Australia. New Zealand. Costa Rica. Vietnam. Laos. Cambodia. Guatemala. Nicaragua. Next stop: Uganda.

What’s this? The beginning of a global geography class? No, this is the first track of the happy and well-traveled life of 18-year-old Christina Schmidt, a senior at Lincoln High School, and February recipient of a Student of the Month Award from Portland Pearl Rotary.

Christina’s achievement goes well beyond simply visiting these countries. In most of them, she is making a real difference in the lives of children and families through her own amazing efforts.

From her trip with parents to Costa Rica when she was eight, Christina gained confidence in speaking the Spanish language she had studied in immersion classes since she was five.

“The trip with my parents to Vietnam and Laos when I was in seventh grade was the turning point for me”, she says. “The idea was to expose me to my Mom’s former life and world.” Christina’s mother, Jennifer, was born in Malaysia.

“I saw severe poverty everywhere, on the streets, along the roads. Poverty was in your face, especially in Laos,” Christina recalls. The experience triggered an interest for her in helping people.

This interest blossomed into a trip to Cambodia in the eighth grade and her initiative to raise funds to build a small new school in a rural Cambodian village. The school would be for students in grades 5-7 who faced having to drop out and return to their family farms to help at home and in the field.

The dropout rate there at an early age was high, and even those who tried to stay in school lost study time walking back and forth to distant classrooms during the day, she explains.

Back in Portland, young Christina embarked on a fundraising effort that produced $17,000 from some 350 donors, mostly through letter writing, submitting grant proposals to small foundations and personal contacts.
“I contacted everybody I ever knew,” she remembers. “It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

The Cambodia experience fostered Christina’s interest in community service and in high school she volunteered to participate in a Habitat for Humanity project in Guatemala. During her summer vacation, she was part of a “build team” of other volunteers and professional builders that built a new home for a single mothers and three kids.

Most recently, Christina was in Nicaragua during another summer, this time through an “Amigos” volunteer group, teaching kids in a rural village about “children’s rights, their rights to a healthy body, loving family, education and creative expression.” She also helped raise funds and engaged hands-on in a small construction project to build a retaining wall around the community center to prevent washouts during rainy season.

“Cambodia changed the way I look at the world,” Christina says. “Nicaragua was the most fun. I had the time of my life, being with people who are so happy while having so little.”

To her fellow Lincoln High students who might consider following in Christina’s world-beating path, she advises: “Expect big differences – culturally and in people’s behavior–driven often by poverty. Have an open mind and be willing to experience different things.”

The return on this kind of personal investment, Christina feels, is life-changing.

This summer Christina heads for Uganda with her family to do social service work, hoping to help out in an orphanage for kids with HIV. In the fall she plans to attend Duke University for pre-med studies, pursuing global health issues and continuing her love of the Spanish language.

Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013
10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Portland State University
1825 S.W. Broadway, Smith Ballroom Room 355

Women are great contributors to peace, but historically have gone unrecognized. This symposium will provide a venue in which to learn and acquire knowledge from these women leaders, who passionately work for peace locally and around the world. These speakers will inspire you to do the same.

The symposium has an exceptional line-up of presenters, including keynote, Governor Barbara Roberts, who will share her impressive story on how she got started in her career in Oregon politics. Additionally, Dr. Suzanne Feeney, will talk about her work with women in India and providing microcredit opportunities. Dr. Feeney previously led PSU students on study abroad to India and helped write a book entitled, Grassroots NGOs by Women for Women: The Driving Force of Development in India.

The Peace through Women Symposium will be held Saturday, February 23, in the Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom on the Portland State University campus. Doors open at 9:00 am and the event will begin at 10:00 a.m., adjourning at 3:00 p.m. Cost is $15/student or Rotaractor and $35/non-student. The cost includes breakfast, lunch, and a Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Social following the last speaker. A limited number of scholarships are available for this event, for more information please contact Kari Anne McDonald at [email protected]

This event is co-sponsored by Portland Rotaract, Pearl Rotary Club, PSU Women’s Resource Center & Center for Women, Politics, & Policy.

SPEAKERS:
Governor Barbara Roberts (Keynote) – Politics
Dr. Suzanne Feeney – Microcredit
Grace Kuto – Education
Desiree LeFave and Jennifer Gallardo from MamaBaby Haiti – Health Care – 
former Rotary International District Governor Dean Rohrs -

Sessions at the Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. They are open to the public at a cost of $35 per person, $15 for students. Registration is available online at www.portlandrotaract.org.

The “soft opening” of The Fields Park–the Pearl District’s newest public amenity–is less than two months away, according to Portland Parks Bureau project manager, George Lozovoy (above). In a briefing to Pearl Rotary on Jan. 22, Lozovoy said the new Park will be open to the public on March 15, with official dedication set for June.

“The park is 90-95% complete”, Lozovoy reported, with final work in late January and February largely centered on the 8,000-foot dogs-off-leash area in the recessed northwest corner of the new facility. Dogs on leash will be allowed in the broad environs of the park, with the usual request to owners to pick up after the animals.

Lozovoy described the large, unique children’s play area in the park (drawings below) that will include equipment for climbing, swinging and sliding. Many of the installations in the children’s area and throughout the park were suggested in an extensive public involvement process that began in 2007 and included several community focus groups, Lozovoy said. The large grassy oval at the park’s center is designed for community recreation and events. (The park at three acres is the largest in the Pearl; main entrances will be on N.W. Overton, between 10th and 11th.)

The Fields Park is of special interest to Pearl Rotarians, who plan a substantial investment in the facility. At the suggestion of the Parks Bureau, Pearl Rotary is awaiting the park opening to observe usage and identify any unmet needs that might emerge before making a formal proposal to the city. Pearl Rotary’s Board has approved the club’s participation in principle and is expected to move forward later this year.

Design principles outlined by Lozovoy in the briefing will help guide Pearl Rotary’s proposal. They are: civic purpose, connectivity, large open space, history (the nearby Willamette River and major railroad line), design simplicity and sustainable urbanism.

Pearl Rotary commissioned and installed outdoor sculpture art–a large bear and its cub–for the Pearl’s first park, Jamison Park, in 2006 to commemorate the ’05 centennial of Rotary International.

Rotary dollars, volunteerism helps students ‘Step Up’ in school, careers…and life

Four years ago, Pearl Rotary made a community service commitment: Rotarians would try to make a difference in the drop-out rate within Portland Public Schools.

PPRC’s effort would only have minuscule impact in a district with 47,000 students. Today 62% graduate, up from 57% a few years back. The number not graduating is “still abysmal,” said Open Meadow school’s Director Andrew Mason. But, he told Rotarians Dec. 4, “Your investment and what you do, with dollars and the time given to Step-Up, I promise you, is life-changing.”

Students who joined Step-Up four years ago, enrolling between eighth and ninth grade, “will be graduating…some are getting acceptance letters to colleges,” reported Program Manager Sierra Hill. For Step-Up, Rotarians have volunteered as tutors at Madison H.S., and also annually contributed dollars for summer camperships.

Open Meadow was founded in 1971 as an alternative school; it educates at a high school and middle school and through Step-Up and Career Services.

Students and coordinators shared the podium with students–three students each who are part of Step-Up and Career Services. Step-Up volunteers, said one Madison student, boasting about his GPA going from 2.8 to 3.8, “give you motivation and help you with everything.”

Career Services serves 16- to 21-year-olds in programs like advising, interviewing, college preparations, job shadowing, resume creation, etc, “Rotary has been a godsend,” said Eileen Schmidt, program coordinator, especially at networking fairs where volunteers visit with students and hear about their career plans.

Said one student: “(Career Services) is truly amazing. It opens up so many career doors and also personal doors on what you can do…and how you will take the steps to get there.”

Past President Don Barney has been an O.M. advocate and tutor since his club’s partnership began. He introduced the Tuesday morning program and also had a measure of pride when he heard his current student, Jimmy Mitchell, speak–with a wide smile–of the impact of his Step-Up tutor:

“I get a lot done. He keeps me focused.”

After the meeting, they posed together, both beaming.

To our friends at Pearl Rotary…

Open Meadow as a whole, and the Step-Up and Career Services staff and students in particular, want to thank you for inviting us to your Dec. 4th breakfast. Your members have been a source of mentorship and encouragement from our students, and we truly value our partnership. In thanks and appreciation, our students sent us some thoughts on what the morning meant to them.

“I have a goal to be successful in life and make a change to support where I am from. I would like to thank you guys for allowing us to join in your meeting and participate in a great experience.” – Royce Hayson, Step-Up student and sophomore at Madison High School.


“My goals in school are to have all passing grades and to have a better friendships with my teachers. I want to have a good paying job and a nice place with a girl, maybe. I want to appreciate Don and Nural for keeping me on task during Step Up even though I just wanted to start texting. Thanks, you guys, for all you do to help me, and I love meeting new people.” – Jimmy Mitchell, Step-Up student and sophomore at Madison High School


“I appreciated how the members welcomed us in their space the way they did. It was nice to share my story and to be honored with an unexpected award and positive comments afterward.” – Rasheeda Webber, Career Services student.


“I was all nervous at first but I learned a lot and felt welcomed. It was a good experience and I enjoyed meeting new people. They were nice and kind to me, and talking with people and being given an award told me they saw something good in me. That means a lot.” – Mykel Scott-Morton, Career Services student


“It was great and I was really surprised to get an award for achievement. I liked being able to talk about Open Meadow and to meet people over breakfast. One person even said he could talk about careers in marketing or sales since that’s what I’m interested in.” – Garrison Britton, Career Services student


We have a deep appreciation for all that you do.

–Andrew Mason, Step-Up and Career Services staff & students

On stage at the Zimmerman Community Center were 12 young people who have participated in a ten-week class sponsored by Pearl Rotary and Northwest Children’s Theater.

The Wednesday, March 20, staging of “The Mouse and the Lion” completed the weekly acting classes at Isobel’s Clubhouse. It was standing room only, ZCC’s director, Kris Moore, reported.

“Thanks to everyone at Portland Pearl Rotary Club for making this possible,” Moore said. “The children loved it.”

The sessions were led by Angie Collins (playing the lion, see pictures), First Stage Director for the children’s theater who led the weekly sessions. PPRC contributed $700; Rotarians are also volunteering for one-hour stints.

Added Moore: “The second round begins March 28. It’s already full.”

“Step Up is there for you! They help you stay on task. They don’t let you leave until your homework is done.”

That’s Royce Hayson talking. He’s a freshman at Madison High School in northeast Portland, one of a group of students in his class who are taking advantage of Step Up, an after-school program aimed at helping students launch successfully on the road to graduation. Hayson said he is achieving his goal this year of a 3.5 GPA and believes a 4.0 is possible for him.

In a recent presentation to Pearl Rotary Club, Hayson and his Step Up classmate, Sam Guy, praised the program for keeping them on track during the difficult freshman year when many students who are academically at risk of dropping out are challenged.

Guy said he has moved from a 1.7 GP average of the past to a current 3.0 GPA. He credits Step Up staff and classroom advocates for “being there” for students, “They believe in you; believe you can realize your goals”, he added. Guy allowed that he now has college aspirations and a desire to become an attorney.

Pearl Rotary is a community partner to Open Meadow School in north Portland which initiated the program. Rotarians have supported Step Up for the past three years, helping to underwrite costs and providing volunteer tutors. Step Up is also available at Roosevelt, Franklin and Gresham high schools.

At the club meeting, Don Barney, past president of Pearl Rotary and a volunteer tutor, presented a $4,000 check in support of Step Up to Sierra Hill, Step Up program manager and Nia Lewis, program coordinator at Madison (as the two students watched–see photo).

Ms. Hill thanked the club for its continuous support over the past three years, including the time and energy shared by Pearl Rotarians helping students complete homework assignments and special projects for English, biology, world studies and other classes. More than a dozen Pearl Rotarians have volunteered as Step Up tutors since 2009.

As a part of Vocational Service, Pearl Rotarians once again participated in the Open Meadow “Career Connections” Networking Fair, that took place on Friday, Dec. 9.

“Career Connections” is a development program for the emerging professionals aged 18-24 and Networking Fair is a culminating event for them after completing the seven-week training course. Here Rotarian Larry Berman asks questions of student Marissa Sherill.

Observed Yelena Girich, vocational service chair: “This is a perfect opportunity for the students to interact with professional partners of the school, including members of Pearl Rotary, who are able to give them valuable advice on how to make use of their strengths, reach their goals and gain experience in their field of interest.”

Joining Berman and Girich in this vocational volunteerism were Dave Bangsund, Anne O’Neill and Don Barney.

Pearl Rotarians participated recently as Madison High School’s Step Up program hosted a site visit from Portland City Commissioner Dan
Saltzman.

In his oversight role for Portland’s Children’s Fund which helps underwrite the Open Meadow School’s Step Up program operating in several Portland high schools, Saltzman met on Nov. 9 with administrators, teachers and students involved at the Madison location. Step Up is an after-school program aimed at supporting ninth-grade students at risk of dropping out during their high school years.

Saltzman visited classroom sessions and heard brief presentations from Open Meadow School Director Andrew Mason, Madison program director Sierra Hill and Pearl Rotary Club’s Don Barney. A past president of Pearl Rotary, Barney told Saltzman about the club’s partnership with StepUp that includes underwriting scholarships for students to attend a summer camp to prepare them for beginning their critical ninth-grade year. The club also provides volunteer tutors who attend the after-school sessions during the school year, working with students in need of assistance with homework and other academic assignments.

Barney shared his tutoring experiences assisting individual students, saying “all in all, it’s a very satisfying volunteer activity for myself and fellow Pearl Rotarians as we help these students take advantage of the opportunity that Step Up offers them to improve their grades and eventually graduate.” Other Pearl Rotarians participating in Step Up and Open Meadow programs this fall include Stan Swan, Marc Hillman, Anne O’Neill, Roger Meyer, Dave Clingan, Doug MacGregor Larry Berman and Katja Gluhr.

Mason, the director, expressed appreciation for the wide range of participation:

“The folks who showed up…were a great reflection of what we’re doing: focusing on kids with what they need in a way that delivers academic and social results. The commissioner walked away with a much better sense of the program and with a real flavor of the lives that the Children’s Levy is impacting. This is a big deal at a time of constricting budgets and increasing need for our families. Don (Barney) brought some great history with Dan (Saltzman) that translated into exciting action today on the part of the ever-welcome Portland Pearl Rotary.”