Civic Life Institute. Connecting People to Public Issues

I would like to invite you to participate in a unique opportunity designed to strengthen the life of your community: the 2009 Civic Life Institute, Connecting People to Public Issues. The Institute, which will be held June 8-9 at the University of Charleston, is hosted by the West Virginia Center for Civic Life, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that promotes public engagement in issues that affect West Virginia and the nation. At the Civic Life Institute, you'll learn how to work with a wide range of people in really productive community conversations, and you'll learn how to take those conversations to the next level--a level where your community can move from dialogue to action.

The Center has more than a decade of experience working with citizens on our state's most pressing issues. The issues we have addressed with our partners in West Virginia communities, including health care, education, childhood obesity, supporting young adults in West Virginia, and helping working families. We are currently working to develop additional community dialogues on issues ranging from substance abuse to the quality of our water in West Virginia.2009 Civic Life Institute:

Connecting People to Public Issues

Do you need more citizens working with you to make your community more active and vibrant?

Do things get stalled in your community because no one knows what direction people will accept?

Do you wish you could increase your skills in helping your community find common ground for action?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you'll want to attend this year's Civic Life Institute.

What You Will Learn

At the Civic Life Institute, you will learn a wide range of skills to use in your communities:

Learn a process for moving from community dialogue to action·

Learn how to moderate community discussions of public issues·
Discuss strategies for organizing community dialogue initiatives·
Network with others who are working to build strong communities ·

Engage in deliberation of issues important to our state, including:

- Preventing substance abuse in West Virginia
- Creating opportunities for our young adults to thrive
- Improving the quality of our water
- Dealing with childhood obesity in West Virginia

Institute Registration Details

The Institute runs from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Monday, June 8th and from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on Tuesday, June 9th.Registration fee is $95, which includes all curriculum materials, issue guides, and meals.

Lodging is available on the UC campus for an additional $40 per night. You can pay personally in advance of the Institute, or request that we bill your organization.

For More Information, Contact . . . Jean Ambrose at http://www.wvciviclife.org/

Enrollment is limited. Register today!

A dialog about racism is needed in Huntington and Cabell County

Racism is an issue that we have been unable to comfortably discuss in this country. How about in the city of Huntington and Cabell County? Are we willing to risk participating in an ongoing dialog that will lead to the elimination of discrimination and a new era of normalized human relations?

I have been following the blog of Brotha Pruitt, Reparations Leader and Chairman of the Committee for African-American Reparations. Let's start with his point of view and, then, anyone who wishes to participate in our discussion can add their comments by clicking on "Post Comments" at the end of this posting. We will not allow postings of inappropriate comments.

First, here is Brotha Pruitt's position posted on his blog: "Racism has a much greater impact on Black and White Americans than folks can possibly imagine. It is preventing blacks from organizing to expose the problem and it is preventing whites from learning the true value of blacks and the achievements they have provided for America ’s benefit. It is time for Black and White Churches, Organizations and Colleges to take a lead role in hosting and sponsoring Racism and Reparations Conferences.

The only way we are going to reconcile wounds from racism and facilitate racial healing between blacks and whites is to start talking about the issue. If we continue to avoid the matter it will get worse. It is a shame to see blacks and whites avoid their duty to make America a better place, which starts by talking about racism from an educated point of view. It is as though church and community conscious folk are relieving themselves of their obligation to relay faults of the past to our present generation, so that problems of this nature won’t continue to get worse.

Now that there is a Black President it should be easier for folks to talk about racism, but Obama is avoiding the issue as if he were afraid to admit he is black. That is just how serious and dangerous racism has become. Here we have a black man in the most powerful office in the world, acting as though race was never a problem, and that there is no need to discuss racism, even though it is bringing all of America down! Look people we know racism was and is a very serious problem in America, but nothing was ever done to reduce and/or eventually eliminate the problem. Since people never addressed the issue it has grown to inflict both physical and psychological damage. African-Americans need reparations to repair this damage.

As long as racism exists we can not have freedom, justice or equality. It seems as though racism has worked its way into the church and social settings as a type of spiritual warfare and social constraint, which are preventing blacks and whites from talking about racism. Racism is much more serious than you think.

When my dear friend, Osagie Ayanru, forwarded me Pruitt's blog comments, I emailed him to say: "Osagie, what is being sought in the way of reparations? Surely, the payment of money will not resolve racism! It is a human issue today, just as it has been throughout history. Hate, abuse and rejection practiced by one human against another human is a personal moral failure. It is not a problem of color - it is a failure of each to repent of their sin of hate and prejudice and resolve to treat every person, regardless of differences, with respect and dignity."

To that, Osagie (who was born and raised in Africa) answered: "Richard, it is an issue that never seems to go away. The fundamental issue as I see it, is a need for some form of apology--which has been hard to come by--in order, to engender healing on the part of African-Americans. African-Americans, suffer from--as a result of enslavement--what I refer to as, psychic damage. Unlike us, continental Africans, they were enslaved and we were colonized. Therein, lies the difference in our coping ability viz a vis, the Europeans.

There are some in the reparations movement, who point to Jewish reparations after WWII and the acknowledgment of their holocaust, which never happened in the case of African-Americans. Others have resorted to legal actions or lawsuits intended to identify and legally punish companies--especially, in Chicago--that prospered from the trade in human cargoes.

Some point to the fact that other racial groups were likewise, enslaved and as such, the situations of African-Americans, are not much different; this position is not quite true as other racial groups, were essentially, indentured servants. The key difference in indentured servitude was that there was hope for freedom and there was freedom. The enslaved African, never could harbor such hope of freedom as enslavement was indeed, tantamount to a life sentence.

In the final analysis, the ability to get along as humans, is what is desired. It takes superhuman effort and willingness to actually deal with people on the basis of the content of their character and not on the color of their skin. It is a great challenge and most importantly, it is a work in progress. We all have to individually and collectively contribute our best to the realization of this much-desired and needed ideal."

Now ... this is where you can participate. Post your feelings about racism and America's long standing fear of discussing the history of America's racism and involvement in the slave trade, racial injustice and prejudicial treatment of non-whites. Anybody care to comment on Pruitt's and Ayanru's point of view? (Just click on "Post Comments" just below this posting. You can make your comments anonymously, if you wish.)

My Four New Friends at the Little Victories Animal Rescue Group Shelter

After attending a meeting for new volunteers last week, I was given my marching orders today by Chuck Games, Volunteer Coordinator, and traveled to the Little Victories Animal Rescue Group's (no kill) Shelter this afternoon. I am now an official puppy "socializer".

Being an old country boy, I grew up loving all animals and have always had a special "way" with creatures - large, small and very tiny. Upon arrival at the shelter, I was given a short tour, and I explained to the caretaker that I am good with animals and wanted to spend my volunteer time "socializing" pups. I was escorted to one of the many small kennels and introduced to four new arrivals. I was given permission to enter the kennel. I got in, plopped down in the middle of the gravel and was mobbed by four of the most excited pups you have ever seen. It took two hours to get them to settle down. I accomplished it by talking softly to them, letting them crawl all over me and by attempting to simultaneously pet four love-starved little-ones in need of lots of human attention and love - they got it.

Sitting in the same position, indian-style, for almost three hours, I gained the confidence of my new pals. As I left their small kennel, two were sleeping and two were lying beside me enjoying my attention. Need I say more ... I can't wait to get back out there to see them!

If you are down hearted, or otherwise need an emotional lift, consider volunteering to share yourself with the animals at this much needed community animal rescue facility; you'll be glad you did!

For information about how you can gain some furry new friends - email me at richardcobbsr@comcast.net.