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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 1989)
c z« ocai • s ity o f ü re fo n L ib ra ry Oregon 97403 •<7. « Portland, Oregon ERVER PORTL 1 New approach to poverty Seniors of the Week Bend's Representative Beverly Clarno contends welfare helps to promulgate immorality while at the same time dissolving the family territory having one end hugging the border of Idaho and the other kissing the shores of California. The area in between meanders over rugged Now that the audit of the Adult mountains and craggy hills. One of and Family Service is underway, the the obvious targets for attack was the multifaceted nature of root causes mode of transportation used to cover begins to emerge. While a good that great expanse. And attack she amount of attention has been focused did. Representative Clarno focused on what the detractors of manage on the purchase of four wheel drive ment call frivolous expenditures of vehicles, chartered flights and travel public funds, there is an underlying story that everyone acknowledges but out of state. During the interim the bitter few people are willing to talk about. employees union was embroiled in a It has been written and confirmed struggle with the state negotiators by some of the key figures in this over their new contract. They found controversy that racial and gender a willing and sympathetic ear in Mrs. bigotry play no small part in the Clarno. They immediately took ad effort to unseat the present execu vantage of that fact and plied her tives in the division. One cannot with dozens of letters and telephone help but agree with that conclusion calls. Her office was inundated with but after a close examination of the numerous tidbits which would allege evidence there are other factors of Travis West is a Junior at Portland State University , majoring in mismanagement and favoritism in interest that come into play. Psychology and Black Studies. He is also a Champion amature wrestler the agency. At the time Mrs. Frcddye Webb- ranked 5th in the nation in Greco Roman Style. But according to sports It would be inaccurate to declare Pettet was appointed to her present writers and Travis himself, he is the best blue chipper in the nation, which that abuses do not occur among state position, she found it necessary to in laymen terms means he has a bright and successful future ahead. employees with regard to the manner make four major changes in top Travis speaks modestly about his accomplishments, ie: 1983 World in which they pursue their duties. It management. These changes were School Boy Champion, 3 Time AAA Oregon State Champion.1987 US is no secret that the entire govern dictated not only as a means of bring National Greco Champion. 1987 US Greco Outstanding Wrestler, ment is organized around a system of ing about a more efficient organiza US Greco World Team Member, and 1989 NCAA Div. II National spoils that should have been re tion but also to correct some of the Champion. formed decades ago. Another part of problems that had been neglected in He speaks more profoundly about his goal, which is to be the best in the the problem arises from the fact that the area of affirmative action.In so world in the amature ranks, and represent Oregon and the USA in the 1992 doi four white ma,cs employees J the Oregon State Legislature con Olvmoics. 6 . . . . « ~ V p n a C n n l v n v o r v n t h n r v o o r T h i o i< Olympics. venes only every other year. This is were replaced with four female But before this can become a reality .Travis must participate in several an appalling anachronism which is employees. Two of these replace events which will help him to qualify for the “ 92 Olympics; A visit to the also an interesting commentary on ments were white women, one was Soviet Union June 24-July 17, and the US Sports festival July 20th -26lh; how much importance Oregonians Hispanic and the fourth was African Oklahoma City , Oklahoma. These two events take place in 1989. attach to that process. Many other American. AU of the displaced per Air fare, room and board, for the two events is approximately $2,500. states are moving toward state legis sons were democrats with highly Thus Travis is appealing to the public for help. All donations are tax lators as a fulltime positionjust as is placed connections in the state gov deductible (Tax ID # NP13791). Donors arc requested to make contributions the case in the United States Con- ernment. To take such an action took payable to : Peninsular Wrestling , 6400 '< Albina, Portland, OR 97717..- - gress. It also is a peculiar reaction to a lot of courage on the part of Mrs. Please indicate funds for Travis West. first identify some of the excesses in Webb-Pettet. These changes did not government and then clobber the per bode very well with the democratic sons who have the courage, experi hierarchy. To be sure, a well-coordi ence and commitment to be the very nated attack was launched by the op agent for change that the public position which included a scathing demands. assault by one of the local weekly Lately the Governor at the elev newspapers. As a result one of Mrs. enth hour has professed his belated Webb-Pettet’s newly appointed man support for the beleaguered Mrs. agers suffered one of its first dele Webb-Pettet. His words are admi by J im i Johnson tions. Such a victory for the detrac rable and comforting but still are too tors of the Adult and Family Services little and too late. Previously only learning Center. At the present time, gave license to other critics to de Selaclo Maredi, exiled South certain disgruntled employees had a no date for the play has been sched crease the skirmish into an all out of African playwright is back in Port tarnished view of Adult and Family fensive. uled. land doing what he does best, writing Services. This attitude now extends “ Watching Mr. Maredi work with In the meanwhile several interest and working with young people. The the students is a joy. H e’s an incred ing situations developed in the east to the a significant part of the public. author of “ Homeland” , a play that A immeasurable amount of the good ible artist and a great teacher, his ern region of the state which must received national acclaim came to work is art in motion and we are have given Mrs. Webb-Pettet a fore will and efficiency that was gener Portland to direct the play in 1988. ated so carefjully over the past two honored to have him here” , said De boding about things to come. Mrs. He has since decided to return to our years has dissipated and will now borah Cochrane, the Learning Cen Beverly Clarno , a Republican, waged city to ‘ ‘visit with friends and write” . ter director. “ To be able to work a vituperative and well-organized cam have to be re-established. Maredi said he received many Apart from the long tradition of with a great man like Selaelo is an paign against the democratic con letters of appreciation about the play the proud and rugged westerner who opportunity that W.Y.L.C. students tender, Dianne Iverson. Her views “ Homeland” from students through will not let others do for them what deserve, and I hope it will inspire on the use of public funds for the out Portland and this has inspired they are able to do for themselves, other students to attend the Learning poor and indigent arc very well known. him to return. “ Writers with lots of there is a nagging perception that the Center next year” added Ms. Co Not only was she concerned with money may take a retreat on a long fight against Adult and Family Serv chrane. what she perceived to be extreme boat ride or an island, Portland is my ice really is an attack on poor people Growing up in South Africa, he waste of public funds in the entire retreat’ ’. ‘ ‘Writers need to get differ in general. In this great and abundant always felt that the vicious system of welfare system, but she also accused ent perspectives so they can broaden society of ours there arc significant apartheid excluded the “ real” South it of bringing about the destruction of their base and increase their capa parts of the population who harbor Africans from living life to it’s full the American family unit by what bilities” Maredi added. the notion that poverty is a condition est and benefiting from the vast wealth she called the encouragement of preg Maredi sights the lack of Cultural that is self-induced. That concept is of the country. Soon Maredi and a nancy among unmarried women for Centers in Portland as another reason augmented by the notion that all able- group of other South Africans started the sole purpose of increasing their for wanting to return. “ Children arc bodied persons must work to support speaking out against apartheid through welfare benefits. The voters of the like a tree, when you grow a tree you their own sustenance. Poor people art form and theatre. The anti-apart- 55th District liked what they heard must nurture it, cultivate it, and give are detested and despised as if they heid stand lead to M aredi’s exiled and sent her to the state legislature it water...” “ Young people need to were the victimsofsomcdrcaded in from South Africa.in 1977. where she set out like Joan of Arc to grow mentally, and theatre helps the tractable contagious disease. Too Maredi says “ people like Marie correct the problems as she identi- growth of the mind” continued very frequently the assumption is B rooksof New York City and Marla fiedthem . It was not surprising that Maredi. made that both poverty and welfare Gibbs (227) of Los Angeles has been her first target would be the welfare Maredi is currently working on a are the exclusive domains of Black doing ‘great work’ with inner city system, especially the office in her play called “ Our Parents Day” with people. It might surprise those per youth and we need more people like own territory. As a freshman repre- students from the Urban League’s sons who think that way that less them to continue our struggle” , sentative she cast aside the tradi- Whitney Young Learning Center. This than 10% of those on the public dole “ Whcn we change our children’s tional ways of doing things and play is to honor parents and give arc African Americans. minds, wc can turn them away from employed a head on attack like the them a chance to sec what their chil There arc a lot of poor white people proverbial bull in the china shop. drugs’ ’ added Maredi. dren are doing through theatre at the Although servicing the least in this state who arc single mothers They certainly deserve a lot of amount of clients, the Eastern Re gion covers the greatest amount of help. Vz» £■ V e /.-“ • t URBAN LEAGUE HOST AIDS CONFERENCE who arc being affected by AIDS, it is important that the African American community be educated about the consequences of this problem. The conference is being sponsored by the Western Regional AIDS Education Project and will also feature health workshops and speakers. For additional information, call Uscni Perkins at 280-2600. NOTICE An organizational meeting for the Portland chapter of the National as sociation of Urban Bankers, a pro fessional association for minority em ployees in the financial services in dustry, will be held on Tuesday, June 20th from 5:30 to 8:30 at U.S.Bank Plaza Bldg., 2nd floor, 555 S.W. Oak. Cost $10.00 includes dinner. Call 275-5696. BLACK LEAD ERSHIP CONFERENCE TO MEET The Black Leadership Conference will hold its regular general meeting on Saturday, June 17th at 9:00 A.M. in the Urban League Conference Rtxxn at 10 N. Russell. • ’M 'f by Stephen E. McPherson, Special Correspondent SOUTH AFRICAN PLAYWRIGHT INTERESTED IN WHITNEY YOUNG LEARNING CENTER The Urban League of Portland and the Black Health Coalition will host a conference on AIDS and Black Women of Childbearing Age on Thursday, June 22nd at the Red Lion Coliseum. The conference will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and is free to the general public. Because of the many African American women of childbearing age r ; ; '- JUNE 15,1989 VOLUME XIX NUMBER 23 LACK OF FUNDS ONLY BARRIER FOR CHAMPION WRESTLER TO COMPETE IN “92 OLYMPICS 25C •• f t : fe i •i* » >. * 1 One of Oregon’s pioneers, Daniel Elicious Allen, Senior Celebrated his 90th birthday anniversary June 6th Fully alert and oriented he contributes his longevity and sound mind to clean and righteous living. He still maintains his residence in N.E. Portland with his 87 year old wife. They are the parents of 15 children. They relocated from Lubbock, Texas in r 1943. Still very active, Mr. Allen serves as assistant Pastor to Bishop A. L. Wright at the Emmanuel Church of God in Christ United. H eattendschurchfourtim esw eekly. He sings, plays the guitar and delivers the gospel message on occasion. t e :> MULTNOMAH COUNTY PROGRAMS CITED BY NATIONAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION A citizen involvement program that allows people to advise Multnomah County on budgets and other key matters is one of eight county activities to win an award from the National Association of Counties. Other programs winning an an nual NACO Achievement Award are W omen’s Transition programs in the Department of Justice Services; film permit process in the Right of Way Division; Aging Services Mental Health, Community Coalition for Homeless Youth, Black Youth Ad vocates Court Watch, all in the Department of Human Services; and Special Needs Housing Program and the Lincoln Place Housing Opportu nity Program both in the Community Development Division. The Citizens Involvement Com mittee, established by county char ter, coordinates the Citizen Budget Advisory Committees and provides public information through such media as the “ County Conduit” newslet ter. The office of W omen’s Transi tion Services, created less than a year ago, plans and implements new treat ment programs for female offenders and their children. The county’s efforts to attract films to the area have helped boost spend ing by out-of-state movie companies from less than $1 million in 1986 to $22 million last year. More home visitations is just one of the changes implemented by die Aging Services Division to assist non- chronically mentally ill elders. Other improvements since 1985 include medication awareness projects and increased volunteer participation by health care professionals. The most outstanding example of the effectiveness of the Community Coalition for Homeless Youth is the Youth Shelter which provides a wide range of services to more than 700 young people a year. Volunteers and county juvenile division staff provide a stable influ ence for black male juveniles while advocating for fair and just sanctions and proper services inside and out side the justice system as part of the Black Youth Advocates Program/ Court Watch. An 11 -unit apartment complex that was purchased and rehabilitated as a joint project between Multnomah County and a private housing devel opment corporation to provide hous ing for homeless families. In ten years, the program is projected to be com pletely self sufficient. Lincoln Place Homes, a new housing development in mid-county provides 30 homes for low and moderate income families. The proj ect leveraged both federal and pri vate funding. 7TH ANNUAL BLACK WOMEN’S GATHERING “ A celebration of our being, our spirit, our survival” is the on-going theme of Portland’s Black women’s Gathering. This year is the seventh annual celebration and on Saturday, June 17, from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m.African American women will come together for a day to share the beauty of their heritage and culture at the Salvation Army, Moore St. Community Center. The center is located at 5335 N. Williams near Killingsworth. Last year over 500 African Ameri can women from the northwest re gion participated in the celebration. The emphasis on sharing and net working has been the highlight of the Gathering and this year throughout the day will be open mike sessions for wom en to exchange information.Some of the topics sug gested are health, stress management, good nutrition and personal develop V • ment. A special panel presentation to address these topics include: Sharon Gary-Smith, National Black women’s Joy Cross, Self-Enhancement, Inc. Other highlights and traditions will be a historical perspective by Kathc- leen Saadat, one of the founders of the Gathering, various displays and information booths supporting the theme, free child care, complimen tary refreshments and live entertain ment. This year attendees arc re quired to wear rubber-sole shoes to protect the community center floor. For more information contact Gina Wood. 250-9647. “ ...if we don’t celebrate our own success, if we don’t give ourselves and one another our due, who will?’ (quote taken from, In the Spirit, by Susan L. Taylor, editor-in-chief, Es sence magazine, March 1989). • «T7 , '•'.i.'V £7/ ' - .•‘Z~ .'4 * 1 Ib i ‘■Ö5& ■ » ÿ- ’¿U J ♦ ms - * • Zl - .-*>•. r.-v . 1 ’-'.i S’-VV B i H al a n 3*. aim