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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 26, 1979)
Portland Observer Thursday, July 20,1070 Pe#e 3 Psychologist teaches nursing Frequently seen in Portland, and probably more visible in coming months, are Bob Lamb and his staff from the Seattle office o f the Com munity Relations Service. When the U.S. Departm ent o f Justice’s Community Relations Ser vice (CRS) opened its Northwest Regional Office in Seattle in January o f I974, there may have been those who were not quite sure what it would do. The Service’s stated purpose was clear enough: to expand its racial conciliation/mediation assistance to W ashington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. But the concept o f using con ciliation /m ediation techniques to resolve racial discrimination disputes was not as widely understood, or ac cepted, as it is today. Just what role could such a federal agency play in resolving race-related problems in the Northwest? It’ s a question that no longer needs an an swer. In five years o f energetic ac tiv ity , the Seattle o ffic e has established itself as an integral part o f the re g io n ’ s p ro ble m -solving structure, and as a cham pion o f mutual respect for the rights o f all. “ We’ re an action-oriented agency,” says the Service’ s Director, Gilbert G. Pompa. "Y o u can write us if you prefer, but a phone call w ill do just by Kathryn H. Bogle Answering the dictates o f her “ in ternal d ia l’ ’ to " G o West young woman" — Dr. Avis Graham did in deed "G o West" when she accepted an invitation to teach classes in Psy chiatric-M ental Health Nursing in Portland. Dr. Graham came to the Rose City in January o f this year and, in ac cepting this very sensitive position, she became the first (and only) Black female Counseling Psychologist in the state o f Oregon. Much o f her time before she catne to Portland was occupied with indi vidual and group therapy, group process and co-facilitation o f groups which included medical doctors, psychologists, medical students, social w orkers, nurses and other health care professional workers. Here in Portland, Dr. Graham's classes are made up o f graduate stu dents who want to specialize or to explore more deeply into one o f the areas Dr. Graham is currently o f fering to her classes. At present the c u rric u lu m includes: G rou p and Fam ily Therapy, Stress and Self Management, Theory Development and Community Psychiatry. Some o f Dr. Graham’ s students are already professionals who are qualified to accept their own clients or patients, but who want more ex pertise in dealing w ith the pathology they find in certain aspects o f their work. They find Dr. Graham eminently qualified to help them be cause o f her dual preparedness as a psychologist and as a Psychiatric- Mental Health Nurse. As a graduate nurse. Dr. Graham is a product o f Hunter College. From New Y ork U n ive rsity came her M aste r’ s in P sych iatric-M e nta l H ealth N ursing w ith a m in or in A d u lt E d uca tio n. U n ive rsity o f Missouri Department o f Psychology added a Master's degree in Counsel ing Psychology. The doctorate degree in Psycho logy was earned at the University o f Missouri-Columbia. "B ig C ity” life is well known to Dr. Graham . W idely traveled in Africa and Europe, she is a native New Yorker, born and bred there. Her beginnings as a staff nurse were there. She became a Head Nurse very soon in her working career in the Bronx at the Municipal Center. She went on to be a health coordina tor in a Headstart program in the Bronx but was soon escalated to be supervisor at the Hillside Psychiatric Hospital on Long Island. Perspectives o f human growth and development from conception to old age. are all w ithin Dr. Graham’ s range o f interest. Career planning and counseling have been a part o f her daily lite too. Dr. Graham was a group facilita tor o f Human Sexuality Forums for CSA conciliates ethnic/racial conflicts as well. We leave the red tape to the agencies that run the money programs. Long application forms and waiting lines are not a part o f our operations.” Following is a sampling o f recent cases worked on by the Northwest Region: - The alleged unw arranted shooting o f a Black man by an Alaska state trooper which led the N A A C P , clergy and state organi zations to form a coalition to seek re dress. - School desegregation problems in Portland, Seattle and other cities. - Complaints by Black inmates o f unfair treatment in the Oregon State Penitentiary. - Charges by Alaska native leaders o f biased reporting about subsistence w ha lin g , h u n tin g , fis h in g and trap pin g. CRS helped sponsor a statewide conference at which Eskimos, Aleuts and Indians and news representatives set up a struc ture in improve reporting. - A dispute between Puyallup In dians and Tacoma authorities over dredging the harbor. Created by the C ivil Rights Act o f 1964, CRS was instructed by Congress “ to provide assistance to communities and persons therein in resolving disputes, disagreements, or difficulties relating to discriminatory The Morris Morks House 1501 SV Homson Sneer Portland 97201 Telephone 2 2 7 -2 6 6 6 DR A V IS G R A H A M the University o f Missouri-Columbia Medical Center in the behavioral science division in Columbia. She has trained counselors for the Rape Hotline for the YW CA and has con tributed her consultation services to local Police Departments. Concerns o f Black people, concerns o f Black professional women and concerns o f men and women in general are concerns ot Dr. Graham, also. She keeps in touch with Black Studies departments and with A ffir mative Action groups wherever she may be. She keeps a two-way avenue o f thought-exchange flowing easily The Northwest scene has not let this easterner down. Dr. Graham likes our ocean She finds the Pacific ju s t that " I t ’ s re fle ctive . I t ’ s serious. I t ’ s th o u g h t-p ro vo kin g ,” she says, and adds. "O u r Atlantic is busy, restless, and active—always something going o n ." Our interest in ecology, and pre servation o f the wilderness areas o f the Northwest intrigue Dr. Graham. The hope o f showing the unspoiled areas o f nature for posterity— “ It is sentimental as well as practical” — brings her delight. A nd the roses she enjoyed in Washington Park? Memory o f their fragrances evokes a sense o f security in Dr. Graham as she contrasts the wariness necessary when in Gentral Park pathways. D r. Graham feels that Black people have "p o te n tia lly a better chance to develop themselves here in the west than in the cast — better chances personally, and better as a Black person.” Memberships in professional orga nizations are m aintained by D r. Graham. She is a member o f New York State Nurses A sso ciatio n; American O rtho-Psychiatric Asso ciatio n; American Association o f Black Psychologists; and American Psychological Association. For herself, Dr. Graham would like, “ some day soon” to resume a private practice which she has con ducted formerly. She might like to do this in the west. Maybe right here in Portland. She likes us. W'e like knowing that she is here. W’e need her. W'e hope Dr. Graham w ill stay with us—a long time. DES C O N N A LL Professional Corporation LEGAL CLINIC CONCENTRATING IN THE FIELDS OF: School Board nominations (Continued from page I col. 6) Noon, to consider adding names to the list. Any of the remaining 26 applicants can request to be added to the finalists, and can be added by a vote o f three Board members. Also, Board members can nominate any o f the 26 persons, and they w ill be add ed by a vote o f three members. Mrs. Osly J. Gates notified the Observer that she has asked that her name be added to the finalists. Mrs. Gates, who has been active in estab lishing textbook selection criteria and promoting multi-cultural educa tio n , has fo u r years experience evaluating desegregation proposals fo r H EW at the regional and national levels. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Adm inistration in accounting. She is a resident o f the Cleveland area and her daughter is a graduate o f Cleveland High School. A. ) 2 SPEED QUICK BROOM - CASSETTE BAG CHANGER, MOTOR MUFFLER, CHECK BAG SIGNAL, EDGE CLEANER B. ) CELEBRITY IV CUSTOM VACUUM - 2.6 PK. HP (1.0 V C M A HP). 14 QT BAG. CORD REWIND, TOOL HANGER C. ) CONCEPT ONE —THE FINEST UPRIGHT HOOVER HAS EVER MANU FACTURED, CORD WIND, LIGHT. TOOLS EUREKA ELECTRIC CO. MAC VAC CO. 1104 N.E. Union 1030 8.E. Bytooo 287-9420 236-4426 practices based on race, color, or natinal origin . . .** T h a t inten tionally broad mandate gives the agency the freedom to cover the spectrum o f discrimination issues that Bivide com m unities along racial/ethnic lines. D iversity characterizes the w orkload o f the Seattle O ffic e . Lamb says his staff can never con centrate on just one problem . "There are always several different things going on at once. For exam ple, while I ’m busy here in Seattle, say, working with the city to adopt an improved police Firearms policy, other members o f the staff might be in Juneau w orking on a school problem, or in Idaho consulting with corrections authorities about the alleged mistreatment of minority in mates. " A t the same time, each one o f us is probably in phone contact with somebody waiting for us to get free so we can come and work on a dif ferent type o f problem. We just do the best we can using our time and resources where the most serious and pressing problems are.” Counting Lamb himself, the office has a com plem ent o f four con ciliators and mediators, supported by two clerical workers. Despite this small staff, CRS’ Northwest Region al Office is making its presence felt. CRIMINAL LAW INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF INTOXICANTS DOMESTIC RELATIONS WORKERS' COMPENSATION BANKRUPTCY PERSONAL INJURY WILLS - PROBATE AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS CONSUMER PROTECTION If you have a problem that is not covered in this list, please call and ask whether we can help. Chances are, we can. If not, we can recommend someone else for you to call. One way or the other, we want to see you get the kind of professional legal counsel you're entitled to. The best time to call us, or any attorney, is before you are embroiled in a legal problem. This is called preventative law and it makes a lot of sense. Regardless, when you call us we will arrange for an initial consultation at your convenience. Cost: $20. We probably can't solve anything in this meeting, but it is a chance for you to explain your particular problem and for us to give you some idea of what it'll take to reach a solution. If you want us to proceed, we'll give you an estimate of the fees you should plan on. In writing. Also expected to be added to the list o f finalists by Board members who were not on the screening com mittee is Herb Cawthorne. Director o f the Ecucational O pportunities Program at Portland State Univer sity, Cawthorne is co-chairman o f the Community Coalition for School Integration. Cawthorne, a graduate o f the U niversity o f Oegon, is a w riter and TV host. He has two children at Irvington School. On August 7th, at 7:30 p.m., the Board w ill hold another p ub lic meeting to interview the three candi dates and any that have been added. The appointment w ill be made at the regular meeting, August 13th at 7:30 p.m. A ll meetings w ill be held at the new edu catio na l center, 501 N. Dixon. •r . - ^ 7 ^ ;’
