The Quarterly Newsletter of the Urban League of Portland January 2008
0 ver 800 people packed the Oregon Convention
Center's Portland Ballroom to honor Oregon State
Senator Avel L. Gordly and educator Carolyn Leonard as they received awards at the Urban League of Portland's Equal Opportunity Day (EOD)
Awards Dinner on November 6, 2007.
The Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinnerb_was the most successful in the organization's 62 year history. Portland Trail Blazer President Larry
Miller delivered the keynote speech, with a special guest appearance by # ldraft pick Greg Oden. The event was co-chaired by civic activist Loen Dozono and Sam Brooks, president of Brooks Staffing. The evening's emcee was KATU anchor and reporter
Anna Song.
Bank of America, Fred Meyer, Hilton Hotels Corp.,
Legacy Health System, Lewis and Clark College,
New Seasons Market, NIKE, NW Natural, OHSU,
PGE, Portland Trail Blazers, Providence Health &
Services, Washington Mutual, Wells Fargo and
Willamette Management Associates sponsored the event.
Senator Avel Gordly received the inaugural Urban
League of Portland's Edwin C. "Bill" Berry Leadership Award, named after the Urban League of Portland's first executive director. Carolyn Leonard, Director of Compliance at Portland Public Schools, received the Equal Opportunity Day Award for her contribution to equality in education.
The EOD Dinner supports the Urban League's programs and services.
Portland Trail Blazer President Larry Miller with business owner Paul Knauls
Many voices are needed to make sure the message of social equity is heard. The Urban League of
Portland is launching its 2008 membership campaign in January to continue its work of empowering students to achieve, seniors to live independently, job seekers to find economic security and to help communities of color take part in decisions that affect their lives.
(Continued on page 14)

Urban League Board of Directors
Arleen Barnett
Portland General Electric
Cyreena Boston
Consultant
La Verne Bagley Brown
Civic Activist
June Christnati
Providence Health and Services
Lois Davis
Oregon Health & Science
University
Brad Hutton
Hilton Hotels Corp
Stephanie Hendricks
Lane Powell Spears, Lubersky
Hakim Jones
Citigroup, Smith Barney
Sarah Mensah
Portland Trail Blazers
Lolenzo Poe
Office of the Chair, Multnomah
County Commissioners
Isaac Dixon, Board Chair
Providence Health and Services
John Epstein
Wells Fargo Bank
Bruce Feathers
Featherlite Enterprises, LLC
Dr. Algie Gatewood
Portland Community College
Sonja Henning
NIKE
Steven Shane
NIKE
Charles A. Wilhoite
Willamette Management
Associates
Michael Isom
Urban League Young
Professionals
Urban League Staff
Marcus C. Mundy
Midge Purcell
Howard Moriah
D'Norgia Price
Norma Mullen
Lauretta Slaughter
James Walker
Koriani Baptist
Arleta Christain
Lesley Unthank
Beverly Frazier
Jerry Cupid Alexander
Gwen Burrell
Yusuf Mohamed
Thompson Esskn
Message from the Chairman, Urban League Board of Directors
Isaac E. Dixon
Warm greetings to the members, supporters and friends of the Urban League of Portland. We are delighted that you are reading our newsletter and hope you find the information contained herein informative, important and fun!
The Urban League of Portland is entering an important phase in its growth and development. The "League" is proud to report that it is once again on solid financial footing and looks forward to supporting our community with the types of programs and services that our members have come to expect of us. In that vein, the Urban League remains committed to its core principles of equality of opportunity in jobs, education, and housing. I would personally like to add another principle which cannot be overlooked in our desire to improve our community, and that is access to affordable healthcare.
1 in 6 Oregonians is without healthcare coverage. As a community we cannot afford to let this tend continue. Fully half of all personal bankruptcies have their origin in large, unanticipated medical expenses hitting the pocketbook of a single on a fixed income.
Even those that are fortunate enough to have health insurance live in constant fear of being
"wiped out" by an illness that drains their savings and other financial assets.
Because healthcare access is such an important issue to our community, the
Urban League of Portland (working with our community partners) will be engaged in the dialogue surrounding this issue. We cannot address the issue of healthcare access without further discussions about economic justice and bringing more family wage jobs to our communities. Our city and state are doing well economically. Our role is to engage our civic leadership in discussions about how we plan to ensure that every community reaps the rewards of a strong and vibrant economy.
Voter registration and participation are meaningful ways to influence change at the local, state and national levels. Active participation in the electoral process is something that the Urban League has always championed and 2008 will be no different.
In summary, look for continuity as the Urban League of Portland remains true to our roots of supporting our seniors, education and jobs. Look for change as we work with new community partners to bring new and different services to the communities that we support.

Message from the President and CEO, Urban League Board of Portland
Marcus C. Mundy
On behalf of the staff, volunteers and program participants of your Urban League of Portland, I would like to wish you a happy and prosperous new year. I would also like to remind you of a fact critical to our community's success in 2008: it is time.
It is time for us to again make the Urban League's mission of empowerment in education, employment and economic security the guiding principle in all we do.
It is time for us to be accountable for ourselves and each other in our community, and to brook no excuses for failure.
It is time for us to embrace the National Urban League's blueprint for economic equality, the "Opportunity
Compact", which guides us directly back to the economic and social mainstream of Amerca.
It is time, in this election year, to effectively re-engage in the political and governmental processto further the economic and social goals of our collective community.
It is time to acknowledge that issues of disparity in education, employment, economic opportunity, healthcare, entrepreneurship, and housing are inextricably linked and we cannot begin addressing one without consideration of the others.
It is time to honor and protect our beloved seniors, through enhanced legislation and better programs addressing their needs to have a well deserved and well earned continued quality of life.
2008 portends challenges but, more than that, offers hope.
Our community has an opportunity to effect change in leadership if we but vote.
"2008 portends challenges but, more than that, offers hope,"
Our community has an opportunity for self determination if we but focus. Our community has an opportunity to wrest control of its future if we come together.
I encourage each of you to embrace our strategic goals of quality education and employment. I request that each of you become an individual member of the Urban League of Portland, which depends on you to remain vibrant, and encourage your companies to support us as well.
I hope you visit our website frequently
(www.ulpdx.org) to keep abreast of the many exciting activities to be undertaken by your Urban League of Portland in
2008. May we all have a great and productive year.

N mo
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"It has been an exciting and challenging time for the Education/Youth Development
Department. We saw the birth of new programs and the continued development of existing ones as the League worked to support families and youth in our community," says Howard Moriah, Urban League Director of Education.
Sun, Fun and Learning at the Urban League's Summer Academy eight week long summer academy, which aimed to improve academics through educational and fun activities, and exposure to career industries.
Young people were given the opportunity to join in activities such as kayaking, rock climbing, and caving. "Many of the Academy participants had never done these kinds of activities," says
Moriah. "Our goal was to boost their self esteem, raise kwareness of individual strengths, connect them to the environment , while getting them out of the city and into the coirntryside."
Visiting 8 Oregon bUsinesses also made them aware of future employment possibilities.
Taking the PULSE of Portland's Middle Schoolers
The Portland Urban League Successful Education (PULSE) program partners with principals, teachers, parents, students and other community based organizations, to provide academic coaching to low achieving middle school students in Mathematics and Literacy. By intervening at this point in students' academic careers, we will make an impact on high school preparedness and, ultimately, the graduation rate among students of color and low-income families will improve. PULSE will be launched in January 2008 at George Middle School.
Make a Difference : Be a Mentor
The Urban League's NULITES (National Urban League
Incentives to Excel and Succeed) mentoring program is designed to promote civic engagement, academic achievement, personal growth and leadership among African American youth.
If you can give 6 hours of service per month for one year, with at least one face-toface activity a month, you can be the mentor that a child desperately needs.

,
Senior Center
Concierge Cupid
Alexander lends a hand to "Mother" Russell
The Senior Services Center staff continues to keep seniors busy on a daily basis. Our very suacessful programs continue to interest the community at large as well as the seniors who come to the Center every day.
1.
The Sabin Community Development Corporation donated computers to the Urban League Senioi
Center. Thus began the program's first formal educational activity, a learning center for seniors.
Volunteers are encouraged to come to assist seniors master computer skills.
each month. In these classes, seniors write stories about their lives. The authors will showcase their literary works in the fall.
On the other side of all these activities, four case managers served 225 individuals, offering information on a variety of subjects including benefits, fraud alerts and quality service. Critical to the role of case managers is their knowledge of programs and services, some staffed by volunteers that help with repairs to enhance the safety of residents.
The League's goal is to allow seniors to remain in their homes and preserve their independence.
-"Nwpw.mulm.) immummen.
Chip Shields, were the hosts at this event.
Each of the sessions is usually filled to capacity for this free service provided by volunteers from
AARP and NABA (Assn. Black Accountants).
In 2008 we will work with the women at the Heal-
while they make quilts together. Our seniors will talk with the younger women about domestic violence in discussion groups while they sew.
shares.
community

Rep. Chip Shields, House District 43 turning point for the
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IJ
State of Oregon. We were able to pass key economic development initiatives like providing $20 million to jumpstart street
E
0
The 2007 legislative session was a car manufacturing in the Portland area.
We invested $1.35 million in organizations that provide support for small and minority owned businesses. We were able to reinvest in the entire education spectrum from pre-kindergarten to college.
And we were able to
"We were able to lay the groundwork for reforming our broken health care re-invest in the entire education system.
spectrum"
During the 2008 supplemental session my colleagues and I will work to improve
Oregon's economic wellbeing by investing in transportation infrastructure so that freight and people move more safely and efficiently.
We will examine the progress of the financial assistance program for higher education students, Oregon's Shared Responsibility Model. We will hear reports on the
Oregon Prescription Drug Program, and design efforts to encourage more Oregonians to enroll.
On Wednesday January 8th I held a Public
Town Hall meeting on living wage jobs. I will also host a Town Hall forum on health care on Wednesday, February 6 and a
Town Hall on education (Pre-K to Higher
Ed) on Saturday March 8. If you are interested in discussing any of these issues, please visit my website
(www.chipshields.com) for more information on these upcoming events.
cu
The Urban League is launching an organizing and outreach program in North/
Northeast Portland as part of the city's
Diversity and Civic Engagement Organizing Project.
The goal of the Project is to increase community participation in the governance of the City. The $67,000 grant will enable the
League to focus on community organizing, leadership development, and communications to encourage greater engagement among communities of color.
The Urban League of Portland will organizing community gatherings and workshops to address such topics
Voter registration will be a focus as city housing, community development and planning, employment and economic development policies. Voter registration will be a feature of the project.
If you would like to become involved, contact Midge Purcell at mpurcell@ulpdx,org or visit our website www.ulpdx.org.

The Urban League of Portland has adopted the National Urban League's Opportunity Compact - Blueprint for Economic Equality"; an action plan to address the challenges faced by urban communities.
What does this mean for Portland? We believe it means engaging all parties - public and private to expand opportunities for advancement and progress amongst the poor, disadvantaged and underserved.
The cornerstone and guiding principles of the Opportunity Compact are:
The Opportunity to Thrive (Children)
Every child in America deserves to live a life free from poverty; every child deserves a quality education.
The Urban League's strategic plan for education targets 6-8th graders to ensure they have the skills to succeed when they reach high school.
Opportunity to Earn (Jobs) - Every willing adult in America should have a job that allows them to earn a decent wage; and equal!, access to resources that enhance employability.
The employment picture in Portland has improved in recent years, falling to 4.8% in 2007, but unemployment amongst African Americans remains stubbornly high. The Urban League's three year strategic plan supports entry level job seekers, vocational training and workforce diversity.
14% of Portlanders age 16-24 8,000 young people are neither in school nor employed. And with a growing population, more kids in poverty, and increasing economic pressure to achieve higher levels of education, Portland is likely to see an increase in the number of young people falling through the cracks.
African American men earn much less than their white counterparts-on the national average, $13,000 a year less for college graduates and $6,000 a year less for highschool graduates-which increases their risk of being pushed into poverty if things go even just a little bit off track.
The Opportunity to Prosper (Entrepreneurship)
The Urban League believes that entrepreneurship and wealth creation is key to thriving communities and supports polices and legislation to increase and promote the growth of minority business.
Opportunity to Own (Housing) -access to the financial security that comes from owning a home.
Homeownership amongst African American and other people of color in Portland lags behind the national average.
The Urban League is working with community partners and financial institutions to increase homebuyers' education and promote more affordable housing.

The Urban League of Portland extends a special thank you to the companies who generously sponsored the 2007 Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner. Please support them, as they make the work we do possible.
RAMS
Bankof America
Health System
do
Portland & Executive Tower
+
OREGON
UNIVERSITY
Portland General Electric
Health & Services l0
Willamette Management Associates
Equal Opportunity Day
Sponsors 2007
Portland Trail Blazers
Bank of America
Fred Meyer
Hilton Hotel Corp.
Legacy Health System
Lewis & Clark College
New Seasons Market
NIKE
NW Natural
Oregon Health & Science
University
Portland General Electric
Providence Health &
Services
Washington Mutual
Wells Fargo
Willamette Management
Associates

The Urban League of Portland is proud to work with many corporate partners who share our mission of equality in employment, education and economic security for all. Each newsletter will feature two of our partners.
This issue: PGE and NW
"Making Portland a welcoming city for diverse people is critically important to the well being of its business community and enables and enriches all of our lives," says Arleen Barnett,
Vice President, Administration at Portland
General Electric and Urban League Board
Member for 3 years.
Arleen Barnett has been a member of the Urban League for more than 20 years, and in 2004 she was asked to join the Board. Arleen worked on the strategic plan for the
League and was instrumental in adding new members, and was a member of the
Executive Search Team as the League went through the process of appointing a permanent President and CEO.
Arlene continues to be involved in League strategy. She supports the League in her dealings as a Vice President of PGE. For example, PGE sponsors a biannual Diversity Summit, which w&S emceed by Urban League President Marcus Mundy in 2007.
At that summit, League Board Member Charles Wilhoite was the recipient of PGE's
Diversity Champion award. This award was presented at the League's annual dinner event.
"Corporate citizenship is a guiding principle at NW Natural.
Each year, the company focuses a significant portion of our corporate contributions on programs and organizations that help children and families at risk, including the Urban
League of Portland" says Von Summers, NW Natural
Manager of Community Affairs.
Healthy communities also depend on dedicated volunteers. "NW Natural encourages its employees to contribute their time, resources and talent through a variety of recognition programs. For example, our volunteer sabbatical allows one employee each year to volunteer up to three months at their favorite organization with full pay and benefits. Employees are also encouraged to apply for an annual grant on behalf of the non-profit organizations for which they volunteer."
Throughout its service territory in Oregon and southwest Washington, NW Natural invests resources to help ensure all community members have the necessary resources to reach their full potential.

Leader
Seven of Portland's prominent African American organizations hosted a reception organized by the
Urban League to welcome Connie Van Brunt, the new Executive Director of the Portland Schools
Foundation, to the city.
The reception, held in July at the Legacy Emanuel
Hospital Atrium, was jointly sponsored by the
Albina Ministerial Alliance, the African American
Alliance, the African American Chamber of Commerce, Black United Fund, Portland Community
Reinvestment Initiatives, Inc., Self Enhancement,
Inc. and the Urban League of Portland.
Connie Van Brunt is a nationally recognized educator from Chicago who was recruited to lead the
Portland Schools Foundation after a natiokwide search.
The Urban League is a proud sponsor of the "My
Friend with Aids is Still My Friend", project spearheaded by the Cascade Aids Project. That message appears on five bus benches across Portland.
My friend with AIM, is still my friend
800.777.AIDS
The goals of this campaign are to raise Awareness about HIV/AIDS in the African American Community; reduce stigma surrounding the disease, encourage testing so that people know their status, and to involve members of the African American
Community in helping to reduce the rates of infection through education and community building.
Marcus Mundy, Connie Van Brunt and friends at welcome reception
The Portland Schools Foundation is an independent, community-based organization mobilized to ensure a first- rate education for every child, in every public school, in every Portland neighborhood. Ms.
Van Brunt took up her new post on July 9th.
Hundreds of young readers and their families come out for an afternoon of reading, crafts and storytelling in September at North Portland's Community
Book Fair, 'Do the Right Thing and Read'.
Co-sponsored by the Urban League and the North
Portland Library, the book fair attracts over
300 people.
The Book Fair celebrates books and reading. Children take part in fun activities and at the end of the day are given a free book as a reward.
Book Fair volunteer,
Myrtle Carr
Superheroes "Bookman" and " Bookwoman" who champion reading and fight illiteracy, are the official mascots of the book fair.

embers of Portland's Young Professionals (YP) are defining, developing, implementing, and leading the next generation civil rights agenda.
The Urban League of Portland Young Professional's mission is to engage professionals, at the beginning of their careers in the National Urban League's movement towards the achievement of social and economic equality.
Hakim Jones, a financial analyst for CiticorU Smith
Barney and an Urban League Board Member is a driving force behind the local YP chapter. "We support the goals and mission of the National Urban,
League by serving our communities and developing our members through mentoring, tutoring, scholarships, political engagement, and leadership development programs," he said.
"Our local chapter is working to help the League with its local programs, such as education and youth. Our members are exactly the kind of people that make excellent role models to show kids, especially kids of color, that it is possible to succeed."
Our members make excellent role models".
YP also works to strengthen our members own personal and professional development.
Young Professionals provide great networking opportunities for people who want to meet others who are active, motivated, socially engaged and who care about giving back to their community.
Young Professional, Hakim Jones
The Education Department has a variety of volunteer opportunities. It is critical for our young people to know and see that there are adults in our community who support and believe in them. Volunteer opportunities range from mentoring (both one-to-one and group) mentioned above, to tutoring, assisting with spring break and summer programming.
Take the opportunity to impact the young people of our community in meaningful ways through volunteering.
The League is seeking volunteer mentors for youth in the North Portland communities of
New Columbia and St. John's. This is a great opportunity to give back to youth in our community. If you are interested in mentoring please contact Howard Moriah, Education Director @ 503-280-2642. It only takes one caring adult to impact a child's life.

At the Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner
(clockwise from above): Senator Margaret
Carter and Urban League Board Member
Cyreena Boston, Awardee Senator Avel Gordly escorted by Board Member Steven Shane,
Guest speakers Portland Trail Blazer Greg
Oden and Blazer President Larry Miller, Emcee
Anna Song, Awardee Carolyn Leonard, Kevin
Rogers of Freightliner and friends,
Center Honorary Co-chair Loen
Dozono and parents Nobi and
George Azumano.
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1144
444.4

Some of the 800 guests at the Urban
League of Portland Equal Opportunity Day
Awards Dinner, including Vanessa Gaston, former Urban League President & CEO
(second row, far right).
Event singers Serena Wesley and Tiffany
Dempsey (right)
1--
....
The Urban League of
Portland warmly thanks our
Business Members for their continuing Support
African American Chamber of
Commerce
Boyd Coffee Company
Brooks Staffing
CMTS, Inc.
Enterprise Community Partners
FM Burch & Associates Inc
Fred Meyer Inc
Freightliner LLC
Garvey Schubert Barer
Geneva's Shear Perfection
Hilton Hotel Portland
Intel Corporation
Legacy Health System
LifeWorks NW
Neil Kelly
New Seasons Market
North West Natrual
OHSU
On Point Commmunity Credit
Union
PCC Structurals, Inc.
Port of Portland
Portland Community College
Portland Development Commission
Shedrain
Tonkon Torp LLP
US Bank
Walsh Construction Co.
Wells Fargo Bank
Wieden + Kennedy

Continued from page 1
IL
The League is changing to an easy-to-remember calendar year membership cycle. Join at the be6inning year for a full-year of membership benefits.
Last year, with your support:
We successfully re-launched our Summer Academy, which connected inner-city Middle School students to forestry, kayaking, caving, academic support and career exploration;
Our after-school and in-school tutoring program helped 60% of our participating students reach or exceed benchmark grade levels in math and literacy; and achieved a 100% success rate for high school seniors in the program progressing to college or further education, while our mentors gave young people the guidance and role models they need;
Our senior program served over 800 seniors with meals, transportation, in-home care and activities for the spirit, mind and body. We also launched one of the only Grandparent support programs in the region for grandparents raising their grandchildren.
Your Urban League advocated for the community at the city, county and state legislature, representing the interest of African Americans and others on issues ranging from health care, education, transportation and the environment.
Movement in 2008?
2
008 will be even better as we move ahead with our new strategic plan. Our goals are to improve the graduation rate amongst African American students; to enhance diversity in Portland's workforce; to give job seekers the support they need to achieve economic success. A new organizing project is aimed at increasing civic engagement in Portland's communities of color.
The bigger our membership the stronger our voice :
You will be a part of a national movement that will help set an agenda for change in the 2008 election; and make and make an impact in the board rooms of Portland; in the city, county
, the state legislature, and in our local communities.

Join the Urban League of Portland and make positive changes in the community!
For more than 60 years, the Urban League of Portland has helped empower African Americans and others to achieve equality in education, employment and economic security. Your tax-deductible contribution will directly support the Urban League's much-needed programs, outreach and advocacy.
In addition to individual memberships, the League also has membership programs for business and community partners (includes nonprofit organizations, professional associations, and faith-based organizations). Does your company match contributions? You can also remember the Urban League in your estate plan.
To learn more about the Urban League's membership programs or other charitable giving options, please call (503) 280-2600.
To become an individual member, please complete this application and return it to the Urban League of Portland at 10 N. Russell St. Portland, OR 97227.
MEMBER INFORMATION:
Name:
Address:
City:
Telephone:
E-Mail
Member Type
Senior or Student (K-12)
Individual
Patron
...
State:
Fax:
Contribution
$10
$35 - $99
$100 $499
$500
$1,000
$2,500 & above
Zip:
Benefits membership card, newsletter, and notification about
League events membership card, newsletter, and notification about
League events all of the above, plus recognition in the League's annual report and a copy of annual report all of the above, plus invitation to yearly reception with the League's President/CEO all of the above, plus recognition at the League's
Annual Equal Opportunity Day Dinner all of the above, plus 2 complimentary tickets to the
League's Annual Equal Opportunity Day Dinner and recognition on the League's website
METHOD OF PAYMENT:
Check endosed for $
Credit Card Visa
Signature
Please make check payable to the Urban League of Portland.
MasterCard Credit Card #
Exp. Date
Or you can join on-line at www.ulpdx.org
*All memberships are ANNUAL Calendar Year from January to December 31st.

Urban League of Portland
Empowering Communities.
Changing Lives.
10 North Russell Street
Portland, OR 97227 www.ulpdx.org
Urban League of Portland
Upcoming Events
Senior Mardi Gras PartyFebruary
Spring Speaker Series
Career Connections Job Fair Spring
Annual Membership Meeting May
Urban League Summer Academy
Save the Date
Equal Opportunity Day Awards Dinner 2008
October 16, 2008
Urban League of Portland 10 N. Russell Street, Portland, OR 97227 503 280 2600 www.ulpdx.org