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