August 2,2000
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Reportdocuments minority progress toward Oregon benchmarks
CONTRIBUTED STORY
to n T m
P o r i land O bserver
A new report for the Oregon Progress
Broad shows that Oregon’s racial
and ethnic minorities are making
progress on key educational and
social measures.
“Oregon’s racial and ethnic minorities
continue to improve and get closer to
Oregon’s benchmark goals in almost
all areas,” said report author, Chuck
Sigm und o f Sigm und R esearch
Associates. The report based on data
from the Oregon Population Survey
as well as data collected from other
state and federal sources, documents
m in o rity
g ro u p ’s
p ro g re ss
concerning O regons Benchm ark
targets. The state report examines
recent trends in eight areas, including
education, health, and community for
each Oregon’s minority communities:
African-American, Asian-America,
Native-American and Hispanic.
Not all the news is positive, however.
JeffTryens, executive director o f the
Oregon Progress Board, observed
that, compared to state averages,
Hispanics and African-Americans
actually lost ground between 1990
and 1998 in many instances. “For
almost every instance we looked at,
African-Americans and Hispanics
improved less rapidly than the state
average," said Tryens. If this trend
continues, these Oregonians will fall
farther and farther behind the rest of
the populations.”
Education
Eighth grade reading and math scores
earned by m inority students in
O reg o n show ed m ix ed resu lts
between 1991 and 1998. While all
groups im proved, only N ative-
Americans improved more rapidly
than the state average in both reading
and m ath. A sia n -A m e ric a n s
continued to out score all other racial
and ethnic minorities in math. “While
these results are encouraging,” stated
Chuck Sigmund, a Sigmund Research
Associate, “with the exception of
Asian-Americans, none o f Oregon’s
minority groups currently meet the
state benchmarks for meeting reading
or math standards." In fact, math
scores for Hispanic and African-
Americans are less than half the state
average. Over seven percent o f all
high school students dropped out
during the 1997-98 school year,
compared to 5.8 percent in 1991-92.
The highest dropout rate is found
among Hispanics who drop out at
more than twice the state average.
A record number o f Oregon adults
had a high school diploma and college
education in 1998 and these numbers
continue to grow for all groups except
N ative-A m ericans and A frican-
Americans.
In addition, all o f Oregon racial and
ethnic groups have higher education
le v e ls th a n th e ir c o u n te rp a rts
nationally.
Health
The percentage of minority mothers
receiving early prenatal care grew
across all minority groups from 1990
to 1998. African-American mothers
experienced the most rapid increase,
climbing from 61 percent in 1990to79
percent in 1998. The proportion of
Hispanic mothers accessing early
prenatal care moved up from 55
percent to 67 percent. The overall
state average was 80 percent in 1998.
Hispanic adults are the least likely to
have health insurance. In 1998, 22
percent o f Oregon’s Hispanic adults
were without health care coverage,
double the state’s average o f 11
percent. Native-Americans were also
considerably m ore likely to be
uninsured, with 18 percent o f this
minority group lacking health care
coverage.
Community
Not only are A frican-Americans over
represented in Oregon’s criminal
arrest rate, the proportion o f arrests
attributable to Africa-Americans has
almost doubled (from six percent to
eleven percent) since 1990. In 1998,
Hispanic made up six percent o f the
state’s population, but accounted for
seven percent o f all arrests.
African-Americans continue to be
increase in numbers as homeowners
in 1998, compared to 72 percent o f
White, the highest rate. Overall, the
state has achieved its benchmark goal
o f 68 percent home ownership.
Oregon’s public offices continue to
be dominated by Whites. While they
only make up88percentofthe state ’ s
population, W hites comprise 98
percent of all local officials in the
state. Only two percent o f elected
and appointed officials are Hispanic,
and each of the other minority groups
represents one percent or less o f all
officials are Hispanic, and each o f the
other minority groups represents one
percent or less o f all officials.
Oregon’s population is becoming
more diverse. Hispanics are the state’s
fastest growing minority group. Their
population increased from four
percent to six percent between 1990
and 1998. D uring that period,
Oregon’s racial and ethnic minorities
increased from ten percent to twelve
percent o f the population.
The state’s averages o f 11 percent.
Much o f the data for this report were
drawn from the Oregon Population
Survey, a telephone survey o f
approxim ately 5,000 households
conducted in even numbered years.
The state agencies that fund the
survey use the results to make public
p o licy d e c isio n s. T he O regon
Progress Board and the state Office
o f Economic Analysis joint manage
the su rv ey , w hich C le a rw a te r
Research, Inc. Conducted in 1998.
In addition to the 1998 Oregon
Population Survey, several state and
federal data sources were used to
write this report. In some cases data
from different samples are compared.
In each instance the different data
sources are described in the endnotes.
Multimedia certificate arms students with multi-talents
CONTRIBUTED STORY
eor T he P ortland O bserver
PC C ’s Multimedia program, which
recently received state certifications,
will give students entry level skills
and experience needed to work in a
wide array o f jobs in the world o f
multimedia such as Web designer,
W eb content creation specialist,
multimedia programmer and many
more!
The digital world has opportunities
for those people equipped to take
a d v a n ta g e o f th em , P o rtlan d
Community College has a newly
accredited program that aims at arming
students with the skills needed to be
multi-faceted entrepreneurs. PCC’s
Multimedia program is designed to
provide students with the skills and
experience needed to be a valuable
employee in the professional world
o f multimedia. Some o f the types o f
jobs that await a graduate o f the
program include multimedia associate
p ro d u c e r, W eb d esig n er, W eb
content creation specialist, interface
designer, multimedia programmer or
authoring specialist, digital video
specialist, interactive technical writer
and multimedia project manager.
The new certificate program also
gives people already the multimedia
professionongoing skill development
to bolster their skills. The program
was formally approved by the Oregon
S ta te B o ard o f E d u c a tio n on
Thursday, June 15. The classes for
the certi ficate program begin this fall,
starting Monday, Sept. 25 at the
Cascade Campus, located at 705 N.
Killingworth St.
M ic h a e l C le g h o rn , a PCC
Multimedia instructor, chairs the fast
growing program and teaches a lab in
the program ’s introductory class
Introduction to Multimedia. “Forthe
past year or more it seems that most
c lasses fill within a week or two o f the
initial registration start time,” he said.
“The good news for students is that
we offer our beginning classes, the
100-level, nearly every term, and many
o f the advanced 200-level classes are
offered several times a year.”
The M ultimedia program was
created out o f necessity and quickly
became a partnership between the
c o lle g e and the in d u stry . Its
beginnings were a PCC faculty task
force formed in 1996afteramultimedia
conference in Portland. An advisory
committee to the task force was then
formed, composed o f representatives
from a variety ofPortland companies
starved for graduates versed in the
e m e rg in g te c h n o lo g ie s o f the
burgeoning multimedia market. By
fall 1998 a complete multimedia
program had been created. However,
there is no such thing as a typical
multimedia student.
“The only common link I can think o f
with our' typical ’ multimedia student
is their addiction and dedication to
the work,” Cleghorn said. “I have
over 23 years o f college classroom
te a c h in g e x p e rie n c e, and m y
multimedia students are the first that
I have ever seen that more often than
not, shun breaks, lunches, and never
seem ready to leave at the end o f a
class.”
D avid Thorsrud, a part-tim e
instructor in the program, directs
in te ra c tiv e d ev elo p m en t for
Cenquest Inc., a Portland company
that helps colleges and universities
take their graduate programs online.
He said the multimedia industry is
“portfolio based” when it comes to
hiring students out o f college. In
response, he is instructing his
students on how to develop and
review their portfolio o f work.
B o ard
(C S A B )
a c c re d ited
undergraduate program in Oregon.
to 2 p.m. at Common Bond, 4919 N.E.
Ninth Avenue (Northeast Ninth and
Alberta behind St. Andrew’s Church).
Blood lead testing o f children should
be performed at age 1 and 2 or at least
before age 6 if no previous tasting
has been done and any risk factors
for lead poisoning are present.
Children who live in orregularly stay
in home, apartment, or child care
center constructed before 1978areat
a greater risk o f developing lead
poisoning, especially if there is
remodeling or peeling paint. Other
risk factors include family members
with exposure to lead and low family
income (including those on Medicaid,
W1C, or Oregon Health Plan)
The effects o f lead poisoning are
reversible if detected early a blood
test. If undetected, lead poisoning
damages the brain, causing learning
and behavioral problems in affected
children.
The testing is co-sponsored by
volunteer from the Oregon chapter o f
Physicians for Social Responsibility
and the Coalition o f Black Men, with
help from Volunteers o f America,
Common Bond, CLEARCorps, the
Urban League o f Portland, and Old
W ives’ Tales Restaurant. Special
thanks to Multnomah County Health
Department forproviding laboratory
testing and supplies.
“They’ve got a great foundation
because that lab is really nice,” he
said o f PCC’s Multimedia program.
“They definitely have a head start on
anyone else. T here are som e
(students) that have a great ability
and a passion above everybody
else.”
ou're looking for a doctor,
ir search is over
Legacy Clinic Northeast welcomes two new primary
care physicians, Lisa Alberts, M.D. (left), and Robina
Wong, M.D. Both doctors, trained internists, are accepting
new patients and join Sharadan Lisk, M.D., and Bernie
Sperley, D.O., at the clinic. They welcome your call.
Legacy Clinic Northeast
H
2800 NL Vancouver Avenue, Suite 231,
Portland
Hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday
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For appointments, call (503) 413-4134
www.legacyhealth.org
Health System
LEGACY
Legacy Health System indudes Emanuel Hospital & Health Center, Emanuel Children's Hospital, Good
Samaritan Hospital & Medical Center, Meridian Park Hospital, M ount Hood Medical Center, Visiting
Nurse Association, Legacy Clinics and CareM ark/M anaged Healthcare Northw est PPO. © 2 0 0 0
(©hseruer
Briefs
PSU’s Engineering
Program Changes
Name to Reflect
Direction
On Thursday July 21, Portland State
University’s School o f Engineering
and Applied Science received final
approval from the Oregon University
System Board to officially change its
name to the College o f Engineering
and Computer Science.
The new name helps define the
U n iv e rsity ’s lead ersh ip role in
engineering and computer science
education and research at PSU, in the
state, and beyond. D ean Robert
D ryden said, “The C ollege has
recently added a new Ph.D. Program
in computer science, a series o f
m a ste rs’ deg rees and g raduate
certificates for the working engineer,
and has set a goal o f doubling
enrollment to meet regional industry
need.” In addition, the College is in
the p ro cess o f a d d in g sev eral
doctoral degrees and new faeulty
members whose areas o f expertise
meet the specific needs o f regional
industry and government.
The new name also highlights the
role o f PSU ’s com puter science
departm ent, w hich has the only
Com puter Science Accreditation
The department is the
largest in the college and
one of the fastest growing
programs at PSU.
Senior Adults Needed Immediately
Senior Corps is looking for fresh,
talented adults, at least 55 years o f
age to help at-risk children or elder
adults and adults with disabilities in
W ash in g to n , M u ltn o m ah , and
Clackamas counties. You can receive
up to $200 a month tax-free while
helping children leant to read, develop
social skills and more, or provide
companionship based services to frail
adults or adults with disabilities. No
experience needed, just a desire to
help other. Call (503) 232-0007
extension 202 for details.
Free Lead Testing For
Children On August 12
Childhood lead poisoning is a major
and preventable environm ental
health problem and lead-based paint
is now the primary source o f lead
exposure. Free lead testing for
children will take place the second
Saturday o f each month, from 10 a.m.
For The Music.
For The Food.
For The Fun.
For The Family.
September 2
For thirty years Œlp Çortlanb <®b«eru«r has been committed to
bringing you information regarding people of diverse backgrounds.
In this spirit we bring to the community this first DiversityFest.
Free to the public, this event will be providing barbecue and
entertainment for the entire family, as well as childrens' rides. We
hope you can come and enjoy the fun.
September 2, noon - 7 pm, at Oaks Park
East end of the Ross Island Bridge
If you have any questions please call 503.288.0033
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