m
Volumn XXII, Number 27
Brown Is Spaced-Out
On Portland’s Youth
with no opportunity to say what was
dined. He wanted this to be a venture
Sometimes your vision may not be
that was bom and took root first in the
bothering you. You had to lake it
clear enough for you to see what is
Black community of N/NE Portland.
whether you like it or not. And - - 1 was
ahead; but, for Bennie Brown, Jr., his
After leaching at the Saturday
not going to do that. Yes - 1 tried to get
people to speak up for
Academy, his program was the talk of
vision for what lies
the town. The next organization to so­
themselves. We all
ahead in the future of
have a voice. This is
licit his services was the T.A.G. Pro­
today’s youth is truly
gram with Joy Hicks at the helm. He
America!”
eminent.
had been referred to her by Carolyn
An avid reader.
Brown has lived
Leonard, Portland Public Schools Multi­
Brown began reading
in Portland his entire
cultural Education Coordinator. Then -
up on satellites, their
life; except for the three
- it was on to the M.E.S.A. (Math,
functions and how
years he did a tour in
Engineering & Science Achievement)
they could benefit
Paris, France at the ex­
Program at Harriet Tubman Middle
mankind. “My inter­
pense of Uncle Sam.
School, Paul Coakley, Principal.
W hile in the U. S.
est
was
so
.....’’What a person needs is a strong
whetted.... 1 remem­
Army, Brown made
desire
to learn and he can learn any­
ber com m enting,
many new discoveries
“This
is
the
future
and
thing
he
sets his mind on.”.....
and he became acutely
One
day, he received a call from
I
want
to
be
a
part
of
aware of the injustice
Dr.
Matthew
Prophet and Dr. Ernie
and the prejudice be­
it.’”
Hartzog. Following uieir conversation,
Brown remem­
ing experienced on a
world-wide basis. It Bennie Brown, Jr.
they put in a call to Rene Anderson’s
bers meeting a gentlc-
office. Brown was then hired to teach a
man nam ed Eric
was here, in the Army,
Tele Communications course through
Brown was exposed to his first hands-
Robertson, whom he met and became
the M.E.S.A. Program.
on experience with electronics; not
very good friends with, in The Dalles,
knowing that it would be in this particu­
lar field that he would eventually find
his niche’.
..Yes - - 1 tried to get people to speak up for themselves. We
Brown commented that he oft ti mes
all have a voice. This is America..... "
wondered what his purpose would be in
life. He has sought special courses which
would enhance his business skills and
Before he began teaching, he would
Oregon. Eric was really the one who
interests; then, the field of electronics.
display his wares to the students on
Two very important things hap­
influenced Brown to pursue the field
“Career Day” at Tubman, Woodlawn
pened to assist him in making a firm
of satellites.
and Franklin High School.
decision concerning his involvement in
Following much studying and at­
I asked Brown, “How did you man­
tending many seminars and confer­
the field of electronics; first, there was
age to learn all of this about satellites?”
his tour-of-duty, for three years, and,
ences, Brown began selling satellite
His response, “I just had a desire to
for nineteen years, he worked for the U.
dishes in the private business sector
learn. I don’t feel that you need a col­
S. Forestry Service in the State and
and to residents.
lege degree to learn; however, it is a
Regional office which was located on
Later on, he discovered that there
good thing to have. What a person
319 S. W. Pine, in the old Multnomah
were not many Blacks in this field; so,
needs is a strong desire to learn and he
Hotel. Brown served as a Contracting
he decided to teach youngsters so that
can learn anything he sets his mind on.
they could teach their parents about
Officer. At the time of his employment
If you want to learn how to cook or ride
in the U. S. Forestry Service, there were
the world of satellites and electronics.
only two Blacks employed in contract­
His main goal was aimed at the N/
Continued on Page 3
NE community of Portland because
ing.
......”Yes - - 1 Tried to get people to
there were too many young people
wandering around without goals After
speak up for themselves. We all have a
they finished school, they just joined
voice. This is America!.....
I asked him to give the a reason on
the statistics.
the “Why?” he was no longer with the
His main goal was aimed at the N/
NE community of Portland because
U. S . Government. His response was, “I
Parent-Child Specialist, AdaRced-
just got fed-up with all the racism. I left
there were too many young people
Tellis,
and parents of Jefferson Cluster
wandering around without goals. Af­
and drew all my retirement. I would
Boise-Eliot
Second Grade Summer
speak out about the manner in which the
ter they finished school, they just joined
School,
have
organized a PARENT-
Blacks were being treated. The brass
the statistics.
C
HILD
REA
D IN G SUPPORT
Michael Grice, Director of Satur­
did not like it! New minority employees
GROUP.
Their
goal is to accelerate
day Academy, heard of his fervor and
were hired and they were told not to
their
children’s
reading
achievement
gave him a chance in the Saturday
speak to me because I was so out spo­
and
encourage
school
and
community
Academy. Shortly before this, Brown
ken. I did not fell that the rights of
parent-child
reading
involvement.
individuals should be stymied in such a
had been asked to teach his program at
Parent sessions, coordinated and
manner. All this ‘Yes Sir” and ‘No sir’
the St. Mary’ Academy; but, he de-
taught by Second Grade Summer
School Parent-Child Specialists, are
scheduled every Tuesday and Thurs­
day mornings from 9:00 a.m.- 12:00
Vegas, NV and Cleveland, OH.
noon, or evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Former Professional Football Star
“This program provides a start in
Parents attending these sessions learn
and Hall of Famer Jim Brown, Chief
addressing the multitude of problems
ways to help their* children learn, plan
Tom Potter, Oregon State Police Major
which contribute to our nation’s gang
home extension activities, spend time
Dean Renfrow and others will host a
problem. By providing our youth with a
visiting and interacting with their chil­
news conference to announce the plan­
sense of hope, values and greater self
dren in the classroom, and parenting
ning of a training program for law en­
esteem, wc hope to see a reduction in the
education skills emphasizing social-
forcement provided by the AMER-I-
number of young people involved in
CAN Program, Inc.. The conference
: . ■
gangs and the level of violence it brings,”
will take place Tuesday June 30,1992,
said Chief Potter.
2:00 p.m., at the Justice Center 1111 S.
It is expected that law enforcement
W. 2nd Av., Wayne Sullivan confer­
personnel
from the Oregon State Youth
ence Room B located on the 14th floor.
Gang
Strike
Force and the Portland
The AMER-I-CAN Program is a
Police
Gang
Enforcement
Team will
life management skills training pro­
attend
the
initial
training
sometime
in
gram that was started in 1988. It is a 15
the
near
future.
Officerxwill
attend
a
chapter, 80 hour course which seeks to
similarcourse
of
instruction
being
given
enhance individual personal skills in 8
to gang members in hopes of develop­
critical areas; 1) Motivation, Habits
ing an understanding of the conditions
Attitudes and conditioning; 2) Effec­
which lead to gang involvement. “ It is
tive Communication; 3) Goal Setting;
our
hope that by providing police with
4) Problem Solving & Decision Mak­
this
information that we can bridge the
ing; 5) emotional Control; 6) Family
gap
that sometimes separates us”, said
Relationships; 7)Financial Stability and
Jim
Brown. “This is the first time that
8) employment Search & Retention.
wc
have
been able to relate to a police
The program operates within the struc­
agency
on
this level any where. Wc hope
ture of a self-help, peer-group relation­
that
this
will
set an example for other
ship guided by a facilitator. In 1990,
agencies
across
the country. Wc are
2000 California inmates graduated from
able
to
do
this
here
because the agencies
the program. In 1991 2500 graduated
(Governor’s
Office,
Oregon State Po­
and 2500 more are expected to graduate
lice
and
the
Portland
Police
Bureau) arc
in 1992. Currently thisprogram is being
willing
to
work
together
to
find solu­
employed in Los Angeles, CA; Venice,
tions
to
the
problem”
said
Brown.
CA; Compton, CA; Altadena, CA; Las
BY MATTIE ANN CALLIER-SPEARS
J u h I, 1992
‘The Eyes and Ears of the Community’
OF)
Links Worldwide
Efforts Subject Of
National Address
By Freddye
Prophet
Efforts to strengthen the Afri­
can-Am erican fam ily worldwide--
through international programs as var­
ied as literacy campaigns, emergency
relief and support of food production—
are the subject of a July 1 report by
Portlander Freddye Prophet to the 28th
National Assembly of The Links, Inc.
in Dallas, Texas.
Prophet, national director of
The Links’ International Trends and
Services program has represented the
women’s service organization at con­
ferences throughout the United States
and joined other African-American lead­
ers and officials from 18 African na­
tions at a summit held last year in
Abidjan, in western Africa.
More than 8,000 members of
The Links worldwide are involved in
activities supporting Third World na­
tions. Prophet’s report will focus on
efforts such as an African water well
project that has aided 16,500 persons
displaced by war or living in areas of
chronic drought.
She also will address the need
for industrialization, economic growth
and educational improvements in sub-
Saharan Africa, as well as the continu­
ing need for closer cooperation be­
tween Africans and African Americans.
“The Links is committed to
strengthening the African-American
family by rendering assistance and ser­
vice to our global families,” Prophet
says. “We have noted our common
ancestry as well as the circumstances
which have resulted in our being sepa­
rated physically and psychologically
for several centuries. Wc concluded
that the time is right to reestablish the
bond of togetherness.”
The Links is a non-profit, ser­
vice organization founded in 1946.
Marion Schultz Sutherland of Seattle
serves as national president.
t '
6.
Fr
o e n —N e w s p a p e r
s i t y o f O re g o n L ib r
E u g e n e , O re g o i
'4 0 3
C 2»*
Louisiana’s Youngest State
Senator Keynote Speaker At
Urban League Dinner
State Senator Cleo Fields (D-Baton
Louisiana S tate Senator Cleo Fields
(D) will deliver the keynote address at
the 47th Urban League of Portland
Annual Dinner July 9, 1992 at the O r­
egon Convention Center. The dinner’s
theme is “A Celebration of Youth.” A
reception begins at 6 :151PM., with din­
ner at 7:15 PM.
At age 29, Sen. Fields is well quali­
fied to speak about youth leadership
and other youth issues. Now serving his
second term as state senator from Ba­
ton Rouge, Sen. Fields was the nation’s
youngest state legislator
when he was elected to
his first term at age 24.
Sen. Fields has es­
tablished himself as a
leader in the war on il­
licit drugs and in efforts
toward economic devel­
opment. He authored
laws that established
Drug Free zones near
school cam puses and
created an Inner City
Economic Development
Program.
This year’s Annual
Dinner will also recog­
nize local youth groups
that are making a differ­
ence in Portland. James
Francesconi, an Urban
League board member
active in local youth is­
sues, will be Master of
Ceremonies.
Dinner Co-Chairs
Rouge)
are Ju d ith R am aley,
Ph.D., president of Portland State Uni­
versity, and Charles Jordan, superin­
tendent of Portland’s Bureau of Parks
and Recreation. Highlights of the din­
ner program include entertainment by
the vocal group His Song and presenta­
tion of the Shelly Hill and Vem Chatman
Scholarship Awards by NIKE and the
Urban League.
Dinner tickets are $35 per person,
$350 for a table of ten. For reservations
and information, call the Urban League
at 280-2600.
Parent-Child Reading
Support Group Organized
Gang Intervention Training
emotional growth and child develop­
ment.
The Boise-Eliot second grade sum­
mer school parent-child reading sup­
port group will be sponsoring a north/
northeast Portland “parent-child read­
ing hour” at the North Portland branch
library, 512 North Killingsworth, on
Saturday, July 11, from 12:00 noon to
1:00 P.M.
Parent-Child Specialist, AdaReed-
Tellis, and summer school parents will
read stories to children.
Sarah
Kirchfield, Children’s Librarian, will
share reading tips with parents. Fami­
lies of the North /Northeast Portland
community are invited to attend, apply
for library cards, andcheck out books to
read to each other.
For more in formation, contact Ada
Rced-Tellis at 280-6171.
Youngsters enjoy the togetherness of family during the “Family Child
Reading Hour. “