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….

What's happening for you in Seattle 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….

• Civil Rights Training
• King Day Celebration Planning
• NAACP Membership
• Citizenship Workshops
• Foster a Pet
• Polar Bear Plunge

• Restorative Listening
• Creating Loving Communities
• OAME Meetings
• Self Defense Training
• Thrift Sale, Benefit