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Praise Fellowship Ministries Hosts Closing the Education Gap Conference

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A one-day conference to empower parents to close the education gap, “Creating a 21st Century Village,” will be held Saturday, Aug. 31 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Praise Fellowship Christian Church, 7711 MacArthur Blvd. in Oakland.

The CA Title I – Closing the Gap Collaboration event is sponsored Praise Fellowship Ministries, Inc. (PFMI), Pastor John Clark, Jr. and First Lady Ruby Clark, in partnership with Empowering Parents, – an organization committed to increasing knowledge of educational issues among parents, families, administrators, educators and communities.

Sessions will be facilitated by motivational speakers Marsha Dodson and Dr. Darlene Willis of Empowering Parents, who are authors of “Empowering Parents: A Guide to Taking Control of Your Child’s Educational Journey”.

“Ordinary moms are doing some extraordinary things,” Dodson and Willis reach audiences with their unique interactive approach using music, poetry, scripture, “reality statistics” and real-life solutions.

The event will delve into issues important to all students, emphasizing how to improve structures that support learning and the importance of combining resources to achieve a common goal.

Topics discussed will include: Grade Level Preparation and College Bound, Drugs and Violence, Special Education, Parents Community Consortium and Fundraising.

“Education continues to be the accessibility to a better and more satisfied life for all, regardless of the color of ones skin. There still remains so many programs, grants and assistance for further educational opportunities that are not being taken advantage of,” said Pastor Clark.

Associate Superintendent Karen Monroe of the Alameda County Office of Education and Jacqueline Orpilla of the Office of Assemblymember Rob Bonta, 18th District, are expected to participate in the collaboration.

Invited guests include: Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Oakland Deputy Mayor Sandré Swanson, Oakland Interim Chief of Police Sean Whent and District 6 City Councilmember Desley Brooks.

The event is open to all parents, guardians, communities, clergy, state and city officials, and educators.

Continental breakfast, lunch, refreshments and materials are included with the registration fee.

For information and to RSVP, call (510) 569.8066 ext 1003 or email pfcc0619@yahoo.com.

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Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 21 – 27, 2025

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Remembering George Floyd

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OP-ED: Oregon Bill Threatens the Future of Black Owned Newspapers and Community Journalism

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

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By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.
President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

For decades, The Skanner newspaper in Portland, the Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium have served Portland, Oregon’s Black community and others with a vital purpose: to inform, uplift and empower. But legislation now moving through the Oregon Legislature threatens these community news institutions—and others like them.

As President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), which represents more than 255 Black-owned media outlets across the United States—including historic publications like The Skanner, Portland Observer, and the Portland Medium—l believe that some Oregon lawmakers would do more harm than good for local journalism and community-owned publications they are hoping to protect.

Oregon Senate Bill 686 would require large digital platforms such as Google and Meta to pay for linking to news content. The goal is to bring desperately needed support to local newsrooms. However, the approach, while well-intentioned, puts smaller, community-based publications at a future severe financial risk.

We need to ask – will these payments paid by tech companies benefit the journalists and outlets that need them most? Nearly half of Oregon’s media outlets are now owned by national conglomerates with no lasting investment in local communities. According to an OPB analysis, Oregon has lost more than 90 news jobs (and counting) in the past five years. These were reporters, editors, and photographers covering school boards, investigating corruption, and telling community stories, until their jobs were cut by out-of-state corporations.

Legislation that sends money to these national conglomerate owners—without the right safeguards to protect independent and community-based outlets—rewards the forces that caused this inequitable crisis in the first place. A just and inclusive policy must guarantee that support flows to the front lines of local journalism and not to the boardrooms of large national media corporations.

The Black Press exists to fill in the gaps left by larger newsrooms. Our reporters are trusted messengers. Our outlets serve as forums for civic engagement, accountability and cultural pride. We also increasingly rely on our digital platforms to reach our audiences, especially younger generations—where they are.

We are fervently asking Oregon lawmakers to take a step back and engage in meaningful dialogue with those most affected: community publishers, small and independent outlets and the readers we serve. The Skanner, The Portland Observer, and The Portland Medium do not have national corporate parents or large investors. And they, like many smaller, community-trusted outlets, rely on traffic from search engines and social media to boost advertising revenue, drive subscriptions, and raise awareness.

Let’s work together to build a better future for Black-owned newspapers and community journalism that is fair, local,l and representative of all Oregonians.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., President & CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association

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