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LOCAL NEWS
Rep. Marshall to Recognize Harriet Tubman Day
DENVER - State Representative Rosemary Marshall, D-Denver, will join Governor Bill Owens in recognizing Harriet Tubman Day on March 10, 2006.
Born as a slave in 1821, Harriet Tubman escaped to freedom during the summer of 1849. She was committed to bringing freedom to those still held as slaves, serving as a conductor on the Underground Railroad and liberating countless individuals.
During the Civil War, Tubman served as a nurse, scout, spy, laundress, and cook, and on June 2, 1863,
led a raid on the Combahee River in Port Royal, South Carolina. After the Civil War, Tubman continued to fight for human rights until her death in 1913.
“It is truly an honor to recognize this very important day dedicated to a woman who risked her life to end slavery in our country,” said Rep. Marshall.
“Her dedication to freedom and contribution to the anti-slavery movement changed the lives of all
Americans.” On March 10, 2006, Rep. Marshall will lead a commemoration of Harriet Tubman and acknowledge the achievements and contributions of women throughout the world to celebrate Women’s History Month.
Metro Denver Church Women Celebrate World Day Of Prayer
Last Friday, nearly local 100 women affiliated with Church Women United (CWU) and women from South Africa celebrated World Day of Prayer (WDOP) at New Hope Baptist Church.
Rev. Dr. James D. Peters, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church welcomed the women in honor and in memory of his late mother Erma Belton, who served as a CWU regional officer in the Washington, DC area before relocating to Denver and serving as president for the local unit.
Marcellina Olii, a longtime Denver Public School teacher provided a keynote address that focused on her personal experiences with children, HIV/AIDS, Christians and having faith in worldly surroundings.
The proud South African women wanted everyone to know:
*South Africans are proud of being called a rainbow nation, a name coined by Bishop Desmond Tutu
*Eleven official languages are spoken in South Africa.
*The WDOP worship celebration introduced four languages that were included in the celebration greetings and singing.
*Former State President Nelson Mandela in delivering his farewell speech to Parliament urged all South
Africans never to forget its history but use it as a guide in overcoming the challenges still facing
people.
In a summation the WDOP planning committee said the church, the government officials and society must work together to make a difference in the lives of humankind.
AABE Host 3rd Annual Scholarship Luncheon
The Denver Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy hosted its Third Annual Clarke Watson Scholarship Luncheon at the Doubletree Hotel on March 1, 2006.
This year’s keynote speaker was Cedric D. Sparks, Sr. Sparks serves as the executive director of the
Birmingham Mayor’s Office Division of Youth Services, where he works with public and private business owners to develop programs and partnerships that will benefit Birmingham, Alabama youth. He encouraged and stressed to the high-school students that “no matter what you want to be, to please do your best and be your best!!”
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Community Court Scales Back Services
by Adeeba Folami
Starting in May, the Central Denver Community Court (DCC) will cut back on services and hours of operation as one of many government programs adversely affected by a decrease in funding. Instead of being open each weekday, the court and resource center will only be in use on Thursdays for parking and traffic cases, and juvenile cases will be handled on Fridays as they have been since 2003. When open, the court will also continue to serve as a satellite center for payment of traffic tickets and court fines.
Matt McConville, DCC Administrator, told DWN he would love to get back to a full schedule in the future but the limited number of cases the court hears are not enough to justify a five day per week schedule. The court has serviced the 80205 zip code area for more than five years and McConville has considered the option of expanding services by taking on certain adult offenses or others in addition to traffic and juvenile, but such would require increased staffing which DCC cannot afford. He has also considered incorporating the needs of other nearby zip code areas but found that would defeat the purpose of having a community court, particularly for juveniles.
Youth who come to the court encounter Sandy Douglas, Youth Development Coordinator and Debra Johnson, Community Service Coordinator, two advocates who live in and have a stake in the surrounding neighborhood and whose roles are key in putting the crucial “community” component into DCC.
“Deb and Sandy greet youth and their families, explain the court process and give their unique community input to the judge prior to sentencing,” McConville said in a printed press statement. The two women also have had their work schedules and hours reduced due to the drop in funding but Douglas said she is grateful the court was not completely shut down and views it as a challenge to “make it all happen on Thursday and Friday.” She and Johnson are happy to be able to remain involved in the process.
In addition to the two-day court schedule, McConville explained that Crew Unique, the community service program headed by Johnson, will continue on Saturdays “requiring youth to repair the harm they have caused to the community.”
DCC continues to encourage concerned community members to get involved in the process by visiting them at 3280 Downing Street or calling 303-299-1827 for more information.
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