Portland observer., May 26, 1977, Page 4, Image 4

GilcreaM ends PMSC stay 'with no regrets’ L
Thursday. May 26. 1977
While »till promoting. An Evening of Nostalgia, many people were i
wi|h my m otives rather than the entertainment value one might derive from the show
itself. There were questions like: What's the matter you can’t pay your rent? Or,
What organization are you supporting? Or, Where are the profits from the show going
and ate.
The answer to those questions are quite simple, as I've explained to many. I
eventually will become a promoter. Bringing your favorite artist to the Civic
Auditorium. Paramount Theater and other concert halls in Portland. This was my
first show and socially a successful one according to the record breaking capacity
crowd who attended. I simply wanted to say - Ha Portland! My name is Allen Jones
and this is what 111 be doing as time passes. Even with the capacity attendance we
had at the show. I still recognised the absence of many of the people belonging to social
organizations I’ve religiously supported down through the years which of couse isn't
totally alarming when we look at the situation realistically. We as a people have been
notorious for not supporting each other in our endeavors. Which is basically the
reason why we're the largest minority in America - with the least
I got the idea of booking Walter Bridges and the Swinging Cavaliers, when I saw
them perform at a benefit concert for the late Andrea Garrand, who was one of the
finest basists ever produced from the Northwest. Bridges, as many of you know,
played with Count Basie for years. 1 wanted it to be an evening of nostalgia. Music,
clothing, swing dancing and ALL! I was asked why not a rock band with the
contemporary sound? Because I wanted Bridges and a sound that withstood the test
of time. His sound represents a renaissance period for Blacks in America that has not
been duplicated today! I respect that era and the positive impact it has made on all
Black musicians during those times. We had a cross section of Portlanders who
attended Nostalgia T7 to reminisce, dance and just have a swinging good time.
I'd like to thank: Walter Bridges and the Swinging Cavaliers. “Gentleman" Gene
Diamond, and LaVern Davis who were the catalysts is making Nostalgia T7 a total
success. Along with the models: Merrilin Fabian. Bernice Farris, Liz Hudson. Carrie
Moore, Linda Craft. Jackie Wilkerson. LaRan Smith. Gwen Stamps, Michelle Burton,
Stan Johnson. Ralph Davis, and George Taylor.
Lets certainly not forget the distinguished panel of judges: Verla Woods, Geri
Ward. Jim Brooks. John Blow, Ray Robinson and photographer Charles Patterson and
of course YOU!
'Ziiuâ
¡¡un
Tod
by Utyaees
NEVERM IND
When I first heard these words
“If he’s for you. he’s more than
the world against you."
I knew those words related to me
But just how much I couldn’t completely see
It took age, widsom. pain, the loss of
loved ones, hard living, suffering, and
self centered people, to make me understand
But really it only took the
Grace of God.
Everything will be
sw eeter tommorrow!
important the contacts can be for bring
ing funds into their cities. But I was
elected president and I guess the local
people just couldn't understand how 1
could win a national office ”
Involvement In NACD and in the
National Community ACtion Agency E x­
ecutive Directors Association, repre
renting the Executive Directors of more
than 870 Community Action Agencies,
has involved Gilcreaae in national politics,
he was one of the group that sued!
Richard Nixon and won a federal court,
decision that funds, once allocated by-
Congress and approved by the President.,
could not be impounded by the President.
When Nixon determined to close out
the Office of Economic Opportunity (the
war on poverty agency now called Com
munity Service Agency'. Gilcrease and
about fifty others organised a poor
people's mobilisation that brought thous
ands to Washington and resulted in
Congress continuing the agency. Thia
For the following eight years, and
stopped Nixon's efforts to destroy OEO
particularly for the past three years,
and eventually OEO Director Philips was
Gilcrease has been a man of controversy.
determined to be holding office illegally.
“I have always spoken out on the issues ' . Recriminations were immediate. Of the
and refused to go along with the power
fifty organizers, at least half have been
structure if it was not in the interest of
forced out of their positions through
the poor. I have put the goals of the
media campaigns and justice department
program first and of course that has made
investigation». “The pattern is always the
some enemies.
same. The same thing that has happened
‘T’ve had to fire some people and of
to me - slander in the press, the audits
course that makes people angry. I figure
and investigations - until many have
for every person fired, there are ten
been forced to resign just to retain their
people affected. But in every case that
health and sanity." Concurrent with this
has gone through on appeal. I've geen
campaign has been the accusation of
upheld. I’ve tried to go along with people
criminal activities against nearly every
and help them do the job, but when it
Black elected official.
becomes a choice between the programs
Although Gilcreaae is one of a group of
and one person, that person has to go.” twenty or so people who plan and
Gilcrease explained the large turn­
promote national legislation and policy
overs in some areas of his office. There
for community action and related pro
are certain percentages of failure, but one
grams, he has not received local recogni
of the functions of PMSC is to serve as a
tion for his participation. Rather, he has
training ground. “There are people who
been criticized for absence from his
are administrators for the city and the
duties at PMSC.
county who once were clerks at PMSC
“When I was selected by the Adminis­
Many former employees and trainees
tration to be one of 39 delegates to
have gone on to get degrees and good
represent the U.S. government at a
jobs."
United Nations Conference, it was s high
Gilcrease has made It a practice not to
point in my life. But it was also disap­
hire people just because they were
pointing. This honor was not even men­
referred by public officials. Recently he
tioned in the local press until after the
was attacked
by State Sentaor Ted
criticized them for their om
Hallock after declining to hire a friend of
mission.
Hallock. “ C om m ia a io n e r Ivancie also re­
“I am not looking for praise, but I get
ferred a friend, but understood when he
my satisfaction from knowing what I
was not hired. That is one of the reasons I
accomplish. But it does hurt a little when
have a lot of respect for Ivande."
you are constantly criticised and then an
Gilcrease's major problems with at­
honor like this is ignored.”
tacks by the press and others began when
Regarding the lack of local support,
he achieved national prominence. Three
Gilcrease pointed out that he has been in
years ago he was elected President of the
a position to bring more federal dollars
18,000 member National Association for
into Portland, but has not had the
Community Development, one of the tw o
cooperation of city government. “Becaue
major organizatins dealing with poverty.
of my position with NACD I m eet people
“Most mayors - including U n d s sy and
and know people, and there have been
Dailey - supported their own candidates
opportunities for Portland - but appar­
for these positions. They know how
ently because of their dislike for me, the
city chose not to use my position in this
(Continued from page 1 eol. 61
ready for parole but who had no jobs
were releaed so they could participate in
the CEP program.
One of the high points of his stay as
dirctor of CEP was meeting Bill Nicker
son. a realtor, who put him in ‘ouch with
Potter and Waterman, who built the
building PMSC now occupies. “They told
me that if I could guarantee that CEP
would provide a good program for five
years, they would build a building to m y
specifications. We shook nanos ami that
was it."
Gilcreaae became executive director of
PMSC in March of 1969 and continued to
direct CEP for eight more months. No, he
did not draw tw o salaries. Actually, he
took the PMSC job at a salary of 116,000,
w hich was S2.000 leas than the salary that
had been advertised. Eventually the
Board noticed this discrepancy and gave
him 318.000.
way." One example was an opportunity to
get ar economic development grant from
CSA that would have brought up to 39
million in three years. “I met with the
Mayor personally and he assured me of
his fullest support. But we needed a
latter form him to Samuel Martines.
Director of CSA. We needed the letter by
November of 1976. The Mayor sent the
letter, but not until May of 1976 - so we
lost the grant."
Another example of lack of support
was • statement made to Harry Carpen
ter, auditor for CSA who recently eon
ducted an investigation of Kent Ford's
chargee against Gilcreaae. Carpenter’s
report indicates, “Jordan denied that he
was using Kent Ford to discredit PMSC.
He advised that Ford's group has no
connection whatsosever with the City.
Jordan also indicated that Gilcreaae had
lost his credibility with the political
powers, both City and County, but that
neigher the City or the County wanted to
take over the CAP, because It was
considered a 'headache'."
“Right now, we still have materials
available for home repair and winteriza
tion,” Gilcreaae explained. “This is mat
erial we bought with a grant from the
city, but our work force has been cut to
three. We are doing some work now, but
it is very limited. If we could get some
CETA employees from the city, we eould
use these materials to winterise homes of
the poor and not only upgrade the
housing but save fuel costs. We could
easily use fifty CETA slots.”
Describing the CREP (Community Re­
habilitation and Employment Program)
aa one of the most successful PMSC
programs, Gilcreaae said he had heard
that after the grant to PMSC for thia
project had been announced, certain city
officials had attempted to block the grant.
The CREP program used unemployed
persons to repair and winterize homes,
thus improving living conditions as well
as providing employment and training.
Gilcreaae announced his resignation
two weeks ago. although he had been
planning it for some time. “I had planned
to leave last fall, but Kent Ford made me
stay another eight months. I wasn't going
to give him the satisfaction of thinking he
had driven me sway - so I stayed.”
Gilcreaae will take the summer off.
vacationing with his family and enjoying
some of Oregon's beauty. He has not yet
decided on future employment, but has
had a number of enticing offers over the
past months. Contrary to reports in a
local gossip column, he has not been
turned down by the Carter Administra
tion. He worked closely with Joseph
Aragon on the transition team and was
asked to apply for a position but did not.
“I am not ready to take a federal job. I
don’t want to be shut up. I have concerns
about welfare, civil service, the sickness
that makes this nation spend billions on
arms while the poor starve. I want to be
Protesters gag Ambassador
(Continued from page 1 eol. 3)
disrupted the meeting denied the college
public a chance to hoar a man defend a
protesting about self-determination for system that was totally inhumane, illegal,
supported by dollars generated within
Blacks. But you’re doing nothing but
showing racism by not listening to Black the American economic structure. My
people. You are white and you are point is that the Lewis and Clark stu­
dents that are going to be corporate
destroying our self-determination.”
During the next hour, numerous at­ managers and investors in South Africa
tem pts were made to quiet the chanting ten, tw enty years from now. It would
demonstrators. The Lewis and Clark have been stratgegic to expose them to
Coalition made it d ear that although they the conditions their buainesseas will be
had supported the demonstration outside exerting on the people of that country. I
the chapel, they felt strongly that Shear­ am totally statisfied with the stance the
ar should be allowed to speak and to be Coalition took. It was a well-thought out
challenged by questions from the aud­ plan to educate fellow students. When s
ience. Nana Grey-Johnson, a Lewis and student comes up to you and asks ‘who is
Clark student from Gambia and a spokes­ apartheid?’, then you know how much
person for the Coalition attempted to work you have to do to marshall sym
speak but was shouted down. Asked later pathy for the cause of liberation."
After an hour of attempts to quiet the
for his views on the demonstration, he
demonstrators,
Neilson said that Shearar
said, “I am disappointed that Shearar did
not get to speak. The strategy was to would not speak. “Freedom of speech, the
opening of unrestricted dialogue between
allow him to hang himself with his own
rope in trying to defend a system as rational people has been closed,” he said.
The Coalition issued a statem ent in the
odious as the one which he represents.
student newspaper the following day.
The Coalition had particularly in mind the
Lewis and Clark student audience who indicating they did not condone the
disruption of the talk, and that they were
left the chapel not having learned a thing
about South Africa. If Shearar had been disappointed that the issue had become
one of free speech and not of the racist
speaking in Soweto, I would have been
policy of apartheid. They urged the
the first person to shout him down, but
students to get back on the track: to
not at Lewis and Clark. Those who
study the issues of South Africa and
T
multi-national involvement in the Third
World.
was continually interrupted. “Your're
Bert Knorr, a PSU student and mem­
ber of RSB. a national communist student
organization, addressed the gathering,
“Jeremy Shearar isn’t coming here to
shed any light, he’s coming here to tell a
lot of lies, spread a lot of poison. We can’t
stand by and allow him to tell those lies,
spread that poison.’’
Once inside the chapel, the chanting
continued. David Savage, acting dean of
faculty and a member of the symposium
committee, asked the chanting demon­
strators if they believed in free speaeh.
“Is it your intention to stifle the right of
the people to speak and listen?" he asked.
“Is that your purpose? Can I have a
spokesman? Those of us who are here to
speak and to listen would like to be clear
on that.”
The chanting demonstrators answered
with “No way. no way, no way.”
Among those who attempted to quiet
the demonstrators was a representative
from the United Black Coalition. He said
that he wanted to hear Shearar speak and
that he had some questions he wanted to
ask him. “I'm Black and I'd like to ask the
guy a question," he said. “I think I have
that right.” He asked the demonstrators
to give him two minutes to speak, but
Pastor racaivas
honorary degree
St. Mark Baptist Church is celebrating
its Pastor's Anniversary on Sunday, May
2». 1977.
The highlight of this year's events will
be the conferring of an honorary doctor­
ate degree on Rev. Wilder, by the St.
John Theological Seminary of Los Angel­
es.
The event will take place at 3 p.m. in
the Church auditorium.
The membership of St. Mark invites
the public to attend. St. Mark is located
at 103 N.E. Morris.
tree to speak. Perhaps later I will want to
settle down to a government job - but not
yet.’’
In hts final release to the press
concerning his resignation, Gllcresse
gave a word of advice:
“In closing I would like to leave you
with the following quote In the hope that
you will remember and adhere to It: 'An
informed public depends on accurate and
effective reporting by the news media.
No individual can obtain for himself the
more factual information needed toward
formulating an opinion bettor than the
media itself.' The press, therefore, should
act as an agent of the public at large."
To the public he recommends the
following:
“The people must become more involv
ed and find out who is making the
decisions and how they are being made.
Thenext few months will be crucial for
PMSC but a new director without the
negative factors I have had to face, can
build a stronger program. But the public
must watch over PMSC - or it won’t have
ft.
“Portland has gone backward in the
past few years. At one time there was
more meaningful participation through
Model Cities and other programs and
there were a number of Black directors.
Now most of these are gone. PMSC la
probably the one remaining program
where the people can really make deci­
sions that effect their daily lives. This will
all be lost if the community can't get
together, support one another, and be­
come invovled."
PMSC
(Continued from page 1 col. 6)
promoting himself and for flattering me.”
The McCready letter also states that “a
number of citizen complaints” have been
received by her office in regard to PMSC.
Since Commissioner McCready is not in
charge of City Human Resources, several
board members noted that “she had no
authority” to intervene in PMSC affairs.
County-appointed board member Kelly
Bacon noted, however, that the Commis­
sioner does provide a vote to allot funds
to the Community Action Agency. Mrs.
McCready was not available for com
ment.
The McCready meeting, Bacon said,
“gave me an idea of where McCready waa
coming from and where each of us (board
members appointed by the city and
county) were coming from.”
Other attempts at a "coup” have been
said to be coming from regular board
members from Portalnd Action Com
munition Together (PACT), a PMSC
delegate ageney located in Southeast
Portland, in cooperation with delegates
from the public sector (City. County
appointees! and most notably, the County
appointees.
At the May 18 board meeting, PACT
delegates made moves to introduce anew
agenda calling for the election of commit­
tee chairpersons. According to PMSC
guidelines, nominations must be in effect
for 30 days before such elections could be
held. Motions to accept the new agenda
and to add elections to the new business
agenda failed.
A motion waa made twice to disallow
the report of the Executive Director,
delivered in his absence by Don Fuller, in
light of a resolution passed at an earier
meeting to require the Director's pres­
ence at board meetings unless otherwise
excused by the Chairman of the Board.
The first time it passed; it was rescinded
upon re-submission by one vote.
It was during this jockeying for posi­
tion that Mrs. Benson made charges of
conspiracy as well as charges of the
board’s “mucking around" instead of
taking care of the business of the poor.
Mrs. Benson's removal was with ap­
plause by county delegates and some
PACT representatives.
REV. E.C. WILDER
ALLEN TEMPLE CME CHURCH
Corner of 8th and Skidmore
...in time of need
Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m.
Christian Youth Fellowship 6:00 p.m.
I Second and Fourth Sundays)
CALDWELLS
COLONIAL
Reverend Thomas L. Strayhand, Minister
MORIt ARV < RFMAIORII M
New Hope Missionary Baptist Church
N F 14th al Sandy
and Hurniide
THE CHURCH DE8IGNED TO MEET YOUR NEED
2 3 2 - 4 1 11
Y ou are Welcome to Worship at
Church Phone: 281W163
THE ARK OF SAFETY CHURCH OF GOD PENTECOSTAL, INC.
The
Sunday:
Sunday School
9:00 am
Morning Worship
10:45 am
“Showers of
KÇAR1550
11:00 am-12:30 pm
YPfcC
6:30 pm
Evangelistic Worship
8:00 pm
Tnooday:
Bible Band/Jr. Church
Thursday:
Choir Rehearsal
Friday:
“The Pastor ¿peaks"
Tnooday - Friday
Noow Day Prayer
84 NE Killingsworth
281-0499
6:30 pm
6:30 pm
ST. ANDREW CATHOLIC CHURCH
9:30«
“A warm spirit of fellowship always”
U.V. P.
D.D. "The Holiness Preacher”, Pastor
K.G.A.R. 1150 AM
Evening Service 2nd - 5th Sundays
Communion 1st Sunday
Wed. - Family Prayer 1
and Bible Study
F r i.- I
Prayer a
Paster
281-6476
M yn.
806 N.E. Alberta Street
Reverend Bertram Griffin, Pastor
11:00 sun.
7:30 p x .
5:00 pun.
281-4429
Masnes:
5:00 p ot Vigil - Saturday
10:00 a.m. Choir ■■ Sunday
12:00 p.m. Folk - Sunday
7:30 pan.
7:30 pan.
ST. ANDREW COMMUNITY SCHOOL
Rev. Devers
3725 N. Gantsnbein Avenue, Fortland, Oregon 97227
4919 N.E. 9th Ave.
Nerita Kelly. Principal
....................
X.
Phene: 284-1620
Grades I through 8