MCJ WEEKEND EDITION

July 14, 2006

by Barbara White
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!

Psssst, there was a surprise graduation party given for Chloe Williams. Chloe graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia.

Y’all know I-Witness loves surprises. Upon arriving at the Allison’s House, Hip-Hop Queens Carol and Michelle Allison, Tanya Whitaker and Aunt Lulu Allison were doing all the last minute things.

Chloe’s parents, Larry and Gwen Allison, had just called and said they were on their way.

Many of the guests were starting to arrive for the surprise cookout, Gladys Williams, Aunt Joann Johnson, Iman Davis, Aunt Gloria Kendrix, Curtis S. and Curtis K. Allison, Sybil and Ruby Woods, Marquil Allison, Janice, Kelvin, Mary, Nia and Jordan Porter, Randy, Donna, Miranda Allison and Mary Staples Chloe’s grandmother.

We did not have to play our music because the Tucker house a couple yards down had it going on what is a cookout without blues.

I will tell you they had a spread full of good things, like mandarin glazed baby back ribs, pork chops, salads, double cheese baked diced potatoes and they were good with a host of other good things.

Okay y’all Chloe is here. She’s entering the back yard through the garage the door open she walks through no one says anything as she speaks then all of a sudden folks yelled surprise and pop graffiti all over her. She could not understand, what was going on. "It’s not my birthday!" Then she heard the word "graduation." All she could say was: "how dare you, how dare you!" Folks were rollin’ on the floor she was truly surprised.

She went around the yard-pointing people out saying: "and you told me you were on your way to the mall ... and you, I cannot believe you kept a secret from me, you know you can’t hold water ... how dare you."

She had us rollin’ on the floor, she was hilarious she could not believe she had been surprised and that no one told her. Hey, Chloe surprise, surprise, surprise everyone was so proud of you. They thought they would celebrate you and throw you a party.

Congratulations, I know you are going to do good things in the world, dance in the universe it belongs to you, wishing you the best in all your endeavors, keep advancing that next generation I love it!

Warning: We Must Respect Each Other

The Warning: We Must Respect Each Other Basketball League and the Running Rebels, a youth organization that provides positive alternatives to children, has hooked up.

The Warning Basketball League had its season kick off at Lincoln Park where more than 200 children and many of their parents came to sign up to join the league.

Former Alderman Michael McGee Sr. started the Warning Basketball League more than 20 years ago with a mission to provide positive activities for children.

Since its inception, numerous youth have had the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of playing basketball in the big leagues.

According to Dell Williams, the commissioner of the Warning Basketball League, The Running Rebels will now run the Warning Basketball League.

He states: "It’s a natural for us over the years we have always participated with the league and we run a league of our own so to host both leagues just means we can do more with youth."

"I have one son, but I adopt 20 children a year. I use basketball as the hook to get them into a more wholistic development."

The Warning Basketball League is for boys ages 4-5, 8-11, 12-14, 18-20, and then there is Midnight Basketball with young men 18-26. "We had girls at one time, but the interest declined and funding was an issue but we are reconsidering adding girls’ basketball," Williams said.

In two-years, we have had zero incidents. "It’s because we have established relationships with the young folks and we can talk to them, and tell them what kind of behavior we expect. That is self-respect first."

Dell Williams continues, "Over 560 children partake in the sport of basketball. Basketball gives us a way to positively introduce the youth to other opportunities available to them in life.

"Our main goal is to develop young people mentally, physically and spiritually providing opportunities and alternatives to negative options in the community."

Founder and Executive Director of the Running Rebels states: "we have participated in the Warning Basketball League all the time giving alternatives to gang life. Sometimes we have over 200 kids watching the games plus those who are playing and no fights.

"Anybody from here who plays in the NBA or college came through this league but we do not get the exposure."

I-Witness can attest to the caring nature of the Running Rebels, the staff accepts that their job is 24/7 and they believe in being there for the children.

Connie Edwards, the event coordinator for the Rebels, said: "we work on Saturdays and Sundays if necessary, we do not let the children down."

Artie Sharp-George--After School Program director said: "If you’re going to work with children you have to be committed and be there for them otherwise don’t do it."

Williams continues, "many of the young men don’t have fathers so we all step up to try and fill some of those gaps. We support our kids every step of the way using the sport of basketball as a vehicle to teach life skills."

What truly makes the Rebels special is that so many of them go through the program as children and return after graduating from college to work for the Running Rebels. Williams says, "I was in Tucson, Arizona doing well, but something kept telling me I needed to come back."

What makes Williams so special is that he was the first kid to join the Running Rebels more than 20 years ago, so who better than he to understand all phases of nurturing children. As he laughs, he states, "I was the guinea pig."

He continues, "Barnett shared with me the only thing he would do differently with the kids today that he didn’t do with us is to promote more of giving back to your community, we have incorporated that into our programming.

"We watch many of the other leagues basketball programs where they holler, or swear at the kids, we don’t do it.

"It is important in having good relationships with the children to be able to teach and challenge them. We give them T-shirts and tell them every time you wear that T-shirt not only are you representing yourself, but also you are representing this league and me so you must be aware of your actions at all times. In addition, we make sure they know we are there for them."

Williams wears so many hats he is the director of Basketball Operations for the Running Rebels, commissioner of the Warning Basketball League and Midnight Basketball. "Yes, it keeps me busy but the children are worth it.

"We are working to bring more good things to the children like a Pro Am League for some of the pros and college players can come back and play. We want to offer Future Stars of Fundamentals during the school year for 4- to 15-year-olds."

As I-Witness and Williams talked I noticed this lady, Kwana Hickman sitting in a lawn chair with books open studying.

I asked was she here to watch the games? She stated, "Yeah my son, LaDell ... I just signed him up to play in the league. My brother Robert Wood told me the Running Rebels were a good organization and that I should put my son here." As she watched her son play, she continued to do her homework; she is attending MATC to become a nurse.

Other outstanding staffers at the Running Rebels Donald Moss, Rob Wollner-deputy director, Dawn Barnett-associate director and some of the strongest parent support groups I have seen.

Running Rebels, I have seen for myself the good things you do with the children in our community, so I-Witness has picked you as her favorite organization of 2006-2007 year and I ask all of "MCJ" readers in whatever way they can to support the Running Rebels.

They have success stories you will not believe and it is up to us to keep them successful. Rebels keep advancing that next generation I love the way you do the things you do!

Farewell

"Happy trails to you until we meet again,
Happy trails to you until we meet again."

Okay, so we did not sing it but that was the sentiment at the Humphrey Scottish Rites Masonic Center where Rose Marie McDowell bid her farewell to Milwaukee County where she was employed for more than thirty years.

Many friends and family came to celebrate McDowell including Mayor Tom Barrett.

Rose McDowell started working at Milwaukee County in the Mental Heath facilities. Back then Black people were only allowed to do basic aide work and clean up. They were not allowed to be in charge of a ward or in charge on the county grounds of anything even though they could do the job and had seniority.

Then one day McDowell met a woman named Ruth Brown who took her under her wings and taught her about workers’ rights.

Ruth Brown stated, "the folks used to tell us when we went to work, that we didn’t talk right, we didn’t know how to do anything right, we didn’t get any promotions because we were colored.

"But I would look them in the eye and tell them we are here to stay and we ain’t going nowhere.

"With Rose by my side, we became soldiers. Together we stood up to all those folks, we got promotions and we made a difference. We called ourselves soldiers from the county."

Here is where Rose McDowell began her career as a union activist with AFMCSE.

As all her guest speakers shared a piece of her commitment and challenging nature on workers’ rights. They told the stories of her long hours of studying learning the by-laws and learning to read contracts and even developing negotiation skills.

Labor Council Treasurer Sheila Cochran had high praise for the good work Rose has done over the years. Paula Dorsey kept us in humor on Rose’s role both publicly and privately.

Lee Henderson brought it home for us when she said, "Rose taught her how to care and advocate for people, she made me the woman I am today and I don’t take no stuff."

Rose was a union rep in AFMSCE and she served as a City of Milwaukee Election Commissioner. She has also been instrumental in many elections. She is known to many for challenging work conditions, filing grievances, which is her second name, but more importantly teaching people to fight for themselves by learning the rules and doting all the I’s and crossing all the t’s.

Her children paid a nice tribute to their mom, one of true appreciation. Her son Sean stated she served well. "She instilled good things in us because the union took a lot of time away from us." He thanked everyone for coming to celebrate his mom, then someone shouted from the audience: "if we didn’t, she would have filed a grievance against us or made us read the contract." Everyone rolled on the floor.

Her daughter Lavette gave her mom the Trinity--the Father-the Son-the Holy Ghost and Lataush, thanked her for speaking up for those who couldn’t fight for themselves and now I just want you to enjoy life.

Her grandson declared it Rose Marie McDowell Day and the woman of the hour was presented.

Rose at first, for the first time, appeared speechless for a moment. Then she stated, "as I look back I don’t like all the time that I spent away from my kids. But I don’t regret all that I have done to help change lives." She shared with us that she got a call from former President Clinton, wishing her well in her retirement. She further stated that her belief in the power of the vote came from her mother. "It means so much for you all to be here with me, thank you."

"I want to thank Paula Dorsey, Martha Love for all we endured together," she said. "It wasn’t easy for us, but we stuck together to get things done and impact lives, and many White people helped us along the way it was a love thing." She roasted a few folks and again thanked all for sharing her day.

Debbie Jo Catering laid out a spread and many of us got on the floor and did every kind of electric slide there was.

Well Rose, I am not sure if the courthouse will continue to exist without you there running it. It just might fall down, Holla!

However, I know you will not be sitting down you will be somewhere doing something to make a brighter day in somebody’s life reading the contract and filing grievances. Atten--tion Salute to a soldier.

Other guest included: Diane Mover, Diane Adams, Shirley Mann, the Rev. Betty Mitchell, Theresa Griffin, Lisa Sherman, Lavette and Michael Buford of Arlington, Texas, Sean and Nicole McDowell, Quianna Love, Zanie Gainer, Bert McDowell, Tanya Robertson, Manja Riley, Zoe McDowell, Rev. Sharlyn Ward-Light Steams, Frances Wilson, Alderman Joe Davis, Ralph Tatum, and Mary Jo Avery.

Violence Prevention Camp For Boys and Men

The JAHA Workshop’s 11th Annual Father and Son Retreat, September 8, 9 and 10. Contact: Ron Johnson, (414) 430-3171; Blackhawk Park On the Banks of the Mighty Mississippi River.

Men and Boys work together to build our "tent city." We hike, swim, fish, compete in push up contests, canoe races, Pontoon rides, track and field, football, wrestling matches ... and have camp fire discussions on "the issues."

"The whole purpose of the camp is to build rapport and communication between men and boys.

"Our prime directive is to advance the notion of violence prevention in the community, especially gun violence, which is most often isolated to interpersonal acts of tension, aggressiveness and anger among males," said Ron Johnson.

All Camp Meeting: Tuesday, July 18 at Northcott Neighborhood House, 2460 North 6th Street, 5:30 p.m.