Dr. Ronald Walters Joins the Ancestors,

 RIP Dr. Walters

Great Educator, Historian and Political Scientist Makes His Transition   Dr. Ronald Walters Dies at 72      Saturday, 11 September 2010       Dr. Ron Walters, 72, died last night, Fri., Sept. 10 at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, MD. after a long battle with cancer. Funeral arrangements have not been announced but according to the family, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., who visited him in the hospital several times over the past few days, is scheduled to deliver the eulogy.       Born in Wichita, Kansas, on July 20, 1938, Walters lead a renowned career as a political scholar and expert in black politics. A graduate of Fisk University, Dr. Walters earned his graduate degrees from American University. He taught at Georgetown and Syracuse Universities; chaired the African and Afro-American Studies Department at Brandeis University and the Political Science Department at Howard University; and worked as professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland. He served as director of the African American Leadership Institute and Scholar Practitioner Program, and became the distinguished leadership scholar at the James MacGregor Burns Academy of Leadership.       Walters served as a campaign manager and consultant for the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. during his two presidential bids and was a policy adviser for Congressmen Charles Diggs and William Gray. During the 2000 election season, Walters worked as a political analyst for Black Entertainment Television's Lead Story. He was a regular guest and commentator for several political talk shows on radio and television.      Walters was a political columnist for the Black Press. Beginning in The Washington Informer, Walter's his weekly column From the Desk of Ron was syndicated in more than 200 Black newspapers across the country.      He published more than 100 academic articles and authored several award-winning books including including Black Presidential Politics in America and White Nationalism, Black Interests: Conservative Public Policy and the Black Community.       He leaves behind his wife Patricia Ann Walters. Nashville, Middle Tennessee and the Heart of America Fight Against Violence     Gang activity continues to claim young lives Sept. 12, 2010 by Dwight Lewis   Dwight Lewis Driving out Nashville's 12th Avenue South the past few days, it was hard not noticing the wording on the marquee in front of the Edge­hill Homes hous­ing devel­op­ment office. "Sympathy to the family of Lamar Hughes,'' the sign read.   Hughes, only 16 years old, was shot to death early on Sept. 5 while outside with family and friends at Edgehill Homes, accord­ing to Metro police. Author­i­ties said Hughes, a con­victed felon who lived sev­eral blocks away on Elliott Avenue, was shot after a gun­man approached him just after 1 a.m. No motive for Hughes' killing has been estab­lished.   Hughes, whose assailant remains on the run, had aggravated assault and aggra­vated burglary charges against him transferred from juve­nile to crim­i­nal court ear­lier this year. He pleaded guilty to two counts of aggra­vated bur­glary and one count of aggra­vated assault in June and received a three-year pro­bated sentence.   Hughes' death is a con­tin­u­a­tion of the vio­lence involv­ing young peo­ple that con­tin­ues to plague this city and other parts of Mid­dle Ten­nessee. So far in Nashville this year, six peo­ple ages 18 and under have been vic­tims of homi­cide. Much of the vio­lence involves gang activ­ity, which this news­pa­per has chron­i­cled over the past sev­eral months and sought solu­tions to reduc­ing it.   In June, a num­ber of Mid­dle Ten­nesseans wrote their sug­ges­tions in news­pa­per columns. Also that month, The Ten­nessean and Oasis Cen­ter held a com­mu­nity forum seek­ing solu­tions to find­ing ways to cur­tail gang activity.   And last month, a lunch-and-learn forum spon­sored by the two orga­ni­za­tions was held at the Oasis Cen­ter on Char­lotte Avenue to obtain more sug­ges­tions. A num­ber of great ideas have come from those columns and forums, and I am sure even more will come from another forum sched­uled Sept. 16 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Hadley Park Com­mu­nity Cen­ter, 1037 28th Ave. N.   But I was moved this past week after read­ing about the "Deb­o­rah Move­ment'' in Chicago, aimed at stop­ping the high inci­dence of vio­lence in the Windy City. So far this year, more than 70 young peo­ple have been killed in Chicago as a result of vio­lent acts.   "We're tired of see­ing and hear­ing about our chil­dren dying every day,'' said Char­lene Davis, a mem­ber of the group of women who make up the Deb­o­rah Move­ment. "Within the past two weeks, we've had three young peo­ple, ages 16, 18 and 15 gunned down here. Two of them were killed out­side schools, and the other was shot to death while rid­ing a bicy­cle at a block party.''   Davis, who has a 16-year-old daugh­ter and an 11-year-old son, said she hasn't lost a child to vio­lence but has a close friend whose 13-year-old son was beaten to death.   "His killers are still out there,'' Davis said, adding that there are Deb­o­rah Move­ment chap­ters in var­i­ous parts of Chicago and else­where. "Our first meet­ing was this past spring when we gath­ered and marched to a police head­quar­ters ... and flooded the office with let­ters, say­ing that we wanted some action taken.   "We came together because we decided that we were sick and tired of being sick and tired. Work­ing with the Black Star Project, which recently held a Mil­lion Father March in Wash­ing­ton, we speak out and tell peo­ple what's going on. We won't be moved and we are not going to sit back and let these killers take over our community.   "If we allow that, we won't have a future because our chil­dren will be dead and there will be no one to look after us when we get old. We are work­ing to empower peo­ple to stop these killings.''   The same type of effort is needed in Mid­dle Ten­nessee. That's why The Ten­nessean is involved in help­ing to find solu­tions to the gang prob­lem here. We're sick and tired, too, of see­ing young peo­ple get involved in gang activ­ity and many of them los­ing their lives to violence.   It has to end, and we need more peo­ple to join us in mak­ing that hap­pen. That's why we hope to see you at Hadley Park on Sept. 16.  . Dwight Lewis is edi­to­r­ial page edi­tor for The Ten­nessean. His col­umn appears Sun­days and Thurs­days. E-mail: dlewis@tennessean.com.  Parents from across Chicago and suburbs should attend the Derrion Albert Parent Resource Exposition and Town Hall Meeting on Solutions to Violence at Saint Sabina Church on Saturday, September 25, 2010  Hear a panel of mothers who have lost children through violence talk about solutions to the crisis of Black children killing Black children. Derrion Albert - One year later, what has changed?  Derrion Albert was the death seen around the world representing youth violence in America.  We cannot let Derrion Albert or any of our children die in vain. Derrion Albert was one of hundreds of Chicago youth and children who have been killed in Chicago over the past few years. We have invited Eric Holder and Arne Duncan to come back to Chicago to give 1,000 parents and community members a report one year after they made commitments to help reduce youth violence.  Panelists of mothers who have lost children offering solutions to ending the violence include:  Anjanette Albert - Mother of Derrion Albert    Carolyn Wortham - Mother of Thomas Wortham, Jr.    Pamela Hester Jones - Mother of Lazarus Jones  Join us for   The Derrion Albert Parent Resource Exposition Saturday, September 25, 2010 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm St. Sabina Church 1210 West 78th place Chicago, Illinois  These organizations will serve parents and the community at the Derrion Albert Parent Resource Exposition: Safer Foundation Chester Field Community Council Cornerstone Counseling North Austin Head Start Catholic Charities Marillac Social Center Parent Illinois Resource Center Black Star Community PTA Build Chicago Black Youth Project American Heart Association ADA S. Mckinley Community Educational Service Brownsville Historical Society Chicago Youth Employeed ABJ Community Service Chicago Workforce Center Primerica The All Stars Black Star Mentoring/Student Motivation Program Deborah Movement Reaching for Success Better Boys Foundation Black Star Parent University Chicago Hopes Harmony Health Plan A Bet'r Me cornerstone Kids Off the Block Chicago Training Center University of Chicago Splash Chicago Tutoring Mentor Connection American Foundation Prevention Education Concepts Lorretta Hospital Fathers Who Care Austin Peoples Action Center New Generation Fancy Drill Team Employment & Employer Services Bethel New Life Child Serv We are expecting thousands of parents to attend this session.  To RSVP for this session, please call 773.285.9600. With 76 children 18 years old and younger killed in Chicago between September 24, 2009 and September 12, 2010, one mother never gives up hope on finding her son's killers   Mom works overtime to stop violence June 15th, 2010 It started to rain. Hard. But that didn't stop Pamela Hester-Jones from making her voice heard. Standing on the corner of Lawrence and Troy in this Albany Park neighborhood, Hester-Jones held a large color poster of her son, Lazarus Jones. Lazarus was only 13 years old when he was brutally beaten to death three years ago on that corner.   According to the police report, Lazarus and his friends were running away from a car with some people inside when Lazarus fell; that's when he was struck in the head with an object. The blow killed him. No one has been convicted of the murder. Although gangs are suspected in the attack, Lazarus was not in a gang, his mother says.   Surrounded by friends and community members, Hester-Jones talks to everyone who passes by. The group passes out goldenrod-colored leaflets with the headline: REWARD of $10,000. They are looking for any information that could lead to the conviction of the murderer. The leaflet urges anyone with information to call the Chicago Police Department at 312.742.4410 or Logan Square's Armitage Baptist Church at 773.384.HOPE   Hester-Jones goes out into the street with her friend and they flag down cars and pass out the leaflets. They want to reach out to the community and "stop the violence." Hester-Jones is a community speaker and anti-violence activist and has a Facebook group called,  Lazarus Jones Save Our Children Campaign.  She and many others involved in the youth/community anti-violence work rely heavily on their religious faith. Like her friends, also on the corner passing out leaflets, are involved in other groups too, Black Star Project's The Deborah Movement and Commissioned for the Community.   They are all so glad to have people show interest in the cause. Pamela Hester Jones   It's almost impossible to believe that dozens and dozens of school-aged children have been fatal victims of gun and other violence. In Chicago, "close to 70 students have been murdered since the beginning of the 2007 school year, mostly in their neighborhoods on the way to or from school," reports The New York Times, Oct. 7, 2009.    Students like Derrion Albert and Blair Holt have become national symbols of youth violence. Albert was beat to death in front of his high school, Fenger, during a street melee in 2009. The beating was video taped and was instantly place on YouTube, shocking the nation. Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan came to town, in the wake of the murder, pledging "efforts" to curb what is seen as a national epidemic.   Blair Holt was killed by a gunman who opened fire on a bus. Holt moved to shield a girl next to him, and was shot. Five others were seriously wounded. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., introduced stronger firearm licensing measures into Congress that bears Holt's name.   Families, experts and numerous politicians all say that critical to efforts to end youth violence, is not just police, but better schools, sports and arts programs and jobs, especially summer jobs for teenagers and young adults. Black lawmakers in Congress are fighting for emergency spending for summer jobs this year, but find it an uphill battle with conservative Democrats and Republicans who don't want to "increase the deficit." However, economists of all political shades say now is the time for government spending for job creation since that improves the economy overall.   In the meantime, Lazarus Jones' mom says she will keep coming out to the corner of Lawrence and Troy, and keep reaching out to stop the violence.  Join us at the next Deborah Movement Meeting and Help Bring The Deborah Movement to Your Community and Your City by Calling Dorothy at 773.285.9600    Deborahs from the North Side of Chicago Organize for Peace   Deborahs from the West Side of Chicago Organize for Peace Deborahs from the South Suburbs of Chicago Organize for Peace   All women, and men who support them, are encouraged to attend the next: General Deborah Movement Meeting Thursday, September 16, 2010 - 6:30 pm at The Black Star Project 3509 South King Drive Chicago, Illinois ------------------------------------------------------   1) Deborahs are encouraged to testify at Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's newly formed Anti-Violence Commission, between 4:00 pm and 9:00 pm, Monday, September 13, 2010 at Kennedy-King College, 6301 South Halsted, Chicago, Illinois.  Deborah Pamela Hester Jones will testify.  Please support her.   2) Join the Deborahs at the funeral of Deantonio Goss, on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at Sweet Holy Spirit Church at 8621 South Chicago.  Deantonio was killed last week on 85th and Colfax.  Deborah Dawn and Deborah Pamela Hester Jones will be serving. Please call 773.285.9600 for more information.   3) Join the Deborahs at our monthly meeting on Thursday, September 16, 2010 at The Black Star Project, 3509 South King Drive, Suite 2B at 6:30 pm. 4) Join the Deborahs in Robbins, Illinois at a Walk Against Violence and Back to School, on Saturday, September 18, 2010, with Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims joining us, at 13800 South Trumbull, 1:00 pm.  Deborah Sharon Westbrook serving.  Please call 630.728.3457 for more information.  5) Join the Deborahs for an early morning, 8:00 am, Sunday morning Deborah Church Service at ABBA Church of Renewed Faith, 1750 W. 103rd Street, Chicago, Illinois. Women will sing and pray and act to stop the violence in our communities.  All women and the men who support them are invited out to this service.    Please call Dorothy at 773.285.9600 for more information or to start a Deborah Branch in your community or in your city!  Tom Burrell Lectures at Hartzell Church on Brainwashed for the Barbara A. Sizemore Communiversity  The Black Star Project will host  Tom Burrell, author, businessman and community activist in a lecture and autographing of his internationally bestselling book , Brainwashed   at  Hartzell United Memorial Church 3330 South King Drive Chicago, Illinois 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Saturday, October 9, 2010   Books will be sold at this event by Afriware Bookstore in Oak Park, Illinois. Please call 773.285.9600 to RSVP.  This lecture is free to the public.

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