CK Archives 2001 |
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A Season for NonViolence (SNV) Campus Kaleidoscope Archives Last year's SNV local events calendar
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Date: January 15, 2001 Publication: The Virginian-Pilot (Hampton Roads) Author: Mike Knepler Cross-cultural groups inspired by King's legacy A locally produced documentary brings several races together for frank discussion.We see men as Jews or Gentiles, Catholics or Protestants, or Chinese or American, Negros or Whites. We fail to think them as fellow human beings made from the same basic stuff as we, molded in the same divine image." - The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. "The Strength to Love" A short film about Africa's role in the American slave trade is drawing rave reviews from mixed crowds. Not just blacks and whites. Americans of Mexican, Chinese, Japanese and Filipino descent all have found inspiration from the 30 minute documentary, "A Noble Desire: A Time for Healing," locally co-produced by WHRO-TV and FOX-TV 43. "We have to learn that everyone has been victims and aggressors, that everyone has a story to tell," said Gene Hou, a 49- year-old Chinese American who lives in Virginia Beach. As Hampton Roads becomes more ethnically diverse, an array of cross-cultural organizations to racism, discrimination and stereotyping. For the most part, the endeavors are year-round, not just for annual events such as today's national and state Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. "These efforts would receive his blessings," said Dr. Hugo Owens, the first African- American elected to the Chesapeake City Council. The retired dentist participated with King in three "Prayer Pilgrimages" to Richmond in the 1950s before the more famous 1963 March on Washington. Owens and other leaders familiar with King's work also say that on of the best ways for people to honor King's life and legacy is to participate in cross cultural community programs. "Otherwise we'd remain in our own little cocoons, and he didn't give his life for that." said the Rev. Paige Chargois, a leader of the Richmond based Hope in the Cities, which has inspired a similar grass-roots program in Norfolk called Race and Reconciliation. The many efforts vary in size, scope, sponsorship and results. Often, the results are personal. After viewing the "Noble Desire" film on a recent Sunday afternoon, Hou and several other Chinese Americans mentioned their continued anger over Japanese atrocities in China before and during World War II. Later, Hou made a beeline toward Atsuko Biernot, a Japanese American who had come to the multicultural discussion of the TV film. Hou apologized to Biernot for any personal offense and asked her advice about reaching out to other Japanese Americans Biernot agreed to continue talking with Hou. Meanwhile, WHRO a public television station will continue circulating "A Noble Desire" among civic groups and will hold a regional conference on intercultural reconciliation Feb.4 at Old Dominion University. The effort is part of its ongoing "Colors All Our Own" TV series and community outreach. Sometimes cross-cultural discussions produce tangible community benefits. Members of the regional African-American/Jewish Coalition led to the creation of a program that helps black entrepreneurs. It's called MEDAL -Minority Economic Development through Assisted Lending which has graduated more than 80 small- businesses owners and issued nine loans totaling more than $80,000. In addition to the African-American/Jewish Coalition, the region has several other citizen led efforts to improve cross cultural relations. Also, students help lead some cross-cultural organizations, such as campus chapters of the National Conference for Community and Justice at Virginia Wesleyan College and Old Dominion University, which often meet together. "I've been passionate about diversity since my junior year in high school," said 22-year old ODU senior Candace Beamer, who is chairwoman of the NCCJ chapter at her university. Beamer tries to raise awareness of diversity issues even in casual settings with fellow students. If someone utters a slur against gays and lesbians, for example, Beamer asks the person never to make such remarks in her presence. "I don't engage in ignorance. That's what I usually tell them," Beamer said. Even city governments have edged in, although sometimes on tiptoe. Those efforts include the aggressive Hampton Citizens Unity Commission and the recent intent of the Norfolk City Council to hold periodic intercultural discussions among its four white and three black members. Advocates of cross-cultural discussions say such activities are not mere feel-good exercises. They can help solve real problems among individuals and communities. For example, Darrin MacKinnion, a white 33-year old, said a younger black neighbor often played loud, profanity-laced rap music while washing his car. But MacKinnon said he never asked the neighbor to turn down the music out of fear of provoking a racial dispute. "With a black guy there's that little voice saying, 'Maybe this guy might get offended,'" MacKinnon said. "So I censored myself....I definitely would have said something, though, if it was a white neighbor." MacKinnon's story is "a perfect example of problems that could be reduced through intercultural discussion groups, the Rev. Chargois said. "Through such dialogues he could learn how to approach a black man playing loud music, learn how to approach him as a neighbor and not as a racially different person," Chargois said. Meanwhile, MacKinnon said, he would like to join an intercultural relations program. He is looking for such an effort held through Christian churches because he believes racism is a religious and moral issue as well as a civic problem. Beyond personal conflicts, Hope in the Cities is now trying to apply its discussion programs to regional issues, said Rob Corcoran, another leader of the Richmond programs. The new effort is called Metropolitan Richmond Dialogues on Race, Economic and Jurisdiction. It will seek to find and address underlying biases that stymie better cooperation between the city and surrounding counties, Corcoran said. "Just as it's hard for counties to talk about sharing tax revenues with Richmond, it's hard for black leaders in Richmond to think about changing the political system that could lead to diluting their power," he said. But it's no easy task to create cross-cultural problem-solving programs on personal or community levels. And it's even harder to sustain them. While new programs are being created, others have fallen apart. The Cultural Appreciation and Racial Education Society, or CARES, of Portsmouth, disbanded because no one seemed to have time for unheralded grunt work, such as keeping notes and mailing meeting notices to participate, said Zelma Rivin, a co-founder. One program on the Peninsula disbanded after two years when members discovered that they had sharply different definitions of success , said Julie Vaisvil, who had been a participant. "We all thought we had a common notion of what success would be like, but we had never talked about it." Vaisvil said. "When it came up, part of the group said they had been looking for bigger steps and some of us said we were willing to consider every small step as part of success." Vaisvil said she doesn't regret devoting time and energy to the program and continues to promote such work as program director of the Virginia chapter of the National Conference for Community and Justice. It's often frustrating, Vaisvil acknowledged. But building better intercultural friendships is work that must continue. "I don't think it's something you can say, 'Well, let's let somebody else do it,'" Vaisvil said. "The more people get involved now, the sooner we're all going to get there." ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Date: October 5, 2001 Publication: The Marlin Chronicle Author: Lori Salzman and Rebecca Desjardins Stitching together a tapestry of peace The events of September 11 sent one Virginia Wesleyan senior in search of a way to help others cope with the terrorist attack. Soon, she came up with a project to enable the entire VWC community to respond positively to the fear and anger caused by the "Attack on America." Senior Virginia Walden came to the conclusion that she would unite the community "stitch by stitch." Walden is the coordinator of the 911 Memorial Quilt Project. The first meeting, held Sept. 28, was welcomed with open arms b the VWC community. Direct of Residence Life Keith Moore and Science Professor Dr. Maynard Schaus created the first two panels, followed by others creating a total of more than 30 panels for the quilt. Walden said the idea just came to her one day while walking back from a memorial, "I found myself needing a way to respond to the destruction. I kept thinking stitch by stitch , sew a tapestry of peace." After thinking of the idea, Walden increased interest in the quilt project by e-mailing some of her professors. The project caught fire and the response has been overwhelming. Many clubs and organizations, including Health and Human Services, Psy-Chi, Campus Kaleidoscope, the VWC mail room and the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, are submitting panels for the quilt, and more plan to help. In addition to individual students and staff, a number of residence halls are making the quilt a hall program. Justin Sykes, the resident assistant in Teagle Hall is one of the many to make the quilt a hall program. "My main idea was to get the guys in the hall together in a group and give them the chance to talk about recent events that was probably the best part of the whole program," Sykes said. Diane Hotaling, director of community service, was impressed by Walden's idea and the excitement it generated around the campus community. Hotaling donated her support and space to the quilt project because she said it was a perfect way to help those struggling to deal with the tragedy. "It's a great service, and a good way to express support and pride," she said. American pride and renewed patriotism is certainly a theme of the quilt as most panels are dashed with red, white and blue colors and messages of strength. Walden is hoping the project will be completed by the end of the semester. The destination of the quilt is currently unknown, however, Walden would like to see it displayed around campus and has entertained the idea of finding a way to send it to New York or Washington D.C. Walden said she would like the campus community to decide the fate of the quilt. "The quilt belongs to the Wesleyan community." she said. "I am very pleased with the response that I've had. I am amazed and it really makes me feel proud of the Wesleyan community." Walden is able to provide some supplies to create the panels. No sewing experience is necessary to make a panel, but there will be a need for people willing to sew the panels together when they are completed. "Anyone is welcome and encourage to contribute," Walden said. "I feel it gives the opportunity for members of the Wesleyan community to come together."
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