Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 5 February 2004 — Page 1

The Muncie Times, 1304 N. Broadway, Muncie, IN 47303

PRESORTED STANDARD U. S. POSTAGE PAID MUNCIE, IN PERMIT NO. 304

Also Serving Anderson, Marion, Richmond And New Castle Communities

February 5, 2004

Vol. 14, No. 3

Left to right: Dr. Pat Brown Payne, Phyllis Barlteson, John Bailey-Ontario, Chairman of the Black History Program, Brent Batman-President, Ball Hospital, Tuskegce Airmen, Dr. Walter Palmer Pompey Hawkins

Tuskegee Airmen give a lively sendoff to Black History Month activities

By Pastor Karen Lang Despite the shadows cast on this Groundhogt Day, this did not signal the imminent end of winter.. Instead it measured the progress of African Americans in attempting to

be accepted as equals in the United States of America. Feb. 2 may have been Groundhog Day elsewhere, but here it marked the Muncie kickoff of African American Black History Month at

Minnetrista Cultural Center. This year's event was used to recognize the shadows of those ancestorswho have gone before us. Minnetrista Cultural Center hosted the event, cosponsored by the Martin

Luther King Dream Team and The Muncie Times. John Bailey, chaired the committee responsible for the kickoff. He as well as Dr. Marlin Creasy, Robert Curtis, Mary Dollison, Dr.

Erick Lassiter, J. Paul Mitchell, Vernon Reece, Danny Gawlowski, Hurley Goodall, Dr. Raymond White, Phyllis Bartleson, Bea Moten-Foster, Owen Clendening and Stefan continue on page 3.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Team: A Way of Life

Bea Moten Foster

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Team is an action group that is striving to improve the city of Muncie for all of its citizens. “We’re shooting for the stars,” said Bea Moten Foster, who organized the group 2 years ago soon after being appointed to the Indiana Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday Commission. Foster was appointed to the

commission by the late Gov. Frank O’Bannon and reappointed this month by Gov. Kernen for another 4year term. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream Team was created with the goal of bringing together people with the common goal of providing service to others and to breaking down social and economic barriers that divide our community and

nation. In forming the group, Foster had asked several community leaders to a meeting with her at First Merchants Bank 2 years ago. The leaders crossed all color lines and background. Foster also invited Sandra Leek, an attorney and director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, to the meeting. The first meeting

was successful and the group went from being a group of concerned citizens to become the Dream Team committee through a great determination and the challenge to make Muncie and America what it ought to be. “We have showed the Muncie community that diversity does work,” Foster said. “Our first year was continue on page 3.