Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 19 May 2000 — Page 5

^FRIDAY, MAY 19,2000

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE AS

owe now turns his sights o aiding homeless

By FREDERICK L. J:: MERKERSON III Staff Writer Dr. Ralph Dowe just retired af^(fcr 31 years of service to the city’s f'Joung boys and girls. However, fraveling and relaxing aren’t on the j7-year-old’s horizon. * “I just started a new job,” said *rt)r. Dowe, the former director of *t^ie Wheeler Boys & Girls Club, ; - vho is now the executive director ; of the homeless initiative program ; run by HealthNet and Clarian Hospitals. ; Why doesn’t he sit down and enjoy his accomplishments and life? The man with the face of a wise father simply answered, “When you have a 12-year-old daughter, you’d better work.” But it goes far deeper than that. Deeper than offering comforting counsel to youth, many living lives of desperate despair and poverty, as he did as a child in Wilmington, ' N.C., at a Boys Club. It even goes further than his involvement in the •civil rights movement. According . to his wife, Phyllis Dowe, the an- • swer lies in the very fibers of the ' man who has influenced more than '30,000 Indianapolis youth. " - “He’s just a dedicated servant to "the community. It’s a part of his ' calling here on Earth,” she said. !. “He’s not living his life to be selfish. People in his past have af- ? fleeted him, and I just think he’s > driven to do the same to others.” Dowe said the Boys & Girls - Club was the perfect vehicle for him to have a direct and profound • ihipact on kids who may have ' lacked a positive environment. He weighed the lack of money and • hope against the outstanding role models who presented him with a new and bright perspective on life. : • “I was determined not to fall . prey to negative things in the com- . munity,” he said. “I was driven by the bright light at the end of the tunnel — which was hope.” >> It was the faith in Dowe that /' made his football coach put him on < - a bus to North Carolina A&T with

Ralph Dowe 27 cents in his pocket. Things worked out for Dowe, as he would eventually receive a bachelor of science and a master’s degrees from North Carolina A&T University and IUPUI respectively and his degree from Nova Southeastern University. A professed lifelong learner, Dowe’s thoughts of pursuing a degree in law from IUPUI to defend people in trouble, quickly shifted to directly helping children stay out of trouble and the rest is history. After a year at the Gorman Club (now Lilly) and three years at the Southside Club (now KeenanStahl), he became the director of the Wheeler club in 1972. The organization’s 1,000th club had one of the country’s top facility, but it was staff like Dowe that provided protective and nurturing guidance to youngsters. Throughout his career, Dowe has initiated programs like Black College Tour, United Nation Day and a programs where children visited prisons. “The best way to stop kids from getting into legal trouble is to help them develop character, morals and life skills,” he said. He has served as character witnesses for kids who did get in trouble, help kids get assistance to go to college, even taken kids to campuses. “He has been a father for those who necessarily didn’t have one,”

said his wife. “I wanted to continue to work with young people, but then I began to think that I could work with the homeless initiative program to help some of those kids who were now adults that didn’t make it,” said Dowe. Last week Dowe saw the first kid to join his club. He was doing well, but it was a reunion with another former blub member that reminded him that his work is not done. The encounter occurred on the first day of his new job. The man walked up and asked Dowe if he remembered him from 1973. Dowe did, realizing that someone he had worked so hard to keep on the right path, was now homeless. “It’s my priority to help those who fell through the cracks as kids,” said Dowe, who feels his new position is perfect for this stage of his life. “I want to accomplish what I didn’t achieve working with kids who are now adults. Kids and adults have unmet needs. I’m just trying to fulfill those needs.” Dowe’s responsibilities include developing programs to help the homeless get off the streets, providing medical help and helping them find a home and advice on finding employment. He also said he wants to change the public perception of homeless people, adding, “You may be on top today, but there can be changes that’ll knock you down tomorrow. We need a feeling of compassion and comment from non-homeless people to help the homeless-population.” Dowe’s career at the Boys & Girls Club and new job, have put him in position to be able to retire comfortably, but don’t expect it any time soon. “The purpose for my efforts is the outcome. I don’t think any money or compensation can measure seeing a person overcome adversity, poverty, labels and stereotyping. I just want to assist and see people excel at life.” Maybe then he’ll retire.

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From May 27, 2000 to June 3, 2000 we will be offering our community an opportunity to purchase cemetery property and merchandise with only $35 DOWN AND UP TO 4 YEARS INTEREST FREE PAYMENTS. We will be offering all crypts in our indoor COMMUNITY MAUSOLEUM, and our outdoor ABBEY MAUSOLEUM AND GM VI AT THE “A” LEVEL PRICE (excluding Bronze Fronted Crypts). DISCOUNTS ARE BETWEEN $800 TO $2500. For our HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS we are offering a FREE BURIAL SPACE, and our NEWEST PROGRAM allows the veteran to get their BRONZE MARKER FREE NOW, not after death. Until now the veteran was unable to help design their markers with emblems or other personal options. This is a $1000 SAVINGS for the veteran. And now we will allow a $35 DOWN PAYMENT AND 4 YEARS INTEREST FREE PAYMENTS. Also, during that week only, we will be offering a 10% PRE-NEED DISCOUNT ON ALL FUNERAL GOODS AND SERVICE PACKAGES.

Crown Hill To discuss current needs or advance planning options, call 925-8231 700 West 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208

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