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Racism meeting set for Sept. 25
By LINDA M. LINONIS
YOUNGSTOWN
The acronym ACTION defines the mission of the Valley organization.
The Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods relies on the guidance and commitment of clergy and people of faith to infuse core teams with knowledge, enthusiasm and determination to address societal issues. The core teams work within their houses of worship and ministries then go beyond by spreading the word in their families, neighborhoods, employment sites and social and recreational settings.
Recently, Monsignor Robert Siffrin, ACTION president; Rose Carter, executive director and lead organizer; and Pastor Jeffrey Stanford, clergy chairman; met to discuss the upcoming Sacred Conversation on Racism. It will be Sept. 25 at St. Edward Church, 240 Tod Lane, Youngstown, where Monsignor Siffin is pastor; he also is vicar general of the Diocese of Youngstown. Carter is an elder at Greater Friendship Baptist Church and Pastor Stanford leads Beulah Baptist Church.
“As people of God and people of faith, we want to address the heart of the human condition,” Monsignor Siffrin said. He and Carter emphasized ACTION’s mission statement that includes “seeking solutions to overcome poverty, racism and social injustice.” “That’s our mandate,” Carter said.
The meeting will feature two speakers, Anne York, a retired Youngstown State University professor, and Guy Burney, coordinator of Community Initiative to Reduce Violence. York will address institutional and structural racism and Burney, personal, international and cultural. The gathering, which numbered about 150 last year, will break into table discussions with a few offering summaries. All groups will submit summaries.
“People react to the oppression that is racism in different ways,” Monsignor Siffrin said. “Racism may be part of the attitude and atmosphere of the community and part of how it functions or not.”
Peace, security, prosperity and progress must be available to all community residents, he said. If that isn’t the case, security and justice are lacking overall, he continued.
“Racism isn’t a color issue but a heart issue,” Pastor Stanford said. “Sunday morning is the most segregated time of the week,” he said.
Pastor Stanford said he believes that racism is “not a black or white issue but a painful issue that affects all.”
“We must come together in accord to solve it,” he said. The pastor said he tries to address small situations in the church neighborhood before they escalate.
Monsignor Siffrin said ACTION has made progress by involving clergy representing Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths. Carter added that the diversity of participants is encouraging and invigorating.
The ACTION leaders said movement and change “start at the grass roots level.” That’s why, the three said, ACTION has met with Valley police departments to foster a working relationship and spirit of cooperation. ACTION also distributes its “hot spot” cards by which community residents can report on problems in their neighborhoods.
Monsignor Siffrin acknowledged that ACTION can’t solve all the economic and employment challenges that the Valley. “But as a community, we can be energized and celebrate the small success,” he said. “We are committed to the sense of growth and understanding these issues take.”
Carter credited the late Rev. Joseph Fata, who was pastor at St. Luke Church in Boardman and an active ACTION member, with talking about the “elephant in the room ... racism.” Carter said racism conversations will be ongoing.
Pastor Stanford added, “This is a marathon not a sprint.”