March I 2 . 2003 ®J|e Jlortlanò (Observer Page A3 U rb a n L ea g u e G ets N ew P resid en t continued from Front I I IV P1V U 1 O 1 1 T Y 7 U l l i V I V l I l finding homes for low-income resi­ dents. “It was the hardest job I’ve ever had," Gaston said. “Every day I’d come to work and see these people with nothing to eat and nowhere to sleep.” Although her jo b gave her a great deal o f respect and apprec iation for the hard work done by social ser­ vices employees, Gaston said it was discouraging because the center was always full to capacity and it was hard to turn people away each day. When a position handling geri­ atric admissions for Western State Hospital, a government-run mental hospital in Washington, opened up, Gaston jum ped at the chance. "M ental health was something 1 had never done before," she said. “To see people institutionalized will really open your eyes.” Her job working the intake desk P hoto by W ynde dyer / the P ortland observe ! at Western brought her into con­ Vanessa Gaston, the new president and chief executive officer for the Urban League o f Portland, tact with mentally ill people with talks with Oregon Health and Science University's Richard Loudd about the HIV/AIDS awareness limited resources, sometimes with­ program and community outreach program he operates for the Urban League. out any family support networks and often times no access to medi­ "It was busy work and it was grams to the developmental side. tive arena at the capitol in Olympia cation. hard work,” she said. “But at the When the Clinton Administration where she designed two welfare She said she liked the job, but end o f the day I went home and I implemented the Welfare Reform reform policies - the Work First wanted to do more. So she went knew I’d really helped someone.” Act in 1997, Gaston became a wel­ Sanction Policy and the Limited back to school, enrolling at Ever­ Her peers and supervisors rec­ fare reform coordinator for the state English Pathway - to sanction green State University, where she ognized her leadership skills and of Washington. She was respon­ welfare recipients who were not earned a degree in Organizational began assigning her to the tasks sible to developing local policies actively seeking work and to help Development in 1995. While in that no one else wanted to tackle. for reform, training staff and edu­ immigrants and refugees navigate school, Gaston worked as a finan­ W hen she did well, she was pro­ cating the community about wel­ complex federal, state and local re­ cial case manager for Washington moted to assistant supervisor and fare reform. sources to gain self-sufficiency. State’s Department o f Social and then supervisor of the department’s “At that time there was a total Gaston then took a job as Deputy Health Services. She determined financial offices. change in mind set about how we Administrator for W ashington’s eligibility for welfare services for “My career just skyrocketed,” were doing things," Gaston said. largest community service organi­ low-income residents. It was this Gaston said. “All o f a sudden these people who zation in Seattle. She ran the office, jo b that finally sunk the htwk for Her success gave her the oppor­ were receiving welfare needed as­ managed the staff and budget and Gaston to stay in social services for tunity to move on from the opera­ sistance in getting o ff it.” did community outreach for an ex­ the long haul. tional side o f social services pro­ Gaston moved into the legisla­ tremely diverse office. Her clients Reward I f Offered in Lent L School Arson J, guages and her staff at least 20. “I had to learn to wear many different hats at that jo b ,” Gaston said. “In the end 1 realized that I wanted something a little more fo­ cused.” Obtaining a M aster’s Degree in Public Administration from Wash­ ington State University gave her that chance. When she interviewed in front o fa 13-member panel for her position as Assistant Superinten­ dent at Washington Soldiers Home and Colony in Orting, Wash., a She was being considered for the S u p e rin te n d e n t’s p o sitio n when the position at the Urban League of Portland opened up. "I remembered my work in the Department of Social Services and how much I enjoyed that work," Gaston said. "Helping people is what 1 really have a passion for and everything 1 had learned elsewhere will allow me to focus on that here.” At the end o f a seven-month selection process, Gaston is very happy to be settling into her new Helping people is what I really have a passion fo r and everything I had learned elsewhere will allow me to focus on that here. —Vanessa Gaston, on her new Job as President and CEO of the Urban League of Portland home that provides human services and long-term care for Veterans, Gaston never thought she would get the job. “I had no experience in long­ term care whatsoever,” she said. "But I guess they were impressed.” Gaston was second in charge at the 10-building, 183-acre,24-hour care facility with 183 residents and 174 s ta ff m em bers. She said W ashington's Veteran’s Affairs is unique in that it is a revenue-gener­ ating operation. The Soldiers Home actually operated like a business in that by keeping the beds full and fundraising, it was able to make money to provide services to get veterans back on their feet. “I really learned a lot there," job, where she will be responsible lor the overall management o f the office, budget and staff. She will represent the Urban League in fundraising endeavors in the community and help the League continue to serve seniors, at-risk youth and promote economic development for African Am eri­ cans and other minorities. Gaston said she is pleased to be close enough to her family in W ash­ ington and plans to stay in Portland until there is nothing else to learn and no more work to do. “I have worked m yself up from the b o tto m to th e top ra th e r quickly,” she said. "I think now I am at a place where 1 would like to be for aw hile.” C lin ic s O f f e r F r e e E y e T e sts March is National Save Y our Vision Month and to celebrate the Pacific University College of Optometry Vision Centers, including a site in northeast Portland, are providing free vision screenings for children and adults o f all ages. The tests are available throughout the month of March. Normal vision function is critical in the devel­ opment o f teaming skills for infants and children. Screening take about 30 minutes and provide impor­ tant information about clarity of vision, eye health, and eye coordination - factors that are essential for good vision and healthy eyes. Screenings are especially beneficial for younger children whose learning skills - such as reading and writing - and self-esteem in the classroom depend on good vision and healthy eyes. Screenings are also available for area schools, businesses and community organizations through Pacific’s of-site screening pro­ gram. For more information, call 503-352-2020. ARSO# Portland Fire Department arson investigators post a $55,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in an arson fire at Lent School on the front doors o f the building last week. Flyers were also sent home with all Lent students. Arson investigators have received over two dozen leads and public tips since last month's fire caused more than $2 million damage to the school at 5105 S.E. 97th. M ark W ashington / T he P ortland O bserver photo by Övre gW !Ot ¿Votos groft St. ¿Patecfc’s CDayf Attention SENIORS Pork Shoulder Country Style Ribs Safeway Senior Shuttle Service! Introducing a great new service for our neighborhood senior citizens FREE grocery shopping 'shuttle service" to your nearby Ainsworth & M L K Bfvd Safeway Food & D rug TW IC E a M o n th ' O n or around the 4 th and 15th o f each month. 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