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May 7. 2008
Page B5
Policing the Mortgage Business
As the foreclosure rate skyrock­
ets nationally and locally, there are
a growing number of predatory
lenders, but there are also a grow­
ing number of groups trying to help
people find a home loan without
excessive fees.
Mortgage Police started in April
2(X)7 to become advocates for con­
sumers through the complete pro­
cess of obtaining a home, from
obtaining financing to the title in­
surance process.
“We make sure that they receive
the best home loan they qualify for,
not what will put money in the loan
originator’s pocket,” said George
Haskin of Mortgage Police.
Robbe Hardnette of Mortgage
Police said “Education is No. I
Both of the business partners
point out how many individuals
can end up with worst home loans
when switching to a new loan as a
way pay off bills in the short run.
Haskin calls his work “a minis­
try,"
“It is to make sure people are
IMMNMH
photo by M ark
W ashington TT he P ortland O bserver
Robbe Hardnette (left) and George Haskin advocate for consum ers in their b u siness Mortgage Police.
done right when it comes to a home
loan," he said.
For Hardnette, values such as
being a good neighbor transcend
religion to relate with the human
condition. He uses the example of
marriage to relate the serious of life­
long propositions like mortgages.
“If you are going to live with
something for 30 years, you better
be sure about it," he said. "When
you see that a loan is going to
choke someone to death, that’s
when it sets off a red flag on the
inner consciousness.”
Planning Begins for Juneteenth Celebration
With parade,
activities,
entertainment
African-American employees of
Wells Fargo in Oregon and south­
west Washington are leading a
community effort to host their sec­
ond annual Juneteenth celebration
in Portland on June 14.
The celebration commemo­
rates the ending of slavery in the
United States when Buffalo Sol­
diers, led by Major Gen. Gordon
Granger, landed in Galveston,
Texas in 1865, with news that the
Civil War had ended and that the
enslaved were now free. Note that
this was two and a half years after
President Lincoln’s Emancipa­
tion Proclamation, which had
become official on Jan. 1,1863.
Portland’s annual Juneteenth
celebration will be held Saturday,
June 14 with a parade at 11 a.m.,
starting from the Wells Fargo
bank at 5730 N.E. Martin Luther
King Jr. Blvd. Activities will fol­
low at Jefferson High School from
1 to 8 p.m.
The event will also include free
food for children, entertainment,
booths set up by local businesses
and prizes. Companies that want
to participate in the parade or fair
should call Doris Rush at 503-
605-8252 or Tisha Stigler at 503-
249-9093.
The Wells Fargo employees,
who form ed a group called
Checkpoint six years ago, are plan­
ning the events. The local group
is one of many that African-
American employees at Wells
Fargo have started across the
nation.
Such efforts led Diversitylnc
magazine to recently name Wells
Fargo one of the nation's top 50
companies for diversity for the
PSU Black Studies
Hosts National Author
Father was a
former slave
The Black Studies Department
at Portland State University will
welcome author Hannah Hurdle-
Toomey to its next Black Bag
Speakers Series on Wednesday,
May 14, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in
the Multicultural Center at Smith
Memorial Student Union.
Hurdle-Toomey will be speak­
ing about a book she is writing
about her dad called “More Than
a Slave.”
Her father was a former slave
and in his 80s when she was born.
He was born in 1845 or 1847 and
died at 90. Birth certificates were
not made for slaves. Do the math.
It works. She is now in her 70s.
The Blackbag Speaker Series
is organized jointly by the Black
S tu d ies
D ep artm en t,
the
Multicultural Center at Portland
State University and the NA ACP-
PSU student chapter.
The effort is to develop the
Black Studies Department as a
meeting place for people and or­
ganizations doing work that ad­
dresses issues related to the Af­
rican-American community.
Eddie Lincoln Broker
114
third straight year. Last April
Essence magazine also named
Wells Fargo one of 25 great U.S.
companies where African Ameri­
can women are not only welcome
as employees but where they are
also making great professional
strides.
“Every company in America is
searching for the most talented
and dedicated individuals,” said
Alan Johnson of Portland, re­
gional president of Wells Fargo
in Oregon and southwest Wash­
ington. “We have built a work­
place that rewards team members
for their hard work and recog­
f
Hart Realty
9738 SE Washington St., Suite Q
Portland. Oregon 97216
Business (503) 252-2121
F a x (503)252-2621
Cell (503) 789-0861
E-Mail eddie.lincoln@century2l.com
26th Annual Women's Day Celebration
THEME: “Christian Women Pressing Forward
With One Mind and Purpose”
- Philippians 2:-10
Friday, May 16th
Weekend Seminar at 7:00pm
Rev. Joyce Smith
Pauline Memorial AME Zion Church - Salem, OR
Saturday, May 17th
"Crazy Hat Luncheon" at Noon
Tickets $10.00
re a ó u re ó
MARGIE BOOKER
PROPRIETOR
8 Am - Local Preacher Rosemary M. Harris
11 a.m. - Rev. Antoinette Rochell
3:30PM - The Keynote Speaker: Evangelist Maggie Weaver
Life Line Christian Church - Portland. OR
503-281-0927
For information or tickets call:
360-693-4566or360-891 -0972.
G ift & Resale Shop
Open Tüe - Sat
• NEW AND RESALE • CLOTHING • LOCAL ARTIST
• COLLECTABLES • BATH & BEAUTY • GIFT BASKETS
• HOME DECOR • VINTAGE • FURNITURE & MORE
m u i HIcilAnsru flurfiet fliiiwi
n U V
wv m'551wlas J
UlUlUl N k
1703 NE Alberta Portland, Oregon 97211
3725 N. Garrtenbein
Creation
of Style
r
L
T he 6 in J Church A nniversary C om m ittee C ordially invites you to
EXTRAVANZA
"A PSALMS
Mother ’.s
Day Sale
May 3rd -
May 10th
20% o ff
1
Catering to
I Full Figured 1
Women
FEATURING
NIKEGREENE
GENESIS
EASTHILLDANCEMINISTRY
JUBILATION DANCERS
NEW SONG PRAISEDANCEMINISTRY
Plus,
ROBIN HENDERSON
TACOMA. WASHINGTON
À
& MUCH MORE
8208 N D enver ( c o r n e r o f K ilp a t r ic k )
Portland OR 97217
503-286-3877
\ßA
Portland, Oregon
Bring this ad to receive $2 off your purchase of $10 or more
"We are all
beautiful in
his sight"
t=J
3605 East 13th Street in Vancouver, W A.
Sunday, May 19th Worship Celebration Services
(R id d e n
4H*
Each office Is Independently
nizes the importance of diver­
sity.”
Wells Fargo traces its diver­
sity values back to its founding
in 1852. It was one of the few
American companies in the mid
1800s to provide employment to
African-Americans.
A Wells Fargoemployee hand­
book written in 1888 stated in
part: "Proper respect must be
shown to all - let them be men,
women, children, rifh or poor,
white or black — it must not be
forgotten that the company is
dependent on these same people
for its business.”
C ommunity A.M.E. Z ion C hurch
Email: Creationofstyle@yahoo.com
Please join us for our 62nd Church Anniversary
May 14- 16th at7:(X) PM ami May 18th at 3:00 PM.
Special Guest: Rev. .1. Roy Morrison. Los Angeles. CA
Barbara Waters ~ O wner
Owned and Operated
First Step Academy
C hildcare & Education
State Registered Day Care Home
* Infant to School Age
Vernon N eighborhood Location
♦Openings Available*
(503) 288-8367
WELCOME BACK!
We would like to welcome Rod Grosz back
to the Caldwell's family. After working at
Caldwell’s for over 25 years from the 1970s
through the 1990s. Rod is rejoining our staff
as a funeral director.
Feel free to call or stop in anytime to say
“hello".
Caldwell’s, Hennessey,
Goetsch & McGee Funeral Home
20 NE 14th Avenue
(Between E Burnside and Sandy)
503-232-4111
M. Mortgage Poli ice
V
A
Helping you make informed decisions
our services are free
No we don’t do mortgages
YeS we do evaluate your mortgage
No we are not affiliated with any mortgage broker
YeS our goal is to save you thousands of dollars
Don’t sign till you call the Mortgage Police
Call today for you FR E E R E V IE W
503-309-8331
www.mortgagepolice.net
mortgagepolice@mortgagepolice net