February 3, 1988, Portland Observer, Page 5 Affirmative Action In Oregon by Ian MacCrae When it comes to affirmative ac tion, accomplishments are usually ' measured in terms of the numbers i of minorities hired. But sometimes the commitment of a leader to an ideal is measured less by numbers , than by the degree to which his convictions carry over to those . around him. Does Gov. Neil Gold schmidt have that kind of commit- , ment to affirmative action? If Ore gon's director of affirmative action , is to be believed, the answer is a . resounding yes. Kathleen Saadat became affirma- . tive action director of Oregon in July 1987 after serving as execu tive director of the Oregon Commis sion on Black Affairs since 1986. In ' an interview with The Portland Observer, Saadat, along with Greg ’ Kantor, the governor's communica tions director, and Ruth Dodson, assistant to the Governor for exe- ’ cutive appointments, stressed their belief that this governor is strongly committed to fairness in hiring prac tices. "I do feel the (influence of] the leadership of the governor. There's no doubt in my mind [that he is committed to affirmative ac tion.! When I go places around the state, I can feel that influence . . . even in the state Forestry De partment and State Police, both of which have historically been resis tant to the hiring of minorities and women . . . I've been really happy with the response I’ve gotten from these agencies," Saadat said. Kantor said one sign of the gover nor's commitment to equality is his concern over the recent events in Roseburg, where Grant High School athletes were subjected to racial slurs. Goldschmidt's own ex perience has convinced him that the problem of racism is not a serious one throughout the state, Kantor said. Saadat added that threats b« racist organizations like the Aryan Nations to "move into the state are being taken seriously, and that "positive approaches" are under consideration to counter such treats. One approach would be to create a commission of public rela tions to promote Oregon as a state which takes pride in its racial, reli gious and ethnic diversity, she said, noting that Lincoln County has al ready taken a step in that direction by declaring itself a "colorful coun ty.” The picture for minorities in state government is one of both problems and progress, according to Dodson and Saadat. Employment statistics reveal slight improvements in most categories of minorities from 1986 to 1987. The number of Blacks employed in state agencies, for ex ample, rose from 513 in 1986 to 587 in 1987. Of employees on the governor's own staff, nine percent are minori ties and 87 percent are women, a fact which has led to expressions of concern that Goldschmidt may be overlooking male minorities. But Dodson said the Governor "picked the best people he could find.” Those people just happened to be women. When it comes to appointments to commissions, Dodson said ef forts to improve minority represen tation — which now stands at 10 percent — are not limited to pub licity in the Black community. She is also in the process of creating a pool of persons who have been re commended by others for appoint ment, she said. Improving public awareness of the 2,000-odd boards and commissions in Oregon is cen tral to getting more minority partici CALENDAR pation, however. In response to a question about whether appointments reflected community views on the best pos sible candidates for appointment, Saadat responded that appoint ments are made from a pool of peo ple willing to serve on a voluntary basis. Geographic requirements are also a factor in making appoint ments to statewide boards, she said. Again, many people in the Biack community "aren't aware of what boards and commissions do. I do know that this office works hard [to find qualified minorities]," she said. As for hiring practices in state government, Saadat said the goal is not simply for government em ployees to reflect the percentage of minorities in the general population. "The problem is more complicated than that," she said. "You could fill the system up with people on the bottom [of the pay scale] . . . " Ac cordingly, she said, she is looking at ways to improve the distribution of minorities at higher levels of govern ment. Saadat said the position of affir mative action director under Gold schmidt "has been defined differ ently than in the past. The ap proach is systemic as opposed to just counting numbers, receiving complains and matching jobs to ap plicants . . . ” The impact of testing on the hiring of minority applicants is one of the systemic factors Saadat is now looking into. Saadat stressed the importance of changing the system now to give people better access to jobs in government, saying, "if your next governor doesn't have the same kind of commitment [to affirmative action], you won't have the system in place." Parents: Is Your Child Going to Kindergarten Next Year? N ow is the time to begin the kin dergarten enrollment at your neighborhood school. Here are a few things for you to do between now and the end of February: V -‘ • Obtain a copy o f the Kindergar- ten Handbook for parents by call ing PPS Public Information De partment at 249-3304. Identify the school where your child will attend kindergarten. Make an appointment to visit the principal at the school where you would like your child to attend. Make an appointment to visit the kindergarten classroom where you think your child will attend a (Long or specialty styles slightly higher I .E. Fremont 281*6925 707 N___ Closed tun. A Mon. OPIN Tue«, thro tot. 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM DELIVERED! « M IM T T N OFEN 7 DAYS OPEN 24 HOURS , ____ | C l f ilC O , S Qualm copie— K'nko s deinen' C$2 20% Off Most Toys The Neighborhood Toy & Gift Shoppe „ $40.00 OFF • Free Denture Cleaning • No Charge Consultation • Reline <S Repairs while you went > Preventive Family Dentistry ► Special Attention to Children and Gum Disease Edw ard E. W ard, DMD C o n v e n ie n t, a ffo r d a b le d e n ta l c a re fo r y o u r fa m ily . 610 SW Alder, Suite 1008 • 228-3009 HOURS: M-F 7AM-7PM SATURDAY 8AM-5PM Expires March 31,1988 Dr Edward L Ward HOW YOU CAN G O TO VO-TECH SCHOOL WITH MORE THAN JUST ENTHUSIASM. If Vocational-Technical school is in your future you ought to check out the G.I Bill Plus the Army College Fund Because with it, you can earn money to help pay for your education. Up to $25,200, if you qualify and enlist. Here’s how... First you contribute to your edu cation—$100 per month for the first full 12 months of your enlistment. Then the government contributes up to $9,600. That’s the G. 1 Bill With the Army College Fund, you can add up to $14,400 more! Adding up to as much as $25,200, by the end of your four years, toward addi tional technical training at an accredited \b-Tech school. O f course, exactly how much you earn will depend upon how long you serve and which specialty you qualify and enlist for. That’s not had. Money for Vo- Tech school after you serve, as well as the Army’s high-tech training while you serve. And when you enlist, you’ll get more out of the deal than just money’ You’ll learn self-reliance, discipline and be in the best physical shape of your life You’ll also get the chance to travel and meet new people. If you’d like to learn more about the G.I. Bill Plus the Armv College Fund.visit vour local Armv Recruiter or call toll free, 1-800-USA-ARMY ARMY. BEALLYOUCANBE. Enoine Rebuild $675$/75 Most Cars Toys & Gifts for Small & Big Kids 5429 NE 42nd Portland, OR 97218 284-8970 36 month guarantee on all parts and labor Open 9am to 5pm Mon-Fri 10-6 p m. Sun 9-4 p.m. 1-5 p m. Iff* ? S v -* » ■ . d *. X N » • ?” r -*v t -’-“ L r ■ ■ r • : . V «V : f e « OjS NEW DENTURES $35.00 223-2056 «M l *.W JW IM 0« w,lh'lu' nn , Inno» ™ r jo k lus C»ll Nnko » We clear cop« njhi io wur door-within bam' I I 284-2129 Q uality Copies - utch Service Wholesale Discount Rebuilt Transmissions - i' 288-0033 B o n n ie MRS. C’s WIGS 223-0583 For Only I BRAIDS $2.95 4550 N.E. Alberta EXAM, BITE-WING X-RAYS, ROUTINE CLEANING Sf’vCaöP« P'oc'tfo' Featuring wigs by NAOMI SIMS, ANDRE DOUGLAS, NATALIE COLE & MICHAEL WEEKS Savon Auto Repair p "The Eyes and Ears of the Community" This certificate entitles each new patient with: ÎÂL ♦ BULK HUM AN HAIR $23.95 & up WIG STYLING $7.50 & up !«*>"« ♦ r. PORTLAND OBSERVER AEW PATIENT SPECIAL I or by th e ft. $4 & up pKk up «our nng.nih »nd deh«« Feb 2-29: John Henry Nichols Art Exhibits - Noted black artist from Hawaii will be featured in free exhibit as part of Black Heritage Month activities. College Center. Viewing hours 7:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Fridays and 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturdays. FREE. Call 667- 7260. Feb. 8-12 Black Heritage Week Activities are planned throughout the week, including speakers and films, to address the issue of black awareness. Main campus. Call 667- 7260. Feb. 9 Reggae All-Stars Concert. Popular four-piece band will give a concert in the Vista Dining Center as part of Black Heritage Week. FREE. Call 667-7260. Feb. 10 Lounge Concert. The Cover Boys will give a one-hour concert of Black funk music in the College Center Fireplace Lounge. Noon. FREE. Call 667-7210. I WEAVING HAIR $18.50 & up Yai cu, r 705 N. Killingsworth. 283 2541. Portland Community College is proud to share in the 1988 obser vance of Afro-American history. Friday, Feb. 5 — Dr. Brenda Lockett, Admin. Assit., Oregon Em ployment Division, DHR, "A ccul turation and Assimilation", 12:00- 1:00p.m., CH B44. M onday, Feb. 8 — Leon Harris, Manager, Portland Observer News paper, "The Black Press", 12:00- 1:00 p.m., CH B43. Tuesday, Feb. 9 — Charlot*c Easley, "P op" Vocalist and Pianist, 12:00-1:00 p.m., Cafeteria Wednesday, Feb. 10 — The Honorable Mercedes Deiz, Judge, Circuit Court, Multnomah County, 12:00-1:00 p.m., Jackson Hall, 201. Thursday, Feb. 11 — Goldie Irby, Vocalist, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Auditorium. Friday, Feb. 12 — Sharon M it chell, Anchorperson, KGW-TV, Channel 8, 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., PB2. C o m m unity College M onth at M o u n t Hood Com m . College The Tax Man Cometh - And So Does Free Help M att Dishman Community Center. 77 NE Knott. Program be gins mid-February. Call 282-1460 for information & appaointment. Ockley Green Community School. 6031 N. Montana. Pro gram begins mid-February. Call 280 5663 for information & appoint ment. Peninsula Park Community Center. 6400 N. Albina. Assistance from trained AARP volunteers. Tuesdays and Thursday, 2-1 through 4-15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 285-4222 to make a half-hour appointment. University Park Community Center. 9009 N. Foss. For low in come, senior, or handicapped citi zens. Presented by AARP Wed nesdays, 2-3 through 4-13, 10 am to 2 pm. Walk-ins welcome, or call 289-2414 for an appointment. Have a Heart — Kids' Valentine Parties Let your children mark Valen tine's Day with party activities de signed just for them. Portland Parks and Recreation offers several chan ces to celebrate. Sw eetheart's Valentine Party, Peninsula Park Community Center, 6400 N. Albina. Bring your favorite stuffed animal or doll and join in on heartfelt crafts, treats, and games. Wear red, white, or pink. Ages 3-5. Wednesday, February 10, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The fee is $2.50. "P rison M in is try S em inar" Christian ministry to prisoners, ex-offenders, and their families, will be the focus of the "Prison Mini stry Seminar" on Saturday, Feb ruary 6, at Allen Temple C.M.E. Church, 4214 N.E. 8th, Portland. This timely seminar will meet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is sponsored by the North Portland Bible College. Registration is $15, including lunch; advance registra tion before February 3 is $10. Call NPBC at 288-2919 tor further infor mation. school. MRS. C ’s W IGS 9300 A lbina Branch Library Celebrates Grand Re-Opening A celebration to mark the re opening of the newly refurbished Albina Branch Library will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 6. Gladys McCoy, chair person of the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners, will be the featured speaker. She will also pre side over a cake cutting ceremony. The celebration will also feature the mandoline music of Ken Culver and the keyboard music of Denny Osborne. The New Rag Bag Thea ter will present "Silly Stories for All Ages." "A fric a R evisted" Slide Lecture Ronna Neuenschwander will pre sent "Africa Revisted" — a slide lecture and gallery talk — S atur day, February 6th at 11 a.m. in The Lawrence Gallery, 842 S W . First Avenue, Portland, OR 97204. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. T ransportation Training Basic training for neighborhood volunteers on Transportation: Streets, Traffic, Parking & Mainten ance, Thursday, Feb. 11, 6:45 p.m., Portland Building, Room C, 1120 SW 5th. Come meet staff from the Bureau of Transportation who will explain what the bureau does and why. Learn how to get action on neighborhood need requests. Em phasis will be on transportation planning, traffic management, park ing and street maintenance. A rt M useum Presents "C lay Revisions: Plate Cup, Vase" The Portland Art Museum pre sents "Clay Revisions: Plate, Cup, Vase February 10 through A pril 3. Vicki Halper, Curator of the exhibi tion and Assistant Curator of Mo dern Art at the Seattle Art Museum will give a slide lecture of February 9 from 7-8 p.m. An opening recep tion for Oregon Art Institute memb- bers will follow from 8-10 p.m. Volunteer O rientation N.E. Elderly need you. Volunteer for transportation, visiting, chores, weatherization, respite or escort. Project Linkage Volunteer Orienta tion: Feb. 10, 7:30-9:00, 249-8215 Black H istory M o n th at PCC February 1-26, 1988 Cascade Campus Off Killingsworth on 72 4 75 Bus Unes Greeting Cards & Gift Certificates A More » • » . •«” > < ” •v.y./- r-. <5:3« !W î 3