<• • . • ., ” t: « •»¡¡■M a . Tm- P oru and rr" O bserver « J i S .’ • i y • M. 4. 17, 1996 P age A3 Program Teaches Inmates Alternatives To Crime Growing up a child of alcoholic parents, Sandra Hamrick says she was often told she would "turn out just like them." It was a behavior pattern she began to follow at an early age. By 10, she had tried pot. At 12, she was using alcohol and drugs. Now, at 33, after several years in and our of county jails and state prisons, Sandra Hamrick, says she has had enough. According to Hamrick, an inmate at Oregon’s Columbia River Correc­ tional Institution (CRCI) in north­ east Portland, she is finally ready to change her behavior and start a new life thanks to an innovative program called LifeskiIls, developed and ad­ ministered by the national nonprofit organization Women in Community Service (WICS). Hamrick says the skills learned in this program and the continued support of WICS start and volunteers will help her find em­ ployment, stay drug-free and avoid resuming criminal behavior after she is released this month "WICS has helped me see that are many options and that I have to work to take advantage of them,” says Hamrick. “I’ve learned that I have to take baby steps. In the past, I always wanted the end result right away or I’d just give up. I’m not willing to give up this time.” In addition to the addictions she developed early in her life, Hamrick was involved in a variety of abusive relationships through the years, suf­ fering both emotional and physical abuse. Even though she was able to stop abusing drugs and alcohol at times, she lived in unstable and de­ structive environments and contin­ ued the behaviors that eventually caused her to end up in CRCI. “People all around me were using drugs,” says Hamrick "There wasn’t a day that went by that I wasn’t gambling, smoking and drinking." Hamrick is one o f more than 200 women at the CRCI w ho have partic­ ipated in W'ICS' Portland Lifeskills program since it began in 1992. Like Hamrick, all o f the women partici­ pating in Lifeskills are within three months of release fropi prison w hen they begin the program. They attend classes from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p in , four days a week. Lifeskills consists of four basic elements: job skills evaluation, life skills training, volunteerism and mentorship. Hamrick says Lifeskills appealed to her because of its holistic approach to personal development, the diver­ sity of class topics, and post-pro- gram support. Classes include topics such as personal health, self-advoca­ cy, budgeting, anger management, job search techniques, and more. Hamrick credits the in-depth skills assessment test, which all Lifeskills participants take, with opening her eyes to new employment opportuni­ ties. “I knew I could do restaurant work, but these tests showed that I would be good at higher paying jobs,” explains Hamrick. "I know I need more train­ ing for some of these jobs, but WICS has taught me how to look into that. I thought I ’d have to work in fast food my whole life. These tests said I had skills that would allow me to work as a supervisor-something I’d never considered before.” Hamrick plans to take full advan­ tage of other community resources that she learned about through WICS, including an outpatient rehabilita­ tion program "I’m not required to be in rehab this time,” says Hamrick, "but I’m requiring it of myself I don’t want to come back here (pris­ on). I have a completely different perspective this time because of Lifeskills I’m not lying to myself this time No one is forcing me to change-1’m doing it for myself." Originally funded through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg f oundation, WICS" Lifeskills program in Port­ land is currently funded by the Ore­ gon Department o f Corrections. WICS Lifeskills is a unique collabo­ ration between government, private organizations and the local commu­ nity working together to help women who are at-risk become self-suffi­ cient. By serving as mentors or pro­ viding support services, volunteers from the local community have a direct role in empowering at-risk women Hamrick and 12 other female In­ mates graduated from Lifeskills on July 13 The ceremony was held at the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ o f Latter-Day Saints, 4837 NECouch in Portland, Oregon Grad­ uates had on caps and gowns and receive diplomas at the ceremony, which drew more than 130 friends, family and supporters from the com­ munity. Well, If There Are No Jobs, What About Starting A Business? m P rof M< c KlNI.FA K im fa B Bi i R m I ROF, , M thmiKnnric ic o n ic thousands 1 irvin upon i h m thousands of sue On the one hand, I was surprised cessful small manufacturing busi­ at the number of readers who said nesses (large ones too), 1 pointed out they had never heard o f “structural in a follow-up article that over 90°o unemployment” (the permanent as­ ofthose “successful” enterprises were signment ofcertain population groups started up by craftsmen or others to that economic disability). who had gained on-the-job experi­ But, on the other hand, a goodly ence-then had spun off to establish a number responded that they may not competitive operation in a familiar have known what to call it, though field and, more often then not, with they certainly knew the problem was adequate financing from banks, rela­ “built-in” and was closely connected tives, friends or venture capitalists. with race. That reminds me o f the And I recited a number of other Supreme Court justice who said, “I relevant facts that hold just as true may not be able to describe pornog­ today—whatever the accounts of raphy but I sure know it when I see media, governmental agencies or it.” Well, in the one case it would pundits-at-large. I knew (know) from seem to hurt, and in the other, give a all those years of accounting experi­ titi nation, or pleasurable excitement. ence and hands-on operations that, Whatever! while in some parts of the country It was reassuring to be informed African Americans have on-the-job that one small group had formally opportunities to acquire very com­ organized around an economic self- petitive skills and industrial tech­ help plan after reading my July 7, niques, they have never had avail­ 1993 PortlandObserverarticle, "Eco­ able to them that second stage of nomic Turmoil Abroad In Our Land”. economic empowerment cited in the After detailing the bad news ofesca- preceding paragraph. And good latingjob layoffs—and what workers leaseholds are essential. might look for as a tip-off-l gave a Some readers may remember when tongue-in-cheek report on the other I told of the NBC television program side o f the coin.” which interviewed Americans “who The footsie Roll Candy company had made it big”. This particular Sun­ o f Chicago is doubling its payroll of day, the founder of’TIoliday Inns" and several hundred-and the market for "famous Amos” of cookie fame were dinosaurs and other Jurassic-age given the spotlight. The hotel tycoon products is very good. However, in rattled off his typical ‘Horatio Alger’ speaking of Chicago, a great city for saga, and allowed how America was *L _ I I z' x. truly the land of opportunity for any­ body who j umped offa boat and worked hard; nothing to it. But with brother Amos, it was a different story. It seemed like when he went to the banks for a given amount o f money for production equipment for a going business the answer was “no”. But when he went down the street to a consumer-fi­ nance company with a request for the same sum, the answer was a resound­ ing “yes”—at triple the interest. We say all this simply to forewarn that in thecurrent frenetic atmosphere o f economic hysteria one must as surely be on guard as ever despite the assurances from a hundred televi­ sion spots that for any price from National Minority Association Selects Irving f all 503-288-0033 To Advertise Far Diversity Advertise In (The jLlnrHaitb (lf)l isevuvr _ $39.95 to $159.50 you can get the golden key to a comfortable six-fig­ ure income or retirement nest egg; loose leaf text or CD-ROM, take your choice (These boys have ‘their’ key, alright). Of course, a lot of folks are still trying to figure out how sensible busi­ ness people could be "opposed to raising the minimum wage, when they’re going to get it cell back through their cash registers anyway." One reader would remind us o f sev­ eral well-known Albina to business­ men who grew rich during the 1960’s and 1970’s servicing model cities residents and organizations. At their downtown or Beaverton watering holes they would deplore the welfare National Minority Association Selects Irving Cynthia Irving, Administrative Specialist and Assistant to the Dean for Student Affairs in the School of Medicine, was elected Western Re gional Director for the National As sociation of Medical Minority Edu cators. Irving has served as the asso ciation’s Regional Treasurer and Regional C onference Program Chairwoman. Irving will also serve as 1996 Conference Chairwoman for NAMME’s annual meeting to be held in Portland in September. NAMME facilitates the entry of underrepresented ethnic/racial mi­ norities into the health professions and addresses the diverse needs of this group. recipients and the poor who were “draining America". Reminds me of a doctor I had during the same period, a mouthy person with the same attitude. I did gain the satisfaction of reminding him that he got his medical education courtesy ofthe US. government. And then, of course, there is corporate- welfare and fat book contracts for conservative politicians. What’s a poor man to do? Travel Roberts 3415 NE Broadway (503) 287-1745 OR Reg 209 (Since 1976) T New Orleans $206.00 T Oakland/San Francisco $50.00 T San Diego/Los Angeles $100.00 St. Louis $296.00 >> Columbus Ohio $248.00 Above fares are Round Trip Taxes not included, restrictions apply. 2 Round Trips for one price Seniors $540.00 Youth/Students $498.00 Serving Portland for 20 years 0 c Thank You Let Jose Feliciano light your fire at Chinook W inds Casin The exciting Chinook AVinds Casino is finally open. Get ready to hear your favorite recording artists with our Concerts By The Sea program. Early shows begin at 7pm and later shows start at 10pm. 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