Karanja Crews ... created "Journey to Freedom: The Power to Read and Write," a board game that follows the story of a Southern slave on his quest to freedom. The game takes nearly three months to complete - hardly your typical weeknight game of Monopoly.
"I'm using literacy and speech to make a difference," he says. "I'm connecting education to freedom … it's not just about facts and learning. I'm teaching them that no one can ever take that education away from them." ...

Javier Luna owns a successful construction business and a million-dollar view home near Dash Point in Tacoma. Until the recent economic downturn, his firm employed 13 people and worked with another 40 subcontractors. He volunteers at his younger children's elementary school. His oldest son started college in the fall at the University of Washington.
It's not a future many would have predicted for ... Luna wore the blue colors of the Crips. He carried a gun and sold drugs. Most of his friends ended up dead or in prison, he said.

A "Strugglebration" for political prisoner and journalist Mumia Abu-Jamal is Friday, Feb. 13 from 6 to 9 p.m. at 1825 SW Broadway Portland State University's Smith Memorial Union (SMU 238).
Speakers at the event include JoAnn Bowman of Oregon Action, Professor Darrell Millner with the Black Studies Department at PSU, Ahjamu Umi Pam Africa and Ramona Africa....

Helping neighbors share resources within their own neighborhoods, The Portland Urban Farm Project announces a 10-month Tool Library program that includes internships with current tool libraries in Portland.  Participants in the program will learn non-profit management and how to collaborate to run a cooperative-style business....

• Festival Sundiata Feb. 14-16
• Cat Event in Rainier
• Discussion of Obama's First 100 Days
• Alzheimer's Support Group

It's all smiles at Super Refund Saturday as Jeff Malmquist assists Tressa Graham with her tax refund forms, a volunteer outreach effort with support from CASH Oregon, KeyBank and the United Way. The event resulted in more than 90 tax returns completed and additional earned income tax credits (EITC), for those who qualified. Free tax preparation will continue throughout the tax season. For more information call 503-243-7765.

Lenny Wilkens, who recently received the Washington State Hall of Fame award, the the guest on Urban Forum Northwest Radio on KKNW 1150 AM on Tuesday Feb. 17, at 1 p.m.  Here he is pictured with his granddaughter, Isabelle.  Along with his accomplishments on the basketball court in college, he graduated with a degree in economics in 1960.
Wilkens played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 15 years. ...

SCRANTON, Pennsylvania (AP) _ Two judges charged with taking millions of dollars in kickbacks to send teenagers to two privately run youth detention centers are expected to plead guilty to fraud.
Luzerne County Judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan are scheduled to appear at a federal court hearing Thursday afternoon.
Prosecutors say the two judges took $2.6 million in payoffs to put juvenile offenders in lockups ...

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) -- Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai spent his first full day in office visiting political detainees he wants freed and meeting with labor officials who questioned his power-sharing deal with Zimbabwe's autocratic president, his spokesman said Thursday. The longtime opposition leader was sworn in as prime minister Wednesday by longtime rival Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai said in a speech after the inauguration ceremony that he wanted political prisoners freed immediately ...

A short listing of some of Portland's upcoming Black History Month events...