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ENDON
CENTER
SEPTEMBER IMO
PARTY
i
¡nimm
OPENING
CELEBRATION
PORTLflNÖ
V o lu m e X X , N u m b e r 36
ERVER
S e p te m b e r 19, 1990
"The Eyes and Ears o f The Community"
TRI-MET
OFFERS
FREE
RIDES
OPENING OF OREGON
CONVENTION CENTER
N
C o llin s C e n te r
N e e d s H e lp
n ee d s co m m u n ity
s u p p o rt
PAGE 3
Lou B oston
P ly m o u th
A ctive in C o m m u n ity
affairs
■
ext week will mark a com m u­
nity wide celebration o f pride as
the new Oregon Convention C enter of­
ficially opens.
O ne o f the final events of the O pen­
ing Celebration will be a free, public
Street Dance held Saturday evening,
Septem ber 22nd from 7:30-11:00 p.m.,
in the main parking lot behind the C on­
vention Center. T op musical entertain­
ment is scheduled, including Tow er of
Power. The evening’s finale will fea­
ture a “ Tower Lighting Extravaganza”
produced by Superior Lighting. A 20-
minute spectacular light show, show ­
ering the glass o f the Convention Cen-
te r’s ’s twin tow ers in ever-changing
light, will take place.
The new Oregon Convention Cen­
ter will have a major economic impact
on our city and state. 3,500 new full­
time and part-tim e jobs will be created
when the convention center is in opera­
tion, and it is expected that the Center
will pum p S I 37 million into the local
econom y each year.
M ayor C lark took note of the fact
that this is the fifth year of his adm ini­
stration, and the Convention Center
was his first initiative. He said that ac­
complishing major tasks in government
takes a long time. However, the O re­
gon Convention Center is a great addi­
tion to the Portland skyline, and cer­ activities, please contact Bob Applegate,
tainly worth the time and effort every­ N orthw est Strategies, Inc.: 241-8383]
INTERNATIONAL VISITS-Dele-
one has expended.[For further infor­
mation regarding Convention Center gates from Portland’s sister cities of
BUBBH
I
J
In defense of the charges leveled by
PU
SH
, Nike singles out well known
aired by KA TU , (Channel 2),
superstars
like M ichael Jordan, Bo
featured the Nike-PUSH controversy and
Jackson,
David
Robinson,playwrite/pro-
brought into focus (very properly) why
the Beaverton based Athletic giant is in ducer Spike Lee, and G eorgetow n coach
trouble with the A frican-A m erican com ­ John Thom pson as their highest paid em­
munity. The com pany is arrogant, non- ployees. They also point to their philan­
communicative, and has little or no under­ thropic contributions to various Black
organizations such as the Northeast
standing o f Black econom ics.
PUSH (People United To Save Com m unity D evelopm ent Corporation
Humanity) has entered Portland to push (NECDC), House o f Umoja, and others.
the boycott o f Nike products after unsuc­ But, when a com pany announces sales of
cessful attem pts to get Nike to the nego­ $2.24 billion in 1990, investing approxi­
tiating table. Nike claim s it has refused m ately $10 m illion am ong blacks is a
to negotiate because PUSH has yet to mere pittance.This is especially true when
respond to a questionnaire pertaining to blacks accounted for over $350 million
source o f incom e, corporate structure o f the $2.24 billion in sales. So while we
are quite sure that Michael, Spike, David,
and fiscal accountability.,
PUSH states that it has called for the Bo, and John appreciate the millions
national boycott because Nike refuses to they are getting, another wise invest­
prom ote Blacks, em ploy more Blacks, ment would be to hire, prom ote and train
or invite Blacks to serve on its Board o f Blacks for m anagem ent level positions.
Nike would also be advised to initiate a
Directors.
On Sunday’s show, Liz Dolan, Nike’s more positive public relations campaign
spokesperson stated that it is unrealistic w ithin the Black com m unity.
Ms. Dolan also w rongfully stated
to expect Nike to bring in Blacks at top
that
Nike
advertises in the Black media.
level m anagem ent and expect them to
m anage lower echelon em ployees. Such Apparently she is referring to the Black
a statem ent by Nike m anagem ent lends media in other parts o f the world, for
c re d e n c e to re c e n t c h a rg e s o f after two days o f contact with Black
insensitivity,ignorance, and arrogance, media outlets around the country, 1 have
in regards to race.Such a statem ent sim ­ yet to find one that has received advertis­
ply implies that Nike docs not believe ing support from Nike. Factually speak­
Blacks are qualified to enter a new envi­ ing, is is im possible to get a returned
ronm ent and successfully manage a phone call form Nike public relations or
departm ent. Either that or Black em ­ any one in management. This is a prob­
ployees at Nike are “ dead ended” with lem that has been on going for more than
no hope for advancem ent. It is incon­ two years as far as this publication is
ceivable that a m ajor corporation which concerned.
Another issue that has surfaced since
at it’s most recent stock holders meeting
PUSH
came to town is the division among
announced sales were up from $270
som
e
o
f the Black leadership in Port­
m illion in 1980 to $2.24 billion in 1990.
land.
W
hen the Boycott was first an­
Certainly, with that much profit a m an­
nounced,
some o f the local Black organi­
agem ent training program which would
zations
at
first refused to endorse the
include Blacks could have been put into
move.
Only
after pressure from the
place long ago.
T
A P a re n t S p e a k s
L ulu R. S tro u d on
decisions a n d choices
PAGE 2
M iss A m erica
M arjorie V incent hails
from 111.
PAGE 4
S tre et D ance
T he O reg o n
C o n v e n tio n center
P arty by th e P oints
PAGE 4
Light Rail
Dedication
1:30 ■
p.m.
at the corner of
Holladay Street
and Martin Luther
King, Jr.,
Boulevard
this
Thursday,
September 20. 1
I
he town Hall show on Sunday
1
Ä
k
k
.
Fia
i
Sapporo, Japan, and Ulsan, Korea as
well as officials from Taiw an’s United
States office in Seattle will be in Port­
land September 19-21. They will be at-
tending a ceremony on Septem ber 20
to formally dedicate works o f art pre­
sented to the Oregon Convention C en­
ter by their governments.
Tri-M et will make it easier for some
100,000 people to enjoy this w eekend’s
grand opening o f the Oregon C onven­
tion Center by offering free M AX rides,
tickets for free rides home on buses and
free shuttle buses from several parking
lots.
“ One hundred thousand party-goers
and zero parking spaces. There are some
jobs you can’t do w ithout transit, and this
is one o f them ,” said Tri-m et General
M anager, James E Cowen. “ So we want
to invite the people o f the region to rely
on Tri-M et for this w eekend’s party-
going.”
To help people participate in the
opening celebration, all rides on M AX
will be free on Saturday, Septem ber 22
and Sunday, September 23. In addition,
M AX will run more frequently (every 10
minutes) during the busiest part o f the
weekend. MAX trains stop at the new
Convention Center station 168 times a
day.
Tri-M et will give a free ride home to
anyone who picks up a commemorative
ticket from the Tri-M et booth at the
Convention Center trade show. To avoid
any waiting lines. Tri-M et staff will also
be at bus stops and MAX stations with
tickets for free rides home on all Tri-M et
buses leaving the Convention Center area.
Buses serving the Coliseum,-Con­
vention Center area are: 1-Greeley, 4-
SEE TRI-MET NEWS: PAGE 10
MM
P. U - S-H ■"NIK E FACE TO FACE
PAGE 7
25<P
community, and witnessing endorsements
from national chapters did they give
lukewarm support. One local leader gave
Nike a “ C ” grade. This is confusing
when it com es from an organization that
is supposed to cham pion equal opportu­
nities for all. Even more puzzling is the
strange silence o f local elected Black
officials. Perhaps they fail to realize that
the Black agenda for the “ 9 0 ’s’ ’ closely
borders that of the “ 80’s” -this time with
more aggressive leadership.
W e have yet to speak to a Black who
is o f the opinion that Nike ia a “ racist”
corporation. But, the vast majority does
feel that the organization, because o f its
hugh success, has given little thought to
the Black com m unity’s desire for a re­
turn on its’ investm ent
Footnote: After several weeks Nike
Public Relations Director, Liz Dolan
returned a phone call at 4:00 pm Septem ­
ber 18 (Tuesday). Extremely apologetic,
Ms. Dolan staled that already underway
was N ike’s com m itm ent to invest in
American Slate Bank on M artin Luther
King, Jr. Blvd. in Northeast Portland.
Ms. Dolan claim s the announcem ent to
the press by Nike headquarters, that the
money was already on deposit was pre­
mature. According to Ms. Dolan, the de­
cision to invest was made by Nike offi­
cials last week, but before American
State Bank was notified, or the Fiscal
Department could work out arrangements,
the information was leaked to the Press.
The proposed investment would estab­
lish an account for the Nike outlet on
MLK Jr. Blvd. Dolan also indicated that
Nike would increase its minority adver­
tising to coincide with the opening o f its
new est outlet store in dow ntow n Port­
land. The stores’ opening is scheduled
for mid-November.
B u s in e s s
P r o file
Christopher Guinn
Studio 14 Hair Salon
STUL >
Christopher Guinn
BY: ULLYSSES TUCKER, JR.
The name Christopher G uinn III
has a royal or sophisticated sound to it.
Perhaps a polo player from England?
The first cousin o f Prince Charles? No.
Christopher Guinn III just so happens
to be one o f the best male stylists in the
Portland m etropolitan area. Som e of
his clients include several Portland Trail­
blazers and new Urban League presi­
dent Dr. Darryl Tukufu. He is creative,
considers him self an artist, and Guinn
loves his work. He is twenty-five years
old.
A 1983 graduate of Madison High
School, Guinn started cutting hair as a
teenager and eventually m oved on to
Cosm opolitan Careers, where he fin­
ished in 1986. He then received the op­
portunity to study under noted stylist
Veronica Hill o f W aves Hair Design.
At W aves, Guinn perfected his skills
and built a solid client base. Now, Guinn
Photo by Ullysses Tucker, Jr.
is on his own at Studio 14 in Northeast
Portland. Business is great. He can no
longer handle the walk-in traffic and
appointm ents arc a must. Guinn and his
future wife, LaTrice reside in Northeast
Portland. They have three children (Rich­
ard, 6; Krystal, 2; and Tuilour, 1). The
business profile caught up with him re­
cently.
P o rtla n d O bserver-H ow does an
individual grow up wanting to be a styl­
ist?
G uinn-” 1 don’t know exactly what
makes a person desire a career as a
stylist, but I know what made me want
to. I’ve always had an interest in hair.
As a young kid, I use to cut hair in the
neighborhood and for most of my friends.
I never thought about it as a career until
much later on. I realized that I enjoyed
standing behind people and cutting their
hair. After being urged by my family
SEE GU IN N : PAGE 11
4
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