Local News
Contractors
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Both Burch and Posey know the minority
contracting landscape better than most. But
they have played different roles as advo-
cates. As a consultant Burch works on
projects from the design stage forward,
often for years before construction begins.
She recommends contractors based on
their capacity, bonding and interest in dif-
ferent types of work, she says. And as an
advocate, she often helps link NAMC mem-
bers to projects in which she has zero
financial interest.
“I don’t believe we are successful
unless everyone is working,” she says.
Posey too has been a vocal, but more
controversial advocate, opposing for
example, the prevailing wage law that
requires all contractors to provide union
wages and benefits on public projects.
Currently Posey has retired his truck-
ing firm Workhorse Construction.
Burch, Rahming and Colas say they
don’t want to go on record about the leader-
ship disagreement.
But Burch admits she was blindsided at
Posey’s opposition, and hurt at the sugges-
tion that she is not an equal member of
NAMCO, after spending many years cham-
pioning minority contractors.
After resigning, Burch says she received
emails from more than 30 supporters, prais-
ing her work for the organization. Several
said they were considering resigning from
NAMCO. Some asked for their member-
Hartley says he has benefited from free
classes Rahming offers contractors.
“He will sit down and teach you whatever
you need to know,” he says. “Using the
computer to improve your estimates, job
costing and blueprint reading; how to
understand contracts: a lot of people go to
that class for free.
“And Faye works tirelessly, relentlessly to
build business for contractors. She’s one of
the main reasons for NAMC’s success.”
Evan Williams of Tri Star Flagging and
SBG Construction, emailed The Skanner
with a letter of support for Burch and Rah-
ming.
“Faye and Maurice have taken time out of
their day to go with me into meetings …, he
wrote. “I cannot emphasize strongly
enough how her support and encourage-
ment has been what we needed to get past
some very trying times and has helped us
keep our doors open. In fact, our largest
project to date has been due to Faye Burch
working to get us that contract.
“They have worked behind the scenes
in an amazing way to get work for
NAMC members and work that did not
directly benefit them.”
Vicqui Guevara, a former board offi-
cer, and owner of the nursery and
landscaping firm, Valley Growers, says
she spent three months as NAMC pres-
ident. The volunteer job consumed 30
percent of her time.
“I’m so sorry all this is happening,” she
says. “Maurice and Faye have unselfishly
given to this organization. Faye has been a
very good advocate for me. She’s the brains
of the organization. She’s untiring and ded-
icated. I’ve known her work through the
night to help people.”
Guevara says she hopes NAMC members
will give Colas a chance. It’s important that
NAMCO continue to succeed, she says,
because minority contractors need those
opportunities to show they can do excellent
1963 March on Washington. They came to
demand jobs and freedom. They left with
the words of Martin Luther King Junior’s
dream speech lighting up their hearts and
minds. And they went to work for change.
One result of the mass protest was the
passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and
started in 1955 with Rosa Parks and the
Montgomery bus boycott and led eventual-
ly to the Birmingham campaign,” Rev.
Haynes said. “The end of segregation, the
voting rights act, President Obama in the
White House: That would not have hap-
pened without the push of the civil rights
ship fees to be returned.
Over the years, Burch has secured mil-
lions of dollars of business for Portland’s
minority contractors, who line up to praise
her.
Take Nathaniel Hartley, a contractor who
specializes in plasterwork.
“Both Faye and Maurice have helped my
company tremendously,” Hartley told The
Skanner. “I received two major projects
because of the work they did.”
“I don’t believe we are
successful unless everyone
is working”
Andrew Colas
work and compete at the highest level.
“Our members need a chance to build
their capacity,” she says. “We can do the
job; we have the manpower, bondability and
we have the integrity. We are competitive.”
Despite the controversy, Colas has noth-
ing but praise for both Burch and Posey.
They both deserve a lot of credit for their
work over the years, he says.
“Faye’s been a tireless advocate for the
organization. She did a lot of things that
opened my eyes to the disparities that exist.
As a young person coming into this industry
I definitely appreciate the work of all the
people who have come before me.”
Maurice Rahming says minority contrac-
tors have made progress, citing projects
such as the Gresham Courthouse, the Sell-
wood Bridge and TriMet light rail
construction .
March
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Martin Luther King’s dream and want to
make their voices heard for equity for all
Americans.
And Michael Alexander, executive direc-
tor of the Urban League of Portland, says
we know that action is needed locally as
well as nationally.
“In Portland, unemployment for African
Americans is often double the rate of the
majority population, and a 2012 federal
inquiry found that Police Bureau engaged in
a pattern or practice of excessive force,” he
says. “The issues that compelled the 1963
March of Washington for Jobs and Free-
dom, including lack economic opportunity
and police brutality, are still the pressing
issues of today.”
Between 200,000 and 300,000 people ral-
lied at the mall in the U.S. capitol for the
the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
“This was the culmination of the struggles
of the modern civil rights movement that
movement.”
But as communities across the country
celebrate how far we have come since the
60s, they also will be highlighting the con-
tinuing injustices and recent setbacks that
have placed civil rights back on the nation-
al agenda. “For me as we reflect on the
issues addressed by the March on Aug 28th
1963: Jobs, police brutality, education,
housing, economic opportunity, I can’t help
have a heavy heart for the failure of my gen-
eration to pass on those lessons to our kids,”
says JoAnn Hardesty, of the Campaign to
end the New Jim Crow.
“Today these issues are still the unfin-
ished business of the civil rights movement
and we must re-dedicate ourselves to pro-
tecting the civil rights of everyone because
we see how quickly civil rights disappear
under a culture of fear.”
A broad range of civil rights organizations
are sponsoring the march.
before they could allow the medical exam-
iner to take his body. Later the medical
examiner explained that a heart problem,
present since birth, had caused his death.
“Every time his heart beat, it would pinch
his left coronary artery,” Grace explains.
The shaking was not a seizure but caused
by ventricular tachycardia, a problem that
might have been reversed if the restaurant
had had a defibrillator.
“I think every public space should have a
defibrillator,” she says.
While not common, the death of young
athletes from heart abnormalities is a known
problem. Immediate use of a defibrillator
can save the person’s life.
The death of Eddie Barnett Jr. in 2005
prompted his mother Teena Johnson to
launch a campaign for defibrillators to be
installed in all Portland high schools. The
campaign reached that goal in 2009, and in
2010 the Oregon legislature passed a law
requiring defibrillators on all high schools
and college campuses.
Businesses of 50,000 square-feet, or
more, where 25 or more people congregate,
also are required to have defibrillators.
Michael’s father Pastor Simon Muange,
came to the United States in 1995 after
working with missionaries in Congo. The
rest of the family left Kinshasa to join him
in 1999. Despite the culture shock of mov-
ing to America from Africa, the family
settled in Portland and quickly learned Eng-
lish. Their first languages were Lingala and
French.
Michael’s elder siblings all went on to
college. Rebecca and Grace graduated from
George Fox University. Simon attends Port-
land State University. His younger sister,
Dorcas is following Michael to Warner
Pacific. Divine, 13, attends Ron Russell
Middle School. The youngest boys,
Andrew,11, and Emmanuel,10, attend Mill
Park Elementary School.
A viewing will be held 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday Aug. 9 at Caldwell’s Henessey and
Goetsch 20 N.E. 14th Ave., Portland
97232. Memorial service is 10-11 a.m. Sat-
urday at the same location. After the service
mourners will head to the burial at Skyline
Memorial Garden, 4101 N.W. Skyline Blvd.
Portland.
A reception will follow at 3 p.m. in the
IRCO gymnasium, 10301 N.E. Glisan St.
A fund has been created to help the
Muange family pay for the funeral. You can
contribute directly to the family or at any
Wells Fargo bank. Tell the cashier you want
to contribute to Michael Ndanga Muange
donation fund. Wells Fargo bank account
number: 511500507 5586971839
Contact for the family is Grace
Muange 503 875-1956 or by email at
gracekambumba@gmail.com) or Matthieu
at 503 446-7933.
The issues that compelled the 1963 March of
Washington for Jobs and Freedom, including
lack economic opportunity and police brutality,
are still the pressing issues of today
Muange
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around,” she says. “He was funny and
encouraging. And he had a lot of friends. He
knew how to make people feel good about
themselves. That’s why they wanted to be
around him.
“Michael had a strong faith and he kept
his word,” she says.
A nurse, Grace explains how and why her
family lost their beloved son and brother so
suddenly last Tuesday evening. “Simon
came home, but Michael’s friend’s parents
wanted to take them to eat.”
At the restaurant, Michael barely had time
to take a sip of water before he slumped
over,” she said. His companions performed
CPR and Michael briefly started breathing
again, but gasped for air and shook so hard
they feared he was having a seizure. Para-
medics rushed Michael to Adventist
Hospital, but it was too late to save him.
Grace says the family, who are devout
Christians, prayed from 6 pm to 11 pm
August 7, 2013 The Portland Skanner Page 3