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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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