he eventually teamed up with longtime bassist Rob Shoemaker to form the Norman Sylvester Band, focusing on Rhythm & Blues with original songs reflecting his life experiences. At 40, Sylvester took a leap of faith, leaving his Teamster job to pursue music full-time—a decision that has defined his legacy. This special 40th Anniversary Concert will celebrate the band’s incredible journey through stories, photos, and unforgettable music, featuring an all-star lineup of past and present band members. General admission tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, with doors opening at 4:00 PM.

Dana Clay Streeter Sr.  01/04/1958 - 02/04/2025   Funeral services  House of Prayer For All Nations 731 N Mason St. Portland, OR 97217 Wednesday 2/19/2025 at 11am   Viewing will be before the Service from 10:00am-10:45am   Colors: Steelers Black and Yellow

S alvage crews remove portions of commercial jet from river Rescue and salvage crews with cranes pull up the wreckage of an American Airlines jet in the Potomac River from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. (AP photo/Jose Luis Magana) American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army helicopter collided in midair near Washington D.C.'s Reagan National Wednesday night, sending the two aircraft into the Potomac River and killing all 67 aboard in the deadliest U.S. air disaster since 2001. The cause of the crash 3 miles (5 kilometers) south of the White House and U.S. Capitol was under investigation Monday as crews recovered wreckage from the river. Crews have identified 55 bodies. Authorities are confident all will be found, Washington, D.C. Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly Sr. said. The regional jet out of Wichita, Kansas carried 60 passengers and four crew and was preparing to land. The UH-60 Black Hawk based at Fort Belvoir in Virginia was on a training exercise and carried three soldiers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Skies were clear. A few minutes before the Canadian-made Bombardier CRJ-700 series twin-engine jet was to land, air traffic controllers asked Flight 5342 if it could use a shorter runway. The pilots agreed. Controllers cleared the landing. Flight-tracking sites show the plane adjusted its approach to the new runway. Less than 30 seconds before the collision, an air traffic controller asked the helicopter if it had the plane in sight. The military pilot responded yes. Moments later the controller made another call to the helicopter, apparently telling the copter to wait for the jet to pass. There was no reply and the aircraft collided. Crews were seen aboard a vessel with a crane in the river early Monday and by around midday they had moved a large piece of the jet. Portions of the two aircraft will be loaded onto flatbed trucks and taken to a hangar. More than 300 people participated in the recovery effort at some moments, officials said. Two Navy barges lifted wreckage from the river. Divers and salvage workers adhere to strict protocols and stop moving debris if a body is found because the dignified recovery of remains takes precedence, Col. Francis B. Pera of the Army Corps of Engineers said. Preliminary data showed conflicting readings about the altitudes of the two aircraft. Data from the jet’s flight recorder showed its altitude as 325 feet (99 meters), plus or minus 25 feet (7.6 meters), National Transportation Safety Board officials told reporters. Data in the control tower showed the Black Hawk helicopter at 200 feet (61 meters) — its maximum allowed altitude — at the time. National Transportation Safety Board investigators have the plane’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, along with the helicopter’s black box, and are working to download the information inside all three. Investigators said that about a second before impact, the jet’s flight recorder showed a change in its pitch. But they did not say whether that change in angle meant that pilots were trying to perform an evasive maneuver to avoid the crash. The plane’s radio transponder stopped transmitting about 2,400 feet (732 meters) short of the runway, roughly over the middle of the Potomac, and the plane was found upside-down in three sections in waist-deep water. The helicopter’s wreckage was also found in the river. Army aviation chief of staff Jonathan Koziol said the helicopter crew was “very experienced” and familiar with the congested flying around Washington. Full NTSB investigations typically take a year or more. Investigators hope to have a preliminary report within 30 days. Among the passengers were members of the Skating Club of Boston who were returning from a development camp that followed the 2025 U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Wichita. Victims included teenage figure skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane, the teens’ mothers and two Russian-born coaches, Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov, who won a 1994 world championship in pairs skating. The victims also included a group of hunters returning from a guided trip in Kansas, nine students and parents from Fairfax County, Virginia, schools and four steamfitter’s members of a steamfitters’ local in suburban Maryland and two Chinese nationals. The plane captain was Jonathan Campos, 34, according to multiple media reports. The Army identified the soldiers on the helicopter as Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach of Durham, North Carolina; Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland. O’Hara was the crew chief and Eaves and Lobach were pilots. Families of the victims visited the crash site on Sunday. They were taken in buses with a police escort to the Potomac River bank near where the two aircraft came to rest after colliding.

Rewarded for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance Celebrated Actress, Dawnn Lewis, Nominated for 2025 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance in Star Trek: Lower Decks Renowned actress and award-winning recording artist Dawnn Lewis has earned a well-deserved nomination for the 2025 NAACP Image Award in the category of Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television) for her portrayal of Captain Carol Freeman in Star Trek: Lower Decks. This recognition underscores her extraordinary vocal talent and her continued ability to bring compelling characters to life across various mediums.   Lewis’s role as the fierce and intelligent Captain Carol Freeman in Star Trek: Lower Decks has garnered widespread acclaim from both fans and critics. Her performance has been hailed for its depth, nuance, and authenticity, contributing to the show’s success as a fan-favorite in the Star Trek franchise. As one of the standout voices in animated television, Lewis adds a strong and empowering presence to the show, bringing both strength and vulnerability to her character.   “I am truly honored to receive this nomination,” said Lewis. “The Star Trek franchise has always been an inspiration to me, as it champions diversity and inclusivity. To be a part of this groundbreaking series is a privilege, and I’m deeply grateful to the NAACP for this recognition of my voice-over performance.”    In addition to Lewis's 30+ year career as an Emmy-nominated actress, Grammy-award winning recording artist, and songwriter in the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame, she is passionate about using her platform to give back. In 2017, she founded A New Day Foundation, a non-profit organization  whose primary mission is to provide financial and programmatic support toward the education of underserved youth and support services in underserved communities. The foundation has awarded over $500K in scholarships and new computers to graduating seniors.   The NAACP Image Awards, which celebrate the achievements of people of color in entertainment, have long recognized excellence in television, film, music, and literature. Dawnn Lewis’s nomination for Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance marks another milestone in her celebrated career, further solidifying her impact in the world of animation and television.   The 2025 NAACP Image Awards ceremony will take place on February 22, 2025, with a live broadcast scheduled on both BET and CBS.

From left to Right Bruno Gordillo Zubillaga, Erris Varnado, Myra Girod, and Isabel Garcia Ask any Southerner, and they will assure you that the best barbecue comes from the South. That’s what Reo’s Ribs’ pit master, Erris Varnado, believes, and it goes back to his father, the late Reo Varnado, and their Mississippi roots. The origin of America barbecue goes back to the indigenous tribes Christopher Columbus observed on the island of Hispaniola, according to Smithsonian magazine, and was “a unique method for cooking meat over an indirect flame.”   The Spanish explorers who came after Columbus brought the cooking technique with them, and in 1540, close to present-day Tupelo, Mississippi, the Chicksaw tribe cooked a feast of pork over the barbacoa, as they called the original barbecue method, for explorer Hernando deSoto. Varnado’s own history of barbecue goes back to the barbecue expertise of his father, who started a Reo’s Ribs as food truck in Aloha with Myra Girod, who owns the present Reo’s Ribs at 4211 Northeast Sandy Blvd.   Reo passed away three years ago, but his legacy lives on through Reo’s Ribs, with Erris as its pit master, Myra’s chief employee. Reo and Myra met at a Portland night club and became fast friends, and he confided in her his desire to start a barbecue business. “If I just had a grill, people would come” he said. Myra came across a food truck, which Reo said would work, and then he found a grill, a twin grill with two pits side by side, on the side of the road, and that was the beginning of a business that went from a food truck to several restaurants in the area to the present location.   But the move wasn’t without its problems, starting with three fires in recent years started by arsonists, who were on drugs and/or had mental problems, that caused shut downs of a year or two years each time since the move there in 2017. “We’ve always had challenges along the way,” Myra said. But she never gave up and always met them head-on with Erris by her side. The business had grown recently with the addition of a 15-seat lunchroom in the front of the building, a former real estate office. Beautiful, thick wooden tables, which Myra got from Tropical Salvage, are graced by a huge vertical driftwood standing in one corner.   A huge 18-foot, three-pit barbecue stands outside the building, which attracts people driving by with the smell, said Erris. “The smell grabs them by the nose and pulls them in,” he said. Since its beginning in the late ‘90s, the selections from Reo’s Ribs have been spread by word of mouth, Myra said. “We’re known all over.”   Today the most popular items on the extensive menu, which can be found on their website at reosribs.com , are baby back ribs, brisket, catfish and pulled pork, Erris said. And it’s not just grilled meat, but whole meals as well that include sides like cornbread, fried okra, yams, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, collard and mustard greens, hush puppies, coleslaw and French fries.   The side dishes are prepared by Isabelle Garcia, who’s been with Reo’s Ribs for 15 years, as has Erris. Garcia who also works a cashier, as does recent hire and line cook Bruno Gordillo Zubillaga. “It’s very much a family affair,” Myra said.   In addition to in-house offerings, a big part of the business is delivery orders through an arrangement with Uber Eats, as well as catering for big parties and events, from 10 to 200 orders. “Just let us know a week in advance,” Myra said. “It takes at least three days for big orders.”   For large orders, call Reo’s Ribs at 503-310-3600. For its winter hours, Reo’s is open on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Sunday and Monday. “We’ll open longer in the spring and summer,” Myra said. The popularity of Reo’s Ribs goes back to the skills Reo Varnado learned in Mississippi, but don’t ask is son how it’s done. “We use secret recipes,” Erris said.

OSU Extension statewide seed giveaway returns for sixth year Cristina Eisenberg, a community ecologist and associate dean for inclusive excellence and director of Tribal initiatives in Oregon State’s College of Forestry. Photo: Karl Maasdam. The Grow This! Oregon Garden Challenge, Oregon State University Extension’s statewide seed giveaway, has returned for a sixth year in 2025 featuring a continued partnership with the Oregon Bee Project and Territorial Seed Company as a new seed source.   On Feb. 3, individuals and households, schools and groups can sign up  to receive an individual/household seed kit, group kit or seed-starting teacher classroom kit through the mail. The seed-starting classroom kits include an Explore the Bees of Oregon book, reusable grocery tote, foil pans, seed markers, classroom spray bottles and a peat pot for each child.   The challenge  is spearheaded by Food Hero, a statewide initiative of the Oregon Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) program that was developed by OSU Extension in English and Spanish. This year’s goal is to mail seed kits to 3,300 individuals or households and enough classroom kits to reach over 45,000 classroom students and their teachers, said Lauren Tobey, Food Hero coordinator.   The seed giveaway has been growing since it started in 2020. In 2024, an estimated 120,000 Oregonians participated in the Grow This! Oregon Garden Challenge by growing seeds at home and in school and community gardens.   About 1,360 classroom kits were distributed to 440 schools or Head Start Early Learning programs, reaching 40,500 students. This was a 31% increase from the previous year in new schools and Head Start programs participating. The program distributed over 4,500 individual/household seed kits.    Of the returning participants from the 2023 challenge, 89% said they planted seeds, 75% tasted what they harvested from their home gardens, and 93% reported an increase in using their garden harvest in a meal.   “We want to grow food together and share gardening tips and experiences to learn together,” Tobey said. “Food Hero’s bottom-line goal is to increase fruit and vegetable intake and access among all Oregonians.”   Throughout summer and fall, participants will receive a monthly Grow This! Oregon Garden Challenge email with gardening information, harvest recipes and storage tips. Challenge information will also be available in English and Spanish on the  Food Hero gardening page .   The individual/household kits will include a seed for a flower and seeds for vegetables that can be made into a salad plus a pollinator friendly seed packet. The seeds were purchased at a discount from Territorial Seed Company, which is based in Cottage Grove.   The Grow This! Garden Challenge originated with 800 household kits in response to increasing requests to Food Hero about growing food at home as the pandemic started. The project continued to grow in interest and partnerships and has resulted in many households and teachers and group leaders who request the seeds every year.   Since it launched in 2008, Food Hero has been used in communities and schools across Oregon, building children’s cooking skills through sharing recipes and sampling new foods.   Food Hero recipes are tested according to criteria, such as overall flavor, color and texture. The meals are low-cost and feature easy to find ingredients, easy to follow instructions and minimal preparation time. Recipes and cooking tips are also shared through a Food Hero monthly publication in Spanish and English.

KairosPDX Gala Honors Tony Hopson Sr. KairosPDX will present the Annual 2025 Leadership Award to Tony Hopson Sr. at its Spread the Love Gala on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 6 pm. Renowned Chef Kiara Hardy of Kitchen Killa Culinary Solutions will provide food and drink for this night of celebration and local vocalist Alonzo Chadwick & Zoulfus Muzic will perform.   Tony Hopson Sr. is the founder and former CEO of Self Enhancement, Inc. (SEI), a nationally recognized youth development organization. A Portland native and graduate of Willamette University, he launched SEI in 1981 as a summer camp to support African- American teens facing gang violence and poverty. By 1989, SEI expanded into a year- round program offering academic and family support services. Under his leadership, the Tony Hopson Sr. Center for Self Enhancement opened in 1997 and now serves over 17,000 youth and families annually.   A passionate advocate for education and underserved youth, Tony has spoken at institutions like Harvard and Boston College and participated in Senate hearings on youth issues. He has received numerous awards, including the Urban League’s Equal Opportunity Award, Willamette University’s Living Legend Award, and the Oregon Ethics in Business Award. Tony remains active in the community, securing a $400 million gift from Phil Knight for the Black community and serving on several boards, including the Center for Black Excellence and the Ballmer Institute.   KairosPDX’s own BG Goldberg and Chandra Ramaswamy will receive Ambassador Service Awards for their dedication