PORTLAND
Union Avonuo Project
King residents want answer
OBSERVER
Vefarne a Ne. 8
Thereday. Febreary 16, 1978
I t e P * cepy
School Board
considers
Woodlawn
r
The Portland School Board will, at its
February 27th meeting, consider a
"Woodlawn Center Plan" proposed by the
staff of Woodlawn School and approved
by the Area I I Advisory Committee.
The Woodlawn Center envisions bring
ing a third grade class from a white
school to Woodlawn along with its teach
er, for a period of nine weeks. The class
would maintain its own homeroom, with
its teacher responsible for basic instruc
tion. The visiting students would partici
pate with Woodlawn students in recess.
Physical Education, lunch, field trips and
some special classes such as art.
A fine arts program with emphasis in
music would be developed as a magnet
program. It would inter relate all of the
arts - music, drama, movement and art.
In addition to basic music classes the
program would offer small group instruc
tion.
A third component of the Woodlawn
Center is the development of a multi-cul
tural curriculum that could be infused
into existing course material.
“Frag
mented units and bits of information
about ethnic groups interspersed sporadi
cally into school curriculum will no longer
(Please turn to Page 2 Column 4)
The residents of the King neighbor
hood are embroiled in a controversy over
a Nordstrom distribution center pro
posed for Union Avenue between Skid
more and Shaver Streets.
According to many observers much of
the controversy is the result of ineffec
tive community involvement with the
affected neighborhood by the Portland
Development Commission which is di
recting the project.
Most residents
realize that economic redevelopment of
Union Avenue is a necessity but are
concerned as to whether the benefits of
the project will outweigh the disruption
of those living in the area to be razed and
thoee in the surrounding neighborhood.
They have little faith in PDC based on
past activities and community involve
ment efforts on the project this far.
Commissioner Charles Jordan assured
the Observer that the project will not
receive his endorsement unless his con
cerns are answered to his satisfaction.
“W e need commercial development on
Union Avenue. The street looks sick with
its boarded up buildings and it needs to
be revived to provide jobs. W ithout jobs
there was no use of talking about social
programs - but with jobs and economic
development the area can thrive and
grow."
Jordan is first of all concerned about
the community residents - those who go
and those who stay. "Black people were
put out of Vanport by the flood, they
were put out of the Coliseum site. Now if
they are to be put out of this area they
need a place to go. Relocation does not
just mean moving people.
I t means
finding them the kind of housing they
want where they want it.
“W e have a community and I don’t
intend to see people pushed out and
scattered around if they want to remain
in that community.”
Jordan also is concerned about the
immediate neighbors. “T he site will have
to be landscaped in such a way that it will
not distract from the desirability or the
value of the homes across the street.”
The neighbors should be involved in the
planning he said, since the project would
impact the entire neighborhood.
As for employment, Jordan will need a
firm commitment from Nordstrom that
community residents will be hired.
“Nordstrom will have to bring ia their
own managers. We have to he realistic.
But I would expect a management train
ing program to train community people.
A large percentage of the employees
would be community people."
Jordan views the Nordstrom develop
ment as a potential magnet for other
firms . “When Nordstrom moves in and
is successful, and I am sure they will be.
other firms will follow. Hopefully, com
munity people would be the owners and
developers of future developments.
When citizens own not only their own
homes but a part of the commercial
development, then they will have pride in
the neighborhood, and an incentive to
build it.
“The community will have to want the
project for it to be successful," Jordan
said. “The acceptance is largely depen
dent on PDC s ability to communicate
with the residents.”
PDC has not yet sought the endorse
ment of the King Neighborhood Associa
tion. Thomas Kennedy, director of the
Union , Avenue Redevelopment Project
spoke to a King meeting last month with
approximately one-hundred persons in
attendance. Most came to the meeting
with no previous knowledge of the plan
and felt their questions went unanswer
ed.
PDC had scheduled a meeting with
K N A on February 21st, but this meeting
conflicted with the Northeast Coalition
meeting regularly scheduled for that
night.
James Loving, chairman of the North
east Coalition, told the Observer that the
PDC meeting with King Neighborhood
Association on February 21st has been
postponed. “This meeting had been set
on the night that the Coalition has meet
for ten years and we were first told that
it could not be changed. The fact that
PDC would set a meeting with one of our
member associations on our meeting
night shows PDC hasn't changed its tac
tics T heir policies might be alright but
the people who execute them are wrong.
Thomas Kennedy of PDC will discuss
the pro.weed development of the Mason
Urban Renewal site at the N A A C P
membership meeting Sunday, February
19th at 4:00 p.m. at St. Paul COGIC
Church, 2859 N .E . Rodney.
PDC is attem pting to circumvent the
structure that has been set up by the city
- that is going to the Neighborhood
Association for the involved area. Rather
than come to the King Association and
the Northeast Coaliton first, PDC is out
seeking endorsements from other organi
zations like the Senior Adult Service
Center and the N A A C P .
“We are not going to stand by and see
the people in the neighborhood circum
vented.
I t is my understanding that
Commissioner Jordan has notified all of
the city agencies that they must go
through the structure the city has desig
nated - the neighborhood organizations.
His action has been very helpful to us
since it takes action at the commission
level to make agencies go to the people.
Bob Olsen and Thomas Kennedy are now
trying to reorganize their approach and
go through the neighborhood association.
That meeting will be set at a later date.”
Community honors Collins
Commissioner Charles Jordan will ho
nor Miss Evelyn Collins at Concordia
College, Sunday. February 26th at 3:00
p.m. The event is not only to thank Miss
Collins for her years of dedication to the
community 's children but to begin a fund
to purchase required fire prevention
equipment.
Evelyn Collins is one of the best known
and most respected members of the
Alnma comm unity, having dedicated
m ost of her life to children.
Two generations of children (and even
one child in the third generation) have
passed through her child care center,
where they are taught respect for each
other and for God.
Mias Collins became interested in child
care ia about 1961 when she returned to
Portland after a short stay in Washing
ton. D.C. She had been raised in Eastern
Oregon and educated at Cascade College
in Portland. Upon returning she took a
fob at M eier and Frank and, as was her
custom, began teaching Bible classes to
young people living in the area's housing
projects
One complaint she repeatedly heard
from parents was the lack of child care.
W ith this in mind she found a house
where she would have room to keep a few
children and. while continuing to work,
she with her mother provided child care'
A t that time many mothers had r o u t
ing shifts so some children came at odd
hours or sUyed overnight. Money was
continuously a problem, but Miss Colling
put her faith in God and He seemed to
lead her to the right decisions.
Soon a decision had to be made be
tween the job and the children, so she de
cided to expand the child care program.
The program continued to expand and in
1956 the present location at 128 N .E . Rus
sell was acquired. Miss Collins also gives
much credit to friends and businesses
who have contributed supplies and free
labor.
The Grace Collins Memorial Commu
nity Center now serves children from
infancy through elementary school child
ren who come for after school care.
Christian education is an integral part of
the program and Miss Collins' faith
pervades the center’s atmosphere.
Along with the usual child care center
activities, an educational program is
offered, with children learning to count to
100 by 2*s, 5's and 10's, learning sounds,
and learning to read a number of words.
Finding the neighborhood schools to be
deficiencies in many respects, she decid
ed to give her children a "head start" so
they would have a chance when they
started to school.
Not satisfied to dedicate her life to
young children. Miss Collins encourages
use of her building by elementary and
high school youth who come for Bible
classes and to play in the gym. Miss
Collins sponsors a championship Golden
Ball basketball team.
Many of Portland's successful citizens
have fond memories of earlier days with
Miss Collins. Although thankful for those
who have achieved, she also remembers
those who have not and finds time to visit
Oregon State Penitentiary at least once a
month.
>
A new program is bringing hope to
Albina's unemployed youth. The N orth
west M inority Contractors Association
has received a grant from the state to
place minority youth on jobs and in
training positions.
“W e will place young men and women
in jobs and in training," Eugene Jackson,
Director of N M C A said, “then follow
them to see that they are doing alright.
We will help them get into the unions, get
their tools, and when the tim e comes get
into apprenticeship programs."
The young people w ill be placed in
private industry - mainly in construction.
Many contractors have not only commit
ted themselves to provide training slots
but are participating in weekly meetings
to inform young people about opportuni
ties in the construction trades.
Paul Jeager of Peter K iew it and Sons,
said of the program, “W e have had prob
lem finding minorities for t r a in in g posi
tions through the usual agencies. This
program will help us to fulfill our obliga
tions under our contracts to provide
training." Peter K iew it is the contractor
for the 1-205 project. Like moat federally
funded building projects, the contract
calls for specific numbers of trainees in
each trade.
Peter Kiew it has agreed to take sev
eral trainees from the N M C A program.
“We always need good men who will stay
with the company and go from job to job
with us. I t is to our advantage to have a
core of our own employees that we can
take into new jobs. When we go into a
new area we hire local people but we do
not know what skills will be available to
us."
Chuck Sloan, of Contractors, Inc. dis
cussed current opportunities in construc
tion for young people who are w illin g to
work hard and learn. “There is always
work for the person who does a good job.
Construction is a good business, with
rood wages. You can earn a good living.”
He urged the young people to go into
construction as laborers and find out
whether they like the work before taking
on the commitment of apprenticeships.
The first to hire was John Craig of
Complete Gardening Service. Darnell Gill
is employed as a trainee in landscap
ing. Gili, who is a high school dropout and
formerly attended M t. Hood Community
College, is enjoying his work, which so far
has entailed grooming lawns, edging and
repairing broken trees. “I really enjoy
the work and have an opportunity to
learn. I intend to stay with the company
and just might make this a career.”
Justin Calloway is also working at
Complete Gardening Service and John
Jackson, Jr. and Lucy Tate are working
at the N M C A office.
O ther company representatives who
have participated in the classes include
Gordan Todd, owner of Todd Construc
tion; E .A . Osborn, University Mechanical
Engineers, Inc.; Stan Jones, Manager of
Purchasing. Port of Portland.
Charles Ganter, Director of the State's
Apprenticeship program, will assist those
who want to become apprentices.
placement project s;toosored by Northwest M inority Contractors Association.
Community organizers attack housing probloms
W hat is Albina Fair Share? The ques
tion is prompted by attention the group is
receiving lately with its efforts to remedy
the problem of improperly secured va
cant homes in the Albina neighborhood.
The Observer recently visited the organi
zation headquarters in the Immaculate
Heart Rectory on North Williams Ave
Next Week:
Annual Black History Issue
vacant houses. The houses w ere identi
fied, nine were given priority, ownership
of these nine was determined, the owners
were notified of the problem and the
group’s concern, and the City of Portland
was called in to explain why enforcement
of existing statues was obviously not
being done.
A progress report issued by Albina
nue, and asked the question of Gail
Fair Share shows the results.
Four
Washington, Albina Fair Share member.
houses are in the process of demolition,
" It ’s a grass roots organization that is
two have rehabilitation underway, and
unique in that it's not issue oriented.” Ms.
three have been boarded pending their
Washington answered. “W e wanted to
owner's decision as to further action.
build an organization that can deal with
Ms. Washington expressed satisfaction
the problems on an ongoing basis.” She
with these results, but admits her sur
explained that community organizations
prise when she began her F air Share
often spring up when a problem becomes
activities and found that people were still
evident and a crisis threatens. Albina
willing to challenge the various “City
Fair Share, Oregon Fair Share, and the
Halls” of their lives. “People still have
national parent organization, F air Share,
hope to try again,” Ms. Washington said.
share the philosophy that problems
“It's easy to feel powerless to change
should be solved before they reach
things.” She describes the responses she
critical proportions and sometimes before
had over a period of time from a Portland
the community itself realizes that the
Development Commission official - “ *1
problems exist.
will do that,' he says. 'I didn't say that,’
Thus Albina Fair Share discovered the
he says. ‘Yes, I did say that,' he says."
vacant houses problem.
Very simply,
It's tempting to liken Ms. Washington
according to Ms. Washington, the staff
to a Black female Columbo. Describing
and members of the organization knocked
her approach to city officials, she says.
on doors, asked what residents didn't like
“M y position is I'm stupid. Speak down
about their neighborhood, and invited
to me. Explain again. And again." In
them to a meeting where their concerns
other words, don't go home with a vague
could be shared.
notion, if you don't understand, ask them
That first meeting revealed three
to repeat themselves until you do. “That
general areas of concern, according to
way they can’t say I told you so,” Ms.
Ms. Washington: housing, education, and
Washington continues, but admits com
police relations. A place to start was
mitments are often hard to come by.
One commitment Albina F air Share
received recently from M ayor Gold
schmidt and the City Council, is that the
City will determine if it can acquire
ownership of abandoned houses. Com
paring this action to "squatter's rights”
Ms. Washington says some cities allow
prospective occupants to purchase an
abandoned house for one dollar, with the
requirement that the house be rehabili
tated within a designated tim e period.
Some cities also promote low cost loans
for this rehabilitation.
Another housing problem Albina F air
Share discovered, is the inadequate ad
ministration of PDC administered home
improvement loans.
Ms. Washington
criticizes PDC's "buyer beware” attitude.
“L ittle old ladies shouldn't have to in
spect 2x4's.
Somebody is getting a
paycheck to do that. W e want to find out
who that somebody is and why he's not
doing it."
Ms. W ashington noted an improvement
in PDC lately, however, describing the
quick response PDC made when a new
roof, installed under the PDC administ
ered program, blew off in a high wind.
According to Ms. Washington, a goal of
the Fair Share organization is to become
self supjMjrting. Grants from the Shalan
Foundation and the Campaign for Human
Development are funding their initial
efforts. Hopefully the »10 membership
fee will maintain the groups after they
are off the ground. Other F air Share
chapters in the Portland area are Metro
politan F air Share and Lents F air 8hare.