In this week's PPS Pulse: Benson students create art to beautify Lloyd District; young rappers spread message of kindness and empathy

Benson Polytechnic High School is a long-standing neighbor of Portland’s Lloyd District. Like good neighbors, some of Benson’s students are pitching in to improve the livability of the area.

Substance use and addiction can present serious challenges for students and their families, and Portland Public School is committed to providing the support, guidance and resources they need. On Thursday, we will host the first district-wide family informational night on substance use, titled “A Healthy Me is Substance Free.”

At the start of his story, Danny Fisher is at a blood drive, donating “the elixir of life.” At the end, he is nursing an eye injury that makes him look “like a monster for a few days.” The tale of what happens between those points earned the Grant High School senior first place in the Truth Be Told Story Slam held Thursday at Grant.