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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 9, 1977)
Thursday. June ». 1977 Human Relations: Playing a preventative role by Herb L. Cawtharne Ask Nick Barnett why the work of the Metropolitan H u n an Relations Cocunu non is so important today, and he would say. "The key to our work now is that we can develop the ability to plan for long range development. W e can take a more rational approach to very emotional prob lems." Barnett explains that "this is far better than the short sighted, crisis oriented approach which characterised some of the Commission s activities in the past." In 1909. the Metropotitan Human Bela lions Commission was created, as a joint city-county venture. The agreement which established it is unique, h 's one of the few times a large metropolitan area, both city and county, have taken the initiative to combine efforts in the strug gle against prejudice, inequality, insti tutional discrimination, and other forms which strip people of opportunity in life. In 1969. it was a good beginning - but only th at. The Commission, like many other organizations berun in the heat of the k íj armando lachabdia late 00‘a. got off to a poor start. Now that times have changed, there io a w orry io some quarters that the M etropolitan Human Relations Coouniamon may not be supported as actively as it once was. In the agreement establishing the Commission, the focus at the tim e is dear': "V /H E R F.A S . because of the pres ent day stress arising out of tendons or discrimination on account of race color, religion, or national origin or docont. the problem of human rotations is necessarily metropobtan in scope." Barnett argues that because the "Present day stress" has changed, the need for the Commission has not. And several of the M H R C Co m mission era agree. Armando Laguardia is one good example. He says. "W hile some of the legal basis for prejudice and discrim motion has been elim inated, there is no reason to think they don't exist in reality. Their impact is still operating." Laguardia, an employee at PSU's Gen eral Assistance Center which provides technical assistance to Portland's doseg regation program, thinks it would bo a mistake to lull ourselves into believing Boise StlldeiltS seek school roots The Boise School student staff is calling for help. They are preparing a Golden Anniversary year hook and need the assistance of form er students to locate old pictures, programs, and clippings that will help tell the story of th eir school’s fifty years. The young journalists have begun interviewing former principals and teach ers. including Miss M s rru e rite K e rr sad Miss Dagm ar Joppoaon. who were on the school's original staff when it opened in September. 1927 and who still reside in the community. Donna Cotton, editor of the anniver sary book, asks all form er students: “Would you please contact Boise School? The reason is that we need to talk to somebody that went here long ago. I f you could come up to the school, that would be nice. W e need some old pictures of long ago. far our 50th Anniversary yearbook. Thank you. and we hope you can be a part of the celebration " Several events are being planned to celebrate Boise's 50tli Anniversary but no dates have been set yet. The staff plans to inform the community as soon as plans are settled. fa no longer vital. "There w ill always ho problems of human he says. to Laguardia. the Commis- b e « ’* obligation to the people of this community will be on-going. “W e may. or may not. have a lot of overt racism anymore; but the M H R C b interested in addressing systems of government or education or economic or social programs which in some way harm or oppress people So when racism and overt prejudice are no longer problems, there w ill always bo a need to focus oo brooder problems of human relations." Charles Jordan, the Commissioner of Public Safety who oversees the work of the M H R C , expresses strong support for the Commission. He cautions against a false security. “These are the most critics! times for human relations in this city." he pointed out to me by phone. Jordan went on to say, "Now b the tim e at which we can perform major surgery, then organize the forces to continue the p reveatitive work which avoids more nots and more destruction." I believe the City Council should get involved now. The Commission will receive the leadership it needs from this office. Some want to believe that there fa no longer a real problem in race relations and human relations. T h u h a myopic pereepective. Than. Commissioner Jordan paused, thought a second, and began again with a question: "W hy should we wait? W hy should we w ait and find ourselves in a reactionary position again? Now wc can deal w ith the real causes. For those who will listen, we can still hoar the symptoms crying out - I need attention.'' The w ork of the Metropolitan Human Relations Commission, like that of the N A A C P and the Urban League, will ho important to the people living in this ty. As wo do w ith the Urban the N A A C P . we ought to buy stock in the M H R C . The stock we purchase w ill bo certified by our partici pation. support, and influence upon the work of the Commission. The dividends will be paid over tim e, w ritten on the checks of progress which will say at the top. “T h u Community W ill Be A Bettor Place F o r O ur Children To Live Because Of T he W ork W e Did Today " r I COMMISSIONER C. JORDAN Help Line offers aid for distressed St. Andrew Health Help Center announces a new service. HELP LINE. I t is a telephone service for anyone in distress. Health Help Center has op erated a free medical clinic in Northeast Portland for three and one-half years. The clinic runs throe nights a week: Monday. Tuesday and Wednesday. The HELP LINE w ill operate Thursday through Sunday evenings from 6 4 0 p m . to midnight. Through the HELP LINE we can utilise the special resources that have bean developed through the Center. Because we a re governed by a hoard with local representation and are located with in the ares we serve, we are sensitive to the apodal needs of the community. HELP LINE w ill act as a connective link and an advocate far the people of our situations realistically. W e discum vari ous ways of handling problems, including from many community Z fth all call before a problem becomes acute, and with help they are often able to p reset a crista situation. The H E L P L IN E w ill open Thursday. June 9th. For HELP call 266-5997. F or fu rth er information call 288-5995 I by a group of volunteers who Teenod and trained, we w ill i and respond to caller's need to be and encourage them to face There is a p reventative value in H E L P LINE service as well. People sometimes Vancouver hosts NAACP Area Conference i The Vancouver N A A C P is I Northwest A rea Conference of N A A C P Branches Saturday and Sunday, June 1112. at the Quay in Vancouver. W ork ▲ and Datphfaw Vofey Cotton, S r Ibefewj. Mitchell (Continued from P .l CoLS) summer in Gonaives. H a iti (W est Indiesl. where she w ill w ork w ith young children in the M aranatha Mission School. She plans to w rite about her experiences there. Cathy feels that her inspiration and determ ination comes from a secure and loving fam ily and her belief in Jesus Christ. Cathy's mother is D r. 9 . Virginia M itchell of Sherwood. H e r father died when she was fourteen. H e r brother Gregory attends George Fox College in Newberg; Ron graduates from N ew berg High School and plans to attend Portland Community College; Brian and Kenneth attend Mabel Rush Elem entary School. New berg. H e r sisters. Landa and Sharon, attend N ew berg high School and .K im berly attends Mabel Rush Elem entary School. A ll are active in church and community activities. wil be conducted on Saturday, participants include M*** Tacoma School Principal: M r. Ed Mitchell Head of A lternative School (Pan T e rra ), Vancouver; M r. W illiam Dungan, Princi pal. F ort Vancouver High School, Van couver; M r. E . Shelton H ill. D irector of the Portland Urban goffcj faltares Jordai, yoith On June 12, 1977. at 9:00 p.m ., Bethel A .M .E . Church. 5828 N X . 8th Avenue. Youth Choir w ill be presenting an after noon of spiritual inspiration featuring the Commfafaooer Charles Jordan aa guest speaker and youth choirs from various Churches throughout the community. The theme for the afternoon is: ST. ANDREW CATHOLIC CHURCH 60S N X . Afeerta Street lertram Griffin, Pastor M r. F irm : M r. Bobby Davis, Vancouver N A A C P Beard M em ber; M r. Jim Belton. A ffirm ative Action Officer. Vancouver School System: M rs. Erieen Christianson Action Officer. Clark Col bgo. Vancouver; A ttorney Lem Howell, Seattle; If r s . Borns Plummer. A ffirm s tive Action Officer. Multnomah County (Oregon); L L Bob King. Vancouver Police Force and others. Luncheon speaker w ill be Judge Charles V. Johnson. Nations) N A A C P Board M em ber; Banquet speaker will be Mrs. Mona Bailey, Assistant State Super intendent of Public Instruction. Olympia. Also in attendance w il be M rs. Virus Can son. Region I D irector. N A A C P . from San Francisco. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Saturday. Reservations may be made for the lunch eon and the banquet (buffet) by railing one of the following persons: Valree Joshua 698-4204 Larnxella Butler - 094 7219 696-5972 now. The public is Mock Catholics honor Dads T he Portland Black Cathobe Lay Caucus will bold a apodal "Dads' Day Breakfast" June 1» a t the Immaculate H eart Pariah H all, 2926 N . W illiam s Ave., from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The breakfast is to raise funds for the Caucus and thia special Father's Day event w ill include a raffle. Tickets far the breakfast are 62.00 far adults, senior citisens 61.50. children under 12 61.00, pre-schoolers free, and a family t t 6 only 66.00 and tickets can be obtained by calling M rs. Clara Johnson at 264-8886. The regular monthly moating of the Portland Black Catholic Lay Caucus w ill be Thursday, June 16. at St. A n d rew , 806 N X . A lb e rt* S treet, w ith the business meeting starting at 7 p.m. F ath er James L yko. of Memphis, Tean. at 8 p.m .. fallowing the business lu s riin g. will show color slides of "Black M arried Love.* Everyone fa invited to the breakfast and the meeting ta d ! tw o by F ath er Lyko. The Reverend L . Fisher Hines, Pastor, and Bethel's congregation invite the public to attend and share in w hat w ill be a rewarding experience..... 261-4429 . . . i n time o f need ALLEN TEMPLE CME CHUJtCH 5 4 » p m . V«B - Sotordoy 1040 am . Choir - Sondai 124» pan. Folk - Sunday Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday Worship 11:00 a.m. Christian Youth Fellowship 6:00 p.m. «Second and Fourth Sundays) "H e enjoy* true leisure who ha* tune to improve hi* «out** estate." Henry David Thoreau C A L U W tL L h COLONIAL MUKTI AMY ( MT MATdMIl'SI ST. ANDREW COMMUNITY SCHOOL Reverend Thomas L. Stray bond. M inister 4919 N.E. 9th Ave. Phone: 264-1620 N erita Kelly. Prim ipol Grade« I through 8 N .F . 14th st Sandy and Burntide 232-4111 B e rm Child Care Center RU CH OUT - PRINT YOUR OWN 4822 N. V ancouver A venue A Practical C hild D evelopm ent Program * Newsletters • Bulletins « o Price Lists • Pare»» Ages 2'/t - 7 years O pening s — CSD — 4C — Private Coll 281- 0530 Duplicating, addressing and mailing machines many models, new and used, rebuilt. Abbott A Lind-1909 N.E. Union Ave.-2B2-3245 New Hope Missionary Baptist Church T H E C H U R C H D E S IG N E D T O M E E T Y O U R N E E D Church Phone: 28140163 THE ARK OF SAFETY CHURCH OF GOD PENTECOSTAL, INC X . C .A .K . 1150 A l l T l* I M pm . 11MS ana. - 5th Sundays fay 3 Pancakes. Ssusage or H am .-.61-28 Ham. tw o eggs....61.50 Bar B Q Rib D inner...63.80 Fried Chicken Wing...25e n .X p .t 54» pm . 7:8» p m . 7:8» p m . Phene: 281-6476 KG AR 156 Y fb c Rev. Devers 3725 N. Gontsnbain Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97227 — ROÆLL’S SPECIAL PRICES Evongobottc ' Tuesday - Friday N e ed 'D ay Prayer Call in your order 288 5689 N.E. UNION AT AINSWORTH
