Cooperation
Times
Volume 14, No. 2 ~ May-June 2000
Hate
in Topeka: Improve Our Image
A resolution stating that the "City of Topeka is against hateful behavior and hateful actions in our community," was introduced by City Council Member Clark Duffy the evening of April 25. The resolution further states that the City "will continue to use its existing authorities to pursue strategies to control and constrain hateful behavior and hateful actions and to promote positive alternatives within our community."
Concerned Citizens for Topeka has endorsed the resolution and is calling for a city–wide "Not In Our Town" rally and march to City Hall on Tuesday evening, May 9, starting at 6:00 p.m. on the south steps of the State Capitol. (See the announcement on this page and the 3–color full–page insert.) CCT is asking Topeka residents to contact members of City Council urging them to vote "yes" for the resolution.
In a letter sent to over 1200 members the week of May 1, CCT states that it "believes...our community's passive acceptance of hate speech and hateful behavior significantly contributes to our image program." The statement begins by saying "The image of Topeka is suffering. Our town is not as good a place to live and work as it could be. Our town is not growing. Our citizens are losing confidence in our community." It concludes by saying "We need to improve the image of Topeka by standing up against hate and hateful behavior!"
In a news release issued by the CCT organization, the point is made that "unfortunately Topeka is gaining a national image that reflects negatively on our town; this can have a serious economic effect on existing and potential businesses. Any negative image is too much in this day and age of a world in which cities compete fiercely.
The CENTER has supported the work of CCT since its beginning in 1995. CCT's Mission Statement is "to identify and challenge evidences of hate in our community by any appropriate means: • by pursuing a variety of legal strategies to control and constrain hateful activities and behaviors in our community, • by calling public attention to examples of hate and hateful behavior in this community, and underscoring their unacceptability, • by organizing and promoting educational activities which highlight the evils of hate and the positive alternatives available."
This writer was proud to be elected CCT's President in March to serve along with Board Chair Roy Menninger, Vice-Chair Randy Austin, Secretary Don Cooper and Treasurer Frank Sabatini. For information on CCT's work call 785-232-8808.
Jim Wallis, convener of the national Call to Renewal, challenged over 600 people at January's annual Martin Luther King Birthday Celebration to do something about poverty. As quoted on the front page of The Topeka Capital–Journal the following morning, Wallis said "Something is wrong tonight in the richest nation on the face of this Earth, that began the millennium by touting its prosperity. The prosperity is not being shared. The rising tide is not lifting all the boats, only the yachts."
At an early morning breakfast with over 40 Topeka clergy the following day, Wallis encouraged Topekans of faith take the lead in first talking about the problems of the poor in Topeka, and then planning a strategy that will involve all people of faith—conservative, liberal, evangelical, moderate. When asked how people of faith from differing perspectives could keep from discussing or arguing about their own theologies, Wallis said with good humor "then don't do that." "Don't talk about your differences." To begin the dialogue he suggested calling representatives from the various traditions to sit around a table and discuss the point at hand: what is to be done about poverty. He added that relationships across religious boundaries will inevitably build as discussion and work is done, together.
Many Topekans took Wallis' words seriously and have met twice since his visit. But the Call to Renewal process in Topeka is just beginning. If you want more information or you or a representative from your congregation want to be invited to the next discussion session which will be held the afternoon of May 23, please call 785-232-4388.
I'm
in it to Win! ... Justice for All
Over 40 Kansans, representing 30 organizations, gathered in the old Supreme Court chambers at the Statehouse in Topeka on February 24. They met with William McNary, President of USAction, to explore building a statewide progressive coalition.
McNary talked with the group about how and why Kansans need to build an organization to work for social, economic, racial and environmental justice and how it could work together with other states through USAction. As David Moberg reported in a recent In These Times article, "U.S. Action needs to devote attention to expanding the abilities of state organizations..."
Most of the progressive Kansans gathered in the old court room had participated in one or more coalition efforts over the years in the state—starting with weekend retreats of the "Kansas Citizens Network," to the "Kansas National Priorities Project" and the "Kansans Against Contra Aid" campaign. Several people were currently involved in the "Kansas Alliance for Campaign Reform" or the Kansas "Coalition for Workers’ Rights, Social Justice and Economic Fairness." All have been involved with work for progressive policy changes at the local level, including Speak United, the Manhattan Alliance for Peace and Justice, and the Flint Hills Living Wage Coalition.
McNary was quoted in a recent The Nation article, "I’m tired of people who say, ‘It doesn’t matter if we win or lose as long as we fight the good and noble fight,’ Well, damn that. I’m in it to win!" At the meeting he pointed out that what Kansas and other states need is not another "club," but a "powerful network," a "movement." Progressives should stop looking at themselves as a minority; "fairness, justice and tolerance are American values!" The Pledge of Allegiance ends with "and justice for all." Not for those who currently buy influence with legislators, not for people with certain skin pigments, not for just the wealthy, but "for all!"
McNary encouraged those present to start their coalition work where they are, not worrying about having absolutely everyone on board before beginning. Those who already possess expertise on certain issues should be identified, with organizing efforts then focused on three to four of those issues. Kansans have already made a good start on the Living Wage and Campaign Finance Reform. McNary suggested picking up another unifying need like that for Universal Health Care, and getting to work! He indicated that USAction would help a Kansas coalition find seed-money for staff and other coalition-building expenses.
William McNary, who is the Co-Executive Director of Citizen Action Illinois where he has worked since 1987, was elected President at the founding convention of USAction in November. This new national organization is committed to working for social, economic, environmental and racial justice, and to giving a national voice to those issues in ways that state groups by themselves can’t. USAction already has 32 affiliated member organizations. They include 23 state coalitions and nine other member groups, representing over four million Americans. Many of the state groups come from the old "Citizen Action" network.
The November convention reached out to states like Kansas that have not had as much organizing experience as some states, but have shown signs of commitment to that work. This writer was seated as a provisional delegate at the November convention because of the work that has been done in Kansas over the years!
The time spent brainstorming with this national leader, who lived in Kansas from 1976 to 1985, lead to a positive closing consensus that Kansans will continue to form a progressive coalition and that what form it takes, including affiliation with USAction, will be explored during the next several months. The consensus reached included the need for coalition staff and for seeking seed-funds from national foundations. A good possibility for the structure of that Kansas coalition could be the expansion of the "Coalition for Workers Rights, Social Justice and Economic Fairness," that currently consists mostly of labor organizations from across the state. Getting all those who met with William McNary included, along with others, would then be a priority. Several participants liked the suggestion of Kansas Action Network as an overall name.
Anyone interested in assisting with this effort should contact Bill Beachy, 1248 SW Buchanan, Topeka, KS 66604, 785-232-4388, Email <KSCitizens@aol.com>.
The
Kansas-El Salvador Connection and Rice and Beans
by Ken Cott
In the 1980s, an extensive Central American solidarity network existed in Kansas, dedicated to influencing U.S. policymakers and informing Kansans about our country's unprogressive policies in Central America. Out of that network has grown a set of remarkable relationships with communities in El Salvador. Four Kansas communities currently have sister city relationships with Salvadoran villages: Wichita is paired with La Bermuda, and Lawrence and Manhattan work with El Papaturro. Good Shepard Catholic Church in Johnson County supports Buen Pastor, and Topeka Presbyterian churches and the Topeka Alliance for Central America (TACA) are linked with Los Talpetates.
In each case, the Kansas community corresponds with its Salvadoran partner and ex-changes visits. A great variety of additional activities occur. Students from Kansas State University, for example, have worked summers in El Papaturro, and Topekans pay the salaries of two school teachers in Los Talpetates. Recently, the Kansas partners have organized a network to share news and ideas. The Topeka project is planning a ten-day visit to El Salvador in late July. For further information about this or the Kansas-El Salvador connection, contact Ken Cott at W)785-231-1010 x1249 or H)785-235-6790.
(Ken Cott is a Professor of Latin American History at Washburn University.)
The AIDS Candlelight Memorial is a time for us to speak out. By speaking out, we honor those who have lost their lives to AIDS, and we reach out in solidarity to those who are living with HIV and AIDS. We join with those who grieve for loved ones lost to AIDS, speaking out to restore hope and erase the pain of stigmatization.
The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is observed on six continents, in 43 nations, and in hundreds of cities and towns around the world. It is an opportunity to let our neighbors, communities, nations, and the world know that the lives of the 34 million people living with HIV and the lives of the 16 million people who have died are valued, are priceless, and are irreplaceable.
The Memorial is sponsored by S.H.A.R.E. (Shawnee HIV/AIDS Resource and Education). For more information about the Memorial, or about HIV/AIDS in general, please contact the Topeka AIDS Project at 785-232-3100 or Sojourn at 785-233-5500.
Restorative
Justice in Topeka: Victim Offender Mediation
by Bill Beachy, Executive Director
"A partnership among the Topeka Center for Peace and Justice, the district attorney's office and Dr. Ben Coates, a longtime criminal justice official, the program puts victims and offenders in front of mediators to work out solutions that can avoid formal charges, trails and so on." That is how the Topeka Capitol Journal's April 28 lead editorial described the CENTER's Victim Offender Mediation Project that will start late this summer for Shawnee County juvenile offenders and their victims. The editorial continues, "...Mediation seems a natural in juvenile justice, since young people are still impressionable enough that rehabilitation is a very real hope..."
The CENTER thanks the paper for the supportive editorial and that district attorney, Joan Hamilton, for her cooperation in planning to make referrals to the Project. As she said in the paper's article about the Project a week earlier, "the...program is designed to give resolution to the crime victim and to open the offender's eyes to the impact his crime has had on a victim."
Washburn Law Professor Bill Rich, a Steering Committee member for the Project, reported in the Project's concept paper one year ago, that the Project can "result in transforming experiences for juvenile offenders, can significantly increase completion of restitution and community service obligations, and can also improve satisfaction levels for victims of juvenile crime."
Watch for more information on this major restorative justice project of the CENTER. In the mean time, if you are interested in becoming a trained volunteer mediator, call the CENTER at 785-232-4388.
Thank You for Your 1999 Support!
The CENTER’s current fundraising drive (starting in May) is the major effort in the CENTER’s fundraising year. It will finance the bulk of the work planned for 2000. The goal of the drive is to invite all to consider becoming Supporters of the CENTER with a pledge of contributing $10 per month (or $120 for the year).
The overall support of the CENTER’s work also comes from Members (those who contribute $25 or more), Sustainers ($150-499) and Patrons ($500 or more). The number of Supporters, Sustainers and Patrons, all major donors, has grown during the last several years to now include 121 peace and justice advocates! Their donations, plus those of 237 Members goes to further the CENTER’s growing work for peace and justice in the Topeka community and in the world. Contributions from all, at whatever level is most welcome!
The CENTER’s Board of Directors thanks all who have contributed to this work! (The major donors for 1999 were recognized in the last issue of COOPERATION TIMES.) A special thank you for providing the CENTER’s ongoing office space goes to the members of Central Congregational Church and their pastor, The Rev. Kathy Timpany!