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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 10, 1989)
Portland, Oregon ERVER VOLUME XIX NUMBER 31 MARCUS POLK GOLDSCHMIDT ROLE MODEL SIGNS ANTI - HARASSMENT, MLK HOLIDAY BILL By Jimi Johnson Marcus Polk, a Junior Biology major from Portland, Oregon has a 3.84 G.P.A. at Jackson State Univer sity in Mississippi. He has been honored National Dean’s List Scholar and as a Jackson State Dean’s List Scholar. He has also received the Phil Reynolds Foundation Scholar ship and the Jackie Robinson Foun dation Scholarship. A 1986 graduate of Benson High School, Polk has made moves rang ing from ballet to golf. Polk started taking ballet as a seventh grader while attending Harriett Tubman Middle School and was a co-op student at Jefferson High School. Polk lettered four years in golf at Benson High School while graduat ing with a 3.5 G.P.A. Polk also served as Senior Class Vice President, and class speaker at the 1986 Graduation Ceremonies. An accomplished golfer, Polk was recruited by Eddie Payton (Walter Payton’s brother) to attend Jackson State University on a Golf Scholar ship. As a student of the “ Minority Research Support Program” Polk has traveled to numerous National Insti tutes of Health to present his re search. Currently Polk is in Pearl River N.Y. working as a Summer Intern at American Cyanamid Ledcrly Labo ratory,. researching hypertension. Starting this fall while attending Jackson State, Polk will begin a Re search Fellowship Project for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Polk ranked second in their selection for this fellowship out of 77 appli cants. After Polk completes his educa tion in May of 1990, he will go on to medical school, saying he feels strongly that he can make an impact as a physician. “ There is an under representation of African-Americans among the ranks of physicians in this country .1 have a deep concern about the health of my people.” I think I can be effective in that role” . The Portland Observer salutes Marcus Polk for his dedication, ambition and desire to succeed in his chosen field. AUGUST 10,1989 Job Corp Honors Wyden, Nero, for Outstanding Service Gov. Neil Goldschmidt today signed into law two bills designed to improve reporting of malicious har assment crimes and to ban intimida tion based on sexual orientation. The Governor also signed a bill extend ing the Martin Luther King Jr. holi day to schools statewide. “ It is a sad fact that crimes moti vated by prejudice and bigotry have increased dramatically in the North west in recent years. No one is im mune from the viciousness of these mindless attacks. But let no one think Rep. Ron Wyden David Nero for one minute that we are going to sit back and take it,” said Gov. The U.S. Job Corp recently honored U.S. Rep. Ron Wyden, and Portland Goldschmidt.’’Two of these bills send Businessman David Nero, for continued support of Job Corp projects in the the message that the State of Oregon Pacific Northwest. is fighting back against thugs and Rep. Ron Wyden was honored for his continued support of Job Corps in bigots.” Oregon and the Pacific NorthwestJack Krois, Director of Region X Job Senate Bill 606, the bias Crimes Corps Services, presented a plaque made by the students at the Springdale Bill, requires law enforcement agen Job Corps Center. cies to report to the state executive Rep.Wyden’s contributions to the program include center visits to talk Department statistics concerning with many of the students, continued congressional support for Job Corps crimes motivated by prejudice based through his leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives and the recent on perceived race, color, religion, promotion of th PIVOT program (Partners in Vocational Opportunity national origin, sexual orientation, Training). age or disability. The new law will Job Corps is a vocational training and education program for youth 16 help law enforcement agencies to through 24 years of age who are economically, socially and educationally determine the magnitude and geo disadvantaged. graphic location of these “ hate The PIVOT program is just the latest addition to the Job Corps commit crim es.” ment to providing educational and vocational raining opportunities to The Executive Department will disadvantaged youth, particularly young mothers on welfare. provide an annual report of hate Starting this fall, the PIVOT program will enable disadvantaged young crimes, and police officers will be parents to receive their training w hih working towards a high school trained to investigate,identify and diploma or G.E.D. with childcare services being provided. report these crimes. Seven states currently require data collection re In recognition of David M. Nero, Jr.’s 10 years of support and service to garding bias crimes, including Mary the Job Corps program, Jack Krois, Director of the Region X of Department land, Virginia, Oklahoma, Connecti of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, Office of Job Corps, cut, Minnesota, Illinois and Pennsyl honored Mr. Nero in a ceremony in the home office of Nero and Associates vania. in Portland. House Bill 2784 adds sexual ori Mr. Nero founded Nero and Associates in 1971 with a commitment to entation to categories protected by providing access to training, job development and employment services by Oregon’s intimidation law. Itcreatcs the most disadvantaged youth in our society. In addition to servicing Job both a misdemeanor and a felonv for Corps contracts for the last 10 years, NAI provided manpower services acts of intimidation based on bias through the federal Model Cities program in the 1970’s. The Oregon’Small against sexual orientation. Tamper Business Association recognized Mr. Nero in 1973 as the Small Businessman ing with property or subjecting an of the Year. other person to offensive physical “ As the Job Corps celebrates its 25-year anniversary this summer, we conduct is a Class A misdemeanor. thought it most appropriate to recognize a man in the region who has helped Causing physical injury or placing a to make Job Corps the success that it is,” said Mr. Krois. person in fear of imminent serious Job Corps is a federally-funded program that provides youth 16 through physical injury is a Class C felony. 24 years old, who are disadvantaged economically, socially, or educationally, The bill was originally requested the needed vocational training and education to assist them in reaching the by Multnomah County District At goal of “ Making a New Life and a Good Living” . torney Michael Shrunk. “ The lack of success does not automatically mean lack of merit, The Governor also signed into capability or potential,: Nero said. What it does mean is that by recognizing law House Bill 2705, which desig these truths you can make a personal decision, a personal commitment not nates Martin Luther King Jr.’s to become or stay a victim of the system. Young people have a choice to Birthday,the third Monday in Janu m ake-go for success or settle for failure. ary, a legal school holiday statewide. “ If you fail, you can blame it on racism--if you want to.You can blame The Governor said there are many it on sexism -if you want to. You can blame it on a lack of money or theories why crimes of hate are on economic resources-if you want to. But if you say and accept those things- the rise. “ But one thing is clear,” as right as they might be-you will not be a better person for it. You will still said Gov. Goldschmidt, “ For the past be their victim. decade, this country has been in re “ Young people cannot blame failure to achieve success on a lack of treat from the ideals of racial justice opportunity, because the Job Corps gives that opportunity to them today. and tolerance that Martin Luther King There are hundreds of Job Corps alumni possessing college degrees, lived and died for. We must reaffirm including Ph.D.’s: thousands of alumni are holding down upper-middle our dedication and redouble our ef class jobs, and all successful graduates arc employed, with most on a career forts in pursuit of America’s finest path.” values-those of decency and fair ness and equality.” RELIGIOUS GROUPS WARNED OF INVESTMENT SCAMS A growing number of con artists arc swindling members of churches and religious groups by gaining their trust and selling them fraudulent in vestments. The Department of Insur ance and Finance is joining with the North American Securities Admin istrators Association (NASAA) and the Council of Better Business Bu reaus in issuing that warning, after a new study was released showing an escalating problem of investment fraud aimed at religious oups. The study described a number of religious scams that have been un covered across the country. Some involve con artists who pose as “ Christian” financial planners or who claim to have received “ divinely inspired” investment advice. The phony investments they sell range from coins to precious metals, real estate, andoil wells in the Holy Land. The Department of Insurance and Finance and NASAA advise mem bers of churches and religious groups to be on guard for investment pro moters who claim close tics to a particular religion or capitalize on connections to religious leaders. When 25C considering any investment, regard less of who is selling it, consumers should check the salesperson and in vestment opportunity with the Secu rities Section of the department. NASAA and the Council of Bet ter Business Bureaus have prepared an investor alert entitled “ Preying on the Faithful” which discusses the problem and how to avoid being vic timized. Copies of the alert arc avail able by calling the Securities Section of the Department of Insurance and Finance at 378-4385, or writing to the Section at the Labor & Industries Bldg., Salem, 97310. JEFFERSON CLASS REUNION Jefferson High School Class of 1969 will hold their 20 year class reunion, August 18th thru August 20th. A class get together will be held Friday 8/18/89 in the Jefferson High Cafeteria for Graduates only. Saturday will feature a dinner and dance at the Airport Red Lion Inn all 69 graduates in the Portland area as well as other who graduated during the late sixties and early 70’s. Sunday is family day a picnic will be held at Blue Lake Park from 10 a.m. until Sundown ... Bring your Picnic basket and party. For further information, please contact Nadine Clifton ’69 Reunion O rganization 283-4713. American Bridge Association Helps Oregon Make National History Again!!! L-R MARTHA JORDAN, ED WEST, ELLEN LAW Last week more than 2,500 persons from all over the United States and several foreign countries invaded the City of Roses for the sole purpose of indulging themselves unabated in their favorite pastime addiction. They were dispersed among six downtown ho tels where for the next ten days they would occupy more than 700 rooms as revenue generating guests. This was their first visit as a group to the Pacific Northwest. For many years the local tourist groups had courted them until three years ago they made the decision to convene their convention here in the City of Roses. That decision brought smiles to local hotels, restaurants and mer chants because these people already had established a reputation for dumping more than $ 1.5 million into the local economy of any city they visited. Who are these mysterious funloving people? Let us take an other look. Back in 1930 a group of ardent ten nis players from a small town in Ken tucky discovered that they shared another common interest so they formed the American Bridge Asso ciation. When this single act is viewed almost sixty years later that particu lar amalgam might seem strange, especially when one considers the fact that at the time of their inception the entire world economy was mired in the most devastating depression history ever has recorded. Added to that observation is the fact that the newly formed group at the time was responding to a social need because they were Black and the white ma jority excluded them from participa tion in the national group. Thelma Woodson of Detroit is their national president. She is a retired school principal who completed her undergraduate and graduate work at Wayne State University Miss Wood- son has been playing with the group for more than twenty three years. Robert Price ,a real real estate bro ker from Chicago, did his under graduate work at the University of Alabama made extremely famous by Governor George Wallace in the early civil right movement. He has been an AB A mem ber for almost a quarter century and is the number one player having garnered over 15,000 master points. He also has been the recipi ent of the association’s William Friend award for the last decade. This award goes annually to the player accruing the most points. Miss Ellen Law hails from Port land, Oregon and is a retired princi pal of Jefferson High School She is a graduate of the University of Ore gon where she received both her graduate and undergraduate degrees. She is one of the co-organizers of the tournament along with Miss Martha Jordan, also of Portland and Ed West of Seattle. While these fun loving people will inject more than a million dollars into the local economy they arc still mindful of their social responsibil ity. For the last twenty years they have been giving annual scholarships to college bound African American students. They also have made sig nificant contributions to the Urban League, and the NAACP. Their activities will culminate on Saturday night in a Gala Rose Ex travaganza where William Hilliard, editor of the local newspaper will be the keynote speaker. At that time numerous winners of various events will receive special awards and rec ognition by the entire group. The Portland Observer feels privi leged to salute these wonderful visi tors to the City of Roses. Perhaps some of them will want to return as permanent residents to what is re puted to be the most livable city in these United States. We wish them all a pleasant stay in our fair city and a safe and speedy re turn to their respective homes. BUF Host Forum The Black United Fund of Oregon will be hosting a Community Forum on August 29,1989 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the North Portland Li brary, A uditorium , 512 N.Killingsworth. The forum will fea ture a presentation by Kathleen Cor nett, Program Officer .Oregon Com munity Foundation in which Ms. Cornett will discuss the process of obtaining funding from th Oregon Community Foundation. Community organizations and individuals inter ested in obtaining funding from the Oregon Community Foundation arc encouraged to attend. Informational materials will be distributed and there will be a question and answer period. For further information contact H erm an L. B ram e, Technical As sistance Manager,The Black United Fund of Oregon at 282-7973.