43
Clergy, leaders attempt to tackle racism in Valley
SEE ALSO: Meaningful change urged at MLK memorial
By Sean Barron
YOUNGSTOWN
Many people remain squeamish about discussing race relations and racism, but continual dialogue is a critical first step for building one and tackling the other, several faith-based and community leaders contend.
That was a main theme coursing through a planning session Tuesday at St. Edward Church, 240 Tod Lane, on the city’s North Side.
About 25 clergy members, neighborhood block-watch leaders, community activists and others attended the one-hour task-force meeting, “Facing Racism in a Diverse Nation.”
Organizers described it as the first step in a process to bring together small, diverse groups of people to try to develop strategies aimed at confronting racial problems in the Mahoning Valley.
Hosting the gathering were the Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods and the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches.
“We don’t want to talk about [racism], but it’s something we must talk about,” said Rose Carter, ACTION’s executive director. “It’s in our government and in our churches.”
Too often, many places of worship are segregated, so it’s imperative that black and white churches are brought together to work with one another to address the problem, noted the Rev. Ed Weisheimer, who retired as pastor at the former Central Christian Church in Youngstown.
The Rev. Mr. Weisheimer, who attends Mount Olivet United Church of Christ in North Lima, explained that the session was an initial step toward allowing participants to learn from one another’s input.
That can be a powerful prelude for coming up with ideas for institutional, collective and individual action leading to effective community change, he continued.
Such an approach was implemented in Lima, Ohio, in which the mayor, police chief and others were part of ongoing discussions regarding racial problems there, noted the Rev. James “Jim” Ray of Poland, a retired Youngstown State University campus minister.
As a result, race relations in that city improved drastically, the Rev. Mr. Ray said, adding that he also has spoken with Mayor John A. McNally and police Chief Robin Lees to get them on board.
“This is a group process to engage people regarding problems of racism and breaking down barriers,” said Mr. Ray, who was given the Rev. Elizabeth Powell Heritage Award in January for his longtime commitment to civil- and human-rights work.