By JACKIE MAJERUS
Press staff
BRISTOL – With song, dance, personal reflections and words of inspiration, a community celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day drew about 60 people to Memorial Boulevard School Monday.
"I am truly pleased," said Nicole Walker-Massari, president of the Bristol branch of the NAACP, which hosted the event. "We had a great time here."
Walker-Massari urged those who are not members of the NAACP to join the organization, which meets the second Thursday of the month in the Bristol Public Library.
"It's a matter of community," Walker-Massari said, adding that the $30 yearly membership costs about as much as a pair of shoes.
Speakers talked about gains made through the civil rights movement – and the hurdles still to clear.
"We all like to believe that we've taken great strides," said Mayor Art Ward. But he said, "We have a long, long way to go."
Ward said a look at the presidential race and the many questions of whether America is "ready" for a black president, a woman president or a Mormon president shows that people are still judging candidates on their skin color, gender and religion.
"The questions don't center on their ability to make decisions that ultimately affect the welfare of all of us," said Ward, or on the candidate's work or experience.
"It's quite obvious that we still do practice segregation in this country," Ward said. "Let us not become complacent in believing that our work is over. Mutual respect for all human beings will continue to be a work in progress. Mutual respect should be a goal for us all."
Bob Brown, who teaches at Tunxis Community College and initiated the school's African-American history class, talked about growing up in a Southern white family in the 1950s.
Some of his ancestors owned slaves, said Brown, who said it's not something he's proud of.
Brown called King "the greatest American in my lifetime."
While his family was "deeply sympathetic to the movement of social justice," Brown said he struggled to understand "the unfair advantage" that he enjoys as a white person.
"I have lived my life in a different place than my fellow citizens who are African American," said Brown.
The Rev. Stanley Kemmerer of Trinity Episcopal Church in Bristol recalled being among the "hordes" of people in Washington, D.C. in August 1963 when King gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech.
"It was as hot as today is cold," said Kemmerer, who said the experience put him "at the epicenter of history" and changed him forever, for the good.
Girls from the Mt. Zion Dance Ministry in Bristol offered a spiritual dance during the program, and young women from Grace Apostolic Church in Terryville got heads bobbing and hands clapping with their songs.
Kevin Barnett read King's "I Have A Dream" speech.
The celebration commemorating King was in jeopardy earlier this month when city usage rules required an insurance policy that the tiny organization couldn't afford.
Initially, school Superintendent Phil Streifer and the mayor offered to personally share the cost, which was about $100. But then an anonymous donor sent in the necessary funds, and Streifer and Ward's offer was no longer needed.
Walker-Massari thanked them for their willingness to cover the insurance fees, and also recognized city Councilor Craig Minor and his wife, Laura Minor, who are NAACP members, for helping to organize the celebration.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Showing posts with label NAACP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NAACP. Show all posts
January 21, 2008
January 20, 2008
Martin Luther King, Jr Day ceremony Monday at 1 p.m.
A story by reporter Jackie Majerus:
Thanks in part to an anonymous donor, a community celebration in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on for Monday, a Bristol NAACP leader said.
Nicole Walker-Massari, acting president of the local NAACP branch, said the 1 p.m. event will be in the auditorium of Memorial Boulevard School.
"Any and everybody" should come to the celebration, said Walker-Massari. "All are welcome."
An anonymous donor gave the $125 needed to cover the cost of the insurance the city requires for use of the auditorium, she said.
Walker-Massari said she was surprised by the donation.
"I thought it was very generous," said Walker-Massari.
Last week, when the event seemed in jeopardy over the cost of the insurance, Bristol school Superintendent Phil Streifer and Mayor Art Ward offered to share the expense and pick up the tab.
But Walker-Massari though they appreciated the offer, the donation took care of the insurance cost.
The celebration will include song, dance and some oratory, according to Walker-Massari.
She said the choir from the Grace Apostolic Church in Terryville will sing."They are good," said Walker-Massari.
A small group of girls from the dance ministry at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church will also perform, said Walker-Massari.
She said the Rev. Stanley Kemmerer of Trinity Episcopal Church will speak, and Kevin Barnett, who will graduate from Southern Connecticut State University in May, will recite King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
Bob Brown, an active member of the city's informal multi-cultural committee, will also speak, said Walker-Massari.
She said the mayor will be invited to make some remarks as well. [He said Friday that he is speaking.]
Many of Bristol's clergy are expected to attend the celebration.
City Councilor Craig Minor, who is a member of the Bristol NAACP branch and has done some work on the event, said he's hoping a lot of people will attend.
"There was a really good turnout two years ago," said Minor.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Thanks in part to an anonymous donor, a community celebration in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on for Monday, a Bristol NAACP leader said.
Nicole Walker-Massari, acting president of the local NAACP branch, said the 1 p.m. event will be in the auditorium of Memorial Boulevard School.
"Any and everybody" should come to the celebration, said Walker-Massari. "All are welcome."
An anonymous donor gave the $125 needed to cover the cost of the insurance the city requires for use of the auditorium, she said.
Walker-Massari said she was surprised by the donation.
"I thought it was very generous," said Walker-Massari.
Last week, when the event seemed in jeopardy over the cost of the insurance, Bristol school Superintendent Phil Streifer and Mayor Art Ward offered to share the expense and pick up the tab.
But Walker-Massari though they appreciated the offer, the donation took care of the insurance cost.
The celebration will include song, dance and some oratory, according to Walker-Massari.
She said the choir from the Grace Apostolic Church in Terryville will sing."They are good," said Walker-Massari.
A small group of girls from the dance ministry at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church will also perform, said Walker-Massari.
She said the Rev. Stanley Kemmerer of Trinity Episcopal Church will speak, and Kevin Barnett, who will graduate from Southern Connecticut State University in May, will recite King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
Bob Brown, an active member of the city's informal multi-cultural committee, will also speak, said Walker-Massari.
She said the mayor will be invited to make some remarks as well. [He said Friday that he is speaking.]
Many of Bristol's clergy are expected to attend the celebration.
City Councilor Craig Minor, who is a member of the Bristol NAACP branch and has done some work on the event, said he's hoping a lot of people will attend.
"There was a really good turnout two years ago," said Minor.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
January 9, 2008
King Day ceremony saved
Reporter Jackie Majerus has more on the King Day ceremony:
With little time to spare before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the mayor and school superintendent offered Wednesday to reach into their own pockets to ensure that the January 21 holiday can be observed in Bristol.
“We solved it,” said Superintendent Phil Streifer.
Streifer said he and Mayor Art Ward are checking into how the cost of insurance – required by the city of the NAACP before the group can use the auditorium at Memorial Boulevard School – could be covered. If they can’t find a way, Streifer said, they’ll pay it themselves.
“Dr. Streifer and I are making a donation to the NAACP,” said Ward. “We’re donating $50 apiece.”
Ward said they based the donation on the insurance cost estimated by the NAACP.
“Both of us are of the belief that the enormous contribution of Dr. King deserves to be recognized,” said Ward.
Streifer said he called Ward after learning that the insurance cost could prevent event from taking place. He said he told Ward that they had to solve it and suggested they split the cost of the insurance.
“It’s sort of ridiculous to keep these people out,” said Streifer. Insurance costs of about $100, Streifer said, “shouldn’t keep this from happening.”
The mayor said the holiday will “recognize part of our heritage.”
“This is a positive way of doing things,” said Bill Whitehead, the past president of the Bristol branch of the NAACP.
The district is following city policy by requiring the insurance for an event in a school facility, according to Streifer.
The city, said Streifer, is correct to require insurance.
“You can’t have an event without insurance,” said Streifer.
Veterans groups that plan ceremonies for Veterans Day, Ward said, also have had to show that they’re insured. But the mayor said the school district has in the past forgiven the rental fee on Veterans Day.
That may well turn out to be the case for the NAACP and the King Day celebration.
“I think we have the ability to waive the fee for use of the facility,” said Streifer.
But if the city – which has insurance – hosts the celebration, no group will have to cough up the cost.
Ward said he’s looking into whether the city should have a policy for municipal celebrations for “national days of tribute” such as Veterans Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Whitehead said it shouldn’t be up to the NAACP to plan, pay for and host the King Day celebration.
“This is a city thing,” said Whitehead. “This is not just an NAACP thing.”
Whitehead said he was happy that the event could take place inside the school rather than in a church, where some people may not feel comfortable attending.
“This way, at least everybody will be welcome,” said Whitehead, and the celebration can include “a variety of people, not just one set of people.”
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
With little time to spare before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the mayor and school superintendent offered Wednesday to reach into their own pockets to ensure that the January 21 holiday can be observed in Bristol.
“We solved it,” said Superintendent Phil Streifer.
Streifer said he and Mayor Art Ward are checking into how the cost of insurance – required by the city of the NAACP before the group can use the auditorium at Memorial Boulevard School – could be covered. If they can’t find a way, Streifer said, they’ll pay it themselves.
“Dr. Streifer and I are making a donation to the NAACP,” said Ward. “We’re donating $50 apiece.”
Ward said they based the donation on the insurance cost estimated by the NAACP.
“Both of us are of the belief that the enormous contribution of Dr. King deserves to be recognized,” said Ward.
Streifer said he called Ward after learning that the insurance cost could prevent event from taking place. He said he told Ward that they had to solve it and suggested they split the cost of the insurance.
“It’s sort of ridiculous to keep these people out,” said Streifer. Insurance costs of about $100, Streifer said, “shouldn’t keep this from happening.”
The mayor said the holiday will “recognize part of our heritage.”
“This is a positive way of doing things,” said Bill Whitehead, the past president of the Bristol branch of the NAACP.
The district is following city policy by requiring the insurance for an event in a school facility, according to Streifer.
The city, said Streifer, is correct to require insurance.
“You can’t have an event without insurance,” said Streifer.
Veterans groups that plan ceremonies for Veterans Day, Ward said, also have had to show that they’re insured. But the mayor said the school district has in the past forgiven the rental fee on Veterans Day.
That may well turn out to be the case for the NAACP and the King Day celebration.
“I think we have the ability to waive the fee for use of the facility,” said Streifer.
But if the city – which has insurance – hosts the celebration, no group will have to cough up the cost.
Ward said he’s looking into whether the city should have a policy for municipal celebrations for “national days of tribute” such as Veterans Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Whitehead said it shouldn’t be up to the NAACP to plan, pay for and host the King Day celebration.
“This is a city thing,” said Whitehead. “This is not just an NAACP thing.”
Whitehead said he was happy that the event could take place inside the school rather than in a church, where some people may not feel comfortable attending.
“This way, at least everybody will be welcome,” said Whitehead, and the celebration can include “a variety of people, not just one set of people.”
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
January 8, 2008
Bristol ought to show some respect on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
It's been many years now since America decided to honor civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr by making his birthday a national holiday.
Across the country, there are ceremonies to mark the occasion, to pay respect to King and his causes, to keep alive the dream he embodied of a better world, for blacks as well as whites.
For some reason, though, Bristol has rarely seen fit to join the crowd.
In the best years, the city government has joined with the NAACP to hold an event that allowed for a public expression of our debt to King and to hail the America he helped to forge.
But too often, and this year may be no different, the city has done nothing.
In reporter Jackie Majerus' story today, leaders of Bristol's tiny NAACP chapter say they'd like to hold an event on the holiday in the auditorium at Memorial Boulevard School, as they sometimes have in the past.
But acting President Nicole Walker-Massari said the group can’t afford it this time.
“They want us to buy insurance,” Bill Whitehead, the former branch president, told Majerus.
So for the lack of a few hundred dollars, there apparently won't be a ceremony in Bristol, other than the religious one that the Beulah AME Zion Church sponsors.
It's incomprehensible, really.
A city of 61,000 residents should have a public ceremony on important occasions such as the King Holiday, which could be co-sponsored by the NAACP and other groups. But unless someone at City Hall steps up to the plate, it's not going to happen.
If the city won't take the lead, at the very least it shouldn't be forcing the NAACP to seek out insurance for taking on a task that it ought not have to do alone.
I understand the rationale for requiring $1 million insurance policies when a private group wants to use public space for a private event, whether it's a political fundraiser or the crowning of a beauty queen.
But why should the NAACP have to fork over money to do something for the community as a whole? Why, for that matter, should the Bristol Veterans Council have to buy insurance so it can hold Bristol's Veterans Day ceremony at the school?
If the city government is going to let groups take up the burden it refuses to shoulder itself, it should have the self-respect not to make them pay to do it as well.
I know Mayor Art Ward plans to talk today with city lawyers about this whole situation. I hope they'll see the big picture.
The narrow-minded focus on the bottom line, no matter what, that this policy is based on sends a rather stunning message to the community: the city government is not a partner. It's just another obstacle to doing something nice for Bristol.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Across the country, there are ceremonies to mark the occasion, to pay respect to King and his causes, to keep alive the dream he embodied of a better world, for blacks as well as whites.
For some reason, though, Bristol has rarely seen fit to join the crowd.
In the best years, the city government has joined with the NAACP to hold an event that allowed for a public expression of our debt to King and to hail the America he helped to forge.
But too often, and this year may be no different, the city has done nothing.
In reporter Jackie Majerus' story today, leaders of Bristol's tiny NAACP chapter say they'd like to hold an event on the holiday in the auditorium at Memorial Boulevard School, as they sometimes have in the past.
But acting President Nicole Walker-Massari said the group can’t afford it this time.
“They want us to buy insurance,” Bill Whitehead, the former branch president, told Majerus.
So for the lack of a few hundred dollars, there apparently won't be a ceremony in Bristol, other than the religious one that the Beulah AME Zion Church sponsors.
It's incomprehensible, really.
A city of 61,000 residents should have a public ceremony on important occasions such as the King Holiday, which could be co-sponsored by the NAACP and other groups. But unless someone at City Hall steps up to the plate, it's not going to happen.
If the city won't take the lead, at the very least it shouldn't be forcing the NAACP to seek out insurance for taking on a task that it ought not have to do alone.
I understand the rationale for requiring $1 million insurance policies when a private group wants to use public space for a private event, whether it's a political fundraiser or the crowning of a beauty queen.
But why should the NAACP have to fork over money to do something for the community as a whole? Why, for that matter, should the Bristol Veterans Council have to buy insurance so it can hold Bristol's Veterans Day ceremony at the school?
If the city government is going to let groups take up the burden it refuses to shoulder itself, it should have the self-respect not to make them pay to do it as well.
I know Mayor Art Ward plans to talk today with city lawyers about this whole situation. I hope they'll see the big picture.
The narrow-minded focus on the bottom line, no matter what, that this policy is based on sends a rather stunning message to the community: the city government is not a partner. It's just another obstacle to doing something nice for Bristol.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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