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DEC. 16, 1998
Page A5
(Ebe ^Jortlanh (0hsem er
A c tiv itie s
for Kids
H e r e a re so m e “ I m ad e
it m y s e lf!” g ift id ea s
K w a n z a a G ifts
K w a n za a N e c k la c e s
D y e th re e
g ro u p s o f
m o sta c io lli n o o d le s re d , g ree n
a n d b la c k w ith a lc o h o l an d
fo o d c o lo rin g ( y o u ca n g e t
b la c k fo o d c o lo rin g at c ra ft
sto re s in th e c a k e -d e c o ra tin g
s e c tio n ). L et dry . G iv e ea c h
c h ild a p ie c e o f y a m w ith a
sm a ll p ie c e o f m a s k in g ta p e
w ra p p e d a ro u n d o n e end. L et
e a c h c h ild strin g th e c o lo re d
n o o d le s.
K w a n z a a P ia c e m a ts
L et th e c h ild re n try th is v e r­
sio n o f A fric a n c lo th d y e in g to
m a k e p la c e m a ts fo r s n a c k
tim e. D rib b le ru b b e r c e m e n t in
d e s ig n s on s h e e ts o f w h ite c o n ­
stru c tio n p ap e r. A llo w th e g lu e
to d ry fo r a b o u t h a l f an h o u r.
T h en b ru sh p a in t o v e r th e glue.
W h e n th e p a in t h a s d rie d , p ee l
o f f th e ru b b e r c e m e n t to rev e al
th e d e s ig n s th e c h ild re n h av e
c r e a te d .
H a n u k k a h G ifts
D r e id e ls
F o ld d o w n to p s o f m ilk c a r ­
to n s to fo rm b o x e s . M ix a little
g lu e w ith p a in t. L e t c h ild re n
p a in t th e b o x e s , a n d let dry .
P o k e a p e n c il th ro u g h e a c h
b o x fro m th e to p d o w n w a rd ,
so th e p o in t is o n th e b o tto m .
parf- Three: A Time For Success For Caucasian Youth
a n y o f th e e s s e n tia l
th in g s th at C a u ca sia n
y o u n g p e o p le n ee d in o rd er to
th riv e a re m is sin g from th e ir
lives. T h a t’s th e co n c lu sio n o f a
su rv e y that in c lu d ed 5 ,7 1 6 C a u ­
ca sia n six th , eig h th an d ten th
g rad e stu d e n ts (as part o f a s u r­
v ey o f 10,000 stu d e n ts o v era ll)
w ith in M u ltn o m a h C o u n ty . T h e
su rv e y m e a su re d th e p rese n ce
o f 40 assets o r b u ild in g b lo c k s
th a t all y o u n g p eo p le need to
g ro w u p h e a lth y , c a rin g an d
co m p e te n t.
O n a v e ra g e , as o u r su rv ey
rev e ale d , lo cal C a u c a sia n youth
h av e o n ly 19 o f th e se 4 0 assets,
le av in g them v u ln e ra b le to m an y
p ro b lem s.
N o w th a t w e k n o w th a t, w h at
d o w e d o ? W e ll, as this rese arch
re p o rt re v e a ls, y o u c a n d o a
g rea t deal. F o r e x a m p le , m o st
C a u c a sia n y o u th say th e ir fa m i­
lies p ro v id e a h ig h le v el o f lo v e
a n d su p p o rt, b u t to o fe w rec eiv e
su p p o rt fro m o th e r a d u lts, o r
sa y th e y h a v e c a rin g n eig h b o rs.
A s c o m m u n ity m e m b e r s w e
n eed to sh o w y o u n g p e o p le w e
ca re a b o u t th em . W h ile m o re
th a n h a lf o f o u r y o u n g p eo p le
se rv e in th e c o m m u n ity , less
th an a th ird sa y y o u n g p e o p le are
g iv en u se fu l ro les. W e can p ro ­
v id e th o se ro le s fo r o u r yo u th .
O u r y o u n g p e o p le are m o tiv ate d
to d o w ell in sc h o o l, b u t a m i­
n o rity fin d th e ir sc h o o ls p ro v id e
a c a rin g , e n c o u ra g in g e n v iro n ­
m e n t.
M
4 profile o f Caucasian Youth by Multnomah Commission on
Children & Families
W hat do w e know about
C a u c a sia n y o u th ? W e k n o w
m o st see a p o sitiv e fu tu re fo r
th e m s e lv e s . W e k n o w m o s t
h a v e in te g rity an d a c c e p t p e r­
so n a l re sp o n sib ility . W e k n o w
m a n y a re m o tiv a te d to d o w ell
in sc h o o l.
T h e ir in n e r s tre n g th s an d
a ttitu d e s c o n tra d ic t th e m y th
th a t y o u n g p e o p le sim p ly d o n ’t
c a re . M o st h a v e p e e rs w h o
m o d e l resp o n sib le b eh a v io r and
m a n y a re in v o lv e d in c o m m u ­
n ity serv ice a n d th e ir re lig io u s
c o m m u n itie s . T h e y a re e n ­
g a g e d in sc h o o l, c a re a b o u t
o th e rs, sta n d up fo r w h at th ey
b e lie v e in , a n d th o s e in n e r
s tre n g th s a llo w th e m to see a
b rig h t fu tu re fo r th em selv es.
C a u c a sia n y o u th co n tin u e to
b e lie v e a n d to c a re an d to h o p e
e v e n as th e y la c k su p p o rt th a t
ca n v irtu a lly g u a ra n te e s u c ­
cess.
W h ile C a u casian y o u th h av e
m a n y in n e r stren g th s, th ey s u f­
fer b e c a u s e th e y d o n ’t h av e
e n o u g h ad u lt in v o lv e m e n t in
th e ir lives. In n er stren g th is n ’t
e n o u g h - y o u n g p e o p le sim p ly
c a n ’t do it all on th e ir ow n.
T h e v ast m a jo rity o f C a u c a ­
sian y o u th sa y a d u lts d o n ’t
v a lu e y o u n g p eo p le. M o st say
th ey d o n ’t h av e a p o sitiv e ad u lt
ro le m o d e l. M an y sa y th ey
d o n ’t h av e c a rin g n eig h b o rs.
T h e se are th in g s a d u lts can
h e lp to fix.
O u r y outh need p aren ts, rela­
tiv es, n eig h b o rs, sc h o o ls, m e m ­
b ers o f th e relig io u s c o m m u n ity ,
an d co m m u n ity m e m b ers w ho
b eliev e in them . T h ey n eed ad u lts
w h o w ill take the tim e to help
them su cceed.
T h ro u g h this su rv ey , w e d is ­
co v e red that m ost o f o u r y o u n g
p eo p le feel they h av e fam ily su p ­
p o rt an d love, b ut th e m a jo rity
say s th e ir fam ily d o e s n ’t co m ­
m u n ic ate w ell. F ar too few feel
th e co m m u n ity cares ab o u t th e ir
su c ce ss o r failure. W h ile y o u n g
p e o p le ca re ab o u t le arn in g and
w e k n o w th e ir sch o o l e n v iro n ­
m en t can h av e an en o rm o u s im ­
p a c t on sh ap in g th e ir sk ills and
am b itio n s, too few h av e parents
w h o a re in v o lv e d in th e ir ed u c a­
tion.
O n the average, C aucasian youth
h av e ju st 19 o f the 4 0 assets they
need, but it d o esn ’t have to stay
that w ay. T here are things w e can
do to provide our youth w ith p o si­
tive role m odels, and to show our
interest in the success o f every
C aucasian young person.T his im ­
portant research show s that for
o u r C aucasian young peo p le to
succeed, w e m ust take the tim e to
show them w e care for them , take
the tim e to com m unicate w ith them,
and take the tim e to support them .
B y doing so, w e give o u r youth the
assets they need to succeed.T his
research w as co n d u cted b y the
M ultnom ah C om m ission on C h il­
dren and Fam ilies. T o order ad d i­
tional reports, call th e T ak e th e
T im e L in e at 5 0 3 /2 4 8 -5 0 6 6 .
ortland Center Stage In Support O f Outreach
rograms, Local Charities
Ztonts
n the spirit o f C h arles D ickens
p art o f th is effo rt, PC S w ill h o st a
and A C h ristm as C aro l, P o rt­
h o lid a y clo th in g d riv e to b en efit
land C e n te r S tag e in v ites its p a local
­
w o m en ’s and ch ild ren ’sch ari-
tro n s to take part in a sp ecial ev e n t
ties. P atrons w h o w ish to p artici­
to b e n e fit p ro g ra m s fo r a t-risk
p ate m ay b rin g an u n w rap p ed item
o f w arm clo th in g (su ch as socks,
youth and u nderp riv ileg ed fam ilies
in the P ortlan d co m m u n ity .
g lo v es, o r co ats) to th e N ew m a rk
T he F ezziw ig F am ily Feast, ta k ­
T h ea tre lobby o f the P o rtlan d C e n ­
te r fo r the P erfo rm in g A rts an y ­
ing place on S unday, D ecem b er 13
in conjunction w ith the th e a tre ’s
tim e d u rin g the run o f A C h ristm as
n e w p r o d u c ti o n o f C h a r l e s
C aro l (D e ce m b er th ro u g h Jan u ary
2 nd). D ro p - o f f c e n te rs w ill b e
D ic k e n s’ A C h ristm as C a ro l, w ill
b en e fit P C S ’s o u treach p ro g ram s
p resen t in th e b u ild in g .
Ju lie V ig elan d , C h a ir o fth e PCS
b y p ro v id in g o v er 500 c o m p lim e n ­
B o ard o f D irecto rs, said , “ T his
tary tickets to youth an d fam ilies in
ev en t o ffers a w o n d erfu l o p p o rtu ­
th e co m m u n ity th ro u g h a v ariety
n ity for the PC S fam ily to sh a re the
o f service agencies. T ic k ets to the
h o lid ay and this d elig h tfu l p ro d u c ­
event, w hich in clu d es th e p e rfo r­
tion w ith m o re m em b ers o f the
m an ce in the N ew m ark T h eatre
c o m m u n ity th an o th e rw ise p o s­
an d su p p e r/e n te rta in m e n t at th e
sible. A nd in th e sp irit o f D ickens,
H ilton H otel, co st $ 100 for adults,
w h o presented readings o f A C h rist­
$50 for ch ild ren u n d er 16. F o r
m as C arol to b en e fit ch a rity , w e
tickets, p lease call 274-6586.
are pleased to h elp keep n eig h b o r­
In addition, p artn ersh ip s w ith
h o o d ch ild ren w arm and d ry this
local retailers w ill p ro v id e w arm
w in te r.”
clo th in g for fam ilies in need. A s
I
Apple Juice A-La-
Mode
8ounces M artinelli’s Sparkling
Cider
1 scoop o f vanilla ice cream
w hipped cream
cinnam on to taste nutm eg
Blend ingredients together,
garnish w ith w hipped cream and
sprinkle o f nutm eg; serve in a
glass w ith a w edge o f apple (for
extra appeal, serve inside a cored
apple). M akes 1 drink.
4 Christmas Carol is playing through January 2 at Newmark Theatre, Portland Center for the Performing
Arts, 1111 SW Broadway.
After Welfare, Many Families Fare Worse
Bv M
a r ia n
W
k ig u t
E d elm an
At the beginning o f this month, the
Children’s Defense Fund and the na­
tional coalition for the Hom eless re­
leased a joint report show ing w hat’s
happening to families leaving the wel­
fare rolls. Families on welfare are de­
creasing, as President Clinton the
Congress, and the states insisted they
must. O ver 3.8 million parents and
children have left w elfare since the
signingofthe 1996 law. But very much
as we had feared, up to h alf o f the
families leaving welfare do not have
jobs. Among welfare recipients find-
ingjobs by March 1998,71% eam less
than $250 a week, w hich his the pov­
erty level for a family o f three.
The passage and signing o f the
welfare law in the 1996 election year
has left too m any families struggling
to get food shelter, or needed medical
care. Inm any cities, one in 10 families
in homeless shelters say they are there
because o f welfare cuts. W ithout help
like child care, transportation, train­
ing, and wage supplements, too many
families are trying to survive on very
low wages, and extreme poverty is
growing m ore com m on for children,
especially those in female-headed and
working families. T henum berofchil-
dren living in families earning below
one-half o f the poverty line $ 16,401 a
year for a 3-person family) increased
from 6 million in 1995 to 6.4 million in
1997. T hat’s 400,000 more children
nationwide plunged into deep pov­
erty.
Stop and look at those numbers
again. T hey’re not ju st statistics in a
newspaper. They are children - poor
children who are twice as likely as non­
poor children to be b om at low birth
weight and/or repeat a grade in school,
poor children who will score lower on
reading and math tests and suffer more
mental and physical disabilities. They
can be expected to earn 25% lower
wages as adults.
Families who leave welfare are in­
creasingly unable to pay their rent.
Some have been evicted from their
homes or apartm ents and if they can
find housing at all their children will
m ost likely have to change schools.
C h ild ren w ho m o v e an d change
schools frcquentl y score lower on read­
ing and math tests and are m ore prone
to drop out o f school. A nd m ost o f
those families not finding a job or
unable to get a jo b that wi 11 pay livable
wages, and not nearly enough to pay
for quality child care - or any child
care? Homeless children suffer higher
infant mortality, asthma, chronic diar­
rhea, delayed imm unizations, family
separation, and m issed school. What
kind o f future does this predict for our
country when our m ost precious re­
source, our children, are growing to
adulthood so burdened and handi­
capped? W hat kind o f society are we
that we can read about children sick,
hungry, endangered, and otherw ise
tortured by poverty, and allow it to be
so ?
There are horror stories every­
where. Long waiting lists forchildcare
assistance in Texas left30,000 families
w aiting for help. And even when help
is available, m any moving from w el­
fare to work are not aware they can
qualify for it, and not familiar enough
with the laws to fight bureaucratic
m istakes. In Utah, according to a re­
The crises many families are facing and will face as time limits loom can
and must he avoided. We simply cannot condemn millions o f children to such
suffering.
tired state welfare adm inistrator, h alf
ofthe fam iliescut o ff from welfare had
reasons that they could not im m edi­
ately go to work, but their problem s
were not identified and addressed.
O ne m other cut o ff had a disability
herself, no transportation, and was
caring for her4-year-old son who had
neuro fibrom atosis.
M any states that created innova­
tive and supportive program s to help
families find stable, above-poverty
em ploym ent. I applaud the efforts o f
Rhode Island, w hich provides child
care help for all families with incomes
up to 185% o f the poverty line; an
Illinois policy that reduces but does
not elim inate cash assistance to re­
cipients w ho w ork at very low wages;
a Federal program operating in several
states that locates child care at conve­
nient transportation hubs; and a C ali­
fornia program that provides access
to com m unity colleges for jo b train­
ing.
There are answers, and I implore
our federal, state, and local govern­
ments to implement sim ilar programs,
as well as the following changes:
* Allow education and training to
count tow ards the work requirement;
* G ive states the flexibility to use
federal welfare fiinds to pay partial
benefits when families work at least
half-time, without those months count­
ing towards the fam ily’s time limit;
* Invest more federal and state
funds in quality child care and
* Invest in more federal housing
subsidies to address the housing
needs o f a record 5.3 million house­
holds w ho pay more than h alf their
incomes for rent and/or live in sub­
standard housing.
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