CH2A and The Diversity Institute also want to reiterate our thanks to all our sponsors and to our champions!

• Bruce Warner, Executive Director of PDC
• Tom Potter, Former Mayor of Portland
• Ted Wheeler, Chair of Multnomah County
• Russ Danielson, VP and Chief Executive of Providence-Oregon
• Dr. Preston Pulliams, President of Portland Community College

Speakers include:

• Cyreena Boston, Field Representative of Multnomah County for U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley
• Charles Wilhoite, Board Chair of Portland Development Commission
• Dr. Matthew Prophet, Former Superintendent of Portland Public Schools

Plan on joining us at the Rose Garden on March 16 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as we celebrate the dedication.

Learn more and register today!

Keynote speaker John Jackley, Director of Communications and Business Equity for the Portland Development Commission (PDC), along with Dr. Preston Pulliams, President of Portland Community College (PCC), and Harold C. Williams Two, President of CH2A Associates, have been asked to make a presentation at a national meeting in NYC this month.

Jackley, Dr. Pulliams and Williams have collaborated on several projects that bring community services together to make it possible for citizens to find pathways to successfully complete education and training programs, to find affordable housing and to gain access to other opportunities (businesses and government/social services).

“The maze of businesses, education and government/social services can be very confusing and threatening to the very people who need these services the most,” said Jackley, who has spent many years promoting diversity in the business and government sectors. He is skilled in organizational development, project management, and interpersonal communications.

Successful outreach efforts this trio have embarked on and will discuss include the partnerships between Jefferson High School, Portland Development Commission, Portland Community College and The Diversity Institutes/CH2A mentor program. “The Jazz on the Mississippi” festival promoting diversity and public involvement and PDX Confidential “Setting the Table Conference” focusing on diversity and economic development are just a sampling of the work done by the trio. This work has gained national attention in recent years for innovative approaches and successful partnerships.

Jackley, Dr. Pulliams and Williams will speak before the American Community College Trustee Association’s national conference in late October. The African-American Community College Trustee Committee will be hosting the trio at their meeting October 31, 2008 10:30am to 11:45am.

Harold Williams, a Portland businessman, feels strongly about being a civically engaged citizen. He believes we must embrace each other in every arena, and the political process provides the greatest voice. This year’s election feels like the most important election yet in the impact it’s had on him as a person of color. “I never thought I would live to see such a thing happen,” Williams said.

The collaboration involves the Portland Development Commission, Portland Community College and the Diversity Institute, an organization charged with promoting diversity, education and bridging the gab between the disfranchised and enfranchised in north and northeast Portland.

The institute is headed by Harold Williams Sr. and his son Harold Williams Two. The senior Williams brings prestige to the effort as a long time community advocate, business owner and member of the Portland Community College Board of Directors. Williams Two is also an executive with his father at CH2A & Associates and the Diversity Institute who has worked in the field of child development and social work.

Beginning this fall, the pilot program will provide mentoring, career mapping and tracking help, internships and other exposure to career and educational opportunities for Jefferson High School students, with special emphasis on the school’s Young Men’s Academy.

It expands on Jefferson partnerships that already exist with PCC and its Cascade Campus, across Killingsworth Street from the high school.

PCC will help students with coursework and build school credits, giving them added college exposure, career counseling, and tutoring, both during and after school hours. The PDC will provide internships and job shadowing for the Jefferson kids, along with mentoring in a variety of careers and trades, summer jobs with other partners and business exposure.

Jefferson Principal Cynthia Harris said the next step is for the backers to establish timelines, roles, and responsibilities, with training and implementation to follow.

“The mentoring piece is very important and it augments partnerships we already have in place,” Harris said.

Williams Two said the purpose of the collaboration is to provide a 21st Century Educational Model to Jefferson students that coordinates and collaborates with local schools, government agencies, unions, private entities, social agencies and community colleges and universities.

“We all share the understanding and know the importance of public involvement and giving back to youth in our community,” he said. “We believe strongly in the five keys of success: Access, accountability, communication, education and relationship building.”

“The key to changing the world is that you must be willing to change your mind,” he said.

The article was accompanied by a photograh with this caption:

Local business owner and community advocate Harold Williams Sr. (from left); Damon Hickok and Algie Gatewood of Portland Community College; Jefferson Principal Cynthia Harris; John Jackley of the Portland Development Commission; and Harold Williams Jr. usher in a new partnership to give career and educational opportunities to students at Jefferson High School.

As reported in The Portland Observer, August 6, 2008

This program is a direct response to an issue presented at an African-American Alliance Breakfast in spring of 2008. There it was asked, “Who in the city is addressing the issue of our (young African-American) male being disenfranchised, and who is stepping up to the plate to help prepare them to be successful and productive members of society?”

The purpose of this collaboration is to provide the 21ST Century Educational Model that coordinates and collaborates with schools (elementary – middle – high school), government agencies, unions, private entities, social agencies and community colleges and universities. This is the first time that unions, public entities and private entities will work together and take an active role in training and educating today’s youth to become tomorrow’s workforce.

These four organizations (Thomas Jefferson High School/YMA, PDC, PCC and the Diversity Institute) have taken responsibility for leading our region into the future as it relates to diversity, economic development, public relations and education. We all share the understanding and know the importance of public involvement and giving back to the youth in our communities. We believe strongly in the five keys of success: access, accountability, communication, education and relationship building.

What are responsibilities for each participant in this pilot program?

1. YMA- Young Men’s Academy (6th grade – 9th grade)
   • Provide viable youths (actively participating in the Young Men’s Academy) who are skilled and poised enough to take advantage of the opportunities provided in the collaboration
2. PDC- Portland Development Commission
   • Provide collaborations with other PDC partners  (unions, private business, government)
   • Provide mentors for a variety of careers, including trades
   • Provide business exposure opportunities
3. PCC- Portland Community College
   • PCC will provide coordination with YMA for coursework and credit acquisition
   • Provide a site coordinator to work with YMA Principal
   • Provide schedules in advance for planning
   • Provide accreditation of class work
   • Provide instructors
   • Provide mechanism for YMA staff to do Dual Credit with PCC instructor
   • Provide college exposure
   • Provide Career Mapping through jobs exposed to through business collaboration
   • Provide access to computer labs
   • Provide tutors during and after school for PCC students
   • Provide teachers from PCC Teacher Institute
   • Provide parent meeting with explanation of secondary opportunities: High  School Completion, College, Certification
4. The Diversity Institute
   • Coordinate collaboration between PCC, PDC (other companies, organizations and governmental entities) and YMA
   • Provide and organize scholarship banquets, workshops and other fund raising opportunities

“The key to changing the world is that you must be willing to change your mind.”
Harold C. Williams Two (The Diversity Institute/CH2A)

Contact Person:
Harold C. Williams Two
Cell: (503)490-0755
haroldtwoch2a@msn.com