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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 1980)
Portland Observer August 7, 1980 Page 6 Grants available for community action By Paul McCoy What organization is made up of Red, Yellow, Black and white people, has as diverse a social, cultural (sub-cultural), and ethnic mixture, as one might find in this region o f the country? Add the fact that as o f their spring “ gathering" (h in t), they awarded 60 grants to ta llin g $54,980,000 to Pacific- Northwest social change organizations. I f you haven’ t guessed yet, let me spoil your fun. The name o f this organization is the McKenzie River Gathering or MRG. The MRG was formed when a group o f Northwest activists gathered on the banks o f the McKenzie River in 1976. W ith an endowment o f $500, (XX). 00 dollars, the group's main goal was insight; to create a public fund for social change. Their funding philosophy is The Urban 4 H Choral Esemble. under the direc tion of Ira M u m fo rd , tin g s at C om m unity Rally simple. The M RG's primary pur pose is to d istrib u te money to groups and organizations involved with issues concerning society. "W e help in any way we can to promote a more democratic, non-violent, and ecologically sound society." Bridging gaps and lin kin g organizations and groups w ith sim ilar motives and who are ad dressing sim ilar issues, are also goals the MRG strive to achieve. It is the group’ s consensus that by bridging these gaps between various organizations that knowledge can be shared and perspectives broadened. They also lend a hand in helping groups write proposals, in finding additional funds, and evaluate the effectiveness o f the various programs. The MRG particularly supports projects which: I) promote grass root organizing o f women, m inorities and low income ex sponsored by The Black United Front. (Photo: Richard J. Brown) ploitation; 2) work against violence, racism, sexism, anti-gay attitudes, and economic exploitation; 3, sup port the sell-determination of Third World people; 4) present cultural and artistic work with social change impact; 6) conduct social change research. These and more are targets for MRG funds. P ortland, Eugene and Seattle each contain branches or caucuses lor this resource organizaton. They are a public foundation under 501.03 o f the Oregon code. Grants to N .E. Portland organizations totalled $4,200.00 for this funding cycle. The MRG is con stantly in search o f organizations that lit their crite ria and are in search ol funds. I f you would like to know more about the McKenzie River Gathering a n d /o r how to apply fo r funds, contact Bonnie T inker - MRG 19 N .E. M o rris, Portland, Ore. 97212 or Phone 249- 7229 or 281-4847. Government debars Prudential The Prudential Insurance Co., of America has been debarred from doing business w ith the federal government or w ith other com panies that have federal contracts, in an order issued by Labor Secretary Ray Marshall. The debarment is based on Prudential’s refusal to provide em ployee data v ita l to determ ing possible race and sex discrimination at its New Jersey headquarters and other facilities. The order requires that Pruden tia l’ s current contracts be te r minated or suspended, but specifies that this process be carried out in an orderly way to assure protection for persons covered, directly or indirec tly , by P rudential insurance policies. ploym ent Standards Donald Elisburg said the order removes the company from contract eligibility u n til it submits employment records, most o f them com puterized, fo r its Newark, N. J. corporate o ffic e and 99 other facilities in New York and New Jer sey. Elisburg said that the order a f firm s an earlier ruling by an ad m inistrative law judge requiring Prudential to submit all computer tapes containing detailed in fo r mation on employee and applicant history and payroll records. In a d d itio n , M a rs h a ll’ s order requires Prudential to supply other employment records pre-dating 1976, also needed by the depar tment’s Office o f Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), to evaluate the firm ’ s equal job oppor tunity record. Elisburg said that P rudentia l’ s refusal to submit tapes and related materials has held up — for over one year - a review o f its employment practices. He added that the tapes were "the most com plete, accurate and economical tool for making a fair judgm ent o f the com pany’ s jo b practices.” Elisburg noted that the other federal contractors ro u tin e ly supply OFCCP with these types of basic employment records, in cluding actual computer tapes. He emphasized that OFCCP makes every effort to protect per sonal employee inform ation from unwarranted disclosure. As a federal contractor, the com pany is required not to discriminate because of race, sex, color, religion, national orgin and to take positive steps to employ and advance qualified women and minorities. These requirements are enforced by OFCCP under a 1965 presiden tia l mandate, Executive Order 11246. According to Elisburg, Prudential provides insurance coverage, par tic u la rly health benefits, to em ployee groups in such agencies as the Justice and Treasury Depart ments, the U.S. Postal Service, and the Federal A v ia tio n Ad ministration. Smoking or Health? tke ■ hrw » * »» mjm C A N A D IA N CABLE 5 7 C H A N N E LS LIBERTY CABLE 74 C H A N N ELS The Mayor's Task Force that studied the four different cable TV systems, and the special consultant and even The Oregonian found all four systems equally competent, techni cally, to serve Portland. So, the one big difference in what you get, is what you pay for it. Which in this case is a difference of $3 45 a month Why the difference? Well, the $10 45 per month cable sys tem is based in Canada. And to make sure that there was enough involvement in Port land, they decided to give half the com pany here to a small group of Portlanders (about three dozen powerful individuals) for about 10% of its actual cost Who w ouldn't jum p at the chance? Now, it costs a lot of money to give aw ay that much of a company Millions and millions But they felt sure that it w ould help guarantee that they would be awarded the franchise And they knew they could get the money back somewhere. Which is where you come in. You're going to pay for it. The only problem is, for $7 00 a month, you could get a cable TV system that grew up in Oregon. One that's been serving Portlanders for some time already. One that has already invested itself in this city instead of asking people like you to cough up extra money just so it can act like it's from here In a way, it's too bad the ultim ate decision doesn't rest w ith you. After all, you're the one who w ill have to w rite that check out month after month. Still and all, there is hope Because if the people who w ill make that decision see that Liberty is offering the best of everything for about 30% less, they can't miss knowing which cable system you really want. LIBERTY CABLE Bringing the Future Home
