VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4], 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 01:24:32 05/31/09 Sun
Author: SS
Subject: *************CLFSUMMITNOTES**************

Organizing for Equity and Sustainability in the African American Church (Session 2: 11:55 AM-1:10 PM)

*

1) PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT/QUOTABLES

*

Charles Smith: "Which issues of equity arouse people to take initiative, and which do not?"
- Suggests Housing, Gas & Food Security Are Three Primary Pressing Problems

Leroy: "Gentrification has been negative in forcing migration of low-income citizens to the southeast of Portland, increased income of rentals, many of them elders."
- Suggests utilities and medication availability/unavailability are also pressing, as well as job opportunities, particularly minority contracting to get a piece of the pie being crucial
- Homicide major issue in African-American community that stems from economic disparities: "African Americans make up 3-4% of Oregon's population, but also 24% of Oregon's prison population
- Quality of education presently inspires "economic slavery".
- Considers the African American church the "indicator, the base of operation for logic."
- Although groups such as the Urban League and some non-profits have done instrumentally positive work, historically the church has best brought issues to the forefront.

Clif Chapelle: "We struggle to maintain the cohesiveness of our congregation."
- There's a disconnect. We need to look at a "spatial justice" as there's great injustice facing us that covers all facets of our lives.
- Just as gentrification has divided us, the church itself has broken apart, largely due to economic injustice.
- "'Cohesiveness'" is driven primarily from citizens, but leaders must come together to take lead.

Bishop H.L Hodge: "We KNOW about these problems, but what do we do to make sure the housing situation is changed?"

Clif Chapelle: Trying to access money they normally don't have access to, then utilizing it, is crucial for "people equity"
- Cited separate seminar regarding access to money recently hosted in Hartford, Connecticut.

Steve (Transition Portland: Participant): "How do we see to it the money is directed to desired aims?", questions intent of "people equity".

Leroy: Identifying what's going on ought to be the first step to fomenting constructive progress.

Harvey Rice: Cites the "211" services code, shares anecdote regarding his experiences living ten blocks from his church and using the "211" code to teach church-goers how to shop and keep senior citizens in housing
- Cites he has had four churches around Alberta Park successfully organize in this respect
- One way to identify situations is by using "211" as an outreach mechanism

Charla: "Each of you has your little box of need, which gets you somewhere, but who is your convener?"
- Cites Homeless Connect, driven by band of churches on a $10,000 budget has proven more efficient than on a City of Portland's annual $250,000 budget.
- "'I see this in you!' should be the official congregation mantra.

Alexis: "Consider synagogues and mosques, not solely churches."

Elisa: Believes we must also reach beyond the church, cites contacting the City of Portland and other folks with low-income as crucial, will have greater understanding of where food boxes come from along with other resources outside the church.

Leroy: "There are a variety of conversations, but there's only one table. Going to more than one table is the point these other agencies are missing."

Clif: "But the problem is that many don't even know these other tables exist."

Charles: "A convening body to bridge tables is one way to get through the door."

(END OF SUMMARIZED TRANSCRIPT: TIME OUT)

*

2)


CENTRAL POINT/SUMMATION: "'Across the River' We Lack a Voice, We Have Not Come Together as a Group"

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.