From left to right, Monie Bowles, 15; Briana Robinson-May, 15; and Erica Jones, 14, all members of the Bridge Builders' Imminent Ladies of Virtue Club and the Class of 2010, receive hugs from educators who were honored as part of the Bridge Builders' "Black History Month Celebration in Honor of Youth and the Educators Who Propel Them to Excellence," on Feb. 23 at the University of Portland.

Pastor Mary Overstreet-Smith of Northeast Portland knows what it's like to care for an autistic child.
For the past 12 years, Overstreet-Smith has cared for her great-grandson, Sir J. Millage, who suffers from a severe case of autism. When Millage, 16, needs help preparing food or adjusting the water temperature for his baths, Overstreet-Smith is there. When he needs guidance doing the small things most parents take for granted, Overstreet-Smith is there.

Nine months ago, business owners in the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneur's Rockwood business incubator were alarmed to learn that the city of Gresham had not renewed OAME's lease.
Mila Villavicencio, owner of Mila's Hair Salon, said she – as well as the other entrepreneurs in the OAME incubator – believed they had at least five years left on the lease.
"I spent my entire savings to expand my business," Villavicencio said in June, a few weeks after receiving the city's notice to vacate. "If the city makes me move, I won't be able to start over again."

With the exception of two years in the private sector, Charles Hill has devoted his life to public service.
In town since early January, Hill is the Pacific Northwest region's new acquisition management director and the region's highest-ranking African American U.S. Forest Service official in the Northwest.
Hill's title at the agency is really just a technical term for an individual who buys and sells property. He also is in charge of contracts with organizations that do volunteer work, construction and service contracts.

Crews demolish what is left of Iris Court at Vancouver Avenue and Sumner Street. The property will soon become Humbolt Gardens, a $16.9 million Housing Authority development funded by a HOPE VI federal grant.

New Seasons Market will help the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church and New Generation Revival Church jump-start their rebuilding process. New Seasons stores across the Portland metropolitan area will hold a one-day barbecue benefit from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 3.
The menu includes New Seasons' handmade sausage, bun and beverage for $4. All of the money raised will go toward rebuilding the church and restoring the belongings of both congregations.
The 88-year-old Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church was destroyed in a fire on Monday, Feb. 5. Investigators have not yet released the cause of the fire. The congregation of the New Generation Revival Church, which shared space with Missionary Baptist, also lost its church home and possessions in the fire.

Jefferson High School's Multicultural Film presentation on March 5 explores life as a Chinese person growing up in America.
The presentation features a Bill Moyers' documentary, "Becoming American, The Chinese Experience," the presentation examines a series of personal journeys that begin with the harsh conditions that drove Chinese to the United States shores, continues with the ongoing struggle of Chinese immigrants and their descendants, and ends with new reflections, questions, and possibilities.

James DePriest, the former music director of the Oregon Symphony, will return to Portland for a three-day event, March 10 through 12.
DePriest returns to the podium for "Sweeping Excitement," featuring Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, on March 10 at 7:30 p.m., March 11 at 7:30 p.m. and March 12 at 8 p.m. in the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Chosen by Leonard Bernstein in 1965 to become assistant conductor of the New York Philharmonic, DePreist has appeared with every major North American orchestra. In 2005, President George W. Bush presented him with the National Medal of Arts, the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence.

People join hands at the first-ever African Heritage Unity Celebration, on Sunday, Feb. 25 at Seattle Central Community College.  The event, which was co-sponsored by the LINKS, SCCC, the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, U.W. Office of Minority Affairs, Ezra Teshome/State Farm and the Eli Lilly Company, emphasized inclusion, unity and celebration.

Students from Rainier Beach, Franklin and South Lake high schools have been working over the past five weeks to create banners that will be permanently displayed in the Rainier Beach business district.
The group of about a dozen students met twice a week with professional artist Hiawatha Davis to learn the basics of graphic design using Adobe Illustrator, and then incorporated their ideas into five designs for the 25 fabric banners. Davis is a local artist who has worked on several murals and projects in the city, including murals at Garfield High School and Bailey-Gatzert Elementary School.
The vertical banners will be mounted along light poles in the business district on Rainier Avenue South, South Henderson Street and Seward Park Avenue South beginning early next summer.
Responding to wishes from the Rainier Beach Merchants Association, the Rainier Beach Community Empowerment Coalition partnered with Southeast Effective Development to recruit youth from the Rainier Beach area for the project. The funds come from the city's Department of Neighborhoods and the Northwest Insurance Council.