Portland-Metro Events and News for May 17-July

PHOTO: The Lloyd Center MAX stop. Youth are holding a transit justice summit May 17. See story below.

White House Honored STEM+Arts Program Returns for Third Year in Portland

The nationally recognized iUrban Teen Summit returns for its third year at the University of Portland Campus on Saturday, May 17. 

The summit merges science, technology and innovation all wrapped up into a career exploration day for underrepresented teens. Youth from across the Portland Metro area will converge at the University of Portland campus eager to engage and learn from iUrban Teen industry partners.

We also convene parents for a two-hour roundtable reviewing how to navigate through the school system, college preparation, and communication strategies developed by Michigan’s Educational Think Tank.

Our target demographic is black and brown male youth, however, the program is inclusive of all youth who fall within the Non-Traditional STEM learners’ category” states iUrban Teen Founder Deena Pierott.

For more information go to www.iurbanteen.org.

Youth Summit on Transit Justice May 17th at DDHS.

Students who attend Portland Public Schools get a free YouthPass, allowing them to use transit for free. But students living East of 82^nd Avenue don’t get that pass.

 This is just one of the issues for discussion at a youth summit on transit organized by youth from the Multnomah Youth Commission and OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon.

All youth are invited to attend the Youth Summit on Transit Justice  11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17, in the North Cafeteria at David Douglas High School, 1001 SE 135th Ave., Portland.

Breakfast and registration start at 10:15. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided but we encourage you to bring your own water bottle. The summit also will discuss issues youth face when riding TriMet.

Adult community leaders will be invited at 2:30pm for the second half of the summit to have a chance to her from youth about issues they face while riding TriMet. The first half, however, is reserved for youth to have a chance to learn and create policy around their experiences with the public transit system.

Takes a picture of yourself taking transit to the summit and you will be entered into a special raffle. 

Portland Aerial Tram Adds Sunday Service For Summer

Free food and fun activities for kids this Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m

The Portland Aerial Tram adds Sunday service from 1 - 5 p.m through the summer, starting May 18 and ending September 14. 

Everyone is invited to celebrate the extra day 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 18.  The kickoff celebration features free food and drinks, a balloon artist and a caricature artist. Tram T-shirts will be available for $10 and color fabric markers will be available for free to decorate T-shirts.

The public can also enjoy tours of the control and engine rooms with purchase of a $4 round-trip fare.   Kids 6 and under ride for free with an adult.

Sign Up for PPB's Youth Camp

Portland Police Bureau's 2nd annual Youth Summer Camp runs from June 16-20, and still has spaces. The camp will be held at Centennial High School, 3505 SE 182nd Ave., Gresham. Some events will take place at archery and fishing spots.

The camp is open to youth ages 8-14; spaces are available in most sports, including martial arts, boys and girls basketball, soccer, tennis, crazy science, journalism/photography, wrestling, baseball, boxing, bowling, volleyball, golf and football.
Cost is $35 for the week or $20 for youth in the  free or reduced school lunch program. It includes lunch and a t-shirt. Scholarships are also available on a limited basis for those who qualify.
Applications are available for downloading at https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/index.cfm?&a=445959
For more information, contact Captain Chris Uehara, Camp Director - 503-823-5721.

Oregon Garden Branches Out with Free Family Outdoors Event

Must See Oregon is a new event that will give families an opportunity to learn about recreational opportunities throughout Oregon. The free May 17 event will feature clinics on geocaching and what “travel bugs” really are. There will be a fly casting clinic, a visit by Miss Oregon, demonstration by Oregon State Parks rangers, kids’ activities and much more.

The event spotlights the state’s vast array of attractions, destinations, travel, and extended vacation opportunities. Must See Oregon will be held at The Oregon Garden in Silverton, Ore. from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission to both the event and the Garden will be free that day.

Throughout the day, visitors will be immersed in opportunities to learn more about Oregon’s tourism opportunities, hidden in every corner of the state. There will be exhibitors from around the state, activities such as fly casting demonstrations and live presentations from travel experts such as Steve Arndt, author of “Roads Less Traveled” in Oregon, to help you plan your trip.

Must See Oregon will donate a portion of all proceeds to S.M.A.R.T., Start Making A Reader Today, and the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation. For more information, call 503-371-8904 or visit www.mustseeor.com.

NAMI Northwest Walk Supports Mental Health Advocacy

NAMI Oregon hosts the 12th annual 5K NAMI Northwest Walk in Portland, the largest mental health event in the state of Oregon, Sunday, May 18, departing at 1 p.m. at the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade, SE Main at SE Water Avenue.

The public is invited to participate in the walk to help raise awareness, funds, and support for mental health advocacy. The event will feature Portland City Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who will speak and cut the ribbon at the walk starting line.

The walk features food, music, a children’s section, and a fair of mental health providers and local advocacy groups.

NAMI’s goal is to have at least 3,000 walkers participate and to raise $210,000. Funds raised will support local NAMI programs and services, which have been described as “life-changing” and “life-saving.” NAMI programs are offered free of charge to individuals living with mental illness, as well as their families and loved ones. 

One in four adults in the United States lives with a mental illness, as does one in 10 children.

For more information go to www.namiwalks.org/Northwest

Hillsboro Club Hosts Community Health Fair
The Inukai Family Boys & Girls Club in Hillsboro will host a free community health fair for children, families and all members of the community, Saturday, May 17, from
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the club, 560 SE 3rd Ave., Hillsboro. Health providers will be on hand offering dental, vision, medical and mental health screenings and resources.
Providers confirmed to participate include:
Pacific University Dental School, Oregon Lions Sight & Hearing Foundation, The Hillsboro Resource Center, Tuality Hospital, OSU Nutrition Extension Service, Virginia Garcia Medical Center, and The Beaverton Sexual Assault Resource Center.
For more information call 503-640-4558

Portland Lupus Awareness Events

The Lupus Foundation of America, Pacific Northwest Chapter is holding a special gathering for 2014 Oregon Walk to End Lupus Now team captains to observe Lupus Awareness Month, and to gain information about the Sept. 13th Walk at Portland's Waterfront Park.

The event is Saturday, May 17, 2 – 4 p.m. at Congregation Beth Israel, 1972 Flanders St., Portland. Refreshments will be served, the event will be open to all who have already registered to be a 2014 Walk team captain, and those who are thinking of becoming a team captain.

Pre-register by emailing Meies Matz at [email protected].

Register for a Free Solar Energy Audit, Meals on Wheels Receive $100

Have you ever wondered if your house would benefit from converting to solar energy? Now is the time to find out. Mr. Sun Solar, a Neil Kelly company, will conduct a FREE solar assessment of your home. Sign up by July 15 and Mr. Sun Solar will donate $100 to Meals on Wheels People!

Here are some reasons to consider a residential solar assessment: Cost of solar panels is at an historic low; rebates and tax credits reduce the total cost of a solar system by as much as 66 percent; solar financing is available at 0 percent down; Oregon gets more sun than Germany, the world's most solarized nation

To take advantage of this offer, visit www.neilkelly.com/mowsolar between May 15 and July 15.

College Scholarships at the OregonMusic Hall of Fame

The Oregon Music Hall of Fame is awarding $1000 scholarships to Kristin Qian, (Catlin Gable, Portland) Gabriel Young (Ashland HS, Ashland)), Molly Burke (Summit HS, Bend), and Kyle Zimmerman (Portland Adventist Academy, Portland) after the students’ individual performances, 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, at Jimmy Mak’s, 221 NW 10th Ave.,

Thank you to EPB&B Insurance funded the scholarships and Portugal.The Man helped raise funds for the education programs

The scholarship presentation is a suggested donation event.  (First 30 donations receive a limited edition OMHOF t-shirt)

Following the performance presentation, Oregon Music Hall of Fame inductee, Mel Brown, of Mel Brown B3 Organ Group, performs at 8 pm. Cover charge for that show is $6.  Please call ahead to reserve a table for Mel Brown’s Group performance, at 503-295-6542.

Diversity-Building Event at University of Oregon

The University of Oregon is taking its next step in efforts to foster equity, inclusion and diversity with a daylong event about supporting under-represented minority students, building mentor programs, and hiring and retaining diverse faculty and staff. 

Attendees at the free, public event will learn how equity, inclusion and diversity enhance academic excellence when the UO’s Division of Equity and Inclusion presents “Showcase Oregon: Incorporating Best Practices in Equity, Inclusion and Diversity,” on Thursday, May 22, in the FordAlumniCenter.

National experts presenting at Showcase Oregon include:

Damon Williams, senior vice president and chief education officer of the Boys and Girls Club of America, who will lead the luncheon plenary, “Synergistic Partnerships and Equitable Access to Higher Education.”

Gilda Ochoa, professor of sociology and Chicana/o-Latina/o studies at PomonaCollege, who will lead the workshop, “Nurturing Diversity for Graduate and Undergraduate Student Success,”

Leslie Traub, chief consulting officer of Cook Ross, Inc., who will offer “Moving from Cultural Clashes to Academic Excellence in the Classroom.”

Showcase Oregon is free. Participants must register for meal and space accommodations by May 15. For more information go to www.uoregon.edu.

Meals on Wheels People Seeks Drivers To Deliver Meals to Seniors Memorial Day Weekend, Independence Day

Meals on Wheels People is seeking volunteer drivers to ensure homebound seniors receive nutritious meals and a bit of companionship this Memorial Day weekend and on Independence Day.

Volunteer drivers are needed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, May 24, 25 and 26, as well as on Independence Day weekend, July 4, 5 and 6. For more information about how you can help, call Caroline Henry at 503.953.8123 weekdays or 503.953.8202 weekends.

About Meals on Wheels People: Since 1970 the Meals on Wheels People has provided a nutritional and social lifeline for seniors through 34

meal sites in Multnomah, Washington and Clark counties and Meals on Wheels delivery to homebound seniors. With the help of 8,550 volunteers, the nonprofit organization now serves 5,000 meals daily and 1 million meals each year. Visit: www.mealsonwheelspeople.org.

For more events in the Seattle and Portland-metro areas check out The Skanner News community calendar.