Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 November 1998 — Page 2
PAGE A2
THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27,19M 1
WATSON
ContlniMd from A1
mer of hope. The children have received a tremendous out pouring of support from the community and it’s leaders. “When we found out about the passing of this parent,” said Roy Simpson, principal of Northwest High School, “we immediately got together with social workers and a couple of counselors and decided that we would do what we could to help the family. As I understand it, they weren’t able to do things the way that they wanted to do them.” In fact, the children were finding it difficult to do anything they wanted to do. Even buiy their beloved mother. Knowing this, Simpson decided to gather donations on behalf-of the school to help the children. “The three that we have at Northwest are very good students, they’re well liked by everyone.” said Simpson, “A lot of our students, when they heard, were distressed. What else can you say, it is a tragedy, the way that it happened.” Simpson said he had just met with Mary Watson a few weeks ago. He sensed a silent strength amongst the family, as he watched the children dote over their mother. He watched her son place her delicately in the car, while the girls carefully fixed her clothing. They loved their mother dearly, and she (in her debilitated state) loved them
too.
“Father Walden and I were both called to Methodist hospital to minister to this family,” said Elder Lionel T. Rush. Upon their arrival to Methodist Hospital, Rush and Walden found that Mary Watson, a parishioner of Walden’s church, had unexpectedly slipped into a coma. “She was a single parent female, head of household. Essentially these children had to wait on their mother hand and foot. (During) that nine year period, under those, kinds K»dit
times all I wanted was a hug and my mother couldn’t do that,’ for nine years they dealt with that,”
said Rush.
Rush feels that at a time where the headlines are riddled with stories of Indianapolis’ increasing murder rate and escalating violence, that it’s time the community came together to stop a problem before it becomes a problem. Rush says he is literally “begging the
rather a new beginning. Now that they had an opportunity to focus on fatherhood issues, the young fa- 1 thers will be required to follow through on what they have learned. ROP is an ongoing process that will require them to always seek to take advantage of opportunies to improve themselves and their
children’s life options.
The FRP offers on-going incentives and assistance to fathers who have completed the JRFD course. With continuing community support and fathers who are willing to improve their options, the FRP will continue to offer ROP ceremonies that recognize and reinforce re-
Communlty aotMsft
On Tuesday, Dec. 1, John Bryant, CEO of Operation HOPE, a financial consulting group that led the successful rebuilding of South Central Los Angeles after the 1992 riots, will make his first apperance in Indianapolis. The lecture is to take place at the Madame Walker theatre, 617 Indiana
Ave., at 7 p.m.
Free and open to the public, the lecture event is hosted by the Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center, a not-for-profit organization that provides training
the family,” said Brother Ajabu, a Indianapolis. If you would like to
know more about the FRP, call
630-2486.
community activist, “I’m here trying to live up to one of the principals that I live by, that we have to make our brothers and sisters’ problems our problems and try to solve them together. I’m just here trying to be a part of the solution.” And that is what Rush, Walden, Simpson and Ajabu are hoping for. A solution. In the meantime, the children have been “adopted” by Elder Rush’s ministry for the holiday season. Kathy, the oldest sister, will assume guardianship of her four younger siblings, Lori,
Justin, Ashley and Gabriel.
“They certainly give credence and belief to what it means to be a
family,” said Simpson.
The Mary Watson memorial trust fund has been established for the Watson children. All donations to the fund can be sent to Holy Angels Catholic Church, 2802 Martin Luther King Jr., Indianapolis,
IN 46201.
RITE
Continued from A1
required to attend the workshops five days a week. Some fathers additionally attend on-going GED classes offered at the FRP during this time. Those fathers that complete the
for
annual
BRIEFS
Continued from A1
Walker to show in gallery open Local artist Rodney Walker will show his works, along with four other artists, at the Five Ten Gallery, located in the Paris Building, 546 S. Meridian, Suite 510, on Dec. 4, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. ■ This is Walker’s first gallery appearance and the public is invited to attend. NAACP membership notice On Dec. 5, the election of Officers and Executive Committee for the Greater Indianapolis Branch of the NAACP, will take place at the Julia Carson Government Center, located at 300 East Fall Creek Parkway North Drive. The election hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information call 2368992.
borhood-based groups.
His organization, Operation HOPE, encourages banks and lending institutions to invest in urban communities as well as counsels consumers in inner-city neighborhoods on the nuts and bolts of banking fundamentals like establishing credit, applying for loans and homeownership. For more information, call the Indianapolis Neighborhood Re-
source Center at 920-0330.
finances were depleted) and it de-r ROpeeremony. Iheae farikers are -sytRoBgcfllyahir rec^SL^ with er fa-
pleted them psy
many other ways. Father Walden has been there as a tower of
strength for them.
“We ministered that night, but unfortunately Mary passed away the next morning. So we got our heads together and said ‘what can we do?’ So we thought we’d come and appeal to the community." Rush felt that it was time to ask the community to help some kids that were really trying to help themselves before they gave up. He decided to reach out to the community to ask for aid in raising the resources to bury Mary Watson and to establish a trust fund for her chil-
dren.
“If you’ve never been there, it can be very hard to have to deal with a parent who you have to parent and still have the drive.” said Simpson, “so apparently mom put something in them that these kids are living. And it’s going to help them to succeed in life. We all have our minor problems, but when you look at what they have to deal with
thers who are former FRP graduates and have made other accomplishments during the year. Formal recognition is given for continous employment, paternity establishment, marriage, educational acheivements and other worthy attainments. Mothers, fathers, professionals and others from the general community participate in the ROP ceremony as community elders. The father must answer the question correctly in order to be considered worthy of the passage. Fortunately, these fathers answered the questions to the elders satisfaction and were able to pass the examination and make the pas-
sage.
The keynote speaker, Ed Pitt, Associate Director of The Fatherhood Project, a national Organization, was moved by the function. As Ik spoke to the numerous attendees, he said “this is atrue reflection of *it takes a whole village.’” Mr. Pitt commended the fathers for their endurance in com-
audien^e to answer indepth questions from the varied subjects. Mr. Pitt went on to praise the elders for their commitment and sacrifice in helping our young men improve their fatherhood skills. “It is hard work that only we can do.” Others recognized at the ceremony for
and how they are handling this, and pitting the JRFD course, and their have handled it for the past nine courage in standing before a large
years, it is certainly acredit to that
family.”
“So many times we talked about the fact that it takes a whole village to raise a child,” said Father Clarence Walden of Holy Angels Catholic Church, “this is our opportunity to act that out, to allow
that to happen . That we ask them their continous support of the FRP to be a family, we have to function included Norma Jean Moore, IPS as a family. The whole community GED Testing Coordinator, Willis has to come together to help them Bright, Lilly Endowment; and
Audley -AT* EdwanJs. a young “Just imagine a household inhere the mother is paralyzed.” • One of Mk hardest dungs for the
ideal with wi
rarmth of a mother’s touch. “(Justin) said to me Some-
Thoee ia attendance seemed to enjoy the afffair to the fullest The
Tony Lament named Program Director off wmjqWM fof the statewide Hoosier Millionaire TV Show, has been described by host Mark Patrick as “The World’s Biggest Voice.” Well, that voice will give Indianapolis Radio Listeners a “Big Kiss” as Lamont moves over to KISS 106.7FM/ WBKS. •Lamont, a fixture on Indianapolis radio for 18 years, moves to KISS 106.7FM as its Program Director and afternoon drive time announcer (3pm-7pm); effective Monday, November 30th. “In a way I’ll be returning home,” said Lamont “The mix of Classic Soul and Hits on KIS$ 106.7 is the music I was playing when I began my Indianapolis radio career. I’m also pleased to have the opportunity to help KISS 106.7 develop into a radio station that serves the musical and informational needs of Indianapolis adults.” “In his nearly 20 years on Indianapolis radio, Tony Lament’s become a well known and well recognized Indianapolis media personality,” commented Hoosier Radio and TV President BiUShiik. ‘Tony was instrumental in the success of Hoosier 96, and in not only helping to make his Hoosier Millionaire program the state’s most watched; but with his Six Thirty PM and other programs on WAV-TV Channel 53.” “Now,” Shirk added, “Tony will bring his energy, enthusiasm and professionalism to KISS 106.7.” A sought after speaker to countleu youth groups and active in numerous programs and initiatives aimed at area young people, Lamont will continue to be beard on Hoosier 96. And he’11 continue on Hoosier 96’s Morning Show for the foreseeable future.
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