This week on Voices from the Edge, Jo Ann and Dave looked at the good and bad news of the week. Topics discussed included: federal funds being made available to Oregon to address budget shortfalls and whether those dollars will reach the people who really are in need; the impact of the new president of the Portland Police Association; shortcomings and risks with new assistance being offered to homeowners facing foreclosure; and missed economic development opportunities in emerging technologies.

About the program…

Peter Pincetl, from ROAR and their Reentry Transition Center, talked to us about those programs. Please note: If you missed the KBOO Special on August 6, commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, you can find it on KBOO.fm – the front page.

 Hosted by Lisa Loving

Today's guests are Larry Collins, Michael Harper, and Furlton Burns from POPA, People of Purpose and Associates.  Our topic is mentoring and supporting those with the greatest burdens stacked against them.

This is a very positive organization, providing invaluable resources for families, youth, and re-entry programs for the recently incarcerated.  Find out what they're doing in and around YOUR community to make Portland a Better Place to Live.

Callers offered the following additional resources during the course of the show:

Minority Information Outreach

On July 15, 2010, Marilyn Buck was released from the federal prison medical center in Carswell, Texas.
Tonight on Circle A Radio, we planned to celebrate the release of Marilyn Buck with many voices of her supporters. While working on the show, another political prisoner Carlos Alberto Torres was also released. So then , we planned on celebrating the freedom of both the amazing individuals. We were also planning on mourning the loss of Lolita Lebrón, a leader in the struggle for Puerto Rican nationalism, who died this week at  89. Then , August Third Marilyn buck died, from the uterine cancer she developed in prison.

Oregon House District 43 is one of the most diverse in the state.  It also faces some of the biggest challenges:  high unemployment, high rates of police misconduct, high displacement from gentrification.

This week Dave and Jo Ann talked with State Rep. Lew Frederick about what role the state can play in addressing some of these problems.