Even as Anita Smith proceeds to close her popular restaurant, Hannah Bea's Poundcake and More, the Portland Development Commission is reviving its Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard Updated Action Plan.
The PDC's updated plan includes six strategies that encompass dozens of detailed projects including storefront improvements, more on-street parking, wider sidewalks and plantings of native trees and other greenery.
"Obviously she has her perspective on this," said PDC business finance manager Fred Atiemo. "In terms of what we've done – we've gone beyond what we've ever done for anyone else."
"This city does not support Black people," Smith says. "If you are Black, you'd better get ready to move to Gresham, because that's what's happening."...

For nearly 30 years, Cornell McBride has left an undeniably profound mark on Black culture. His upstart company, M&M Enterprises, brought the world Sta Sof Fro, a line of hair care products that made a large, manageable afro possible for men and women.
"We provided something to make it bigger," he told The Skanner during a visit this week to Portland. "No products worked to (be able to comb it)."
During college in the late '60s, McBride started his company with $500. He is now running a multi-million dollar company – Design Essentials — that distributes hair care products to salons across the world....

What's happening for you in your City this week? Read here a day-by-day diary of free community events to fill your spare time. For a full calendar please click on "Read the complete article" below.

Pastor Carl L. Livingston asks a question about public engagement with the city at the Seattle/King County African American Legislative Day June 20 at Seattle City Hall and the King County Council Chambers.  The event gave the African American community an opportunity to get information about local politics and ask questions of their elected officials.

Almost exactly one year ago, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law legislation introduced by Rep. Eric Pettigrew to solve the fundamental mystery of the foster care system: Why does race seem to matter more than economics?
Furthermore, what can be done about it?
"This is about doing the right thing for our kids," Pettigrew said at the time. "Far too many children out there get put into the foster care system. We need to find out why."
"Even among more affluent families, African American and Native American children enter the system in greater numbers and stay longer," says Germaine Covington of The Black Child Development Institute. "It's a national issue."
Tonight, experts come together to scrutinize the problems and brainstorm possible solutions....

Children's Hospital has named Dr. Douglass Jackson as the chief of the Center for Diversity and Health Equity. 
Jackson most recently worked at the University of Washington, where he served as associate dean of the Office of Educational Partnerships & Diversity at the School of Dentistry, among other positions.
"Children's Hospital is already doing amazing things to ensure families are getting when they need in a culturally appropriate way," Jackson said. "They're already doing that – for me this is about taking that to the next level."
 Prior to his time at the university, Jackson was a research associate and clinical instructor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, and clinical instructor and consultant at the University of Minnesota....

Residents of one of the most diverse low-income housing developments in Seattle face an uncertain future, and one church is encouraging a dialogue.
The Rainier Valley Unitarian Universalist Congregation hosts "The Future of Yesler Terrace:  A Forum and Panel Discussion" on Saturday, June 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Rainier UU Center, 835 Yesler Way, at the corner of Yesler and Broadway. ...

The Washington State Department of Transportation, King County, Port of Seattle, and Sound Transit are seeking comments on their proposed Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goals. ...

Former Georgia Congresswoman and current Power to the People presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney (center) is greeted by Seattle NAACP President James Bible (left) and Community Activist KL Shannon (right) at an NAACP public hearing on police misconduct on June 12 at Rainier Beach Community Center. McKinney made a speech on the subject. Subsequent hearings will be held in West Seattle (June 26, Freedom Missionary Church of Seattle, 9601 35th Ave. SW) and the University District (American Friends Service Committee, 814 NE 40th St.).

FREMONT, Neb. (AP) -- Eighteen-year-old Nick Jensen had a message for Nebraska Democrats in Fremont on Saturday: Don't ignore the young people.
Others complained minorities wouldn't be well-represented in the delegation Nebraska sends to the Democratic National Convention.
"I don't believe the delegates represent my age group or race," said Ashley Adams, 24, of Omaha, who is Black. "I feel like my voice is not being heard and I'm not being represented."
Adams and Jensen were among 450 Nebraskans at the state Party's convention who were vying for 24 spots as delegates to the national convention in Denver in August.
Jensen, of Norfolk, withdrew his name to support other young hopefuls in the 1st District, and was disappointed when they didn't win.
"We have the most to lose and the most to gain from this election," said Jensen, who will be a sophomore at New York University this year....