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April 15. 2009
Page A7
B usiness
6Access Granted, Inc.’ Serves Non-Profits
Founder is no
stranger to
community
service
Phyllis Harris is the founder
of Access Granted, Inc., a new
Portland nonprofit organization
that writes grants, raises funds,
and designs programs for other
nonprofit groups. While she's
new to this position, she’s no
stranger to the business or to
Portland.
Harris came to the organiza­
tion after being furloughed from
OHSU along with 2,(XX) other
employees.
She was bom and raised by a
single, teenage mother in a very
cozy neighborhood o f north­
east Portland. She attended
Humboldt Elementary School,
Harriet Tubman Middle School
and Lincoln High School, where
she received an unexpected
college scholarship from a Jew­
ish doctor.
During her junior year at Port­
land State University, she be­
friended a federal judge and his
wife who became her mentors.
Harris graduated from PSU with
a bachelor’s degree in history.
She recently was accepted into
the Library Media Specialist
M aster’s degree program at
PSU.
While attending college, she
has h eld v ario u s jo b s and
served the community in sev­
eral organizations, including the
Oregon Museum O f Science &
Technology, the 1 Have a Dream
photo by M ark W ashington ZT he P ortland O bserver
Phyllis Harris and Karis Stoudamire-Phillips go over a game-plan to spread the word about Access Granted, Inc., the new
Portland non-profit organization that writes grants, raises funds and designs programs for other non-profits.
Foundation o f O regon, the
Korean Grocers Association,
Race for the Cure, Portland
Parks and Recreation, and Cas­
cade AIDS Project just to name
a few.
H arris served as a Peace
Corps volunteer in the West
Indies for three years in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, re­
vamping public policy and rais­
ing social awareness in infor­
m ation technology, special
needs and HIV/AIDS as well as
many other projects.
The survival of nonprofits
For the past 7 years, she has
spent countless hours talking has been a No. 1 concern for
to members of non-govemmen- many communities, especially
tal organizations (NGO's) about during the current economic
the issues that affect their abil­ crisis, Harris said.
“The situation is becoming
ity to operate and grow.
more
challenging with a daily
T he P o rtland O b se rv e r’s
Joyce Washington Scholarship and growing struggle to find
Fund recently appointed Har­ resources that will keep NGO’s
abreast, even as small busi­
ris as its new executive.
W hile she is transitioning nesses and large corporations
into her new roles, Harris was are suffering,’’ she said.
As President Obama pushes
asked what type of future she
foresees for nonprofits in the economic stimulus packages as
issues for change, Harris said
Portland metropolitan area.
sh e ’s going to m ake sure
nonprofits are made aware of
the opportunities available.
“Survival of nonprofits in a
tough economy is fundam en­
ta lly a b o u t o b ta in in g and
keeping donors enthusiastic
about giving to social pro­
grams and charities that will
better all A m ericans, e sp e­
cially the underprivileged and
underexposed,” Harris said.
“T here’s been so much talk
about small business loans,
expensing and depreciation.
but more than anything, mem­
bers of the nonprofit com m u­
n ity need d o n o rs w ith r e ­
sources in their pockets who
are w illing to share and do
business with them. We as a
society are not going to grow,
add jobs or invest if we don’t
produce citizens who are com­
petent and capable of fulfill­
ing their role in society, no
m atter what that may be.”
H arris said nobody really
knows yet what’s going to hap­
pen to the economy over the
next year or two, but that com­
munity outreach and cohesive­
ness will be one of the keys.
“People need to reach a point
where they believe the worst is
behind us and the best is yet to
come,” she said.
Harris said the size of non­
profit organizations doesn’t
necessarily matter in terms of
success, but what really counts
is the outcome of their mission
and goals.
In order to help non-profits
succeed, Harris said Access
Granted, Inc. will be the cheer­
leader for helping them prepare
for meetings, write letters and
answer critical questions from
potential donors, all of which
help to better illustrate the
struggles they face on a daily
basis and why donation are im­
portant for nonprofits to sur­
vive.
“A ccess G ranted is about
aggressively forming relation­
ships with other like-minded
nonprofit organizations to in­
crease their ability to reach do­
nors, but more importantly to
change people’s lives," Harris
said.
Locksmith Proves Value, Trust in Channel 12 Investigation
Johnny J. Moore, the north­ dence.
The first thing Moore asked
east Portland owner of Afford­
able JJ Lock and Key, passed a for was for ID. This impressed
big test recently by demonstrat­ the news reporter because all
ing he offers lock and key ser­ the other locksmiths they called
failed to ask for ID or had busi­
ness addresses that did not ex­
ist.
The K PTV in v e stig a to r
called Moore “one honest lock­
Ala., where he was raised dur­ in a helpful way. He thought ing locks.
Moore became a locksmith 26
ing the Civil Rights movement back to some experience he had
in the 1960s. He marched with with a lock company in Selma years ago and has never looked
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and how he really enjoyed fix­ back.
In 1969, he moved to Portland
—
with his father and they sent
for the rest of the family a little
State Farm*
Providing Insurance and financial Services
while later.
A fter getting settled here
IN t U I* K I
Home Office. Bloomington. Illinois 61710
with jobs and a place to live,
Moore has never looked back.
He has worked as a sawmill op­
Agent
erator, a w arehousem an at
, Safeway, and graduated from
We m oved to our new location at:
sales training and business
management.
9713 S.W. Capitol, Portland, OR
He said he started his lock­
503-221-3050
sm ith business not only to
Fax 503-227-8757
make money but to serve people
Michael E Harper
photo by M ark W ashington TT he P ortland O bserver
JJ Lock and Key owner Johnny J. Moore advertises his long-time northeast Portland
business. In a recent KPTV Channel 12 consumer report, Moore proved he offered lock
service that was affordable, reliable and trustworthy while other locksmiths had service
that wasn't so good.
vice that is affordable, reliable out did not ask for ID - a prac­
tice that can lead to unautho­
and trustworthy.
W hen KPTV, Channel 12 rized entry.
Moore also correctly charged
news did a consumer investi­
gation on locksmiths, Moore the $65 price he quoted on the
w as the p ro fe ssio n a l they telep h o n e. O ne co m p etito r
called on that did everything failed his test by doubling the
right when they needed help quoted price to $135 and never
unlocking a front door to a resi- asking for ID. Other locksmiths
smith.”
Moore says, for him, hon­
esty comes easy when you are
dealing with people’s safety
and security. He is licensed
and bonded and is recognized
by the B etter Business Bu­
reau.
Moore was bom in Selma,
PDC Seeks ‘Green’ Proposals
The Portland Development
Commission is seeking propos­
als from businesses in the In­
terstate C orridor Urban Re­
newal Area that are interested
in implementing creative, sus­
tainable business practices and
“green" building features.
The Green Features Grant is
for sm all to m ed iu m -sized
w holesalers and m anufactur­
ers to implement sustainable
features in their businesses
th a t in c re a se p ro d u c tiv ity
dem onstrate cost savings, re­
duce environm ental im pact
and contribute to Portland’s
environm ental, economic and
social goals.
A total of $150,000 is avail­
able for fiscal year 2009 - 2010.
Grants will be dispersed on a
reimbursement basis.
“Our goal is to encourage
small to medium-sized busi­
nesses in the ICURA to think
about sustainable features and
what these features might mean
as far as c o st-sa v in g s, in ­
creased productivity and im ­
proved efficiency,” said Randy
Evans, PDC senior program
manager.
Applicants are encouraged to
attend an information session
on Tuesday, May 5, from 2 p.m.
to 5 p.m. at the Oregon Asso­
ciation of Minority Entrepre­
neurs, 4134 N. Vancouver Ave.
For more information, contact
Evans at 503-832-0119or email
evansr@ pdc.us
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