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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