Urban League of Portland Student Research Assistant

Student Research Assistant: State of Black America Report

The State of Black Oregon is a report on the disparities between African Americans and the majority population based on key social and economic indicators. The report in Oregon follows the National Urban League’s Equality Index, measuring the relative status of black versus white Oregonians in health, education, economics (employment, business, home ownership), criminal justice and civic engagement. It may also include comparisons over a designated period. The State of Black Oregon will contain recommendations for policy changes and practice across local, state and federal authorities, and the private sector.

The State of Black Oregon is scheduled to be published in October 2008.

The Urban League of Portland is seeking a Student Research Assistant:

Responsible To:

The State of Black Oregon Advisory Committee

Purpose:

The Student Research Assistant will participate in the design, execution, analysis and evaluation of the State of Black Oregon report findings; collate data from existing data sources, such as census data, state and county data, coordinate written summaries and submissions

Skills and Qualifications

Required abilities and dispositions:

• High personal motivation, self-management, and detail-orientation; ability to take responsibility in meeting deadlines and making progress without direct supervision.

• Strong spoken and written communications skills.

• Capacity and will to learn new software, research methods, and work routines quickly,

• Motivation to engage in and manage a wide range of intellectual and physical work, ranging from organizing case studies to analyzing proposed data-collection designs.

• Ability to share responsibilities and rewards with a networked team of coworkers.

Preferred additional qualities:

• Strong existing computer skills with Microsoft Office (especially Excel), and general Internet and electronic communications.

• Articulate and tactful communications skills; readiness to meet and work directly with partners and clients.

• Junior or senior standing in the fall, or graduate student with an interest in social policy, sociology, urban studies, or black studies.

Responsibilities:

• Handle and protect confidential and sensitive data with integrity.

• Manage data collection projects, enter and retrieve data, identifying appropriate data sources, learn and use technology to do these tasks more efficiently.

• Assist staff and clients in the design, execution and evaluation of the research project,

including literature reviews, surveys, focus groups, data integration and analysis.

• Produce written, tabular and visual materials for research reports and presentations.

Position details:

This is an unpaid position; a per diem stipend will be available. Researcher will be acknowledged in the authorship credits.

The location of the project is at the Urban League of Portland, 10 N. Russell Street, Portland, OR 97227; some short distance travel might be required

• Please apply to Midge Purcell, 10 N. Russell Street, Portland ,OR 97227. Telephone: 503 280 2626. email: mpurcell@ulpdx.org or online at http://www.ulpdx.org