Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 1987)
December 23, 1987, Portland Observer. Page 3 NATIONAL NEWS UPDATE Applicants for the Christa M cA uliffe Institute W anted C. — The Nauonai Foundation for the Improvement of Education (NFIE) this week an nounced the creation of the Christa McAuliffe Institute for Educational Pioneering — and called for applica tions for the first Christa McAuliffe Fellowship. Twenty fellowships will be award ed next spring to teachers who sub mit winning proposals on ways to advance and promote better educa tional use of new technologies that WASHINGTON, D all teachers, pre-kindergarten through post-secondary, and aspir ing teachers. Applications will be accepted through February 1, 1988 and should be submitted by teacher "teams" of up to four members. The selected fellows will partici pate in a July 31-August 11 confer ence and a two-day follow-up con ference a few months later. The fellowship awards will cover conference expenses and other In stitute events. The Institute will Christa M cA uliffe's life was characterized by creativity, innovation, risk-taking and leadership._____ range from computers to audio and video systems and materials. "Teachers must be at the fore front of efforts to restructure public schools," notes NFIE Board Chair man Terry Herndon. "The new Christa McAuliffe Institute will give them an opportunity to use their creativity and leadership to do so." The Institute is supported by a $400,000 Christa McAuliffe Ameri can Education Fund established by the National Education Association. NEA created this fund as a living memorial to NEA member Christa McAuliffe after her tragic death in the explosion of the Challenger spaceship in January 1986. The theme for the inaugural year of the Christa McAuliffe Institute's awards competition is "Preparing All Students for the 21st Century: Creative Uses of Technology in Edu cation." The competition is open to also support the development of educational products that result from the work of the fellows, accor ding to NFIE Executive Director Donna Rhodes. "The life of teacher-astronaut Christa McAuliffe was characterized by creativity, innovation, risk-taking, leadership, and a dedication to the pioneering of uncharted frontiers, says Rhodes. "The Institute is de signed to encourage teachers to ex hibit these same attributes for the improvement of education.” The National Foundation for the Improvement of Education was founded by NEA in 1969. Additional information on the Christa McAu liffe Institute Fellowship program and applications for it may be ob tained from NFIE at 1201 16th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. (Telephone: 202-822-7840). 1980 Census Report Shows Social and Economic Data on Black Americans A 1980 census report consolida ting previously published socio economic data on the Black popula tion for the United States, regions, census divisions, states, and selec ted counties and places has been issued by the Commerce Depart ment's Census Bureau. Tables provide information on population growth and distribution, age and sex, household and family characteristics, educational attain ment, labor force participation, un employment rates, and income and poverty. Black population counts for 1970 also are included. Geographic areas covered are counties and places with 50,000 or more Blacks in 1980, places of 1,000 or more total population with a Black population of at least 50 per cent, and counties with a Black population of 50 percent or more. Here are some facts from the re port: Money Income: • States with the highest Black family median income in 1979 were Vermont ($20,750), Alaska ($19,280) and New Hampshire ($18,870). States with the lowest were Missis sippi ($9,010) and Arkansas ($9,050). • Black family median income in Gary, Ind., and Flint, Mich., at $19,000 was the highest for cities with 50,000 or more Blacks. • The Maryland counties of Montgomery and Prince Georges (suburbs of Washington, D.C.) had the highest Black family median in come, at $23,000, among all coun ties with 50,000 or more Black po pulation. Poverty Status: • Mississippi had the highest po verty rates for both Black individuals (44 percent) and families (39 per cent). • The poverty rate for Blacks varied from 16 percent in Ingle wood, Calif., to 44 percent in East St. Louis, III., among the cities with 50,000 or more Black population. • Prince Georges County, Md., had the lowest poverty rates — 7 precent for Black families and 9 per cent for Black individuals. Labor Force Participation. • About one-fourth of Black families in West Virginia had no members in the labor force, the highest proportion of any state. Dr. C .A . Berry, President of Jarvis Christian College, to Retire The Jarvis Christian College Board of Trustees in its Fall meet ing, September 14, 1987, accepted with regret the request of President Charles A. Berry for retirement, effective May 31, 1988. In his letter of resignation to the Board, Presi dent Berry spoke of the signal honor to have served as the president one's Alma Mater. Noting Mrs. Berry's and his appreciation for the support and encouragement give by the Board, faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends, he wrote To end our professional careers at Jar vis is the crowning point of our forty years of service to schools and institutions of higher learning. What more could we have asked than to serve her Majesty's Ship — Jarvis Christian College - my Alma Mater!" Attorney Hunter Brush, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, expressed the appreciation of the Board to Dr. Berry for his years of service to the College. He noted the chal lenges facing the College at the time that he assumed the presidency January 1, 1980, and the manner in which he has worked with the Board and the constituencies of the College to assure its growth, deve lopment and vitality. Chairman Brush, in recounting the eight years of the presidency of Dr. Berry, mentioned the capital fund drive of 1.7 million dollars for the construction of the J.N. Ervin Center; the erection of two new dormitories; new furniture in four of the dormitories; street and grounds improvements; the development of the College Archives; and the cur rent construction of twelve new apartments for student/parents. Further, he noted strength of the educational program and its certi fied viability. Within this eight year period. College-wide self-studies led to the approval of all teacher edu cation programs for the maximum period of ten years for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). The Board of Trustees, following the acceptance of the resignation of Dr. Berry, moved to establish a broadly representative Search Com mittee and to establish procedures that will result in the selection of President Berry's successor. ABC Afterschool Specials" Win Award The "ABC Afterschool Specials" presentation, "The Gift of Amazing Grace," has won an NAACP Image Award for Best Children's Special. "The Gift of Amazing Grace," which aired on the ABC Television Network in No vember 1986, was an inspirational family drama that starred Tempestt Bled soe of the "Cosby Show" and Della Reese. Also, the program marked the 100th production of the prestigious "ABC Afterschool Specials. The Image Awards are presented to individuals and companies that have made significant contributions in projecting positive images of Black people in television. Presentation of the award was made December 13 at the Wil- tern Theatre in Los Angeles. Hands Across Am erica Grants Seek Long-Term Solutions The final Hands Across America grants were made November 24, 1987 as USA for Afri • Among counties with 50,000 or ca, the parent foundation of both more Blacks, labor force participa Hands Across America and "We tion rates for Black men were high Are The W orld", announced the est in the Maryland counties of distribution of $3,883,997 in awards. Prince Georges and Montgomery The grants, made to 61 programs (about 82 percent), and lowest in in 28 states and the District of St. Clair County, III., and New York Columbia, will focus on longer-term County, N.Y. (both 58 percent). efforts to solve the problems of hun Labor force participation rates for ger, homelessness and poverty in Black women ranged from 43 per the United States. The funds were cent in St. Clair County, III., to 76 raised in conjunction with the May percent in Prince Georges County, 25, 1986, Hands Across America public demonstration in which more Md. than 6 million Americans joined Education and hands in support of the nation's Family Composition: hungry and homeless. • Black adults in Inglewood, Hand Across America began its Calif., recorded the highest level of distribution of funds in November, high school completion at 84 per 1986. By the first anniversary of the cent for cities of 50,000 or more Hands Across America public de Blacks. Macon, Ga., and Miami, monstration, $12 million had been Fla., were lowest at about 37 per awarded to nearly 1,700 organiza cent. tions. Grants were made in 50 • Wisconsin had the highest pro states and the District of Columbia. portion of Black families maintained These earlier awards were made to by women at 48 percent; the lowest programs providing direct services was North Dakota with 6 percent. to hungry and homeless persons, Population: and aimed at enhancing organiza • Wisconsin had the youngest tional capacity to provide such ser Black population and the District of vices. At the same time, groups Columbia had the oldest — with were encouraged to address the median ages of 21.7 years versus problems collectively on a continu 29.2 years. ing basis. • Black females outnumbered Over 500 organizations nation Black males in 31 states. Hawaii wide submitted preliminary applica had the highest sex ratio with 212 tions for the longer-term funding. males per 100 females while New After being reviewed by USA for York had the lowest with 84 males Africa/Hands Across America staff per 100 females. and a 10-member advisory board of • The states with the highest experts, eighty organizations were proportion of Blacks were Missis invited to submit complete propo sippi (35 percent), South Carolina sals. Following staff and advisory (30 percent), Louisiana (29 percent), board assessment, recommenda Georgia (27 percent), and Alabama tions were sent to the USA for Afri (26 percent). The District of Colum ca/Hands Across America Board of bia's population was 70 percent Directors for final approval. Black. The 61 projects receiving today's • From 1970 to 1980, California grants submitted plans which were had the largest numerical Black judged to be either particularly inno population gain of about 420,000, vative or especially well-targeted to while Hawaii had the highest pro finding solutions for the problems portional gain of 129 precent. Said USA for Africa/Hands Ac ross America President Ken Kragen, I he sample data presented in the "Our domestic goals have always report are subject to sampling varia been the same: To make hunger bility and response errors. and homelessness unacceptable to Copies of "Summary Character everyone in the nation; to take ac istics of the Black Population for tion to eliminate poverty and the States and Selected Counties and problems of hunger and homeless Places: 1980," Series PC80-S1-21, ness; and, to demonstrate the are available from the Superinten power and importance of individual dent of Documents, U.S. Govern participation and collective action in ment Printing Office, Washington, solving those problems. D C. 20402. LOS ANGELES, CA — Black M en M ay be More Likely to Marry Than Black W omen About 91 percent of young Black men and 84 percent of young Black women now age 15 are likely to marry during their lifetime, accord ing to a Census Bureau study. The study indicates that at every level of education, Black men are more likely to marry than Black women. The differences narrow considerably as education in creases, however. For example: • Black men with less than nine years of schooling have a 91 per cent chance of ever marrying com pared with 74 percent of Black wo men with the same education, a difference of 17 percentage points. • The gap between the percen tages narrows to 91 percent and 84 percent for Black men and women with four years of high school. • At four years of college there is only 1 percentage point difference —91 percent for Black men and 90 for Black women. Both percentages drop at five or more years of college, however, to 84 percent for Black men and 79 percent for Black women. Black and White men will achieve similar levels of marriage — 91 per cent and 93 percent. The major differences are for Black and White men with four years of college, 91 percent and 97 percent, and those with five or more years of college — 84 percent and 95 percent. Black and White women have a much larger difference in the pro portion likely to marry — 84 per cent and 92 percent. This gap is fairly constant across education levels, with a 5 to 7 percentage point difference except for those with five or more years of college, where the difference is 11 points. These results appear in a paper prepared by Jeanne E. Moorman, a Census Bureau demographer, who used conventional demographic life table techniques to project the mar riage experience of young men and women. Copies of the paper, "The History and Future of the Relationship Bet ween Education and Marriage," are available at no charge from Jeanne Moorman, Population Division, Bu reau of the Census, Washington, D.C. 20233 (telephone: 301-763- 7950) "In May, 1986 we took a giant step toward that final goal when the Hands public demonstration built a national understanding that hunger and homelessness do exist in this country and began to build a con sensus to do something about it. Our earlier grants built upon that consensus and helped identify and build the capacity to provide direct and continuing help. Today's grants are aimed at the mission of Hands Across America to have hun ger and homelessness remain prio rity issues." USA for Africa/Hands Across America Executive director Marty Rogol said, "W e feel that this final round of Hands Across America grants wll be effective in finding new ways, leveraging other resour ces, continuing to heighten aware ness and in encouraging programs enabling people to help them selves." The 61 grants are both national and local in scope and focus on sup porting innovative efforts and self- help. The $250,000 grant to the Center on Budget and Policy Priori ties is a good example of a national program. This highly-respected Washington, D.C.-based organiza tion will undertake projects with the potential to increase income for large numbers of low-income Ame ricans. In addition, the Center will provide recommendations on more efficient use of WIC food money; conduct a national outreach pro gram to inform low-income families of their tax reform benefits; and, develop a series of papers and re commendations for the new nation al administration in 1989. Most of the programs, however, are locally based. A number of grants address the health care needs of the nation's poor. One such grant will enable a Massachu setts health care coalition to seek improvements in access to and qua lity of health care services available to lower-income people in that state. Collaboration characterizes many programs. For instance, the Penn sylvania Coalition on Food and Nu trition will use its $100,000 grant to establish the Pennsylvania Public Research Interest Institute, a "think tank” that will organize the efforts of corporations, universities, foun dations and organizations to deve lop and test ideas and programs aimed at eliminating hunger and •' ■_ 4. r". * Real Estate Speculators Arraigned For Fraud *• * V.Z A i ■ ’.? • . • v-. B w » * *■ - ; . , t ♦ ", Henry Berg, Regional Inspector General for Investigation (RIGI), U.S. Department of Housing and í Y-, Urban Development (HUD), Seat j&A ■sf,'»- j fc W tie, Washington, announced today that Laura Harbert, age 34, and Marlyce Erhart, age 52, doing busi ness as Ventures Unlimited of Lau- A. mar, were arraigned in United States District Court, Spokane, Washington, for five counts of Mail *7» ♦ ' Fraud and one count of Wire Fraud, on December 1, 1987. Michael Har «a _ . bert, age 29, ex-husband of Laura Harbert, was previously arraigned on the same charges on November 27, 1987. All three had been pre Z . «J '* viously indicted by a Federal Grand f i z - -; • Jury in Yakima, Washington on November 18, 1987. Investigation by HUD/Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Postal Inspection Service disclosed Ventures Unlimited acquired over one million dollars from investors •. .. * » « to purchase real estate. Most of the *A *• * •/ investors' money is alleged to have gone for other than the intended purpose of purchasing real estate. Ventures Unlimited acquired ap proximately 70 small inexpensive houses utilizing low down payments and "creative financing.” HUD Title I Home Improvement Loans were taken out on many of the pro perties. The properties were rented to tenants. Investors were told the properties would generate a posi tive cash flow after paying mort gage and maintenance obligations. Investors were allegedly continu ally mislead that they were earn ing money on their investments and did not learn all their money was lost until Ventures Unlimited filed bankruptcy. Investors then learned most homes had been foreclosed and returned to lenders. Other loans, such as the HUD Title I loans w had been returned to HUD for pay ment on the insurance or were many months in default. Inspection by HUD personnel later disclosed most of the intended improvements to the properties had not been done. RIGI Berg announced this investi gation was part of a continued em phasis by HUD to combat FHA fraud in the Single Family Loan Programs. Black Population Grows by 10 Percent Since 1980 The nation's Black population grew by 2.6 million or 10 percent from 1980 to 1986, according to the Commerce Department s Cen sus Bureau. The bureau's latest annual popu lation estimates by age, sex, and race indicate that Blacks totaled 29.4 million in 1986 compared with 26.8 million in the 1980 census. Only 15 percent of the growth was from immigration. The Black population has been growing faster than the total popu lation and its proportion rose from 11.8 percent in 1980 to 12.2 in 1386. The report shows the White po pulation grew from 195.1 million to 204.7 million during the period, an increase of 5 percent. Most of the gain came from natural increase. Here are other findings from the report for 1986: homelessness. The Food Research and Action Center will use its $175,000 grant for a combined study/action program. One aim of the project is to increase local participation in the School Breakfast Program. Other grants directly involve peo ple effected by poverty and econo mic dislocation. For example, one grant will be used to help Native Americans better utilize the natural resources of reservations in the Southwest. Mr. Rogol added, "We believe that it is crucial to keep these pro blems in the forefront of the nation al dialoaue. We encourage indivi dual citizens, as we did following tne Hands public demonstration, to stay involved and support programs in their communities which address the problems of hunger, homeless- The Black population's median age was 26.9 years compared with 32.7 years for Whites. The six- year difference has remained fairly constant since the 1970s. • Black females outnumbered Black males 15.4 million to 14.0 million. Males outnumbered fe males only through age 18, reflec ting more male births. • White females totaled 104.5 million compared with 100.1 million White males. Copies of "Estimates of the Popu lation of the United States, by Age, Sex, and Race: 1980 to 1986, P-25, No. 1000) are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. The table gives population figures for age groups by race for 1980 and 1986. ness and poverty." Noting that these are the final grants resulting from Hands Across America, Mr. Kragen commented, "W e are proud of all Hand Across America did in two years. Hand Ac ross America conceived, organized and executed an event without parallel in memory. The issues of hunger and homelessness were raised to a high point in the nation's consciousness and priorities. A grant program was created that sent millions of dollars into direct ser vices to the needy while encourag ing the developments of networks of individuals and groups in many states. And now Hands Across American has announced grants de signed to make a contribution to the most important goal of all, the elimi nation of poverty from our national life."