Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 7 March 2002 — Page 33

The Muncie Times, March 7, 2002, page 33

OUTSTANDING CITIZENS

Rowray finds joy in working with young people at YOC

by Amy K. Genova Rick Rowray, chief executive officer of the Youth Opportunity Center (YOC), grew up in Muncie. He graduated from Muncie Central, started at Indiana University and then received his master’s in business administration from Ball . State University. He taught in the marketing department and also served, for a time, as a Ball State administrator. Then he moved to Arlington, Texas, and acted as the assistant dean at the University of

Texas in Arlington. However, he missed the Midwest. So he returned to Muncie. In 1992 he became YOC business manager, before he was promoted to CEO. Rowray sums up the YOC’s mission as that of “helping kids at risk in the court system to be successful in society.” During Rowray’s tenure at the YOC, he has seen the “full continuum of services*’ evolve and expand. In 1993 there were 40 staff members. Today there are about 300. In addition, millions of dollars have been spent

on enlarging and enhancing the facility. Services include outpatient care, emergency shelter, residential living, behavior modification, recreation, nutrition education, as well as, a secure treatment facility with 23 beds and a detention center with 44 beds. YOC has a campus on the grounds, for those in need and works in partnership with Muncie Community

Schools.

An apartment program helps young people with housing, who

Rick Rowray

otherwise are not in the position to return home. The YOC aids primarily children ranging in ages

from 6 to 18, although it may provide emergency shelter for even younger children. Rowray says, “It’s about the people, watching staff grow and develop,” and having

families return to “testify” to the success of the

program.

“It’s an honor for me to be a part of it,” he said. Rowray is an adjunct instructor in the College of Business at Ball State

University. He is a board member on the South Madison and Buley Center committees. As a board member of the Muncie Central Alumni Association, he assists in the allocation of funding for scholarships and helping teachers, while also working on alumni relationships. Rowray is on the Citizen’s Advisory Committee of Community Development, which reviews grants for public assistance* 1 !. He enjoy siijblaying basketball, jogg|ng and lifting weights during his spare time and attending sporting events.

BSU professor works to improve relati

by Amy K. Genova J.B. Black, economics professor at Ball State University, became interested in civil rights after WWII. In January 1947, he recalls having coffee with minister, W. Douglas Rae, of the 1st Baptist Church. Rae suggested it was time for the congregation to take a stand against racism. Black wasn’t so sure at first; he thought time would solve the problem. Rae was adamant. He reminded Black that one hundred years had passed since slavery had been dissolved. The congregation could not wait one hundred more years before making a change. That conversation changed Black’s life. The dormitories at Indiana University in Bloomington, where Black housed as a college student, were segregated.

On weekends the cafeteria was closed. The “colored” students, as they were called then, were not allowed to go to the restaurants surrounding the university. “The only place they could go,” Black recalls, “was this little grocery to buy cold-cuts. We decided to meet with the owners. We asked them to' try an experiment...if they would let the black students come.” Black says they had to be cautious at first, move slowly, not overwhelm the restaurants. After a time the university restauraunteurs became advocates to desegregate the restaurants further in town. They simply realized it was good business, says Black. The group continued to work for the integration of pools and other public places. W. Douglas Rae served 1st Baptist for thirty-three years. Black and his wife,

J.B. Black

Mary Jane, still visit Rae’s

widow.

Later, Black served as

treasurer and president of

Christian Ministries and on boards of the South Madison and Buley Centers. He participated in the inter-racial program of Christian Ministries. A couple of years ago groups of eight to twelve

radically different individuals met in study groups. Black says to “lay the cards on the table in public meeting,” to discuss differential treatment by law 7 enforcement officers and others. “I am always hurt,” said Black, “when a person I know or like shows disrespect for any person because of race, religion,” or any other bias.

Black thought race

relations had come a long way until he participated in a recent workshop at the Career Center. The

some simple questions about whether or not they ever found difficulty in certain situations because

of their race. That workshop and some films illustrating how blacks and whites currently receive disparate treatment in applying for jobs, and car loans, etc., has convinced

Black that the United States has a long way to go in improving race

relations.

Besides his work in understanding and improving relationships between the races, J.B. Black has served the community in a multitude of leadership positions. Dean of the College of Business from 1973-84, Black initiated an education program in the prison systems. Now there are over one thousand fulltime students.

participants were asked Prisoners learn about the

stock exchange and fiscal responsibility to help them become useful citizens. “It’s the most meaningful work I’ve ever done,” said Black. Additionally, he assisted in Phil Sharp’s election campaign for congress by serving as campaign treasurer and was appointed to a variety of city wide tasks. Black and his wife of sixteen years, former’ social worker Mary Jane Black, are currently leading a class entitled “Cieat Books and Conversations.” Although Black recently underwent painful knee surgery, he and his wife plan on taking a student group to Europe to experience some of the theater cf Shakespeare and Chaucer

first hand.

When asked what is in store for the future, J.B. Black, who will tarn seventy-eight this month said, “Pm just getting

started.”