September 19,1990—T h e Portland O bserver-P age 11
This is for Parents who
Never Belonged to a Bicycle Club
or Went on Moonlight Excursions
by Professor McKinley Burt
This year I’ve noticed some increase
in parent sponsorship of activities for
minority youth in our community; much,
much more is needed. We must move
beyond spasmodic, knee-jerk responses
to immediate threatening circumstances
such as frightening surges in gang activ
ity, and begin to implement structured,
well-planned programs on an ongoing
basis.
To this end, I suggest using some
variation of the following models, ones
that I have put forward here before.
They are old, tried and true, but com
prise a format that particularly fits our
needs in Northeast Portland. Though
they exactly match the contemporary
requirement for successful role models
and peer groups, I regret to say that I
only had response from “ white par
ents’ ’ who had me speak to several gath
erings held just for the purpose of ex
ploring the possibilities (they imple
mented several o f the programs). There
must be something I am not doing right,
for the exact same thing happened when
I wrote of well-paying “ Youth Business
Activity” which could be implemented
here.
First, let me again cite the basic
structure of the “ Neighborhood Bicycle
Clubs” of my youth, and earlier (it does
not have to be “ bicycles” ; the white
parents implemented “ moped clubs”
and kite-flying competitions). We eight-
graders and high-schoolers, under the
tutelage of older brothers and sisters,
carried forward from generation to gen
eration the tradition of kid initiated and
controlled organizations which sponsored
“ ghetto-wide” inter-district races as well
as “ fanciest-model” contests. Finan
cial activities were developed to expe
dite the purchase of prizes and plaques.
We kids collected newspapers, scrap
metal bottles and rags. Bicycle dealers
and neighborhood merchants were per
suaded to lend their support.
The second part of my “ Activities
for Youth” presentation cited the “ Moon
light River Boat Excursions ’ ’ sponsored
each year by the junior and senior high
school students. These were four-hour
(9 p.m. to 1 a.m.) trips down the Missis
sippi on a “ Streckfus Line” stem wheeler,
“ Dance the moonlit hours away and
romance to the melodic strains of the
“ St. Louis Crackerjack’s Jazz Band.”
Almost weekly excursions were made
during the summer school vacation, with
three or four parents on board to mointor
the activities (it seemed, though, that
there would be a thousand waiting at the
dock for their daughters’ return).
Again, we have an example of a
youth organized and controlled social
activity that incorporates tradition (be
gan in 1905) and a generation-to-genera-
tion continuity providing role models
and community-wide coopertive efforts.
The actual contracts with the Strekfus
Lines were signed by parents, but the
kids handled all other matters from ad
vertising to screening participants and
providing security. Accurate books were
kept and there was alwys equitable dis
tribution of any surplus-or more often,
reserves were maintained to cover in
creased rental fees or insurance fees.
I wonder if we are going to see the
African American community to move
in this direction, or is it to be again that
the “ other folks” will take the ball and
run? Let me hear from you!
Nike Releases Minority Employment Information
BEAVERTON, ORE., September 14, 1990...NTKE, INC today released a detailed
breakout of their minority employees by race and job classification. That
report is similar to those filed with the Equal Employment O pportunity
C om m ission.
Nike's domestic workforce of 3703 is 14.9% minority. Black employees
account for 7.1%, Hispanic employees for 2.5%, Asian employees for 4.8% and
American Indian employees for .48%. The workforce in the Portland, Oregon
area, where m ost of Nike's employees are based, is estimated at 7% minority.
Nike also reported that 51% of the domestic workforce is female.
Since January of this year, Nike has hired more than 1039 new domestic
employees. Of those, 21% have been minority.
Nike has previously announced affirmative action goals that include naming
a minority to the Board of Directors within one year, increasing minority
departm ent heads by 10% within one year and naming a minority Vice
President with two years.
"Our affirmative action record is good and our future plans are very
aggressive," said N ike’s President Richard K. Donahue. "We w ant all
minorities to be well represented at every level of this company. Hispanics,
Asians, N ative Americans, and African Americans are part of this
organization now and will be an even bigger part as we continue to grow and
prosper as we have during the last two years."
NIKE released the figures at the request of representatives from the media
w ho are covering the Operation PUSH controversy. "PUSH has said they
have the interests of the African-American community in m ind, which is
fine for as far as it goes", said Donahue. "NIKE, however, is a multi-national
company that is interested in a m ulti-radal workforce. For that reason, we
care as much about other minority groups and women as we do about
African-Americans. O ur interests, simply, are broader than PUSH’S."
Business Profile:Guinn
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1________
and several friends, I decided to go ahead
with the expansion of my dream. Primar
ily, I specialized in barber cutting (regu
lar hair cuts) so it was imperative that I
learn male and female hair. Even the
textures of the different ethnic groups
was something that I had to learn. If
you’re in the hair business, a person must
learn it in its entirety.
Portland Observer-How does a per
son develop a fascination for hair?
G uinn-” I think it’s natural for me.
I’m a second generation barber. My dad
(Christopher,Jr.) was a barber and he
still has his license also. I remember
watching him cutting my hair, my cous
ins , and friends hair too. That might
have something to do with it. I just re
cently realized that. My Mom (Ophelia)
was never a licensed stylist,but she al
ways did her own hair. I get off into the
art of hair. I ’m an artist first and a stylist
second.”
P ortland O bserver-W hat’s a good
stylist?
G uinn-” A good stylist is someone
who is an artist. They should see the hair
or something that will make a person
look good before doing it. They should
have ideas for the style of hair and at
tracted to fashion in general. A good
stylist is also able to relate to people and
a good listener.”
Portland Observer-What advice do
you offer someone who has career aspi
rations to be a stylist?
G uinn-” I see a lot of young men
and women on an amateur level consis
tently that are real good. I tell them to
stick with it and analyze if that’s what
they really want to do. If that’s what they
want to pursue, then I say go to school
because that’s where you will really get
a true test. It’s an expensive test to take
only to find out that you don’t want a
career in hair. If you like hair, you should
go to school and get technical training.”
P ortland Observer-From a techni
cal perspective, how difficult or easy it
to do hair?
G uinn-” Itcan be both easy and dif
ficult. When I first started out, I dealt
with mostly one texture of hair and that
became very easy to me. One texture
meaning black hair, primarily black men.
I learned in school that there are many,
many textures of hair. Quite frankly, I
was afraid the first time I had to cut a
Caucasians hair. I didn’t know how it
would feci or what to do with it, but after
you’ve learned textures of hair and how
various grades of hair act, it becomes
easy. Now, I can honestly say that all
textures of hair arc very easy.
Portland Observer-” Without ques
tion, it has to be adjusting to each client
and dealing with personalities. One per
son might want one thing and the other
might desire something totally different.
The ability to switch and adjust is very
important in this business. Many times,
what they say they want and what they
mean is totally different. You definitely
have to stay a couple of steps ahead of
the client and on their heads”
Portland Observer-Has anyone ever
walked in with a magazine and sug
gested that you do what is on the cover or
AfMAA M- * ’ *\* « « * » * A *
page?
Guinn-” Almost everyday! In almost
every case, the person doesn’t have the
head or the hair for the style. I let them
know that I’m a beautician not a magi
cian. My comb is nota magic wand., but
I do the best I can with what I have to
work with. What people really want is
not what they see in the magazine, they
just want something nice or stylish for
themselves.”
Portland Observer-What made you
branch out on your own?
G uinn-” I worked at Waves for two
and a half years it was a wonderful place
to work and learn the business. Veronica
(Hill) is one of the best at what she does.
She’s my mentor. Waves is a really big
salon and I wanted to be in a situation
where I was a little more independent.”
Portland Observer-How important
is credibility in your business?
guinn-” Crcdibility is very impor
tant if you want to survive. 1 have good
credibility. I can’t say all of them, but a
very large portion of my clients came
with me to Studio 14 and hopefully, they
will stay with me unless I move to Brazil
or something. If I continue to do a good
job, people will always come back.”
Portland Observer-What can people
expect from you when they sit down in
your chair?
Guinn-’’They should expect the best
service possible and look the best that
they can possibly look. Everytime will
be like the first time.”
Guinn is located at 1410 Northeast
Broadway, Portland 97212.
(503) 287-2557.
* » »- « * * *
Clarence Larkins, Sr.
Travel Consultant
BYjULLYSSES TUCKER, JR.
A
fter spending fifteen years with
Delta Airlines in Customer Serv
ice, Clarence Larkins decided that he
needed a change of pace carecrwise and
stability in his life. Corporate relocation
is a fact of life with major airlines and to
put it frankly, Larkins was tired o f accu
mulating addresses or zip codes. He has
lived in SFO, LAX, PSP, and SAN. Con
fused: Thai’s San Francisco, Los Ange
les, Palm Springs, and San Diego in non
industry language. A father of two chil
dren (Clarence Jr.,17, and Angel, 1),
Larkins wanted to spend more time with
them during their developmental years
and establish himself in Portland, his
hometown. When Delta Airlines asked
Larkins to move to ATL(Atlanta), Lark
ins then decided that it was lime to make
a change. He left Delta Airlines and
eventually graduated this past June.
As a Travel Consultant, Larkins has
C larence L arkins
more freedom, time to spend with his
children, and control of his address. A havetheir best interest at heart?
1970 graduate of Washington High
L arkins-” That’s exaedy what I’m
School, Larkins spent three (71-74) years saying. When you go to the store to buy
at Portland State University before join food, do you always go to the same place
ing Delta Airlines. He is thirty-eight or do you shop around for the best prices?
years old.
People have a tendency to get locked in
Portland Observer-What is a Travel the same patterns or habits when they
Consultant?
should be looking for good deals. When
Larkins-” I represent a travel agency it comes to deals related to travel, people
and my basic responsibility is to procure should read the newspaper, pick up a
new business. From a client perspective, book, shop agencies, and other publica
my job is to get them the best routes, tions. Most of the time people will find
fares, or services to enhance their trip. I good deals. It’s very important to shop.”
can accomplish this objective by seeking
Portland O bserver-“ How did you
information with all airlines and compa become a Travel Consultant?
nies offering travel related services. I use
Larkins-” I started working with the
everyone to get the best service for my airlines 15 years ago and suddenly I
clients.”
realized that I wanted to move into an
P o rtla n d O b s e rv e r-S h o u ld n ’t other area. I needed a change from Cus
Travel Agencies do that anyway?
tomer Service. I wanted to learn more
L arkins-” Asa rule, they all do that, about the travel agency side of the indus
but sometimes they favor one airline. It try. So, I enrolled at Western Business
all depends on the travel agent. If they College. After graduation, 1 was in the
are dealing with a source from a certain market for a situation and Prem ier Travel
airline, some agencies tend to be biased contacted Western Business College
and direct business that way. It could be looking for someone with experience. It
because of bonus points or any number was fate or a blessing because they got
of things. I’m not trying to help the what they were looking for and I secured
airlines out, my job is to aid the client or the position I wanted. It has worked out
customer.”
very well so far.”
P ortland Observer-Are you sug
Portland Observer-W hat did the
gesting that consumers “ competitive Delta Airlines experience teach you?
shop” since travel agencies might not
Larkins-” It taught me the language
Photo by Ullysses Tucker, Jr.
of the travel industry and that’s very
important. Things like airline codes and
routing. I also learned how to provide the
best possible service for the customer,
and how to be an excellent representa
tive for my client.”
P ortland Observer-W hat was the
revelation that led you from Delta Air
lines to Western Business College?
Larkins- “ After 15 years with them,
I didn’t see a future for me. I realized that
I wanted to do something for myself and
not be tied up with a big corporation like
Delta. I decided on school to learn the
tourism part of the industry and travel.
Though I worked for a major airline, I
didn’t know anything about tourism.
Portland Observer-Specifically,
what services do you offer?
L arkins-” 1 can provide corporate
travel services, accounting services for
our clients, group packages, cruises,
weekend getaways, and much more. I
can make hotel arrangements, rental cars,
and tours of the city you plan to visit.
You name it, as far as travel is con
cerned, and I can do i t
Larkins suggests that a person has a
good business background, good people
skills, and enjoy public contact if they
plan a career in his area of specialty
Clarence Larkins can be contacted
at Premier Travel. See ad below.
FOOD STAMP
BENEFITS
SLATED FOR
SEASONAL
INCREASE
Food stamp benefits will increase in
October for Oregon recipients as partial
compensation for the seasonal rise in
heating costs brought on by the cold
weather of fall and winter. The annual
increase runs through March.
The fall/winter food stamp formula
allows claimants to deduct more of their
household income for heating costs. That
raises their eligibility for the coupons.
Accordingly, most households will re
ceive more in food stamp benefits than
they do in warmer months.
Food stamps are funded through the
U.S. Department of Agriculture and
administered in Oregon by the Adult and
Family Services Division of the Depart
ment of Human Resources. Some 95,000
households receive monthly food stamp
benefits in the state. Each year, the value
of the stamps totals approximately $160
million in Oregon.
PORTLAND OBSERVER
'The Eyes and Ears of the Community
Office: (503)288-0033
Fax«: (503)288-0015
Two Locations To
Serve You
Vancouver Mail
5001 NE Thurston W ay
V a n co u ve r, W a. 98662
(206) 254-5144
(503) 233-8518 p tld or Fax
Berry Hill Center
19095 S. Beavercreek Rd.
O re g o n City. Or 97045
(503) 656-4881
(503)656-4881 Fax
'o iv yo u
OPEN EVERYDAY
Monday - Friday
Saturday - Sunday
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SPECIALIZING IN:
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FREE POSTAGE NOW AVAILABLE
TO TROOPS IN OPERATION DESERT SHIELD
According to Bob Groff, spokes
man for the Portland Division of the U.S.
Postal Service, it was announced recently
that troops deployed in Operation Desert
Shield can mail correspondence home,
free of postage.
Postmaster General Anthony M.
Frank, who was testifying before the
House PostOfficcand Civil Service Sub
committee on Postal Personnel and Mod
ernization, noted that legislation to im
plement the free mailing privilege was
inserted in the Treasury, Postal Service
Appropriations bill passed by the Senate
on September 11. Passage of similar
legislation by the House was also be
lieved to be imminent.
In support of this strong Bipartisan
effort, and wanting to avoid unnecessary
delay, Frank instructed postal personnel
to accept and process correspondence
not bearing postage from forces engaged
in Operation Desert Shield.
“ Now our military personnel in
Operation Desert Shield can send their
messages to friends and loved ones back
home without postage," Frank said. “ The
Postal Service fully supports our service
men and women. W e’ll take all the let
ters they give us.”
The free postage covers letters and
audio cassettes, but not other parcels. By
placing their name, military grade, and
complete military address in the upper
left-hand comer of the mailing envelope
and by writing the word “ Free” in the
upper right-hand comer, the troops can
send their letters home without stamps.
Groff adds that , “ free postage only
applies to mail sent by Operation Desert
Shield troops to the United States.”