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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 16, 1986)
July 16. 1986, Portland Observer, Page 5 the OBL is concerned about. "The whole issue facing us is economics There is a difference between the economic realities and wh.it is hap petting to us because of racial undertones '* Debnain was asked whether the OBL will erwforse McCoy sometime in the future. "The OBL has a po licy of not endoising political candi dates, however, the OBL supports African American candidates who will work for the interests of the Black community." Hl 1 ■ ■ NEW BOOKSÜI "The Snuggle is My Life By N v I b in i MtituM.i Available at: P ath fin d er B o okstore 2732 N E U nion A ve 287 7416 Open W ed., Thurs. 4 — 7 Sat. 11am 2pm oi by appointment other titles on S outh A frica available 18th and Dekum Street M arket (under new management) $t ? I 1 1771 NE Deku Hours: 8am 12 midnight Open: EVERYDAY •FRESH PRODUCE •COLDEST BEVERAGES IN TOWN •HO USEHO LD ITEM S •A T LOW PRICES COME TO: "The neighborhood m a rk e t w ith the friendly to u c h " N ational A ssociation of Securities Professionals m em bers John B row n IL) and Sam uel Cole. Jr. 1C) briefed m em bers of Oregon Business League (OBL) on their trip to the 2nd A nnual C apital M a rk e ts C onference in A tla n ta . Georgia Presiding over the O B I m o nthly m eetin g w as Chad Debnain IR ) Photo by Richard J. Brow n OBL Takes Economic Development Leadership and Responsibility Th« Star Spangled Banner, our National A nthem , w as originally know n as ~ The Defense of Fort M cH enry* and printed on an 1814 handbill w ith o u t the nam e of Francis Scott Kay MRS. C’s WIGS by Jerry Garner Northeast Portland has been suffering from the lack of continu ing economic development for years. Realizing that the rebuild ing of the African American com munity must come from within, the Oregon Business League (OBL) has assumed leadership in starting eco nomic development and investment in business ventures in Northeast Portland OBL. which consists of 20 African American owned business es, is an arm of the National Bust ness League The national Bust ness League, formerly the National Negro Business League. was formed in 1900 by Booker T Wash ington. Chad Debnam, Chair of the OBL, said the purpose of the OBL is to develop and support Black Bust nesses in hope that the community can help itself This, says Debnam, will decrease the high unemploy merit among African American youth and adults. During the OBL meeting held last Saturday at the Otherside Restau tant, League members told Senator William (Bill) McCoy that some thing must be done about the com petition between nonprofit organ! rations and small business for eco nomic development money for Northeast Portland Debnam said, "I believe this is a very critical issue facing African American business people. Non profit organizations can go to the Portland Development Commission IPDCI and gel money targeted for Northeast development This leaves little or no funds for small business (especially African Ameri can business)." Debnam said small business in Northeast is being crushed trying to compete with large nonprofit enti ties that have a social agenda, "Furthermore, some of these organ izations have profit motives Those who run such organizations are making great salaries, they have all of the benefits of a profit organi zation under a nonprofit umbrella." Senator MaCoy said he would look into the matter, but the pro blem could be a PDC problem "I don't know whether the legislature has jurisdiction in this area." said McCoy. Another issue the League is con earned with is Senate Bill 2406 If thia Bill is put into law. women will be included as minorities in the 1966 Surface Transportation Assistance Act. This, says Dr. E.C. Ogbuobiri, a League member, will reduce the number of Blacks and other minority participation in state and federal highway projects. The League voted to submit a letter to Oregon s Congressional and Senate delegation stating their opposition i n <;n idnr. League memebers were also briefed by John Brown, President of Brofam Enterprises, about his participation in the National Asso ciation of Securities Professionals (NASP) that was held in Atlanta Brown told those African American business leaders that if the Black communities are to have economic development, they must have capi tai formation, teach community re sidents how to invest their money and make the legislature aware of the needs of African American busi nesses. "If we as Black business are to survive, if we are going to have economic development in our com munity, we must form capital lor mation. There is no way around this African Americans must de velop capital in their own commu nity. Our people do have the re sources to develop capital," said Brown. Brown said Merrill Lynch, the largest brokerage firm in the world, has 2.600 vice presidents; of that amount, 26 are Black Of these 26, 2 are on the capital or development side of the market, Brown said there are only a few minority brokerage firms in the country. The majority of minority brokers work for majority firms. "This does little for us as minority business owners, we need broker age firms who will take our com panics and invest in them and take them out into the mainstream." NASP's objectives ate to achieve equal opportunity for minority pto fessionals in the secunties industry, to foster growth and development of minorities and minority control led institutions in the security indu stry, and increase jiubiic awareness, especially among minoiity Amen cans, about public and private fi nance, investment and career op portunities NASP provides profes sional and off n ial foiums to .hate resources and ideas and to pro teet minority men and women who need expertise to interptet the im pact of securities industry issues that focus on minority economii development. According to Brown, NASP orga mzed itself to lie a f>art of die tinan cial world so minorities ( an have rejiresentation in the majority sec tor The minority sector and major ity sector will alternate leadership; one year the majority sector will have the leadership, and the next year the minority sector will have die leadership. Brown said tins arrangement ws one of the fine negotiation points agreed to when the organization was formed in San Franciscoon April 13, 1986. Brown and Sam Cole, who also attended the Atlanta conference, will tie working with the brokerage firm of Blackwell, Suctiy Invest ment Another issue that was discussed at the OBL gathering was making Black officials accountable to the community "W e must understand that d we put individuals in elected positions ot they are appointed to represent our interests, we must hold them accountable on the re curd " said Calvin Henry. Henry, who is President of Oregon Assam hly for Black Affairs, said Black officials have a |ob to do. This (tuestion must be asked Aie these people doing their jobs?" Henry told OBL members that his organization is putting forth legi station programs which deal with economic development issues and urge OBL members to work with them Henry asked OBL members to support Gladys McCoy's hid to be come Ctiair of Mulnomah County. ' We must elect someone from our own community to become Chair of the County, in an effort to address our needs and hold them account able " Henry said the best thing that could happen to Northeast is to get McCoy elected as County Chair. Whether you like her politics or like her personally, the point is what do you as Black business people want in torrns of jobs from that pat ticular body?" Henry said the Chair position has a lot to do with whom gets jobs Betty Cab-na Proprietor -xr b, naomi si*n. ano «« o o u g ia i m a ia i « trxiaMAMAii wins W ig Styling $7 50 AND UP (long or specialty styles slightly higher) It's Now Angel M RS. C ’s W IG S 707 N.E. Fremont 281-6525 Closed Sun. A Mon. O F IN Tuee. thru I at. 11:30 AM to 6 00 FM U If it hadn’t been for the pilone company Id probably still be pkiyii piano at Hazel)» Momirlg Glory Bar. W I was always pretty fair at making played ‘Downtown Rambler’ right over the phone for him. tunes up. . But I never knew much ngnt "And the rest, as they say. is about writing tunes down. history. Just like Hazel s. “Which could have been “Of course, nowadays, the the destruction of my young guys tell me they have a career. computer they just plug into the “See, back in *27- o r keyboard. You play a little riff maybe it was ”28 - the old Hoot Wilson Orches • and it comes out anywhere they have a phone—all printed up. tra must have heard Sheet music. about me. 1 got a letter "And when the time comes, if I’d send them I expect the phone company’ll music of my have something worked up I can music? M an, I use when I’m composin’on w hat to do. aharp*' back before and A t Pacific Northw est B ell, we’ve always been more than long distance or fiber optics, or even data trans mission. AtPNB, (g) N«ttÊ»est «U I been the future." COMfwKr •I
