May IO. 2006
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Recreational Therapist
Finds Rewarding Career
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CONFRONTING IMAG3S OF WOM3N
■*
10th Anniversary of the >•
Clark College Women's Conference
Brings energy and ideas to fragile kids
It's a dream job for Elizabeth
Sullivan. She is providing activi­
ties and fun for very fragile chil­
dren as a recreational therapist in
the medical profession.
Sullivan recently joined the
Centerfor Medically Fragile Chil­
dren. a part of the Providence
Child Center, where she works
as the recreational activities and
volunteer coordinator.
The center is home to 58 young
people who have severe disabili­
ties and complex medical needs.
The facility strives to provide
residents with typical outings and
activities enjoyed by any person
their age, from fishing trips to
zoo visits to spring proms.
Sullivan is responsible for the
therapeutic recreation and play
of 58 young people ranging in
center," said Sullivan.
Sullivan is a certified recre­
ation therapy specialist, graduat­
ing from Green Mountain Col­
lege in Poultney, Vt. She interned
at Children's Hospital of New
Orleans in Louisiana and worked
previously as a counselor with
the Hole In The Wall Camp sys­
tem at the Double-H Ranch, a
camp for children with terminal
and chronic illnesses.
Sullivan also will be respon­
sible for the large team of volun­
teers who help enrich the lives of
the young residents.
Elizabeth Sullivan
Nearly 300 volunteers, from
grandmas
to elementary school
age from birth to 21 years.
students,
spend
time weekly with
“I believe that a child’s only
center
residents
reading books,
job is to play and I am thrilled to
be a part of bringing these oppor­ wheelchair dancing and holding
tunities to our chi ldren here at the hands.
Minority-owned Businesses Growing
From 1997 to 2002: The num ber o f all U.S.
businesses grew by 10 percent, to about 23
million. The number of businesses owned by
women grew by 20 percent, to 6.5 million; and
the num ber of Hispanic-owned businesses grew
(AP) — Black-owned businesses are among the by 31 percent, to nearly 1.6 million.
fastest-grow ing segm ents o f the A m erican
African American entrepreneurs owned 1.2
economy.
million com panies in 2002 or about
The number of black-owned busi­
5 percent o f all non-farm busi­
nesses grew by 45 percent from
nesses in the U.S., while making
1997 to 2002, more than four times
up about 12 percent of the popu­
the national rate for all businesses,
lation.
according to a new report by Cen­
“W e’ re about halfway there," said
sus Bureau.
Harry Alford, president and CEO of
R evenues from black-ow ned
the National Black Chamber of Com­
businesses increased by 25 percent
merce. “The future is bright. We
during the period, to about $89 bil­
will continue to spiral up.”
lion.
Alford said black entrepreneurs
However, nearly all black-owned
have been helped by improved edu­
businesses are small — 92 percent
cation levels and increased incomes
Kad no employees other than the
among black consumers- and busi-
nn
tnnrn'T7r'
owners. By comparison, about 75 Ronald Langston
ness owners
percent of alUJ.S. businesses had no employees.
“W e’ve got the first generation of significantly
“We do have challenges, we are making educated people,” Alford said. “There’s a black
progress,” said Ronald Langston, director of the middle class like never before.”
Commerce Department’s Minority Business De­
The largest sector for black-owned businesses
velopment Agency. "This is the real challenge: to was health care and social assistance, with 246,000
move these smaller businesses into the next step of back-owned linns. The second larges, was other
growth.”
services, such as personal services, repair and
The report is the third in a series of Census maintenance, with 210,000 firms.
Bureau reports on businesses owned by women,
New York state had the most black-owned
Hispanics and blacks. Together, the reports show firms, with 129,324. It was followed by Califor­
that the three groups are underrepresented in nia, Florida. Georgia and Texas. Together, the five
business ownership but are narrowing the gap states are home to 44 percent of all black-owned
with white men.
firms in the country.
Gains in wealth,
education helping
Opening Doors to Business Growth
Page A 7
H n H ih hyv , ,i ke yn o te .iddit-ss b y « o m e tlid fl u u l
.»(tivist I >vbbie W o o te n .»iki a p t »‘ set fla t it >n by
.»i list i if i y K irkw o o d
Saturday, May 20, 2006
8 a.m .-3:30 p.m.
Gaiser Hall, Clark College
Vancouver, Washington
o s tr S ’ ’ for g e nera l public, $10 for stu d e n ts and
epiors. includ es c o n tin e n ta l breakfast and lun< h,
C hildt are lim ite d scholarships, and d is a b ility
a< cess and
or at c o m m o tla tio n s are available
w ith prio r a rrang em e nt.
or general in fo rm a tio n , please call 360 992 290$
or visit w w w .d a rk e d it w o m e n st o n f
>
C l a i 'k O J l e g c / X e ^ s ^
360 699 next I www.dark.edu
GUNDERSON
A
G
R E E N B R IE R
C O M P A N Y
Gunderson Inc., a mature m anufacturing
based company, is seeking conscientious,
dependable individuals to work as:
• Fitter / Welders / Trainees
• Entry Level Positions
• Maintenance Technicians,
Electricians and Mechanics
Gunderson offers a competitive wage and
excellent benefits. The selected candidates will
be required to complete a pre-employment drug
screen and/or physical. If you would like more
information on these positions, please visit our
website at www.gbrx.com . Please apply in
person at 4350 NW Front Ave. Portland, OR
97210 between 7-3pm Mon-Fri.
An Equal Opportunity Employer
custom ers.
paperwork and even a site visit.
It may take some time to get You can help decrease the time
certified. Fees may range as it takes by subm itting com plete
mi
high as $350 and the certifica­ and accurate packages, double-
GREENBRIER
(O H I‘A M IS
by J enny M iles
tio n
p ro c e s s
te n d s
to
continued
on page AS
In acompetitive market, utiliz­ be stringent, involving a lot of
ing tools that can increase your
small business' visibility isa wise
strategy that can yield high re­
turns. For many minority and
women-owned companies, ac­
quiring state or national certifica­
tion opens doors to business
opportunities that might other­
wise have been overlooked.
Being informed about certifi­
cation options and then taking
the time to apply is a solid strat­
egy for maximizing your busi­
ness success.
M inority-owned enterprise
(MBE) or woman-owned enter­
prise (WBE) certifications are
granted by public and private
agencies to companies that can
prove they are at least 5 1 per-
cent-ow ned and -operated by
minorities or women. The certi­
fications offer a seal of approval,
showing that a company’s claim
of being a minority or woman-
Your skills, dedication and knowledge. Never have they been so Important. A part-time commitment
owned enterprise (M/WBE) has
yields full-time rewards of salary, travel, advanced training, low-cost life Insurance, retirement
been investigated thoroughly by
an outside group and found to be
and college money. Part-time job openings for Construction, LPNs, EMTs, RNs and Paramedics.
true.
For many companies, certifi­
cation can mean the difference
between winning and losing a
contract. Being certified is one
way to make the products or
services you offer more attrac­
tive to these types of potential
Certification to
maximize success
SOMEBODY IS MAKING AN IMPACT. BE SOMEBODY IN THE NAVY RESERVE.
CALL 1-800-914-8536 OR E-MAIL
LPT_PORT@CNRC.NAVY.MIL
FOR MORE INFORMATION.