An office in Portland City Hall is being created to focus solely on reducing youth violence, with a special emphasis on reaching out to gangs.
Over the past three years, the number of officially "designated" gang members has increased by 31.5 percent. Gang membership ranges in age from 10 to 35; the greatest numbers are between 15 and 29 years old.
Directing the new Office of Youth Violence Prevention will be John Canda, former executive director of Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods.

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial will kick off the organization's 2006 annual conference on Wednesday, July 26, with a wreath-laying ceremony at the gravesites of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King before his annual keynote address at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.
The league's 96th annual conference runs from July 26 through 29 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Portland State University Professor Maude Hines, right, leads a July 17 discussion of poetry and music during the Lyricists' Lounge, a spoken word/poetry workshop for teens at the North Portland Library. Looking on are Jamilah Bourdon, left, Dylan Muldrew, Alicia Jackson and Heather Cornelius.

Drivers beware: If you park too long in Portland, be ready to pay a hefty fine. An $8 increase…

Transition Projects Inc. broke ground this week for the Clark Center Annex, which will provide 22…

Joyce Brown, Xavier Lazemby, Nia Grant and baby her cousin Kayanna, enjoy the food and festive atmosphere at the Emmanuel Temple Church Family and Friends Community Outreach Day. The day is a chance for the church members to talk to local neighbors and enjoy each other's company.

The Portland Housing Center is celebrating its 15th anniversary of helping low- and moderate-income…

A five-week run of outdoor movies will kick off Friday, July 12, with the premier of Flicks on the…

Aliya Campbell, 9, left, Adrionna Taylor, 8, second from left, and Maya Brown, 8, right, follow master drummer Chata Addy, second from right, as he leads his drum campers in a complex rhythm July 14 at the Northstar Ballroom. The performance capped Addy's weeklong youth camp, which included instruction in African drumming, dance and culture.

The blue team celebrates as Michael Bell, 6, center, scores a run during a game of Triple Threat at the Run to Win Sports Camp, held at Garfield Community Center from July 17 through 19. The free camp gives children age 6 to 14 an opportunity to learn new games, make friends and have lots of fun.