Mundy
Candy
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American community. Partnering with
other communities of color and Portland
State University, the league has pushed for
research to expose how racial disparities are
hurting African American families and chil-
dren. The league has pushed state legisla-
tors to change laws and policies for the ben-
efit of communities of color and low-
income people. And it launched an urban
gardening program with the African
Women’s Coalition.
However, both the county auditor and an
independent audit by the accounting firm
Gary McGee & Co. have found that
Mundy’s credit card expenditures were not
backed up by receipts, leaving no evidence
showing the money was spent on legitimate
programs. About $44,000 out of the
league’s total budget of more than $1 mil-
lion, has not been properly accounted for,
according to those audits.
Lolenzo Poe, board chair of the league,
says the league is working to satisfy the
auditing requirements.
“We are working to assure the county that
we have in place an adequate level of
accountability that ensures the funds are
being spent appropriately,” he said. “We
believe the systems and the necessary over-
sight are in place. And we are hopeful that
the county will see that those controls and
systems are in place.”
Poe said nobody has suggested that the
programs supported by the grant money are
not properly funded and doing a good job.
More than 800 seniors receive services
through the league, which runs a multicul-
tural day center, offers support to family
caregivers and helps seniors stay in their
homes. The league also runs a transporta-
tion center that helps more than 780 seniors
a month get to medical appointments, go
shopping and make other trips.
‘Clearly we want to be
as transparent and
responsible as we can
with public funding’
“We want the outstanding work that goes
into this community and these necessary
and important services to continue, that we
all know are so much needed in North and
Northeast Portland,” Poe said.
Reporting by Willamette Week’s Nigel
Jacquiss said auditors first questioned the
league’s finances in 2009, but the problems
were never resolved. And promised finan-
cial controls were not in place in 2010.
Those stories also report that Mundy, whose
salary at the League is $91,000 a year, has
faced financial losses over real-estate
investments after the housing market crash.
Charles Wilhoite, a certified public
accountant, and a managing director with
the financial services firm Willamette
Management Associates, also serves on the
Urban League’s board. Wilhoite says that
while the accounts were mixed up, it was
because of mistakes, not malfeasance. The
wrong receipts were sent to the auditors, he
said, but Mundy did not use the league’s
credit card for his personal expenses.
“Marcus was not doing anything under-
hand as regards the funds, or his use of the
League credit card,” Wilhoite says. “We
will take every step we can to get clear on
the expenditures that went through.”
A hair salon receipt, for example, widely
reported as charged to the Urban League’s
credit card, for example, should never have
been sent to the auditors because it was not
charged to the league’s credit card.
“His personal expenses always went on
his personal account and never went
through the league charge card. I wouldn’t
want anyone to think he wasn’t being
Marcus Mundy, right, with County
Commissioner loretta Smith earlier this
year. Defenders praise Mundy’s work.
responsible with league funds, because
that’s not the case.”
Wilhoite said the board has been working
to clear up the confusion over the expenses,
and will deliver a full accounting to the
county by the end of this week. He says the
discrepancies have above-board explana-
tions.
“Clearly we want to be as transparent and
responsible as we can with public funding,”
he said. “From my perspective it’s a matter
of making sure we are consistently follow-
ing our own controls.”
Kayse Jama, executive director of the
Center for Intercultural organizing, issued a
statement Monday in support of the Urban
League.
“Over the past 5 years, CIO and the Urban
League have collaborated on a diverse array
of projects which have highlighted their
enormous positive impact for our state’s
African-American community, immigrants
and refugees, and communities of color
more broadly,” Jama says. “It would be hard
to identify an organization of advocates and
community leaders that is more tenacious,
more passionate, and more effective in their
work.
“Since 2007, we have worked together to
ensure that the many efforts toward health
care reform in Oregon have been inclusive,
equitable, and culturally competent. As
partners in the city’s Diversity and Civic
Leadership program, CIO and the Urban
League have worked together to train hun-
dreds of grassroots leaders, and then mobi-
lize those leaders as advocates and organiz-
ers within their communities. Most recently,
we worked within a diverse coalition to cre-
ate an Office of Equity and Humans Rights
in the City of Portland. In every one of these
efforts, the dedication and community-
focused nature of the Urban League has
shone through.
“As an advocate for communities of
color, the Urban League of Portland has
embodied social justice values. CIO stands
with the Urban League, and we look for-
ward to the many collaborations to come, in
the effort to make Oregon an inclusive place
for all.”
The board has appointed Quentin Strode,
former U.S. Bank executive, as interim
president and is starting the search for a new
leader. Strode said he expects his appoint-
ment to last a couple of weeks at most, since
he is in the midst of moving to San Diego.
“I do think there is great work being done
here,” he said. “It is unfortunate that some
common sense things just were not fol-
lowed.”
three times its size. And
Strange World is getting the
word out with shows and mix-
tapes featuring some of the best
of the Northwest.
“People are stepping up to
make the industry look this
way. We have music from pop
to gangsta rap to swag. We’re
not into promoting violence,
but it’s serious hip hop with
finesse,” Shaun said. “Our style
is meant to be in bright lights.”
“We can bring a party atmos-
phere to any venue. And we
have no trouble, and it’s just a
good night for everyone. “
Next up for a video release
through Strange World will be
M-Ei8hty. At just 25, he’s been
rapping since he was 14.
“I bring a little bit of swag to
the table,” he said. “I try to
make street music without the
violence. My punch lines are
funny and my own family don’t
know how hard I can get.”
Find out how hard M-Ei8hty-
can get along with Quiz, Free
Agentz, and more, Dec. 17 at
Dodge City Bar and Grill, 4250
East
4th
Plain
Blvd.,
Vancouver. Contact Blacc
Shaun at Strange World: 360-
910-1789
Candyman
Blacc Shaun
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december 14, 2011 The Portland Skanner Page 13