On September 17, the Coalition Against Violence celebrated International Day of Peace by unveiling “A Community Manifesto” and “The Role of the Family,” two sections of a 2007 strategy document for reducing violence in Allegheny County’s African-American communities.
In “A Community Manifesto” the Coalition urges the African-American community to take immediate action to address the violence. It’s a call for citizens to take collective ownership of the problem and to provide the leadership necessary for finding bold, long-lasting and peaceful solutions to the violence threatening the life-blood of the community.
“A Community Manifesto” was inspired by the early Civil Rights and Black Power movements and encourages direct action on the part of community members, rather than relying on institutions such as the police, government or social service agencies to address the problem.
Lois “Toni” McClendon, co-chair of Communities in Action for Peace, introduced “The Role of the Family.” As the principle author of this section, McClendon talked about reclaiming the African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child.
“Family is the foundation,” said McClendon. “And if the family is not healthy the community is not healthy.”
In “The Role of the Family” the Coalition offers recommendations for schools, communities of faith, social institutions and community allies to take responsibility for raising children and supporting all families in the community.
McClendon described it as “a beginning blueprint for what parents can do, and how the community can help do, what they need to do to raise kids in a safe and peaceful environment.”
An anti-violence initiative of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) and One HOOD, the Coalition Against Violence began with a press conference held on February 8 as a call to action in response to an alarming report that Pennsylvania was the nation’s leader in homicide rates for African Americans.
The Coalition has held about 30 collaborative meetings since February to collectively update and expand the earlier “Strategy 95” summary document, which was written in 1995 when violence then was at a highpoint in the community.
Tim Stevens, founder and chairman of B-PEP, said that when the Coalition was reviewing the “Strategy 95” they found that there were pieces missing. “A
Community Manifesto” and “The Role of the Family” were written to fill in these missing pieces.
McClendon noted that “A Community Manifesto” and “The Role of the Family” mainly focus on African-American families and communities because they are the ones most impacted by the violence.
Last year there were 95 homicides in Allegheny County 75 of those concerned were Black. As of September 30, there have been 76 homicides this year 61 of those lives lost were Black people.
The Day of Peace presentation featured Kimberly Ellis (as Dr. Goddess) performing “Baby Girl,” from “Dr. Goddess: A One Woman Show,” and “We Demand,” from her ensemble production “Dr. Goddess Goes to Jail.”
Ellis said the two pieces show how the problems in the community are both an external issue as well as an internal issue. She emphasized the need to invest in the community and make sure that young people have visions, opportunities, dreams, goals and hopes.
“I don’t think there is anything wrong with the Black youth in Pittsburgh,” said Ellis, “other than the lack of investment, and the lack of vision and opportunity.”
Following Dr. Goddess, participants in the event each took turns reading paragraphs from “A Community Manifesto” and “The Role of the Family,” after which they were encouraged to give feedback as part of a group discussion.
The night’s events ended with a poem titled “What is Peace” presented by McClendon.
For more information on the Coalition Against Violence, contact B-PEP at 412-758-7898, or e-mail onehood@gmail.com.
(First published in The NewPeople, November 2007)
