The Eyes and Ears of the Community”
Volumn XXII, Number 8
I < |»i i m i »19, 1992
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Qllje ^jXnrtlanh ODhseruer
5-Year-Old
Cancer Patient
Receives Young
Heroes Award
For Bravery
Kevin Gay, a 5-year-old cancer
p a tie n t at E m anuel C h ild re n ’s
Healthcare Center, received the first
1992 Young Heroes Medal of Valor
award for courage in the face of illness.
Kevin accepted his medal in a spe
cial ceremony at Emanuel on Friday,
February 14, just two days after the
bone in his forearm was removed be
cause of bone cancer. The award is
given by the 939th Air Rescue Wing of
the U.S. Air Force Reserve to children
age 5 to 19 who demonstrate bravery in
the face of serious illness.
Kevin’s bone cancer, called osteo
genic sarcoma, was discovered by his
mother in October 1991.Shefeltalump
on his wrist while helping her son wash
his hands. Within a week, he began
receiving chemotherapy at Emanuel.
Doctors believe the cancer is isolated in
an arm bone. While he is expected to
have dramatically reduced mobility in
his arm, doctors are optimistic he will
regain the use of his hand.
Kevin is the son of Dave and Char
lotte Gay of Milwaukie. Dave Gay has
discontinued traveling to his oil field
service business in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska,
to spend time with his son and family.
The Young Heroes Award was ini
tiated in 1990 by the 939th Air Rescue
Wing after a number of senior non
commissioned officers heard about a
similarprogram in Michigan.The award
recognizes both children who have
shown bravery during their own illness,
and youngsters who have helped to care
or support others with serious illnesses.
Kevin’s physicians are Pediatric
Oncologist Dr. Sarah J. Fryberger, and
Orthopedic Oncologist Dr. Gary D. Bos.
Both are on staff at Emanuel Children’s
Healthcare Center, a regional leader in
pediatric medicine.
Whitney M. Young Education And
Cultural Center To Receive
Commemorative Poster
Bela Odighizuwa (left), 15, from Wilson High School and Leo Mitchell III (right), 14, from
Whitaker Middle School view the current exhibit at the Whitney M. Young Education Center
(WYEC).
In continuation of celebrating Black History Month The Urban League of Portland’s
Whitney M. Young Education and Cultural Center (WYEC) will be receiving a
commemorative poster of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from TRI-MET. Mr. Doug Capps,
Executive Director of Public Services and Preston Cannon (employee of TRI-MET) will be
on hand to unveil and present the poster to Dr. Darryl Tukufu, CEO of the Urban League of
Portland. Dr. Tukufu will also speak during this time. The event will take place on
Wednesday, February 19, at 4:45 p.m. at the Urban League of Portland, 10 N. Russell St.
lue & Gold Banquet
Big Success
Judges Continue to Participate in Scouting Program
Judge Roosevelt Robinson, coordinator Angela Greer and Judge Aaron
Brown, Jr. (proudly displaying his Scoutmaster card) enjoy the Cub
Scouts Pack 75 Blue and Gold Banquet. See Story on Page 7
Apply Now For The Ethnic
Minority Education
Assistance Award Program
High school seniors or adults who
have graduated some years ago who are
Native American, African American,
Hispanic or Asian may now apply for
entry into the Ethnic Minority Educa
tion A ssistan ce A w ard program
(EMEAA).
EMEAA is designed to prepare
American ethnic minorities for a pro
fessional career in teaching for Port
land Public Schools. This program is
Portland Community College’s com
ponent of the Portland Teachers Pro
gram (P.T.P.), a partnership effort be
tween P.C.C., Portland State Univer
sity and Portland Public Schools.
The specific requirements in order
to qualify are listed in the application
form. Those who can answer “yes” to
the two following questions have the
best chance to be selected:
-Have you given serious thought to
dedicating your life to the education of
others?
-Are you academically prepared to
take on college coursework?
Those who cannot answer “yes” to
both questions but still are interested
should call for an appointment to dis
cuss with us what it would take to
become eligible:
P.C.C. Rock Creek Cam pus
244-6111 ext 7225
P.C.C. S.E. C enter
244-6111 ext 6252
P.C.C. Cascade Cam pus
244-6111 ext 5282
P.C.C. Sylvania 244-6111 ext 4699
Each spring 15 students are se
lected based on their application mate
rials and an interview. Those selected
will enter an intensive program, receive
special counseling and be awarded up
to two years of tuition waivers at P.C.C.
if they meet all requirements.
Applications forms arc available at
any P.C.C. Admissions Office. These
forms will not be mailed.
The DEADLINE for turning in
completed applications is MARCH
18 th, 1992.
The application process has sev
eral steps and, for some, can be lengthy.
Therefore we encourage you to pick up
the form and begin the process immedi
ately.
Business Employment Line:
Construction Opportunities
Storm Clouds Over
Oregon State
University Campus
AMCO Contests
Contract Award
BY E.T. OTTO
The National Association of Mi
nority Contractors of Oregon led a del
egation of African-American contrac
tors, truckers, and unemployed con
struction workers to City Hall on Feb
ruary 12, to contest the awarding of a
street improvements contract to an out
of town general contractor.
According to a statement read by
O.B. Hill, a NAMCO spokesman, “A
vote to award a contract at this time
shall defeat the City’s objective to pro
vide full and equal opportunity for both
contracts and employment for contrac
tors and workers from the African-
American community.”
The protest stemmed from a bid
opening held on January 30, 1992,
wherein Slayden Construction, Inc. of
Stayton, Oregon, submitted a bid of
$5,067,676.95 for improvements to
Holladay Street in Northeast Portland.
Hill claimed that minority goals
established by the City were circum
vented with the C ity Purchasing
Bureau’s consent “Slayden Construc
tion,” Hill said, “discriminates against
firms owned and operated by African-
Americans. Only one company par
tially owned by an African-American is
planned to be utilized on the project.
This proposed contract is for $ 1,925.00
and represents ,00037ofSlayden’sbid.”
Slayden met only 2.5 of a 10 percent
goal. The City Purchasing Director
Carlton Chayer had recommended
award of the contract to Slayden as “the
lowest responsive and responsible bid
der,” because the City could not compel
them to meet the ten percent goal.
Darnell Holefield, a local contrac
tor who bid on the job, told the Council
of the problems he has faced by trying
to be a positive role model in the black
communi’y. According to Holefield,
“African-American role models cannot
develop within the construction indus
try because of discriminatory practices
by some general contractors.”
Holefield bid $158,000 worth of
One hundred forty-five voices
from the Martin Luther King Jr.
Grade School Choir have given
enjoyment to thousands of people
from all over the United States.
The talent and ability of this group
of children has been witnessed at
such prestigious events as the 1989
Presidential Inaugural Parade and
the celebration of Martin Luther
King Jr.’s birthday in Atlanta, Geor
gia. In addition, performances on
NBC’s “Today Show” and CBS’s
“This Morning Show” showcased
the widely acclaimed choir. The
choir also visited the White House
just this past summer. Locally, the
choir has performed at Portland
Trailblazer Games, The Oregon
State Legislature, Portland State
Uni verity, and at several largccon-
ventions held in the Portland area.
I
NWPC Endorses
Vera Katz
Continued on page 7
Some of the members of this choir
have even invited to perform at
Carnegie Hall in New York and an
operatic performance of “AIDA”
in Portland. It is an understatement
to say that these 145 children have
represented their school, Portland
Public Schools, their city, and Or
egon in an admirable fashion.
Ms. Giffert and these children
have worked very hard together.
For all their hard work and efforts
they would like to purchase enough
robes for 145 choir members.
This is where your financial
support can make a difference.
They neet, to raise approximately
$2500.00 to purchase these robes.
Further information may be ob
tained by Martin Luther King, Jr.
School at (503) 280-6155. Please
ask for Kathryn Giffert.
News
Dick Bogle
Announces Candidacy
For Re-Election
by James Posse
by McKinley Burt
Page 2
work on the job and spent numerous
hours in preparing his bid, only to be
informed by Slayden that, “For ethical
reasons,” he must award the work to the
lowest bidder and do the rest of the
work with his own workforce.
According to Holefield,“The issue
is two-fold. On die one hand you have
contractors unable to get contracts and
create jobs, and on the other hand you
have workers unable to get jobs with
majority contractors because of the way
the system tends to discriminate against
them.” Holefield vowed, however, to
continue pursuit of his dream to be a
successful contractor and role model.
Commissioner Dick Bogle, who is
responsible for the overall activities of
the Purchasing Bureau, convinced Earl
Blumenauer and Gretchen Kafoury, two
other commissioners in attendance, to
table the matter until it could be fully
investigated. He drew applause from
the onlookers because of his actions.
Mayor Bud Clark and Commissioner
Mike Lindberg were not present.
Several persons, including Nathan
Proby, President of NAMCO and James
Posey, both owners of trucking con
cerns, testified before City Council.
Several others spoke before the Council
and described the difficulties they en
countered while seeking employment
in Portland.
“It will be interesting when this
matter comes to a vote before full coun
cil,” Hill said. “This will allow every
one to see where these elected officials
are coming from.”
NAMCO has brought a major deci
sion before City Council during this
election year. The issues on the table
concerns both contracts and real jobs.
Inclusion or exclusion of African-
Americans from being a viable force in
contracting in Portland is at the crux of
the final outcome. As Dick Bogle put it,
“The problem is not just a Purchasing
Bureau problem, it is a City Council
problem.”
Choir Needs Help To
Purchase New Robes
Is
News
Page 3
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NEWS
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ENTERTAINMENT
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BLACK HISTORY
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