Do you think perhaps things could be a little less difficult for Obama,
If he could change his name
If he could change his parents
If he could change his pastor
If he could change his temperament
If he could change his color
If he could change his support base
If he could change his friends
If he could change his award-winning book title
If he could change his speeches
If he could change his vision
If he could change his attitude
If he could change his aspirations
If he could change his
RACE?

Lloyd Wilson, 13, enjoys the free swim during the 15th annual April Pools Day at Medgar Evers Pool on Saturday, April 19.  The event was designed to promote water fun and safety in time for summer.

Hundreds of professionals working to keeping children safe from abuse and neglect met Monday and Tuesday at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in downtown Seattle to take part in a hands-on training and hear about the latest child welfare research.
The 16th annual Children's Justice Conference, one of the largest child welfare training events in the nation, brought leading researchers and advocates to Seattle from across the country to attend workshops and seminars and share their knowledge.
Child welfare experts from Portland, Ore., to Portland, Maine, gathered to discuss and coach other professionals on new developments in social services, justice and caring for children.
The two-day conference offered seminars and workshops such as: "Understanding the Roles of CPS and Law Enforcement"; "Engaging Fathers…How to Reach Out to and Establish a Working Relationship with Men Who May be Avoidant, Challenging or Hostile"; and "Physical Abuse, Discipline and Culture: Working with Diverse Families." The discussions ranged from the problems of children surrounded by alcohol and drug abuse, to sexual abuse, homeless teens, gangs, to how to strengthen and protect children and families. ...

The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a class action lawsuit on Monday against McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant Inc., alleging race discrimination against Black applicants and employees at its two Baltimore restaurants.
A similar suit filed in San Francisco ended April 4 with the seafood chain agreeing to pay  $1.1 million to about 3,000 former or current employees.
The EEOC alleges that the restaurant's management refused to hire Black applicants for publicly visible positions at its Baltimore restaurants over a 10-year period from Jan. 1, 1998 to present. ...

WASHINGTON (NNPA) - The president and chief executive officer of The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Black political think tank based in Washington, D.C., says that while the center has played a critical role in the political progress of Black people during the past four decades, it must now shift its attention and research funds to crucial areas where Black people are still suffering. ...

Athletic Director and Boy's Basketball Coach Marshall Haskins accepts a framed page from the Congressional Record congratulating the Jefferson basketball teams for their success from Senator Ron Wyden and Senator Ron Wyden accepts a Jefferson basketball T shirt from Coach Haskins.

Gentrification affects us all in different ways. Some benefit. Others lose out.
Among the beneficiaries are developers who improve property in an up and coming neighborhood and lease or sell it for a profit. Or homeowners who sell in a booming market and rake in a huge return on their investment. Homebuyers too, who buy into a neighborhood before home prices go up, may see their property quickly double or triple in value.
Among the less lucky are families with limited means who simply want to keep on living in their neighborhood. Housing prices in their neighborhood often increase beyond their means to buy or rent. 

In May, Portlanders will have an opportunity to vote for City Council members, a new mayor, representatives, senators, a secretary of state and a state attorney general. And that's in addition to the presidential race where Democrats will have the chance to weigh in on the contest between Sens. Clinton and Obama.
Last week, The Skanner kicked off its elections coverage with questions and answers from candidates in two Portland City Commissioner races. This week we continue with coverage of the mayoral and City Commissioner 4 races.

One of the nation's leading civil rights attorneys, Fred Gray, will visit Portland to give the 2008 commencement speech at Cascade College on April 26. When Gray was just 24, he represented Rosa Parks in the historic case that led to the Montgomery, Ala. bus boycott in 1955. He also served as Martin Luther King Jr's. first civil rights lawyer. ...

What's happening for me in my City this week? Read here a day-by-day diary of free community events to fill your week. For a full calendar please click on "Read the complete article" below.