Former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, current chairman of the board for The Enterprise Community Partners, and Jon Fine, United Way of King County president and CEO, this week announced a plan to help people experiencing hardship because of the current economic crisis funded by some of the region's largest corporations and philanthropic groups. In addition to the United Way, the philanthropic coalition includes the Seattle Foundation, the Gates Foundation, Boeing, Microsoft Corporation, Medina Foundation, Puget Sound Energy, Safeco Foundation, The Raikes Foundation and Washington Federal Savings. The coalition's goal is to provide $6 million over 3 years to maximize the ability of community members to tap into available resources.

Surviving breast cancer hinges on early detection. That's why the Swedish Cancer Institute is adding a second mobile mammography bus to reach out to the community instead of waiting for them to come in for a check up. 
"The idea with the smaller coach is to get to the urban areas that the bigger coach does not reach," said Darlene Fanus, supervisor of the Mobile Mammography Services. 
Mary Kelly, medical director of the Swedish Cherry Hill and Ballard breast centers said the buses are "making rolling house calls with advanced medical technology onboard." The buses provide the same mammography screening as one would receive at a doctor's office.
The mobile mammography bus will be making stops at the Holly Park Clinic in South on Dec. 15 and 22. For other times and locations, call 206-320-4760 ...

Today's war veterans are finding an increasingly bleak future when they return home.
In part that's because many of the skills and the experience they gained in military service do not translate to the work world.
A new program recently piloted in Washington State aims to change that by training veterans to find long-term employment through a local labor union.
The Veterans in Piping (VIP) Program was designed by the United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Sprinklerfitters (UA) to help veterans find stable, long-term employment through welding apprenticeships.
"My work history has been a roller coaster since I've got out," said Brandon Andre Thomas, a seven year Army veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. "This is the first stable employment I've had ...

New Orleans native and Common Ground relief organization co-founder Malik Rahim travels to Seattle Tuesday, Dec. 9 for a fundraiser benefitting Nova High School's spring volunteer construction trip to the Big Easy ... The event features a talk by Rahim and photographs of New Orleans by Seattle photographer Matthew Smith ...

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Do you know what rights you have? Ron Williams' strategy will target those on the receiving end of police use of force, as well as the elected leaders in charge of setting bureau policy. Instead of relying on the police to change tactics, he wants to help empower people to know their constitutional rights.
Oregon Action will be holding the first constitutional rights training session for community members on Dec. 13 ...

New president and secretary of the Portland chapter of the NAACP, Bishop H.L. Hodge, Ph.D.; and Lurene P. Campbell pictured at Reflections Coffeehouse. Other newly-elected officers include First Vice President Shirley Nicoste, and treasurer L.C. Oddie. Oscar Eason Jr., president of the Alaska, Oregon and Washington-area conference, presided over the group's installation ceremonies Nov. 22 at the Emanuel Church of God in Christ. Rev. Leroy Haynes of Allen Temple AME Church gave the keynote address.
Photo by K Julie Keefe

The Acker family pulls together in supporting their sons' school and extracurricular activities. From left, Tina  Marie, Karl Sr., and Karl Acker Jr. Not pictured is the family's youngest son, Kenneth, also an accomplished student and athlete at Grant High School ... Karl Jr. 18, and a senior at Grant High School, is a college-bound scholar-athlete who hopes to attend Florida A&M University majoring in sports medicine, with the goal of becoming a sports therapist or trainer. His GPA is 3.49, earned through two years of advanced placement classes ...

Lawson Peters was born Jan. 28, 1938 to the late Mattie Reader Peters and Robert Peters Sr. in Florence, Ala. He moved to Portland in 1942, where he resided until his death.
Lawson attended Holladay Elementary School and Washington High School. He enjoyed playing sports, especially basketball.
Lawson enlisted into the U. S. Air Force in 1956 and served in the military until Jan. 6, 1960.

A simple, painless swab of the cheek gathers enough DNA to reveal insight into a person's origin and can provide critical information that can save lives. African Ancestry, Inc. and the National Marrow Donor Program are sharing their expertise to help increase ethnic and minority marrow donors ...