Faith & Clergy
Bishop Dr. William Barber, II Keynotes the SF NAACP 95th Freedom Fund Gala
“Steadfast and Immovable” the 95th SF NAACP Freedom Fund Gala at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco. Honorees pose with SF NAACP President; (left to right) John William Templeton, Jerry Barnado, Jr., Mike’l Delfon Gregory, NAACP President, Rev. Amos Brown, Sr., Dina Edwards, Dr. Maxine Hickman and Carol McGruder. Photo by Adrion Anderson.
The San Francisco NAACP (SFNAACP) recently hosted its 95th Freedom Fund Gala at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco. While delivering the keynote address Bishop Dr. William J. Barber, II’s speech reflected the event’s title; Steadfast and Immovable.”
While discussing the critical state of the country, he cited the damage caused by Donald Trump and the current administration. He also explained how the country’s leadership has used divide and conquer tactics throughout the nation’s birth. He called on audience members to reverse this moral crisis in the United States by working together to end voter suppression, re-districting, and all the areas impacted by systemic racism.
“We are living in an age of moral crisis,” he said. “What are we going to do about it?”
Bishop Barber is the President and Senior Lecturer of Repairers of the Breach Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign, A National Call for Moral Revival. The pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Goldsboro North Carolina has also penned several books including, “Revive Us Again: Vision and Action In Moral Organizing; The Third Reconstruction; Moral Mondays, Fusion Politics and The Rise of a New Justice Movement.
Barber has turned his words into action by creating the Forward Together Moral Movement that has gained national recognition with its Moral Monday protests at the state legislature in North Carolina. This year, he led a historical number of protesters at state capital to embrace a moral public policy agenda. Barber, a national NAACP board member, also encouraged audience members to join the NAACP and the movement. Currently he is a Visiting Professor of Public Theology and Activism at Union Theological Seminary in New York City.
Throughout the event, the Amos C. Brown Heritage Chorale performed music selections as the SFNAACP recognized several individuals for their outstanding work in the community. Honorees included Bernard J. Tyson, Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals and Carol McGruder, founding member of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC) received the Public and Community Service Award.
The Community Activist Award was presented to Historian John William Templeton and Riordan High School Black Student Union President and District 10 Youth Commissioner, Mike’l Delphine Gregory, received the Youth Award. Educator Dina Edwards of Sheridan Elementary School in the San Francisco Unified School District received the Education Award and Dr. Maxine Hickman President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW) San Francisco Chapter and Executive Director of Trinity Foster Family Services was presented the Business and Professional Award.
“Being honored by the NAACP is such an honor because the organization has paved the foundation for many of the freedoms we enjoy today” said Hickman.
The Historical Legacy Award acknowledged the San Francisco State Black Student Union of 1968 to 1969 for their 5-month “Strike Out,” protesting racism and demanding an increase in minority student enrollment. As a result of the striker’s efforts, the Departments of Black Studies and Ethnic Studies were founded at San Francisco State University.
SFNAACP President, Rev. Dr. Amos Brown, Sr. also called on a State of Emergency for African American students in the San Francisco Unified School District. Contact the SFNAACP for more information on the crisis and how you can help, visit: www.sfnaacp.org
Bay Area
ICAC to Host Benefit Concert Jan. 20 to Keep Safe Car Park for Unhoused Open
It was chilly Monday evening at the reopening of the Interfaith Council of Alameda County’s (ICAC) Safe Car Park Program in West Oakland – a stark reminder of just how cold the night would be for those in the community without shelter. The safe car park has been temporarily closed due to lack of funding, and ICAC needs money to bridge the gap during these cold months until additional financial support from the city kicks in several months from now. To help bridge that gap, ICAC is sponsoring a concert at the Oakland Temple Hill Auditorium at 4780 Lincoln Ave. on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 5 p.m. The whole Bay Area community is invited to join this cause.
By Debbie Bromley
Special to The Post
It was chilly Monday evening at the reopening of the Interfaith Council of Alameda County’s (ICAC) Safe Car Park Program in West Oakland – a stark reminder of just how cold the night would be for those in the community without shelter.
The safe car park has been temporarily closed due to lack of funding, and ICAC needs money to bridge the gap during these cold months until additional financial support from the city kicks in several months from now.
To help bridge that gap, ICAC is sponsoring a concert at the Oakland Temple Hill Auditorium at 4780 Lincoln Ave. on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 5 p.m. The whole Bay Area community is invited to join this cause.
This special evening of top-notch entertainment will feature Billboard artist Lena Byrd Miles, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, and Destined2Dance.
Attendance will help support the ICAC in their charitable efforts in the community, especially their work to improve community health and safety and to feed and care for those in need of food and shelter.
Tickets are $20-35 and are available online at TempleHill.org.
At the Safe Car event on Monday, Miles stepped to the mic to share a song with the poignant lyrics, “If I can help somebody, as I travel along, if I can help somebody, with a word or song…my living shall not be in vain.”
Miles said she is honored to lend her gift to this effort. “We are to do as much as we can to help the needy and God repays us. And as we give to them it’s as if we are giving unto the Lord.”
As the cars began to roll in for the night, warmth began to emerge from all the service being rendered, making the chilly evening more bearable.
The portable trailer from WeHope was standing ready to offer showers, laundry facilities and a caseworker.
Paul Bains, CEO of Project WeHope and pastor of St. Samuel Church of God in Christ commented, “WE ALL help make this happen, as it truly does take a village to positively impact a community!”
LaMel A. Smith, director of the nonprofit Helping Others Win was also on hand. Smith helps provide a food distribution service at the site that serves about 3,000 people per week.
Dr. Kenneth Anderson William, pastor of Temple Baptist Church, added, “It was with joy to see families living in their cars return back to a Safe Car parking site. Safe car parking is needed in every city to provide resources for more sites.”
Dr. Michelle Myles Chambers, assistant pastor of West Side Missionary Baptist Church and director of the San Francisco Foundation’s FAITHS program, has been there from the beginning. “The San Francisco Foundation was excited to be on the ground floor with ICAC,” she said. “We’re all in on housing and fully support innovative supportive housing models.”
ICAC is grateful to the Walter and Elise Haas Fund and the Kapor Center for funding support, along with The San Francisco Foundation for supporting the reopening.
Other supporters attending were Natalie Walker of WeHope, Lena Byrd Miles’ manager Tina Carter, representatives from the office of Oakland City Council members Rebecca Kaplan and Nikki Fortunato Bas, and CBS News reporter Itay Hod.
As Dr. Ken Chambers, founding president of the ICAC and pastor of West Side M.B.C. and often reminds us, “Working together works!”
Attending a concert is an easy way to show support for these efforts.
Debbie Bromley is the Oakland Temple Hill communication co-director of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Bay Area
FAME Oakland Observes Fire Disaster Anniversary with Gospel Artist Zacardi Cortez
A year after a fire destroyed its edifice, First AME Church of Oakland (FAME) will commemorate that tragic event with a three-day weekend of praise and worship. FAME, the East Bay’s oldest operating Black Church, will honor its 150-year history and officially launch the church’s vision for the future.
By Post Staff
A year after a fire destroyed its edifice, First AME Church of Oakland (FAME) will commemorate that tragic event with a three-day weekend of praise and worship.
FAME, the East Bay’s oldest operating Black Church, will honor its 150-year history and officially launch the church’s vision for the future.
Themed “Up From the Ashes,” the commemoration will be a three-day celebration of service, praise and gratefulness from Feb. 17 to 19.
“I have always believed that this was an opportunity to build back bigger and better, and to embrace FAME’s rich legacy of service and spiritual empowerment in Oakland,” said the Rev. Dr. Rodney Smith, Senior Pastor of FAME. I am overwhelmingly proud of FAME’s resilience and steadfastness to lean on God in this season.”
On Feb. 17, FAME will host a health-focused Community Day at Prescott Elementary featuring award-winning actor Delroy Lindo, local radio personality Cuzzin Dre and other special guests. On Sunday, Feb.18, there will be a commemorative worship service featuring guest preacher Rev. Greg Hunter (Olivet Oakland) to mark the last service before the fire.
At 7 p.m., the weekend will conclude with a musical performance by Grammy Award-nominated artist Zacardi Cortez, who has graced the stage with John P. Kee, James Fortune, Tye Tribbet, and more. Cortez is known for hits such as “Lord Do It for Me” and “You’ve Been Good to Me.”
In addition, the Rev. Jeffery Williams will minister. The evening will also feature a musical debut from Pastor Rodney.
“Despite what it looks like, we know God will give us joy instead of mourning and beauty for ashes! This is a major opportunity to reflect and remember that God always turns everything in your favor when He is in control,” said FAME First Lady, the Rev. Amittia Smith.
Tickets are $65. Limited VIP packages remain. To purchase or for more information, go to www.fameoakland.org
Bay Area
Illegal Dumping Plagues Glad Tidings Community Church
For more than two years, Glad Tidings Community Church Pastor Jeremiah Captain has been fighting a losing battle with illegal dumping. As soon as Captain and church members clean up one illegal dump in front of the church at 18th avenue and E. 12th street, another follows almost daily.
By Post Staff
For more than two years, Glad Tidings Community Church Pastor Jeremiah Captain has been fighting a losing battle with illegal dumping. As soon as Captain and church members clean up one illegal dump in front of the church at 18th avenue and E. 12th street, another follows almost daily.
He believes that individuals and businesses charged with clean-up see the illegal dump on the property and, instead of taking the trip to the junkyard, just follow suit and leave all manner of things on his doorstep: clothing, shoes, trash, used needles and condoms, mattresses, a refrigerator, paint, and other toxic fluids.
Captain says the problem has become so pervasive that it discourages members of the small congregation from attending Sunday service and impedes his ability to conduct his business as an insurance agent which is also located at that address. Besides the dumping, Captain has had to contend with vandalism to the building exterior, including splashed paint and other toxic wastes. He has had to repair four broken windows costing $300 each in the past few months.
There have also been break-ins, some averted and one where their drum set had been stolen but recovered a few blocks away. Despite repeatedly reporting the issue to Oak311 for clean-up and appealing to Oakland City Councilmember Nikki Fortunato-Bas, there has been no response so far.
Captain says his next step is to seek funding for motion detector lighting, security cameras and ground-level signage making it obvious that the site is a church. For more information, please call the church at 510-532-5743.
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