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Two-week event aims to build community in North/Northeast
The grounds of Jefferson High School will host a two-week event, July 30 to Aug. 8, designed to build community strength in North and Northeast Portland and provide support and encouragement to youth and families. Headlining the free concert and conference will be Gospel rappers Catch 2 and the pastor and motivational speaker Undrai Fizer.
A small group of volunteer street gang missionaries called The Exodus came up with the idea for the event, called the Portland Convergence. The group works with young people in Portland to help them stay out of criminal gangs and be successful in school and in life. Organizer Lori Goodwin is calling for churches, youth groups and other community organizations to take leading roles in the project. She is looking for singers, dancers and performers; a sound operator; volunteer hosts; and for people to offer testimonies that will inspire and support others.
The group also needs people to help with organization and event production.
"We are looking for church support," Goodwin said. "A lot of the churches are doing a lot of good things in this community, but it's often separate from one another. We are hoping that the churches and church members in North and Northeast will step forward and come together to create a community event that we can repeat yearly.
"I'm hoping people will just get on board and contact me."
Goodwin, who lived in Northeast Portland as a child...