December 1991
THE URBAN LEAGUE OF PORTLAND
44
The Urban League of Portland has been working to promote equal opportunity in all fields for
Oregonians since 1945. The League was originally formed to advocate for African Americans
who had moved to Portland to build ships during World War II. The League supported
legislation and policies which promoted equal treatment in employment, housing, education
and other areas. All of these goals are in line with the League's stated mission: 'To assist
African Americans and others in the achievement of parity and economic self-sufficiency
through advocacy, community problem-solving, partnerships and conducting programs
designed to strengthen the growth apd development of individuals, families and communities."
In addition to its advocacy work, the League also operates a number of programs that directly
serve the needs of its constituents. The following pages describe those programs and their
current levels of activity.
NORTHEAST YOUTH SERVICE CENTER
The Northeast Youth Service Center is one of six Youth Service Centers in Multnomah County.
The Center met or exceeded most of its goals for fiscal year 1990 (July 1990 through June 1991)
by providing individual and family counseling, gang awareness and prevention programs,
parent and teen support groups, education and employment assistance, Big Brother and Big
Sister Volunteer involvement, boy's and girl's groups, and the Diversion Program. For the first
quarter of FY91 the programs are ahead of last year's figures in all areas except youth
employment. Youth employment figures are expected to increase in the second quarter, due
to the League's participation in Portland's Youth Employment and Empowerment Coalition.
In comparison to the previous year:
FY90
1st Qtr
FY91
Number of youth served
847
280
Youth in Diversion Program
168
45
3,176
978
Area of Service
Community Service Hours Performed
Little Brothers & Little Sisters
Involved
31
20
Big Brothers & Sisters hours of
service
2,400
698
Hours of Volunteer Involvement
2,029
860
In our Diversion Program juveniles referred by the courts provide community service hours to organizations
like the Grace Collins Pre-School, the Red Cross, Columbia Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army and sixteen
other groups. This alternative to involvement in the court system helps relieve stress on our judicial system
and also helps many community-based organizations and churches in our community. Community service
helps the youth understand the direct correlation between their actions and the effect of their actions on the
community. In the diversion process the youth come to understand their responsibility to the community
and the laws which govern our community. After participating, youth are better able to make positive
choices
which directly effect their future.
The Big Brothers and Big Sisters Program had a large number of active matches during FY90, but a small
number of new matches. During FY91, many of the matches that have lasted over two years have been
terminated, allowing for new matches to be formed. In the first quarter, six new matches have been made.
Parent involvement has increased dramatically during the year with a parent supplort group, "Parents In
Action," and a family communications group targeting parents with children at-risk of gang involvement.
NULTIES, a National Urban League program of leadership development and community service for
African-American youth, started in FY90 with over 25 youth participating in weekly sessions. In FY91 five
of those youth and two adults attended the National Urban League Youth Conference in Atlanta.
WHITNEY M. YOUNG, JR. EDUCATION & CULTURAL CENTER
The Whitney M. Young Jr. Education & Cultural Center is an after-school homework/tutorial assistance
program for students who predominantly livejn North/Northeast Portland and who could not otherwise
afford supplemental academic assistance. In FY90 the Center worked with 257 students from grades 3
through college. In FY91, through December 1, 1991, we have an enrollment of 185 students. In comparison,
last school year the Center did not enroll 185 students until May. These students represent a variety o;
cultures and ethnic backgrounds, including: African American, European American, Hispanic American,
and Native American.
Those enrolled are from various schools within the Portland metropolitan area. We serve students from six
different high schools, eight middle schools and three elementary schools. In addition, students from
Portland Community College, five private schools and two alternative education programs also attend the
Center. Along with various community volunteers, twelve students from the School of Education at Portland
State University are doing their field placement work with students at the Center.
THE MALE RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM
The Male Responsibility Program (MRP) is designed to address the increasing rate of adolescent pregnancy
and to work with teenage males to help them improve their decision-making abilities by making them aware
of the responsibilities of manhood, fatherhood, and the importance of education.
The program goals are:
1) To implement a program structured to help at least 200 at-risk males between the ages of 13-19, with an
emphasis on Male Responsibility, Human Sexuality, Career Planning, Life Management and the "Rites of
Passage."
2) To implement a Mentors Program consisting of 100 adult male volunteers to act as role models and to
provide fraternal interaction with young males in the program.
The Male Responsibility Program began operation in October of 1990 with weekly group sessions at Harriet
Tubman and Portsmouth Middle Schools, Cleveland and Jefferson High Schools, and at the Urban League
Plaza. By the end of December, the program had 26 youth in the program and a new program coordinator
was hired.
As news of the program grew within the community, the Urban League was designated LEAD agency to
begin the African-American Male Connection Program (AAMCP). The AAMCP provides services to
African American males between the ages of 11 and 19 who are known to have gang affiliation, who dropped
at of school, or who live in gang affected neighborhoods.
In August of 1991 the MRP added an assistant program coordinator. As of October 1991, MRP has enrolled
a total of 124 young males in the program. AAMCP has served a total of 40 teenage males.
The annual cost of preventive services provided by the Male Responsibility Program is approximately
$132,131. The estimated cost to the public for corrective services (which includes the cost of police, courts,
juvenile facilities, counseling personnel, etc.) is $1,947,234. For every dollar the Urban League expended
for the Male Responsibility Program, $14.74 in additional public expenditure is saved. The Urban League
of Portland is committed to instilling responsibility in teen males and the Portland community benefits greatly
when these young men become productive citizens as a result of their participatiA in the Male Responsibility
Program. In December of 1991 the Urban League will introduce an African American "Rites of Passage"
program for young males.
ADULT & SENIOR SERVICE CENTER
The Adult and Senior Service Center is one of eight district senior service centers in Multnomah County.
The Center has two primary goals based on the Urban League of Portland's mission statement:
1) To provide services to the elderly and disabled population that allows them to live independently in their
homes with dignity as long as they can do so safely.
'7,) To provide activities to senior and disablO citizens that will enhance their social skills and provide them
kith opportunities for personal growth.
The program focuses are in two major areas:
1) Case management for individuals who are experiencing problems that jeopardize their independent living
and diminishes their lifestyle.
2) Social activities that develop leadership skills, maintain or build self-esteem, and establish community
involvement for a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle.
Today the Urban League of Portland is the lead agency for the new Multicultural Senior Center in Northeast
Portland. The Senior Services staff is co-located with Loaves & Fishes' Northeast Meal Site, and Multnomah
County's Aging Services Northeast Branch. This new center offers a single point of entry for services for
seniors and disabled persons.
During FY90 the Center served more than 500 clients. In the first quarter of FY91 the Center served 187
new clients. The current active case load is in excess of 300 clients. The Center provides activities, meals,
education and training to approximately 80 clients each day.
The total number of transportation services provided to seniors has also increased. We have provided
transportation to 235 clients.
The fall 1991 Alzheimer's lecture series was attended by 86 patients and caregivers. The series is one of the
rst in the nation to reach a large African American urban population. The Alzheimer's Education Program
_aeets once a month. In FY91 caregivers will hold self-help meetings designed to provide peer support,
information exchange and education. Alzheimer's patients will participate in supervised recreational and
social activities designed to reduce isolation, improve functioning abilities and enhance self-esteem.
EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT
The Employment Department has increased the number of "Employer Partners" working at the League
the "Partnership Employment Program" from five members to thirteen. The goal of the partnership program
is to assist African Americans and other people of color to achieve economic parity through employment.
The original partners included: First Interstate Bank, Mentor Graphics, Nike, Standard Insurance, and U.S.
Bancorp. Since then Bank of America, Cellular One, McDonald's Restaurants, Northwest Natural Gas, Port
of Portland, Precision Castparts, Security Pacific Bank, and Tektronix have joined the partnership.
Nike has funded a full-time employment outreach coordinator position at the League for one year. Each
partner also provides a staff person to come and work in the League's Employment Department periodically
as a volunteer. The employer volunteers perform essentially the same duties as the rest of the League's
employment staff: interviewing, referring clients to job openings, counseling, etc. The addition of these
employer volunteers has the impact of allowing the League to provide more and better services to its clients.
It also provides greater sensitivity to, and an awareness of, cultural diversity on the part of the employers.
During FY90, the Employment Department placed 74 people in jobs. During the first four months of FY91,
the department placed 60 people in new jobs. With the addition of the recruiter position funded by Nike
and the employer volunteers, the monthly average has increased from 6 to 15 placements per month.
The Urban League of Portland thanks its business friends for their support in 1991
Sponsor Members
Bank of America
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Oregon
Emanuel Hospital
First Interstate Bank of Oregon
IBM Corp.
KPTV-12
Kaiser Permanente
Meier & Frank
Mentor Graphics
Nike Inc.
Northwest Natural Gas Co.
Pacific Power & Light Co.
Portland Development Commission
Portland General Electric Co.
Portland Trailblazers
Precision Castparts Corp.
Providence Medical Center
Safeway Stores Inc.
Security Pacific Bank Oregon
Standard Insurance Co.
Steinfeld's Products Co.
Stoel Rives Boley Jones & Grey
Tektronix Inc.
United Parcel Service
U.S. Bank
U S West Communications
Wacker Siltronic Corp.
Corporate Members
ADC/Kentrox
Associatitin for Portland Progress
Automated Office Systems
Bank of California
Barbara Sue Seal Properties
Boeing of Oregon
Carson Oil
Cellular One - Oregon
Coca Cola Bottling Co. of Oregon
Columbia Forest Products
Good Samaritan Hospital
Grant High School Student Body
Hewlett Packard
Housing Authority of Portland
Hyster Corporation
J C Penney Co.
JBL & K Insurance Co.
KATU - Channel 2
Key Bank
KOIN - TV
McDonald's Restaurants
Nordstrom
Northwest Publishing Co.
Northwest Pipe & Casting
Oregon Health Sciences University
Oregon Steel Mills
Pacific Power & Light
PacifiCorp Financial Services
Paragon Cable
Pope & Talbot
Popper Supply Co.
Portland Hilton
Portland/Oregon Visitors Association
Portland Public Schools
Private Industry Council
Rono Graphic Communications
TCI-West, Inc.
Tonkon, Torp, Galen, Marmaduke
& Booth
Venson Industries
Washington Federal Savings Bank
West One
Western Family Foods
Weston Pontiac