‘The Eyes and Ears of the Community'
Volumn XXIII, Number 5
Umvt
© b se riie n
The Bank That Helps
The Community
American State Bank, ever since its found­
ing in 1 969 by business leaders in our commu­
nity, has sought to advance real economic
opportunities throughout Northeast Portland
Unlike the larger, non-community based com­
mercial banks, American State Bank’s suc­
cess has depended almost totally on its loans
and deposit relationships with the residents
and businesses of Northeast Portland.
Though profitable virtually every year
since it began operations, and with its deposits
fully insured by the FDIC, American State’s
location has not given it access to the larger
and more affluent communities in and around
greater Portland. Without the financial muscle
o f the much bigger locally owned banks and
those with out-of-state headquarters, which
focus on maki ng the safest loans to mi norities,
American State has taken proportionally far
greater risks to spur development in our com­
munity.
It made loans the bigger banks would not
make. Much smaller, American State bank
took risks the bigger, more affluent banks
wouldn’t.
To shore up profitability and expand its
risk-taking ability, American State reached
out aggressively to that part of corporate America where compatibility of interest made it
possible to create mutually beneficial banking relationships. American State, as a member of
the National Bankers and the American Bankers Associations, took advantage of corporate tax
deposit initiatives and federal collections to boost revenue.
Understanding the context in which American State Bank competes underscores its value
to Northeast Portland. The bank’s success in m aintaining profitability, while so much of the
financial industry suffers and fails, is in itself of significant value to the community. American
State sets for our business community, and the rest of the community as well, a standard of
Boeing Announces
Layoffs
There will be as many as 30,000
jobs affected when Boeing in Se­
attle begins its cutbacks.
Packwood Receives
Greeting
The greeting was an angry
group of Oregonians who were pro­
testing Packwoods’ intent to remain
Senator, after sexual harassment
charges. He promises a rebuttal
witness.
Jack In The Box Pays
Jack In The Box (fast foods
hamburgers) agreed to pay for medi­
cal expenses for victims of the E.
Coli bacteria contracted in their fa-
cility--too little, too late!
Katz Takes Control
Mayor Vera Katz is taking con­
trol o f the review o f the police bu­
reau because of an auditors report
and because she feels that the com­
munity is divided.
School Board and
Smoking
Though profitable
virtually every year
since It began opera­
tions, and with Its
deposits fully Insured
by the FDIC, Ameri­
can S tate's location
has not given It
access to the larger
and more affluent
communities In and
around greater Port­
land.
Mr. Parker’s idea for the Learning Center failed risk profiles of the larger, financially stronger
banks. But American State Bank, looking at the character of D r Parker and the needs o f the
community, made the loan. So 42 nd and Prescott no longer hosts a closed down service station
Now it is home to The Learning Center, providing education to some 70 children, from pre­
schoolers to almost teenagers.
Not only did American State Bank loan Dr Parker funds for construction, the bank helped
Dr Parker orgamze a campaign to repay The Learning Center's debt.
Habitat For Humanity
American State owned a large piece of property at the comer of 15th and Killingsworth
excellence whose contagiousness would be healthy.
Habitat For Humanity, the group with which former President Carter is associated that builds
It is a charter member of the M artin Luther King Business Improvement Association.
or repairs housing for those who can't afford it, undertook a search for office space in Portland
American State’s drive for profitability stems from its strong commitment to serving Northeast
The bank took into account Habitat’s mission when discussing Habitat's search for suitable
Portland to the best of its capability through sound business and personal relationships and its
offices Through enticing price concessions by American State, Habitat was able to purchases
careful focus on solid real estate lending.
the propertv at 15th and Killingsworth. It is remodeling theexistingbuilding to accommodate
Five recent initiatives of American State Bank best demonstrates the Bank’s commitment
new office space that without American State's assistance would be located elsewhere The
to bring economic opportunity wherever it can in Northeast Portland.
new offices will bring new people who will spend new money in the community, the kind of
Doris’ Cafe
economic activity that will continue to create new opportunities in Northeast
For the past several years, Doris’ Cafe, serving perhaps the best barbecue in Northeast,
Hillary McKinsey
and probably in all of Portland, sat quietly in a tiny location on Williams Street, away from the
Mrs. McKinsey, an architect, bought a building in poor condition at Martin Luther King
main commercial sector ofNortheast. Near the end of 1992, American State bank loaned Doris
and Graham. American State Bank made a loan to Mrs. McKinsey so she could upgrade and
Cafe, in conjunction with assistance the cafe received from the Portland Development
remodel the present facility. When finished in the near future, the building will comfortably
Commission and OAME, the capital it needed to both expand and relocate.
accommodate ten offices, bringing into the community 10 jobs that could have located
Now D oris' Cafe can accommodate more customers. It has a parking lot that will build
its already robust take-out business. The prominence of its new location, on M artin Luther King elsewhere.
S t Marks Baptist Church
Boulevard, not to mention its more upscale appearance, exposes the Cafe to the kind of traffic
For some 25 years, St. Marks has served its 100 or so
that should strengthen D oris’ growing customer base.
▼
The Learning Center
Dr. Carl Parker recieved from American State Bank a loan no other bank would make.
Continued on page 12
The Portland Public School
Board wants to ban smoking in all
of their buildings and properties.
The Los Angeles Police
Officers On Trial
The LA Community are wor­
ried about the outcome of the sec­
ond trial of the police officers in­
volved in the Rodney King beating.
What will happen? Will there be
another riot?
Bone Marrow Drive
The black community and the
local Red Cross in conjunction with
the National Registry, put on a spe­
cial bone marrow drive at the Bethel
A.M.E church.
Loss Of a Great Man
Thurgood Marshall was hon­
ored for a final time by President
Clinton, thousands at the National
Cathedral,and by millions viewing
the proceedings on television.
The VanGrack African American History
Celebration High School Art Project
Rosey’s Gone
The 43 year old special attrac­
tion to the Portland Zoo has left
many children and adults sad. She
has been with a lot us for most of our
childhood days.
poetry book
The two month in school/after school
art project was designed to involve students
in an educational experience that would not
otherwise be available within the current
school curriculum The project was de­
signed to encourage creative expression,
develop team work skills with peers, gain
more knowledge, understanding and ap­
preciation for the African American culture
and to expose students to a level of profes­
sionalism that will require commitment
VanGrack w as the major sponsor of the
art project and covered costs while co­
sponsors Ackerlev Communications OfThc
NW, I n c , North Pacific Sign & Design,
Lloyd Center, U S. Bank, and Oregon Blue
Print donated product and/or services.
The Portland Observer will be featur­
ing the additional art works throughout the
remainder of the month of February
VanGrack, one of the leading names in
urban sportswear and shoes, kicked off its
1993 african American Celebration A n
Project. Students representing Portland area
high schools (P.I.L.), were asked to partici­
Discrimination Law
Suit/lntel
Ex-employees file suit saying
they were laid off because of their
ages. They are all over 40 years old.
pate.
Students were asked to do individual
research on the subject of African American
history, collectively decide upon a theme,
and illustrate that theme in art form. Art
works are displayed at the Lloyd Center and
on billboards. Art work on display at the
Lloyd Center denotes theme and billboard
location. They will be on display during the
month of February . In addition to the bill­
board displays, U S. Bank will select one or
more art work themes to be printed in their
1993 A frican Am erican Reflections. Since
students art work cannot be printed,
selection will be based on art work themes
Cowboys The Winners
Superbowl XXVII presents the
1993 superstars, the Dallas Cow­
boys. With nine Buffalo turn overs,
the Cowboys won with a galloping
52-17 victory, i
Clinton Potpourri
President considers plan for free
vaccine for children; he asks mili­
tary to stop asking about sexual
orientation; he is also making i,
easier for states to develop their
health care programs.
X S X - X i“
Artists^ Deidre Randle. Y a jn ^s n a ^ d D ^ o n i d u e a M a i o r e from Lincoln
MetroLife
Food & Nutrition
“The Spice Is Right”
“Keeping The Dream Ahve"
Save time and guess work
with the right seasoning from
Rene.
Portlands Performing arts
community Is gleaning talent from
the Sojourner Truth Theatre
Company.
Page 5
Page 4
FOOD
METRO-LIFE
SPORTS
4
5
6
Black History
Religion
“Black Wings”
“And God Created...
Hmmmm”
And God said let there be light
and he said thats very good.
The beginnings o f the black
aviators began when the first
licensed black was Bessie
Coleman.
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