ACTION Success Story:
YOUNGSTOWN – Working for social justice exemplifies “the greatest tradition of what it means to be American,” says Dr. Ann E. Smith, president of the Gamaliel Foundation of Chicago, a faith-based organizing network of 61 affiliates in the United States, Great Britain and Africa.
Speaking at the eighth annual banquet and fundraiser by the local Alliance for Congregational Transformation Influencing Our Neighborhoods (ACTION), Dr. Smith said pursuing social justice means “setting aside economic rivalries and religious differences to strive for a common cause.”
About 300 people attended ACTION’s banquet
April 22 at Youngstown Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish social hall. Three founding members of ACTION, including Father Edward Noga, pastor of Youngstown St. Patrick Parish, were honored for their work.
ACTION, a Gamaliel affiliate, represents various faith communities in Youngstown and Warren and has worked for positive community change since 1998. Among other things, it became known for Holy Ground Marches to reclaim distressed neighborhoods and distribution of “Hot Spot” cards so residents can anonymously report drug or gang activities.
By early 2009, as some congregations dropped out to pursue other initiatives, ACTION’s membership and financial resources had dwindled. People began to ask if any action remained in ACTION, Dr. Smith said.
Since reconstituting itself with new members and leaders, ACTION has rallied support for Eastern Gateway Community College to establish its identity by creating a central campus in downtown Warren. The area’s new community college offers classes at career and technical centers in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Jefferson counties.
ACTION circulated petitions earlier this year, challenging a vote by Youngstown State University trustees to eliminate the Youngstown Early College program for high school students after state education funding was cut. Trustees later agreed to continue the program at YSU while a three-year transition plan with Eastern Gateway Community College unfolds.
ACTION also succeeded in getting the City of Youngstown to demolish a vacant, blighted former funeral home within walking distance of a number of churches, including Youngstown SS. Peter & Paul Parish on Covington Street.
Holy ground marches continue, including one last year around the old Linton Funeral Home and another on Warren’s southwest side. The latter was followed by a public meeting at which residents demanded assistance from city leaders in addressing crimes and attracting a full-service grocery store to the area.
Gamaliel is aware of ACTION’s accomplishments and commends members for having “steel in your backbones, in your DNA,” Dr. Smith said. “The ‘yes we can’ attitude of all of us together” can create change, she added.
Dr. Smith reminded listeners of another grass roots, faith-based power organization that succeeded in changing the system. It was called the Montgomery Improvement Association and was started by two women, a “serial activist” named Rosa Parks and a teacher, Jo Ann Robinson, she said. They had asked a number of pastors in the Montgomery, Ala., area to support them. One who agreed was a young minister named Martin Luther King Jr., she said. All were key figures in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s,
Prior to holding public office, President Barack Obama was a community organizer with Gamaliel, Dr. Smith noted,
While ACTION should celebrate its accomplishments, Dr. Smith also encouraged members to continue the fight against poverty, racism and hopelessness. “Do not rest on your laurels. There are people here going to schools that do not educate. There are people who are unemployed or working for substandard wages. There are people who have no health care. There are people who do not feel they have a voice and thus have no hope,” she said.
Prior to Dr. Smith’s address, ACTION presented awards to various members. Jeanne Adams and Phil Dean received the Frances Kerpsack Memorial Award for “valiant leadership during seasons of critical transition.” Father Noga, Attorney Pat B. Rosenthal of Common Wealth Inc. and Pastor Eleanor Felder of Holy Bible Church of God in Youngstown were lauded for their vision and foresight.
When asked why he joined ACTION, Father Noga recalled having lunch one day with Brian Corbin (director of the diocesan Office of Social Action), Father Thomas Eiswierth (currently of Salem St. Paul Parish), and a Gamaliel Foundation representative. Gamaliel was offering its expertise in community organizing and leadership training, but only if cities and suburbs would work together on social and economic issues. “I liked that concept,” Father Noga said. He has remained with ACTION “because it has enabled our parish and me to be in contact with people from other denominations and communities,” he added.
One of ACTION’s earliest achievements was a door-to-door campaign to distribute information about a school bond issue for new school buildings in Youngstown, Father Noga said. The state was pledging to pay 80 percent of construction costs. “It was as much a voting effort,” he recalled. “People thought there was a catch. There wasn’t.” ACTION members delivered brochures to about 7,000 homes. “Just the fact that we did that among ourselves in neighborhoods we weren’t used to ... We realized there was common ground,” he said.
A video tribute to Father Noga by U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio 17th District) was shown. Father Noga was presented with a proclamation from the Ohio legislature by Patrick Lowry of Youngtown, a member of the congressman’s staff and a St. Patrick parishioner.
Atty. Rosenthal, who is executive director of Common Wealth, a community development corporation, was lauded by State Rep. Robert F. Hagan (D-Youngstown 60th District) for helping ACTION to gain “a unified voice.” Hagan also recognized Rosenthal for her role in preserving historic buildings, establishing a farmers’ market on Youngstown’s North Side and creating a kitchen facility where local farmers will develop specialty foods and create jobs.
The Diocese of Youngstown provided funding to Common Wealth to help organize ACTION, Rosenthal noted. Common Wealth also was the first non-religious organization to officially join ACTION, she added. Rosenthal currently is ACTION’s treasurer.
Rev. Felder became a pastor during an era in which women were discouraged from pastoral leadership, said the Rev. Gena Thornton, pastor of Grace AME Church in Warren. “Reverend Eleanor Felder allowed us to see what God can do when he wears lipstick,” Rev. Thornton said, eliciting laughter and applause.
Seven diocesan parishes serve on ACTION’s Governing Board of Directors. They are: Youngstown St. Patrick; Canfield St. Michael; Youngstown Our Lady of Hungary; Youngstown SS. Peter & Paul; Youngstown St. Edward; Boardman St. Luke; and Boardman St. Charles Borromeo. Father Joseph Fata, pastor of Boardman St. Luke, is co-chair of the Clergy Caucus; Father Joseph Rudjak, pastor of Youngstown SS. Peter & Paul and Our Lady of Hungary, is co-chair of publicity. Patrick Kerrigan of Youngstown St. Patrick is vice president. Current president is Pastor Lewis W. Macklin II of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Youngstown.
Debora Shaulis Flora is a veteran journalist living in Youngstown
Reprinted from the Catholic Exponent April 30, 2010