This is Ronnie Fair's family's 12th year in business at the Christmas tree lot on the corner of NE 35th and NE Killingsworth streets, and business is just fine—they have a collection of trees starting at $10. For a small additional charge, Fair will throw in a tree stand ...

Only one out of 10 job seekers in the Pacific Northwest will find an available job that pays enough to live on. Nine out of those 10 will struggle to make ends meet.
That's according to an economic study out this week by the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations.
Its authors say the report takes on new meaning in light of the economic downturn and ballooning numbers of laid-off workers across the region  ...

One day, web designer Kimberley Buckley decided she should stop giving away her services to friends and acquaintances. So despite the fact that she had a full-time job at Nike, she drew up a business plan, styled a sophisticated logo and rolled it all into a sharp-looking website: BlackWebDiva ...

Dozens of girls incarcerated at the Oak Creek Youth Correctional Facility in Albany are drawing up their wish lists for the Christmas holidays – and Rev. Renee Ward is working to find local residents who can fill their modest needs.
Ward has worked as a Youth Authority multicultural liaison and gang specialist since the facility was revamped and reopened to solely incarcerate teenaged female offenders in February of this year. It's the only prison of its kind in Oregon ....

The second "There's No Place Like Home: Mortgage Foreclosure Summit" is Saturday, Dec. 13, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at PCC Southeast Center at 82nd and Division. At the first event held last month, Portland homeowner Gloria Caesar was able to find support to save her home from foreclosure ...

Robin Cabaniss and Akeena Taylor, parents of T.T. Minor Elementary School students talk with Seattle School Board member Harium Martin-Morris at a community workshop on the controversial school closure recommendations Dec. 6 at the Filipino Community Center.  T.T. Minor is one of six buildings recommended for closure, in addition to the African American Academy ...

Seattle hosts the first North American touring production of "The Color Purple," for two weeks from Dec. 16 – 28.
The show features stars of the Broadway production, Jeannette Bayardelle, Felicia P. Fields and Angela Robinson, along with "American Idol" alum LaToya London. Jeannette Bayardelle comes to the tour directly from the Broadway production as the lead character Celie. Jeannette released her debut CD "Praise Report" in 2005, and has toured in productions ...

Stars of the touring Broadway production of "The Color Purple" are Jeannette Bayardelle (Celie) and LaToya London (Nettie).
Tickets are available now for the first North American touring production of "The Color Purple," coming to the Keller Auditorium Dec. 30 – Jan. 4 ...

Malik Rahim, the nationally acclaimed grass roots activist who has led the effort of Katrina survivors to rebuild New Orleans, is helping Nova High School students pay for their own rebuilding trip to the still-plagued city ... Sadly, Nova High School itself has been hit by disaster – it has landed on the school closure list ...

What's happening for you in Portland 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….