Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2000)
Septem ber 13, 2000 Page B3 ^lartlanò (Dhseruer g Metro Portiani) TB JBP UMMBHHMMMM Volunteers rebuild burned churches, help promote Interracial harmony O ver the past four years, m ore than 1,800 volunteers have helped to r e b u ild 14 A fr ic a n - A m e r ic a n churches that were destroyed in an e x tr a o r d in a r y ra s h o f r a c ia lly m otivated arson attacks across the country during the 1990s. “ W e have to stand up against acts o f terrorism ,” said J im Leamon, a volunteer from V erona, N .J., who helped to rebuild the Rice Chapel A M E Z ion Church in Buffalo, S.C., last year. “ This church fam ily has been hurt and it takes a partnership effort to heal the hurt.” T he reconstructed churches, m ost o f w hich are the center o f com m unity as w ell as spiritual life in rural areas o f the southeast, were r e c o n s tr u c te d b y v o lu n te e r s o r g a n iz e d b y th e U n ita ria n U niversalist Service C om m ittee, a n o n s e c ta r ia n , hum an r ig h ts organization based in Cam bridge, M ass. Dr. Volora W ashington, executive director o f U U SC, said the volunteer w orkcam ps bring together people o f all cultural and social backgrounds w ho w ant to take a stand against racism w hile helping to prom ote u n d e r s ta n d in g and r e b u ild com m unities as w ell as places o f worship. “This had been a truly great and rew arding experience. I got to help others and show that love prevails over hate. This was an experience foil o f love,” said Emily Eisenberg, o f M cLean, Va., w ho was am ong 236 volunteers who helped rebuild the Spring Hill AM E Zion C hurch in Dillon, S.C. The Rev. Robert Perry, pastor o f R ice’s Chapel in Buffalo, S.C., said the new church w as rebuilt at a cost o f about $260,000, but the cost to the church was reduced by 40 percent b e c a u s e o f th e 6 ,0 0 0 h o u rs o f volunteer labor. • T im M c C a rth y , a fo rm e r professor at C olum bia U niversity in N ew Y ork City, organized groups o f 25 undergraduates to participate in "alternative spnng break” workcamps in South Carolina for the past two years. Now a professor at Harvard U n iv ersity in C a m b rid g e, he is developing a new course, “ Race, Justice and the A m erican South," and is w orking with the Service Com m ittee to make participation in a church rebuilding w orkcam p the “centerpiece o f the course.” M cC arth y sa id th e ch u rc h rebuilding workcamps have always been a valuable experience for the students, as well as an opportunity to m akeam oral statement against racism. He recalled that when he arrived in G adsden, S.C., in March 1998 with a group o f C olum bia students, leaders o f the South Richland Bible Way Church were nervous about how the volunteers w ould be accepted. “The com m unity was really struggling with the issue. It w as difficult for them to accept the idea o f white people coming in to rebuild their church that white people had burned dow n.” Celebrate the “Soul o f the City! With A The Urban League of Portland D r. W a s h in g to n s a id th e w orkcam ps have attracted people as young as 12 and as old as 81 who have attested that the experience has changed their lives and has m ade them even m ore sensitive to issues o f social justice. M oreover, m any individuals and groups have returned for a second or third church rebuilding project, and som e have m ade it part o f a more form al learn in g ex p erien ce. F or example: • Bob N akam aru, o f Davenport, Iowa, a sociology professor at Black H aw k C ollege in M oline, 111. has organized high school students from his U nitarian U niversalist church to p articip a te in ch u rc h reb u ild in g w orkcam ps for the past three years. “O ur youth have been studying black h is to r y an d a tte n d in g b la c k churches,” he said. “ It was tim e to quit studying and get out and do som ething.” Dinner, Wednesday evening October 4, 2000 wants you to save this date. You will receive an invitation after Labor Day, but please mark your calendar now for this special occasion! For more information, call the Urban League at (503)280-2600. Tickets: $ 175 each/ $ 1,750 for a table of 10, $5,000 for Dinner Sponsorship. Proceeds benefit The Urban League of Portland and its program. The Urban League of Portland, ION. Russell street, Portland, Oregon 97227 ? n y i' bimr on a i HI i i i i i l s b u iIL 1 íi I Ldliliiil LLLLLL l lj To better serve a growing population and its increased ' Y Westport X reliance on modems, wireless phones, tax machines, and pagers, the phone companies of Oregon have added a Jewell • new 971 area code to the 503 area. This kind of change is not just occurring in Forest Grove Vancouver Oregon, hut throughout the country. And because the new codes differ in format from Portland previous codes that contained either a ‘I’ or a ‘0’ in the second digit, you should check all specialized Central Office-based systems for compatibility. Some of these systems may require reprogramming or upgrading. Cellular phones must he reprogrammed hv Grande Ronde your cellular service provider. * Salem Falls City Mill C ity To test your equipment, call the new Oregon area code test line at 1-800-000-0000. If you have any difficulty dialing the new area code, please call vour operator to assist you in placing your call. The Oregon Telecommunications Association and Your Local Telecommunications Providers 'I i
