Coming to a Workplace Near YouWe are on the campaign trail, charitable campaign, that is, to encourage philanthropy among the working masses. Our traveling road show, extolling the virtues of the Black United Fund of Illinois, has been added this year to payroll deduction campaigns at Lucent Technologies and the Chicago Transit Authority. Your contributions can affect the quality of life for thousands.
What does BUFI do?
Everyone Counts
The Grass is Greener
According to Delvin Molden, President and Founder of Greener Grass Films (GGF), Inc., "The best way to change the negative media images of minority youth is to teach them how to work behind the scenes." GGF was founded by this young Columbia College graduate to develop the best young minority (including disabled) writers and filmmakers. In 1996, GGF initiated the "Know the Difference" program to produce documentaries that would educate children about how to distinguish what they view in the media from reality. The first venue was the Henry Horner Boys & Girls Club of Chicago. Young residents of the Henry Horner Housing Projects were teamed with professional film technicians from Colloquial Films, Inc. to produce "The Case of the Stolen Watch", a short story written by 11 year old Horner resident Eugene Dandridge. With the help of a grant from the Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc., students received hands-on experience in set design, lighting, makeup, sound and every aspect of production of a short film adapted from Dandridge’s script. With Dandridge as the youngest writer ever to have a work premier at the Chicago International Film Festival, the 15 minute film won honors in the adult division. It was entered in the Film Council of Greater Columbus competition, the film won an honorable mention and was later screened at DuSable Museum in Chicago. Students testified that the experience motivated them to focus on higher education and doing better things with their lives. Following this success, Molden continued the program, focussing on high school and college minorities who could enter the film industry on a working level, youth ages 17-24. During the 1997-98 program calendar, GGF hosted a reception where the scripts of four finalists in the program were shopped to Hollywood agents and producers. Those finalists were, Dave Rassi, DePaul; Erica Watson, Columbia; Connie Chung, University of Chicago and Lesley Martinez, Senn. This season, look for greater successes as GGS carries on its mission.
The President’s Voice
Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed non-skin cancer in the U.S. and African American males have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world. The mortality rate for African American males is twice that of Caucasian males and five times greater than that of Asian males. Every 3 minutes there is a new diagnosis and every 13 minutes a man dies of prostate cancer. The causes of higher rates of prostate cancer among African American males are largely unknown. According to the National Cancer Institute "no consistent evidence of a relationship between prostate cancer risk and either body mass or physical activity were found, increased risk of was found to be associated with high intake of saturated fat. Other factors such as genetically determined hormone levels and diet in adolescence may account for differences among ethnic groups studied." It is also suggested that the survival rates are lower for African American men due in part to the fact that we tend to be diagnosed at later stages. Prostate cancer is 15% of all diagnosed cancers but is allocated only 5% of cancer research funding. This is not the first time African Americans have experienced lopsided percentages with regard to their well being. As a member of the National Task Force on Prostate Cancer in African Americans, I urge you to be aware of this phenomenon threatening the future of the African American family. It is recommended that African American men should start being screened for prostate cancer at age 50. Young African American men who have a strong family predisposition to prostate cancer are high risk and should start being screened at an earlier age. African Americam men in the above groups should have both the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) and the Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) performed annually. Although early detection does not prevent cancer from occurring, it does provide the chance for curative therapy for men found to have prosatae cancer. There are ongoing regional studies and free information that can be acquired through your local American Cancer Society office or your doctor. Know the symptoms, see a doctor regularly and make informed decisions. Yours in self-help,
Henry L. English
From the Chairman’s DeskRobert T. Starks, Ph.D.
We know that the 21st Century will bring even greater emphasis on technology, self reliance and globalism. What does this mean to Blacks in America and the future of Africans? First, we know that African people throughout the African World Community lag behind the rest of the world in the acquisition, adaptation and ownership of technology. While Africans in America are the most technologically advanced of all of the people of the African World Community, we still lag frighteningly far behind the rest of America. Secondly, we’ve fought a brilliant fight for self reliance throughout our history in this country, even against the odds of the slave industry. Our fight in the 20th Century has been and continues to be one that the whole world is forced to record. Yet, in spite of these brilliant historic and continuing efforts, we have not reached the ultimate goal of self reliance and self determination. Thirdly, globalism is the mantra of late twentieth century capitalists in their efforts to convince the world that the “end of history” has arrived. Thus, the west and its manifestations of capitalism and western European cultural values and morality have won the batttle for dominance. For these ideologies, the “end of history” means that there are no other major philosophical qestions to be asked or answered. Accordingly, the western world has concluded that man has reached the pinnacle of social existence in a world where western styled (American) democracy is a universal goal. Further, that the rest of the world defines its culture using western concepts and the children of the world now define modernity in American terms. Thus, most, if not all of the predictions for the 21st Century have systematically eliminated all references to Africa and the people of the African World Community, including Africans in America, as major players in the 21st Century at any level other than as victims of the continual exploitation of the resources of Africa and African people. One of the first things the Black United Fund must do is take on the role as vanguard in the monumental effort to reverse the onset and eventually eliminate these perceptions. How do we go about exterminating this set of destructive perceptions that the rest of the world has accepted as a foregone conclusion? We do it by setting an example in our work in the next century that is so exemplary that the whole of the African World Community will be forced to take note and follow. We must inculcate technology as a helpful and necessary tool for our survival and advancement. We must seek out existing groups that promote technology and create initiatives that will help our people join the technolological march. We must make the words of our forefathers real by first exercising the principles of self reliance and self determination in everything we do in the Black United Fund. We must raise the level of our goals, and thus, raise our reach. We can no longer be satisfied with raising and dispensing a little money and doing a little good. We must seek to be so good in these efforts that all will want to follow suit. Doing and being less than our very best is not an option. Our children are watching us. Lastly, we must illustrate cultural and spiritual practices that will serve as shining examples of alternatives that are so bright that they will set us apart. This means that we must practice the principles we preach. We must seek to empower ourselves and all of those around us to make this goal possible. Thus, any and all projects we fund must be measured by the African principles of “ the greatest good for the greatest number”, “reciprocity” and “collective work and responsibility”. We must systematically reject any projects that will in any manner, perpetuate the European globalistic syndrome of individualistic greed. In other words, we must steer clear of any and all things that do not promote the overall good and advancement of all African people. This is our task as we move into the 21st Century. As we induct new board members and volunteers, I hope we will collectively pledge ourselves to this task. Forward Ever, Backward Never!
Jewel of the Nile
"an individual of substance and one who makes us proud" Most successful Chicagoans know him as an educator. They were his classmates on his academic journey through Roosevelt University and University of Chicago. They were his students at Farragut, DuSable and Hyde Park high schools. He is a community leader and political activist who coined the phrase “plantation politics” and has inspired many to movement. His thoughts and opinions are sought all over the world as, at age 80, he has lived the history he teaches. Timuel D. Black has resided in Chicago all of his life, now residing in Hyde Park with his wife Zenobia, an inspiration in her own right. Titles are no stranger to Mr. Black:
In the area of social justice, Professor Black challenged the old House Un-American Activities Committee and fought against racism from former Superintendent of Schools, Ben Willis to the desegregation of public facilities in Chicago. In the political arena, he was an advisor to the late Mayor Harold Washington and he has been instrumental in many campaigns. Lately he has imparted his wisdom in documentaries on Chicago politics and neighborhoods, specifically, Bronzeville. He continues to be involved in motivating our youth, recently contributing to “Checklist for Success” at the University of Illinois. He is a member of numerous organizations, such as,
Professor Black is the kind of person your children will read about in their history books, so you may want to introduce them to him now. He shows no signs of slowing down but has stated “I’m remaining primitive as long as I can. You’ve noticed I don’t have an answering machine at home. I don’t want one.” Neither does he use a FAX. “Just drop it in the mail. I’ll get it.” He is a Legend in his own time and we salute him.
Bust A MoveThese 8 time Illinois State Champions truly rock the house when performing their precision routines, but the focus of this disciplined effort is on education and helping young people make positive choices. It is apparent that the self esteem and enthusiasm developed is responsible for the fact that most team members enroll in post secondary educational institutions. Founded in 1980 by Director Arthur Robertson, a former Chicago Public School teacher, to combat negative influences. Membership on the team requires commitment on both sides to hard work, discipline and patience. The cost to the team is about $2,900 per year, per child which is a small investment when you consider that it costs $29,000 to maintain a child in the Juvenile Detention Center. But beyond costs, we must help prevent the waste of young minds that might contribute so much to our future.
 The team is highly sought after and has performed at:
Many members have been with the team for over 10 years. Following a paramilitary structure, youth leaders are ranked by experience and are responsible for rehearsing younger members. Youth leaders also organize their own fund-raising activities and take an active role in artistic decisions. In recent months, the team was temporarily able to consolidate storage of equipment, set up an office enabling them to computerize administrative details and help students with homework. A temporary site was donated for rehearsals and administration, but this site will soon be demolished. The team is in desperate need of a new site that is easily and safely accessible. It would be nice for one of these unused buildings (sans liens) in the neighborhood to be donated to such a worthy cause. Our children need all the help they can get. 773/651-1498
Spotlight - Board of Directors
There’s a saying that goes, “If you want to get a good volunteer, ask
a busy man”. This adage certainly describes Steve Braxton, one of
the founding volunteer board members of the Black United Fund of
Illinois, Inc. He’s into everything.
As President of BRME Enterprise, a business and management consulting firm, Mr. Braxton brings personal experience to the diversity awareness training the company provides. BRME also specializes in:
From 1973-1994 he took on Corporate America as:
In 1994, Mr. Braxton took on a more ecumenical role, graduating from Loyola Institute in Pastoral Care and certified as a Crisis Intervention and Grief Counselor. Reverend Braxton is an ordained Elder in the International Council of Community Churches and President of the National Progressive Institute, a community economic development agency. He’s been a mentor for We Care-Chgo Police Youth Div., Loop Lab School Project 2000, Church Outreach Ministries at CHA and Cook County Jail and Bethune Cookman College and is listed in and/or was awarded, “ Two Thousand Notable American Men; International Directory of Distinguished Leadership; 5,000 Personalities of the World; Who’s Who in Civic, Cultural and Entrepreneurial Professions; 7th Annual Pinnacle Award; and, League of Black Women Mentor Award. Reverend Braxton brings more than 25 years of experience in business, civic, social and spiritual expertise. We appreciate him.
Know Your HeritageLiving history that you can see, hear and feel. And so, what do Lawrence Clark, 82, Reverend Dr. Louis Rawls, 94, and Dr. Maxi Boyd, ageless, have in common? They are treasures of living history. They’re our Griots who speak the social and economic history in terms of their daily lives. They are amazingly sharp and can recall intimate details of situations and events that have affected Black people since 1917. They’re like hundreds of people we should know who live in obscurity. We pass them on the street everyday not knowing the wealth of information they carry. Lawrence Clark, Tuskeegee Airman, Chicago Dodo Chapter. We met years ago at a dedication of the Tuskeegee Airmen exhibit at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport and were invited to see another exhibit of original flight photos. This exhibit is at a south side church where on any given day you might join a few of the original airmen for lunch. This church also houses a magnificent library of original works by Black authors. Mr. Clark is the cheerleader of the historic flyers as some of them are in poor health and no longer leave their homes. Even though he walks with two crutches as a result of an auto accident, he tries to encourage his peers to participate in all that life has to offer. “Joy is the adrenaline of my body. Joy occupies the same space in the brain as pain, that’s why the clown is the big man at hospitals because he makes children experience joy and that erases pain. While you experience joy, you feel no pain.” Our most recent meeting was at a nursing home where he was performing with a group called the Prosecentum Players, a company of seniors who perform classical to the romantic music. They have wonderfully strong voices and one of the women is a current soloist with the Lyric Opera. You never know who you’ll meet when you hang around senior citizens. This performance was sponsored by Happy Companions, a not-for-profit Black United Fund grantee that provides entertainment, “JOY”, to seniors. Mr. Clark tells us he was recently reminded of an experience he had as a Tuskeegee cadet. He was caught by a wind sheer as he “hot dogged” over Talladega College. “It flipped my plane into these red clouds, threw me up, down and side to side, spit me out and I did a carrier landing near the Coosa River in Rome, Georgia. Crowds of people of all colors came out to see me because they couldn’t believe there was such a thing as a Black pilot. Several Black men slept under my wings that night to protect me because they said I scolded a white woman who lit a match near my plane.” He has a million stories our children should hear. Dr. Louis Rawls, Pastor, Mortician, Developer, has written his book of memoirs and has shopped it for sale by other congregations. The only hurdle now is for someone to publish it. Prior to this encounter, we saw Dr. Rawls 2 years ago, as he was moving from his 27 room multimillion dollar mansion in Hyde Park. He is now speaking to us from a 2 bedroom apartment he occupies with his wife. “I built this building (11 story Rawls Manor) with my first million dollars.” He has degrees from Northwestern, Loyola, Aurora and more plus he’s sent all of his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews to college. “When I came to Chicago, I worked as the first driver for Ida B. Wells. My church has been home to historic performances, Eta Moten Barnett sang her last show there.” There are too many stories, too little space. Know him. Dr. Maxi Boyd, former University of Chicago professor and neighborhood advocate. She has the appearance of a much younger woman, petite, moving swiftly, fire in her eyes, dressing in the casual style of Hepburn. Weekly square dancing and gardening occupy her time. Flowers and vegetables flow from her hand tilled gardens Her latest passion is organizing the history of the struggle she and her late husband, an attorney, fought and won during the “Urban Renewal” of the ‘50s. This era saw the displacement of a great portion of Black heritage to make way for public housing. Her home stands testament to the way enterprising Black people lived during that time, a 3 story mansion with all the original appointments and furniture. It is the subject of great books on significant architecture. She has hung on to the history in articles and magazines of the day and has formed a foundation for its preservation so that “Black children might know how the area once belonged to their people”. We wish you could hear their stories firsthand and hope that the next time an elder starts a conversation at the bus stop, we listen to the accounts of Black Chicago’s rich past.
Editor's Note
RECIPROCITY. A recent phone call to this office from a developer
expressed outrage over the fact that companies doing business in his
neighborhood were unwilling to give back to the community. Well
duh!
He’d been buying goods from a suburban company for years and was instrumental in its growth to a multimillion dollar operation. They thanked him for contributing to their growth and told him they’d need to hire more staff. When the developer suggested they hire from the predominantly Black neighborhood in which they derived most of their income, they replied by hiring another non-minority suburban account manager. The call to BUFI was to alert other Black developers in the area to put pressure on their suppliers to return something to the communities in which they prosper. Our response was to give this developer the phone number of a Black company a few miles from the area who supplied the same products. A call was made - an order was placed. Excuse us while we give this man something to ponder. “The economic philosophy of black nationalism only means that our people need to be re-educated into the importance of controlling the economy of the community in which we live...which...means that we ...won’t have to constantly be involved in picketing and boycotting other people in other communities in order to get jobs.”
Arts SmartsCofounded by Abena Joan Brown, cultural messenger, ETA provides professional training in the performing and technical arts for youth and adults. It is the only African American owned and managed facility of its kind in the city (and one of few in the nation) and ETA has a commitment to the production of new works and the development of the individual artist. ETA has been an affiliate of the Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc. for five years and it is an institution that exemplifies the growth that can be achieved through Black philanthropy and sound management. ETA has accomplished so much since its incorporation due not only to the fine product it offers, but also because it is a well oiled machine. With only five full-time staff members, President Brown, Artistic Director Runako Jahi, Business Manager Terri White, Building Manager Kenneth Simmons and Technical Director Darryl Goodman, the organization has been able to develop, manage and contractually employ over 200 artists and technicians and train over 300 students each year. This year, ETA has embarked on a mission, “South Shore/Grand Crossing Renaissance 2001”, a capital campaign that has led to the acquisition of adjacent acres of land for a new teaching, administration and performance facility plus a park/pavilion. At a Board reception unveiling the new project, campaign cochairman, Robert Blackwell, commented that when he told his mother, the wife of a Southern Baptist minister, that the goal of the campaign was to raise $10 million, she replied, “That’s a lot of chicken and chit’lin dinners!” We observed the dedicated board members who epitomize the phrase “Put your money where your mouth is.” They work closely with the staff to consistently set and reach goals.
“To my way of thinking, Black theater is successful (or will be successful) when it has enough of a positive impact upon the lives of enough Black people for them to consider it of sufficient value to take whatever action is necessary to insure its continuation as an institution.”
We’ve Got the Hook-upAccording to original attendee and current President, Dr. Wynetta Frazier, the goals are to:
There’s Help in RoselandThough parts of the community are historic enclaves, in the midst of gentrification and ethnic change, a greater portion is abandoned property laid waste by a government program of too easy mortgages for the unstably employed. The vast majority of residents are decent families that have lived in Roseland for decades and they have come to know and respect a community agency in their midst, South Side Help Center (SSHC), that has been reaching out to combat crime and disease plaguing the area. Founded by Betty Smith, Executive Director, SSHC has been conducting programs of education, prevention and mentorship to over 90,000 children, young adults and women of child bearing age since 1987. The initial program service, which continues today was HIV/AIDS education. Through the years, the following have been added: 1989 *Religious Initiative; * Peer Leadership; 1993 *Shelter Based HIV/AIDS Program; 1994 *CHA Women’s HIV/AIDS Program; 1995 * Stopping AIDS through Functional Education (SAFE) Program; * Sex Workers HIV/AIDS Project; * Injecting Drug Users Project. Comprehensive Prevention Programs - 1995 * Youth Self Enhancement Program(YSEP) - youth planning activities and meeting mentors; * Aspire - 12 to 14 year old girls meet medical students who serve as role models * Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting Project a/k/a SISTERS - provides support services to pregnant or parenting young women ages 13-24 and teaches them how to stay healthy, family planning, conflict resolution and about positive male/female relationships; 1996 * Promoting Respect Among Youth (PRAY) - partners young men ages 14-21 with older males from the community to discuss topics such as, values, fatherhood, life skills, self identity and other issues to improve their social and economic status. What an array of programs helping to save the vanishing youth of Roseland and surrounding communities. According to Donna Weathersby Davis, Development Director, “It’s very important to collaborate with similar organizations in other neighborhoods, so we also partner with other agencies on the East and North sides of Chicago. It keeps us all abreast of changing needs and sometimes helps maximize fund raising.“ There is a wish list for furniture to update a board/meeting room and they can always use any office supplies. If you can help, call 773/445-5445.
College Planning PaysOur overcrowded high schools have counselors up to their ears in other concerns. Parents are apathetic or leave it to the children to take the initiative to seek out or follow up scholarship leads. The financial planners tell us which funds to invest in for our children’s educational futures but by the time we hear the pitch, the child is a young adult and there’s no time to grow our portfolios. The Illinois Council for College Attendance (ICCA) is a BUFI affiliate dedicated to “improving access to higher education for under-represented students and forging links among colleges and universities, elementary and secondary schools, community agencies and special interest organizations” says ICCA President Glen Abbott. ICCA is a membership organization cofounded by Silas Purnell and focussed on providing leadership to the educational and business communities in order to develop resources for the support of not only access but also retention of students in higher education. Students must learn the academic and financial skills required to stay in college. ICCA conducts numerous programs throughout the year focussing on:
Governors State U - Chicago State U - Cole Taylor Bank - U.S. Dept. of HUD - SIU - Prairie State College - U of I - Chicago Urban League - IIT - Roosevelt U - Harold Washington college - Computer Learning Center - Whitney Young H.S. - Northern Illinois U - DePaul U - Kennedy-King college - Illinois State U - Northeastern U - West Suburban Hospital/College of Nursing. For info call 708/853-3329
Calling All Employees of:
BUFI helps thousands through grassroots organizations statewide. It’s your choice!
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©1999 Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc. -- All rights reserved |
Who’s going to be the next Spike Lee, the next Spielberg?
What do Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte and Desmond Tutu have in
common with Bob Dole, Norman Schwarzkopf and Arnold Palmer?
They are all prostate cancer survivors but that is where the
similarities end.
We have heard an endless amount of discussion concerning the
implications of the turn of the century and the dawn of a new
millennium. We have read predictions of the doom of mankind or
the "end of time", as well as, predictions of the coming of a
glorious utopian epoch. Somewhere in between these prophecies,
we must find middle ground and peace.