Russell neighbors ‘Walk in My Shoes’

WATCH EXCLUSIVE VIDEO | See what people learned from two young men, as they led a foot tour through their own outer East Portland neighborhood …

The turnout is strong for this In My Shoes tour, held in the Russell Neighborhood.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

In celebration of Black History Month, nonprofit organization Word is Bond held a series of walks across the city in different neighborhoods called In My Shoes.

Although the skies were dark and drizzling, the heavy rain held off on February 19, in the Russell neighborhood, as neighbors – and some elected officials – gathered in front of Russell Academy Elementary School.

Giving an overview of this unique group walk is the Executive Director of Word Is Bond, Lakayana Drury.

“The idea of these walks is to elevate the stories and experiences of young Black men, and get their stories out into the community,” said the Founder and Executive Director of Word Is Bond, Lakayana Drury.

“One of the best things that can come from these, is action,” Drury observed. “I was going to say ‘awareness’; but, awareness isn’t enough, in this day and age. Along with the action taken by these young men – sharing their stories – they are also telling tangible things that people can do to take action in their communities.”

He is encouraged by the program, remarks Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps.

Although he’s not running for reelection this term, Portland City Commissioner Mingus Mapps was one of the elected officials who arrived to join the walk.

“I came here in outer East Portland this morning to connect with our community,” Mapps told East Portland News. “I think, as an elected official, one of my responsibilities is to listen to our youth and stay connected with what’s in our neighborhoods. And, I’m encouraged by the large turnout for this.”

About ready to lead this tour are In My Shoes ambassadors Ted Woldeab and Simon Abraha.

The day’s two In My Shoes ambassadors – Ted Woldeab, a senior at Jesuit High School, and LaSalle High School senior Simon Abraha – spoke with East Portland News before heading out.

“This is important to me, because I want to be a change in my community,” Ted Woldeab remarked. “I see some people who are sitting down and expecting other people to make the change. But I say, ‘why not us’? Why can’t we be different, and show these people our experiences?

“The change I’m hoping for is a united community,” Woldeab continued. “Someday we can build recreation centers where kids can come, instead of the streets, to improve themselves and explore their creativity.”

Along Russell Neighborhood streets, this tour continues.

Although busy, as a senior in high school, Simon Abraha told why he chose to invest his time in this program. “Growing up, I did not have a lot of choices, when it came to rec centers and community type things. I feel that by doing this, we can show the community what the youth want, and what the youth need.

“Right now our youth need a way to go,” asserted Abraha. “So what we need is infrastructure – good recreation centers – to keep the kids out of the bad side of the streets, and put them in an area where they can strive to succeed, and be the best kid they can be.”

What he hoped participants would come away with, said Abraha, “Is people taking what we say, and then having conversations outside of this activity. In this way other people can get educated, and create a mindset that we all can make a difference. We hope that they follow those words with actions!”

Watch this exclusive video,
to get a better feeling of this event:

Leaving the school, the tour headed south through John Luby Park – meaningful to them, because this a park where they often have come with their families.

After a brief talk in the park, the group headed south on NE 132nd Avenue, passing San Rafael Street, then on to Gateway Church – one of the places, they explained, where they first got to know one another.

Here, in front of Gateway Church, the group stops to learn more about the experiences of the young men leading the tour.

Gathered around the church’s sign, Woldeab read a poem that he wrote as a Word is Bond intern in 2021:

“I’m Sorry”
by Ted Woldeab

“As we come together
The strangest year of our lives
We chant it’s finally Spring Break.

Little did we know, our lives forever changed
We chant let us breathe
We want peace and justice, so we believe.

A man’s life lost; they let him die
Makes another mom left to cry.

They say why me? Why me?

The answer is cold.

We protest out there to enlighten
But the picture portrays that we’re violent.

We say BLM
That creates discussion
We get in trouble
And have to face repercussions.”

From there, leaders turned east on NE Halsey Street; there they talked about why they called their walk the “77 Tour”. It’s because TriMet Bus line #77 runs along it, connecting them with the greater city – before it stops at Glendoveer Golf Course.

Find out more about Word is Bond by visiting their website: CLICK HERE.

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