Update
February 1994
THE URBAN LEAGUE OF PORTLAND
The Urban League of Portland has worked to promote equal opportunity for all Oregonians since 1945. The
League was originally formed to advocate for African Americans who came to Portland to build ships during
World War II. When Blacks were denied access to jobs and housing after the war, the League supported
legislation and policies which promoted equal treatment in employment, housing and education. Today the
League has a multicultural mission "to help African Americans and others achieve parity and economic
self-sufficiency through advocacy, community problem-solving, partnerships and by conducting programs
designed to strengthen the growth and development of individuals, families and communities."
The League continues to advocate for those who have experienced discrimination and also operates programs
that directly serve the needs of constituents. These programs and their activities for the six months ending
January 1, 1994 are described below.
4t.
ADULT & SENIOR SERVICES
1-he Adult and Senior Service Center is one otaight district Senior Service Centers in Multnomah County. The
'enter has two primary goals:
1)
To provide services to the elderly and disabled population that allow them to live independently in their
homes with dignity as long as it is possible and reasonably safe.
2)
To provide activities to senior and disabled citizens that will enhance their social skills and provide them
with opportunities for personal growth.
Case management and transportation services are provided to individuals who are experiencing problems that
jeopardize their independent living and diminish their lifestyle. In the first six months of the current fiscal year
the Center enrolled 50 new clients and served 425 clients overall.
The Urban League is the lead agency for the Multicultural Senior Center at the intersection of Martin Luther
King, Jr. Blvd and N.E. Killingsworth in Northeast Portland. The Senior Services staff is co-located with Loaves
and Fishes' Northeast Meal Site and Multnomah County's Aging Services' Northeast Branch, offering a "single
point of entry" for senior and disabled services, with a focus on cultural diversity.
Social activities are provided for senior and disabled citizens to develop leadership skills and establish
community involvement. Activities help seniors build self-esteem, which makes for a healthy and enjoyable
lifestyle. About 100 seniors attend the Center daily for activities and meals. Center programs include:
Grandparents Education and Support Group: 125 "parenting" grandparents are working together to improve
their parenting skills and gain better access to services important to them and their grandchildren. A
-y an dparents Support Group meets every other week and other activities help increase public awareness and
-6mmunity involvement in grandparent issues.
Living with Alzheimer's or normal forgetfulness: A support group for ten caregivers meets to share
strategies, ideas, and laughter.
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 could not otherwise afford supplemental academic assistance. During the school year th
Center is open from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. A summer program emphasizes reading, math,
writing and SAT test preparation.
The Center includes a multicultural library, computers, guest speakers, cultural events, scholarship incentives,
one-on-one tutorial assistance, and a parent enrichment program for adults. Most of the Center's students live
in North/Northeast Portland. The Center served more than 200 students from July - December 1993. These
students represented a variety of cultures and ethnic backgrounds and came from more than 30 schools in the
Portland metro area. Along with community volunteers, more than 30 students from the School of Education
at Portland State University did their field placement work at the Center.
PORTLAND STREET ACADEMY
The Portland Street Academy is an alternative school for junior and high school age students who have dropped
out of school in Portland. Up to fifty students attend the school Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 3 pm.
The Academy is based at the League's Whitney Young Education Center. Students have access to the Center's
library and other facilities as well as the League's Computer Training Center, the Male and Female Responsibility
Program and other youth services.
THE MALE & FEMALE RESPONSIBILITY PROGRAM
The goal of the Male & Female Responsibility Program is to reduce the high rate of adolescent pregnancy by
helping teenagers improve their decision-making abilities. The program emphasizes the responsibilities of
adulthood and parenting and the importance of education.
The Male Responsibility Program coordinated the Youth Summer Employment Program for a second year in
1993. Fifteen young men from North/Northeast Portland performed home maintenance work for senior citizens
and learned about work ethics, positive group dynamias and cooperative skills while earning $6 an hour. 1993
program sponsors included Key Bank, Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, Gunderson, Inc, Willamette Industries, Carr
Chevrolet, and Pacific/Hoe Saw & Knife Co.
EMPLOYMENT DEPARTMENT
The League's Employment Department helps minorities, women and others find suitable employment in the
Portland metro area. Twenty-eight local companies and organizations have become "Employer Partners" with
the Urban League. The goal of the Employer Partnership Program is to help African Americans and other people
of color achieve economic parity through employment. The original partners included: First Interstate Bank,
Mentor Graphics, Nike, Standard Insurance, and U.S. Bancorp. Since then Arby's, Arco, Bank of America,
Boeing, Cellular One, City of Gresham, Electro Scientific Industries, Halton Co., IDS Financial Services,
McDonald's, Meier & Frank, Nationwide Insurance, North Pacific Insurance, Northwest Natural Gas, Orix Corp.,
Saif Corp., Tektronix, United Parcel Service, U.S. Navy, Veterans Medical Center, Wacker Siltronic, Washington
Mutual Savings and Zellerbach Industries have joined the partnership.
Partners send staff to work in the League's Employment Department periodically as volunteers, performing
similar duties as the League's staff: interviewing, referring clients to job openings, counseling and pre-screening
clients. The addition of these volunteers has improved services for job seekers and helped employers become
more sensitive and aware of cultural diversity issues in the work place.
During 1993 the Department placed 370 people in jobs. Recruitment focuses on all protected class job seekel.
The department also holds monthly resume and interview preparation workshops. On March 18-19, 1994 the
Department will host the "Career Connections" job fair at the Red Lion Lloyd Center. More than 5,000 job
seekers and employer exhibitors are expected.
COMPUTER TRAINING CENTER
The IBM/Urban League Computer Training Center opened its doors on August 30, 1993. The Center offers a
1-week program including job development and instruction in such software programs as DOS, WordPerfect,
Lotus 1-2-3, Page Maker and dBase IV. Students also receive instruction in resume writing, job interviewing skills
and business English. During the 11th week, local employers come in for actual job interviews.
The first class of students graduated on December 21, 1993. Sharon Gary-Smith of United Way was speaker
at the commencement ceremony where students received Certificates of Achievement and special awards. The
second cycle of students began on January 10, 1994 and are well on their way to graduating. The League
hopes to introduce Saturday and evening classes by April 1994.
ADVOCACY
The Urban League advocates on a broad range of issues to improve the quality of lift for African Americans and
other disenfranchised groups and individuals. The goals of the program are to:
(1) Empower constituents to understand and protect their rights and help agencies provide accessible and
accountable service so that clients can become more self-sufficient;
(2) Educate and inform organizations and the public about issues that negatively impact our constituents;
(3) Effect change in attitudes, policies, institutions and social conditions through collaborative problem solving
and creating new alternatives and solutions.
Program components include:
"esearch and Education -- Conduct research and develop concept papers, positions and testimonies on issues
,lertinent to constituents; educate African Americans and others about existing and emerging issues negatively
impacting their quality of life and empower them to effect change.
Legislative -- Create and influence legislation; educate elected officials.
Mediation and Conflict Resolution -- Examples include the League's role as mediator after the Rodney King
verdicts and numerous job discrimination cases.
YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES
The Youth & Family Service Center is one of six Youth Service Centers in Multnomah County. The Center has
exceeded its goals for the first six months of the program year by providing services to more than 490 youth,
compared to 300 youth for the period in the previous year. Goals were met by providing services in the areas
of individual and family counseling, gang awareness and prevention, parent and teen support groups, education
and employment assistance, Big Brother and Big Sister Volunteer involvement and a Diversion program.
In the Diversion Program juveniles referred by the courts provided 700 hours of community service to
organizations like the Grace Collins Pre-School, Red Cross, Columbia Boys and Girls Club, Oregon Food Bank
and 15 other groups. This voluntary alternative to involvement in the court system allows youth to actively take
responsibility for their actions while assisting non-profit organizations in the community. Community service
helps youth understand the connection between their actions and the community they live in. During the summer
the program was expanded to receive clients until 11 p.m.
-)he Big Brothers and Big Sisters Program was reduced 50% this year, but still provided 1,00 volunteer hours
(8 23 Little Brothers and Sisters. Fifteen new matches were made. The Counseling program grew as
counselors began support groups with separate groups for youth and adults in Gang Awareness, Violence as
a Public Health Problem, and Southeast Asian Youth and Cultural Identity. A new focus for support groups is
on building skills. A new group will be the first in Northeast Portland to serve gay, lesbian and bisexual youth.
More than 70 youth found jobs through the League's Youth Employment Program and the Youth
Empowerment and Employment Program based at the Center.
The department is grateful for its many volunteers from the AARP retired workers program, student intern
advisory committee members and others for the 2,227 hours of service they provided during the last six months.
URBAN LEAGUE OF PORTLAND STAFF
ADMINISTRATION
Cletus B. Moore, Jr.
Michael Pullen
Don Chalmers
Nova Hill
Monique Jefferson
Lovell Jones
FINANCE
Cletus Moore, Jr.
Linda Long
Phillip Sanstrum
Carla Prevost
Interim Director
Director of Marketing
Administrative Assistant
Receptionist
Receptionist
Building Superintendent
COMPUTER TRAINING INSTRUCTOR
Sue Sargent
EMPLOYMENT
Brenda Sherman-Sanders
Gayle Clark
Donna Mackey
Instructor
Director
Administrative Assistant
Employment Specialist
NORTHEAST YOUTH SERVICE CENTER
Larry Foltz
Director
Larry Clayton
Assistant Director
Pamela Davis
Counselor
Shala Moaydie
Counselor
Tony Ross
Youth Employment Coordinator
EDUCATION & CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Katy Isa
Employment/Diversion Specialist
Herman L. Lessard, Jr.
Director Jennifer Ninh
Southeast Asian Youth Specialist
Mia Simms
Administrative Assistant Herbert Hager
Information Specialist
Curtis Scott . . Coordinator, Male/Female Responsibility Phyllis Hanson
Office Assistant
Antoinette Edwards .. . . Facilitator, Female Responsibility Sontosha Duckett
Receptionist
V.P , Finance/Administration
Employment Verification
Accountant
Membership Information
.
WHITNEY M. YOUNG, JR. EDUCATION CENTER
Gloria Phillips
PrograrrrAssistant
Lemil Speed
Tutor
Yaw Osei-Boye
Tutor
PORTLAND STREET ACADEMY
Gaylen Brannon
Brian Trostel
Coordinator
Instructor
ADULT AND SENIOR SERVICE CENTER
Esther Hinson Director
Direct
Pauline Reed
Activities Coordinator
Lead Case Manager
Josephine Brown
Case Manager
Daisylin Oten
Information & Referral Specialist
Bettye Walker
Case Manager
Seng Fo Chao
Grandparents Program Coordinator
Crucita White
Contact the Urban League of Portland, 10 N. Russell St., Portland, OR 97227 (503) 280-2600
Thanks to our 1993/94 business members
Gold Members ($3,000 and up)
Sponsor Members ($1,000 - $2,999)
Arco Oil
Bank of America
The Boeing Company
First Interstate Bank
IDS Financial Services
Meier & Frank
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Oregon
Bullivant Houser Bailey Pendergrass
& Hoffman
Cellular One
Emanuel Hospital
Fred Meyer
Gunderson, Inc.
Kaiser Permanente
KPTV Ch. 12
Lane Powell Spears & Lubersky
Mentor Graphics
Nationwide Insurance Co.
Nordstrom
Nike
Pacific Power
Portland Trail Blazers
Standard Insurance
United Airlines
United Parcel Service
U.S. Bancorp
Printing courtesy of Washington Mutual -- Working
together toward a pluralistic collaborative society.
Northwest Natural Gas
Paragon Cable
Portland Hilton
Portland/Oregon Visitors Assoc.
R.R. Donnelly Norwest
Safeway Stores
Sisters of Providence
Steinfeld's Products
Stoel Rives Boley Jones & Gray
Tektronix
U S West Communications
Wacker Siltronic
Hp Washington Mutual
The friend of the family