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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 2000)
M ay 3, 2000 J fo rtla n ò (ßbstruer Page A5 (The ^porUanò (ßbeeruer Family Living Parent Mentor Program receives national recognition and financial support challenges, EMO founded the Parent M e n to r P ro g ra m , w hich has continued to receive significant su p p o rt from th e F o u n d a tio n . Volunteers are women who have experience parenting or w orking professionally with children. A fte r th e p ro g ra m tra in s th e volunteers to be mentors, it carefully m atches them w ith m others in agencies that collaborate with the program. A m e n to r o ffe rs a m o th e r c o m p a n io n sh ip and p ra c tic a l a c tiv itie s th a t giv e her new opportunities to learn about caring for her children and herself, assist her in finding and keeping a job, and help her settle into a new home outside the protective structure o f a residential treatment center. “One o f the most valuable gifts can offer is com passion,” said Hart- L andsberg. “For m any m others dealing with addiction and family v io len ce, com passion is a new experience. How are thesem om s going to nurture their children if they have never experienced this kind o f attention themselves?” Since its inception, the Parent Mentor Program has provided mentors for over 100 mothers who care for about 225 children. Because o f its success with the clients o f Portland’s Letty Owings Center for drug and alcohol tre a tm e n t fo r p re g n a n t a n d /o r parenting women, the program has begun to offer mentors to women c o m p le tin g th e pro g ram fo r adolescent m others at Salvation fOH T l it PORTLAND OBSERVER A Portland-area program that helps mothers struggling against domestic violence and addictions has received national reco g n itio n as w ell as support from several foundations. In March, Ecumenical Ministries o f Oregon’s Parent Mentor Program was awarded the Daily Points o f Light Award from the Points o f Light Foundation for its “positive and lasting contribution to the lives o f o th e rs.” T h e program has also received significant funding from the F red M e y e r F o u n d a tio n , th e W omen’s Care Foundation, Portland W omen’s Union, and the Hoover Family Foundation. * What a perfect time for us to receive this award and funding!” said Sylvia H art-Landsburg, who directs the program. “We are just beginning to expand our program and share its model with other agencies planning to create their own parent mentor programs. For over three years, our mentors have given a significant boost to mothers whose personal relationships with mentors anchor their efforts to raise their families as they face limited affordable housing and a shortage o f opportunities for education, living wage employment, and health care services.” In 1996, in response to The Collins F o undation’s request that EM O d e v e lo p a pro g ram p ro v id in g opportunities for volunteer work on b e h a lf o f fam ilies w ith serious A rm y’s White Shield Center and R a p h a e l H o u se ’s T ra n sitio n a l Housing Program. EM O’s Parent Mentor Program is also reaching out to help build similar programs in other parts ofOregon. A domestic violence shelter in Bums has consulted with the Parent Mentor Program, and the V o lu n te e rs o f A m erica C h ild Development Center is working with E M O s ta f f to d ev elo p p a re n t mentoring for its clients. “The Fred Meyer Foundation was p a rtic u la rly im p re sse d by the successful track record o f EM O’s Parent Mentor Program,’ said Robin Christian, executive director o f the foundation. Christian added that she hoped the grant would help the program “continue the important work it is doing to enrich the health o f the community.” The Fred Meyer Foundation helps nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping children, stren g th en in g fa m ilie s, and b u ild in g b e tte r communities in the markets served by Fred Meyer stores, Sm ith’s Food & Drug Stores, and Quality Food Centers. For more information, visit their Web site at www.fredmeyer.com. EMO is an association o f 15 Christian denominations including Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox religious bodies that come together to meet the needs o f O regonians. For m ore information about EM O ’s Parent Mentor Program, contact Sylvia Hart- Landsberg at 503/231-3571 or visit www.emoregon.org. HOME FOCUS S cholarship fundraising event attempts to fulfill young ladies dream Hi, my name is Caron, and I’m a single parent and foster mom. I’m writing regarding my child Kiara Berry. Kiara, my third child o f four, is a bright, intelligent, active seven- year-old. She’s a very sweet girl. She wi 11 help me out doing whatever I’m doing around the house to showherappreciation. She goes to a very good private school, good student, Kiara is a good leader in her classroom. K iara has b een g o in g to Taekwondo ever since she turned five. She started out a White belt, now she is a Blue stripe. She has come a long way. She has achieved and accomplished part ofher dream. K ia ra has b e e n in th re e tournaments: 1. 2. 3. U .S . N a tio n a l O pen C ham pionship 1st G old - Sparring, 3"1 Bronze Forum medals 5,h A nniversary Hollywood 2000Championship 151 Gold - Sparring 2nd S ilv er- Forum 3rd Bronz - Board Breaking N a tio n a l Q u a lify in g Championship Oregon State Taekwondo Is1 G old-Sparring medal Now she’s a strong qualifying for the Junior Olympic in San Antonio, Texas. T hat’s going to be on July 10'h- 1 5 'h,2000. K iara is a strong ex cellen ce performer. Her goal is to become a Black belt. She has strived and kept focus on her Takewondo along with her school activity. She also loves to swim. But now she needs help in raising funds to get to Texas, for her and her m om to a tte n d the O lym pic Championships. I have set up a fund raising donating scholarship for her at U.S. Bank. Kiara really has her heart for this trip. A nd plus it w ill be a good opportunity for her at a young age to perform in the Junior Olympic 2000. For more information contact Caron-(503) 539-5066 Master D an-(503)284-7843 Deborah Foster Equity Group Realtors B y D eborah F oster tor T hl P ortland O bserver Why Do You Need a Real Estate A gent? I ’ m ready to buy a home. Should I get m yself a Realtor or should I drive around and visit open houses? Should I call the Realtor on the “for sale” sign? Will the listing agent represent me as the buyer? When do I look for a lender? What kind o f house do I want? Where do I want to liv e ? W h at m ak es a good R e a lto r? T h e se a re b u t a few questions you may ask yourself when thinking o f buying a home. Do you really need a Realtor? Some agents specialize in listing properties for sale. Others specialize in finding homes for buyers. Many agents prefer to do both. If you are attempting to find a home on your own, beware o f the following. Less than 2% o f available homes are advertised in newspapers on any given day! • Driving all over town without v ie w in g a p p o in tm e n ts can be frustrating! Not knowing the price, size & other important details beforehand means a lot o f dead ends. • Do you know that the Realtor hold in g the open house w orks exclusively for the seller? Who will negotiate the best deal for you? What you need is a buyer’s agent, who will represent and protect you and your interests with honesty and integrity. Your agent should: • Consult with and advise you every step o f the way, making the entire process run smoothly. Sift through them ultiple listings to locate homes that best meet your needs and finances. Show and possibly sell you any home listed for sale in Oregon, no matter w ho’s name is on the sign. You Realtor’s primary goal should be finding the perfect home for you, in shortest possible time, and with the least convenience to you. It is important that you feel at ease to ask any question and be confident that y our R ealtor can represent and negotiate on your behalf. The best way to find a good agent is through the referral process. People usually recom m end a successful realtor who have provided them with go o d , m em orable service. Ask q u e stio n s about how the sales process went. Iftheirtransaction went smoothly, there is a good chance yours will too. Ask lots o f questions. Meet with the agent and find out how he or she works. You want a Realtor you can work wel 1 with and respect. Buying a home is a big deal and probably one o f the biggest purchases you will m ake!! It should be fun and as stress-free as possible. So, question everything. There is n o , such thing as a stupid question when buying a home. For more information, contact Deborah Foster by calling 5 0 3 /7 0 6 -0 0 3 7 o r em ail h e r at deborah@equitygroup.com family behind you. FOR SALE OPEN SUNDAYS 1-3 PM. 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