Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 August 2002 — Page 6

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2,2002

Group wants to bridge racial, economic divide between neighboring communities

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. (AP) —A group of residents and business people wants to bridge the divide between the neighboring communities of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph -r a gap that is sharply illustrated by differences in unemployment, poverty and race. St Joseph is mostly white and prosperous. Benton Harbor is predominantly Black and struggling. Residents of one city say they don’t

like to visit the other, viewing their inhabitants with suspicion. The Council for World-Class Communities, a newly formed group, wants to bring the two communities together. Tothatend, members interviewed residents recently to identify the biggest issues keeping them apart. It now is preparing possible solutions in such areas as education, health and business. “This country has become more

diverse but seems to have less and less capacity to deal with our differences,” Dave Whitwam, chief executive of Whirlpool Corp., told the Detroit News. “I’ve felt for a long time that if we can’t find a way to deal with our differences, we’re oh the road to disaster.” Whitwam, who helped start the council, wants Benton Harbor to share in the economic success of its neighbor. He also wants residents of each town to understand each other

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a little better. * Benton Harbor and St. Joseph call themselves the Twin Cities of Michigan. But the cities couldn’t be more different. In St. Joseph, which sits on a bluff overlooking Benton Harbor, families spill into and out of art galleries, antique stores, restaurants and coffee shops in the city’s commercial district. The brick street is lined with trees, brightly colored awnings and potted geraniums hanging from decorative street lamps. One mile away, in downtown Benton Harbor, there are few people, few buildings and few customers. Many stores and businesses have been razed, leaving the area with gaping openings between the buildings that remain. “There’s a big difference in how the two communities developed over the last 40 years,” said Mike Green, 46, a Benton Harbor community activist who works as a bank loan

officer in St. Joseph. “We need to level the whole thing out. We have too much concentration of low-in-come people in one market.” In Benton Harbor, 40 percent of the residents live in poverty, 24 percent are unemployed and the median family income is $10,447, according to the Census Bureau. In St. Joseph, 4 percent live in poverty, 2 percent are unemployed and the average family income is $38,504. In the 1960s, Benton Harbor was the thriving community. Its hotels and shops attracted vacationers. Its foundries and auto-supply factories provided numerous jobs. But manufacturers began facing global competition and moved their work outside the United States through the ’70s and ’80s. After the factories closed, the stores followed. But they weren’t going out of business. The ones that didn’t move to suburban malls were setting up shop

in St. Joseph. Then the middle class moved. The Rev. Walter Brown, 65, who has been pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Benton Harbor for 27 years, said left behind were Black residents who had moved from the South to work at the factories. They couldn’t afford to live in St. Joseph and they had trouble finding people willing to sell homes to Blacks. Some people say the Council for World-Class Communities is doing too much talking and not enough acting. But others say talking is good, especially between two places that have said little to one another over the years. “This is bigger than just diversity and inclusion,” said Velois Bowers, who owns Book House Cafe and Gifts in Benton Harbor. “We want growing businesses, great schools, thriving youth. These are all the elements that make a great community.”

Sailor back from Afghanistan celebrates birthday, holidays Special to The Recorder Friends and family of Johannon R. Tate gathered on July 17 to celebrate his birthday as well as Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Easter. These are the major holidays that Tate missed while being deployed in the military to help keep the world safe from terrorism. Tate is a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy. While deployed, Tate served directly in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Tate is a graduate of Broad Ripple High School. He received a certificate of commendation for exemplary orthopedic work while stationed on the USS

Bataan.

“This homecoming was very special to me because I wasn’t able to communicate except through e-mail and regular mail,” Tate said. “Most of the time my family didn’t even know where I was and I couldn't tell them for opera-

tional security purposes. I am glad to see that

my friends and family are doing well.” “I was very happy to see my mother, Patrice

L. Searcy, come from Pittsburgh, Pa. to see me.

Johannon Tate with his grandmother Joann Combs

My father, William L. Tate, was also on hand to take part in the festivities. My grandmother, Joann Combs, really outdid herself! I could not

have planned a better party.”

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