|
Greetings
Coalition Family!
Join A HAND UP! To make donations or donation requests.
http://groups.google.com/group/a-hand-up
Gary
R. Adams,
Community Liaison for The Coalition
email:
the.pa.coalition@gmail.com
Join
our Google group http://groups.google.com/group/coalition-the
FOR OUR CHILDREN
In August 2008, United
Parents for Successful Children will present its’
Sixth Annual Reading
Carnival:
The Black Wall Street
Featuring
The Pioneers Of Literacy:
John Skief
Christine Wiggins
Delores James
Sandra Dungee Glenn
Dierde Farmbry
Join
the Reading Carnival Planning Posse
Bring your talents, skills
and your organizations’ abundance of resources to make this year’s event
memorable.
Sunday February 10th,
2008
3pm – 5pm
The Toney Estate
2404 North 54th
Street Philadelphia, PA 19131
#####continued#####
To RSVP your place in history
Contact: Antoinette Toney
267.990.3698
Deborah Toney Moore
267.242.2624
ReadingCarnival08@yahoo.com
Campupsc@aol.com
The Coalition welcomes new member
United Parents for Successful Children
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A Black History Month Art Contest for public school students grades 6 through 12, is
being conducted by Afro Cutting Boards with a $500.00 first prize. Two
winners will be chosen by our judges. The first prize in each division is a
scholarship that may be used for tutoring, school supplies, academic classes
and camps, or college expenses. A $500.00 scholarship will be awarded in the
Grade 9 – 12 Division; $100.00 for the Grade 6 – 8 Division.
“The theme of the contest is Soul Food. The artwork
must depict Soul Food in a positive and delectable way: food on a table,
being cooked, being eaten, grace being said over the food.
Artwork may be created using any 2D medium: pen and
ink, water colors, oils, charcoal, pastels, digital. Entries, accompanied by
application signed by the student and a parent or legal guardian, must be
received no later than 6:00 pm., February 29, 2008. Applications are
available at: www.afrocuttingboards/black
historyartcontest.pdf/. No artwork will be considered without a completed
and signed application. Entries may be submitted electronically or by mail.
The scholarship award will be announced on March 10, 2008.
For more information about the contest email:
contest@afrocuttingboards.com
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Resources for Children’s
Health’s SAFE program has openings for new clients. In our SAFE program, we
provide parents of children aged birth through 5 years with the information,
resources and support they need to raise healthy and happy children. A peer
and professional staff conduct services. Spanish-speaking case managers are
available.
Services include:
#####continued#####
The
way of fortune is like the milkyway in the sky; which is a number of small
stars, not seen asunder, but giving light together: so it is a number of
little and scarce discerned virtues, or rather faculties and customs, that
make men fortunate… Francis Bacon
·
In-home visits
·
Help in obtaining medical, pediatric and well-baby care;
·
Accompaniment to medical appointments and other appointments;
·
Connecting participants to supportive community resources to
·
meet identified needs;
·
Health and nutrition information, resources and written handouts;
·
Incentives- baby items, parent-child activity books, home safety
items, and others;
·
Assisting participants in securing health insurance or other
benefits;
·
Supporting participants in engaging in healthy lifestyle practices,
such as smoking cessation, exercise and good adult and child nutrition;
·
“Hands-on” support, such as grocery shopping to show participants how
to purchase good quality nutritional food at reasonable prices; and
·
Positive parenting and health education workshops, which are open to
everyone in the community.
For more information, to sign up, or to make a
referral to the SAFE Program, please contact Brenda Rochester, SAFE
Supervisor, at 215.985.6252.
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Kids With a Mission!
The 1st African American Kids Entrepreneur Radio Show on
Blogtalkradio.com
Junior Entrepreneurs On The Move Radio show Saturdays at 6pm. You can find
JEOTM at http://ww.blogtalkradio.com/jeotm.
JEOTM Radio is the brainchild of 2 young men Jerry
who is 12 years old and his brother RJ AKA Spidey Boy who is 8 years old.
JEOTM was created to encourage and foster the entrepreneurial spirit in young
people. Each show will will feature guests that introduce youth early on to
business concepts and entrepreneurship.
By empowering youth JEOTM
Radio seeks to instill key skills that will enable financial independence.
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PARENTING EDUCATION and
EMPOWERMENT
RESOURCE Program (PEER) presents
Free parenting classes
Attend the FREE non-judgmental ten week
program and receive a
$100.00 food gift card
or
Earn $100.00 towards a
utility bill of your choice
Classes are held weekly at
Tustin Recreation Center
5901 Columbia Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19151
Mondays 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Other sites available
Enrollment is ongoing
A project of the Lutheran
Children and Family Service
Sonya Harris-Saunders,
Program Coordinator 215.339.8002 ext 19
Wendy Brown,
Administrative Assistant 215.424.3741 ext 248
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"STOP THE MADNESS ,
STOP THE VIOLENCE" is looking for tutors for their tutoring
program at East Spencer Miller Elementary School at 43rd and
Westminster. Tutoring takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings
from 5pm to 7pm,
and is for students 8-12 years of age. If you or anyone you know can help during either
of these two timeframes, please contact Malik (aka Norm) Johnson, at
215-410-2859.
Please share this information, you never know who has a
couple of hours a week to help our kids. C&C Athletic Association also has a tutoring and
mentoring program at Eastwick Recreation Center at 80th and Mars Sts. for students, age 10-17. This
program runs from November to April. Contact Calvin Johnson (215-738-5181) if
you can help or know someone who needs to be tutored.
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"Speaking Truth to Action" Spoken Word' movement mentors at-risk males.
Brother to Brother, Boys to Men Youth Mentoring Club
...because we are our brother's keepers.
As
Philadelphia's homicide rate continues to climb, a local businessman,
entrepreneur and 'spoken word' poets are coming together
to
'speak truth to action' with a mentoring program that they feel will change
lives; save lives of young African American males in the city.
WHAT: a "Mentoring" Club, for males only between the ages of 13
and 18 and adult males, providing nurture, guidance and role-models for
at-risk youth. The club provides awareness, self-love activities and a
positive environment to build healthy relationships.
WHEN: Wednesday evenings 5:00-7:30 PM (Ongoing [since 07-25]
weekly)
Where: Dowling's Palace 1310 N. Broad Street Phila.,
PA 19121 (Next to Blue Horizon) N. Broad Street at Thompson 215-236-9888
WHY: (Shyster): "Because it's long overdue!" Promoters of this
mentoring club say that it is NOT a "Lecture" format, not a
"scared straight" program; instead, spoken-word artists with a
burden for the community are coming together to offer young African American
males a positive environment to interact with each other and community
role-models. This is an attempt to curb violence and a practical way to put
an end to the senseless violence and bloodshed that tarnishes Philadelphia's
image. "We need 'real-men' Mentors, who have big hearts and a little
time
to spend with a young man who needs it--badly!" said Sam Gamon.
"Because, after all 'we are our brothers' keepers".
"Shyster"-Ray Williams, 215-729-2025
"Sam I Am" Gaymon 267-970-2390
Stacy
Dowling 267-767-6300
Join BlackParentConnect.com
BLACK
PARENT CONNECT BENEFITS
1. You will have a nationwide connection with primarily African
American parents and other parents who have children of color.
2. You will receive EXCLUSIVE discounts and special offers with over
40 selected businesses that have created or represent companies with
items that will encourage children of color to feel proud and
positive about their heritage. Most of these companies are owned and
operated by African Americans which is something to be proud of in
itself.
3. You will receive a monthly email with not only EXCLUSIVE discounts
and offers, but the opportunity to win GREAT prizes from our Black
Parent Connect Shops. Each monthly prize will be valued at $50 or
more.
4. You will also receive special tips, news and
other parenting
information when visiting our website. (This is open to non-members
as well)
5. FREE and Easy to join! Just simply join by clicking on our JOIN
NOW page on our navigator tab at www.BlackParentConnect.com
Joan Gosier, President
HBCU kidz, Inc.
954-302-4540 x701
PENN
STATE'S COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES ANNOUNCES
SUMMER
YOUTH CAMPS FOR 2008
CONSERVATION
LEADERSHIP SCHOOLS: JUNE 22-28; and JULY 6-12
If
your ideal school is one where the classrooms include over 7,000 acres of
forest, fields, wetlands, and streams, and where learning about our
environment goes hand-in-hand with having fun and meeting new friends, then
the Penn State Conservation Leadership School (CLS) is for you. It’s not a
recreational summer camp, although lots of fun is definitely on the agenda.
It’s a RE-Creation experience, leading you to learn, to live, and to think
critically about sustaining our environment.
In
the unique setting at The Pennsylvania State University's Stone Valley
Recreation Area near State College, Pa., students between the ages of 15 and
18 learn about the environment and conservation during a one-week program
that emphasizes field-based, hands-on learning, group problem solving, and
leadership.
This
year’s program will include a special session on leadership developed by the
PA Rural Leadership Program (RULE) and an interactive ropes course challenge
that will foster cooperation and teamwork. The 2008 curriculum will
focus on important natural resource issues including:
- Analyzing your hometown drinking water
Participants will bring a water sample from home and learn how to
test for various pollutants that may occur in Pennsylvania water
supplies.
- Deer population management and habitat
conservation
Representatives from the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA)
will discuss strategies on how to achieve biologically and socially
balanced deer herds within existing environmental, social, and legal
constraints.
- Recycling: Beyond the Bin
Students will get a behind- the-scenes look at the recycling process
and learn how and why this essential “R” (reduce, reuse, and recycle)
plays a key role in our waste management practices.
- What is wood?
Participants may walk away from CLS with a new appreciation for one
of the earth’s most versatile and sustainable resources.
- “Green” Buildings
Students will tour some of Penn State’s newest and award-winning
“green” buildings, which bring together new technologies, sustainable
materials, and creative designs.
Conservation
Leadership School is being offered twice this summer, June 22-28 and July
6-12. The same program is offered for each week. During their
stay at Stone Valley, the students will work in teams with the faculty and
staff from the School of Forest Resources, and representatives of the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the
Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Rural Leadership
Program, and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Scholarships
are available from participating Conservation Districts in Pennsylvania and
area sportsmen clubs for students representing their district at CLS.
For a listing of participating organizations and to register online, please
visit: http://conferences.cas.psu.edu
and click on Conservation Leadership School. For more information
please contact the Office of Conferences and Short Courses at (814) 865-8301
or email at shortcourse@psu.edu
to receive registration materials. Registration is limited so please apply
early.
For
questions regarding the content of the program, contact Mike Powell, Director
of CLS, at (814) 863-1113 or email at mjp175@psu.edu.
-----------------------------------------------------
“An Education that is superior, exciting, challenging and
custom-designed to fit each student’s needs and interests.”
ACCEL is a community program
that offers services that strengthen youth, families and communities.
At ACCEL we believe that children are the most important part of
school. ACCEL is a place where children really matter and every
individual’s ability is recognized and rewarded. ACCEL’s programs
build leadership, strength, skills, honor,and creates a self-esteem environment that embraces
the five
components
of: Security, Identity, Belonging, Purpose and Competence.
ACCEL is in the heart of the
community and is building strong ties with local businesses and community
leaders. All children have an entitlement to an education which meets
their needs and will help them go through new gateways as their future
unfolds.
ACCEL uses exceptional
accredited curriculum that is Interactive, engaging and technology
driven. The curriculum includes everything a student needs to
successfully complete his/her course.
This Week…
Portraits of Courage Performance (Feb 8)
Portraits of Courage
February 8th 6-8pm
Houston Hall, Class of '49 Auditorium, 3417 Spruce Street
ACCESS: Free and open to the general public
This lecture and performance is an examination of overlooked African
Americans and their contributions to American History. This 65 minute two
person show highlights 7 of our unsung heroes (Ida B. Wells, Lewis Latimer,
Colonel Young, CJ Walker, Bass Reeves & Fannie Lou Hamer). *** Meet the
cast and enjoy light fare after the performance***
Co-Sponsored by: Goldman, Sachs, & Co., Platt Student Performing Arts
House
Contact: Makuu at 215 573-0823 or makuu@dolphin.upenn.edu
-----------------------------------------
Black Family Technology Week
Celebrating A Decade of Discovery
Baltimore, Md.
The National Black Family Technology Awareness
Campaign, will celebrate the tenth annual Black Family Technology Awareness
Week (BFTAW), February 10th - 16th, 2008.
BFTAW is a national public awareness campaign designed to encourage more
African Americans to incorporate technology into their daily lives. Partners
and corporate supporters for this year's campaign include the IBM
Corporation, EMC, the US Navy, the Lockheed Martin Corporation, the National
Black Data Processing Associates and NACME (National Action Council for
Minorities in Engineering).
This year's Awareness Week will culminate with the Black Family Technology
Empowerment Weekend, to be held at the Baltimore Convention Center as part of
the Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference, February 16, 2008, in
Baltimore, Md. The event will be hosted by NPR personality Mario
Armstrong.
Tyrone D. Taborn, US Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine
publisher and CEO, says, "The Black Family Technology Awareness Campaign
was never about simple Internet access and mere computer ownership but rather
about African Americans becoming true beneficiaries of the many assets of
technology and all it has to offer."
For more information about the 2008 Black Family Technology Awareness
Campaign including information on how your community can apply for a BFTAW
activity grant, log onto www.blackfamilynet.net, or contact CCG's Director
Technology Awareness Programs, Nuria Alvarez, nalvarez@ccgmag.com
-------------------------------------------------------
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES
Project RISE (Reaching and
Impacting Small Entrepreneurs)
is targeting existing
business owners as well as individuals who want to
start a business in the
West Philadelphia area.
The program includes an
outreach to youth-at-risk, ex-offenders, and
welfare recipients and is
co-sponsored by the SBA.
It is an on-going project
that ends in September of 2008.
For more information call
Project RISE at 215-476-8091, ext. 113.
FINDING A JOB IN PHILLY JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT
EASIER
If
you’ve ever looked at a job listing and thought, "I’d be perfect for
this job, if only...," you understand the discouragement a lot of
job
seekers in Philadelphia feel. Understanding these barriers, the employment
volunteers at WhatThePeopleREALLYThink.com have launched a free tool that
helps jobseekers look for jobs and
apply
online, http://phila.jobamatic.com. Positions range
from Banquet Server to Call Center Manager.
When it comes to meeting
the qualifications for a job, is there any flexibility? That depends on the
employer, but in most cases, the answer is yes. Certainly, it helps to
understand how your own experience and needs match up to what the employer
wants and is willing to offer, which isn’t always an easy task, thanks to the
obscure language typical of many job listings. http://phila.jobamatic.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Google needs business reps
- nationwide
Now you can Make Money Through the Google Business Referral Program and Help
Google Locate Businesses in Your Neighborhood
"As a Google Business Referral Representative, you'll visit local
businesses to collect information (such as hours of operation, types
of payment accepted, etc.) for Google Maps, and tell them about Google
Maps and Google AdWords. You'll also take a few digital photos of the
business that will appear on the Google Maps listing along with the
business information. After the visit, you submit the business' info
and photo(s) to Google through your Local Business Referrals Center,
and we'll pay you up to
$10 for each listing that is approved by
Google and verified by the business," according to the Google website.
Read more about this program here:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/343175/how_you_can_make_money_through_the.html
---------------------------------------------
HEALTH
MATTERS
Coming
Soon! Noted Herbalist Ann Pringle will be sharing natural health information
in this section. Ann Pringle has been a vegetarian for more than 23 years. She
initially studied nutrition and vegetarianism on her own, and later attended
Temple University where she took
classes
under a vegetarian nutritionist and herbologist.
Ms.
Pringle also lectures on health, herbs and has operated her own herbal
company for nearly ten tears.
--------------------------------------------------
South Philadelphia Neighborhood Athletic
League
Healthy Mind - Healthy Body
“Weigh To Go” Fitness
Challenge
For a $10.00 registration fee participants
receice
·
Exercise Workshops
·
Nutritional recipes
·
Cooking Classes
·
Access To A Local Gym
and cash incentives for “The Biggest Loser”
To register contact Kimyetta Lewis
267.250.4846 Kimytl@aol.com
SPACES ARE LIMITED!
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Resources
for Children's Health's SAFE program has openings and is looking for
referrals! SAFE provides home visiting and case management, parenting
support, and family health and wellness education for parents of young
children, ages birth to five, in South Philadelphia. All services are free.
Spanish-speaking staff is also available.
To make a referral or for more information, please call Brenda Rochester,
215-985-6252 or email Brochester@phmc.org
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The UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation is
committed to enhancing the quality of life for children who have health care
needs not covered by their commercial health insurance. The Foundation
provides financial assistance toward the family's share of the cost of
medical services. Learn more about us and how to apply. http://www.uhccf.org/
GRANTS And
SCHOLARSHIPS
The Philadelphia
Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity is once again seeking applicants
for its annual Hiliary H. Holloway, Esquire Scholarship Award program. The
chapter's scholarship program, named after the late Hiliary H. Holloway,
Esquire, a past Grand Polemarch and Laurel Wreath recipient of Kappa Alpha
Psi Fraternity, as well as a
longtime
member of the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter, is designed to aid promising
minority male students in the public high schools of Philadelphia who are
planning to matriculate in college following their graduation from high
school. Applications and further info can be obtained from the
student's Principal or guidance counselor.
All
applications must be postmarked by March 15, 2008 to be considered. The
amount of the scholarship award is $2,000. A total of four $2,000 scholarships
will be awarded in 2008. The fraternity uses the scholarship grants to
enhance the opportunities for minority males to acquire a college education.
The organization seeks to reach and assist those young men who have
demonstrated academic promise, but have not necessarily accumulated the
highest averages. Additionally, the need for financial assistance is
fundamental. Students who meet these criteria should contact their Principal
or guidance counselor about this scholarship opportunity immediately. An
application can also be downloaded from the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter's web
site:
http://www.phillykappas.org.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Support for Social Justice
Projects in North America
Peace Development
Fund: Community Organizing Grants
The Peace
Development Fund provides grants to organizations working to achieve peaceful,
just, and interdependent relationships among people and nations. The Fund's
Community Organizing Grants support grassroots groups that are organizing
community members for social justice in the United States, Puerto Rico,
Canada, Mexico, and Haiti. Examples of issues that will be considered include
criminal justice, environmental justice, economic justice, anti-oppression
work, youth organizing, immigrant organizing, and workplace organizing. The
application deadline is February 15, 2008. Visit the website for
application guidelines and forms. http://www.peacedevelopmentfund.org/grant/-grnntrn.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merchants Fund Grants for
Small Businesses (Feb 15)
The Merchants Fund issued the first round grants this fall to small
businesses in Philadelphia.
The next grant deadline is Friday, February 15, 2008 (postmarked). The
applications have been modified since the last grant cycle and the web site
has detailed information about the attributes of successful grants.
The first grant cycle was competitive. TMF funded approximately half of the
applications submitted. It is anticipated that the next cycle will be equally
competitive. Most, but not all, of the grants made were the result of strong
partnerships with community organizations such as community development
corporations, merchant associations and other non-profit agencies. The
sponsor’s act both as advocates as well as hands-on agents for helping
merchants achieve their goals and oversee grant requirements. The members of
the Program Committee responded to the power of enabling community
development goals through individual merchants.
Thanks to everyone who worked
with TMF this Fall.
For more information, contact:
Patricia Blakely
The Merchants Fund
1616 Walnut Street, Ste 802
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-399-1339 office
info@merchantsfund.org
http://www.merchantsfund.org/
Scholarship For Service
(SFS) is a unique program designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of
federal information assurance professionals that protect the government's
critical information infrastructure. This program provides scholarships that
fully fund the typical costs that students pay for books, tuition, and room
and board while attending an approved institution of higher learning.
Additionally, participants receive stipends of up to $8,000 for undergraduate
and $12,000 for graduate students. The scholarships are funded through grants
awarded by the National Science Foundation NSF.
For more information, click here: https://www.
sfs.opm.gov/ default.asp
Family Literacy Grants
The Dollar General Family Literacy Grants will award grants to family
literacy service providers. Please note that the Dollar General
Literacy Foundation uses the federal government's definition of family
literacy when reviewing grant applications. Family literacy programs
applying for funding must have the following four components:
· Adult education instruction;
o Adult basic education
o GED preparation
o English for speakers of other languages
· Children's education;
· Parent and child together time (PACT); and,
Parenting classes that teach parents to be the primary teacher for their
child.
“The
events which transpired five thousand years ago; five years ago or five
minutes ago, have determined what will happen five minutes from now, five
years from now or five thousand years from now. All history is a current
event… Dr. John Henrik Clarke
SpotLight
ON OUR EFFORTS
In
honor of Black History Month, the
next three editions of “Spotlight” will feature local groups that have made a
significant impact on the Philadelphia community.
Freedom Library of Philadelphia and the Black People’s
Unity Movement
It was in the aftermath of the 1964 riot that the first
“Black Power” organizations began to emerge in Philadelphia.
That fall, a former Student Nonviolent Coordinating
Committee (SNCC) organizer named John Churchville opened a storefront
“Freedom Library” just blocks from the epicenter of the riot. A
self-identified black nationalist and supporter of Malcolm X, Churchville
conceived of the library as a base for community-organizing initiatives
similar to those undertaken by SNCC in the South. “The notion,” he would
later say, “was to have books by and about black people. We could have black
history lectures. We could then begin to develop programs, deal with the
problems in the neighborhood.” In addition to an after-school tutoring
program for neighborhood children, one of Churchville’s first initiatives was
a series of evening forums on the state of the civil rights movement. The
purpose of the forums was to carve out a new strategic vision for the black
movement, a vision based not on maintaining alliances with white liberals but
rather on the Black Nationalist tradition.
Most histories of the civil rights era cast Black Power
advocates in monolithic terms. Such a view overlooks what historian William
Van Deburg has called Black Power’s “diversity and richness of character.”
Black Power’s adherents ranged from black capitalists to Third World socialists,
from electoral organizers to proponents of urban guerrilla warfare, from
racial separatists to advocates of a revolutionary alliance among activists
of color, poor whites, and the student New Left. From the
beginning, Churchville’s study group attracted an ideologically diverse group
of local activists frustrated by what they perceived to be the middle-class
orientation and excessive concern for white sensibilities of mainstream civil
rights groups. Some were, like Churchville, veterans of student and “militant”
protest organizations like SNCC and CORE who were now committed to applying
SNCC’s approach to community organizing and indigenous leadership development
to poor and working-class black neighborhoods in the urban North. Others were
local advocates of traditional Black
#####continued#####
Nationalist causes such as the teaching of black history
curricula in the local public schools and substituting Afro-American for
the racial label Negro. There were also, as Churchville described
them, “old Garveyites, people who remembered Marcus Garvey, who said . . .
‘I’m ready to come out and do something now. It’s been years.” Finally, there
were longtime neighborhood activists, many of them women, who viewed the
city’s traditional black leadership as out of touch with the concerns of the
black poor.
After meeting for a year, participants in the study group
decided to found a new organization, the Black People’s Unity Movement
(BPUM), to promote their vision of a movement based on the principles of
intraracial unity.
In a radio interview promoting the new group, Churchville
called on black activists to unite across differences of ideology, class, and
religion. “The civil rights movement was never the black man’s movement,” he
charged. “It was a movement of white liberals . . . using us . . . as a tool
to get power for themselves. . . . We must own and control the black
movement.”
BPUM held its founding mass meeting on February 5, 1966.
The rally’s keynote speaker was longtime SNCC activist Julian Bond, who had
recently been elected to the Georgia State Senate on a platform of
accountability to the concerns and interests of the entire black community,
not just its middleclass leadership.
BPUM’s monthly rallies featured African drumming and
dancing along with speeches from local activists and
national figures like Stokely Carmichael, Amiri Baraka, and Dick Gregory.
Betty Shabazz, the widow of Malcolm X, attended BPUM’s August 1966 tribute to
her husband. “I know what black means in this country,” a BPUM activist told
the rally. “It means inferiority. It means slums. It means slime. But when
[Malcolm] said ‘black’ and I heard him say it, I felt like a man.”
BPUM rooted its political ideology and strategy on two
fundamental black nationalist principles: first, that white supremacy and
racial inequality were not unfortunate distortions of the American democracy,
but rather were constitutive of the nation’s culture and social structure;
and second, that the only way for African Americans as a people to achieve
meaningful progress within such a society was to develop intraracial
political unity across differences of ideology, class, and religious beliefs
within the black community. Less a formal political organization than a
network of local organizers, BPUM was remarkable for its ability to bring
together diverse groups of activists to work on projects that cut across the
ideological divisions within the emerging
#####continued#####
Black Power movement. BPUM activists simultaneously
sought to build independent black institutions and to press for community
control over public institutions that served black communities. Thus, BPUM
activists supported the development of a number of independent
schools—including John Churchville’s Freedom Library, which would evolve into
the Freedom Day School—at the same time that they were demanding the
implementation of black studies curricula in black neighborhood schools.
“My perception of black power was never straight
separatism,” Churchville remembers.
You’ve got to get out there in the real world where other
people are. When you’re trying to impact public education, you should be able
to say, “This is how the curriculum should look, look at how it’s working
with these kids.”
In the summer of 1967, David Richardson, a
nineteen-year-old youth
activist from the Germantown section of the city, asked
for BPUM’s help in training high school students to press for changes in
school curricula and dress codes—the students wanted the right to wear
African clothes and jewelry; for more black teachers and administrators; and
for recognition of black student unions as legitimate school clubs. By the
beginning of the school year, the students had formed a network of activists
from high schools across the city and were prepared to make their demands to school
administrators.
In late October, BPUM-affiliated students organized
walkouts at five different black high schools across the city. The student
protests reached their apex on the morning of Friday November 17, when 3,500
black students marched out of high schools across the city and converged on
the Board of Education building in Center City. One of the city’s daily
newspapers described the mood of the student protesters as “festive” and more
befitting “a picnic” than a protest.
As they marched around the school board, the picketers
shouted out their school affiliations and called to friends from other
schools. Some chanted, “Beep, beep, bang, bang, boom, boom, Black Power,”
while others carried signs calling for “more Black Power in the School System.”
Excerpted from: “FROM
PROTEST TO POLITICS”
Community Control and Black Independent
Politics in Philadelphia, 1965-1984
MATTHEW J. COUNTRYMAN
University of
Michigan
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARTS FOR AWARENESS
INNER VISIONS
Presents
“A Milestone Event in
HipHop/Soul/ and Spoken Word
Featuring
·
Ms.
Wise
·
True
Dialect
·
Chen
Lo
·
Shyster
·
Rebel
God Power
Friday, February 8th
8pm – 11pm
The Underground
(Temple University)
$3.00 w/college I.D.
For more information: Sankofa.Philly@yahoo.com or 215.687.3754
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First
Person Arts launches First Person Salons at the Gershman Y
It was standing-room-only for every single one of First Person Arts’
notorious Story Slams in 2007, and now First Person Arts is bringing that
same energy and enthusiasm to a new series of memoir and documentary-arts
events: First Person Salons at the Gershman Y. On the second Wednesday
of each month, starting February 13th, First Person Arts will showcase new
work and works-in-progress presented by the artists themselves to an audience
eager to get an inside look at the creative process. Writers,
photographers, documentary film-makers, painters and sculptors will put both
their work and their methods on display, demonstrating how they turn
real-life drama into compelling works of art.
First Person Arts is accepting applications from artists on a rolling basis
at salons@firstpersonarts.org. You can find a Salon
overview and application at www.firstpersonarts.org <http://www.firstpersonarts.org/other_programs-contests.php>
. Join us for the first Salon: February 13th, 7:00 pm at the Gershman Y
(Broad and Pine) Admission: $5-10.
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SECOND
SATURDAYS at SERENITY
An Afternoon of Poetry
Every second Saturday of
the month from 1 – 3 PM
A FREE EVENT!
Serenity Inspirational
Gifts & Coffee
140 So. Easton Rd.
Glenside, PA
JUS WORDS at Dowling’s
Palace
1310 No. Broad St. Phila
Every Thurs. 9pm to 1am
·
Poets
·
Rappers
·
Singers
·
Spoken Word Artists
COMING UP
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COMPUTERS
& TECHNOLOGY
Free Computers For Schools
(800) 939-6000
Willie Cade, CEO
Computers for Schools
773-583-7575 Office
773-583-7585 Fax
Willie@PcsforSchools.org
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A HAND UP!
IT’S HERE!!
Our new group A HAND UP! Is now open, please go to:
http://groups.google.com/group/a-hand-up
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Remember to support The
Coalition on-air personalities…
Technically Speaking with the award winning JC Lamkin on WNWR 1540 AM,
Saturdays at 2pm.
Sister Phile Chionesu, organizer of the Million Woman March, Mondays 10pm to
1am on Harambee Radio Welcome to Harambee Radio Online
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