Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 26 October 2001 — Page 2

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26,2001

National News

URBAN

Chocolate firms, Congress agree to plan to fight child slavery (NNPA) — Two congressmen have worked out an agreement to assist America’s cocoa growers and chocolate manufacturers to stop the use of West African child slaves as cocoa producers. The agreement will push for the companies to develop labor standards and be part of an outside monitoring system to ensure they are followed. Two Democrats, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., and Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, worked out the plan. “This breakthrough agreement will yield the first-ever global capacity in the agriculture and food processing sector to publicly and credibly certify that the cocoa and chocolate products we eat and enjoy every day have been produced without any of the worst forms of child labor.” Harkin told reporters. The agreement followed reports that stated as many as 15,000 children have worked as slave laborers on the Ivory Coast. The area, Africa’s largest exporter of coffee, is the producer of almost 50 percent of the world's cocoa. Trial for Jamil Al-Amin delayed until January (NNPA) — The murder trial for the man once known as H. Rap Brown, the fiery 1960s

Black Power era leader, has been rescheduled for January 2002. Jamil Al-Amin. 57, now an Atlanta-based Muslim cleric, is in a Fulton County. Ga.. jail, awaiting trial for the killing of Ricky Kinchen, a Black county deputy. The trial was originally scheduled for September, but Fulton County Superior Court Judge Stephanie B. Manis said she postponed it to make sure he receives as fair a trial as possible. The postponement is seen as a way to allow anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiments, which have significantly risen since the Sept. 11 attacks on America, to subside. Al-Amin is charged with killing Kinchen and wounding his partner. Aldranon English, after the officers tried to serve Al-Amin a warrant in March of last year for failing to appear in court. English is also Black. In the 1960s. Brown was chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee after that group adopted Black nationalism. He called for Blacks to wage an open rebellion against white supremacy. Flu shot gap between Blacks, whites (NNPA) — There is still a significant gap between Blacks and whites who use managed health care when it comes to vaccination rates, stated a medical journal study. The Journal of the American Medical Association recently reported that "whites were sub-

stantially more likely to be vaccinated than African Americans," with a 22 percent gap between the two races. Whites had aj/accination rate of 68 percent, compared to only 46 percent of African Americans. Dr. Eric C. Schneider, a faculty member of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, helped produce the study using data from the 1996 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey. He told reporters that doctors "may want to be especially vigilant about offering vaccination to any eligible patient who has not received it before." Supreme Court declines to hear racial profiling case (NNPA) — The U S. Supreme Court, without comment, declined to hear an appeal filed by Blacks claiming they were unfairly stopped by police in upstate New York after a white college student was robbed in 1992. Police began stopping and c|uestioning Black males in the all-white town after a white female student at the State University of New York at Oneonta reported that a Black man robbed her. The stops occurred after authorities, who received the names of 78 Black male students from university officials, failed to produce a suspect. Police interviewed all 78. The robber was never found. Lower federal courts did not find the city liable.

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MAYBE WE SHOULD ADD A FEW MORE STARS.

progress and renewal - particularly in regard to plans for the new 1-70 business park. We all know it takes a village to raise a child. But we’re learning that it takes* all of us to raise the village as well. What kind of jobs do we need? How can they best support and help our families and kids? How will they make our neighborhoods stronger? It is the right time to come together as a community around these vital questions. Martindale Brightwood is growing and changing. There’s positive energy all around, coming from Genesis Plaza, from the business park, from new neighborhood leaders. We're in just the right moment of the community’s history to set new directions. Martindale Brightwood has not had a neighborhood plan since 1986. Putting one in place before we open the business park will help make sure everyone in the community benefits from new jobs, new businesses, and new places to eat and shop. And neighborhood residents are the right people to lead the way. A few decades ago, the planners and policy makers thought they had all the answers to what a given community needed. What we’ve learned is that in every community, big or small, rich or poor, is that the hopes and dreams of all our neighbors — families, schools, small businesses - are the lifeblood of progress. Everyone who lives and works in Martindale Brightwood can help put together a neighborhood plan that truly represents the hopes and

dreams of the community, one that builds and sustains the momentum we have now. ► The 1-70 business park can help us fulfill our aspirations to strengthen the neighborhood economy. And important part of Saturday’s meeting will be to bring the community up to speed on the planning for this project. The community has both an awesome challenge and opportunity to make sure we are prudent, particular and wise about the kind of businesses we want and need. The collective voices of our neighborhoods must be heard, because their futures are at stake. If you live in Martindale Brightwood, please attend the Town Hall meeting this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Written ^s well as spoken comments will be collected at this and other upcoming community meetings and distributed to the Martindale Brightwood Community Development Corporation, the GreaterCitizens Coalition of Martindafe Brightwood, neighborhood associations and others. Your voice can make a difference as we further build a strong and successful community. For more information about the town meetings, neighborhood plaij, business park and/or other projects, please feel free to contact the community development corporation at 924-8042 or the citizens coalition at 924-4709. Henry Hunt is the executive director of the Martindale Brightwood Community Development Corporation.

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It’s a symbol of our history, our achievements and our citizenship. The stars form a collective constellation that represents every citizen’s contribution to our past and our future. So many people have contributed greatly to help those impacted by recent events. As the city’s natural gas company serving the citizens of Indianapolis, we want to contribute as well by helping those in need at this difficult time. If you or someone you know is experiencing economic hardship created by the recent events, and is unable to meet a gas bill payment, call our Crisis Hotline at 927-4798. We’re here to help. Because we re citizens, just like you.

Citizens Gas Energy for your future. A tradition of trust.

Crisis Hotline 927-4798 www.citizensgas.com

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assessment. "We’re helping them to see themselves as capable and significant," said Stanton, commander of the department's East District. “Never hayigg. vyolked in their shoes, (felt this would be difficult, biit we wanted to give them the opportunity.” Valerie Blackburn learned something she feels is most valuable. “I’ve learned that I nevergave my kids a chance to develop their intra-personal skills, because I was always there to rescue them,” she noted. "Now, I will stop being a rescuer and let them fulfill their own skills.” Blackburn, along with others, has taken advantage of several programs and classes offered by the department, which includes, Alcoholics Anonymous, Drug Awareness and GED classes. “God has changed my life and turned me away from drugs,” she added. “And now I’m not afraid to go home, because I know he will be with me." Stel I a Johnson spoke about what the program is doing for her. “When I first started in this program, I felt that I wasn't capable of doing anything constructive,” she commented. “But then Maj. Stanton and Dorothy taught us that a misbehaving child is a discouraged child, and that you have to find out what it is the child is discouraged about, before you can change his behavior.” Johnson said, “Everything they taught us about our children, I applied to myself, first. Drug addiction and criminal behavior are all elements of acting out by young people. Adults also resort to this as a form of acting out. It’s hard to direct your children and grandchildren if you ’ re not doing right yourself. But we really need to get back to is for the entire community to get involved in raising our children." Patricia James said, “I’m learn-

ing how to take ownership of my problems and how to deal with them.” Campbell, a retired elementary school teacher, and Kamta Robertson demonstrated how to properly approach someone, and how to respond to that approach. The demonstration generated some laughs and fun, as Campbell played an aggressive part. “This lets me know that I need to stop and listen to what someone is saying to me before I react,” Robertson said. “And I’m really not trying to hear anything negative, because I’m trying to change my life.” Shalese Green, who had sortie anger problems in the beginnirig, has changed her perspective. “When I first got to jail, I was real bitter and angry,” she admitted. “But then I became active in all these classes, and even Bible study. I’ve changed for the better, and I’m turning my life in a positive direction. I know now that in a problemsolving situation, I must first talk the answer.” One woman will soon be utilizing the skills from the program. Rebecca Cenofante, who was to be released Wednesday, talked about what she will take with her. “I have taken this as a learning experience, because I will be leaving here on the 24th (Oct),” she commented. “I’m so glad that I took this class. It helped me to better myself, and to understand people better. I feel more patient, and I’m determined to live like a leader who people can look up to and learn from.” “Working with the 15 female inmates, the Marion Coun-ty Sheriff’s Department and Maj. Greg Stanton has been very rewarding,” commented Campbell. Stanton is confident that this program is beneficial, and said: “I challenge them to see themselves as capable and signific&nt in their lives and the lives of others. Without Sheriff Cottey, none of this would be possible. He really cares'’

Halftime

Entertainment.

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