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Day camps – Portland


                                                                     has many options – pages 4-5

                                                                             Get screened for

                                                                           cancer genes – page 6

                                                                     Jobs, volunteers, obits – page 10

           April 28, 2021 / Iyar 16, 5781                                           Volume 56, Issue 10

        PJA expands focus on diversity



        BY DEBORAH MOON                                                                     PJA seventh and eighth grade
         Social justice has long been a                                                    humanities  and drama  teacher
        guiding principle  for Portland                                                    Marcie Brewer facilitates  the
        Jewish Academy.  The  diver-                                                       staff diversity PLC and coordi-
        sity,  equity,  inclusion  lens  the                                               nated the students’ retreat par-
        school has used in recent years                                                    ticipation. PJA was allotted 12
        reached a tipping point over                                                       slots for the retreat and students
        the past year as protests swept                                                    had to apply.
        the globe after the murder of                                                       “We  actually  had  quite  a  bit
        George Floyd by police.                                                            of interest,” says Brewer. “Be-
         Now the school is taking ac-                                                      cause we were hoping that this
        tion.                                                                              opportunity would be a launch-
         In March, 12 PJA middle                                                           pad for developing and starting
        school students participated in a                                                  up an ally group among our
        virtual Student Diversity Lead-  Last June, PJA held a community vigil to show support for racial   students, we decided  to focus
        ership Retreat  hosted by the  justice. More than 130 students and families turned out to support   on sixth and seventh graders.”
        Northwest Association of Inde-  the Black community and raise visibility of the violence and racism   In addition  to developing  a
        pendent Schools, PJA’s accred-  Black people experience. This March, some of those students par-  committee  for students to talk
        iting body. During the two-day  ticipated in a virtual Student Diversity Leadership Retreat.  about issues of diversity, equi-
        event, students connected with                                                     ty and inclusion next year, she
        student leaders from across the  erated  plans for bringing  their  committee,  similar  to  the  staff   says the core group will likely
        Northwest, explored the role of  experiences  and  their  learning  diversity  professional learning  give  a  presentation  to  the  en-
        art in social movements,  par-  back to PJA.           community  that  meets  every  tire middle  school before this
        ticipated in affinity spaces and   Next year, that core dozen  other week to discuss issues of  school year ends June 11.
        arts-based workshops, and gen-  plan to create a PJA student ally  diversity, equity and inclusion.  See DIVERSITY, page 7
        Appellate judge who “loves justice” to move to senior status


        BY DEBORAH MOON                       “I plan to continue hearing
         Judge Susan Graber, appointed by Presi-  cases as a senior judge
        dent Clinton to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court
        of Appeals in 1998, has announced her in-  for the indefinite future,
        tention to move to senior status.
         “My letter to President Biden states that I   because I love the work.”
        will retire from regular active service when
        the  Senate  confirms  my  successor,”  says      ~ Judge Susan Graber
        Judge  Graber,  who  has  lived  in  Portland
        and been a member of Congregation Beth
        Israel  since  1978.  “My  best  guess  is  that   bit more time for travel and relaxation.”
        this event will occur within the next year.”  Despite her busy legal  schedule,  Judge
         Federal appellate judges can take senior   Graber has also found time to be active in
        status, which gives them  more autonomy   Portland’s Jewish community.
        over their caseload, if they are over 65 and   “I served on the Board of Trustees of CBI
        have served for at least 15 years.   for several years, and I sing in the congre-  Judge Susan Graber looks at a book of pho-
         “I plan to continue hearing cases as a senior   gational choir (including some of the Pu-  tographs of Sauvie Island birds taken by her
        judge for the indefinite future, because I love   rim Schpiels!),” she says.   husband, Bill June. The couple spends a lot
        the work,” she says. “I expect to start out on   She also has been an active  member of   of time at Sauvie Island watching the birds
        close to a full-time basis but with, I hope, a          See JUDGE, page 7  and walking Bolo, their Labrador retriever.
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