Portland News and Events for April 23 Through May 7, 2015

Spit/WRITE Writing and Spoken-Word Performance Workshops

An informational meeting about the city-sanctioned Youth Poet Laureate Project is Monday, April 27, 5-6:30 p.m. at Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St.

This week, dozens of high school students performed poetry on the Newmark theater stage for Verselandia. Now organizers want to continue the poetry project with educational workshops and events called Spit/WRITE, mentored by Portland artist Renee Mitchell and others.

With the support of the City of Portland, Multnomah County Library, Portland Public Schools, Literary Arts, Regional Arts & Culture Council, Artists Repertory Theatre and more than a dozen local, youth-oriented non-profits, we've created an opportunity to continue to showcase youth writers, rappers, emcees and poets with the inaugural Portland Youth Poet Laureate project.

The winner of this competition, which started in NYC and is spreading to urban cities around the country, will receive a national book deal and the opportunity to do a regional book tour.
The deadline to apply is through the end of June. So, to prepare teens - ages 13-19 - for the opportunity to be THE regional youth ambassador for literacy, arts and youth expression, Spit/WRITE will be organizing FREE writing and spoken-word performance workshops - led by local professionals. We will also promote information about age-appropriate, open mic opportunities so youth around the metro area can practice their spitting-into-the-mic skills.

For more information write to [email protected].

Portland NAACP Meeting

The monthly NAACP members meeting is Saturday, April 25, noon - 2 p.m. in the first floor boardroom, Red Cross, Oregon Chapter, 3131 N. Vancouver Ave.
Please come ready to discuss and bring ideas.

Please do not hesitate to come up to any member of the Executive Committee to offer to volunteer. What is your passion?

For more information call 503-284-1234.

Tapping Fresh Talent Career Expo

The Eighth Annual Tapping Fresh Talent Career Expo for job seekers with disabilities will take place at the Oregon Convention Center, Portland Ballrooms 256-257 on April 23, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The event is free to any job seeker with any type of disability, including veterans with disabilities.

Resume review is available from 10 a.m. to noon. Workshops on empowerment and networking take place at 9 and 9:30 a.m. Student Central, an event for students and young adults with disabilities, will take place from 10 – noon.

2015 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In 1990, when the ADA passed the unemployment rate for people with disabilities was twice that of the non-disabled population.

American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters will be available for attendees who are hard of hearing or deaf. Interested participants who would like to attend, but need accommodations may contact Incight at [email protected]. For more information including all exhibiting employers, directions, specific instructions on public transportation please visit: www.tappingfreshtalent.org.

May Day Fundraiser for Black Midwives

Come celebrate International Midwives Month with a special screening of "Bringin' In Da Spirit," narrated by Phylicia Rashad. It’s a documentary celebrating the history of the Black midwives who committed themselves to holistic answers in the face of powerful misconceptions about the practice.

The event is Friday, May 1, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Terrell Hall, Room 122PCC Cascade Campus, 72 N Killingsworth St.

After the film, Shafia Monroe will moderate a panel discussion with Pastor E.d. Mondiane, Mariah Taylor and Willie Poinsette with reflections on the film and their stories about the midwives in their lives, the role that Black midwives play today and how to get more women to become midwives. After the discussion join the panelist, guests and the ICTC members for refreshments, socializing and purchase ICTC -T-shirts.

This is a fundraiser, reserve your spot by April 28 at www.ictcmidwives.org.

Cinco de Mayo on the Oregon Coast

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the 7th Annual Fish Taco Cook Off! Join us in the Culinary Center in Lincoln City on May 2 from 11am to 2pm. Restaurants from around the region will compete for the best fish taco on the Oregon Coast.

Fresh-made fish tacos from Roadhouse 101 will be available at the event as well as tacos from Pelican Pub and Brewery, Hearth and Table, and Lincoln City Mayor and restaurateur Don Williams. Taste tacos from each restaurant, then vote for your favorite with the Peoples Choice Award.

Ballots will be available during the cook-off at marked locations inside the Culinary Center.

Admission to the cook-off is free with fish tacos available for $1.50 each. Craft beer and local wine will be provided by the Wine Cellar @ the Eventuary, and an assortment of desserts from Captain Dan's Pirate Pastry Shop and My Petite Sweet.

The Culinary Center in Lincoln City is located at 801 SW Highway 101 on the fourth floor of City Hall. Four annual cook-offs are hosted by the Culinary Center: the Jambalaya Cook-Off in February, the Fish Taco Cook-Off in May, the Wild Mushroom Cook-Off on Oct. 3, and the Chowder Cook-Off Nov. 14-15.

For more information, contact the Lincoln City Visitor & Convention Bureau at 800-452-2151 or visit www.oregoncoast.org.

Register Kindergartners Now for Fall

Children who are five years old on or before Sept. 1 are ready to be signed up for kindergarten. School offices close for the summer so it’s important to get the word out early to families and the community. Families needing help determining their neighborhood school should call 2-1-1, email [email protected] or text their zip code to 898211. Free interpretation is available. “Register for School by June” materials are available at www.multco.us/sun/register

Registering for kindergarten before June 1 is one of the easiest ways to put children on a path for success in school.

Kindergarten transition activities vary by school, but can include summer reading programs, kindergarten transition programs and family orientation. All of the activities are designed to help children become comfortable with the classroom setting and reduce anxiety that parents often feel about leaving their kindergartener on the first day of school. Children learn their teacher’s name, meet their classmates, tour the school and learn basic classroom etiquette—all things that help them get focused for learning earlier in the school year.

For more events in the Portland and Seattle area see our Community Calendar.