SKANNER - Key Persons
Angel Jackson was just drafted into the WNBA, and she's already making history!
Angela Bassett earned her first-ever Emmy Award at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmys this past week. Bassett, who's had an illustrious four-decade career in the industry, earned her first Emmy for her work on National Geographic's Queens, a seven-part series that chronicles the stories of animal matriarchies across the globe.
Job Titles:
- Ben Chavis
- NNPA Columnist
- President of Education Online Services Corporation
Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is president of Education Online Services Corporation and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network. See more about this work at Dr. Chavis' website.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- News Staff Member
- Publisher
A native of St Louis, Illinois, Bernie served in the US Air Force, spending six months in Vietnam in 1963. He started out in journalism taking photographs for The Crusader, an African American newspaper in East St. Louis. Stationed in Seattle, Bernie took photographs of the Seattle Super Sonics for The Facts. He took journalism classes through a University of Western Washington program in Seattle and was inspired by the words of Black Publisher John Russworm. Launching Freedom's Journal in 1827 Russworm said, "We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us."
With Bobbie Foster, in 1975, Bernie launched The Skanner, a weekly newspaper based in Portland that aimed to cover African American and underserved communities in the Pacific Northwest. The Skanner was designed to produce high-quality professional journalism, and has won numerous awards, including the West Coast Black Publishers Association's Publisher of the Year in 1986 and 1993. Bernie says his proudest moments include, helping change the street where the paper had its first office to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and seeing leaders and community members take action to right wrongs after the paper covered the issues. For example, hair stylists organized a training on styling and grooming Black hair, after the paper ran a story about White moms who struggled to care for their daughters' hair.
In 1987 Bernie worked with Wayne Branch to create a website for The Skanner. Now in its third redesign our website offers 24/7 news and entertainment with a focus on African Americans and African immigrants and refugees in the Pacific Northwest. bernie@theskanner.com
Bethann Hardison is a pioneering fashion model who broke barriers in the 1960s as one of few Black runway models to reach the highest heights of the industry. Feeling the need to shed a little light on how she makes it all work eight decades later, Hardison sat down with PEOPLE to share her 7 tips for aging gracefully.
Job Titles:
- Immediate past President of Trans
- NNPA Columnist
Bill Fletcher, Jr. is the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum. He can be followed on Facebook and at www.billfletcherjr.com.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Executive Editor
- Managing Editor
- News Staff Member
Bobbie was born in Abbeville, LA, a Creole-speaking town. She attended a segregated high school and graduated valedictorian of her class. As a young married woman she moved to the Northwest, and while raising her children took liberal arts and business courses at University of Washington and Western Washington University.
Bobbie moved to the Northwest living first in Seattle then in Portland. She co-founded The Skanner newspaper while taking journalism courses at Portland State University. She later graduated in Communication with honors, from the University of Portland, and took post-graduate course at City University, Seattle. A lifetime member of the NAACP, Bobbie is an advocate for social justice and created The Skanner to support that mission. During the last 22 years The Skanner Foundation has provided more than half a million dollars to help students attend college.
The paper played a pivotal role in the struggle to rename Union Avenue for Martin Luther King, including going to the Oregon State Supreme Court after the city council's decision to rename the street was challenged. Bobbie is active in many professional and community organizations including: the National and Portland Associations of Black Journalists, the Association of Women in Communications, Inc., the Urban League, Rotary Club of Albina and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Bernie and Bobbie Foster have been recognized by many community organizations in Portland. The Oregon Historical Society named them History Makers in 2013. In 2014, Volunteers of America awarded them the Vic Atiyeh Lifetime Achievement Award, for their work on behalf of underserved communities. bobbie@theskanner.com
Candace Parker is one of the most decorated WNBA players of this generation. Her work off the court is making waves now, with Parker advocating for equity in youth sports and access for underserved communities.
Job Titles:
- Communications Manager With the Center for Responsible Lending
- NNPA Columnist
Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending.org.
Christen McCurdy has written and edited for publication since 1999, and has won awards from the Oregon Society of Professional Journalists, the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association and the national Society of Professional Journalists. Her work has appeared in a host of local and national outlets, including The Lund Report, The Oregonian, The Portland Mercury, Street Roots, Narratively, Pacific Standard and RH Reality Check. christen@theskanner.com
Job Titles:
- MLK Breakfast Coordinator
Denyse Peterson was born in Portland and graduated from Jefferson High School. She worked in the Oregon State Senate Legislation session for Senator Avel Gordly, mediating with agencies on the challenges of affordable housing, employment and food. She currently works at Portland Community College and serves on the Executive Council for the college's union, the A.F.T., and is the V.P. of Political Action. She also serves on the board of directors for Multnomah Education Service District. Denyse has been an active volunteer with community organizations since she was a child. She has helped coordinate The Skanner Foundation Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast for more than 20 years.
Job Titles:
- Member of BCTGM Local 364. ( Photo Credit
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder, President / CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce
Harry C. Alford is the Co-Founder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce®. Website: www.nationalbcc.org. Email: halford@nationalbcc.org
Jineea Butler, founder of the Social Services of Hip Hop and the Hip Hop Union is a Hip Hop Analyst who investigates the trends and behaviors of the community and delivers programming that solves the Hip Hop Dilemma. She can be reached at jineea@gmail.com or on Twitter.
Job Titles:
- Contributing Editor
- News Staff Member
Helen graduated from Keele University in England with joint honors in History and Psychology. After working with youth in care and homeless women, she moved to Portland and spent six years as a crisis mental health counselor. While studying at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Helen reported from Washington DC for Medill News Service and interned with Dow Jones in Paris. Helen worked as deputy education editor at The Scotsman newspaper in Edinburgh, then as a freelancer in Portland and Barcelona, Spain. Since joining The Skanner News in 2005, her role has included: news editor; multimedia editor and web editor. Helen has won awards for her reporting on economic and social justice issues.
Jada Pinkett Smith Says Revealing Separation From Will Smith Is a 'Weight off My Shoulders'
Jada Pinkett Smith is feeling free these days. She's no longer hiding that she's been separated from megastar husband Will Smith for seven years.
Job Titles:
- Founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce
- NNPA Columnist
Jim Clingman, founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce, is the nation's most prolific writer on economic empowerment for Black people. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati and can be reached through his Web site, blackonomics.com.
Job Titles:
- Becomes First Black Member of Congress for Oregon
Job Titles:
- News Staff Member
- Advertising
- Advertising Manager Advertising
- Sales and Advertising Director
- Sales and Advertising Manager
Jerry has lived in Portland for close to 35 years. He started out at The Skanner in 1977, creating award-winning layouts and photo spreads and managing circulation. Jerry loves photography and theater and has been a producer, actor and director with Passin' Arts Theater Company. Passin' Arts last month recognized his 16 years of service with a leadership award. advertising@theskanner.com
Job Titles:
- Founder and President of the Chicago
Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. is founder and president of the Chicago-based Rainbow PUSH Coalition. You can keep up with his work at www.rainbowpush.org.
Job Titles:
- Founder of the Social Services of Hip Hop
Jineea Butler, founder of the Social Services of Hip Hop and the Hip Hop Union is a Hip Hop Analyst who investigates the trends and behaviors of the community and delivers programming that solves the Hip Hop Dilemma. She can be reached at jineea@gmail.com or on Twitter.
Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based economist and writer. She is President Emerita of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C.
Job Titles:
- News Staff Member
- Contributing Photographer
Julie Keefe has contributed photos to The Skanner News for two decades. The main photographer at our annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, Julie's work has included creation and development of the pivotal "Hello, Neighbor" photography project, considered to be one of the largest public art projects in the history of the state. A longtime youth arts educator, Julie works with Caldera, and currently serves as Portland's first Artist Laureate.
Job Titles:
- News Staff Member
- Contributing Photographer, Entertainment Columnnist, and Film Critic
- Entertainment Columnnist and Film Critic
Kam Williams is a syndicated film and book critic who writes for 100+ publications around the world. He is a member of the New York Film Critics Online, the Black Film Critics Circle, the NAACP Image Awards Nominating Committee and Rotten Tomatoes.
In addition to a BA in Black Studies from Cornell, he has an MA in English from Brown, an MBA from The Wharton School, and a JD from Boston University.
Kevin Durant made Olympic history last week during Team USA's game against Brazil in the 2024 Paris Olympics quarterfinals, Sports Illustrated reports. Durant scored 11 points in Team USA's 122-87 victory over Brazil for a career total of 494 points, becoming the all-time U.S. leading scorer in Olympic games for men's or women's basketball.
LeBron James is being honored in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
Job Titles:
- Journalist
- Lee Daniels
- NNPA Columnist
Lee A. Daniels is a longtime journalist based in New York City. His latest book is Last Chance: The Political Threat to Black America.
Marc H. Morial, former mayor of New Orleans, is president and CEO of the National Urban League.
Job Titles:
- President of the Children 's Defense Fund
Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children's Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org.
Job Titles:
- News Staff Member
- Sports Photographer
Monica Foster is a gifted sports photographer as well as a key administrator and newspaper distribution agent at The Seattle Skanner. Her dynamic shots of the Seattle Seahawks historic run for the Superbowl are unforgettable. monica@theskanner.com
Job Titles:
- News Staff Member
- Administrator, North Portland Multimedia Training Center
Naomi Pierce began her work with The Skanner News Group in 1996. She earned a Masters in Education at Montana State University. Originally from Southern California, she saw in Portland a gentle mix of the urban and the rural reflecting her past experiences living in Los Angeles and Billings, Montana. In 2006 she became the administrator of the North Portland Multimedia Training Center (NPMTC), an educational project of The Skanner Foundation. Naomi@theskanner.com
Job Titles:
- Graphic Designer
- News Staff Member
- Product Manager
- Production Artist
Patricia Irvin began in graphics working as a production artist for a group of weekly publications. She has since worked for commercial printers, magazines and advertising agencies in creative and managerial positions. Patricia earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Missouri-Kansas City, she has done graduate work at California State University, Fullerton and has participated in several industry workshops. Her designs have won numerous awards, including NNPA Merit Awards, Addys and a Gold from the Florida Print Awards. patricia@theskanner.com
Job Titles:
- Director and CEO of the American Federation of Arts
Job Titles:
- Accounts Manager
- News Staff Member
- Accounting
- Accounts
Spike Lee had a memorable first trip to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Michael Jordan welcomed a couple newcomers to it. He had never been to the Hall before learning he was being honored for his passion to the New York Knicks.
Job Titles:
- Chief
- News Staff Member
- Seattle Photographer
Susan Fried has worked as the chief photographer for The Seattle Skanner for more than 20 years. She has documented popular movements, business development, community institutions and youth activities -- as well as the Dalai Llama's historic meeting with Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. She mounted her first art showing of her documentary work and art images in 2013.
Tiger Woods Has a New Apparel Brand With TaylorMade. Here's What It Means
Tiger Woods in a red shirt on Sunday has become as recognizable as a Masters champion in a green jacket. Only it's no longer about a Sunday red shirt for Woods. It's about a brand.
Job Titles:
- Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival
During Bond's time with OSF, he directed 12 productions, promoted equity and inclusion efforts throughout the company, and created the FAIR Program, which cultivates the next generation of theatre artists and administrators from diverse backgrounds.
Job Titles:
- Becomes Co - Founder of Palazzo, an AI - Based Interior Design Company
- Becomes Co - Founder of Palazzo, an AI - Based Interior Design Company / Credit
Job Titles:
- Brave Revelation: Living With Progressive Aphasia and Frontotemporal Dementia
In a press release, aides to Williams said her condition, including aphasia, has impacted her language and communication abilities, while FTD has impacted Williams's behavior and cognitive functions. Last year, actor Bruce Willis also shared his battle with the same form of dementia.
Job Titles:
- Launch New Collaboration With Renowned Interior Designer
Yennifer Castillo is a FAMU alumna and aerospace graduate student who has become known across social media for her creative classroom decor. A fifth-year teacher, Castillo said it was always her dream to become an educator, PEOPLE reports.