Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 2004 — Page 15

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2004

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE B5

Ministry assists prisoners' children

PAINESVILLE, Ohio (AP) _ A northeast Ohio prison ministry group isn’t reaching out to inmates, but to children who are without a mother or father because a parent is incarcerated. Ron Colvin said he founded the nonprofit Freedom Village Prison Ministry because while there are prison ministries that help inmates, there were no agencies or programs to help inmates’ children. “Everyone just assumed another parent or caregiver would step in,” Colvin said. Last year, Colvin helped deliver Christmas presents to about 300 children, all of whom have a parent in prison. He said one 8-year-old boy’s father was in prison and his mother was on drugs. His grandmother, who had little money, cared for the boy. When the boy opened the door on Christmas Eve to see a man with his arms full of presents, he told the man he had the wrong house. “When we told him, no, the presents were for him and his brother, he cried,” said Colvin,

who also is president of the Lake County Branch of the NAACP. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that two percent of children in the United States have a parent in prison. In 1999, about 2 million children had parents incarcerated in either a state or federal prison, federal statistics show. “These are children who through no fault of their own have been cast aside and stigmatized," Colvin said. “While a civilized society must punish those who break the law, we must be careful not to confine the children of prisoners to a life of hopelessness,” he said. The ministry gets names of inmates who are parents from the. Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. The inmates are sent letters asking if they want to participate and to provide the names and addresses of their children. Colvin said he initially hoped the program could help children all over northeast Ohio, but the list of inmates numbered in the thousands. This year the group

gathered 700 inmate names and nearly 2,000 children’s names from Lake County alone. Ministry volunteers collect donated toys and clothes and spend a weekend wrapping and delivering presents. The program extends beyond the holiday, providing children with educational meetings and tickets to Indians games. The ministry also gives families rides to prisons so children can maintain parental ties. The Rev. Gerard Mirbel, chaplain for the ministry program, drove two boys to visit their mother at Ohio State Reformatory for Women and said the boys w'ere reluctant at first to enter the prison to visit her. “They didn’t say much at all on the way down,” Mirbel said. “After seeing their mother, they talked all way home. I could see the sunshine coming from their eyes." In an effort to expand its services, the group is forming a partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Ohio to offer mentors for at-risk children.

What do you have to Celebrate?

By. James Cllnqman

Blackonomics For nearly 40 years, Black people in the United States have celebrated the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Established by Maulana Karenga in 1966, Kwanzaa

is an

AfricanAmerican and PanAfrican holiday

cel-

ebrated by millions throughout the world African community. Kwanzaa brings a cultural message that speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense. Our obvious support and celebration of this occasion suggests our commitment, not only to the principles of the Nguzo Saba, but also to their fruition. Thus, we ask you: What Kwanzaa success will you celebrate this year? What have you done during the year that qualifies as a celebratory event during Kwanzaa? Have achieved Unity among the people in your locale? Are you unified to the point that you love one another more and support one another more? Do you have proof that you have unified around some pertinent issue or cause? If so, then let the celebration begin. How about Self-Determina-tion? That’s one of my favorites. What have you done in your city to demonstrate your commitment to determining the future of your children? Are others still controlling your destiny? Or, have you taken it upon yourself to build and support your own institutions, open and grow' new business, and create your own jobs? Maybe you have done other things to determine your future. Congratulations! A few years ago I worked on the design and execution of an event in Cincinnati called Ujima-Cincibration, which some of you probably attended. The intent of the affair, con- . ducted each year, was to celebrate what wejiad accomplished during tnhyear vis-a-vis our collective work and our responsibility toward one another. The event survived for four years and failed primarily

because the premise upon which it was founded was ignored by those who subsequently managed it. If we work collectively on community projects such as neighborhood cleanup, elderly assistance, and tutoring, imagine the things we could celebrate every December 28th for Ujima. Now, here’s my favorite: Cooperative Economics. Have you done anything cooperatively in 2003 to increase the economic viability and stability of your community? Have you pooled any of your money to finance a project or to form an investment group to assist micro businesses? Nuff said on that one. Our obvious support and . celebralion of Ibis occasion suggesls our commilment, nol only to the principles of the Nguzo Saba, but also to their fruition. What have you done to build and develop your community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness? In other words, what is your purpose, and have you actualized that purpose? Ifyou have, then you definitely have something to celebrate. Created anything lately? What has been the level of your creativity this past year? Is there anything, not necessarily something material, that you developed in your community? Maybe it was a new financial institution, or maybe it was a new resolve and commitment to do better than you did the previous year. Creativity covers a multitude of endeavors. What did you create? Finally, how much faith do you have in the things you are celebrating? How much faith do

you have in yourself? How much faith do you have in the Creator’s ability- to carry you through in times of struggle? Are you one of “little faith,” or is your faith sufficient to support you in your quest to fulfill the other six principles of Kwanzaa? On December 26th of every year, after 40 years of celebrating, we should be able to look back and revel in the things we h^ye accomplished through our celebration of Kwanzaa. What will you see when you look back this year? If nothing is there, but a mere celebration, then you have work to do, so that this time next year you will hav e some tangible accomplishment to celebrate. Aren’t you tired of mere spoken words? Aren’t you just a little weary of empty rhetoric, events based on words followed by little or no action? Wouldn’t you like to see us, after 40 years of celebrating Kwanzaa, be able to point to something we built and sustained because of our celebration of values we hold so dear? I know you would. Here in Cincinnati, we have the Sankofa Educational Development Program, headed by Sister Kimya Moyo. Each year they celebrate the principles of Kwanzaa by recognizing seven individuals who best represent each principle. In 2004, at the organization’s annual event, Kenya James, Black Enterprise Magazine's Teenpreneur of the Year, will be the keynote speaker. They also “look back" every New Year’s Eve at what they accomplished in relationship to Kwanzaa, and they look forward and plan activities for the coming year. Please get started now on what you will celebrate during the 2004 Kwanzaa period. And let’s celebrate! James E. Clingman, an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati's AfricanAmerican Studies department, is former editor of the Cincinnati Herald Newspaper and founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce. He hosts the radio program, "Blackonomics,'' and is the author of the book, “Economic Empowerment or Economic Enslavement-We have a Choice." He can be reached at (513) 489-4132, or by e-mail at /< lingn ion (</ blai k( tnomk's.com.***

foliar Award promises a great line-up

Yolanda Adams Houston's own Yolanda Adams will share co-hosting honors with popular gospel artist Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin at the 19 lh Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards on Jan. 19. This will be the Stellar Awards' first time in the “Lone Star State" of Texas at George R. Brown Convention Center. w .'x Some of the top talent from traditional and contemporary gospel in spiritual tandem with stars from the world of entertainment will be on hand to celebrate gospel music’s finest. The all-star line-up of performers include Mary Mary, the “Prince of Praise" Byron Cage, Hezekiah Walker, Cece Winans, Vickie Winans, Tonex featuring Sheila E., Dietrick Haddon, Karen Clark Sheard, Natalie Wilson and S.O.P., Rizen. Darius Brooks and Lee Williams and the Spiritual

QC's. Leading the pack with nominations are Deitrick Haddon and Vicki Winans, vying for the most prestigious aw ard in gospel music. Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Choir placed second to Haddon and Winans with six nominations while Man Mary. Donnie McClurkin. Byron Cage and Lee Williams picked up five nods each. This year's presenters include neo-soul artist Musiq, "American Idol" winner and recording artist Ruben Stoddard. Twinkie Clark. Ranee Allen. Kim Burrell, Lonnie Hunter. The Kenoly Brothers, Papa San. Ramiyah and Lil Irocc Williams and surprise guests. A special tribute to gospel legend Pastor Shirley Caesar, recipient of the year's James Cleveland Award, will be a special moment of the show. The James Cleveland Award is giv en annually to an artist who has made a major impact in the development and advancement of gospel music. In addition, Kirk Franklin will he inducted into the Stellar Awards Hall of Fame. This

honor is bestowed upon an artist for outstanding achievements and major impact made on the gospel music industry through standout performances, writing and career record sales. "We are excited about the line-up of talent for this year’s show. We have a soul-stirring production that will move, touch and inspire." says Executive Producer Barbara Wilson. The Stellar Gospel Music Award is executive-produced by Barbara Wilson. Terri McCoy w ill direct this year’s show and Jennifer Jackson is the executive in charge of production. Erma Gray Davis is the President of Central City Productions. The l.q' 1 ' Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards are sponsored by American Airlines, McDonalds, Chevrolet, Merrill Lynch, Pontiac, Sears, Sony State Farm and Toyota. The 19' h Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards Show will air in syndication from January 26 through Feb. 22. For further information, contact Jalila Larsuel at JL Media Relations at (626) 3985028.

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