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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 1988)
P o rtla n d , O re g o n 25C Volume XVIII • Number 55 tRVER December 15, 1988 The Eyes and Ears of the comm unity Children and Learning Christmas Donations Needed The Community Care program, located at Bethel A M.E. Church, 5828 N.E. 8th, Portland, is seeking Christmas donations of food, bedding, furniture, blankets, new and used clothings, cooking utensils, transportation, Christmas trees, and toys, to distribute to the homeless, the underclass, the needy and others in need, in N o rth /N o rth e a s t P o rtla n d , including the Tri-County, Intra- State areas. Since the early '50s, the Community Care Program has existed in Portland's African- A m erican com m unity, and currently serves approximately 3,000 persons each month. It's distribution area covers Columbia Villa, and migrant workers W ith hum an s e rv ic e s d im in is h in g in th e B lack community, i.e. the recent staff cuts at the Albina Human Resource Center, programs such as Community Care are vital to the maintenance of basic care of the less fortunate in our community. The P o rtla n d O bserver is asking the community to join us in helping the Community Care Program bring hope, joy and a Merry Christmas to those who cannot afford if. Donations can be brought to Bethel Church at 5828 N.E. 8th, or to the Portland Observer at 525 N.E. Killingsworth. Let's join hands and make it happen) lold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is broken-winged bird t l ^ A i n o t fly. tations; and monitoring of services and achievement. The motto of Sabin Early Child hood Education Center is “ Education is important. “ We make the differ ence.” The staff at Sabin is commit ted to excellence in education. We also recognize that education is not limited to educational institutions. We all have a role to play in ensuring that our children learn: home, school and community. The Sabin Demonstration School Project which combines all of the elements of an effective school along with high technology and higher order thinking skills is an example of using innovative ways to help children learn and tap their potential. Since the inception of this program in 1986, we have been using commu nity members as mentors and mod els. Involving the community in edu Much has been written and said about the effectiveness or ineffec tiveness of public school systems in the United States. We have been compared one to another and to systems on other continents, good and other-wise. "Why can't our chil dren learn?" "Why aren't the schools teaching our children?” These ques tions plague parents concerned with their children's education. The ans wer may be as simple as “What can I do to help my child?" Or, the answer may be as complex as getting your system to recognize different learn ing styles and begin to teach all students. By Lurlene Shamsud-Din "All children can learn.” So power ful is this message left by the late Ron Edmonds that, years after the death of this young educator and scholar, school districts across the nation have adopted this core belief to make their educational system s "effective schools.” What is an "effective school” ? A school that recognizes that all chil dren can learn if content is culturally relevant and has the following basic essentials is considered effective in producing secure, motivated staff and students: Strong administration; safe and clean environment; high expec- cation enhances student’s knowledge about their world and how they fit into it. However, the home and the parent(s) remain the primary source of education for children. Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children's Defense Fund, wrote in “Child Watch": “ Students gained more in reading achievement from Fall to Spring iftheirteachers encour aged their parents to get involved. Fifth grade students whose teachers frequently involved their parents had more positive attitudes about school and did more homework on week ends. Become actively involved with your child's education. Here are some strategies for those of you who can not regularly visit your child's class room: 1. T ellyourchildyou know he/ she is smart, and you expect him/her to learn. 2. Tell your child you are interested in what he/she learns. 3. Provide a place for yourchild to study: sameplace, same time, everyday. 4. Help yourchild with reading, writing, math and school projects. 5. Talk with your child's teacher about any concerns. Martin Luther King Choir Selected For Presidential Inaugural Parade LAHGSTO\ HUGHES Lindberg Elected To NLC Board Mike Lindberg, Portland City Coun cil member, has been elected to the board of Directors of the National League of Cities (NLC), the nation’s largest and most powerful city issues lobbying group. Nominated by the League of Ore gon Cities President and Astoria's mayor Edith Henningsgaard, Lind berg was elected by the full member ship of the national league. The na tional league represents 16,000 cit ies. Seattle’s Mayor Charles Royer, past president and current board member of NLC praised Lindberg’s selection. “ Mike Lindberg is one of the Young stars in American cities. He is bright, knowledgeable, and a real team player, building on his record of being a strong advocate for Portland at the congres sional level, as an NLC Board mem ber commissioner Lindberg will be a very effective advocate for all U.S. cities.” quite well that Portland shares with other cities serious challenges in public safety, housing, solid waste, the homeless, jobs and attention to the needs of our children. Myjob now, will be to join with other urban leaders in drafting and delivering detailed a plan of action to the president and con gress. Increased federal support for dealing with our issues is absolutely essential." Other Portland city commission ers were actively involved in the Boston convention. Commissioner Bob Koch was a featured panelist in a workshop on handling urban solid waste prob lems. Commissioner Earl Blumenauer helped lead a seminar on land use, and commissioner Dick Bogle mod Mike Lindberg erated a session on neighborhood City Commissioner revitalization. Over 10,000 city officials have been Commenting on his election, Lind gathered in Boston to forge a “ Cities berg, said "It is an honor to be se Agenda” for the next administration lected by the league. I understand and the next congress. Role Model of the Week ington. "This is a fantastic opportunity for these youngsters. Through their voices they have the ability to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of others. This shows them that they really can do anything they want with their lives-the dream is still alive!" Portland's Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School Choir has been selected to represent Oregon in Presi dent-elect Bush's Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C., Congressman Less AuCoin announced last Tues day. The choir was chosen by the Bi centennial Presidential Inaugural Parade Committee, the organizing committee for the January 20th pa rade. Aucoin, who had been notified that the choir was planning a trip to Atlanta in January, helped facilitate the choir's application to the Parade Committee in Washington, D C. In a letter sent in support of their application, AuCoin said, "I simply cannot imagine a more fitting and appropriate representative from Oregon than the Martin Luther King choir." Kathryn Giffert, music director at MLK Elementary School, was ecstatic at the news. "Everyone at King Ele mentary School is walking on air today! This is a tremendous boost to the school and the entire community. I The choir needs to raise approxi mately $20,000 to cover expenses fortraveland lodging The MLK Choir Commemorative Committee is solic iting support from the community to help defray the cost of the trip. A fundraising kick-off event took place on Wednesday, December 14th at 2:00 p.m. in the gymnasium at King Elementary School. Congressman AuCoin joined teachers and students of the school in urging the community to donate funds for the choir's travel expenses. Entertainment at the fund raising event was provided by the choir. "I urge all Oregonians to support this talented, exemplary group of young people," urged Congressman AuCoin. "We can all take tremendous pride in being represented by the Martin Lu ther King, Jr. Elementary School Choir at the President's Inaugural. Contributions can be made to: M.L.K. Choir Commemorative Committee c/o Mr. Charles Ford The King Neighborhood Facility 4815 N.E. 7th Portland, OR 97211 know this will have a long-lasting, positive impact on our students." Giffert noted AuCoin's involvement in getting the King Choir selected to represent Oregon in the Inaugural Parade. "I want to personally thank Les AuCoin and his staff for all of their hard work in making this a reality. It wouldn’t have been possible without their assistance." Von Ray Johnson, President of the Parent Teacher Association at King Elementary School, has a daughter who will make the journey to Wash- Kathyrn Giffert I by Jim i Johnson Walter Ghant, who graduated from Warner Pacific College in 1988 with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Religion, has been accepted to study for a Master's of Divinity Degree at Howard University, the nation's most prestigious Black institution of higher educa tion. While at Warner Pacific, Walter distinguished himself as the recipient of the schools highest honor, the A.F. Grey Award for scholastic achievement and service. He was also the co-founder of the Bethlehem Inn, the nation's first homeless family shelter on a college campus. As a result of his efforts, Walter was fea tured on the cover of This Week Magazine (May 20, 1987). Walter is committed to serving humankind in whatever way is beneficial. He currently works for the Urban League of Portland as Youth and Family counselor. He said that "Helping people is my main concern." However, life wasn’t always like this for Walter Ghant. A native of Portland, Walter and his three sisters grew up in the heart of Portland's Black belt. At the age of 15, Walter dropped out of high school and started "hanging out” with the fellows. This eventually led to spending time in MacLaren School for Boys where Walter eventually received his G.E.D. A short time later, Walter joined the United States Air Force and credits the strict discipline of the service for helping turn his life around. . Upon being honorably discharged from the service, Walter entered Warner Pacific College to prepare tor a life in the ministry. . > These days things are looking very good for Mr. Ghant as he prepares to leave for Howard University on December 15th. He's been nominated for the Benjamin E. Mayes Scholarship Award to assist him in his academic endeavors. In addition, Walter plans to be married on December 31st to Ms. Claris Ann Delapenha in Grand Cayman, British West Indies, the brides hometown. The couple will honeymoon in the romantic Carribean Island - ’ 'A * ■ T he Portland Observer «tfwm W»*« Ghent as our "Role Model of the Week," and wishes him much success, because his success is "our*business! f