Meet the 22 amazing Oregon student journalists who created this newspaper, wrote blog posts and produced audio slide shows for the Web.

WORDS OF THE AMBASSADORS T HE PRIDE oregon state university and the oregonian june 2010 blog.oregonian.com/teen A start on art sTime to get creative in the summer | Page 18

PHOTO BY KIMBERLY MEJIA All-Muslims cemetery It’s the only one of its kind in Oregon | Page 24 PHOTO BY SHAMSO ALI

Latina identity s They learn to balance life in two cultures | Page 26 PHOTO BY MARCO REYES The Class of 2010: Meet this year’s workshop journalists… Diversity is a fact. We may as well acknowledge it, pay attention to it. | Marty Hughley Page  | June 2010 Page  | June 2010

Portraits by Fred Joe | Pride staff Welcome to the High School Journalism Institute

The Oregonian and Oregon State This impressive 40-page newspaper skills, but they also offer diverse voices Plenty of journalism camps already University welcomed 22 talented high and supplemental multimedia pieces are that are too often missing in newsrooms exist for high school students, but few school journalists from around the state the result of countless hours of some- today. All of the students at this year’s are tailored to specifically address the to this year’s institute. times-intimidating interviews, seem- program come from an under-repre- problematic lack of newsroom diversity. Throughout the nine-day program, ingly never-ending cycles of drafts, eye- sented cultural or linguistic background, The core goal of this program is to try students worked with professionals from popping photos and detailed audio slide are low-income, the first in their family to change that by helping talented high The Oregonian and other journalism ex- shows. on track to attend university, have a dis- school journalists from diverse back- perts to get hands-on training in report- The students who produced this high- ability or come from a high school with- grounds find a path to professional jour- ing, writing, shooting photos, producing quality work are ones we want to wel- out a journalism program or newspaper. nalism. audio slide shows, blogging and other come as co-workers in newsrooms of the Multiple factors apply to a number of the multimedia elements. future. Not only do they bring unique students at this year’s institute. ­– Yuxing Zheng, institute director

From left, row by row: • Aidan Orellana | Page 38 Madison High School, age 16 • Altrenia Littleton | Page 34 Parkrose High School, age 14 • Brittany Nguyen | Page 37 Tigard High School, age 18 • Dahlia Bazzaz | Page 31 St. Mary’s Academy, age 16 • Erikka Potts | Page 39 Parkrose High School, age 15 • Francisco Lopez-Bautista Page 35 Molalla High School, age 17 • Hilaria De Jesus Hernandez Page 36 Liberty High School, age 14 • Hosana Medhanie | Page 33 De La Salle North Catholic, age 15 • Jason Liao | Page 29 Franklin High School, age 18 • Kimberly Mejia | Page 35 Century High School, age 16 A few new • Marco Reyes | Page 39 Tualatin High School, age 17 wrinkles add • Mary Ruiz | Page 38 Tualatin High School, age 15 • Monica Melchor | Page 37 up to another Woodburn High School, age 16 • Musba Abasham | Page 30 inspiring week Parkrose High School, age 16 • Osman A. Omar | Page 31 Oregon State University is proud to host Parkrose High School, age 16 the High School Journalism Institute for a third year. This year we expanded the scope • Paulina Liang | Page 32 of the program and recruited students whose Parkrose High School, age 16 families have not had the opportunity to at- • Sabra Chandiwalla | Page 29 tend college or have faced poverty. Franklin High School, age 17 The OSU Division of Student Affairs ABOVE: Altrenia Littleton focuses on a shaggy alpaca as she works on a The High School Journalism Institute would piece about rural communities trying to survive the economic recession. not occur without the generous support of: • Shamso Ali | Page 33 and Precollege Programs stepped in to fund Westview High School, age 16 the food and housing for the camp, as well • Oregon State University Student Affairs as stipends for non-Oregonian professionals Photo by Hosana Medhanie • The Oregonian, Publisher N. Christian • Stephany Chum | Page 36 who served as editors at the camp, so that Anderson III and Editor Peter Bhatia Glencoe High School, age 16 we could continue to partner with The Or- BELOW: Occasional comedy breaks relieve deadline tensions, as Erikka • Oregon State University, President • Tameeka LeRay | Page 30 egonian in offering this amazing experience. Potts (left) and Aidan Orellana demonstrate with editor Melissa Navas. Ed Ray, Vice Provost for Student Affairs Parkrose High School, age 17 We are seeking financial support from out- Larry Roper • Taylor Grady | Page 34 side sources for future camps in the form of Photo by Fred Joe We would also like to thank the following Parkrose High School, age 17 grants, matching funds and donations. people who served as editors, designers, We do this work at OSU because diversity, • Yuca Kosugi | Page 32 guides and speakers at the institute: Sam Barlow High School, age 18 integrity, respect and social responsibility are Margaret Anderson, Wally Benson, Joany tenets upon which our mission is founded. Carlin, Randy Cox, Nerissa Ediza, Bruce The Student Media staff has been blessed to Ely, Harry Esteve, Laura Gunderson, Janie be a part of the magic the institute produces. Har, Marty Hughley, Fred Joe, David The energy, enthusiasm and commitment of Johnson, Jack Kemp, Boon Kruger, Kim the 22 students at this year’s camp to write Melton, Melissa Navas, Wade Nkrumah, and rewrite their profiles and news stories, Gordon Oliver, Randy L. Rasmussen, discuss what diversity means to them and Brandon Southward, Kristi Stahl, Amy Martinez Starke, Inara Verzemnieks, Gosia then play hard when the work is done has Wozniacka and Stephanie Yao Long. Tyree been inspiring. We feel privileged for the op- Harris and Nora Sanchez served as resident portunity to share this week with them. assistants.

­– Kami Hammerschmith And, finally, we would like to thank assistant director of Student Media Pro Photo Supply for Advertising and Marketing, in Portland for Oregon State University their generous loan of cameras for our institute Ann Robinson participants to use. assistant director of Student Media, Oregon State University In our opinion… In our opinion…

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Make room on the couch, soccer fans Things happen Reflections The ‘Story’ of our lives, in 3-D By Aidan Orellana most-watched first-round World Cup game in U.S. broadcast history. Four By Taylor Grady When I learned, after around I sat on the edge of the cushioned chair in our dorm’s years ago, we ranked 23rd in the for a reason; on a reflection 12 years of waiting, that the third lounge on the Oregon State University campus intently world as far as World Cup watchers Every generation has had one thing that ties it together, movie was finally going to be watching the France versus South Africa match, a critical go. This year we are anchored at No. be it a band, a TV show, a movie or anything under the sun. released, I reverted back to toddler match in the scheme of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 8, according to Mediaweek. thanks, Mom in the mirror It can change who someone is or just be a fond memory of mode. That was MY movie — not I was by myself. On June 23, the United States their childhood. just any “kid’s” movie. The “Toy Well, ADD generation: We’ve found ours. Our Led Story” trilogy belongs to my The absence of my journalism peers meant nothing to national team took on Algeria in By Monica Melchor By Yuca Kosugi me as a frantic South African soccer team tried to prevent a match that decided if we took Zeppelin, our “Happy Days,” our “Breakfast Club”: “Toy generation. The movie grew with itself from becoming one of the few host-country teams in the next flight home. We needed Story.” us (as did Andy). It became a I was 3 when I heard the loudest door slam. And I look around, making sure that I am alone in the the history of the World Cup to fail to advance to the second England to win or to tie with At the age of 3, I witnessed the beginning of the “Toy little world of our own that, even I saw the longest river of tears. Under my goose room, then meekly look into the mirror on the wall, I round. Slovenia or win for us to move to Story” legend for the first time. As were many kids my though we were toddlers when bumps I knew something had gone wrong. Some see a girl, an Asian girl. Well that’s strange, I think. During a fast break by South Africa, my phone started to the knockout round. Luck was not age, I was so taken with it that I memorized Woody’s entire it was created, we could always children cry, some children throw fits, but I stayed In my early years of elementary school when I vibrate. It was my editor calling to tell me I had to be at the on our side as we couldn’t execute speech — the one when he takes the plastic microphone and return to. I think what a child newsroom to continue working on our story. I told him I was on every chance we got to score. still. Frightened. was only starting to recognize different races, a few speaks to the whole group of toys. Did I have any clue what would see in the third movie is, 30 seconds away even though I was on the other side of the Things looked hopeless, but in the That was the day he left. Gone. Vanished. kids made fun of me for having small eyes. It didn’t he was saying? Probably not. But when I think back to the “Ooh, talking toys.” campus, my eyes still glued to the enormous television. 91st minute Landon Donovan followed up on a rebounded I would like to tell you that my father soon hurt because I had plenty of friends there. I was more first movie, a wave of nostalgia crashes over me. What we see is drama, I didn’t make it to the newsroom on time but I was able shot from a teammate to put a “happily ever after” on a near- returned. But the truth is, he didn’t. He was no shocked than anything. It didn’t occur to me that I was The attachment lasted into my teen years, even if I suspense. The toys are in a desperate struggle for a loving to see the ending of the game, and that’s the important thing. disaster turned fairy-tale ending to the first round. longer in my life, yet memories of him were fresh any different from every other kid around me until I wasn’t always aware of it. I hadn’t thought about the movies owner. There’s a battle inside them between returning to Prioritize, right? That goal was not the only reason this nation is advancing in my head. I remember riding a tricycle while he looked into that mirror after that incident. It made me in ages, but when my German teacher, Herr Schu, laid out a their now-17-year-old owner who they love but who has Yelling at the TV and cheering by myself in that dark at the top of our group of four teams for the first time in 80 walked by my side. despise my yellow skin. pile of McDonald’s toys and told us to pick one, I nearly fell outgrown them, or being played with by an unfamiliar empty lounge is a microcosm of the United States’ role in years. It also signaled a major shift throughout the American I asked my mother where he had gone. She If there were one thing that my family taught me and split my head open trying to retrieve Buzz Lightyear. child. (I won’t spoil it by revealing which they choose.) the world of soccer over the last century. In the past, our public. Soccer fans from coast to coast are uniting just like all stayed silent. I watched her wake up early, and go to in my life, it would be to look at a challenge as an Sitting on my table at home is my Woody doll, with that Their sense of abandonment and loss of a home to return country’s supporters have been overpowered by the mighty the other global soccer powers have for generations. bed exhausted. And every day of the week was the opportunity. It took me a while to realize that being goofy Tom Hanks smile, I got from McDonald’s when I to echoes in us teens who entered this world in the midst of fan structures of global soccer powerhouses such as England, Ever since the establishment of sports in this country, same. My grandma took care of my older sister and Japanese is an opportunity. was young. (Compare my Buzz and Woody and you’ll find prosperity and fell victim to the dwindling economy, many Argentina and Brazil. Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association me while my mother was away. She told us stories, There were never more than a handful of other the older of the two is of EXCEPTIONALLY better quality, of us losing homes ourselves. We care. We care immensely. Imagine filling the dorm’s lounge with 10 rabid soccer and the National Football League have left little room for the and taught us many things. In 2001, she passed Asians in my grade throughout my education. We though they turned out to be of nearly proportionate size Needless to say, my reaction toward the movie’s release fanatics from other countries that take part in the World game that has brought unification to the broken and peace away. I felt the same pain that I had felt when my lived in a white-dominated community where the only to each other as in the movie.) To this day, I curse the toy’s was not the only time I reverted back to childhood. I cried Cup, and then push me into the farthest corner of the room to the war-torn. For too long the game that is considered father left. I didn’t know how people could walk in two black kids in school were star players in football, manufacturers for not putting bottoms on the Woody doll’s like a newborn at least three times during the movie, and stick a little American flag in my hand. You now have the universal language has been one that this country hasn’t and out of your life in a flash. basketball and track. boots. I assume it was to solve Woody’s snake problem suppressing powerful sobs at the very end. I prayed I wasn’t perspective on how much this sport has meant to this nation spoken. I had always hoped that there would be a time when Life was harder after that. Without our grandma, After the initial stale feelings, I subconsciously (“There’s a snake in mah boot!,” he cries when his string is the only one. But it turns out another camp member, our compared to the rest of the world. more Americans would realize that soccer is the common it was up to my sister, Ismari, to make sure I ate decided that I would just ignore the fact that I was pulled). But I so wanted to scratch my name onto one. very own Osman Omar, shed a few tears. (It was rumored I know that soccer doesn’t mean as much to a large blood type of the world. meals and did my homework. Once a week I different. So I never made an attempt to better my Clearly, the “Toy Story” series was extremely important that Tyree Harris, our outwardly masculine resident adviser, portion of the country as it does to me, being a soccer player Well, that time is now. talked to my father, who was in California. My understanding of the language or culture that my to me as a child and has remained so 13 years later. When did as well, but he denies it.) my whole life. But the United States’ support for the sport There will always be people who think soccer is a conversations with him parents lived. I entered the theater the other night, there were very few To my generation: This is our story. Own it. Cherish it. is starting to rapidly rise. We are starting to climb the same senseless game and that it should stay in foreign countries. were always the same. Sometime during small children, if any. The only ones I saw were there to see Oh, and see it in 3-D. It rules. mountain that all the biggest soccer nations in the world are I can’t change that. But maybe, just maybe, by the 2014 “How are you?” “How’s eighth grade, it all the fourth “Shrek” movie. The thing about it was, I wasn’t sitting upon. This year’s World Cup has everything to do with World Cup, there will be a few more fans joining me in that school?” And he always changed. My mom even EXPECTING to see small children at “Toy Story 3.” that. dark, empty lounge. ended with: “Don’t wanted me to watch (And it was a good thing there weren’t any when it came The United States-England match early in the World Cup forget that I love you.” I a Japanese TV drama to an extremely intense, overwhelming, acceptance-of- tournament drew 13 million viewers on ABC, making it the cherished those words. series that was based on a imminent-death moment near the end of the movie.) Birthdays passed, true story of a girl with a and I turned 8. That degenerative disease. summer I flew down Something clicked. I to California to see my started watching Japanese father for the first time TV shows regularly. I An eye-opening trip to Iran since I was 3. I was also became hooked on nervous, scared and the music. My broken By Dahlia Bazzaz As I walk through the streets of happy. Japanese became more If only this were scratch ‘n’ sniff paper Tehran, observing the hustle and That was when I saw fluid by the day, which Stepping off the plane at the Imam Khomeini airport, a bustle of the city, the culture shock him. I wished that the delighted my parents. merciless wave of heat whips my face. I am in the Middle hits me. moment would last, always. My father, sister and I My interest in Japan spiked. I had never wanted to By Osman A. Omar Why do men have to defend East, the land of sand, camels and a way of life most “Mama, why is everyone spent every day together. He showered us with gifts. travel there before, but I’ve gone three times in the last themselves when it comes to these Americans do not understand. I walk through the dusty wearing a head scarf like me?” I It was cool for a while, until I noticed that I didn’t three years. Women have fought for the right to vote and the right to types of topics? terminals, gasping for my pure, Oregon air in the musky say. want his gifts; I just wanted him to come back. I see something different when I look into a mirror equality. What amazes me is when land of Tehran, Iran. After about 15 minutes, I see a row of “It’s required here. All women One day, on my way to the kitchen, I wandered now. I am proud to be Japanese, have the black hair Now I, Osman Ali Omar, am here to fight, demand and a person does something that colored scarves and hefty men waiting at the arrivals section. must wear them by law,” she into his room. On his desk, next to his watches and and almond eyes. I am now able to recognize that I’m yell for the right to feel and smell good. You all know what doesn’t fit what society thinks is “That’s them, Dahlia,” my mother says. “See that short explains. cologne was a picture of a woman. I didn’t know lucky to be fluent in a different language and be a part I mean by this: I am talking about Victoria’s Secret Berry right, or what is considered the one on the right? That’s Yasemine. She’s your age, you guys Being a member of Western who she was, but I knew what the picture meant. My of a different culture. Kiss lotion. The debate among Francisco, Tyree, Musba and “norm,” then people want to knock will be best friends. The one in the middle is Khala Mariam, society, I find it shocking to see heart fell. Near the end of the school year, I was assigned a me has gone too far. It has reached the point where the other that person down. my sister. Remember to speak Arabic, be polite and greet every woman covering her hair. I I came back home to my mother in Woodburn. cartoon for the Bruin Banner, the school paper at Sam guys at journalism camp call Musba and me Berry Kiss and Society says a man should be everyone.” was raised with the value that hijab We would go visit my father again, but the last time Barlow High, and I was completely dry of ideas. Way Lots-O’-Huggin’ Bear. These berry haters have reverted to tough and the opposite of anything I’m kissed on the cheek no less than 55 times. Our was something to wear with pride, I saw him was at my sister’s quinceñera. I was 13. past deadline, I was stuck in the newsroom staring at a saying that it is a sin against everything sacred to humanity feminine. Men are never supposed belongings are shoved into the trunk of a dinky car. The and to wear it forcibly defeats the After that, he stopped calling me on my birthday. I clean sheet of paper, cartoon undrawn. to wear this beyond-sweet-and-fruity lotion. to reveal their feelings. And, at drive to Dolat Abad, the predominantly Iraqi suburb of purpose. Riding the plane back home, the non-hijabi women started to hate him. I wanted to go to California and As I glared down at the paper willing the cartoon But I ask: How can sinning feel so good? journalism camp, men are not Tehran, takes ages. With the temperature hovering around rush into the cramped bathrooms to rip off their headscarves Not every man can feel soft and still be manly (you supposed to wear women’s lotion. 98 degrees, the air conditioner broken and Uncle droning and fluff their hair. yell at him and his new family. I wanted to yell at to draw itself, one of my co-editors came up and asked his new wife, and tell her how much she had ruined me to copy-edit her column. I wasn’t being productive know who you are!). It takes a true man to be proud of his So naturally, when a man on about President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the crazy fool, Probably the most interesting discovery I made in Iran Victoria’s Secret lotion. It takes a man who is secure and shows any of these characteristics then he is not manly, my life. anyway so I agreed, only to find that it was the key to I contemplate notifying the U.S. Embassy for a rescue has to do with fashion. Though some people may think the outrageously handsome to pull off something like this; a even though he is male. Through all of this, my mother was there for breaking my drawing block. attempt. Iranian people are dedicated to rejecting the Western way of man who is willing to defy norms and shape our culture. So men out there, the next time someone offers you me. Araceli Alvarez told me not to hate him and The editor, who is white, had written about reverse The truth is, along with severe boredom and irritating life and thinking, a clear rebellion against the government This appealing young man is me. Berry Kiss, don’t walk away. Stick out your ashy elbows, she encouraged me never to give up. She worked discrimination rooted in her frustration about not cousins, the long, hot drive was the worst thing I shows in their clothing. Men walk through the streets in And you know what? I’m proud of it. and don’t let haters put you in a box. two jobs and smiled, when there was nothing to being able to apply to some sort of journalism camp. encountered in Iran. What I had not realized until recently muscle T-shirts, jeans and Nike products (mostly fake — the During my first couple of days at camp, my is that I have a different perspective than most who read the United States cut off imports to Iran long ago.) Women sport smile about. She never showed her pain. I think it The piece started with “I’m tired of being white . . . ” female colleagues congratulated me on my fragrant lotion. news or watch CNN. Along with riots, corrupt government skinny jeans, vibrant scarves and layers of cosmetics. was because she didn’t want us to see her as a weak and was well-written. Although I did not agree with Still, some of my closest friends, who don’t know the and suppression Though I am Iraqi, many aspects of my life include person. But I never saw her that way. her completely, it prompted me to draw a cartoon in wonders of Berry Kiss lotion, wonder why I use it. of free speech, Iran also has beautiful mountains, delicious characteristics of Iranian culture. The Arabic dialect spoken Sometimes I wonder what if he could have seen response. The only response that I will give to that is this: If I feel pistachio ice cream and women who make up 60 percent of in Iraq has heavy Iranian influences. The violence in Iraq me graduate from middle school, and seen me cheer, “I’m tired of being Asian . . . ” I wrote with my good, smell good and look good, then what’s good? the college population. forced my grandparents into Iran. My parents strategically and know that I had been accepted to a journalism cartoon handwriting across the top of my paper. The As long as I’m not ashy or stinky, I’m good. While I realize that news is supposed to be composed of use a language that was not taught to us, Farsi, to talk camp. But then again, he would just know part of cartoon depicts a short Asian girl surrounded by two At the end of the day it comes down to insecurity. The n See more commentaries material that is shocking and newsworthy, it is frustrating without being understood. my life. One thing I am glad of is that my mother people who ask the girl, “Can you do kung fu?,” “Can men who say they don’t want to smell like women are when I come across people who form their opinions based As I study journalism, I hope to correct mistakes the saw all of that. She saw me struggle and fall, and you speak Chinese?” and “Are your eyes open?” scared. The guys’ insecurity about their manhood is what’s online at: on what they see on TV. There are two sides to every story. media has made with their tendency to neglect positive news doubt and fail. She carried me and picked me up, The girl wears an annoyed expression, answering, making them miss out on one of the most awesome things oregonlive.com.camp The slipshod supposition that Iran is a terrible and corrupt from not only Iran, but the entire Middle East. and most of all she made me open my eyes and see “No.” I have encountered in my 16 years and 11 months on this country could not be more false. One cannot judge a country the world. She was there. I was able to produce a piece like this only because Earth. Also find commentaries and its people solely on its government. Just as I defend the Things happen for a reason. I’m nothing like my of how comfortable I was with myself, and it triggered image of Iran’s rich culture and people, I also defend the father. I’ve learned to accept the fact that he is gone. many positive responses. On top of that I found out from 2009. population of the United States when Middle Easterners But my mother will forever stay in my heart. about this camp. make the same generalizations. So here I am now, at my current opportunity called journalism camp.

Diversity is a big part of our everyday lives. Without it, society would be kind of mundane. | Aidan Orellana We’re all human beings, so we should all just be one. | Kimberly Mejia

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Kim Smith, 27, Jeremy Hansen, 22, Shannon Lundberg, Mark Kempton, 23, Willen Sin, 19, junior, Becca Zanon, 20, non-student: senior psychology 31, grad student: grad student: marketing major: junior, fitness and “I hope young major: “Being informed is a civic “Young people don’t “I’m too lazy to nutrition major: people vote.” “When picking duty. Voting uninformed is vote simply because reach out and get “People are realizing a candidate I pick the problematic.” they are too busy.” the ballot.” that they have a voice.” lesser of two evils.” Voting fever among younger people may have cooled Inspired by Obama in 2008, a surge by voters under 24 has started to wane

By Dahlia Bazzaz and Yuca Kosugi ordinary. But the influx of young voters to research each candidate. voting that differ with age and experience, triggered by the 2008 race was nonetheless “To most people, they find that politics is some reasons for neglecting a vote are plain Leaning forward on the sofa, Willen Sin a phenomenon. a distant and unwelcome visitor who comes and simple. As Mark Kempton, a 23-year- furrows his eyebrows as he recalls the his- The big question is whether turnout will to their doorstep every two or four years,” old grad student puts it: toric election in 2008. He had turned 18 just remain high among younger voters. says Lunch. “They’d rather go dig a hole in “Young people don’t vote simply be- in time to register and vote, along with two “It doesn’t seem terribly likely to me, their backyard than listen to politics.” cause they are too busy. It’s not like a job out of every three young voters, for Barack but it may happen,” says Lunch, express- Just ask Becca Zanon, a 20-year-old ju- where you get home and you’re done for the When food scraps become a recyclable resource Obama. ing doubt that the people who cast their first nior majoring in fitness and nutrition who day. Students have 24/7 jobs, which involve “A lot of people connected with him be- ballot in 2008 will stay active in the Novem- works as a clerk at Urban Laundry, right off work at home and school.” cause he was more familiar with basketball, ber election. “It’s too early to tell.” campus. She says she voted for Republican The concern for the voting rate among A Corvallis company combines with the city sports and entertainment,” says Sin, a junior Generally speaking, people are averse Sen. John McCain of Arizona in 2008, but young people goes beyond mere statistics. majoring in marketing at Oregon State Uni- when it comes to politics. For some people, has since tuned out news about candidates Apathy has a price, says Oregon House to turn food waste into useful compost versity in Corvallis. the last time they were exposed to the sub- and voting. Speaker Dave Hunt, D-Gladstone. But when it comes to the Oregon guber- ject was in their high school civics class “I’m annoyed with politics,” says Zanon “If younger voters voted at the same rate By Monica Melchor ­ one of the homeowners. tray to a stack of metal racks that are taken gardens. Trash and compost bins wait like natorial elections this November, that con- taught by a football coach, Lunch says, only as she folds a shirt and places it on a display as older ones, it would change the whole and Osman A. Omar People usually throw their leftovers into to the back. There, workers sort the food guards at Buckingham Palace, in a single nection quickly fades. Since the ballots will half joking. table. agenda,” he says. Issues such as afford- a trash can or down a garbage disposal, from items that can’t be composted, such as file line down the street and on the curb. be mailed to his parents’ home in Portland, Politics is complicated and it takes time Along with the psychological reasons for ability of college tuition, community col- Walking down the gravel road, you can which goes into the ground and generates plastic. A snake slithers out of a hole in the side- Sin doesn’t plan to vote at all. lege funding and K-12 education would get almost taste the smell of spoiled food and methane. In late 2008, Allied Waste started “I’m hoping that in time, I see all din- walk. Bees buzz in the sun, and spiders dan- “I’m too lazy to reach out and get the more attention in the state Legislature and in gas. The reek penetrates the lungs, nose and picking up “pre-consumer waste,” which in- ing facilities going in that direction,” said gle from a flowerpot. The peaceful day is ballot,” he admits. Washington, D.C. soul. cludes potato peelings and other food that is Andrea Norris, who is a recycling outreach interrupted only by the whoosh of garbage This is the case for many young voters Kate Brown, Oregon’s secretary of state, Off to the left are 10 large mounds of not eaten, from businesses in Corvallis. coordinator at OSU. trucks on their stops along their routes. both in Oregon and across the country. In the worries about the lack of young voters and cooking compost. Each mound is covered in Last November, the company started col- “The plan is to expand; the only problem A woman walking two dogs said she pre- 2008 presidential primary, 33 percent of Or- says she is working on the problem. plastic tarp and is 80 feet long. In a sepa- lecting “post-consumer waste,” which con- now is to find out how we can do that.” fers to use her garbage disposal. egon youth under 24 voted, making it one of Brown, who oversees Oregon elections, rate pile, scraps of rotten dried apples, small sists of leftovers, including oil, dairy and Norris says some people do not know “Too many of us have too long been do- their highest turnouts since the 1960s. Most plans to use federal dollars under the Help watermelons and vegetables lie squashed meat. In June, Corvallis became the first what composting is, so they do not partici- ing it the other way,” said the woman, who of the increase can be attributed to Obama’s America Vote Act to provide better civics between waxy cardboard boxes. city in Oregon to compost dairy and protein pate. declined to give her name. provocative and influential campaign. education in Oregon schools. Her goal for Pacific Region Compost Facility, eight products from all households. That’s about She gave an example: When she lived in Bonnie Philipson, who was moving into According to the Pew Research Cen- the November 2010 election is 40 to 45 per- miles north of Corvallis, is the only place 13,000 homes. an apartment she had to persuade her man- the neighborhood, stopped her unpacking to ter, 66 percent of those under age 30 voted cent young voter turnout. She echoes Hunt’s in Oregon that takes dairy and meat left- Here’s how food composting works on ager to order a compost bin. The manager talk. She has composted in the past, she said, for Obama, making the disparity between concerns about who has influence and who overs — along with run-of-the-mill green two acres at Pacific Region Compost Facil- was not familiar with composting. Unlike and she might again. “It’s a great idea.” young voters and other age groups larger doesn’t. waste — and breaks them down into rich ity: Workers pick through piles of rotting her manager, Norris grew up in a family John Charles, CEO and President of than in any presidential election since exit “Senior citizens are driving political pol- compost. Supporters, including the mayor food and take out plastic and other non-or- where recycling was a habit, and she carried the Cascade Policy Institute, a free-market polling began in 1972. icy in this nation,” she says. of Corvallis, say composting diverts trash ganic material. The matter is broken down, this habit with her throughout life. think tank in Portland that promotes limited Jeremy Hansen, a 22-year-old senior Other projects launched to encourage from filling up valuable landfill space. Cali- then mixed with regular yard debris and It’s trash pickup day at RiverGreen Es- government, said food composting is a great majoring in psychology at OSU, explains voting include television commercials with fornia and Washington are leaders in food covered with a plastic tarp for 45 days. Then tates, a subdivision neighborhood in south idea, but government should not mandate why the Chicago Democrat and former U.S. diverse or “hip” people, allowing 17-year- composting. it spends another 45 days cooling. Finally, a Corvallis filled with newer homes and nice it. senator appealed to younger voters. olds to register in preparation, and creating “This is very new to Oregon,” said Brian machine checks for noncomposted chunks. It takes a “little bit of time and almost “Obama is a pretty young guy compared a slimmed-down version of the Oregon Blue May, site manager for Allied Waste Services “It’s just a simple, natural process,” said no effort,” said Charles, who composts at to all the others,” Hansen says. “People can Book, a hefty resource for all things pertain- of Corvallis, the trash company that oper- Julie Jackson, recycling representative with home. relate to him and he knows better how life is ing to Oregon government. ates the compost facility. It is a Republic Allied Waste. Corvallis Mayor Charles C. Tomlinson like for the average, poorer citizen.” Nestled in her chair at a discreet OSU Services company. Oregon State University was part of the ABOVE: Brian May, site manager for said the city does not require residents to However, the enthusiasm for political café, 27-year-old Kim Smith explains the Interviews with some residents this pilot project that started in 2008. In a typical Allied Waste, says food scraps are recycle their food. Still, he wants people to activism and voting sparked by Obama’s vigor for voting in 2008. Her shrinking pos- month show that not all people are enthu- academic week, the university’s three dining cooked under black plastic tarps for 45 recycle 100 percent of what they use. Right campaign dwindles year by year. Only 14 ture straightens, and with a flick of her hair, siastic about recycling food. It is easier to halls generate 3,000 pounds of food scraps. days, then cooled for 45 days before now, the city is recycling a little less than 50 percent of registered voters under 24 cast Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown, 50: she tells of Obama’s charisma. use the garbage disposal, they say. Spoiling That is equivalent to 360 gallons of water or being put on a screening machine and percent of its waste. ballots in the 2010 gubernatorial primary When asked whether the voting spike food can smell bad, discouraging people one half of one Asian female elephant. sold to consumers as compost that’s “One day, in your life, I predict people election in Oregon. “I’m a firm believer that every vote counts.” will keep up in future elections, she strug- from saving their scraps. At Marketplace West Dining Center, good for the soil. will go and mine the trash dumps for alumi- Bill Lunch, professor of political science gles to answer. “It is sometimes helpful, but it is a leftover food is composted. The process is num and metal so as to get what we could at OSU, says a surge and decline happens “I hope so. I hope young people vote,” pain in the butt,” said Monica Nieves, simple. A person takes leftover food on their Photo by Osman A. Omar not get,” he said. every two years and it’s nothing out of the Photos by Yuca Kosugi and Dahlia Bazzaz she says. If there wasn’t diversity, you would just hang out with your type. | Altrenia Littleton It’s the only way you include everybody in the conversation. | Kristi Stahl

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AT LEFT: Steven Leider, a parade volunteer for PRIDE Corvallis 2010, collects flags earlier this month at the Pride Center on Oregon State Rookie for a day University’s campus. The flags were carried by people who marched in the June 26th parade. Veteran lawmaker Sara Gelser rides in Pride Parade as a first-time Grand Marshal Photo by Erikka Potts

BELOW LEFT: Chelsea Whitlow (left) By Stephany Chum ­ “But our biggest goal was to help fami- money your parents make, all kids have and Tristen Shay, co-founders of and Erikka Potts lies really learn to enjoy their kids, and great potential to do good things.” PRIDE Corvallis, say the celebration see that their kids were kids first,” Gelser The same belief rings true for Gelser as delivers a message of acceptance and The PRIDE Corvallis 2010 parade said. it relates to the Pride celebration. inclusiveness. “It’s just a very happy, marked an important and exciting first for Her involvement and work in the state “The whole idea of the Pride parade is celebratory event,” Whitlow says. state Rep. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis. Legislature as chairwoman of the House that you’re bringing people together and “It’s welcoming, very friendly.” “I have never been the grand marshal Education Committee has reinforced for recognizing that whatever your sexual ori- of any kind of parade,” she said lightheart- Gelser the importance of equal access for entation or whatever you choose or iden- Photo by Stephany Chum edly, looking ahead to her big moment at all. tify with and how you build your family the parade. “Whatever your disability, whatever the life, you should be proud of who you are “My understanding of my role is to ride color of your skin, no matter how much and not be afraid to express who you are.” in the convertible and wave,” she added, The event returned this year with “Over noting that she “actually did send the or- the Rainbow” as the theme for PRIDE ganizer a note to ask what does one wear Corvallis 2010. when they are the Grand Marshal of a pa- The June 25-26 festivities included the rade.” Stonewall Dance and Social and the parade, Gelser was surprised about her selec- featuring state Rep. Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis, tion but happily accepted. as Grand Marshal. “I think the more important part of it is At Central Park, there was a nonprofit just demonstrating my support of equality fair with food and other vendors; face paint- for all people, how proud I am and how ing, a scavenger hunt, storytelling and more fortunate I feel that the organizers would for children. invite me to have such a prominent role.” There also were belly dancers and a drag Steven Leider, a volunteer for the pa- show, and entertainment by Johanna, Con- rade committee, says Gelser has been “a fluence, Tirade and Willamette Valley LGBT big and important part of bringing equality Chorus. Feedback about this year’s event and fes- to Oregon on behalf of LGBTQ causes.” tivities has been much more positive. Gelser, 36, was born in Las Vegas and “We make it very family friendly because moved back and forth from Las Vegas and there’s a huge population of lesbian and gay small towns in Indiana as a young child. families in Corvallis, specifically, and they When she was 8, her family moved back to have kids,” Shay said. Las Vegas and lived there until she left for “When we were asking about some of that college in Indiana at 16. Just before going originally, what the community wanted, they to Earlham College, her parents moved to were saying, ‘We don’t want Portland Pride. Corvallis in July 1990. We don’t want San Francisco Pride.’ ” “I was very frustrated with them for Shay and Whitlow said that meant leaving my town and my friends, and I told Corvallis PRIDE would be less oriented them I would never even come and visit toward the young, singles crowd. No beer them,” Gelser said. gardens. No crazy, wild parties. The commu- “Obviously that changed,” she said, nity, they said, wanted an event where kids smiling. would be welcome, too. “I got married in college, I was having “So, this year, when we started getting a baby and we wanted to live near grand- the same sort of comments on our advertise- parents. My husband’s family was from ments in the newspaper, it was really great the Boston area and I don’t like snow. So, because we had lots of people commenting we came to Oregon (in June 1994), and I By Erikka Potts and Stephany Chum back to these people who were saying hate- love it here.” Second time around is another ful things,” Shay said, noting that some sup- Gelser’s family includes her husband, The Pride celebration has gained a foot- porters were straight parents with kids. Peter, a 15-year-old son and daughters hold in Corvallis, thanks in large part to the They were “saying, ‘I don’t know what ages 12, 10 and 9. unwavering commitment, dedication and you’re talking about. I went last year and I Her son was born with a genetic syn- exhaustive efforts of Tristen Shay and Chel- took all my kids and they had a great time drome and has developmental and intel- sea Whitlow. charm for PRIDE Corvallis and it wasn’t uncomfortable at all. I wanted lectual disabilities, Gelser said. Over the Last year, in less than six months, they them to be able to see this sort of diversity in years, she has met and worked extensively marshaled the human power and commu- Corvallis, and it was awesome.’ ” Chelsea Whitlow and Tristen Shay, co-organizers with other families with children who have nity resources to pull off the “First Annual” That sentiment was echoed by Rebecca similar disabilities. PRIDE Corvallis event. Chavez, a 22-year-old senior at Oregon State and friends, help make local celebration a truly annual event In the 1990s, she was appointed by “We decided that we would just do it,” who is Internal Coordinator of the universi- then-Gov. John Kitzhaber to the state In- Whitlow said. ty’s Pride Center. She and Shay faced the short timeline un- “If you’re in a small town in Oregon lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or that the group could not move forward with- “I think having it in Corvallis is exciting teragency Coordinating Council, which daunted. Others, though, wondered whether and all of a sudden you see Pride coming questioning youth. out the grant. because the closest thing I’ve ever been ex- focused on services to infants and toddlers they could pull it off. to small towns like Bend and Corvallis ... In November 2008, a group interested When Shay and Whitlow decided to pick posed to in Oregon in relation to the LGBT with disabilities. “Late January is when we got started, so that’s really huge. That’s such an affirma- in starting a Pride celebration approached up the baton and move ahead with organiz- community is Pride in Portland,” she said. Also, while working for Linn-Benton we spent four frantic months going around tion of identity.” Shay and Whitlow to see how LGBTQ ing a Pride celebration, they found support “So, having it in Corvallis shows me that Community College, Gelser said, she de- to community groups and pitching ideas and Shay, 28, grew up in Philomath. Whit- youth could be involved in the event. But in many corners of the community. the community is accepting and really want- veloped “Living and Learning With Your getting donations,” Whitlow said. “We went low, 25, moved to Corvallis in 2003 from in January 2009, Whitlow and Shay learned Leading the way was Parents, Families ing to include everybody to celebrate differ- Child With Special Needs.” The class to a bunch of groups in town and they told Stillwater, OK. They said a big part of their from the group that it would not be receiv- and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, a national ences and freely express themselves.” helped families with children with disabil- us we were crazy, but if we wanted to do it, motivation to establish an annual Corvallis- ing the grant needed to fund the event, and organization that has a Corvallis chapter and Shay and Whitlow say the future is bright ities engage with each other, understand they were behind us.” based Pride event was rooted in their work more than 360 others across the country. for PRIDE Corvallis, which last week was in- the insurance system and access educa- In June 2009, Corvallis became one of at with local LGBTQ youth. PFLAG also is one of this year’s primary corporated as a nonprofit. Shay said PRIDE tional services. least six cities in Oregon with a Pride event, “I think, as well as making the town feel PRIDE Corvallis sponsors, which also include Corvallis joins about a dozen nonprofits in joining Portland, Eugene, Salem, Bend and more open and welcoming, a lot of our drive Community Alliance for Diversity, City of Corvallis dedicated to LGBTQ issues. Lincoln City. for doing this event were the youth that we Corvallis, Hewlett-Packard, Ellipsis Design, “I think our goal right now is to see this “I think a lot of people didn’t think this worked with and their lack of feeling sup- Out-N-About and Rainbow Health Resources. event continue year after year,” Shay said. RIGHT: State Rep. Sara Gelser, type of event could happen and succeed ported in town,” Whitlow said. Such support is very encouraging for “See it grow to a larger event. D-Corvallis, working this month in Corvallis,” Whitlow said. “Now that “Corvallis is very lovely. It’s very nice. Shay and Whitlow. They said last year’s “Ultimately, I think our goal is to see in her office at the State Capitol they’ve seen it, they’re really starting to get But it can still feel hostile, and youth, espe- inaugural celebration drew some negative PRIDE Corvallis grow into the sort of group in Salem, says she was excited to on board.” cially, don’t have a place to go. We really comments in online postings. that can support the other nonprofit groups be Grand Marshal for the PRIDE Nicholas Rhodes, a 23-year-old student wanted to give them that feeling that you get “We had a lot of comments ranging from, in town … and being the group that tries to Corvallis parade. “I was surprised at Oregon State University, said Pride cel- a pride of, ‘I belong; there are other people ‘How dare you do this sort of event in our bring them together. So, we need to work to be asked, and I’m really ebrations can be “healing for a lot of people like me.’ ” town; do you really think people want to see smarter, not harder, together as a commu- grateful.” and lets people accept themselves for who About four years ago, Shay and Whitlow this?; why would you want to bring children nity.” they are.” started Out-N-About, a support group for to this event,’ “ Shay said. Photo by Stephany Chum Any sort of hatred should be diminished ... you don’t want to look back and say ‘I didn’t try.’ | Francisco Lopez-Bautista You learn to respect other cultures, religions. You see how important it is to be unique. | Hosana Medhanie

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LEFT: Stahlbush Island Farms, $3.89 for a 10-ounce bag on one recent located on the banks of the day at First Alternative Co-op North in Willamette River, grows many Corvallis. In this current struggling econ- varieties of fruits and vegetables omy, not everyone can stretch to pay more on approximately 4,500 acres. for Stahlbush’s products even if they like the quality and appreciate the biodegrad- BELOW LEFT: The farm’s products able bags. include Nummy Tum Tum dog food, Commenting on the price of the blue- frozen fruit and vegetables, and berry package, shopper Delores Lopez of puréed products. Daniel Stockton, Corvallis said, “That’s why I don’t buy it the national sales manager, so often. I only buy it on sale.” plays an important role in selling One person less concerned about the and marketing. prices of IQF frozen fruit products is James Cassidy, head of the OSU Organic BELOW: A biogas plant (center) one Growers Club. He strongly states that as of the first of its kind in the U.S., soon as the compostable bags catch on is the largest structure at Stahlbush with other companies and stores that the Island Farms. The plant, which cost prices of these products will dramatically $10 million and took 14 months decline. He opines that Stahlbush has bet- to build, converts farm waste into ter produce than other farms. “People’s energy that is used for the farm and awareness of food quality is on the rise in sold to Pacific Power. the country,” he says.

Photos by Aidan Orellana and Paulina Liang • Stahlbush Island Farm generates a lot of food and vegetable waste. Now, the biogas plant has the capability to process colorful acrylic artwork of farm scenes 55,000 tons of such waste into energy. displayed in galleries in San Francisco, Organic matter such as corn cobs and Newberg and Mexico. The walls also vegetable waste, when placed in anaero- hold some of the many environmental bic conditions in large tanks and inoculat- awards the company has received for its ed with bacteria, produce a methane-rich sustainable farming practices. biogas. A large generator takes the meth- Debbie Cozzetto, director of mar- ane and converts it into usable energy for keting and sales, and Daniel Stockton, the farm and homes. The plant’s liquid national sales manager, are enthusiastic waste is a valuable fertilizer for crops. about selling Stahlbush products ranging Federal and state tax credits paid from frozen kabocha squash to canned about half of the plant’s $10 million con- sweet potato dog food. The operation, struction costs. Last year, Bill Chambers which is divided into three separate com- told the Albany Democrat-Herald news- Kim Baglien has worked at the farm for decades. panies, sells its products in many parts of paper that it would take four to five years the world. to recover the construction costs in energy “I love my job and I’ll continue until I savings. But Cozzetto said recently that drop,” says Cozzetto, who has worked at she can’t predict how long it will take to Stahlbush for eight years. recover those costs. Hackleman, the OSU professor, says Fresh to frozen The dog food once was featured on Martha Stewart’s television show, caus- that without subsidies, plants similar to ing a spike in sales. That was a lucky this one could take close to twenty years break – Cozzetto had not pitched a story to pay off. Hackleman still favors build- in 10 minutes to Stewart. But the company is a shrewd ing such plants because of their environ- marketer. When talking about their prod- mental benefits. He is a big biodiesel ad- Food moves in a flash to market ucts, Katie Chambers opened five of vocate: In 2006, he travelled 6,000 miles “I can see potential for really reducing Stahlbush’s IQF - Individual Quick Fro- across the country in a month-long jour- energy use in the United States,” he says. ney using only biodiesel. zen - packages and offered samples. The By Aidan Orellana and Paulina Liang Corncob power: The U.S. Environmental Protection Stahlbush has established itself as a the kernels are moved to a processing plant in broccoli, corn, strawberries, blueberries, the center of the farm. The kernels are unload- Agency and U.S. Department of Agricul- and black raspberries all were delicious. powerhouse in food-producing and sus- ture will spend $3.9 million to develop bio- tainabilty practices. However, the Cham- Kim Baglien, production plant opera- ed onto a conveyor belt that transfers them Cozzetto pitches her belief that frozen tions manager at Stahlbush Island Farms, into a noisy production plant. The corn is then gas plants on farms, according to Scientific food using the IQF freezing process often bers family and its employees still have to from farm waste to energy American. The magazine says about 8,000 deal with the problems that have plagued is so busy with her job that she has time to processed for 10 to 12 minutes: checked for tastes better than fresh fruit and produce. give only one plant tour a month. But when flaws, blanched in boiling water, cooled to 65 farms would be good candidates for biogas Fresh food in grocery stores on average farmers for generations. Harvests heav- Stahlbush Island Farms leads the way plants. travels 1,500 miles from farm to market, ily depend on the season and whether she does, Baglien loves to talk about the degrees below zero, puréed and poured into It’s not the first time that Stahlbush Is- she says. Stahlbush’s frozen fruit is pack- droughts or other natural disasters occur. farm where she’s worked for decades. Her a “frozen pail” that carries 30 pounds. Then in technology and sustainability land has been a leader in technology or en- aged only eight to 10 miles from harvest, This year, many acres of their spinach guests get to observe the many technologi- the puree, used for soups and other recipes, is vironmental protection. The huge farm was and vegetables are grown within 50 miles crops got wiped out due to flooding. cal and production wonders that Bill and shipped to buyers in the U.S. and overseas. among the first to use Global Positioning of the processing plant. Katie Chambers, who grew up on the Karla Chambers, the co-owners of the farm, The production process can sometimes By Aidan Orellana and Paulina Liang Some believe that plants like this one, University professor and head of the col- System technology to operate farm equip- Consumers need to be convinced to farm, shrugs her shoulders at nature’s have created. go on for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. if they become more common, could reduce lege’s engineering program, states that ex- ment. More recently, the farm has started buy frozen foods that sometimes cost as challenges. Farm technology has changed dramati- Stahlbush’s 4,500 acres of farmland produc- Get close to the big green biogas plant at the nation’s dependence on heavily pollut- panded use of biogas plants could reduce the packaging frozen foods in compostable much as fresh fruit and vegetables. Stahl- “It comes with being a farmer, we deal cally over the last half-century, Baglien es on average of 10,500 pounds – more than Stahlbush Island Farms near Corvallis and ing energy sources such as coal. need for coal energy, resulting in a greener bags. A portion of the farm has been certi- bush packaged frozen blueberries cost with it,” she says. explains. Old-fashioned tools such as the five tons – of produce per acre. an overpowering smell fills the air. David E. Hackleman, an Oregon State atmosphere. fied sustainable since 1997, and part of the pitchfork and plow have been replaced by The smell is a necessary by-product of farm has been certified organic since 2003. machines such as the Niagara Sortex, a food converting waste from the 4,500 acre farm “Change is always good for business,” sorter that can do the work of 12 people. At into electricity, steam, hot water and fertil- says Katie Chambers, daughter of the farm’s Stahlbush, this machine is used to prepare izer. A pipe outside the plant is churning out About Stahlbush owners and a student in agricultural science for packing several varieties of beans and composted waste, which had been stored in at California Polytechnic State University. Island Farms: grains quickly and efficiently. a large underground tank, to mix it with air “You never want to be behind what’s going Recently, one of the food processing • Address: 3122 Stahlbush Island as part of the process of turning the waste on.” plants was converting last year’s yellow Road, Corvallis into energy. • Owners: Bill Chambers, the The biogas digester, which opened last • corn kernels into purées. The process started when corn was harvested last year. The ker- company president and his wife summer, turns vegetable waste from food Karla Chambers, vice president. Even though it’s less than five miles nels had been removed mechanically from processing into methane-rich biogas. The • Size: Approximately 4,500 acres from OSU, Stahlbush Island Farms at first the cob and frozen on a shaking conveyor gas fuels a generator that can produce 1.6 of cropland megawatts of electricity, enough to power feels like it’s deep in the country. But it’s belt that processes the corn at 26 degrees • Facilities: Food processing 1,100 homes at full operation. The farm uses not just a place that grows fruits and veg- below zero. The process is called Individu- plants, biogas plant that about half that amount, and any surplus is etables. Parts of it feel like an industrial site, ally Quick Frozen – IQF – and it keeps the converts farm waste into energy sold to Pacific Power to be used elsewhere. with a security guard, huge food processing kernels separate so they don’t freeze into a • Products: Vegetable and fruit The plant cost $10 million to build, and plants and semi trucks to carry food to mar- block. purees, vegetable powders is among the first biogas plants to operate on ket. Overshadowing everything else is the Stahlbush’s equipment can freeze 16,000 a farm in North America. Stahlbush, owned biomass plant. and dried products kernels of corn in about an hour. The ker- • Brand names: Stahlbush Island by Bill and Karla Chambers, gets calls al- Inside the farm’s office, the walls are nels are kept in cold storage at five degrees most daily from farmers and others who covered with colorful nature paintings by Farms, Farmers Market and below zero. Nummy Tum Tum dog food want to find out if they can follow Stahlbush Karla Chambers. The mother of four began When it’s time to turn the corn into a purée, Island’s lead. painting in 2005 and already has had her We need a media outlet that can expose all these differences and respect them. | Tyree Harris I like all the different opinions everyone has because they all come from different backgrounds. | Brittany Nguyen

Page 12 | June 2010 Page 13 | June 2010 A head-on fight against the recession Independent businesses in Corvallis get creative to keep customers coming through the doors

By Brittany Nguyen ­ tightening times, eating out and drinking asking about the burgers, Yeung yelled out and Musba Abasham at the bar are often considered unnecessary with a smile, “We have the best burgers!” luxuries. But even a restaurant with the “best At Grass Roots Books and Music, a “Luxury is easy for people to do without,” burgers” sees the effects of the recession. second floor formerly filled with books for she said. The restaurant opened its doors in May customers to browse now houses extra floor The rise of unemployment has caused 2008 only to be immediately struck with a space for storage. an increase in business start-ups because triple hit. Business suffered from Oregon When the recession hit, owner Jack the newly laid-off workers are desperate State University students leaving for the Wolcott cut 22 percent of the store’s to have an income, Rusk said. Some of summer, the arriving recession and high inventory to only stock books that sold these entrepreneurs are opening their first start-up costs. Over the course of the next well. Now, when a customer wants a book businesses out of their garages. year, she had to borrow $10,000 from her not on the shelf, he orders it for overnight Through the coalition’s mentorship family to keep the restaurant running. ABOVE: Grass Roots Books delivery. program, new business owners get paired “We were hit from the get-go,” Yeung and Music owner Jack Wolcott wishes none of this was with more experienced ones. Not only said. “We knew we had to hold onto it. Wolcott still believes in necessary. do these start-up owners get advice from When it’s tough, we work harder.” his store and his love for “In a good economy, we will keep all the experienced business owners, but the The restaurant lost money until last books, despite having to books on the shelf,” he said, “but there’s the veteran business owners can learn lessons fall but has managed to hire four more cut back on inventory to reality of business.” from the newbie owners to improve their employees over the past year. And although reduce costs. “My friends Many of Corvallis’ independent companies. she survived other recessions with previous want me to be here, and businesses have found themselves hit hard Rusk sees companies change up their restaurants, Yeung feels this one is the I’m going to try to be since the recession began about three years product mix by re-evaluating their products worst. here,” Wolcott said. ago. The downturn forced these business and restocking to sell only the most attractive “A lot of people are scared this time,” owners to become more creative in how they items. Sometimes, that means replacing she said. “There are too many people Photo by Musba Abasham attract customers and market their shops. designer goods with more affordable ones. unemployed. They tighten what they spend, More than ever, they rely on the sense of Businesses also turned to social media and everybody’s feeling it. It doesn’t matter BELOW: Resale shop family and support for local businesses to websites, such as Facebook, to advertise who you are.” Second Glance, which pull through. One restaurant has organized their stores rather than paying for newspaper, Laurie Zink, owner of Day Dreamers opened 26 years ago in more activities and entertainment options TV or radio advertisements, she said. Beads and Jewelry, definitely feels it. downtown Corvallis, saw to attract patrons. Other businesses turned Harrison Bar & Grill owner Bonnie “We should be out of business, but I business jump during the to cutting inventory, stocking only products Yeung uses Facebook to create events don’t want to lay off my employees,” said recession. Owner Nancy that are in high demand, and using word of and then invites the restaurant’s Facebook Zink, who has so far avoided that. “When Kneisel believes customers mouth and social media sites to advertise for friends to attend. She also relies on word of you’re running in the red, that red has to be ABOVE: At Day Dreamers Beads and Jewelry, BELOW: Owner Laurie Zink tries to make her store still want luxury during a free. mouth from loyal customers and employees covered somehow. And to do that, you have repairs, classes, rare beads and a vast employees such as Vickie Meyers (bottom left) use their stand out from competing general craft stores by recession, just at a lower At the same time, the recession proved to keep the restaurant running. to borrow money.” knowledge about her products and services. vast knowledge of beads to help attract customers during researching every new bead that the store sells. Zink price. “People don’t want advantageous for other businesses, To bring customers in during the Zink already cut costs wherever she Zink also benefits from her membership in the recession. “We want to educate people, and we’re originally thought her store would be recession-proof, to go without,” she said. especially resale shops. Some have even recession, Yeung sponsored karaoke nights, could and eliminated her advertising budget the Corvallis Independent Business Alliance. willing to go that extra mile,” Meyers said. thinking if customers wanted fancy jewelry for less, “They want that special opened new branches of their stores. live bands and free games of pool on after finding that it didn’t help. She also Other local shop owners refer customers to they could just make it at her store. something.” The Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition Tuesdays and Sundays. renegotiated for reduced rent for six months her store, and in turn, she does the same for Photos by Brittany Nguyen saw a 90-member drop in the past 18 months But even on a recent summer weekday, last year and refinanced her debts three them. Photo by Brittany Nguyen from 640 members to 550. According to during what should have been the peak of times over the past four years. But not all shops have suffered during coalition president Mysty Rusk, a number the lunch hour, the restaurant stood almost To beat out competition from general the recession. Resale stores, such as Second of businesses have downsized or closed, empty with only two regular customers craft stores, Zink specializes only in beads Glance, have seen sales rise. Second Glance particularly restaurants. During belt- drinking at the bar. As a woman entered and jewelry making. She offers jewelry first noticed a significant increase in sales three years ago. “When the economy is bad, we do well,” said Nancy Kneisel, owner of Second Glance. “If they can’t get their jeans fix at Nordstrom for $200, they can come here and get their jeans fix for $65.” In the past three years, Kneisel has doubled her staff to 12 employees, added store hours, opened a second “annex” shop for teenagers and has even been able to slowly expand both locations. She finds that paid advertisements, radio sponsorships and e-mail advertising contribute to her success. “When the recession hits, the people who are still thriving are the ones who are still advertising,” she said. “We put ourselves out there.” Her efforts have resulted in a 12-percent increase in sales during the past year and an additional 2,000 consigners in the past three years. Even though not all businesses have seen more customers, local independent shop owners still feel grateful for the support they receive. “People believe in local ownership,” said Wolcott, the bookstore owner. “We must never forget the debt we owe to the community that has helped us through this time.” Our world is getting smaller; its future depends on how we all learn to accept and embrace our differences. | Harry Esteve I would like to see everyone helping each other out. | Marco Reyes

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By Tameeka LeRay and Jason Liao

Nick Arzner is on a mission. The moment a customer utters the words “Miller Lite,” Arzner — an enthused craft brewer — will try to convert a customer to craft beer. Arzner sees an opportunity whenever someone orders a mass-market beer at his Corvallis brewpub, Block 15. The customer gets his Miller Lite, but not without an accom- panying sample of Arzner’s lightest craft ale, which he serves to emphasize the difference in quality between the two drinks. Arzner’s ale freebie is aimed solely at making that cus- CLOCKWISE, tomer a convert. FROM UPPER Arzner admits his obsession with brewing LEFT: sometimes overwhelms him. Mid-valley brewers “My personality is to dive headfirst into a • Na Zdravi hobby,” Arzner says. “Brewing beer became Czech Style out of control.” Pilsner by Arzner keeps 13 beers on tap, seven in sea- are fanatics for their craft Southern sonal rotation, and also a specialty cask-condi- Oregon Brewing tioned beer unique to the mid-valley. Visiting Company, Belgium has spurred his inspiration for brew- Brewing a “beautiful blend” of art and science Medford ing, which he found summarized with the Bel- gian saying, “Create something new based on • Tsar Weizen age-old traditions.” Mark Martin and Laura Bryngelson are the “What would happen if I added some But he also points out the simple truth that Bavarian Style Arzner keeps his focus narrow, estimating husband-wife owners of Calapooia Brewing chamomile?” he might ask himself. “With many beer lovers would echo: “It’s yummy.” that 95 percent of his beer is served on-site at in Albany and the new Flat Tail Brewing in beer you have to be gentle and coax it. You Rea also sums up the spirit of brewers by Wheat Beer his brewpub. Corvallis. have to talk nicely to it.” describing his peers as “compatriots,” rather by Heater When Block 15 opened in February 2008, Calapooia Brewing maintains local flair by Joel Rea, owner of Corvallis Brewing than as competitors. Rea, Arzner and Martin Allen Brewing, it was the only craft brewery in Corvallis. This naming beers after area rivers, such as their Supply, has difficulty defining his art, but he all know each other and offer support, as well McMinnville goes against the grain in Oregon, which cur- SantiAmber Ale, ’Pooya Porter and Lucki- knows it exists. He cites the example of cus- as share pointers on brewing. Martin and Ar- rently ranks fourth in the nation in breweries amute Lite. Calapooia is expanding its reach tomers who could not brew a good batch of zner occasionally borrow supplies from each • Hopportunity per capita. Portland, Oregon’s largest city, has with the recent purchase of the Siletz brand, beer to save their lives as evidence that simply other. Knocks IPA by more microbreweries per capita than any other formerly based in Siletz, Oregon. The expan- having the equipment isn’t enough. Martin says seeing his competitors all the Caldera Brewing city in the nation, according to a New York sion is nothing new to Martin, who started his Of course, anybody can brew his or her time helps form a brewing community whose Company, Times report. Corvallis is making progress, Albany company after purchasing the strug- own beer. Rea opened his homebrew supply members complement – as well as compli- Ashland though. Another brewpub opened in Febru- gling microbrewery Oregon Trader, in 2003. shop 14 years ago. The shop, which now also ment – each other. ary. Calapooia Brewing also hopes to begin bot- sells uniquely brewed bottles of beer from all Huppert, for instance, lauds Arzner. • Hopworks IPA Corvallis can boast one advantage that tling by the end of the year. across the Northwest and beyond, has all the “Nick is one of the best brewers around. by Hopworks Portland lacks. Oregon State University hous- Martin admits that he can sometimes be supplies that any novice or experienced brew- He’s a big beer nerd.” Urban Brewery, es one of only two fermentation science pro- overwhelmed by the details of owning his er needs to get the beer flowing. This is high praise coming from Huppert, Portland. grams in the United States. own breweries. One of Rea’s customers is Russel Moates, who says that the requirements for brewing Calapooia The program, established in 1996, is part “When that happens, I take a moment to who entered the shop this week looking to try beer are to have “passion, love and nerdiness.” Brewing owner of the Food Sciences Department. Its two-bar- think, ‘Wait a minute, I make beer for a liv- brewing for the first time. Arzner’s “nerdiness” seems to be paying Mark Martin rel pilot brewery focuses on hops research, ing.’ I’ve worked at crummy jobs before and “Trying to brew my own beer is a curios- off in his conversion quest. describes funded by major national breweries such as I absolutely love beer, so I’m fortunate to do ity thing,” Moates says. “I want to try to make “We have had folks switch to our beer and Northwest beer Sam Adams. what I love.” good beer and the beer at a grocery store tastes away from the mass producers,” he says. “I drinkers as Pilot plant manager Jeff Clawson says that Local brewers derive their passion from the cheap and is light in flavor. In the long run, think about 50 percent of the people who try “hopheads” due the relationship between the pilot brewery and artistry of their craft. However, beer-making is it’s cheaper to make [craft brews], if you know our beer switch.” to their love of local microbreweries has just started, but many a creative art. Paul Huppert, the pub manager how to make it.” A conversion rate of 50 percent is hardly IPAs and other OSU fermentation students are completing in- of Calapooia, sees the artistic side of brewing One of the reasons beer is popular, Rea satisfactory for a proselytizer like Arzner. hop-heavy brews. ternships with Oregon breweries. in “imagination.” says: “Beer pairs better with food than wine.” Thus, his mission continues. • Sang Rouge Northwest Style Sour Red Ale by Cascade Brewing, Portland

• Workhorse IPA by Laurelwood Brewing Company, Portland

All photos by Tameeka LeRay

ABOVE LEFT: Old-time beer cans are on display at Corvallis Brewing Supply, where owner Joel Rea likes to regale visitors with stories about the history of brewing.

LEFT: Part of the refrigerated beer storage at Block 15, where owner Nick Arzner plans to expand his barrel storage by 1,000 square feet. The OSU pilot brewery has no such storage area because it is required by law to dispose of all the beer it produces. You don’t learn anything if you only hang out with people who are just like you. | Nerissa Ediza Different people from different backgrounds coming together – it’s the most amazing thing. | Monica Melchor

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“Glee”-inspired Wallflowers in bloom musical theater camp teaches skills and confidence

By Taylor Grady ­ and Francisco Lopez-Bautista

The skylight brings a kiss of summer indoors and onto the shiny wood floors. Determined and focused faces are reflect- ed in the studio mirror. One belongs to a young girl who smiles prettily and hams up her dance moves. Another is focused sim- ply on not stumbling over his own feet as he watches the blond instructor in front of him. The dance comes to a close. There is an awkward silence among the six children in the room, feet tired from bouncing and dancing around. Choreographer Linnea Birdwell asks, “Would you guys like to try it again with music?” Instantly, 8-year-old Katie Duncan jumps for joy, shouting, “Yah!” The rest slowly get back into position to go through the dance once more. It’s day one at the “Majestic Glee! Style Summer Camp” held at the Majestic The- atre in Corvallis. Six kids, ages 8 to 13, are learning and rehearsing songs, scenes and For instance, Birdwell calls out the as joyful and fearless. (Though that may be ABOVE: Choreographer/teacher dance routines for two weeks, which will be moves to a particular routine: “Two walks, in part because of a burned hand she suf- Linnea Birdwell watches showcased in a musical revue inspired by one turn. Two walks, one turn.” fered at home.) Dylan, however, begins to students practice a dance the Fox television show, “Glee.” But she does only one “walk,” and Brit- come out of his shell. He even shines when routine in front of the studio The campers will present their revue at tany, moving right behind, smacks into her. Birdwell gives the kids a chance to invent mirror. the Majestic at 7 p.m. Friday, July 2. “Oh, I messed up again,” Birdwell says their own robot dance moves. Then in acting The Majestic provides children an op- with a shrug and smile. “It’s OK to make class, Dylan, Katie and Kitana are asked to AT LEFT: Brittany Kline (left) portunity for a theater education, replenish- mistakes … I don’t care if you mess up or create a skit based on a picture of Bert and and Katie Duncan (right) strike ing the community theater talent pool. “We make a mistake as long as you try and do a Elmo from “Sesame Street” holding their not only hip-popping poses but found that kids with a background in theater bit.” noses against the smell of a skunk. Dylan also an instant friendship auditioned better,” says Tim Flowerday, the Soon, the self-confidence starts to kick in, takes to the role of the skunk imaginative- executive director of Majestic Theatre Man- as Birdwell trusts them to practice without ly, skulking around, hissing and digging BELOW: Games are an agement Inc., a nonprofit that runs the city- her leading the way. Before long, they start to through imaginary garbage. important part of the acting owned theater. help one another with the tricky parts. The difference the camp is making gets classes at the Majestic Theatre’s But the camp is about much more than “I want them to come away from the easier to see. camp. Katie Duncan (left) and song and dance. It’s about meeting new peo- camp with a sense of completion and con- Birdwell asks once again, “Would you Brittany Kline practice making ple, trying new things. About playing — but fidence,” says Katie Stevenson, the camp’s guys like to try it with music?” eye contact and clapping with purpose. director, who teaches the voice and acting Only this time, the enthusiasm isn’t just simultaneously, a way to hone At first, the kids carry themselves with classes. radiating from Katie, but from every kid in attention and timing. a sense of nervousness in their step but a But confidence can come and go. On the the room. Everyone leaps into the air and glimpse of spirit in their smiles. The theme camp’s second day, little Katie doesn’t look shouts, “Yah!” Photos by Taylor Grady of the camp and the production is “friend- ship.” However, relationships are hard to form amid unfamiliarity and awkwardness. Group activities, though, encourage the kids to connect. Throughout the first day, the group of six tends to split into three groups of two. Pairs of kids stick together like magnets — the younger girls, the older girls and the two boys. These initial bonds allow them to begin to blossom. The energetic Katie stands out among the group, flashing a “little performer” per- sonality. But nearly as enthusiastic is 11- year-old Brittany Kline, fiery curls flying as she shows off dance moves like the “Grape- vine.” Looking uncomfortable surrounded by younger kids, the two oldest girls — Ki- tana Farley, 12, and Mikaela Prichard, 13 — gravitate to each other. Then there are the boys, Julian Schalk, 9, and Dylan Milota, 11, still at the mercy of all of their energy. As much as Katie looks right at home, Dylan sometimes looks ill at ease. But he has his moments in the music room. A boy soprano, Dylan is a four-year member of Heart of the Valley Children’s Choir. “Get- ting to know people,” Dylan says, is what helps him grow comfortable. And it’s Julian who sets that process in motion. During a quiet moment on the first day, he breaks the ice with an impulsive outburst: “I own a guinea pig!” The resulting pet-related conversation draws everyone in. The instructors are forgiving. When we talk with people whose experiences are different from ours, we learn about our rich cultural mix. | Gordon Oliver Diversity of opinion to me is far more important than diversity of ethnicity, religion and race. | Amy Martinez Starke

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By Mary Ruiz and Kimberly Mejia artists, were themselves once students at JumpstART. n Hear young people Five girls sit on the warm gravel as The white walls in the advanced painting their sculpting teacher, Ben Buswell, leans room are, for the most part, untouched. The talk about what art against a green trash can. A student men- floor . . . is a different story. “First day and means to them, see their tions the word, “cool.” Buswell laughs and I’m already making a mess,” says Dauw. art in progress and look asks, “What’d you mean by cool?” She’s kneeling on the paint-splattered floor, They laugh as their teacher continues, attempting to clean up a puddle of spilled inside JumpStart: blog. “Are we talking about cool? Like, ‘Hey orange paint. oregonlive.com/teen man, are you cool?’ ” The laughter stops as Her students each pick a studio with they all realize, no one really knows what an open door facing into the central room. cool means. “This is going to be your home for three These high school students are on a weeks,” says Dauw. Her students pick up break, hanging out outside their sculpture their supplies off a desk filled with brushes class, one of the courses offered at the sum- and paints. She watches as all of them settle mer art program, JumpstART. The students back into their new homes. will spend three weeks on the Oregon State Dauw has been involved since 2000, University campus creating portfolios and when she was a camp participant. Jump- earning high school credit. For many of stART “is really great at getting people at them, this program is a starting point into an a young age. It really lights the fire,” Dauw art career. says. JumpstART receives participants from Now an art graduate student at Yale Uni- states as far away as Alaska but also has versity, she always knew she wanted to be many commuters. After having had no pro- an artist. She says JumpstART helped her gram in the summer of 2009, due to a small as he paints a picture of his beat-up Merona gain experience and practice in an intense shading. Hiratsuka has seen this scene be- number of applicants, inadequate funding shoe that he bought at Old Navy. “When I environment. “When you first get here you fore. He’s been involved with JumpstART and a change in directors, the program re- pick up a brush, I feel that I need to create really miss home, then as soon as it’s done for 15 years, since the beginning. turns this summer, June 20—July 9, with 27 something.” you start missing JumpstART,” says Dauw. His studio assistant, Marne Elmore, has participants. At its peak, the program served He just recently started getting into vi- Across the hall from the advanced paint- also seen this layout before, but from a dif- as many as 86 students a summer. sual arts. This year is Bailey’s first year at ing room, Professor Yuju Hiratsuka watches ferent perspective. Elmore, 21, spent two The program is based in visual arts but JumpstART, but he plans to pursue art as a his students draw in the print-making studio. years as a JumpstART student, and this is tries to connect various art forms. The stu- career, and he would like to return to camp “I don’t judge the drawing,” says Hiratsuka. her second year as a studio assistant. dents take classes from professional art- next year. At JumpstART, he feels inspired His students seem to loosen up at this. “I love the program so much. It’s done ists and art professors, including sculpture, when he sees other students who are just as They continue drawing, looking at each so much for me, I feel like I need to give advanced painting and print-making. The good as him, if not better. detail of a skull next to roses inside a wa- back,” says Elmore. To this day, Elmore program now focuses mostly on visual arts Besides having a passion for visual art, tering can. They’re packed tightly around a keeps in contact with friends she made in and less on performing arts than in previous he enjoys playing the guitar. He has been table, the heat swimming around the room. the program. “Everyone has a really strong years. playing for three years now and is in a band A chair creaks as a student kneels in, trying connection, and this is where I realized art The program began in 1995 with Oregon called Sled Dog Rebellion. “I like to com- to get a closer look. Another one works on was something that I wanted to pursue,” she State University art professor John Maul, bine (art forms) — one inspires the other,” says. who served as the director for 13 years. says Bailey. Word of mouth is what keeps JumpstART Maul started the program as a way to get During the quiet of the first day in the running. Teachers and former students, like college-level art courses to high school stu- studio, advanced painting instructor Lorrain ABOVE: Ryhs Bailey paints a picture Dauw and Elmore, go back home, talk to dents. The program is now run by Director Dauw says, “I think we need some music.” of his “used to be white” shoe in the their friends, and bam: new students. It’s Marion Rossi and Associate Director Felicia The next day, a yellow boombox plays the advanced painting class at the sum- all a part of the JumpstART cycle. Students Phillips. radio in the white-painted art studio. mer program JumpstART on the OSU come to camp, fall in love with it, go back Despite the change in directors, Jump- Camp is much more than painting and campus. The program provides various and tell their friends all about it, friends stART is back up and running with the help spending time inside an art studio. Students visual art classes for high school stu- come to camp next year. Rinse and repeat. of former students and new funding for also learn the symbolic meaning of art, the dents, lets them explore what art sym- On this summer day a group of advanced scholarships. This year alone about three- way their art tells a story and often decide if bolizes and helps them decide whether painting students squeeze reds, blues and fourths of the participants are on a scholar- art will be a career path. art is the path they want to take. greens out of colored tubes. Across the hall ship. The program costs $1,995 for students The three-week camp allows the students the screen printing students have black ink staying on campus in the dorms and $1,195 to interact with their teachers, make a strong up to their wrists. In the sculpture studio the for students commuting. connection with each other, and “also creates BELOW: Studio Assistant Matt Roberts students melt red wax with small propane Art camp pushes students Strong supporters of learning and giv- a community forced to help each other and explains the importance of creating gas tanks. ing everyone a chance, the camp coordina- grow and do different things than they’ve a piece of art with different colors, “This wax will not come out of your tors make sure to look at each applicant’s done before,” says camp director Rossi. splashes and symbolic meaning. Many clothes, so don’t wear your Sunday best,” information carefully when choosing par- Like a continuing cycle, many of the of the teachers and studio assistants says Buswell. “That’s probably true of any ticipants. They don’t say no very often. “We teachers in the program, also now working themselves attended JumpstART. art class.” to get messy and find meaning can’t look at a portfolio and say, ‘Oh, this person has too much to learn.’ We’re sup- posed to teach them,” Rossi says. High school students at OSU’s JumpstART program spend three weeks Across campus from Buswell’s sculpting studio, in a quiet, window-lined art studio, building a portfolio with the help of former students and working artists the air feels hot and humid. As the students make their way across the studio, the floor squeaks. One of the six students is Rhys Bailey, a really tall guy with brown curly hair. Every day, the students must bring something to class and paint a picture of it. “They’re friendly shoes,” says Bailey,

ABOVE LEFT: After students choose the studio spaces they will inhabit for the next three weeks, Rishika Betrabet paints a picture of a pink scarf in her JumpstART advanced painting class. Students in the program create portfolios, earn high school credit and take part in traditions such as the annual 4th of July sand castle competition.

LEFT: “You can’t graduate with a 4.0 and expect to become a successful artist; this isn’t that type of career,” says Yuji Hiratsuka, a screen-printing professor. Hiratsuka has been involved in JumpstART since the program began in 1995.

Photos by Kimberly Mejia Without diversity, you would never get to try new things. | Osman A. Omar If we can make people who are not part of the majority feel welcome and safe, then that’s good for everybody. | Fred Joe

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Sticking together to make a living 2 days. 10 rural businesses. 1 struggle

ABOVE, LEFT: By Altrenia Littleton ­ stalls, or feeding breakfast to her farm-stay Rolfe Hagen cleans folding chairs and rural areas by helping their members with help each become more successful. Oregon Country Trail is the umbrella group BELOW, FAR LEFT: John Boy’s Alsea and Hosana Medhanie guests. She and her husband also juggle out- tends herbs, working seven days a week dur- sales, advertising, events and more. One of their efforts is to organize a driv- representing more than 200 rural businesses, Dutch Boy, a turkey, struts Mercantile is a place for side jobs. ing his busiest time of the year, when hosting “Because rural areas don’t have a lot of ing route, or trail, to lure tourists and improve entrepreneurs, tours and adventures in Lane, around like he owns the town residents to gather Morning comes early for Scottie Jones Demetri Balint from the Greengable Gar- weddings and luncheons at The Thyme Gar- people, there are not many customers,” she the economy. Lincoln, Benton, Linn, Crook and Deschutes place and shows off his and enjoy each other’s of Leaping Lamb Farm, 365 days a year. If dens in Philomath, as with all growers and den, west of Philomath. says. “It’s hard for rural areas to market to Oregon Country Trail’s marketing slo- counties. beautiful feathers at company. It’s the only she’s not putting the turkeys and chickens out farmers, scans the clouds in the sky each It’s difficult to make a living in a rural bigger cities.” gan is “Where the suits meet the boots!” The Alsea Valley Country Trail is only Leaping Lamb Farm in market in town, and it to pasture and looking for eggs on her Alsea morning or listens to the weather report to area, says Danuta Pfeiffer, founder of Oregon Some rural businesses that might individ- The slogan refers to the effort to bring city one of the trails in the group; the other three Alsea. sells such supplies as farm, she is cleaning the horse and donkey see if his flowers will grow well that day. Country Trails, a corporation that revitalizes ually have struggled have banded together to people – and their bucks - into the country. are River Road Trail, Fern Ridge Trail and denim overalls and fishing Photo by Hosana Medhanie tackle, and other needs to its rural patrons. BELOW, MIDDLE: Salmon and trout grow ABOVE, RIGHT: from eggs to adults at the Scottie Jones and her dog, Oregon Hatchery Research Cisco, stroll through the Center, where scientists barn as she checks study their life cycles. on her horses and donkey each morning at Leaping Photo by Altrenia Littleton Lamb Farm. BELOW, RIGHT: Photos by Hosana Medhanie Leaping Lamb Farm’s carefully tended flower gardens create a welcoming feel for guests.

Photo by Altrenia Littleton What’s important is to honor and respect different races and give them something that’s their own. | Erikka Potts No one wants to be ‘tolerated.’ We get a lot of things from other cultures. It just helps everyone. | Mary Ruiz

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Long Tom Trail. LEFT: The Alsea Community Library is Also, Oregon Country Trail isn’t the only one of only a few buildings in down- trail organization around. Peak Experience town Alsea, one of which is the school, Local Loop is another marketing effort, a housing grades K through 12. There self-guided tour of local gardens and gal- were only five seniors in the graduat- leries, wildlands and wineries within a short ing class this year. drive of Mary’s Peak. Photo by Altrenia Littleton Tourists who take Alsea Valley Country Trail will enjoy a lot of different businesses and artists that wouldn’t be found in a big BELOW: At Yew Wood Nursery, owners city. Among the farms and businesses on Joe and Pat Danton explain the strug- the trail are Oregon Alpaca Farm, Leaping gles of selling fuchsias. The economy is Lamb Farm, Yew Wood Nursery, Oregon affecting their business. Hatchery Research Center, The Thyme Gar- Photo by Hosana Medhanie den, Alsea Artisans, John Boy’s Alsea Mer- cantile, Alsea Fish Hatchery, Greengable Gardens and Gathering Together Farm. Oth- ers are wineries, quilters, handicraft makers and even a kayak shack. Many tourists bypass Alsea on their way keting effort is successful depends on the to the coast, because they take Highway 20. individual businesses. The idea, says Jones of Leaping Lamb “I think that management, business Farm, is to get people who otherwise might knowledge, skill and how old a business is take Highway 20 to take Highway 34, which have a lot to do with how a business turns is slower and more winding, and thereby out,” says Pfeiffer, of Oregon Country stop at local businesses and contribute to the state-funded and therefore not dependent on bad economy, are Greengable Gardens and Trails. Alsea Valley economy. tourist dollars. Yew Wood Nursery. John Clark of John Boy’s Alsea Mercan- “The (trail) could take you by Alsea The Oregon Alpaca Farm is successful, “The businesses that are doing well of- tile, a store in downtown Alsea, says his is Falls, which is a great picnic spot, or the according to Jessica White, one of the own- fer alcohol, food and experience,” says the only market in town. But he doesn’t find Alsea Merc (Mercantile), which has a lit- ers of the farm, because it doesn’t depend on Balint, of Greengable Gardens. But they the Alsea Valley Country Trail marketing tle park where kids could have lunch and a local customer base. It advertises nation- don’t spend money on plants. Greengable productive for his purposes. snacks,” says Nancy Chandler of Alsea Acre ally in an alpaca magazine and has buyers Gardens was doing well until three years “There is only one business meeting per Goat Cheese. from all over the United States. It also ben- ago, when the economy took a nosedive and year, but it’s not very useful,” he says. But whether a business or farm is suc- efits from a location across the street from its cut flower business began to suffer. In a “If you’re creative then it’s not hard to cessful depends on its marketing efforts, es- the very popular and successful Gathering poor economy people don’t have much dis- make a living,” says The Thyme Garden’s pecially during Oregon’s bad economy. Together Farm, which has one of the few cretionary income, and Yew Wood Nursery Hagen. His wife, Janet, serves luncheons Leaping Lamb is solidly booked with restaurants in the area and sells produce to also is suffering. One recent year the owners that use herbs from the garden. Hagen says tourists because it provides a unique experi- farmers markets throughout the region. ended up throwing away 350 unsold fuchsia they also educate visitors about herbs and ence for city dwellers, says Jones, the farm’s Other businesses that have the potential baskets. medicine. co-owner. to be successful, but are suffering from the Whether the Oregon Country Trails mar- Pfeiffer says the reason some business- She offers food, lodging and a fun expe- es may or may not be so successful “boils rience — gobbling turkeys, noisy geese, a down to what you know, what your goals donkey to pet and even lambs that leap on n Visit Leaping Lamb Farm in Alsea and hear the farm’s are and what you want.” their way out to pastures. Guests leave with In the end, it’s how you get there, not lots of stories to tell. co-owner Scottie Jones talk about the experience she offers where you’re going. Other successful businesses on the trail her farm-stay guests: blog.oregonlive.com/teen “It’s the journey, not the destination,” ABOVE: Sheep and lambs wait for Scottie Jones to let them out of their BELOW: John Boy’s Alsea Mercantile advertises that it sells “whatever are the Oregon Hatchery Research Cen- Pfeiffer says. “Take the scenic route and en- pen to graze on grass for the day. Jones also sells the lambs for meat. you need and a whole bunch of stuff that you do not need.” joy the journey.” ter and the Alsea Fish Hatchery, which are Photo by Hosana Medhanie Photo by Altrenia Littleton Newsrooms need far more journalists of color as editors in decision-making, leadership positions. | Wade Nkrumah If there was only white bread, life would be tasteless . | Joany Carlin Page 24 | June 2010 Page 25 | June 2010

LEFT and ON THE FRONT PAGE: One of many wooden planks signifying the body Muslim cemetery of a Muslim brother or sister at the Islamic Cemetery of Oregon in Corvallis. Although the headstone doesn’t have a name, the Cemetery volunteer is a rarity in the cemetery keeps track of where bodies are buried. The prophet said the best grave is the grave that lays Muslim brothers Pacific Northwest doesn’t show, said Mozafar Wanly a volunteer at the cemetery. and sisters to rest The first and only all-Muslim cemetery in Oregon Photo by Shamso Ali is home to about 190 Muslims of all ages By Shamso Ali ­ BELOW: Graves speckle the and Sabra Chandiwalla grassy fields of the Islamic Cemetery of Oregon, run In his short life, Mohammad Moussaoui has witnessed a lot of death. By Sabra Chandiwalla ­ Muslims and other religions. Board, which oversees the state’s cemeter- entirely by volunteers in Every time a Muslim brother or sister dies, Moussaoui is there, volunteering his free and Shamso Ali Muslims are not generally buried with ies, does not keep records of facilities’ reli- nearby nearby Muslim time by showing support to the family and helping to prepare the body for a proper Is- non-Muslims, Wanly said. It is the respon- gious affiliations, according to board staff. communities. lamic burial. In a serene Corvallis field of lush grass, sibility of a local Muslim community to However, there are at least a couple of cem- So far, Moussaoui has helped with 40 Muslim funerals at the Islamic Cemetery of Or- numbered wooden planks protrude verti- create an all-Muslim cemetery. If that is not eteries that have devoted plots to Muslims, Photo by Shamso Ali egon in Corvallis. He is one of many volunteers who carry the bodies from the families’ cally from the ground and are the only clues possible, Muslims can be buried in plots at including the Sunset Hills Memorial Park cars to the gravesite and dig what will be their final resting that this is the final resting place for Mus- larger multi-denominational cemeteries. near Beaverton. RIGHT: Mozafar Wanly fixes place. lims. “The Jews have their own cemeteries, Mohammad Moussaoui, a 23-year-old a headstone that had gone Moussaoui is able to visit The Islamic Cemetery of Oregon in the Christians have their own cemeteries,” student at Oregon State University, has askew. Wanly, a construction frequently because he lives Corvallis is one of only a few all-Muslim Wanly said. participated in about 40 Islamic burials at manager at Albany General close to the cemetery in the burial grounds in the Pacific Northwest. Muslims believe that whatever good the Corvallis cemetery. He has buried his Hospital, said he volunteers This unique place — established in 1992 and deeds they do in this life will be rewarded in grandmother and a couple of friends. Corvallis area. because it is his duty to God The 23-year-old Oregon paid for by community donations — honors heaven when they die, Wanly said. “The process of dying puts a lot of bur- to serve his community. the values and traditional teachings of Islam “We do it for the sake of God, and God den on Western families,” Moussaoui says, State University student says he is one of the youngest according to the Quran. will reward,” he said. “but a Muslim burial costs about $300. And Photo by Sabra Chandiwalla The opportunity to bury loved ones at All 10 acres of the cemetery, which is if the family can’t afford it, the communi- brothers in the Corvallis Mus- an all-Muslim cemetery is invaluable to the several miles west of Oregon State Univer- ty helps pay. It’s a simple thing; it’s really lim community to help with Muslim community, said Mozafar Wanly, sity, were purchased through donations from plain. There are no flowers or headstones traditional Islamic burials, a volunteer who oversees cemetery op- Islamic communities across the state. with birds flying around. It’s supposed to which includes cleaning the erations. Being buried next to their fellow Volunteers who run the cemetery say remind people of death.” bodies, praying and digging. Muslims — whom they call brothers and their pay is not in cash but in the rewards Muslims believe that people should Moussaoui has buried fam- sisters — is an important aspect of feeling they will receive in the afterlife for helping always keep death in the back of their ily, friends and strangers. safe and comfortable in their final resting their brothers and sisters. thoughts, Moussaoui said. Muslims also be- Even though he doesn’t place as the soul reflects on past deeds and There was no particular reason for pur- lieve that death should not be mourned. know everyone who has been awaits judgment from God. chasing land in Corvallis other than that it After a Muslim death occurs, the first buried at the Corvallis site, Across the United States, there are both was a suitable location and the price was step is to wash the body. Men generally Moussaoui feels obligated as all-Muslim and multi-denominational cem- right, Wanly said. wash men while women wash other women. a Muslim to pray for the 191 eteries, which include plots set aside for The Oregon Mortuary and Cemetery Sections of the body are revealed little by people buried there each time he visits. It is also his way to stay involved in his commu- nity. “As Muslims we’re sup- posed to do community ser- vice and help each other out,” Moussaoui said. “The (Muslim) communities are very helpful. When someone passes away, the community will send someone to cook for little in order to maintain dignity and respect immigrant Muslims built after moving to them every day; it is all com- for the dead, according to the Islamic Soci- the United States were cemeteries — not munity based.” ety of North America, a national organiza- Mosques or Masjids; a Muslim’s place of Among those buried at the tion based in Indiana. prayer. Islamic Cemetery of Oregon Next, the body is wrapped in a clean, “A lot of early immigrants were single are Moussaoui’s grandmother Mohammad Moussaoui, cemetery volunteer. white, cotton cloth and taken to a mosque. men. So when they died they didn’t have and two close friends. There, family and friends pay their respects any family to take care of their burial and Moussaoui said he has Photo by Sabra Chandiwalla to the dead by praying. They read from the the Muslim community took on the respon- learned to accept death; that Quran and then pray, in order, for the Proph- sibility to create plots (where they could) the teachings of Islam say that et Muhammad, the deceased person and, bury these men,” GhaneaBassiri said. death is a natural process that lastly, the family prays for everyone else. Some of the earliest Muslim cemeteries followers shouldn’t be sad about and to keep an updated will on you at all times. The body is then taken to a cemetery and in the United States date back to the 1920s, As a Muslim you are taught not to fear death; you learn that your life here on Earth buried. GhaneaBassiri added. is a temporary one — a test, and when you die you go back to the creator, God, and “The same way a baby is brought into In addition, Muslim burial traditions await judgment with your fellow Muslims, said Mozafar Wanly, a volunteer with the cemetery. this earth — naked, washed, shrouded — the have remained the same since Prophet Mu- Visiting the cemetery is humbling to Moussaoui, because he said it reminds him of body gets washed, shrouded and put back in hammad’s time. Muslim communities are the earth,” Moussaoui said. his duty to God to be compassionate and make sacrifices and to help as many people as responsible for keeping these rituals and possible in his lifetime, Muslim and non-Muslim alike. In the grave, the body is placed on its having a cemetery only for Muslim broth- right side with its head facing toward north- “It’s sad and very emotional,” Moussaoui said, but “it helps me reflect on my life ers and sisters, Wanly said. because no one knows when they’re going to die.” east Oregon, and in the same direction as Unlike some non-Muslims who visit With all the different experiences he’s been through, Moussaoui explains, “the hard- Mecca in Saudi Arabia, Wanly said. It faces the grave to communicate with loved ones, est thing that I have ever faced was dealing with the death of my very good friends.” the same way that Muslims face during dai- Muslims do not need to physically travel to Moussaoui felt honored to be able to place his friends in their final resting place, ly prayers. the burial grounds, Wanly said. knowing that they will soon find peace with God. Muslims believe that once in the grave, the soul begins to reflect on its final destina- “They are not supposed to come here tion: paradise or the hell fires, Wanly said. to talk to the grave, the bones, the earth,” The soul contemplates questions such Wanly said. “The soul is not at the grave. as, “Who are you? What do you think about Nobody is here, it’s just bones.” religion? What do you think about your When the survivors visit an Islamic cem- prophet?” Wanly said. etery, the experience is just as much for Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, a Reed Col- them as it is to honor the dead. lege assistant professor of religion and hu- “We visit just to learn, to know our last manities, said that one of the first things home in this life,” Wanly said. It gives you a better idea of how much is really going on that you don’t think about on a day-to-day basis. | Wally Benson One of the reasons we honor diversity is trying to make up for past wrongs. | Randy Cox Page 26 | June 2010 Page 27 | June 2010

LEFT: Carmen Ramirez, who came to the United States 20 years ago, has become a Latina leader in the Corvallis Latinas find their identity in two cultures area who has brought whites and Latinos together. Leadership group helps immigrant women feel more at home in the U.S. while embracing their heritage

By Marco Reyes ­ the women face is that many do not But Ramirez had to prove to her mom and Hilaria De Jesus Hernandez have transportation to get to the meet- that she could be independent. “I will not ings — so they carpool or take the bus. give up. I have to fight and prove to my- As the women gather in a large living The Latinas discuss their problems in self that I can go forward,” she said. She room, seated on comfortable chairs and the Unites States and the education of challenged herself to learn English. She at- sofas, one takes out a small American flag. their children. They talk about Ameri- tended Linn-Benton Community College Others watch and listen to her story. can culture, do activities and continue for three years to learn the language. RIGHT: “I left my country, and then I came to to take Zumba. She found a job as a nanny for the owner For Carmen live in another culture,” says Maria Heart, The group’s biggest necessities are of a Corvallis-area farm. After 13 years as Ramirez, pointing to the flag. She’s speaking in Span- leadership training, learning English a nanny, she became a housekeeper at the volunteer ish -- Heart married an American, but she and taking computer classes, Gonza- Corvallis Manor Nursing and Rehabilita- work at St. was born in Mexico. Next, Heart gets out les-Berry said. The meetings teach tion Center. This job helped her grow as a Mary’s Church a Mexican flag and puts the two flags to- Latinas to express their emotions with human being, she said, because she enjoyed gether. “Now I’m living in two cultures,” in Corvallis other women who are facing the same working with the elderly. she says. is important. problems. “I sang to them,” she said. “I gave them Heart and the other women are part of a She organizes “Our goal is to empower these love.” group in Corvallis called the Organizacion women to develop their skills and Today, Ramirez and her husband own a Latino events de Latinas Unidas, or the Organization of and recruits self-esteem,” Gonzales-Berry said. house in Adair Village, a small town near United Latinas. The group helps them adapt “In time, they will feel comfortable in Corvallis. Ramirez plays an important role catechism to a change of cultures. The women learn teachers. This being participants in the broader com- in her community. She holds two jobs, as how to be independent in a new country and munity.” a house cleaner and another as a caretaker portrait hangs learn English. They also learn how to bet- in her house. Maria Heart, a Mexican American, The women set goals for them- for the children of a woman who suffers ter communicate with their Americanized selves and their families to be healthy from ALS, a disease of the nerve cells in children. shows the American flag to other Latinas gathered at Casa Latinos and to improve their lifestyle in the the brain. The groups started as a result of a health United States. The group teaches Lati- One of the most important things BELOW: program at Casa Latinos Unidos De Benton Unidos in Corvallis. The flag signifies nas to be leaders and volunteers in the Ramirez has done is bringing whites and In order to County, a Latino nonprofit. Erlinda Gon- Heart’s adaptation to her new culture. community. Recently, the women par- Latinos together. She invites whites and interact and zales-Berry, executive director of the non- Heart is part of a group of women that ticipated in a rally on the Oregon State Latinos to her home for a barbecue. She forget their profit, got a $5,000 grant in September 2009 gather every Tuesday for Leadership University campus against SB 1070, organizes events for Latinos, such as posa- from the state Office of Multicultural Health training. problems, the the new Arizona immigration law. das, a Mexican celebration during Christ- women who and Services to create a health and nutrition program for Latina women. The program Education is the most important mas time. And as a leader in Organizacion form the Latina aspect for the Latinas, Gonzales-Berry de Latinas Unidas, she helps other Latinas leadership included a Zumba aerobics exercise class selves and take turns working as nannies, so and a cooking class. women with children could participate. And said, because it allows them to com- overcome the problems they face in the group are municate with their children and their United States. taking Zumba After the money ran out, the women in March, they decided to form a women’s wanted more. So Gonzales-Berry got $2,500 group. teachers. Ramirez also is involved in church. She classes twice a At a recent meeting, all the women is a catechism coordinator and teacher-re- week. from the Benton County Health Depart- That group includes about two dozen ment to put together regular Zumba classes. women, who once a week take a day off wanted to participate in the conversa- cruiter at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Once Zumba was over, the women decided their busy lives to meet at Casa Latinos tion. Kids ran through the room but Corvallis. She took charge of coordinating Photos by did not distract their moms. The wom- the first communion for Latino kids, and Marco Reyes they would pay the class instructor them- Unidos. The group provides child care. One The road to becoming en discussed the differences and simi- increased the numbers of Latino children larities between the Latino and Ameri- to complete their first communion this year. can cultures. After the meeting, they At least five families asked Ramirez to be gathered around a table in the kitchen a role model their child’s godmother. and shared bowls of posole, traditional Ramirez is a good role model that wom- Mexican hominy soup. en can look up to, said Lori Hodgert, a su- The women expressed why this pervisor in the Children and Middle School group was important to them: “I can had plenty of detours Ministry at St. Mary’s. help myself and others in this group,” “She always wants to improve herself,” said Blanca Nuñez. “I learn so much But Carmen Ramirez kept moving ahead and Hodgert said. “She does not only want to do from the other women.” a good job, but to do it better.” Carmen Ramirez agreed. has become a community leader in Corvallis Ramirez and her husband raised a fam- “Many Latina women have de- ily that supports each other and meets ev- pression, they feel incapable,” said Story and photo by Marco Reyes “They treat Hispanics differently, be- ery Sunday for dinner and a movie at their Ramirez. “We have to learn how to go cause they think they’re ignorant,” Ramirez home. They have three daughters – Miri- forward.” At her first job in the United States, at a said. amy, Ariadny and Paulina – all born in the Gonzales-Berry hopes that in United States. Two of their older daughters farm in Corvallis, Mexican immigrant Car- As a Latina, Ramirez, 39, overcame many the future more women will join the are married to whites; the third is a high men Ramirez was accused of stealing. She barriers. She refused to give up. Ramirez group. Latinas, she said, are ready to school student. The couple also have a didn’t know how to speak English, so she has become a leader in the Corvallis com- continue getting involved in commu- grandson named Jacob. had no way to defend herself or prove her munity. She’s a volunteer, organizer and nity work and to become leaders. Even though Ramirez has worked hard innocence. She also watched other Latino someone who brings Latinos and whites “I expect to see them grow as hu- and become successful in the United States, workers not given breaks, water or over- together. Because she has experienced the man beings,” Gonzales-Berry said. time pay. She realized she needed to make she still faces discrimination because of her “They have tremendous potential to same changes as other Latino newcomers, ethnicity. She says that in some stores in a change in her life. It was time to learn she is a role model for Latino immigrants. blossom in all aspects of their lives.” English. Corvallis, cashiers don’t say “Hi” to His- Ramirez is originally from the city of panics, because they think that they don’t Guadalajara, where her family owned a speak English. store and enjoyed a stable financial situa- Ramirez said she is the only Latina in tion. Ramirez went to high school there, but n Hear interviews with her neighborhood and because of that, she her dream was to move to the United States. said, sometimes her neighbors suspect she Latina women talk In 1990, she and her husband moved to Cal- doesn’t belong there. about their stuggles ifornia, and two years later to Oregon. “I didn’t come to clean a house,” in the United States She had a hard time adjusting to the Ramirez said. “I live here.” United States. Language was a barrier. In the future, Ramirez wants more La- and how they created “If you can’t speak English, you cannot tina women to get involved in the com- Organizacion de do anything,” she said. At the time, few munity and become leaders. She wants all Latinas Unidas: blog. Latinos lived in Corvallis. Ramirez ex- Latinas to know that they can learn English, perienced racism. For example, at a store get educated and be successful. oregonlive.com/teen where she was the only Latina shopper, the Ramirez supports the Dream Act, a pro- cashier asked if she was on vacation here. posed law that would allow undocumented She turned the comment into a joke and an- students to earn permanent U.S. residency, swered, “I’ll be leaving soon.” and she’s against the new Arizona law that Ramirez had to learn how to drive; it gives police the power to detain anyone took her three years. Without a car it would suspected of being in the country illegally. take an entire day to get to a store by bus “I think there should be a reward for and buy food. And stores in Corvallis did those people who work hard and do good not have any Latino products. things for the community,” she said. It’s allowing many voices to speak and be heard. | Kami Hammerschmith If everyone was white, or if everyone was black, life wouldn’t be worth living. It would be boring. | Musba Abasham Page 28 | June 2010 Page 29 | June 2010

Sabra Chandiwalla: A strong voice to lead the future n Advocating for equality allows her to shine a spotlight on issues

Story and photo by Shamso Ali on a plane for Washington, D.C., in March. also encouraged lawmakers to pass a bill to encouraging legislators to pass bills. She was one of 17 students nationwide to be protect students who are discriminated against With her GSA involvement and all the other Sabra Chandiwalla‘s passion about equality part of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education based on their sexual orientation. programs Sabra has been involved in, she has took her more than 2,800 miles from her Network’s Safe School Advocacy Summit, The trip was important to the president of the learned to be an open-minded person who fights Portland home to share an important message. which brought people together to discuss with Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) at Franklin High for equality and democracy. Both excited and nervous about whom she lawmakers bills to strengthen policies against School. “If we truly went to reach an equal, would meet and what would happen, Sabra got bullying and harassment in schools. Participants “This trip would make or break my pursuing democratic America, then we have to right of a political career,” double standards,” Sabra said. Sabra said. With a deep passion and love for equal rights, The self-described Sabra has became better at developing her own opinionated, thoughtful opinions, and it opened her eyes to political and extroverted activism. teenager traveled by “The thrill, excitement and enjoyment of herself and met new making a difference of some sort is just amazing people. ‘cause then you look back at it and say, ‘I was a “Meeting people part of that,’ ” Sabra said. from all over the nation Aside from all the advocating she does, Sabra and hearing some of enjoys activities, such as whitewater rafting, the different things dragon boat racing, going to concerts, kayaking students have been up and camping. to to help the LGBTQ Sabra accomplished many things throughout (lesbian, gay, bisexual, high school. As the GSA president, she has transgender, queer) learned how to delegate tasks, network and cause was amazing,” better include everyone in the club to get more Sabra said. involved in activities as a group. Sabra has been This fall, Sabra will attend Evergreen State influenced by the many College in Olympia, Wash., and will further extraordinary students explore political science and journalism. she has met through the She says she chose Evergreen “because of the nonprofit organizations structure and because it’s a very liberal school.” and all of the protests This will help her pursue her mission. she has been involved The college “has excellent internship with. Some of the programs with the local government in Olympia, students have shared and excellent journalism opportunities. their messages via “Journalists can call out and reveal the truth YouTube videos or by and inform the public.” Jason Liao: Swag and then some By Hilaria De Jesus Hernandez ABOVE: Maria is a Latina immigrant n Humor, determination, snazzy rap lyrics distinguish him from the rest who is raising four children in the When Maria gave birth to her fourth child United States, including a daughter Story and photo by Tameeka LeRay achievements are never on public display. in the spring of his senior year, he shared his a fight, and having the audacity to heckle his in the United States, the baby girl had a seri- Mother struggles with a serious heart illness. Because One of Jason’s hidden talents is drawing. work publicly by agreeing to produce comics opponent. ous heart problem. She was on the verge of she is undocumented, Maria – who Jason Liao doesn’t swagger. He arrives with a When Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! were the most for his school paper. “It makes me feel big,” Jason chuckled. dying. asked that her last name not be used calm and inviting demeanor and takes his place popular card games, he would spend hours “It was nice getting compliments,” Jason Jason, an 18-year-old Chinese American who In the next three years, the child would – faces isolation, fear and a longing for among the rest of the students. There is nothing drawing the different characters. said, “but I wouldn’t really call it a talent, it’s will be a freshmen at Portland State University need two heart surgeries, frequent visits to with child’s illness, family left behind in Mexico. distinctive to make all eyes fall on him; he just “I would get three of the 10-cent notebooks just something I do.” in the fall, and has “swag through the roof” in various doctors and a lot of medication. But listens attentively and falls in with the group. you get in September and fill those up in Jason also explores the literary techniques of other people’s eyes, but he has difficulty seeing Maria, an immigrant from Mexico, faced a Photo by Marco Reyes This is his preference for day-to-day life. one school year.” said Jason. Three whole rap. His favorite rap is one he concocted about it in himself. So, maybe it’s not that he doesn’t bigger obstacle: she did not know English, A recent graduate from Franklin High School, notebooks, with drawings on every page, add the “swagger” he wishes he had. In the rap, want to stand out from the group. Maybe he she had no transportation, and she knew no Jason receives high praise from past teachers, up to hundreds of pictures per year. Finally, Jason imagines being in the ring and winning just doesn’t see his own distinction. immigration status who have nothing but great things to say about one who would help her when her child be- came ill. She became desperate. for new goals, to look forward, not back- him. “Jason is one of those ‘backbone’ of the Maria, 30, who asked that her last name Maria overcomes fear and depression ward.” program kids,” said Kate Moore, Jason’s high not be revealed, has been living in Oregon to get more involved in the community But there is one problem that remains: Ma- school journalism teacher, who also described for 11 years. She is afraid, because she is un- ria’s illegal status. Eleven years have passed him as “thoughtful” and “thorough.” Doug documented. since Maria has last seen her parents, or her Jenkins, his junior English teacher, added that Due to her illegal status, she became very brothers and sisters. In her dreams, Maria can Jason turned in “some of the most creative and isolated and she fell into a depression when States – and no money for a baby sitter She also took English classes at Linn- see her family sitting at the dinner table in her enjoyable writing I’ve read from any of my her daughter was diagnosed with a life- or family member to help her. She had no Benton Community College. house. But her family can’t see her. students.” threatening disease. But the past few years, transportation – she couldn’t get a license Four years passed, and her daughter’s When she talks about this, Maria starts to However, Jason has talents beyond being Maria has learned to overcome her fear and because of her lack of legal documents. health improved. It inspired Maria to enjoy cry. She has been longing to see her family, a fantastic student. Moore explains, “Lurking depression, and become more involved in As if these obstacles were not enough, life again. Maria’s daughter still has to see but if she goes to Mexico to visit, it is likely beneath his quiet in-class exterior is quick wit, the community. Maria’s fourth baby was born with heart her cardiologist every six months and has to that she will not be able to come back. Cross- the kind that makes you smile in the moment Growing up in a small village in the problems. Maria was extremely worried. She take her medicine every six hours. But for ing the border with a smuggler is dangerous, and find yourself giggling about hours later.” Mexican state of Guanajuato, Maria was one was alone in the hospital, because her family now, she does not show any symptoms of and she cannot take the risk of leaving behind Jason is quick with a pen, also, and a spelling of 12 siblings. Her family was poor – they was in Mexico, and she became desperate. seizures. her sick daughter. bee finalist, although he would never explain it owned only one bicycle for all the children, “I was in this world, but I wasn’t here,” “When I see my daughter’s smile, it re- But she also cannot take her daughter to that way. Jason’s determination, creativity and but Maria was stubborn and learned to ride she said, describing her state of depression. minds me that she is happy. And if she is her village in Mexico – where there are no humor have directed him on his voyage through it. After the surgery, the baby girl was do- happy, I’m happy,” Maria said. Still, the hospitals or money for medicine – because life, without requiring much recognition or The family grew corn and raised a few ing well, until one night she started to have mother worries that something bad may hap- her daughter has a serious illness. So Maria admiration from others. pigs. Maria had no chance to study, and she convulsions. The doctors couldn’t find a di- pen to her daughter. remains in Oregon, “with her arms crossed.” “Getting cut from the freshman basketball disliked farming. She came with her husband agnosis or a cure after many analyses. “I wish I could go with my daughter to Waiting. Afraid. team was my most memorable high school to Oregon because she wanted a better future Months later, the doctors told Maria that school, so I could protect her.” “You keep quiet, and you can’t do any- memory,” Jason said. The feeling of not without poverty. She was the first one in her the baby had seizures in the brain. The baby Maria’s depression lessened when she thing,” she said. “Because it’s not in your being good enough has gotten to everyone at family to come to the United States. had more convulsions, and Maria had to rush joined Organizacion de Latinas Unidas, hands. Because you can’t say that I’m going some point, but Jason didn’t let that feeling She never expected that living in the U.S. her to the hospital. a group of Latina women who share their to be here or over there.” kill his drive. He has shown dedication to his would be difficult. Maria did not know Eng- Again, she was alone, “not even a sister struggles, try to find solutions and offer Maria hopes for immigration reform, schooling, “always” meeting his deadlines, lish and soon became very isolated and de- or anyone else to take care of my other chil- each other support. In the group, Maria can which would allow her family and other un- according to Moore, and finding ingenious pressed. Her husband worked at a Christmas dren,” she said. have time for herself, she said. The women documented people in the United States to get ways of enhancing a usually boring assignment, tree farm and as a firefighter, and was often Maria fought her depression and isola- help her move forward and achieve the No. legal status. If that happens Maria could see such as writing his junior research paper on not at home. tion. She started to walk to the park and the 1 goal: to succeed in the United States as a her family in Mexico. mustaches. He has volunteered to be his school For the first four years, Maria al- library, and to use public transportation. She Latina. “God made us equal, we want a better newspaper’s comic artist, and has competed most never left her house. She had three fulfilled her biggest dream: to ride bicycles “The women help me forget the struggles future,” she said. “We are not criminals. We in a couple of spelling bees, placing as high young children – all born in the United to the park with her husband and children. I lived through,” Maria said. “I want to look came here to work.” as third in Oregon. His efforts often end in success, and yet many of his most cherished Diversity is the sum of what keeps all of us together. Everyone’s diverse. | Shamso Ali Diversity of opinion, not just race, makes you more of an open-minded person. | Dahlia Bazzaz

Page 30 | June 2010 Page 31 | June 2010

Tameeka LeRay: Resilient and ready to move on Dahlia Bazzaz: Inspired to tell the whole story n Unfazed by father’s n Her culture drives her passion to reveal the truth with journalism misdeeds and unafraid Story and photo by Yuca Kosugi Story and photo by Jason Liao Dahlia Bazzaz doesn’t mind when people get curious about her head scarf, or hijab. The The cries echo throughout the room. They 16-year-old St. Mary’s Academy junior actu- come from a newborn girl who awaits her father ally prefers that people ask her about it instead to fill in her blank birth certificate. That father of making assumptions or feeling uneasy. didn’t appear. The mother frantically searches a “I’ve definitely gotten stares,” Dahlia says book of names and finds one she likes. On Oct. with a light laugh. “People are more hesitant. 2, 1992, Tameeka LeRay was born. They feel like I’m not approachable.” Tameeka’s father Albert LeRay had planned She wears what any other high school for his first child to be named Leah Lynn but he student would wear, jeans and a hoodie. But was too drunk to show up at the hospital. His her expressions peer out from beneath multi- absence that day was a sign of things to come, colored cloth, which wraps around her head, because Albert LeRay has never accepted the covering her hair and resting on her shoulders. responsibilities of fatherhood. Every once in a while her fingers travel up Despite the fact that the name Leah Lynn and fiddle with the stray ends of the hijab. She relates to her father’s unavailability, the now 17- started wearing it when she was 9 years old. year-old Tameeka favors her father’s choice in “I just did it because I thought I had to,” she names. recalls, “but now I wear it for a reason.” “I would’ve preferred being named Leah To Dahlia, a hijab prevents people from because people always spell ‘Tameeka’ weird. judging by appearance. There have been people who spell it with Q’s She identifies herself as Iraqi. Her parents and N’s and even my grandparents can’t spell lived in Baghdad for two years before mov- it right. I think all my presents from them are ing to Eugene in 1978 when her father, Alan labeled ‘to Aneeka.’ ” Bazzaz, enrolled in the University of Oregon’s The cries echo again throughout a room. computer science program; it is the root of her Tameeka’s mom, Shari, is in a hospital for a love for the Ducks and college football. possible miscarriage, a result of Albert LeRay’s Initially they lived in Eugene, where she abuse. Luckily no such miscarriage occurred was born, because Alan Bazzaz’s uncle also ting on the couch watching a CNN special school newspaper. Next fall, Dahlia hopes to vacation. and Tameeka’s youngest sister, Brianna LeRay, lived there and helped them get on their feet. called “God’s Warriors.” be writing opinion pieces for “The Miss Print.” The Bazzazses were forced to move into was born without complications. Alan Bazzaz and his wife, Fatma, considered The three-part special by Christiane Aman- The Iraq war is one of many issues she would one of the houses Alan rented out, which was At the age of 6, Tameeka had to testify as a moving back to Iraq, but gave up that idea after pour was about the three Abrahamic religions like to cover. just over the city line in West Linn. Their new witness of her father’s abuse. When she was 13, the Middle East political situation deteriorated, in the Middle East: Christianity, Judaism and “People sometimes don’t know what to home is much smaller. The old one, demol- she had to testify once again against her father, and he found a job in computer software. Islam. In the show, Amanpour went into the think about things,” Dahlia says. A well-writ- ished, took with it their personal belongings this time for attempting to stab her mother. Many of her relatives lived in Iraq until countries where religion was most intensely ten editorial, she says, makes it “a lot faster to and tangible memories. Tameeka moves around in her chair and Saddam Hussein kicked them out to Iran. In practiced and reported on extremist groups. find your stance on something, whether you Silence filled the air in their home during the fidgets uncomfortably as she recollects those “If I had a different dad, I wouldn’t work as has had eight surgeries to clear liquid from her ily, Tameeka stays upbeat. On any given day, summer 2008, Dahlia and her family visited What intrigued Dahlia about the show was agree or not.” months after the incident. Her parents still had days in court. She says she is not afraid of her them. She became homesick and didn’t enjoy that the reporter was on location, everything Dahlia enrolled in St. Mary’s for its diver- to pay the mortgage on their destroyed dream father and was not afraid the last time she talked hard as I do now. Having him as a dad makes brain. Most of the money needed was donated, she can be seen enjoying life, whether that is me want to be unlike the person he is. Getting something Tameeka and her single mother are through playing World of Warcraft, planning for the experience at the time, but it made her real- was on camera and she asked questions that sity. Throughout her elementary and middle home. But as time passed and the memories to him. When he began pursuing partial custody ize that she had a different perspective of Iran’s were important to ask. school years she found herself the only Arab ebbed, they were able to take away a lesson of her two years ago, she knew his intentions my mom pregnant doesn’t really make him my grateful for. Lakeesha probably will face more her senior year at Parkrose High School or act- dad.” procedures to remove fluid in the future, and Ta- ing through improv meetings at Lloyd Center. culture than most people. “It was just unbiased and honest,” Dahlia among her classmates. It was “disorienting” to — what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. were not righteous. “People struggle to see normal people (in says. say the least, she says. “I now understand how it feels to be de- Tameeka knows in her heart that her father Besides dealing with the troubled relation- meeka is happy she can spend time with her and Tameeka says that she is shy until she is ship with her father, Tameeka also copes with help her out. spoken to, and the improv meetings help her the Middle East),” Dahlia says. “I have a dif- This show not only triggered Dahlia’s cu- Even Eugene was more diverse before her tached,” says Dahlia. Detached not only from is a “girlfriend-hopping” felon who probably ferent perspective. Things aren’t so extreme all riosity about how politics and religion inter- family moved to Lake Oswego nine years ago. a home, but from a lifestyle, a culture, a base wanted child support from her mom, rather than the endless medical problems of her younger “Tameeka helps me with my homework af- communicate better with people outside of her sister. Although she is the eldest of three girls, ter school. She was there for me when I had to family. the time.” twine, but also gave her a glimpse of the power The family made another small yet drastic foundation of one’s life. to be the father she deserved. A constant stream of news buzzes through of bona fide journalism. move in January 2009 when a mudslide took “It just took time,” she recalls. “Over time When asked what her life would have been Tameeka looks up to her 13-year-old sister be- get the doctor to check my brain a few months At her improv meeting, Tameeka’s voice cause Lakeesha lives on despite having hydro- ago,” Lakeesha playfully said. echoes throughout the room, but this time, there the Bazzaz household. One lazy late afternoon At St. Mary’s Academy, students have to out the midsection of their house while Dahlia you forget about it. Life throws new things at like with a different father, there is no hesitation in August 2007 Dahlia found her parents sit- wait for their junior year to join the staff of the and her parents were away for a New Year’s you.” in her response. cephalus, a serious brain condition. Lakeesha Despite those challenges within her fam- are no cries, just smiles. Musba Abasham: His motivation is a good education Osman A. Omar: At home in the world n Sports and fun are high on his list, but school is his focus n Staying grounded despite frequent moves Story and photo by Brittany Nguyen loves. As the tallest person on the team, Musba “I have common sense now,” Musba said. proudly plays the center position. “I know when something is wrong and when Story and photo by Monica Melchor new restrictions, like a curfew, something he had One day last summer when Musba Abasham His new friends here in Oregon have been something is right. Before, I knew I didn’t care, never had as a child. Although he sounds uncertain, was visiting his cousin in Portland, a simple positive influences, showing him that he can even though I didn’t know the difference.” Not knowing what became of, but knowing only he seems ready to take the bullets of change that suggestion changed his life. Two weeks into both play basketball for the team and still not Musba still uses the phrase “I don’t care” that it has. have hit him. the visit, his cousin invited Musba into his forget that school comes first. when he describes his feelings. But he doesn’t Inside Osman A. Omar, the world has its own “I’m always ready for whatever happens,” he room and said, “I want you to stay with me for “Our lives revolve around school,” he said. want people to mistake his I-don’t-care atti- way of working; everything has color and motion. says. a year so I can help you focus on school.” That change started the summer after his tude as something negative. Instead, he wants Yet some of it remains colorless and peculiar. His Osman wears an orange hoodie and blue jeans. Musba readily agreed. freshman year, when Musba decided to make people to realize that it’s a way for him to con- path to come has no format. No outline. No sketch. He walks with Vans that are midnight black. He is “I just go with the flow,” he said. “Why wor- education a bigger priority. He took a six-week stantly stay optimistic about everything with- “Life is hard, and nobody helps you,” he says tall and thin. He runs track and plays basketball. ry? It’s better to look on the bright side.” program at St. Olaf College knowing that he out overthinking and stressing about things he with conviction, in a soft voice. His faith, Islam, has kept him grounded. It has His optimism made the move easier as he re- would be surrounded by strong role models. cannot change. Osman, 16, was born in Kenya. When he was 3 traveled with him to Egypt and back. Osman finds alized that to push himself in school, he needed For four hours a day, five days a week, Musba This helps him easily adapt to all the chang- months old he moved to Oregon. Shortly before he silence and peace in his prayers, which he tries to do to break out of his comfort zone. The move performed experiments in science class and es in his life. Though he loves Portland, espe- turned 15, he and his family moved again, this time five times a day. from his school in St. Paul, Minn., to Parkrose learned to speed-read in literature class. He cially the soothing sounds of the constant rain, to Egypt to meet family who had fled the war in Osman is concerned that college will be a major High School gave him the rigorous course saw these as “fun, do-able classes with no he says that if he had to move again he would Somalia. He arrived in Cairo with his mother, two change because he will be by himself and have to work he needed with smaller class sizes. It also homework.” Musba didn’t consider this sum- do so with a good attitude. brothers and two sisters. His father stayed behind in figure things on his own. He will be the first person gave Musba a chance to prioritize, going from mer school by any means. For now, Musba concentrates on adapting Portland to make money for the family. in his family to go to college in this country. exercising his body to exercising his brain. “Camp helps me to know that I don’t have to to his new city by walking around and explor- His journey to Egypt forced him to learn on his He is motivated by his parents’ life stories, and In St. Paul, he and his friends preferred to sit around the house all summer,” he said. “It ing downtown Portland. Though at times he own when teachers did not help. His determina- through those hard memories he is able to under- make slam dunks to “embarrass each other” keeps me thinking, and I love school. It’s the wishes his old friends were around, he knows tion to push himself resulted in awesome experi- stand what he wants. His father lost his father at on the basketball court rather than focusing on foundation of life.” that Oregon is a place where he will mature the ences. Through his walks around the rough streets an early age; he worked while going to school to achieving good grades. Musba has also matured throughout the most. With a stronger focus on his classes, he of Egypt he learned Arabic and Somali. He made support his family. His mother raised her siblings This year, Musba joined the JV team at Park- years. He no longer shouts out jokes in class, knows that his knowledge will extend beyond friends playing soccer. after her mother died. “If they can do that with no rose. With daily practices lasting two hours and which had always landed him in the detention the classroom. In 2009, Osman returned to the United States help, why can’t I do something like that with re- one or two games a week, Musba was given room. He finds that keeping his mouth shut “Education is not what you learn in school,” with his passport about to expire. He faced tremen- sources?” a structured schedule to play a sport that he also keeps him out of trouble. he said, “but what you still know after.” dous pressure at his new school, Parkrose High, He wants to be a scientist. It is something he has having to take four years of high school in three always been curious about. years. He was unprepared to take advanced classes, Forgetting those who doubt him still, his path to and felt like he must not fail. come has no format, no outline, and no sketch. Just He had to adapt to speaking English and faced hope. If we only get one view on a subject, it’s really easy to leave out important information. | Sabra Chandiwalla I like learning about other people. I usually talk to everyone. It makes me more aware of who I am. | Stephany Chum

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Paulina Liang: Formed by two worlds Shamso Ali: Out of Somali devastation n From Taiwan, she brings her love of animals to America n Teen finds power in writing after arriving in America on Sept. 11, 2001

Story and photo by Aidan Orellana affection for animals stuck with her. Other than defending herself from her dog, Taiwan, looked to find better job opportuni- Story and photo by Sabra Chandiwalla out around the house. I’m older I would love is one of the ways Shamso hopes to unify stu- Paulina is now a 16-year-old at Parkrose Paulina has had time to discover and grow to ties and a better life in the United States. Since Now that she’s in the to go back and visit dents. One of Paulina Liang’s earliest memories of High School in Portland. When she visits Tai- like farm animals in the United States. ”I love then, much of his family has followed. Terror. Families torn apart by anguish and the United States, it isn’t Somalia.” Shamso hopes to one day become a nonfic- animals was when her mother, Nicole, helped wan, she loves the undomesticated and exotic farm animals and, actually, all animals, because Paulina arrived in the United States as an need for survival. The stench of death fresh in much different. Shamso’s mother is tion writer. She once read a biography of an Af- out at a business next to a pet store in Taiwan. animals, including huge pythons just lying in they’re so different from us,” she says. infant, first living in Pittsburgh before moving the air. Shamso, now 16, also very active in giv- rican man and his journey to America and saw When Paulina and her older sister, Cynthia, the streets. At her home in America, she only Animals are not the only way that Paulina’s to the Portland area with her sister and mother The war in Somalia was fierce and constant, does a lot of baby- ing back to the com- the resemblance to her life through his eyes. were with their mother, they often went to in- has a dog, a Jack Russell named Choppa. He life straddles two cultures. Her ties run deep to when she was 4. She currently lives with her filling its people with despair and quashing the sitting and a lot of munity in the same “His experiences in Africa, then his experi- teract with the animals there, especially the fer- has aggressive streaks, and has bitten at Pau- both the United States and Taiwan. mother and grandparents, Kai Fu and Shia hopes of many at ever seeing it end. In one final cleaning but she way the Somali com- ence moving to and living in America,” Shamso rets. At that time, Paulina was only 7, but her lina many times. Many decades ago, her grandpa, a sailor in Shen Liang. Her sister, who attended the Uni- act of survival, Shamso Ali and her family man- doesn’t seem to mind munity in Texas helped said. “(His story) relates to my life and how I versity of Oregon, plans to study in Japan. aged to secure safe passage to America with the taking on this heavy her. She buys grocer- grew up.” Now, every three years, Paulina is able to help of the U.S. government. responsibility. ies, takes kids to school She wants to educate the world using the ex- visit her aunts, uncles and a nephew in Taiwan. Upon arriving in Houston on Sept. 11, 2001, “My mom had to or to the hospital and periences of her subjects as she paints their story Going to Taiwan is considered a vacation for then 7-year-old Shamso and her family unknow- watch her siblings babysits. across each page and splashes each moment with her and her sister, and entering the country ingly entered America mere minutes before ter- when she was young With a learned and the rich texture of their life. Shamso also wants to brings back many memories. “I love going rorists crashed planes into the side of the Twin and I was brought observed passion for write an autobiography and has already filled two back; there’s just so much to do and it’s a lot Towers in New York. Dazed and confused by up to do the same,” equality and creating spiral notebooks about her personal experiences. warmer,” Paulina says. the multitude of people crying around her, and Shamso said, ex- an environment where “I write whenever I can,” she said. Family is the main aspect of her life and filled with relief over leaving war in Somalia, all plaining that she and everyone can succeed, Along with writing nonfiction, Shamso would is the main source of her support. Both her Shamso wanted was to go home and sleep. her mom take turns Shamso has already be- like to try her hand at other types of writing that mother and her sister continue to help Paulina Shamso’s family received green cards, So- watching the kids. gun to make a change incorporate her love and admiration for fashion. develop and succeed. “My mom is the person I cial Security cards and food stamps. On top of “When she goes out in her school by joining Eventually she wants to travel around the world look up to,” she says. “My sister is the person I that, the small Somali community in Houston with friends, I watch student government as and settle in New York where she plans on writ- look to for guidance.” helped the Ali family buy groceries, take their them for her, and the Representative of ing for a fashion magazine, preferably Vogue, Paulina also continues to look to the future kids to school and get all their proper shots. Al- when I’m out with Assemblies, with the and continuing her dream of writing nonfiction. and do what she can to prepare for it. though Shamso’s family received ample support friends, she watches hopes of unifying the “New York is where the fashion is,” she said. Cynthia says her sister asks her for help on from the surrounding community, Texas wasn’t them for me. I feel whole school. An in- “I love everything about fashion; the creativity, everything from how to fill out a college ap- home. like they’re my kids, coming junior at West- how someone can take something so simple and plication to how to complete a level in a video “We had family in Oregon,” Shamso said, too.” view High School, transform it into something so beautiful.” game. “so we asked the government if we could move Although Shamso Shamso said her school While Shamso lives far from her war-torn “In one word, I would describe Paulina as there instead.” Three months later, Shamso, her has lived in Bea- is very big and diverse, homeland, her life experiences have become sincere because she really puts herself out for other people,” Cynthia says. mom, Rahma, her dad, Mohamed, and her eight verton for nearly nine years, she never forgets but not many people get to see its diversity. part of her identity. Paulina does not take herself too seriously, siblings moved to Beaverton. where she came from. Starting next year, Shamso and her student She may not know what the future holds for however. She doesn’t worry about too much, Shamso has always been surrounded by fam- “My dad and sister are working on this project government peers plan to start a drawing con- her, but she knows that it will make for a won- including the fact that she can’t ride a bike or ily and relatives. It’s what she is used to; she to create a school in Somalia for orphaned chil- test to get artists in her school more involved. derful tale full of exciting adventures, character- swim. “I don’t mind my uncoordination,” she considers them a comfort. In Somalia, Shamso’s dren,” she said. “I really like what they’re do- The winner will have the opportunity to put their building challenges and an honest, deliberate says with a shrug and a smile. family lived with her grandparents and helped ing and I want to help them with it ... and when design on T-shirts to be sold at the school. This truth behind every word she writes. She knows that there’s much more to life than that. Hosana Medhanie: Journey to togetherness n Family draws closer after tragedy at home, visit to Eritrea Yuca Kosugi: Swimming toward her future Story and photo by Altrenia Littleton and her parents were still at work as usual. her friends and family. It also held all of her was the nanny for a prince. n Early-morning workouts push her limits When Hosana was entering her house, she schoolwork. The burglary was hard on the Medhanie It was the week before Christmas and the felt something wasn’t quite right. Usually ev- The Christmas presents, well-hidden, were family. But they comforted one another. She Story and photo by Dahlia Bazzaz lives in was built by her father and includes a tree in the Medhanie home was decorated erything was dark when she came home, but not taken. and her sisters began to hang out with each portion of raised floorboard to replicate tradi- with tinsel, ornaments, candy canes, a star and she saw light coming from the bottom of the But unfortunately, her mother’s valuables other more than before. Yuca Kosugi may live in Boring, but her tional Japanese architecture. bells. staircase. After waiting a while she went out- were stolen — priceless jewelry. Hosana’s The burglary made them look on the bright life story is anything but. The newly graduated Putting her pen to her forehead and swiping There were no presents under the tree; the side and saw that a screen was torn and the mother, Saba Bahta, had worked for one of side — no one was hurt. They still had each senior from Sam Barlow High School flicks her shoulder length ebony hair out of the way, family likes to hide their presents so they can window was open. the queens in Eritrea, and that queen had given other and a shared culture. Their Catholic faith a lanyard around her neck as she talks about Yuca enthusiastically sketches her name in Jap- enjoy being tempted imagining what’s coming. Their home had been burglarized. Saba Bahta gold and silver jewelry that was and prayer help them believe that everything life as a first-generation Japanese American, anese as she talks about life in her household. Hosana Medhanie, who is 15, took the bus Hosana’s iPod and her computer were gone worth thousands of dollars in appreciation of would be OK. a possible future in international relations, The family practices the “shoes off” rule and home right after school one afternoon. Her with all of her favorite music: Lil Wayne her service. Through the years, her mother has taught but mostly about her passion for swimming. almost always eats Japanese food. She lists her older and younger sister stayed late at school, and Drake. Her computer held memories of Hosana’s parents are from Eritrea; her mom Hosana discipline and forgiveness. Her dad, She took her first swimming lessons at favorite dish as “okonomiyaki,” a non-sweet Medhanie Embaye, has taught her giving back age 3. Fifteen years later, she now spends pancake with a cabbage base. and remembering. as much time in the water as she does in a Her father, unhappy with his job as a sales- Hosana was born in Portland, and she attended classroom. The demanding routine proves man in Tokyo, quit and decided to move to the Holy Redeemer Catholic School. She now goes well worth it to Yuca, because the reward United States. His love for nature and moun- to De La Salle North Catholic High School. of doing well is an incomparable high. tain climbing brought him to his current job as Even though she was born in America, Ho- “Swimming is really the closest a tour guide for various parts of the Northwest sana is aware of her roots and that Eritrea is her thing you can get to flying,” she says. and Canada. The seasonal job, however, does second home. Both activities take a lot of one thing -- not bring in a stable income. She took a trip to Eritrea when she was 7. practice. While she juggles school and all its “I was never aware of my family’s financial She felt kind of out of place. But she also said demands, she endures a rigorous schedule of situation,” she says as her eyes wander the she felt like she belonged. She felt like every- swimming and meets. As a member of the se- room. “We had simple, cheap meals at home one looked like her. But at the same time she nior swim team at Mount Hood Aquatic Cen- and we had just enough to keep living nor- felt she was different from Eritreans. ter, Yuca rarely misses a chance to train. Her mally.” She also couldn’t speak their language, Ti- family supports her early mornings and sum- Yuca’s pride in her Japanese heritage did grinya, fluently. mer meets. not come early. She remembers one comment “The trip to Eritrea was beautiful,” she says. On a typical summer day, instead of sleep- a boy made in fourth grade that she still thinks “But at the same time there were sights that ing until noon or laying out in the backyard, about. It emphasized her status as the only Jap- were not so pleasant.” Yuca rises at 7 a.m., swallows down a granola anese American among her peers at school and There was a lot of poverty, houses that didn’t bar and heads off to the center. There, she lifts on the swim team. have indoor plumbing and children who didn’t weights or swims laps before returning home “When I was in elementary school, people have shoes. and taking a nap. Four hours later, she is back would ask me why my eyes were so small,” Hosana and her family gave them candy, at the pool. she says. clothing, shoes and toys they had brought with “It’s really helped me manage my time,” she Despite those early taunts, Yuca now em- them. says. braces her culture. In fact, she aspires to learn They returned with their bags much lighter Her parents moved to Oregon from Tokyo, fluent Japanese and pursue a career in interna- but she brought back a greater good — knowl- and she speaks a mix of Japanese and English tional affairs. She takes pride in being a minor- edge of her culture. with her family. She lives on rural land sur- ity and bilingual, saying both make her more It was very different from Portland. rounded by horses and blueberry farms. open to different people. But her father was there to remind her that Unlike in modern American culture, her As for her favorite part of being Japanese? this was where she came from. And to remem- family seldom eats out. The house her family “I love the food,” she says. ber that this country is her second home. If we can learn to hate, we can learn to love. The only way to change it is to change yourself. | Hilaria De Jesus Hernandez Diversity can put things in perspective for people. | Taylor Grady

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Taylor Grady: A home onstage Francisco Lopez-Bautista: From distractions to determination n Dramatic pursuits turn to creative obsession n Once skating on thin ice, a partier becomes a budding writer

Story and photo by Francisco Lopez-Bautista discovery of a sketch written by a friend of hers Story and photo by Taylor Grady Oregon University or pos- Despite his love of writing, he’d never had during eighth grade. Skeptical at first, she began sibly the University of Ore- any journalism experience when he found out Most people are frightened by the thought of to change a few things. In between moments of A Latino high school boy stands surrounded gon. Creative writing, how- about the High School Journalism Institute public speaking or performing for a crowd. Most proof-reading, her imagination roamed free. She by other teens clutching half-drunk beer and ever, has been his greatest and figured it would be a good way to learn young adults are still trying to find themselves. began adding ideas and soon developed it into liquor bottles. He’s enjoying himself, but then method of self-expression. about the field. For Taylor “TJ” Grady, these indecisive moments something of her own. looks around at the other partygoers. He no- “I just capture the mo- “I noticed (in journalism) the articles were in her life ended the very first time she stepped on Her inspiration and effort paid off when tices kids — who aren’t really kids anymore ment,” Francisco said. short, and the writing was good,” he said. “I a stage, performing in a third-grade play. her peers at Parkrose performed the play. The — still hanging around at high school parties; He was born in Port- just thought, ‘I could do that.’ ” In elementary school, Taylor’s teachers gave thought of her work being used brought forth a 19- to 21-year-olds. He begins to wonder: Is land to Mexican parents. The inspiration for his writing is rap music. assignments that involved speaking to the class. rush of emotions. that who I’m going to be? Though his parents spoke “I really like how rappers use metaphors in Taylor later came to the conclusion that the big- “It was amazing seeing my work come to life Francisco Lopez-Bautista, 18, is a gradu- only Spanish, 4-year-old their music,” Francisco said. “A lot of my vo- ger the crowd, the more comfortable she felt per- on stage,” she says. “The feeling is indescrib- ate of Molalla High School, though his path Francisco began picking up cabulary has come from music.” forming. “I know that saying that the bigger the able.” to graduation was not easy. By the end of his English on his own from Rap lyrics have sparked a broader interest crowd the more comfortable I am on stage seems Taylor not only has had moments of success, freshman year, he was three credits behind the watching TV. Both languag- in school for him. He recognizes rhetorical de- like a twisted perception.” but moments that have tested her will to keep go- required amount — by his junior year, he was es are spoken in the home, vices in lyrics and deciphers their meaning. Acting started off as a passing interest and de- ing. But even when discouraged, she has stayed eight credits short. He’d been distracted in ear- sometimes overlapping into “I was like, ‘This is what we’re doing in veloped into what she now calls a “love/obses- motivated. For her, acting always holds room for lier years by that teenage desire to fit in. “Spanglish” among he and English. I can do this,’ ” he said. sion.” Taylor has devoted herself to theater; not improvement. “I was trying to fulfill a fantasy,” Francisco his brother, 13, and sister, Next to writing and music, one of Francis- just the performing aspect but anything that will Taylor’s life and heart don’t stray far from said. “But I fit in somewhere where I was not 16. co’s everyday passions is skateboarding. bring about a more profound sense of creativity what she loves doing. When not rehearsing or me.” Despite his ease with the Francisco was not only a member of a skate to whatever she does. studying, Taylor finds time to enjoy her favorite Freshman through junior year, he spent the language, he was placed crew, but was sponsored by a company called Taylor, a 17-year-old student at Parkrose High TV musical, “Glee.” for a job that drains your drive and ambition is refers to a quote by the 18th-century poet Alex- majority of his time partying and skipping into ELL (English Lan- Fall Line, which gave him free skateboards School, is a member of the International Thes- “What can I say, I’m kind of a theater nerd,” out of the question for this aspiring actress. Tay- ander Pope: “Act well thy part, there all the honor classes. When he started seeing those older guage Learners) classes at every month. pian Society. One of her proudest moments as Taylor says, laughing. lor knows that the journey to Broadway will be lies.” a theater artist came when she wrote a one-act Many might view Taylor’s obsession as filled with hardships and full of hard work. And on the road to theatrical acclaim, Taylor kids at high school parties, stuck in the same school. His perseverance in skateboarding has play during her junior year. It started with her re- strange. But in this world of mediocrity, settling So, whenever in need of reassurance, Taylor plays her part very well. place he was, he knew something was wrong. “Someone assumed that become a metaphor for his outlook on life’s He began to worry that he was settling for a because I was Hispanic, I challenges. As an example, he describes a fun four-year experience, but a miserable life needed help with English,” skater trying to land a trick. The skater tries in the long run. Francisco said. and fails for hours as the day winds down, and “I don’t wanna be that person,” Francisco He was enrolled in ELL soon it gets dark and the day nears the end. Altrenia Littleton: Page by page, she confides her feelings said. “I [needed] to do something.” classes until his sophomore The skater keeps trying regardless. Eventu- n Who is the girl who hides behind the unspoken words in her diary? Francisco’s life had begun to stray from a year. He was told that the ally, he lands it, and an immense feeling of promising future. His early love of writing state required the classes be pride washes over him. paved the way for success, but distractions offered. “You can go home at the end of the day Story and photo by Hosana Medhanie continued to lead him astray. He succeeded “What they didn’t tell us with a sense of accomplishment,” Francisco in overcoming them during his senior year, was that we could refuse,” said. Altrenia Littleton is often at a loss for the spo- getting credits through a program called E- he said. Francisco’s main motivation — from land- ken word, but she can easily write about her feel- School. He was supposed to work on the pro- “It made me wanna go back and start all One reason Francisco ing those skateboard tricks to regaining those ings and experiences in her blue, locked journal, gram for an hour and a half each day. Rather, over again,” he said. “I wished I had done it hadn’t protested being placed in ELL classes lost credits — is simply overcoming the odds with hearts and jewels on the cover. he put it off for days, until late evenings when right the first time.” was that he could easily receive an A. But he and defeating society’s stereotypes. “The sky the year was nearing the end. Recovering cred- He now plans to attend college and major soon found that regular English classes helped is not the limit. It’s just the beginning,” he Dear Diary, its took up a lot of his free time. in journalism and minor in English at Western him improve his writing. said. Is me not talking affecting my peers? Why can’t I just tell what I feel? ... I tell myself ‘will they use it against me?’ I want to speak but there’s nothing found! Kimberly Mejia: Making the most out of a difficult move Altrenia feels most comfortable writing in her room alone, in either the morning or at night. She n She leaves her close-knit community for a place with better opportunities lies down on her silk blue comforter that covers her queen-sized bed. There’s no music filling the By Mary Ruiz Kimberly is always challenging herself. room, as Altrenia prefers the delicate sound of At the High School Journalism Institute, the her pencil, etching against the lined white pages. As she spins in a black office chair, feet students were invited to jump from poles Dear Diary, tucked under her, curly hair bouncing, smile about 30 feet in the air to catch a trapeze bar. Being alone is just me. Is it because I’m the on her face, Kimberly Mejia tells a story. With fists clenched and a nervous smile on youngest child and the rest are grown? Do I be- “I remember riding my bike around the her face, Kimberly was standing at the top of long? I have to trust myself! Searching for myself stores, and everyone knowing me.” She the pole, arms extended, ready to jump. She but every time I end up at a DEADEND! smiles as she thinks back to her time grow- missed the bar and ended up hanging by her ing up in California. harness before being lowered to the ground. She writes with speed, regularly going through Kimberly knew what it was like to not only An hour or so before that, she was squirming a single diary every few years, because she writes feel at home in her own house, but also in her in her bright orange sweater, watching in dis- up to three times a day. Altrenia’s been writing community. From being able to sing karaoke belief as the event coordinators climbed up in a diary since the fifth grade, and she keeps up “If he’s here every day for practice, why can’t Dear Diary, ficult in that neighborhood. There were shootings outside with her neighborhood friends, to the poles to set up the activity. She made the with her tradition of throwing away her diary af- I be too?” Altrenia asks. I love him so much! My little nephew, Cori — and gangs. walking down the street to see jungles taking leap because, “You wouldn’t get that chance ter reaching the last page. The whole team tries to spend a lot of time sweet, lovely and playful! Sometimes I just look Then she moved to the Parkrose neighbor- over her neighbors’ front lawns. every day, so I wanted to try it.” “I don’t keep my diaries, because of all the with him on and off the court. The team members at him and tears just want to fall — like drops of hood, a relief for the family. Altrenia loves the “Everyone knew each other, everything Kimberly went from barely trying at pain and burdens that is in them,” she says. “Put- sometimes bicker amongst themselves, but they rain dew. But I have to remember that I have to fact that she’s known most classmates since the felt right,” she said, but before she knew it, school to now having a dream of attending ting them into the trash is like throwing away bad do not want him to know about it, because they show him that I’m strong so he can have the same fourth-grade at Prescott Elementary School, then her familiar life was ripped right out from a university. Her love for learning and expe- memories and just starting over.” don’t want to cause him stress. feeling of strength as well. Parkrose Middle School and now Parkrose High under her nose. Kimberly was moving — riencing new things spreads to others in her Altrenia, 14, answers in one-word sentences Altrenia did not know much about this type of School. from sunny, close-knit California, to lonely life, including Kimberly’s friend Annicia Li- and “shuts down” when she talks about her feel- cancer, so she did her research by asking Dave Altrenia and her 2-year-old nephew, Corinthi- In the future she plans to pursue law, because old Oregon. mon, 16. In the beginning of the school year, ings. She only writes. and others. She also went on the Internet to an, have a special bond. She loves spending time she loves participating in mock trials in her The junior at Century High School in Limon had signed up for an advanced class Google it, so that she could understand what he with him. However, she witnessed him having classes. Criminal cases and prosecution intrigue Hillsboro went from knowing everyone to and got a C. Dear Diary, was going through. his first seizure in January 2009. Cori and Altre- her. starting completely over. Kimberly lost big, “So I called Kimberly and started freak- I’m feeling kind of upset about myself, because The doctors now say that Dave has about a nia were upstairs in her room watching a movie “Even though the prosecution side never wins, friendly family gatherings. But, in an unfa- ing out, and she stopped me and said, ‘Don’t I don’t think I’m doing enough for Dave. How year to live. His goal before he dies is to take his and Cori started shaking. Her brother called 9- I like that side better,” Altrenia says with a smile. miliar, new environment, she gained confi- worry. You’re passing with a C. I know you could I help? I feel like I’m getting even more team to the state championships. The team plans 1-1. After five minutes an ambulance arrived. She learns a lot from her mom, and whenever dence to push herself to try harder in school, can do better, just take your time and keep closer to him then before. Isn’t it strange how you on continuing to do what they have been doing Altrenia admires Cori because even through his she wants to talk about some things, she ends up join things that interested her and work pushing forward.’ I’m pretty sure that if she see or hear about others’ sad stories? And you — practicing hard, working on teamwork and temporary symptoms, including memory loss writing long letters to her mom. “I feel like I’m toward her goals. She joined dance team, hadn’t said that to me I would’ve dropped think that nothing like that will happen to you? doing their best. and fevers, he never gives up, a trait that Altrenia letting my mom down, by not expressing myself, sometimes practicing nine hours at a time, peers are less likely to be involved in gangs Luther King) status, or Obama. Just someone that class. I stayed and ended up passing with But it ends up happening to you anyway. “On the court we put aside our problems,” she values. and that’s what I want to work on.” she writes for her school newspaper and was and drugs, and her new community is much people can remember.” an A. She really pushes me to do better,” said says, “and focus on the one thing we all have in Her aunt, whom she calls “mom,” adopted elected to student government. calmer. Something her old community did Kimberly’s best friend from California, Limon. She admires her basketball coach at Parkrose common.” her when she was only 3 months old. Altrenia is Dear Diary, Her father, Adolfo Mejia, said the family do was, “made me a stronger person,” said Carolina Dorado, says her friend is already “I’m a great believer in things happening High School, Dave Delestatious, greatly. She can Her brothers first got her into basketball. Altre- accustomed to being surrounded by a big fam- Thank you for listening. I feel like I can write moved because they wanted a better life and Kimberly. influencing someone. for a reason,” says Kimberly. It’s a favor- just talk to him, and he just listens. Dave encour- nia finally got the courage to try out for basketball ily. Growing up with four older brothers and one anything in here, and won’t get judged or put education for Kimberly and her two younger Not one to disappoint her loved ones, Kim- “I can just imagine her smiling and I would ite quote she relates to her everyday life. “I ages and pushes her, by always showing up for in seventh grade. Now she’s a freshman playing sister, she lived on Killingsworth Street in North down! You’re a lot of help! Oh just one thing… brothers. Kimberly, now 16, agrees that the berly pushes herself forward and toward her just want to tell her that I look up to her,” Do- think I’ve changed, and I think I’ve changed practice, even though he has pancreatic cancer. guard on the varsity team. Portland. Her parents always told her it was dif- can you help me express my feelings? schools in her community are better, her goal of, “being someone in life. Not (Martin rado said. “She inspires me.” for the better.” Acknowledge the diversity we have. (Then) you can respect who they are and understand the things they do. | Yuca Kosugi A lot of kids here I probably wouldn’t talk to if they were at my school. But I feel more open-minded. | Tameeka LeRay

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Stephany Chum: Chasing a dream, inspired by her uncle Brittany Nguyen: A goal with a silver lining n She emerges from family death a stronger person n In moving forward, she learned patience, confidence, leadership

Story and photo by Erikka Potts deaths of more than two million people. The gov- born in 1987. Stephany’s father attempted to cross Stephany and Uncle Sam had much in com- Story and photo by Musba Abasham Brittany’s parents ernment forced civilians to evacuate their homes, the border into Thailand three months later but mon. He was her rock. He supported her in what- were strict, and that In life, struggles can make or break a person. property and businesses. Many people were killed Thailand wouldn’t let him take refuge. ever she did and she could always count on him. Before taking journalism class freshman year, forced her to be mature The struggle can separate the strong from the during this genocide. It was absolute chaos, with The immigration problems kept her father, So- Sadly, Uncle Sam died of cancer in 2006. Brittany Nguyen was a pushover who was too and focus on her work. weak, the smart from the mindless, the survivors forced labor, executions and starvation. van Chum, from coming to America in September It really shook her world, Stephany says. nice. But during two years on the student news- When she was younger, from the fallen. Stephany’s parents and grandparents worked in 1989 with Stephany’s mother, Sochiviny “Viny” “I was in a state of shock for a few days. I just paper as editor-in-chief, she learned how to lead she thought about get- Stephany Chum has had her struggles, but she labor fields for their food. Her maternal grandfather Sam; grandmother, Sarem Ly; aunt Jennifer; aunt couldn’t believe that he was going to be gone for- a group of students and to take control. It gave ting a tattoo or letting hasn’t let them define her. In fact, to many, she was killed by soldiers, and her parents and grand- Ammarin; Uncle Sam; and Soliravy. They settled ever,” she says. “I felt like everything was spiraling her the confidence she has today. loose. might appear to be the typical happy-go-lucky mother fled Cambodia in 1984. Her mother and in Portland, with her father joining them in 1993. down. I couldn’t really talk to anyone. I felt as if I “(Working on the newspaper) has been lots of She also learned teenager. Stephany, who this fall will be a junior grandmother were separated from her father when During her childhood, Stephany and Uncle Sam was completely alone and by myself.” fun and has taught me a lot about journalism,” her values from her at Glencoe High School, thrives in her school- Cambodian guards started shooting at them as they grew extremely close. During this time, she and her sister began to said Brittany, who just graduated from Tigard role models, such as work and extracurricular activities. She carries a approached the Cambodia-Thailand border. “They were always very close, their relationship emotionally drift toward each other. High School. “It has taught me to be a lot more her high school track 3.7 grade-point average and is a member of the Stephany’s mother and grandmother took ref- like father-daughter,” Soliravy says. “He was like “It was a time that me and my sister really patient because I don’t have patience when it coach, who was a big Hillsboro school’s Diversity Club, Key Club and uge in Thailand, where her sister, Soliravy, was our second dad.” needed each other,” Stephany says, referring to comes to people.” inspiration in her life. Student Council. the funeral. “We were Brittany, 18, has focused on her student news- He gave her the will to She says her involvement helps her break out crying and hugging so paper and her schoolwork for years to put herself want more and to use in a position to achieve her goal of becoming a more of her skills. of her shyness and challenges her to do things she much that a spark went journalist. She hopes to become a magazine “The coach for our loves. In her spare time, Stephany enjoys reading, off and our relationship designer of fashion spreads just like the power- track team was the first scrapbooking, writing in her journal and cooking. really started to build.” ful editor in “The Devil Wears Prada.” She also person to push me be- She also loves to dance. She says her uncle’s knows what she has to do to achieve her goals. yond my limits,” said “Dance, just like writing, is a form of self-ex- passing “made me ap- This fall, she’ll begin studying journalism at the Brittany, who has run pression,” Stephany says. “Dancing is a way for preciate life and the University of Oregon. sprints and relays for me to express myself.” people in it far, far more “With journalism, life will never be boring,” seven years. “Even She has recently joined ballet. She says that al- than I ever had.” she said. “You never have to do the same thing though I hated it, he though it is strict and difficult, it is, in fact, worth- Inspired by her over and over or sit in a cubicle bored to death.” was my role model and while. Stephany says it’s a great feeling when she uncle, Stephany plans She knew her parents couldn’t pay for her idol, kind of like a big finally gets a move down. to follow through entire college education, so Brittany applied for brother.” But if she had to spend a whole day doing one with her dreams to at- scholarships. She’ll attend UO this fall, in part Both track and jour- thing, she would be at the beach, in a circle around tend the University of with the help of a $4,000 journalism scholarship nalism have helped a bonfire with her family and close friends. Oregon and major in and a $1,500 Dean’s scholarship to help with liv- Brittany grow. She “I’m the type of person who wants to bond journalism and minor ing expenses. never thought a high and build strong relationships with everyone, so it in marketing. Brittany plans to room with her best friend school class would doesn’t matter where or what we’re doing as long “He was always so from high school, but she still wants to meet new have influenced her as the people I care about are there,” she says. enthusiastic and sup- people. She’s really looking forward to taking said. “My first book was ‘Hop On Pop.’ They she thinks carefully about potential consequenc- life in the long run. She And among the people whom Stephany most portive about what- classes she enjoys most, such as journalism. were great role models in high school. They es even though she is free to get a tattoo or mis- didn’t go into it thinking she would be thrown into cares about is her family. Stephany, who was born ever I wanted to do,” Brittany’s foundation is her family. She’s es- were involved in many activities and kept good behave. a leadership role, but the experience taught her in Portland in 1993, is a first-generation American Stephany says. “He has pecially close to her two older sisters, Jeanie, 26, grades.” “My parents worked so hard and sacrificed that everybody has a story, including herself. whose parents escaped from the Khmer Rouge. really influenced my and Kim, 23. They were there for her from the When she was younger, Brittany thought so much to make their children’s life better,” “It lets me not be afraid in front of others,” From 1975 to 1979, the three-and-a-half year decision to become a beginning. about getting a tattoo or doing something crazy she said. “The values and morals I grew up with she said, “and I never cared about people judg- reign of Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot led to the reporter.” “They taught me how to read,” Brittany when she turned 18. But now that she’s an adult, have all become part of my life as an adult.” ing me.” Hilaria De Jesus Hernandez: Forced to grow at a young age Monica Melchor: Writer, artist and overachiever n She leaves behind poverty, unexpected tragedy for a better life n Encouragement from her mother keeps her going through some early challenges Story and photo by Marco Reyes to get water for her family. She had no shoes; her The family was devastated by the loss of her her classmates. ­­­ ­ feet bled from the thorns on the path. Hilaria still mother. Hilaria felt broken apart. Her father Another problem for Hilaria was getting used Story and photo by Osman A. Omar Monica’s face lights up, sprinkled with a Rain pours; thunder crashes in the sky. Sitting has the scars on her feet. told her she needed to study to fulfill her mom’s to American culture. She hated hamburgers and smile, when she talks about her childhood. on top of her house, 6-year-old Hilaria De Jesus One day, Hilaria’s mom got sick and the fam- dream: that her daughter has an education and a pizza, because they weren’t spicy. She missed the Pablo Picasso, a famous artist, once said, Then her demeanor changes. Hernandez watches the village. People disappear ily didn’t have money for medicine. Her parents profession. Hilaria also had to help her big sisters family she left behind in Mexico. And she had a “Action is the foundational key to all success.” Monica is one of the many kids who grew into their houses. Mud makes it impossible for wanted to improve their life of poverty, so they with house chores. hard time getting used to living in a busy city en- At age 16, Monica Melchor has already ac- up without a father. She was 3 years old when them to walk, because many here do not have made an important decision; her father had to im- Hilaria struggled to learn English. As she en- vironment. But with time, she adjusted to living complished much, by taking action. her parents divorced. The last time she saw her shoes. The dark brown slimy mud can flood and migrate to the United States. He made it to Cali- tered first grade, she got help from her teachers. in the United States. In eighth grade she was class president at her father was three years ago. Monica has tried to destroy homes. But there is nowhere to escape. fornia but had a hard time finding a job. He went “I knew there was a new language in the Unit- Today, Hilaria’s past makes her appreciate middle school. She ran for president because call her dad, but he is nowhere to be found. The village — Juxclahuaca — is surrounded by door to door, and finally was lucky to find a man ed States, but I didn’t know I had to learn it,” she the things most people take for granted: living she wanted to be helpful, and she wanted a Her father’s absence is one of the many chal- mountains, located in the middle of a forest in who gave him work as a gardener. said. in a house with a nice backyard where she feels chance to lead. lenges that she has had to overcome. “It gives Oaxaca, Mexico. Eventually, her father sent money to bring the But Hilaria never gave up trying. She was in protected; having water in the sink; not worry- Earlier this year she discovered she had a me an example of something that I am never In this environment, young Hilaria was forced rest of the family to the U.S. when Hilaria was 7. ESL classes until eighth grade, when she took the ing about food every day. Although her past was natural knack for painting. Her realistic picture going to do.” to mature quickly. Within a year, her family Hilaria had a hard time adjusting to the changes. ESL test and passed it, scoring the highest of all hard, Hilaria said she of a bunch of green peppers won acclaim from Monica is a petite teen, dressed in a dark car- would leave the poverty and isolation of their is looking forward, peers and teachers. digan and chocolate brown boots. She carries village and cross the mountains and the U.S.- not backward. She has Now, as an incoming junior at Woodburn herself with a certain swagger. Her chin seems Mexico border to eventually land in Hillsboro. a passion for living High School, she has a desire to do more. to be down only when she reads. But a misfortune happened: Hilaria’s mom died life: she is involved in “You’re the only person who can tell you Monica has set high standards for herself. of cancer when Hilaria was 11. Mesa, a science and that you can, or can’t, do something,” Monica She applied for International Baccalaureate The difficult times propelled Hilaria, now 14 engineering club, and said. courses for this fall. She wants to write a novel, and a freshman at Liberty High School, to grow Her mother is the one who builds on Mon- and is looking into careers that involve coun- Liberty Fits, a mara- as a person. Today, she works hard to get good ica’s curiosity by encouraging her and telling seling, psychology or journalism. thon training group. grades and help her family. She is looking for- her not to worry about messing up. Monica is passionate about her writing. In ward to a better future, one in which she doesn’t In the future, Hilaria When Monica was deciding whether to do her free time she writes poems and lyrics. Her have to experience poverty and loss again. plans to study broad- the journalism camp, but wasn’t sure if she had writing reflects her thoughts about various sub- “Life was hard, I literally learned how to suf- cast journalism and time to fill out the application and write the two jects such as freedom, and herself. She reads fer,” Hilaria said. But, “there are obstacles that hopes to become a TV essays, her mom was the one who said to her, books that she can relate to, like “The Alche- are meant to be learned in order to know how to reporter. “You have done this before.” That picked her mist,” and she reads books for fun, like “The enjoy life.” The young girl from up. Lucky One.” The village where Hilaria grew up with her the village has grown Araceli, Monica’s mother, works as a pre- “I want people to be inspired and amazed, three sisters and two brothers had a small popula- into a young woman. school teacher and goes to school, all while and to look into the beyond,” she said of her tion living in poverty. There was no clean water, “There are opportu- supporting two teenage daughters. She leaves writing. no electricity and sometimes no food. Hilaria’s nities in my life, why for work at 5 or 6 a.m., comes home at 2 p.m. She also believes, after reading “The Alche- mom had no stove and had to cut wood with a not take them?” she and then leaves again for classes at 5 p.m. mist,” that “Dreams can come true.” machete to make a fire. The family had a hard said. “The past is in the time getting to a nearby town to buy food, be- past, and I’m in the fu- cause there was only one steep, rocky dirt path. ture. I’m ready to live On a day with the temperature at above 90 de- my life.” grees, young Hilaria walked more than two miles It feeds people’s curiosity. They want to see what other cultures are like. | Paulina Liang My school, if you look at all the Asian people, they always bunch around each other. I talk to everybody. | Jason Liao

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Aidan Orellana: No distractions allowed Erikka Potts: Write to heal n Motivated athlete keeps unwavering focus on future n After many disappointments, she finds strength in poetry

Story and photo by Paulina Liang orable scars on his knees and legs from soccer. Aidan stands 5 feet 10½ inches tall and weighs clothes drawer in his closet is neatly arranged, Story and photo by Stephany Chum crude comments she has endured, being of mixed “When you get hit with a cleat during a game, just 135 pounds. He always looks like he’s on the from socks on the top drawer to pants on the bot- ethnicity. Words that people hurled at her as hurt- Aidan doesn’t have a lot of free time, but he you don’t notice that you’re bleeding or hurt until move, with his legs and hands always in motion. tom. As she shyly sits in her chair, Erikka Potts be- ful she turned into material to write about. doesn’t mind. after,” he says. His parents tease him about being obsessively The family has three animals: a 6-year-old bea- gins to tell her life story. “I used to let it affect me, but then I didn’t care He’s an honor roll student at Madison High Mitch Orellana encourages his son’s competi- neat. Aidan’s extreme concern about the order of gle named Buddy, a male cat named Louie and a Erikka, who was born and raised in Portland, because I’m my own person.” School in Northeast Portland. After school he tive spirit. his room helps explain why. female cat named Suzy. Aidan doesn’t want any hasn’t had the orderly life that most kids seem Life changed course again when, at age 11, Er- practices sports, and in the fall he plays soccer for “Most important to me is that he’s out there He arranges 10 pairs of his nicest shoes in a more pets. After all, they make his house messy. to have. Since she was 3 months old, Erikka has ikka was placed in foster care. She says it was the the Madison Senators. He loves going out to eat trying, as long as he’s pushing himself to do bet- row on the floor of his closet. His dirty soccer “There’s enough hair around the house,” he been passed from one family member to another. best and worst thing that ever happened to her. with his friend, Basil Urom, a native of Nigeria. ter,” he said. shoes are kept on the first floor of the house. His says. Her mother was an abusive alcoholic and her fa- “It was really good because it gave me more But Aidan, 16, still makes time most days for ther only came around once in a while. She now opportunities in life with education and different a one-and-a-half-hour fitness program at home, lives with her younger sister, Carmen, and foster programs,” Erikka says. “But it was also bad be- demonstrated on a DVD. The program consists mom, Stacie Cunningham. cause it split up my family.’’ of plyometrics, “which is a fancy word for jump Erikka, who is 15 and will be a sophomore this With all the struggles she’s been through, Er- training,” he says. fall at Parkrose High School, is passionate about ikka has always found a way to stay positive and There’s more to him than just working out and writing and says it has helped her through her realistic. She has learned to be more empathetic sports. Although his father, Mitch Orellana, is a struggles. and to see the world from a different perspective. Portland police officer, Aidan’s not interested in She is inspired to write about her life experi- She strives to be as much of a diverse person as following his dad’s footsteps. Instead, he wants ences — from painful memories growing up to she can. to be a sports journalist. deep, empowering poetry Family has also been important in Erikka’s His father is supportive of his children’s goals: Writing is an outlet for Erikka; she describes it life. She describes her biological and foster “Whatever their talent, whatever they want to as therapy and a form of self-expression. families as loving people who just want to have do.” “When there’s nothing you can do and nothing a good time. Aidan has lived in the same Portland neigh- you can say, (writing) served as an outlet for me. “I wouldn’t trade her for the world,’’ older borhood his entire life, but he enjoys discovering It’s helped me not to be a hateful person holding sister, Caitlin, said. “She’s her own person and new cultures and learning about new races. He everything in.” we’ve been through so much together.” wants to study abroad. He has traveled to Mexico In fifth grade, her life started to take a different Amid everything, Potts has dreams of attend- and is planning to go to San Diego this summer. turn when she read “A Child Called It,” a book by ing the University of Oregon, majoring in art and He enjoys tasting foods of different cultures and Dave Pelzer, who has overcome life-threatening School, an English teacher told Erikka about tion, won a national honorable mention. minoring in psychology. Having already hit rock spices. obstacles. After reading the book, Erikka worked “Letters About Literature,” a program in which “I was in an incredible disbelief,’’ Erikka says. bottom, Erikka is ready for her future and every- “I like Mexican and Thai food because of all up the courage to seek help, telling her aunt, students from all over the United States write to “I never thought I could actually do something thing in store for her. the mixtures of spices they have,” Aidan says. Jamila, about her abusive environment. an author about how his or her book affected their like this.” “I know what it feels like to be below rock bot- He comes from a large family with Apache In- Erikka later found the inspiration to write from lives. Erikka took advantage of the opportunity She felt that she could use writing to express tom and I know the process of getting up, and I’m dian and Mexican ancestors. Aidan grew up not “A Child Called It.’’ and chose to write about “A Child Called It.” Her her strongest emotions and feelings. Writing pretty sure that whatever life brings me I can be learning Spanish because his grandparents did During eighth grade at Parkrose Middle submission, one of 55,000 from across the na- helped her deal with the share of racial slurs and strong enough to handle it.” not teach the language to Aidan’s father. Aidan also enjoys playing basketball and watching football. He seems to stick to what he does best and says he doesn’t want to join a bas- ketball or football team in school. Marco Reyes: Photography helps express his feelings “I’m not good at all sports. I wish I was, n Faced with a father’s absence, he discovers his passion for photos though,” he says. However, he has many mem-

Story and photos by “He totally went out of control,” Marco said. Hilaria De Jesus Hernandez He felt frustration and grief; he wanted his father to stop. But his father kept on drinking. Mary Ruiz: A smile and a guitar carry her through the recession In the middle of the night, Marco Reyes hears That’s when Marco realized that photography n his father pounding at the table. He watches him eased his misery. He had been interested in pho- Her family faces financial problems, but music, friends keep her going stand up and try to regain his balance. But his fa- tography since he was a little kid. Soon after ar- ther fails and trips over his own shoes. His breath riving in the United States, Marco’s mom took Story and photo by Kimberly Mejia driving to pick up her yonger sisters. Every day, are: an excellent daughter, an excellent sister a tight-knit family does. is heavy with alcohol. Little Marco quickly hides him to the store and bought him an old Kodak she reminds Mary: “Continue working hard like and an excellent girl.” “She is extremely down to earth,” said Sahar with his brothers and sisters; they know their par- camera. Every day, Marco took pictures. The sound of a peaceful melody is heard when always, continue with your dream of going to But when the recession came along, both of Petri, Mary’s close friend. ents will start arguing again. But the argument is “When I felt mad or depressed, I just went out- Mary Ruiz places her fingers on the strings of college, and most of all ... continue the way you her parents were sad to know they wouldn’t be Mary, being very sentimental, according to so loud that Marco can hear the screams of his side and started taking pictures,” he said. “That’s her favorite instrument, the guitar. able to support their her father, was not only affected by her family’s father and things falling. Marco’s heart is pump- the way I like to express my emotions.” In fifth grade, she took lessons until she kids and push them, problems but is also very conscious of other ing fast; he starts to cry. As a junior in high school, Marco took the thought she was well prepared to teach herself. when they could bare- people’s problems. Throughout Marco Reyes’ life, his father, yearbook class. He loved it, because he had the In ninth grade, she participated in a school va- ly push themselves. Mary now devotes time to others. She vol- Magdaleno Luis Reyes Ramon, was usually ei- opportunity to take pictures of people. His moth- riety show. After Mary’s dad unteers through Team Tualatin to help her com- ther drunk or absent. Alcoholism destroyed their er was very supportive of his passion; she bought “It was just me and my guitar, alone,” said lost his job at West- munity. She helps at school as a member of the relationship. There were times that Marco needed him an expensive camera, a Canon SLR Rebel, at Mary. Hearing the crowd clap was a sign. “I ern Precision Prod- Pay it Forward Club and through Student Prin- him, but his father wasn’t around. the beginning of his junior year. guess I did pretty good.” ucts Inc., where he cipal Ambassadors to assist foreign exchange As a child, Marco discovered that photogra- “The weird and cool thing I do in that class Every time she plays her guitar, she feels constructed parts for students. She helps her family more by baby- phy was a distraction, an escape — whenever is that if somebody does not want their picture free. That’s when she shows another side of Army airplanes for sitting, doing her own laundry and cleaning her his father ignored him, the click of the shutter taken, I would literally start chasing them until I her outgoing self – allowing her to share her 12 years, he finally room. made Marco forget. But mostly, Marco loves the take their picture,” he said. quiet, shy, invisible side that comes out while found a job at a car And, as her dad describes her, Mary still man- thrill of taking photos; the closeness he feels with Even though his father stopped drinking five she plays. shop. Her mom had ages to keep a smile on her face. the subjects. And the Tualatin High School teen years ago, their relationship is still unstable. Mar- Lately, Mary uses music to forget about her worked for five years Seeing life from another perspective, she re- hopes to become a professional photographer co cannot start a conversation with him, because problems. When she is performing, “I’m not at Kershaw, where she alizes that sometimes people experience these someday. he feels awkward. But he hopes to have a rela- there.” But when she takes that one step out of made knives, and is types of problems in their everyday life. Growing up in Oaxaca, Mexico, Marco spent tionship with his father one day. her purple-painted bedroom, she faces reality. now working at WPP. When she was younger she saw music as a little time with his father. When Marco was 1 His father, Marco said, deserves a second Music may be sugar and sweetness to Mary, “They fired my dad hobby. Now, at age 15, she sees music as pur- year old, his father came to the United States to chance, and Marco’s life will be complete if they but many things changed when unemployment and hired my mom,” poseful. find a better job. Every six months, he returned both take a step to be connected. And how could gave a knock at her family’s door. Heavy stress, said Mary. She enjoyed playing “Boats and Birds” by to visit the family. During his absence, Marco they connect? nights without sleep, lots of tension and strug- She knew it was Gregory and The Hawk, a song that not only can worked with his mom in the family grocery mar- “Probably to start playing a soccer game with gles to find a job were some of the many things time to make sacri- she relate to, but also a song that will relate to ket. His role was to clean and arrange fruits and him will be a good start,” Marco suggests. her family encountered when both parents were fices, and went to her her audience and will stand out to them. vegetables. When his father came back, he spent Marco, 17, wants to live in the future and he left without a job. parents, letting them “Sharing a different side of my personality” all his time drinking. believes that photography would lead him to “I am just a kid . . . I had to push myself really know that a cell phone through music, Mary hopes to really connect “He is the kind of person that didn’t really care success. He hopes to pursue his dream to be a hard,” Mary said. wasn’t really neces- with her audience. about me,” Marco said. “I don’t have the support journalist/photographer. He hopes to work in the Mary’s parents are always pushing her, and sary and that cable She wants to “make the world a little hap- of my father.” fashion industry or at Vogue magazine. Photos her four siblings, to strive for the best. Her moth- to watch SpongeBob pier,” letting inspiration shine through those Eventually, his father found a friend that are really powerful, he believes, because they er, Patricia De La O, picks Mary up at home af- was not required at shaggy bangs that hang above her partially hid- helped the Reyes family to get legal documents. send a positive or negative message. Photog- ter work so they can spend time together while the moment. It’s what den eyes. When they arrived in Oregon, Marco thought the raphy, he said, can impact people — the way it transition was going to help the father-son rela- gave Marco new hope. tionship. He was wrong. Almost every day, his “Pictures do change someone’s life,” he said. father came home late at night with the smell of “Images will always be there and will never go alcohol on his breath. away.” THE PRIDE

1. Osman A. Omar Parkrose High School 2. Erikka Potts Parkrose High School 3. Altrenia Littleton Parkrose High School 4. Stephany Chum Glencoe High School 1 9 5. Monica Melchor 3 6 Woodburn High school 4 7 8 6. Paulina Liang 2 Parkrose High School 10 11 7. Shamso Ali 5 Westview High School 8. Yuca Kosugi Sam Barlow High School 9. Taylor Grady Parkrose High School 10. Jason Liao 16 Franklin High School 15 11. Hilaria De Jesus 17 Hernandez 14 Liberty High School 18 12 12. Sabra Chandiwalla 19 13 Franklin High School 13. Tameeka LeRay Parkrose High School 14. Hosana Medhanie De La Salle North Catholic 21 15. Marco Reyes Tualatin High School 16. Musba Abasham Parkrose High School 17. Dahlia Bazzaz St. Mary’s Academy 22 18. Kimberly Mejia Century High School 20 19. Francisco Lopez-Bautista Molalla High School 20. Brittany Nguyen Tigard High School 21. Aidan Orellana Madison High School 22. Mary Ruiz Tualatin High School

Class portrait by Stephanie Yao Long | Pride staff | Thursday, June 24, 2010 | Weatherford Hall