O ctober 6, 1988, P ortland Observer, Page 3 ;
------ COMMUNITY FORUM-------
The Economic Homefront:
by Sam Kahl
clothing
Drive
• • *.*•
arrying forward the work of
'•¡A
world! This is government statis­
Civil Rights may require, in
The
Portland-Vancouver
area's
tics and those of the National
this phase of its historical evolu­
third annual "Children Helping
Business League, though you
tion, a focus on the development
Children” clothing drive starts
may want to check those figures
of prosperous, predominantly
next week (Oct. 10) and runs
for exact accuracy....
Black, businesses, to be located
through December 23.
"Can we create, and under­
largely in the communities where
Last year’s campaign provided
stand when there is, an opportuni­
African-Americans predominantly
clothing for 550 children of 150
ty and take advantage of it? For
live and work. It is economic pro­
families, a 50 percent increase
example, there’s a guy, a contrac­
sperity that puts meat on the
over the first year.
tor, who came to me and said,
bone of political freedom. But
"This year, we’d like to do even
‘Hey, there’s an opportunity at
how is this to be accomplished?
more,”
said Charles Carter, ex­
Metro,
but
I
don’t
have
bonding
"... The issue is not whether
ecutive director for Low-Income
and I need to put in my bid bond.’
Bush or Dukakis w ill be better for
Families Emergency (LIFE), a
Until we can say, ‘Is that all you
Black Americans. The question
human service agency which
need?
Here’s
$1,000,
here’s
becomes whether the African-
operates
clothing and food banks
$2,000
for
the
bid
bond.
Now
you
American Community is ready to
and other programs serving area
pay back the money,’ — now until
put forth a position and direction”
families.
we can do that, we'll continue to
of its own "that can bring forth an
lose the opportunity. On Union
economic base” for the com­
Ave., there was a brother who had
munity “ to anybody” in power.
a burger company. They made ex­
“ We don’t need to respond to
cellent burgers. Now the banks
Bush or Dukakis; they need to re­
wouldn’t lend him any money, but
spond to us. But we‘ve got to have
there wasn’t any network in the
something for them to respond to.
community that could lend him
If we sit back and say, ‘Well,
the $2,500 or $3,000 he needed to
Dukakis is going to do this for us;
carry him through the next three
Bush is going to do that for us,’
months, so he went out of
what are we going to do for
business.
ourselves?”
Chad Debnam is constantly on
the alert to problems facing Black
businesses. His orientation is not
to project bias, but to evaluate
facts. His objective is not to pick
a fight, but to work for a solution;
“ Until we get over the personality
hurdles, we will remain in confu­
sion” and captivity. Mr. Debnam
Charles Carter
then speaks of what he calls “ net­
“ Children Helping Children” is
working.” Networks actually buy
a simple idea, according to its
results. What do you have to offer
sponsors. Kids (or parents) can
me? And you offering me some­
bring outgrown or unneeded
thing I already know?” Do you of­
clothing to any of 11 child care
fer me a contact that can create
centers operated by Children’s
something? - You see, networks
World Learning Center, or to KGW
actually have to perform” to
Television. There will be clothing
satisfy anyone. “ It is not a clique;
collection barrels inside the en­
it does not operate because I like
trance at each location.
you, or because you are neat, or
Once the barrels are filled, the
because you are friends with
clothing
will be collected by LIFE
somebody else. It operates be­
Chad Debnam
volunteers who will sort and dis­
cause it is to each person’s bene­
These are the words of Chad
play the clothing and provide it
fit” to enter into this partnership
Debnam, president of B. Chad­
free for those in need.
or relationship.
wick Group Ltd., which is a man­
Carter said the clothing drive is
“ I think there’s a problem with
agement consulting firm located
unique,
in that donations are
the banks, but anyone in business
on Union Ave. Mr. Debnam’s firm
mainly
made
by children to other
will tell you that entrepreneural
is in the work of developing
children, hence the name “ Child­
opportunities
first
start
with
your
businesses. Clients may be en­
ren Helping Children.”
friends, family and close acquain­
trepreneurs who want to expand
Clothing donations are tax
tances (who) lend you the money
or diversify, or prospective en­
deductible
in the amount of the
to attain the first level of suc­
trepreneurs who have an idea that
value
of
the
clothing.
c e s s -p riv a te sources. There are
needs to be put to work.
Following are locations where
very
few
people
who
can
take
an
Chad Debnam is not just a per­
clean and wearable clothing may
idea to the bank and get money.
son after a livelihood, he's a per­
be dropped off during business
This is true of anybody. Mavbe
son with a strong sense of mis­
hours:
there’s institutional racism — I
sion, having insisted on locating
C h ild re n ’s W orld Learning
do know it exists, but people
both his home and his business,
Centers
- Beaverton: 17225 N.W.
don’t realize, banks like to give
by choice, in the North Portland
Corridor
Ct.,
12385 S.W. Longhorn
money to people who don’t really
community, to put his expertise
Lane, 18425 N.W. Walker Road,
need it ... If you can’t cover your
to work in the service of the com­
4845 S.W. Murray Blvd., 12360
rearend, that’s not something the
munity of his roots, to help it
S.W. Pioneer Lane; Gresham:
bank will look at positively. I’m
blossom into a beauty and pros­
3200 N.E. Hogan; Hillsboro: 1771
not here to argue why that is; I’m
perity which he envisions is its
S.E. Minter Bridge Rd.; Rock­
just here to state the fact. We
potential.
wood: 840 N.E. 181st St.; Sunny­
have an alternative, so that we
“ I think that our community
side: 10501 S.E. Sunnyside; Van­
don’t have to go “ begging” to the
historically has operated on a per­
couver 622 S.E. 117th Ave., 10021
banks. But the inward look hurts.
sonality basis: If I don’t like you, if
N.E. Hazel Dell Ave.; KGW-TV:
Before we can say what this ‘out­
I don’t like your philosophy, or if I
1501 S.W. Jefferson St.
sider’ is doing to us, we must look
don’t like the way you approach
Information will be provided
at what we’re doing to each other.
things, then I am out to destroy
later about the dates and loca­
“ I don't think we should be con­
you.” In other words, it is the at­
tions where clothing can be pick­
cerned
about what whites think of
titude, ‘If you’re not for me, then
ed up by those in need.
us. I think we should be mostly
you’re against me.’ “ I don’t buy
For information about the pro­
concerned about what we think of
that. Black people need to stop
gram or donation locations, call
each other. Until we stop the self-
jiving themselves. We need to
(503)626-0541.
hatred, the self-denial,” which is
quit saying, ‘Because I can’t get
the basis of the youth gangs, “ we
along with you, I’m going to work
can
kiss off this game ... The
with this person against you, to
youth gangs themselves are “ a
prove to you that I’m good.’ We
means of identifying, though
need to look at each other and
The Portland Development
there
is a criminal element that
say, ‘Wait a minute! I don’t
Commission
(PDC) has appointed
exploits it. “ You talk about role
understand why I don’t get along
David
B.
Nemo
as Administrative
models, the other side of the
with you, and I don’t understand
Services Coordinator. His respon­
community
doesn’t
have
anything
why you don’t get along with me,
sibilities include serving as the
to offer” as a positive alternative.
but we have to solve this problem
Comm ission’s Minority/W omen
What is the future that we offer to
between us first before any of us
Business Enterprise (M/WBE)
our young people?
can get anywhere.’ If we have a
liaison o fficer and contracts
“
In
a
situation
where
there
is
so
good relationship among our­
coordinator.
much
blight,-a
business
like
mine
selves, then nobody can take ad­
Nemo joined PDC’s Operations
should be steadily busy. I want to
vantage of us. This is the cement
Department
in July, 1985 as a Pro­
of our community. We need ft? see our community work. It can
gram
Development
Specialist. He
work. We have in our hands the
like ourselves...
has experience as a small busi­
means
to
do
it,
but
we
keep
giving
“This arena” we have to deal-
ness owner and worked previ­
it away. I'd like all of us to par­
with “ is about who gets what,
ously
as the Administrative Assis­
ticipate and work to make this
when and how much and for how
tant
to the City Manager of
community the model community
long. That’s what we do in politics
Milwaukie.
that I know it can be.”
and business when we talk about
economic development: Who’s
got it? What do they do with it?
Did somebody benefit by it? You
talk of community, talk about
50 Gals.
economic foundations. We've got
opportunity; we’ve got resources,
Heating Oils
,
They say there is an approximate­
100 Gals.
ly $260 billion economy In the
Black com m unity” nationwide
104 N.E. R ussell St.
“ that we generate ourselves. They
150 Gals.
Portland, OR 97212
say that in the Jewish Community
the money” they generate “ cir­
(503) 282-51111
culates five times, in the Korean
Community five times, before it
passes out” into the community
outside. “ If we can do it just three
“ The Eyes and Ears of the Community”
times! Our Gross National Pro­
288-0033
duct is the tenth largest in the
C
Urban League:
Learning Center
IBM Training
Centers
IBM has expanded to 74 the
number of major job training
centers for the disadvantaged it
Learning Center philosophy.
he Urban League or Port­
sponsors in the U.S.
land’s Whitney M. Young
The Learning Center, located at
The training centers are lo­
Learning Center will open for the St. Andrews Community School, cated in urban areas with high
1988-89 academic year on Mon­
4919 Northeast 9th, is open Mon­ unemployment and are operated
day, Oct. 3. The Learning Center
day through Thursday from 3:00 in cooperation with non-profit
provides homework assistance,
p.m. to 8:00 p.m., whenever public community-based organizations ’
academic encouragement, a quiet
school is in session. A parent or sucn as the National Urban »
place to work, and study skill
guardian must accompany a stu­ League, Opportunities Industri- '•
development to students in
dent on his or her first visit to the alization Center (OIC), SER -Jobs
grades 7 through 12 who live in
Center. For more information, call for Progress, and local busi­
North/Northeast Portland.
"the Urban League of Portland nesses. The training offered in­
Professional staff and dedi­
(280-2600) or the Learning Center cludes courses in programming,
(288-4356).
cated volunteers are avilable to
computer operations, data entry
help students in an array of sub­
All 7th through 12th grade stu­ and word processing. Specific
jects, from English and history, to
dents in the North/Northeast programs vary from center to
math and science. The Learning
community, regardless of aca­ center.
Center also sponsors rap ses­
demic grades, are encouraged to
More than 20,000 people have
sions, a student newsletter, guest
take advantage of these free been graduated from these cen­
speakers, and other educational
tutorial services, and make the ters since the program began in
activities. High expectations,
most of their educational oppor­ 1968. More than eighty percent
d e m a n d in g s ta n d a rd s and
tunities!
have been placed in jobs upon
cultural heritage are integral to the
graduating. In 1987, more than
6,200 students enrolled in the pro­
gram and more than 5,100 grad­
P A R IS , R O M E
uated, for an 83 percent comple­
N E W Y O R K , P O R T L A N D tion rate.
IBM provides equipment and
WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN
equipment-related supplies (and,
COMMON?
in some instances, loaned in­
structors) as needed. There is cur­
Healthy skin - all
rently over $13 million worth of
under one roof.
IBM equiment and employee re­
sources on loan to job training
Be good to yourself - enjoy an
centers.
experience that will not only relax you,
There is no tuition charge. All
but be of great benefit to your skin - a
classroom materials are provided.
facial from FACES UNLIMITED.
The program is for economically
disadvantaged persons who can­
We fea tu re several o f the fin e s t facials in the w orld—
not afford commercially available
The Rene Guinot Hydrodermie, from Paris
training.
The Four-Layer facial from Repechage, New York
The first job training center was
The Payot Mask Institue from Paris
opened in Los Angeles in 1968 in
The E.M.R. Facial that refines facial faults, from the U.S. & Rome
conjunction with the National Ur­
The Pier Auge, Paris
ban League and the Bank of
—and the best part is, you don’t have toboard a jet to get to it!
America. IBM is still participating
FACES UNLIMITED— there is, literally no place like it.
in that center.
PRODUCTS
SERVICES
Clarins
Facials
Since 1972, IBM has also
Lancaster
Make up
helped establish 40 Rehabilitation
Rene
Guinot
Facial and body waxing
PAT WARREN’S
Job Training Centers for the hand­
Stendhal
Manicures
Payot
Pedicures
icapped. More than 2,400 people
Isabelle Lancray
Brow shaping
with disabilities have graduated
Pier Auge
EMR’ facials
as entry-level computer program­
Faces Unlimited cosmetics
Cellulite treatments
Body toning
mers or operators. This program
(■JUNTO inc.
Anti-wrinkle treatment
also has a placement rate of more
Mon-Sal 9-6-911 SW Taylor .222-4685
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PORTLAND OBSERVER
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with Express Bid!
O ur all new Express Bid program
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than ever Because now when you bid
full price or better* on any HID home
that bid w ill be opened at our daily
2:30 p m bid opening Bids for Frida) 's
New Listings w ill be opened daily start
ing on the following Monday
Express Bids end the current 10-day
wait, speeding up decisions on even
full price or better bid submitted
(If more than one Express Bid arrives
for the same property at the same bid
opening, the highest net bid gets
accepted )
So if you're looking for a real home
buying bargain, and you're in a real
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Express your bid on a HUD home It’s
a great new addition to The Home
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For a listing of HUD homes available
in your area, check the real estate
classified section of the Friday or
Sunday Oregonian
•A minimum full price bid is list price less a
maximum 6% broker commission and a
maximum A°,. closing cost paid by HUD if
requested Full price Express Bids must yield a
nel lo HUD of at least 91% of the list price
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5 IIMWtn HI D Portland office