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T he P ortland O bserver • D ecember 01,1993
SECTION
L ife in the P ortland M etropolitan A rea
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J o b C o rp s A B o ld S o c ia l E x p e r ie n c e
B y D an B ell
D u rin g the m id 1 96 0 ’ s the
Johnson a d m in is tra tio n re c o g ­
n ize d the p lig h t o f inn er c ity youth
and em barked on a b o ld program
to help enable them reach th e ir
hum an p o te n tia l.
In re a lity the Job C orps was
m odeled a fte r the 193O’ s depres­
s io n -e ra C iv ilia n C o n s e rv a tio n
C orps. (C C C ) T h o u g h the CCC
was successful, it had been cre ­
ated as an em ergency r e lie f p ro ­
gram and was a b o lish e d when
W o rld W a r II ended.
Job C orps p re se n tly has 108
sites n a tio n w id e . T he y re c ru it
yo un g p e o ple ages 16-24. A l ­
th ou gh the o rig in a l m issio n was
to assist c ity d w e lle rs o ver the
course o f the years th a t focus has
been expanded to reach ru ra l re s i­
dents as w e ll.
Job C orps provides vo catio na l
tra in in g w ith an o p p o rtu n ity to
e ith e r secure G E D o r secure c o l­
lege cre d its.
Job C orps re tu rn s S I .46 fo r
e ve ry d o lla r spent on o pe ra tion o f
the p ro gram b ack to the com m u
n ity . There are six Job C orps
sites in O regon fo r tra in in g , and
fiv e sites fo r recru itm e n t.
T he re c ru itm e n t sites are in
P o r tla n d ,
S a le m ,
Eugene,
P endleton, and G rants Pass.
C u rre n tly the Oregon D ep art­
m ent o f L a b o r under C o m m is­
sioner W endy R oberts has the fe d ­
eral co n tra ct to re c ru it Corps men
and w om en fo r the state o f O r­
egon.
M anagem ent
T r a in in g
C o rp s o ra tio n , o f U ta h oversees
the p la c e m e n t o f C o rp s m en and
w o m e n w h o re lo c a te d to O r ­
e go n. T h e ir o ffic e s are lo c a te d
in G ra n ts Pass, E u ge n e a nd
P o rtla n d .
Lana B a rr w ho is the re c ru it­
m ent co o rd in a to r fo r Job Corps
states that Job C orps m arkets i t ’ s
services through a dve rtisin g . In
v a r io u s p a p e rs , s p e a k in g a t
schools g iv in g presentations, at­
tending Job Faive, as w e ll as w o rk ­
ing w ith C SD and w elfare.
The re c ru itin g program also
w o rks w ith p riv a te n o n -p ro fit
e n titie s such as House o f U m o ja,
M Y C A P and Yaun C enter. Job
C orps o ffe rs its c lie n ts an o p p o r­
tu n ity to break the cycle o f p o v ­
e rty.
W h ile a ttending Job C orps
young people are pro vid e d w ith
the o p p o rtu n ity to learn a s k ille d
c ra ft w h ic h in turn is sanctioned
by the union. The re la tio n s h ip
Job C orps has w ith the various
u nions ensures a greater chance
o f e m p lo ym en t upon co m p le tio n
o f th e ir tra in in g . Job Corps also
p ro vid e s e ducational o ptions. Job
C orps also provides a b i-w e e k ly
stipend w ith in c e n tiv e bonus in ­
te rm itte n tly .
C orps men and women are
also p ro v id e d w ith free m edical
and dental benefits w h ile e nrolled
in the p ro gram .
U p o n c o m p le tio n o f th e ir
tra in in g C orps men and w om en
are assisted by a placem ent c o m ­
p onent to help them fin d a jo b ,
enter h ig h e r education, or jo in
the m ilita ry .
F o r those interested in fu r ­
th er in fo rm a tio n you may contact
Susan St George at 731-4086.
Lana Barr, Recruiting; Aretha Brown.Job Corps graduate and Rachell Raymong, Placement.
Transitional Housing Needs Support Families
U jim a is Swahili for “ collective
vork and responsibility” and the third
irinciple o f Kwanzaa, to build and
naintain our community together and
nake our sister’ s and brother’ s prob-
ems our problems and to solve them
ogelher.” The small membership-
>ased, grassroots community devel-
ipment corporation located in Sabin
îeighborhood is doing just that by
leveloping long term affordable drug-
'ree housing for women making the
xansition from correctional institu-
tions and treatment centers back into
the community. The U jim a project
challenges the fears and stereotypes
associated with special needs hous­
ing and N IM B Y (N ot-In-M y Back­
yard) problem by pairing a special
needs house w ith community mem­
bers who w ill act as its support system
and first line o f defense in dealing
w ith any problems that might arise.
Ujima provides an opportunity for
monitoring and celebrating success,
rather than lea ving progress to
a m m u n it I
a 1 e n h e r
Ci
“Northwest Soundings”, Saturday, December4 , 1993, at Spin. First
Christian Church, 1350 SW Broadway. (503) 236-8678
Enchanted Christmas at Eola Hills Wine Cellars, Thursday,
December 2, 7pm to 10pm. (Reservations required) (503) 623-2405
Come See Our Kids, December 18, 1993, 7pm, Grace Collins
Memorial Center 128 NF. Russell (503)281-6930
Portland Fire Bureau’s Toy & Joy New Request Number
;503) 823-6250
Humorist LuRain Penny (December 3rd show sold out) December
12 & December 19, at 7:30pm; Friday & Saturday thru December 18 at
8pm. At the ARC 718 W Burnside (223-7279)
Christmas Around the World, Rose City Narz.arene, 7016 NF.
Sandy, December 4, 7 to 8:30pm (503) 287-8473.
We Are Tubas, Hear Us Roar, Sunday, December 12, 1:30pm,
Pioneer Courthouse Square, (503) 223-1613.
Scrooge Lives Arts and Crafts Fair, December I to 2, 10am to
8:30pm, Mt. Hood Community College in the College Center Fireplace
Lounge, 26000 SF. Stark St., Gresham (505) 667-7214.
James Griener To Star As Mythmaker A t IFCC, December 9 to 12,
8pm, IFCC, 5340 N. Interstate (503) 335-3590.
families, feedback, partnerships and
letters o f endorsement for this project.
The partnerships between the com­
munity and existing service providers
w ill provide a unique public/private
response toculbacks in services. From
these contacts an Advisory Council
was formed. A partial list o f represen­
tatives arc: Albina M inisterial A lli­
ance, Center fo r Community Mental
Health, MaranathaChurch Women’ s
M inistries, State o f Oregon Commis­
sion on Black Affairs, Stay Clean,
Inc. and Louise Memorial Day Care.
More important is that women that
w ill be served are represented on the
Advisory Council, which currently
south by Alberta and Fremont.
has tw o openings fo r recovering
SCDC is focusing its efforts in women and;/or a female ex-offender.
target areas west o f 15th and north o f
Continued on page 7
Prescott between 15th and 23rd. A p ­
proximately 17%ofSCDCtargctarca
homes are vacant and almost entirely
consists o f single-family homes with
vast majority being over 50 years old
In order to help low-income fami­
in need o f substantial repairs.
lies stay warm this winter. Northwest
According to the 1990 census,
Natural Gas Company is soliciting
the percentage o f African-American
donations for the Gas Assistance Pro-
residents in damn
Sabin is more than
ma. five
uw
C AP
arc djsln b .
times that o f the city o f Portland as a
throughout
utility>s scrvice
whole. Sabin ,s proud o f and wantsto
,ow .incomc
pay
preserve its diversity which makes
g
U jim a all the more important. In the
dolIar g .yen (Q G A p gocs
targeted area, female-headed house­
to those who need help” , said Robert
holds
up -....wo.........-
almost half o • f ---
all -- fam
iiuius make uF
- L Ridgicy, president and chief cx-
ily households as compared to 35% in cculiveofflccrofN ordlw cstGa.sCom-
citywide. In
S a b in __ » “ Wnl a
a „
nn
t h p contribu-
P f A n lf lH lI -
Sabin and 19.8% citywide,
in aaniii
„ n „ n y v of thc
91 % o f renting households make less
(o
ovcrhead or adminis.
than $20,000 per year and spend more
than 30% o f their income on housing.
Based on recent newspaper listings, a
two bedroom house in Sabin rents for
$5()()+/mo, three bedrooms $650/
m o n th , and
fo u r
bedroom s
$725+monttl. I. is the goal o t SCDC
J e fre ^H .g h S c h o o l.s c u rrc n tly
chance.
Sabin Community Development
Corporation (SCDC) received a small
grant from McKenzie River Gather­
ing Foundation to develop a commu­
nity outreach program for the Ujima
Project and another small grant from
Meyer M em orial Trust to recruit and
train support families for the Ujim a
women. Although SCDC w ill act as
die housing developer, other social
services and an Advisory Council are
developing the program components.
The Sabin neighborhood is lo­
cated in inner Northeast Portland in
an area roughly defined east/west by
NE 23rd and NE 10th and north/
Hales Appoints New Fire Chief;
Breaks Long Standing Tradition
P ortland C ity com m issio ne r
C ha rlie Hales appointed Palo A lto
F ire c h ie f R obert W a ll to head the
Bureau o f F ire , Rescueand E m e r­
gency Services today. I t is the
fir s t tim e in the C ity ’ s h is to ry
th a t a fire c h ie f has been ap­
p ointed from outside the Bureau.
“ There are fo u r key tasks fa c ­
ing the P ortland F ire Bureau in
the next few years,” Hales e x ­
p la in e d . “ They are: cre a tin g a
w o rk fo rc e that re fle c ts the d iv e r­
s ity o f o u rc o m m u n ity ; s tre a m lin ­
ing and m o d e rn iz in g the m an­
agement o f th is p u b lic agency;
pre pa rin g o u r c ity and the m e tro ­
p o lita n area fo r earthquakes and
o the r natural disasters; and b rin g ­
ing fire p ro fessio na ls and neigh-
borhoods together. Bob W a ll has
both experience and proven le a d ­
ership in each o f these fo u r a r­
eas.”
F urth er, Hales says W a ll has
managed a fire d epartm ent th a t
p ro vid e s am bulance tra n s p o rt, a
service the P o rtlan d F ire Bureau
plans on sta rtin g n ext June.
In e x p la in in g his d e c is io n ,
Hales noted: “ There is a w ea lth o f
ta len t inside the F ire Bureau. T h is
decision was a d if f ic u lt one and
not taken lig h tly . B u t it is tim e to
b rin g someone in w ith a new p e r­
spective and that is w ha t I ’ ve
done.”
W a ll, 52, began h is career
Continued on page 11
Gap Helps Low Income Families Pay Heating Bills
trativc costs.
“ Because o f the generous sup­
port the program has received over
the years, GAP has helped more than
27,000 households stay warm during
winter,”
GAP funds arc collected by the
United Way and are then dispersed to
community action agencies through­
out the company’s service area. Each
applicant is screened by an agency to
determine e lig ib ility.
Since its inception in 1982,GAP
has collected $2,090,968 from North­
west Natural customers, employees
shareholders and others. Last year,
1,816 households received approxi­
mately $161,500 in assistance.
Natural gas customers should
look for the red and green envelopes
in this m onth’ s gas b ill to send in their
ta x -d e d u ctib le donation. O thers
should send theirdonations to: United
Way/Gap, 619 S.W. 11th Ave., Port­
land, OR 97205.
Those needing assistance should
contact their local comm unity action
agency.
Jefferson To Select Parents &
Community Reps For Site Council
Sisterhood Luncheon, Rip City Diner, 3100 NF. Sandy Blvd.,
Friday, December 10, 11:30am. (503) 282-7973.
toprovitlc housing tolhc Ujima women
w ith ten, beginning under $3(W
6
mOnThc Ujim a Project concept is
CommunityService Conference, Senator Mark Hatfield one ol the
speakers, Portland State University, December 11, 8am to 4pm. (>03)
simple: provide affordable drug-free
Oregon Educational Act lo r the
housing coupled with “ real life ” skills 21st Century or the Katz B ill , all
725-5484.
celebrates success!
schools m * c stalc,arc rcquirCl l°
Manyeommunityorganizations, establish such councils, composed o f
social service agencies, government teachers, classified district employ-
Economic Development Policy Discussion, Thursday, December 2,
7pm, Musicians Hall, 325 NF. 20th (503) 823-3323.
see't,n8 aPP lcaI,ts 10
ems and ihe eommunuy ai- I e m
its new site council. Pursuant to pro-
visions o f House BiH 3565 known as
agencies, churches and self-help sup- ecs, administrators, students, parents
port groups are continuously being o f students and community members
•
Historic Oregon City Annual Main Street Holiday Parade and
Trail’s End Lighting Event. Saturday, December 4, 3:30pm (503) 6 5 » -
contacted in order to obtain support t y September 1995.
Two parents o f Jet ferson students
and one community member at-large
w ill be selected as representatives o f
the Jefferson council.
R e p re s e n ta tiv e s w i l l m eet
tw ic e m on thly fo r tw o hours each
session. Interested applicants may
contact Jefferson H igh S chool,
2 8 0 -5 1 8 0 , fo r an a p p lic a tio n .
A p p lic a tio n s m ust be received by
N ovem ber 27, 1993. The local
s c h o o l a d v is o r y c o m m itte e ,
chaired by Deborah L e o p o ld , w ill
coordinate the selection process.
The duties o f the building site
6010.
I
1
< 4
*
committee include the development
and implementation o f a plan to im ­
prove professional growth and career
opportunities for school staff; im ­
provement o f the school’ s instruc­
tional program; and the coordination
and implementation o f the Katz B ill
at the school site.
F a c u lty , C la s s ifie d and a d ­
m in is tr a tiv e c o u n c il m em be rs
have already been elected by th e ir
peers to serve tw o year term s.
T w o students w ill also serve on
the c o u n c il.