Carollyn Smith was hoping to spend a perfect family Thanksgiving – complete with turkey, trimmings, and all seven of her grandchildren.  Now, she's hoping the children might all be together this Christmas. But after almost two years of fighting to keep her grandchildren together, Smith knows that Coffee, 6, and C'Lynn, 5, might be spending yet another holiday apart from their five brothers and sisters.
Smith was last featured in The Skanner in July, when she was holding a one-woman protest every Thursday outside the Department of Human Services building on Williams Avenue and Alberta Street. Coffee and C'Lynn have been in foster care after being taken away from Smith's daughter, Conchita Smith, who has a history of substance abuse. Smith has currently has custody of five of Conchita's children, who range in age from 8 to 15
Then came the breakthrough, Smith says. On Nov. 15, family court Judge Nan Waller cleared the way to reunite the seven brothers and sisters in their grandmother's home.
"The judge said they could reside in my house," said Smith, who has resumed her Thursday morning protests at the DHS building. "They never came."

Last week, the Governor's Summit on Minority Overrepresentation in the Juvenile Justice System brought together dozens of Oregonians – including Sen. Avel Gordly, Portland police chief Rosie Sizer and Gov. Kulongoski — to discuss solutions to the injustice that sees African American kids incarcerated at far higher rates than youth of other races.
"We have some Hispanic and some Native American overrepresentation but the African American population is the most overrepresented in Oregon Youth Authority's closed custody system ....

After nearly a year of painstaking work, fixing and restoring more than 500 children's bikes, the Community Cycling Center's Holiday Bike Drive will kick off Dec. 9 at Emmanuel Hospital.
Thanks to countless hours from volunteers, 519 low-income children will experience the joy of cycling. And mending these metal ponies is not easy; sometimes a single children's bike can take three or four hours to fix. Tires must be replaced by hand and – a word to adults — a children's bike tire is much more difficult to remove and replace than a large tire. Chains must be adjusted, bottom brackets tightened, coaster brakes fixed. The list could go on. But for every week since last February, a dedicated group of volunteers ....

Chance Garvey 7, stands by while volunteers help build his school, Dearborn Park Elementary, a new play structure on Saturday, Dec. 1.  The project was funded with money from The Allstate Foundation and a grant from the City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. The Injury Free Coalition for Kids at Harborview Medical Center and Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center also helped with the project.

This week, former Seattle police chief Norman Stamper is receiving the H.B. Spear Award for Achievement in the area of Control and Enforcement from the Drug Policy Alliance. Given to those involved in law enforcement, the award is presented to those who have demonstrated a balanced regard for the needs of enforcement and human compassion.
Stamper is among leading advocates that work to promote and implement more sensible drug policies honored at the International Drug Policy Reform Conference, in New Orleans, Dec. 5-8. The conference was organized by the Drug Policy Alliance and dozens of other organizations. The Drug Policy Alliance is the nation's leading organization working to end the war on drugs and promote new drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human rights. The winners will be honored during an awards ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 8.
The biennial awards for achievement in drug policy reform recognize the accomplishments and commitment of people and organizations that have done outstanding drug policy reform work. The awards are given every other year at the international conference of the Drug Policy Alliance.  ...

The Tacoma Art Museum recently received a Humanities Washington Fall 2007 Project Grant in support of a new podcast featuring the Pacific Northwest African American Quilters. The podcast is in conjunction with the upcoming partnership project "Threads that Bind: Works by the Pacific Northwest African American Quilters," on view Dec. 18 through Feb. 18, 2008.
Humanities Washington received 62 grant proposals from organizations across the state and disbursed $414,114 among 18 organizations. The Tacoma ...

For the first time ever, two Washington counties are recognizing hip-hop's contributions to music, art and culture in Seattle. The Martin Luther King County Executive's and Pierce County Executive's awards for Excellence in Hip Hop are looking for nominations. The awards will acknowledge innovative performance, community service and entrepreneurial achievement by locally based members of the hip-hop community whose work has had significant impact in Martin Luther King and Pierce counties.
Nominate your favorite performer (solo, group), B-boys/B-girls, visual artist, DJ, MC, media/journalist, publication, promoter, record label, Hip Hop Pioneer or Unsung Hero. Self-nominations are welcome. ...

What's happening for us in Seattle?

Click below to find out

  To Learn more about current employment opportunities   Visit our website at…

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in prison Monday for running a "cruel and inhumane" dogfighting ring and lying about it.
The suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback could have been sentenced up to five years by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson. Vick, who turned himself in Nov. 19 in anticipation of his sentence, was wearing a black-and-white striped prison suit.
After Vick apologized to the court and his family, Hudson told him: "You need to apologize to the millions of young people who looked up to you."
"Yes, sir," Vick answered.
The 27-year-old player acknowledged using "poor judgment" and added, "I'm willing to deal with the consequences and accept responsibility for my actions."
Although there is no parole in the federal system, rules governing time off for good behavior could reduce Vick's prison stay by about three months, resulting in a summer 2009 release.
"You were instrumental in promoting, funding and facilitating this cruel and inhumane sporting activity ...