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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 1989)
iry Portland, Oregon P O R TL ERVER VOLUME XIX NUMBER 27 Student/Athelete 25C J U L Y 13,1989 The Urban League Of Portland: Who Needs It? Portland youths demonstrate a child shall lead Brothers Gaining Equality get national recognition By Jim i Johnson By Jim i Johnson Pat Strickland a graduate of Wilson High believes in order to succeed it life a person should get a good education. “ I enjoyed High School and think it was a rewarding experience” ; he stated. Strickland, who grew up in Northeast Portland, said attending Wilsoi High School in Southwest Portland, ‘ ‘gave me a chance to view life from < different perspective” . In his junior year the 5 ’10" point guard, led Wilson to the 1988 Statf Basketball Championship game before loosing to Grant when he missed < last second shot form half court that would have won the game. Stricklanc say ’ s “ that game has helped me mature both as a person and an athelete anc really prepared me for my final year at W ilson” . Strickland used that maturity and determination to lead #1 ranked Wilson back to the 1989 State Championship Basketball game this time coming home as Champions with a win over #2 ranked Beaverton. Strickland States; “ I was greatly influenced by my parents, particularly my Dad, Dwain Strickland as well as Tony Hopson and Ray Leary of Self Enhancement Incorporation” . Pat Strickland, who sees himself as a role model to younger people as well as peers will be attending Chemekcta Community College (CCC), in Salem, Oregon, on a Basketball Scholarship this fall. Strickland plans to attend a 4 year college after leaving C.C.C. and major in Education; he feels “ there’s a lack of African-American males in the Public School Systems” . The Portland Observer salutes Pat Strickland as This W eek’s Student/ Athelete. Evelyn Collins Celebrates 50 years Youth Involvement By Dan Bell There is a building on Russell between Union and Rodney that has come to house a Christian daycare and community recreation center for over 35 years. The Director of the Grace Collins Memorial Center has been fulfilling various levels of single parent and low income daycare needs as well as providing alternative rec reation while dispensing homespun advice and counseling over a dura tion eclipsing 50 years of youth in volvement and ministry. Evelyn Collins more fondly known as Miss Collins is the remarkable person who with the of her late mother Grace.who founded the operation of what has come to be known as the Collins Center. On July 3,1939 Miss Collins embraced Christ as her personal savior and embarked on a lifetime personal service to others It was during her tenure in homestudy bible class in the early 1950’s that it was brought to her attention that child care was needed to free single mothers to look for work and break their cycle of poverty .Over the interceding years the center has sponsored champion ship city league basketball teams, provided jobs and recently sponsored Shoot For Hope Not Dope program and sent seven deserving teenagers to summer cam p at her own expensc.When ask to capsulize her years as community servant she re sponded with “ When I wasn’t sure what to do,I asked the lord ,and he said will you do what I show you to do and I said yes. As 1990 approaches, one of Portland’s oldest and diversified Social Service Organization is under heavy jutack. Established in 1945, the Urban League as served hundreds of thousands African-Americans, Asians, His panics and down-trotten white peopie seeking a better life in the City of Roses. When the migration to the Northwest was in full bloom, many new citizens of color had no where to turn but to the Urban League. Homeless and penniless they came looking for a better way of life in urban America. During these trying times, the Urban League stood as a beacon of hope for those who had no where to turn, no shelter and a dim future. Over the past 45 years the Urban League o f Portland has helped the hopeless weather storms that would have been fatal, too many families, in a city where blacks and other minorities were clearly not welcomed. Many people arriving in Portland during the 4 0 ’s and early 50’s came looking for a better way o f life. What they found was a “ Jim Crow” Northwest, and The Urban League as their only sanctuary. In the sixties and seventies, the League acted as a buffer between racial tensions that had reached a boiling point, with riots running rampant in the cities of our nation, including Portland, the League always tried to get people, both black and white to work together for a better Portland. During these troubled times City Hall looked to the Urban League for support as did the African-American community. The League was there with a helping hand. The Mission of the Urban League has always been to provide an equal opportunity for all people, regardless o f race, sex or religion to forefill their hopes and ambitions. Today, many people credit their successes to the help provided by The Urban League in times of distress. When jobs began to disappear for people of color, the Urban League was there with a helping hand. When police brutality was on the rise, the Urban League was there to say enough is enough. When senior citizens needed h ea t,, and housing the Urban League was there with open arms. When African-Americans needed a voice downtown the Urban League spoke up loud and clear- and was heard by the powers that be!! In this age o f computer technology, education awareness, teenage pregnancy, gang warfare, the Urban League is still here to help find solutions to the crisis that face our * ‘City of Roses’ ’. Through the good times and the bad times the Urban League has stood tall in the eye of the hurricane and will continue to be an advocate tdr justice, peace, and equality. Who needs the Urban League o f Portland; the African-American com munity, the business community, the religious community, the educational community and the City of Portland as a whole needs the Urban League. The Urban League has served our city for almost half a century through the mass migration of the 40’s and 50’s the hot and turbulent summers of the 6 0 ’s and 70’s and the dog days of the Civil Rights regression in the Regan 80’s. The Urban League has been there, that voice of hope and support for the oppressed. Even though the Urban League is going through a period of challenge. I believe it is time for the Portland Community to rise up and whole-heartly support The Mission of The Urban League. Now is the time to give back to an institution that has given so much to The African-American Community and the City of Portland. The Urban League of Portland needs the support of our “ great City” for it will always be beacon of light to many citizens who have no hope. Who needs the Urban League of Portland? !The City of Portland does more than ever as we approach the 21st century. Visitors Bureau Resolves Minority Hiring Problems City Commissioner Dick Bogle’s objections to a proposed contract with the Portland Oregon Visitors Association (POVA) have been resolved with the addition of two major amendments to the agreement .Last week, Bogle caused a city ordinance authorizing the three-year, $3 million tourist promotion contract to be held over, citing a lack of direct accountability by POVA to the City Council, and the failure of the agreement to address the city’s affirmative action and minority contracting goals. For the current year, Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) goals are Construction, 10 percent; Supplies, 2.8 percent; Personal Services, 20 percent; and Professional, Technical and Expert Services, 9.0 percent. Bogle and his staff worked with POVA and Mayor Bud Clark’s staff to forge amendments which meet the two concerns. Under the first of the two amendments, POVA will be required to “ submit a quarterly report to the City Council regarding implementation of program activities, and on contracting goals and affirmative action hiring efforts.” In the original agreement, POVA was to “ make a quarterly report to the Mayor or his designee regarding implementation of (specific) program activities.” The second amendment adds new language requiring POVA to * ‘become certified as an EEO Affirmative Action Employer” and to maintain that status for the duration of the agreement. In addition, POVA will be required to “ complete an internal EEO-A A implementation plan and submit the plan to the city for its review and comment.” POVA also must report to the Council each June on ‘ ‘contract perform ance including the areas of budget, work program implementation, MBE/ FBE contracting, and affirmative action.” In a memo to Mayor Clark, the City Council and Auditor Barbara Clark, Bogle wrote he is satisfied that the amendments reflect his concerns about POVA’s accountability to the entire City Council, and the organization’s compliance with affirmative action and MBE/FBE contracting goals. Bogle said the amendments were worked out “ in a spirit of coopera tion,” adding., “ POVA recognizes its responsibilities, and the Council has now put those responsibilities in writing.” Urban League Forum Planned The Urban League of Portland will host a community forum on Monday, July 17, 1989 at the King Neighborhood Facility, 4815 Northeast 7th Avenue. The forum begins at 6:00 p.m. The purpose o f this forum is to highlight the many significant activities and services offered by the League, and to discuss current issues and problems faced by the League. Last summer the various news with home work and interact when media were filled with reports of family problems arise. They plan to youth violence here in the City of call a gang summit in the near future Roses, thought to be the most livable in an effort to establish a truce be city in the United States. These tween the leading contenders. It is altercations were generated princi now quite common to hear some of pally from attacks that rival gangs our young impressionable youths made on each other. Since then a state that they want to be BGE’s consortium o f law enforcement rather than join some of the well- agencies has created an atmosphere known gang units. in which the future existence of such It is distressing to observe that criminal anarchy is difficult to sur vive. some police officers in their per Another element has emerged ceived enforcement of the law some within the community which has times focus on the wrong target done much to redirect the energies of especially where the young African our youth to a pathway of enhanced American male is concerned. On self-esteem and community service. June 10th, two fellow BGE's, Chris It is interesting to observe that the Brown and Jason Washington .were idea for such an organization was arrested, handcuffed and expelled conceived and developed by the from the Waterfront Park for 30 days youths, themselves. because the arresting officers Last week in recognition o f this thought they resembled gang mem effort, Newsweek Magazine pub bers. It should be noted that some lished the story about the work being verifiable gang activity preceded the done by Brothers Gaining Equality incident. At the same time it is here in Portland.along with other appalling that these two young national heroes in the spirit of volun people were submitted to abusive teerism They took notice o f the fact treatment in the absence of any that Waleed Sadruddin, a 17 year old criminal activity. Pursuit of the real from Benson High School, had got criminal should not jeopardize or ten together with some o f his friends harass the innocent civilian in any and established the group in an effort manner or fashion. It has been written in one o f the to counteract the infamous drug cults. Lasr week Waleed traveled ro great books that a little child shall New York city where he appeared in lead them. The Portland Observer is the nationally televised Today very happy to demonstrate that there Show. are many such youths here in the The BGE’s as they call them lower Northeast Sector of Portland. selves are organized along the line of We hope that their efforts can be ex a fraternity and now are well estab panded to include the larger lished in four of the City’s High community.They have earned the Schools. They sponsor dances, respect and the admiration of the clean up graffiti, help each other entire community. WALL STREET FIRM ALLOWS PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS TO BLACK FUND E. G. Bowman the largest Black Commercial Insurance Brokerage Firm in the county encouraged their employees to make their charitable contributions to the Black United Fund of New York (BUFNY). John Procope, Chairman said, “ We as a minority company believe as all ethnics do that African Americans should support their own and the Black United Fund is taking the lead ership in getting us to work collec tively and build housing and other types of industry.” BUFNY now celebrating its 10th t year raises dollars primarily through | payroll deduction plans and provides support through grants and technical assistance programs and projects in the Black community throughout the State of New York. Additionally, BUFNY is committed to building af fordable housing and providing computer services to community based organizations. Kennit Eady, President/Founder of BUFNY says, “ We are pleased that the firm of E.G. Bowman has given their name and resources in support of BUFNY. This is truly a