ust as the talking drums of Africa once brought vital messages to the African peop
so does the Portland Urban League bring vital information to you!
A Quarterly Publication of the Portland Urban League
Volume 1 Number 1
Fall 1986
work independently are the Center's primary goals.
Many of the students who
come to the Center face difficult
home situations. Others come
from single parent families where
there are few resources or little
support for educational development. Yet, these young people are
resilient survivors. They are
bright, spirited students who want
to learn; and they do learn when
given outlets for creative and critical thinking.
For some students, the Center
is a second home; a welcome alternative to street 'corners, television,
family problems or drug abuse.
The Center provides many with
their first opportunity to be a part
of something. Students feel a
sense of ownership, involvement
and control in a program that is
"theirs."
Every student who came to
Whitney Young Learning Center
And work we do! As members
of the community, you probably
have some understanding of what
the Urban League does. You probably know that the organization
provides much-needed services to
youth, seniors, and low-income
people throughout the city. However, you may not know how our
programs are run, who in particular they serve, what they hope to
achieve, and what accomplishments they have made. The following pages will profile the
Urban League At Work:
eh
Yoto
operzDio6
The Urban League's Whitney
Young Learning Center, an after
school homework assistance program for students in grades 7
through 12 who live in North and
Northeast Portland, will open
October 13th. The program serves
youth who need but could not
otherwise afford supplemental
academic assistance. Professional
staff and qualified volunteers
provide tutoring, study and basic
skill development, academic encouragement and student advocacy. Helping students build the
self-confidence and motivation to
S
E
last year clearly had the potential
to be a 3.0 or 4.0 student. Yet, few
believed themselves capable of
such grades. As one student realized, "making good grades is something you have to learn to do yourself, but the Learning Center
helps you have the confidence to
do it."
"Every student...clearly
had the potential to be
a 3.0 or 4.0 student."
If, as a community, we are to
change patterns of failure to
stories of success; everyone must
engage in the process of educating
,our youth. As the poet, Gil
Scott-Heron put it, "No one can do
everything, but everyone can do
something." Working together, we
can empower our young people to
build a better world.
Deborah Cochrane, Director
Where Have All The Dreamers Gone?
"When I told my father that I wanted to become a teacher, he tried to
understand, but he told me he hoped I would become a good farmer with
land of my own. This was his highest dream. We were poor and there was
no money to send me to schools that would train me to become a teacher,
I understood this, but I still dreamed."
John Henrik Clarke
Today, John Henrik Clarke is an accomplished historian, college professor, writer and
community activist. Whatever happened to the dreamers like John Henrik Clarke; Dose
marvelous people who, mesmerized by the brilliance of the moon and stars, dreamed of places
where everything was possible; places where can't becomes can, where no becomes yes, where
apathy becomes determination and despair becomes hope. Oh, whatever happened to those
dreamers who thought, studied, created, planned and accomplished while the rest of the world
routinely slept, ate, cried and worried?
At one time, the black community was filled with dreamers. Harriet was one; Martin was
one; Malcolm was another. The black preachers -- they were dreamers too. Have we become such
prisoners of our circumstance that we are paralyzed without great vision and without plans for
positive action? Surely we understand that our people have endured far worse than we endure
today. Why then are we relenting? Why have so many, many people thrown up their hands in
frustration and succumbed to the negativhnfluences of the world? Why have so many people
given up?
I am certain that were Harriet Tubman to somehow come back to earth as an angel and visit
our community today -- she would be outraged at our lack of courage to dream. "How could you
possibly have given up?" she would ask. "Why, you have so much to be thankful for, and so much
to be proud of," she would tell us. "You have a black man, Dr. Matthew Prophet, as Superintendent of your schools and these schools teach all children. Why, in my day, a person of our
color could be hanged just for trying to learn how to read! You have State Representative
Margaret Carter as one of your legislators. Don't you know that we couldn't even vote in my
day? You have Mercedes Diez and Aaron Brown as two of your judges, and you've got a black
U.S. Marshall, Kernan Bagley. How could you possibly have given up? You have James DePriest
as your symphony director, Cleveland Williams as director of your parks and Dick Bogle as one
of your city commissioners. You have Avel Gordly who is nationally known for working to free
South Africa and Bill Hilliard as Executive Editor of your daily newspaper. There is no reason
for you to give up! And praise God, you've got Ron Herndon and Rev. John Jackson who
aggressively speak on your behalf. Lord knows, our people still have a long way to go, but there is
no reason for despair, my children, there is only reason for action!"
In a time when the nation's priorities favor bombs over books and missiles over milk, it is
becoming increasingly important that we dream. We must not sit idly by filled with self-pity and
lacking in self-confidence. We must think of ways to improve our situation and then we must act
on those thoughts. Much of this will come simply from caring -- caring enough to do what is
right and what is needed to improve our community.
Dream! Envision a community thriving, with businesses that are profitable, with streets clear
of prostitution, drugs and crime; a community in which children are learning and growing.
Dream! Do this for yourselves and for your children. Like caterpillars turning to butterflies,
dreams naturally lead to action. If you dream, you can act. If you love, you can help. The Urban
League dares to dream. Join Us! Together, we will begin a new era of progress.
Chief Executive Officer
Arthur Andersen and Company.
They received rave reviews.
Michael Smith worked in customer service at U.S. Bancorp,
Lloyd Center Branch and according to Michael's supervisor,
his job performance was outstanding. Michael's personal feelings about his experience were
"I see myself differently since
I became part of the Academy,"
declared Michael Smith. Two
years ago, the lanky high school
senior was considered a problem
student with little chance of
making it to graduation, much
less of leaving Jefferson High
School and getting a fast track job
in a bank.
Today, Michael Smith is considered one of the top students at
Jefferson High School in terms of
leadership ability and likelihood
of success. The behavioral turnaround is directly attributable to
Michael's experiences in the
Financial Services Academy.
The Academy, which is sited
at Jefferson High School and operated by the Urban League in partnership with the school district
and the financial service sector, is
one of a half dozen such programs
across the country. The program
targets students who have potential but who are, for one reason or
another, on the verge of dropping
out of school.
Students are placed in classes
geared specifically to preparing
them for work in the world of financial services. When students
have problems, in the classroom
or out, the Urban League provides
academic and counseling support.
In 1984, the first year of the
Academy program, its students
dropped out of school at a rate of
37 percent. Last year, however,
the program's drop-out rate was
only 5 percent below the school
district's average. In that same
year, a comparison group of students had a drop-out rate of 40
percent. Not only has the
Academy program had a dramatic
impact on drop-out rates, but it
has also resulted in improved student grades and, more importantly, more positive attitudes.
Over the past summer,
Academy students went to work at
First Interstate Bank, U.S. Bancorp, Standard Insurance and
If it wasn't for the
Academy, I would have
spent my summer just
running around on the
streets, watching television and wasting time."
also positive. "I learned a lot
about myself this summer. I also
learned a lot about other people,
particularly how to be patient
with irate customers. If it wasn't
for the Academy, I would have
spent my summer just running
around on the streets, watching
television and wasting time. Now,
I think about college and becoming a bank executive." He
smiles and adds, "Who knows, I
might even become a bank president!"
Satya Gabriel, Director
14dolize.Lek
rm"-ife.a4fitoktri-Growing up is difficult for the
most stable teens. For those who
lack basic support systems at
home and elsewhere, life can
sometimes become a crazy web of
thoughts and actions which often
lead to violent crimes.
The Urban League's Adoles-
cent/Parent Treatment Program
(APT), works with young people
who have committed serious
crimes but who have, essentially,
been given a second chance by the
courts.
Services provided to these
youths include intensive individual and family counseling, advocacy and close street supervision; a program in which staff
monitors behavior daily in order
that crises are identified immediately.
In addition, the APT team
teaches strategies and provides
practical information about controlling behavior.
Due to the phasing out of
MacLaren, a juvenile detention
center, the program expects to
handle many young people who, in
previous years, were sent to institutions. Most of these youth have
committed violent or aggressive
crimes and thefts. However, there
is a significant increase in the
number of adolescent sex offenders served.
The Urban League's APT
program4las the only therapeutic
staff in the state of Oregon addressing the needs of multicultural families with severely delinquent youth.
David Gonzales, Director
There is no greater challenge
to the Portland Urban League
than that of reducing the high
rate of unemployment among
blacks. Estimated at some 30 percent for adults and 60 percent for
youth, the rate of black unemployment is an unforgivable blemish
on the face of an otherwise beautiful city.
Quite naturally, the demand
for employment assistance increases each day. To address the
problem, the Urban League's
Employment Department provides
job search assistance, counseling,
and workshops for more than 200
persons each month. Specifically,
the service includes job referrals,
resume review and recommendations, and guidance to applicants
seeking education and skills
training.
Unfortunately, due to limited
resources, these services still fall
significantly short of our goals.
However, plans are currently
under way which will result in the
development of a comprehensive
employment service. The enhance-
tions or concerns about something
we are doing or, if you just want
to say something nice, the Urban
League is ready to listen.
Soundoff! It's a great way to let us
know what you think.
Letters submitted to The
Drum for publication must be
addressed to Soundoff, The Portland Urban League, 10 N Russell,
Portland, Oregon 97227. (Letters
selected may be edited for clarity
and space.)
ments include a computerized information and referral bank, applicant tracking system, and skills
assessment system, all of which
are necessary to more successfully
match qualified candidates with
available job opportunities.
The task of reducing the high
black unemployment rate is immense. However, the Urban
League faces this challenge with
strength of conviction and determination to better serve our community.
Please let us know of any job
openings. Your calls are welcome
during normal business hours at
280-2600.
McKinley Williams, Director
AA.
01,4141Seevez
Parents do the best they can,
but raising a child in today's
modern world can be difficult. The
Urban League's Northeast Youth
Service Center is available to help.
Offering a variety of services
including family and individual
counseling, advocacy, alternatives
to the juvenile justice system,
education assistance, workshops
and recreation, the Center provides a comprehensive approach
to dealing with the problems of
young people.
Many of the children served
by the Center are referred by the
courts after having committed
minor crimes. These youths participate in a diversion program
which requires them to attend a
nv,,-1
T
well as perform community ser-
In the past month alone,
the Portland Urban League
has kelped individuals
gain employment at the
following businesses and
organizations:
OMSI
YMCA
vice.
Others are referred to the
Center by their parents; parents
who are at their wits end and feel
they have tried everything; parents who aren't sure what to try;
and parents who are, literally, at
the mercy of their children. The
Center attempts to treat the
parent and child together as a
unit while respecting their individuali4 and roles in the relationship. Parenting classes offer group
support as well as tips on how to
communicate with children.
Young people seen in the
Center are sometimes faced with
problems of drug or alcohol addicted parents, intense peer pressure, poor school performance or
drug and alcohol addictions themselves. Many of these children also
lack positive role models and
therefore, mimic the deviant behavior of their peers.
The Center is staffed with
professional counselors who help
youths understand their problems,
and the programs are working!
Over 1000 young people were assisted by the Northeast Youth
Service Center last year and even
more are anticipated for the year
approaching.
SKIPPERS
SAFEWAY
MAIL-WELL
McDONALDS
NORDSTROM
HONEYWELL
BURGER KING
BURGERVILLE
EASTER SEALS
SEVEN-ELEVEN
HOT FOODS, INC.
QUALITY CARE
NURSING SERVICE
BUCK AMBULANCE
LOCKPORT MARINE
WARNER INDUSTRIES
BENEFICIAL FINANCE
HOUSING AUTHORITY
MULTNOMAH COUNTY
PRECISION CASTPARTS
PENNWALT CORPORATION
PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SERVIO LOGIC CORPORATION
Gladys Hedgmon, Director
EDITOR:
CONTRIBUTORS:
4
You care about the community. So do we. If you have
suggestions of ways the Urban
League can improve its service to
GRAPHIC DESIGN
AND LAYOUT:
TYPESETTING:
Pam Smith
Deborah Cochrane
Lana Danner
Satya Gabriel
David Gonzales
Gladys Hedgmon
Joe Payton
McKinley Williams
Marcia Barrentine
Penny Samuelsen
Adu14- av4C .
CowerSeeve.g.is
It could be said that the
Urban League's Adult and Senior
Services Division saves lives
every day by providing low-income
people with basic necessities of
life. However, the Division has
been known to save lives in another way a more direct way.
Telephone Reassurance is a
service provided by the Division to
shut-in and home-bound seniors
with the primary purpose of reassuring them that someone cares
and is thinking of them. The program also attempts to determine if
immediate needs are being met.
Had it not been for the
Adult and Senior Service
Telephone Reassurance
Program, the situation
could have resulted in
far more serious
consequences."
Recently, a client was called
and the line was busy. Several
attempts were made that day but
the line was continuously busy.
The next morning, another effort
was made and when the telephone
reassurer found the line in the
same condition, she called 911 to
report her concern.
As it turned out, the client
had fallen from her wheelchair,
knocked the telephone off the
hook, and was unable to get up.
She had lain there on the floor
with no means to communicate
her predicament for over 48
hours! Had it not been for the Telephone Reassurance Program, the
situation could have resulted in
far more serious consequences.
The Adult and Senior Division also offers information and
referral services for emergency
housing, food, medical and dental
care, legal needs, tax assistance
and minor home repairs. Direct
services are also provided for
counseling, advocacy and energy
assistance. Social involvement
opportunities for seniors include
monthly potlucks, fishing derbies,
picnics, shopping tours, parties
and trips to the beach.
Last year, over 12,000 lives
were improved because the Adult
and Senior Division cared!
Joe Payton, Director
Children in the program are
encouraged to use the counseling
services offered by the Northeast
Youth Service Center and the tutoring available through the
Urban League's Whitney Young
Learning Center. Child care and
food are temporarily provided
until a job is secured or other resources become available. Without
these "in-place" components, the
Urban League Homeless Program
would be a mere shelter service,
rather than a lifestyle changer!
Since the program's inception
in 1985, 44 families representing
131 people have been sheltered in
Urban League housing units. Today, over 70 Rercent of those families are self-sifficient, off welfare
and feeling good about life over
70 percent!
Lana Danner, Director
Try to imagine being homeless; having nowhere to sleep at
night, no way to feed your children, no clothe to wear to job interviews, and no confidence to believe you can make things better.
The Urban League cares
about these people. We recognize
their dignity and we believe they
can make things better for themselves if given the proper support and encouragement.
For this reason, participants
in the Homeless Program are required to seek work daily through
the Urban League's Employment
Department. There, they receive
job counseling, resume preparation assistance, skills assessment
and information regarding
training and apprenticeship programs.
vie
:$14,
"...the hushing of criticism of
honest opponents is a dangerous
thing. It leads some of the best
critics to unfortunate silence and
paralysis of effort, and others to
burst into speech so passionately
and intemperately as to lose listeners. Honest and earnest criticism from those whose interests
are most nearly touched -- criticism of writers by readers, of government by those governed, of
leaders by those led this is the
soul of democracy and the safeguard of modern society."
W.E.B. DuBois
(from The Souls of Black Folk)
WINGS...a regular feature of The
Drum, presenting inspirational
and thought-provoking messages.
To read more of the writings of W.E.B.
DuBois, visit the Talking Drum Bookstore
at 1634 NE Alberta, or your local library.
&ivardi-r ether/
The Portland Urban League began forty-two years ago at a time
when black people were less than second class citizens. Visionary
Portlanders joined together to create an organization that would live
throughout the years to make the City of Roses a better place for all.
They knew intuitively then what we know conclusively today: Portland
can become the greatest cosmopolitan city in the United States if
corporate citizens and community leaders admit the existence of problems
and act now to solve them.
The Urban League today fights for a better Portland. We are not
alone in our mission. Many members, community groups, and socially
lacell
team
If you are interested in volunteering or using the services of the
Whitney Young Learning Center,
please call Deborah Cochrane at
280-2600.
committed corporations join us each year in this effort.
Each day the work continues.
These corporations contribute in a special way
. . . for a better Portland!
FRED MEYER
MENTOR GRAPHICS
TEKTRONIX
U.S. BANCORP
WILLAMETTE SAVINGS
ALCOA FOUNDATION
ALLSTATE
AT&T
CH2M HILL
ESI INCORPORATED
FIRST INTERSTATE BANK
FLOATING POINT SYSTEMS
LLOYD CORPORATION
NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS
OMARK INDUSTRIES
PACIFIC POWER & LIGHT
PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC
THE ARCHITECTS FORUM
UPS FOUNDATION
The Urban League of Portland
Urban Plaza
10 North Russell Street
Portland, Oregon 97227
(503) 280-2600
JOIN US . . .
FOR A BETTER PORTLAND!
Thanks! to our
extraordinary volunteers:
the Urban League
Board of Directors
BOBBIE GARY
DONNY ADAIR
SKIP COLLIER
BRIDGET FLANAGAN
AVEL GORDLY
THOMAS KELLEY
JEFFREY MILLNER
SHIRLEY MINOR
LARRY RAFF
LINDA RASMUSSEN
JOEL SMITH
IRWIN STARR
ROBERT SUTCLIFF
BEN TALLEY
THANE TIENSON
JOHN VOGEL
VALERIE WHITE
NANCY WILGENBUSCH
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Portland, OR
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