Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 20 May 1999 — Page 15

The Muncie Times, May 20,1999, Page 15

MEN WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Dee Harris is making a difference

By Judy Mays Dee Harris is making a difference Name: Demetrius “Dee” Harris, 50 Life Goal: “to give back to others what has been given to me through the blessings of the Lord.” Born in Chicago, Harris moved to Gary, Ind. when he was 15 moths old. He was raised by his adoptive parents, William and Ovetta Harris, and their daughter, Willa Davis. Harris’s natural mother, Willa Mae Harris, though unable to raise him remained an active part of his life. "I appreciate the diversity involved in my up-bringing. Growing up in Gary allowed me to be exposed to a lot of talent. Knowing black teachers, principals, pastors, musicians, business owners and so forth had a very positive effect on me. “Most of what I would call my best heroes were just everyday people going to work in blue collar jobs,” he said. "Whenever I found myself with the slightest thought or temptation to go astray, something would come to mind that a teacher or mentor said and that would help me to focus.” “1 know first hand what drugs can do to the human body.” "At 7 or 8 I saw a family member who was addicted. It’s an image I won’t forget.” In 1967, Harris graduated from Gary Roosevelt High School. He did a 6 month U.S. Army stint receiving an honorable discharge for medical reason. In 1969 he attended Wilberforce University. Harris later returned to Gary where he worked for the Lake County Planning Commission and the Gary Opportunities Industrialization Center. He also managed a band and became a promoter of sorts. In 1970, he married the late

Brenda Joyce Richards. They had a daughter. Tosha, born in 1972. In 1976 Harris and his wife entered Ball State University where he majored in journalism and graphic arts. He said he was instrumental in founding Unity Day (now Unity Week). “The purpose of Unity Day was to unify all black students on campus. Our goal was for these students to become integrated in all facets of university life.” "At that time there were about 18,000 students at Ball State, of whom 700 were black. As a sophomore, Harris was elected vice president of political affairs for the Black Student Association, while the Rev. Paul Barrett was president. He was involved in academic and political activities, including such issues as housing discrimination, date rape and lack of black faculty members. The following year Harris ran for BSA president on a “new image” slate and won. “My slate was not made up of any one interest group. It was diversified, not pigeonholed. My campaign was fair, impartial and objective,” he said. “During my tenure the Miss Black Ball State pageant was revolutionized, in that it attracted the most contestants, upwards of 20 young ladies and I believe that record still holds. “I believe that bringing in the philosophy of working together rather than pulling apart, set a positive pattern for things that are happening on campus even to date.” Today, Harris is executive director of the Southside Madison Community Center, Muncie. His team includes male mentors, some of who were once labeled as dead-beat dads, but now volunteer their time to the Brother-to-Brother program. But that’s not all the group

Above is Dee Harris, executive director of the South Madison Community Center. Below is Harris with his wife, Dorothy.

does. There are also Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Smart Kids, conducted by Motivate Our Minds, Sister-to-Sister (issues facings young girls, volleyball and basketball), a dance ministry. Summer Youth Daze program and TAPPERS, a program that will transform negative wall graffiti into positive murals and an additional computer training program provided by Ball State students. Also, Harris is preparing to register kids for the Hershey’s track meet. Then there’s Punt, Pass n’ Kick, which is sanctioned by the NFL and Clubhouse. “Clubhouse is a fun, active program maintaining Christian values,” said Harris. “The dedication of others, like Sally McLaren, Ayanna Garrett, former Deputy Mayor Walter Berry, the Rev. Terrance Bridges and a very special person, Sara Long, the Ball State student who was killed in a car accident, make these programs successful.” Married to the former Dorothy Williams since 1992, Harris said it was his wife who started the Sister-to-Sister program, along with staff member Wondreia Nevings.

“My husband has a wonderful giving spirit, a God-given Spirit,” said Dorothy Harris. “He always sees the potential of a child. Children one may normally perceive as the worse child, “Dee” will always find the best in. “His heart is genuine. His love and concern for others is genuine. My husband has a heart as big as Texas and I love him.” Harris said he knows he won’t be at the Madison Center forever. “My long-term goal is to address the cultural arts void in the community. “I’d like to have a book store and eatery,” he said. In the meantime Harris is involved in CDK Productions (Clarence Motley, Dee Harris and Kevin Woodgett), is the founder of Dee Arts Designs, is a founding member of CM Poetry Club, a co-writer, director, producer of several plays. He is working on a fourth production, “Women of Color.” Harris was recently honored by the Delaware County Bar Association with the 1999 Liberty Bell Award.

Harris is a former Madison Center interim director, assistant director and recreations coordinator. At one point was terminated because of a lack of funding, but continued as a volunteer. He is a former deputy director of the Muncie OIC. He said he instructed over 500 students while working for OIC. Harris was once a Juvenile Detention Center supervisor. For 13 years he worked for Marsh Supermarket. Besides daughter Tosha, 26, he and his wife, Dorothy, have three sons from her previous marriage, Abron Buckner, 27, and twins Willy and Billy, 22.