Page H—The Portland O bserver "October 3, 1990
Welfare
from page I
i*
People entering the welfare reform
program will first get assessed to deter­
mine w hat makes it difficult for them to
get or keep a job. W orking with the
“ partner” agencies in the program, those
needs will be addressed through educa­
tional program s, training in skills and
attitudes o f the workplace, “ life sk ills”
training and help in actually finding a
job.
W elfare reform in Oregon is a coop­
erative effort between the Oregon Adult
and Family Services Division, Economic
D evelopm ent Department, Employment
Division, Department of Educauon and
O ffice o f Community College Services.
Adult and Family Services and Em ploy­
ment are divisions o f the Department of
Human resources.
Minnich pointed out: “ We have
’form ed partnerships in Oregon for both
the planning and im plementation o f w el­
fare reform which we believe are unique
in the nation. Our state has once again
shown its progressive stance in welfare-
to-work efforts.
The cooperation between different
agencies is also noteworthy, Minnich
stated, in that it recognizes the problems
o f welfare cannot be solved merely by
changing the welfare system. Helping
people overcome w elfare dependency
requires the com bined efforts o f educa­
tion and em ploym ent agencies as well.
W elfare reform is a locally-based
program , with planners in 15 “ local
service districts” across the state de­
signing the character o f welfare reform
for each area. The program can therefore
reflect local resources and needs.
In addition to the education and
training portions of the program, welfare
reform makes other changes in the wel­
fare system to help recipients become
financially independent. Clients can re­
main eligible for medicaid for as long as
12 m onths after they leave welfare in­
stead o f four months, as had been the
case. A nd they are guaranteed spots in
the state’s day care subsidy program for
a year.
Since receiving child support can
make the difference between self-suffi­
ciency and public assistance, welfare
reform places added em phasis on ob­
taining child support payments for clients.
The federal governm ent will begin pay­
ing most o f the cost o f genetic testing to
determ ine paternity, and the state is step­
ping up its efforts to enforce court orders
against absent parents. W elfare reform
is expected to cost $56 m illion for the re­
mainder o f the biennium , with approxi­
mately $24.7 million coming from the
state and the balance from the federal
governm ent
principals from a dozen western states
and territories.
For those readers who may not be
too familial with the organization spon­
soring this training session we provide
the following overview. Founded in 1966
The Northwest Regional Educational
Laboratory is one of the Pacific N orth­
w ests’ most unique and effective educa­
tional institutions. First we have their
position statement and next is given a
description of the operational param e­
ters o f the division in charge o f the
Jantzen Beach training sessions.
Cultural Understanding and Equity-
Situated on the Pacific Rim, the NWREL
region contains perhaps the richest blend
of cultural and ethnic groups in the world,
many emerging cultural groups have
unique needs for both achieving full eco­
nomic participation and maintaining their
sense o f cultural identity. NW REL fo­
cuses on creating understanding in the
com m unity, as well as the capacity of
educational institutions, for providing
appropriate and high quality educational
opportunities and experiences for all stu­
dents. particularly important is assis­
tance in building capacity to conduct
and use research and developm ent in the
Pacific region.
Center for National Origin, Race,
and Sex Equity
TRAINING AND TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE
NORTHW EST AND PACIFIC HELP
SCHOOLS ACHIEVE EDUCATIONAL
EQUITY
The Center for National Origin, Race,
and Sex Equity, now operated by NWREL
to serve the Northwest, Alaska and the
Pacific, combines nine separate deseg­
regation assistance centers which pro­
vide training and technical assistance to
schools in these geographic areas. The
Center assists schools in planning and
development to increase students’ op­
portunities to receive an equal, equitable
education.
National Origin Equity-Assistance
is designed to help schools in serving
students of limited English proficiency.
From our observations the objec­
tives cited by Dr. Simon-M cW illiams
were achieved: “ By the end o f the con­
ference, you will have begun to develop
a plan for improving education in your
school or district-W e hope the next few
days will renew your com m itm ent to
equitable and excellent education for all
students.”
Support Our Advertisers’
Say You Saw It In The
Portland Observer!
•>- •
It’s called the Oregon Convention
and visitor Services Network, a newly
created entity has announced their inten­
tion to include active solicitation of
minority organizations to consider Port­
land and Oregon as a site for their re­
gional and national conventions.
Portland businessman, Roy Jay,
founder and president of the new opera
tion said that the Pacific Northwest is
thriving on convention and tourism for
which Portland and Oregon should take
an aggressive position to include m inor­
ity associations as potential business for
the economy.
W orking in tandem with the Oregon
Convention and visitor Services Net­
work is the newly created subsidiary,
Portland Oregon Convention Bureau, cur­
rently comprised o f minorities who share
an interest in the potential economic
windfall and business opportunities in
the greater Portland area.
Jay said that the formation o f these
two operations was a result of a need
which has not been seriously considered
or acted upon by current local organiza-
tions. OCVSN and POCB intend to
utilize the resources o f the m inority com ­
munity to help encourage various or­
ganizations to consider the city and the
entire state as a site for conventions and
meetings.
Although both operations will be
involved in the overall convention, visi­
tor and tourism industry, it is very im ­
portant at this time to have projects and
program s in place that position m inori­
ties in more than food service, janitorial
and other low end positions in the indus­
try- Minority associations and groups
sometimes make their decisions on site
selections based upon local representa­
tion. “ In the past, those who may have
considered Portland and O regon simply
did not see adequate m inority represen­
tation in the area and chose not to come
here. We intend to change that percep­
tion” , says Jay.
If you belong to or know o f a m inor­
ity organization anywhere in the country
that has local, regional and national con­
ventions, or meetings, call (503) 244-
5794, Ext.66.
Try Me Cleaners
from page I
from page I
NEW CONVENTION-TOURISM
NETWORK TO INCLUDE
MINORITY INTEREST
♦Vr. •
Cleo
Training
buy the rationale that few blacks have
the qualifications and training for upper
level positions. “ Not everyone is unedu­
cated or untrained,” he said.
Another factor is a general negative
attitude toward blacks. “ Something is
wrong with our society,” Cleo stated.
“ It doesn’t matter if you’re a slouch or
you’re efficient, you’re going to have a
problem because o f the color o f your
skin. W e’re facing very serious limes
and 1 d o n ’t see things getting better in the
near future,” he continued. “ If things
don’t change there w on’t be such a thing
as black businesses. It’s going to take an
upswell to turn things around.”
Another concern Cleo sees is the
need for the average person to under­
stand computer technology. M ore con­
trol and regulation, including personal
financial information,m is being turned
over to computers. This allows access to
our personal records by more and more
people, which can be dangerous. “ Black
people need to understand the im por­
tance of technology. Kids say they get all
they need to know in the streets and I say
what about technology? You c a n ’t hide
from com puters,” said Cleo.
His vision o f the future of North/
Northeast Portland would include " a
fair balance of black-ow ned businesses
and a fair shake for entrepreneurs who
are black and for blacks who work for
white com panies.”
Although he recognizes the need for
blacks to support black-owned businesses,
he cites the recent U.S. D epartm ent of
Commerce statistics which show that
approxim ately 30% of the black popula­
tion is living in poverty, with no dispos­
able income. “ W e need to see more
econom ic, political and social develop­
m ent,” said Cleo. “ It takes all three.”
His advice to young people inter­
ested in entering the field o f com puters
is to take math, science, and electronics
and to study hard, and “ to persist when
faced with discrimination in school or
business-you can’t give up even though
it’s difficult.”
Even with all the frustrations and
difficulties, Cleo doesn’t intend to give
up being the owner o f a small business.
“ It’s very challenging, but I’m very ca-
pable. My custom ers are very happy
with my service. They know I’ll take
care of their problem s in a fast and effi­
cient manner. Most of my new business
is word o f mouth from satisfied clients. I
enjoy it. My only regret is that I didn’t go
into business for m yself sooner.”
Cleo Franklin offers full service to
com puter ow ners and potential buyers
including sales, m aintenance, netw ork­
ing, repair, installation and interfacing.
The telephone num ber is 284-5247.
E xpert A lterations
Pressing & Cleaning
47 years experience
289-1885
806 N.E. Dekum
\
ÄW M l
: < ■ :
HAROLD REYNOLDS SAYS
SUCCESSFUL BLACKS HAVE
OBLIGATION TO HELP INNER-CITY YOUNGSTERS
Last spring, Reynolds bought 2000
Recalling that 90 percent of the black
Blacks who have escaped the ghetto
to become sucessful businessmen have athletes he has known were raised by tickets to the M ariners’ 1990 opening
an obligation to give something back to their mothers, Reynolds said, “ I was game and donated them to Role Models.
the inner-city children, according to Harold called a racist and a sexist because I In the course o f the season, he has do­
Reynolds, the all-star second baseman invited only black men to the banquet. nated more than 8000 tickets to Role
for the Seattle Mariners.
But I’m not saying women can ’t be role Models and other groups.
‘ * My oldest brother, Don, played for
“ Too often, the only people openly models. I ’m saying they already are.
the San Diego
courting these kids are
Padres when
gang leaders and drug
Dave Winfield
dealers,” Reynolds
w as th e re ,”
told a reporter who
Reynolds ex­
interviewed him for
p la in e d . “ I
PARADE magazine.
w ent to visit
“ It’s the gang leaders
one
sum m er
that kiss these chil­
when I was still
dren on the cheek and
in high school.
tell them they love
I saw a sign in
them . S o m e tim e s
the stands that
they’re the only ones
showing our children
read the ‘W in­
fie ld P a v il­
they care.”
ion.” I was
Reynolds, who
told that Dave
joined forces with
W ane
P e rry m a n ,
bought a sec­
founder o f Role Mod­
tion o f seats
els Unlimited, is doing
every season
what he can to help.
and gave the,
In January, he spon­
tickets to kids
sored a banquet for
who couldn’t
1000 successful black
afford them, t
businessmen in conjunction with Role And more often than not, it’s the white
* ‘That was the moment I knew what
Models. “ I do n ’t want your money, I fathers thatare coaching the kids’ teams. I wanted to do with my life. I alw ays
want your tim e,” he told them. “ Our Black men have to get involved. They knew I ’d play in the majors, but that’s
kids are shooting each other over Air need a better understanding o f the word when I realized it would only be a means
Jordan sneakers, and your writing a check ‘com m itm ent.” These are their children to an end. Now I ’m able to reach out, the
isn’t going to stop them .”
too.”
same way Dave W infield reached m e.”
How I d
m ake your
laigest clients feel
like vni ir
You
exclusive
helped their
phone num ­
business grow.
ber on which
Word got out
to reach you.
that you are
With a
one o f the
US WEST
Preferred
Client Line,
best; you got
busier, and
you thought
everyone w as
your best
clients feel
happy.
like your
only client. And that
Until that
X.
ib
i
»
&
,í»
,
first client
All Carpet
$6.00 and under
2716 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
288-0878
gives you a competitive edge.
casually m en­
tioned that it’s been hard to
For still more ideas on how
So, to prove that their b u s­
to give every client special treat
reach you lately. Luckily, your
iness is important, give your
ment, call a sm all business
competitor's phone w as busy, too.
clients a line of their o w n — an
specialist at
242-3384.
I K W E S T communications @
Making the most of your time.'
f