P o rtla n d , O regon
25C
PO R TLA N Ö
Ullysses Tucker, Jr.
Public Affairs Director
KATU - Ch. 2
Shawndea Toney
5th Grade
Vernon School
One Church, One
Child Program
Kickoff
Governor itcH Goioavtsmidt v/as one
of the keynote speakers at the kickoff
event for Oregon's One Church, One
Child Black adoption program last
Wednesday at the Vancouver Avenue
Baptist Church in Portland.
More than 300 people attended the
celebration including the program's
Chicago founder, Father George Cle­
ments, Black community leaders, clergy
and officials from Oregon's Childrens
Services Division.
The basic principle of the One Church,
One Child program is to find at least one
Black family, per Black Church, to adopt
at least one Black child. According to
Father Clements, the program has been
responsible for more than 8,000 adop­
tions and can be found in 36 states.
There are 90 African-American children
awaiting adoption in Oregon.
" There is an urgent need in Oregon to
recruit families because the Black popu­
lation is small, yet there is a significant
number of children who need place­
ment," said Dr. Virginia Phillips, Ex­
ecutive Director of the One Church, One
Child Program. Dr. Phillips said 26 Black
parishes are currently involved with the
program. The goal, she said, is to in­
volve all of Portland's African-Ameri­
can churches.
Governor Goldschmidt, recognizing
the importance of the One Church, One
Child program, pledged his support. "
Together we can make a difference in
the life of one child at a time," he said.
Father Clements, the founder of the One
Church, One Child Program in Chicago,
praised Governor Goldschmidt for his
support. He informed the Governor that
church leaders have and are meeting op­
position from social service officials in
many other states.
It was a glorious celebration filled
with positive anticipation, down home
gospel singing, spiritual guidance, in­
spiration and a message:" Black Orego­
nians, extend yourself and risk loving
the children who need you." This mes­
sage was stated most clearly by Dr.
Phillips.
The One Church, One Child Program
was started in Chicago by Father Cle­
ments. Since its formation, the program
has spread to 36 stales and has been
responsible for more than 8,000 adop­
tions.
The One Church, One Child program
is basded in Portland's African-Ameri­
can community and administered by the
Albina Ministerial Alliance. Children's
Services Division has provided a grant
to AMA to make the One Church, One
Child program possible.
December 1,1988
The Eyes and Ears of the com m unity
Volume XVIII, Number 53
Saluting ...
ERVER
Thank You!
African Folk Tales To Be Performed
The fire crackles, the drums
pulse, the dancers beckon from
behind mysterious masks in two
did an outstanding job as the event
The 1 si Annual James O. Brooks
tales magically spun under the Afri­
coordinator and was assisted by
Memorial Scholalrship Dinner was a
can sky. Tears of Joy Theatre pres­
Ms. B. J. Edwards.
historic success.
ents RUMPLESTILTSKIN and
The Scholarship Fund will be on­
Last Saturday night's event was
KALULU: Two African Tales per­
going. Those wishing to contribute
well-attended as the Portland com­
formed by the internationally re­
may send their tax-free donations
munity paid tribute to the former
nown Children's Theatre Company
Urban League President, whose
to: The James O. Brooks Memorial
of Minneapolis on Saturday, De­
philosophy impacted change for the
Scholarship Fund C/O American
cember 17, 2.30 p.m., at Evergreen
Portland Chapter.
State Bank, 2737 N. E. Union Ave­
High School Field House, 14300 NE
The message, delivered by Dr. Lee
nue, Portland, Oregon 97212.
18th St., Vancouver, Washington.
P. Brown, Houston, Texas Police
Once again, many thanks from the
These two parables about greed
Chief, was extremely timely and
James Brooks family and friends
are of widely different origins: the
accurate. The Black community
and the Portland Observer.
dance, music and language are
must indeed unite with the Ballot,
distinctly African, yet the stories are
the Book and the Buck.
universal. The Children's Theatre
The Scholarship recipients, Ms.
Company has taken the story of
Gaylene Bickham (Jefferson High
Rumplestiltskin out of the pages of
School) and Mr. Darwin Eagleton
Western folk lore and tells it through
(Mt. Hood Community College) are
a storyteller in the magical world of
two tremendous talents and serves
Africa.
this community well as youthful role
RUMPLESTILTSKIN is the story
models.
of a magical little man who helps to
I
want
to
give
a
most
greatful
But what truly made the event
save a young woman's life by spin­
thanks to all of the people who made
successful was the tremendous
ning straw into gold. Later, the
the
James
O.
Brooks
Scholarship
support extended by those loyal
young woman, as a queen, has the
possible.
The
funds
that
I
shall
re­
supporters of James Brooks and the
love for her child threatened by the
ceive shall only be used forone thing
Portland Observer.
evil intentions of the crooked little
and
that's
success.
This
success
Special thanks also to the Portland
man. In the end, this leaves Rum­
will be not only for me but my com­
Observer staff who worked so dili­
plestiltskin
alone and bitter. The
munity as well. I am a product of you.
gently for the success of the event,
King
in
Rumplestiltskin
learns even
Once again, I thank you all.
especially to Ms. Ruby Reuben who
ordinary people are extraordinary.
KALULU, unlike its counterpart,
is unfamiliar to Western audiences.
Originating from the Shona people
of Africa, it is a story of a swaggering
and boasting rabbit who brags and
bullies his way through life. Finally,
the rabbit's trickery in his attempt to
acquire wealth without any effort
nearly costs him all he has - - includ­
ing his hide. Kalulu discovers that
dishonesty is harmful to himself and
4 t the people he cares for.
b The Children’s Theatre Com­
pany is North America's largest
professional theater for young audi­
ences and families. Eighty-two full­
time and three hundred part-time
artists and administrators bring the
pages of storybooks and literature
to life creating theatrical productions
that enchant people of all ages. The
company' performs September
through June in a multi-million dollar
facility in Minneapolis which was
custom designed and built for The
Children's Theatre Company in
Mrs.. Beria K. Brooks (Center) proudly displays plaque honoring her husband,
1974. The Theatre, which looks for­
mes O' Neil Brooks. Standing with Mrs. Brooks: Houston, Texas Police Chief, Lee P.
ward to its 25th Anniversary Season
in 1989-90, boasts an annual main-
own (L) and Leon Harris (R) General Manager, Portland Observer.
stage audience of 250,000 and a
national tour audience of 130,000.
The Children's Theatre Com­
pany's national tour of Rumples­
tiltskin and Kalulu: Two African
Tales is made possible in part by US
West Direct, National Endowment
for the Arts, Western States Arts
AFRICA
Lead dancer Bruce Thompson has performed in numerous productions at Penumbra
Theatre in SL Paul. His work include " Bubbling Brown Sugar,"" A Soldier's Play,"
"Black Nativity" and" Tracers."
KALULU ■ An African folktale makes its appearance in Vancouver, Washington,
December 17,1988 at 2:30 p.m. It's a must see!
Foundation and Washington State
Arts Commission.
Single tickets are $6 in advance.
Tickets at the door are $6 plus a can
of food or $7. Food and proceeds
benefit “ People in Need." For infor-
mation and reservations to Rum­
plestiltskin & Kalulu: Two African
Tales, scheduled for performances
at Evergreen Field House (Ever­
green High School) call Tears of Joy
(206) 695-3050.
FAMIL Y OF THE WEEK
The continent where all life
originated.
Gaylene Bickham (Left center) and Darwin Eagleton (Right center) pose for pictures
Iter receiving scholarship awards.
Ecclesia: My Visit With The Children
by Jimi Johnson
On Saturday, November 26, I
had the opportunity to visit with
Roger Wilder, Program Manager in
Gibbs Cottage at Maclaren School,
and some of the children from the
Ecclesia Athletic Association. The
twenty boys, ranging in ages from 4-
14 have been housed in Gibbs
Cottage since the tragic death of
eight year old Ecclesia Member
Dana Broussard in mid-October.
(Most of the girls from Ecclesia
Athletic Association are housed at
Hillcrest.)
When I arrived on campus, many
of the children were preparing to go
on an outing to Chuck-E-Cheese as
an incentive reward for having an
outstanding week in school and on
campus. These are weekly outings
playing a few games of foosball with
which all children seem to enjoy and
take part in occasionally. Some of
the older boys who elected to stay in
the cottage were watching the “big"
football game between Notre Dame
and USC, while others played
foosball and table tennis.
On this Saturday afternoon the
boys seemed to be in "good spirits"
and enjoying themselves. After
some of the youth, I had a chance to
sit and talk with Roger Wilder.
Roger Wilder, who is also an
assistant with the Minority Youth
Concerns Program (a program
geared toward counseling minority
youth and gang members on ways
to avoid negative behavior patterns
and peer pressure) spends many of
his days off working with the
Ecclesia children in his spare time.
Mr. Wilder explained briefly the
delicate situation and what he and
the staff at MacLaren were trying to
accomplish. "At this point the main
focus is to give the children a lot of
tender loving care and let them
know that the people in the Oregon
community and the Minority
com m unity in particular are
concerned with their well being".
I was pleased to know that, of the
13 staff people assigned to Gibbs
Cottage 8 are minorities. As Roger
said however, "there's always a
need for more volunteer minority
representation".
I left MacLaren that afternoon
feeling reassured and quite pleased
to know that someone as sincere as
Roger Wilder is looking out for the
interest of our young people at
Gibbs Cottage.
Dr. Rev. James Martin & Family
On December 11,1988, Mt. Olivet
Baptist Church will celebrate and
honor Rev. Dr. James Martin &
Family. The celebration will recog­
nize Mt. Olivet's first year under the
guidance of Dr. Martin.
The celebration, starting at 6 p.m.,
will take place at the Ramada Inn at
the Coliseum. Guest speaker will be
the Rev. Dr. Leon C. Jones of the
Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial
Baptist Church of Renton, Washing­
ton. Music will be provided by Julli-
anne Johnson, Joanne Bliss,
Ronald Shoals and Calvin Allmon.
Dinner will also be served Tickets
for the celebration are $15., and
must be purchased no later than
December 6, 1988.
Rev. Martin’s contribution to Port­
land African-American community
has been honorable, necessary and
important. His commitment to the
family and to the spiritual growth of
this community deserves all of our
respect, recognition and honor.
The Portland Observer, along with
Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, is proud
to salute Dr Martin and his family as
" Family of The Week."
To the Martin family, we say "
Thank you!"