On Tuesday, August 10, 2010, Jacob Anderson-Minshall hosted an Out Loud panel discussing sex and human trafficking, the role gender and sexuality have in this modern day slave-trade, and how this is happening right here in Portland, Oregon.

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A human trafficked homeless 16-year old boy was asked what agencies in Portland could do in order to help him and thousands like him get off the street, he paused and then turned to the folks at a partnered organization and said “Obliterate Stark Street.”

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…

 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

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. 

This week on Voices from the Edge, Jo Ann and Dave ask the question "Are the good guys ahead?" Local progressive may be feeling a bit down over the direction of local and state politics lately. City Hall seems more disconnected than ever from the world in which most Portlanders live. Earlier this week, city council voted 4-1 (Commissioner Fritz abstaining) to put a new bond measure before voters for a new communications system and other equipment for the Fire Bureau. With so many city services taking hits - and at least on other proposed bond measure being put on hold because of the economy - should there have been a community discussion about whether this measure could wait? Oregon's gubernatorial race - "Doc vs.

Portland City Council voted 3-2 this morning to let police unit commanders have a vote in certain cases before the new police review board.  Does this make the new board "structurally flawed" or does it increase accountability as commissioners supporting the change claim? Voices from the Edge Hosts Dave Mazza and Jo Ann talk about this new development.