Needle’s Eye center to show youths respect

By Linda M. Linonis

More than 100 inner-city youths are expected at the camp.

YOUNGSTOWN — “It’s a cultural experience and a vacation” is how Irma Davis, director of the Needle’s Eye Christian Counseling Center, described an upcoming summer camp for inner-city youths.

The center, 74 Kenmore Ave., through Southside Ministries, will hold the camp Friday through Sunday at Joseph Badger Meadows Camp and Conference Center in Brookfield. Davis said the camp is in its 19th year.

Davis said members of the Good News Club, age 5 to 17, participate in the overnight camp. “For some, it’s their first vacation,” she said, noting that 110 inner-city youths are expected. Adults will serve as counselors, cooks, chaperones, mentors, speakers and spiritual advisers.

This year’s theme is “Respect,” with singer Aretha Franklin’s spin on it. “The idea is about how to position yourself for respect,” Davis said.

Davis said she is very excited about the keynote speaker’s appearance. “We’ve tried for 10 years to get him and we finally did,” she said.

That speaker is Alfred “Coach” Powell of Dayton, founder, president and chief executive officer of the Human Motivation Council and Human Motivation Circle, also based in Dayton. The council and circle provide services to underserved urban and rural communities, working with school districts, churches, drug courts, prisons, juvenile detention centers and social service agencies to motivate young people to value and take responsibility for their own educational experience. The council also offers mentoring programs.

Davis described him as a “bold, fearless advocate for urban youth, families, educators and service providers.” Powell is the author of “Message N/A Bottle: The 40 oz. Scandal” and “Hip Hop Hypocrisy: When Lies Sound Like the Truth.” Powell will speak to the campers Saturday morning. He also will speak from 3 to 5 p.m. that day to the staff and others. Those interested in attending the talk should call the Needle’s Eye at (330) 744-1582 to make a reservation as space is limited.

Powell, an adjunct associate clinical professor for the School of Social Welfare Health Sciences, State University of New York at Stony Brook, also is a researcher for the State of Ohio’s Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Program.

After dinner Saturday, campers will present their own version of the “Gong Show.” “Now that’s a lot of fun,” Davis said. The summer camp also will involve music including a presentation by the Distinguished Gentlemen of the Spoken Word of Cleveland, a bonfire and making the traditional camp smores. Other speakers will be staff from the Needle’s Eye.

The three-day event concludes with a morning service July 20 at the Church in the Pines. “It’s a nice setting,” Davis said. The Rev. Robert Davis of Baltimore, Davis’ son, returns every year to preach at the service. Another son, Ronald Davis of Wichita, Kan., also assists.

Davis started the Needle’s Eye as what she called a “grass-roots effort.” She based the name on a verse from the Gospel of Luke that refers to making radical life changes.

The center, which is faith-based, focuses on prevention of drug and alcohol abuse and helping addicts. The center marked its 30th year in 2006 and is funded by Eastminster Presbytery and community contributors.