Gloria Dulan-Wilson Blog/ ECLECTICALLY BLACK NEWS
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Showing posts with label Cherrelle Parker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cherrelle Parker. Show all posts
4.21.2021
By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
Hello All:
As a proud member of Lincoln University, I claim bragging rights for all those who have gone before me, are my peers, or who have come after my graduation in 1967 - which makes me a proud Emerita of Lincoln U.
Dr. Frank "Tick" Coleman
And there is no one I am more prouder of than Dr. Frank "Tick" Coleman, whom I came to know quite well after graduating from LU in 1967. His love for Lincoln endured throughout his entire lifetime. He not only loved Lincoln, but became sort of a one-man recruitment entity, as well as a mentor for the students there. I not only benefitted from his guidance, but my daughter as well, who graduated in 2003. Over the years I helped coordinate Black Student Tours from New York's Our Children's Foundation to Lincoln, and Dr. Coleman arranged for the students to meet the teachers and administrators on campus - and assisted in helping several of them in getting scholarships.
In his honor, every year since his transition to the land of the Lions, we have hosted a luncheon/fundraiser in his honor to continue the wonderful work he's done tirelessly in behalf of students seeking a higher education and fulfillment of their goals and aspirations. Generally the event is highly successful and well attended - but, as with everything else, COVID19 prevented hosting the event in 2020. We are endeavoring to make up for the loss in 2021, and hope you will attend our virtual fundraiser on MAY 15, 2021. HAIL! HAIL! LINCOLN!!
The AALU, Phila. Chapter presents it's 18th Annual
Frank "Tick" Coleman (Virtual) Alumni Awards and Scholarship Fundraiser,
Sat. 5/15/2021.
About this Event
Each year the Alumni Association of Lincoln University (AALU), Philadelphia ChapterDr. hosts its premierfundraiserevent, the Frank "Tick" Coleman Awards Archie Goodwin, Jr. Grant Fund, to build scholarship funds.
Each semester, eligible Philadelphia area incoming
freshmen/matriculating undergraduate students receive financial assistance towards their books or potential technology needs.
The
awards event was created to honor the memory and dedication of the LU
Alum and Philadelphia native, Dr. Frank Coleman, affectionately known as
"Tick".
Dr. Tick Coleman was a graduate of Lincoln University
Class of 1935 and dedicated his life to Lincoln University as a premier
Trumpeter for his Alma Mater and his fraternity, Omega Psi Phi (Beta
Chapter), for many, many years.
He played football at Lincoln and was
instrumental in helping return the sport to the University.
Tick was a
drum major for all that is great about Lincoln and served as a mentor to many of Lincoln’s illustrious alumni.
Dr. Coleman cared deeply
for young people and helped finance their educational needs through
scholarships that he funded.
He organized bus services from Lincoln's
rural Chester County campus to Philadelphia for reasonable costs, so area students could easily get home to Philadelphia and the surrounding areas
without burden. Occasionally, he would drive students to Philly when they
missed the bus.
In addition to his Lincoln accomplishments, Dr. Coleman was one of the first Black Eagle Scouts in the Philadelphia
Area.
Using Tick for inspiration, the annual event
honors and presents awards to outstanding alum for excellence in their
careers, in their community and or in their service to the University.
This years' virtual event will feature a full program of alumni involved
activities, including an Alumni Vendor Marketplace, musical and spoken
word entertainment, a keynote speaker, door prizes, a mixologist and among other activities.
The theme for the event is "Orange and Blue View." Alumni and guests are encouraged to wear, or showcase your favorite Orange and Blue gear.
This years' keynote speaker is Philadelphia Councilwoman and Lincoln Alumna, Cherelle Parker, Class of '94.
Dr.
Frank "Tick" Coleman honorees have achieved success in their careers,
in their community, their personal lives and their dedication to their Alma Mater, Lincoln University.
Our 2021 Alumni Awards recipients are:
Raymond Bennett, ‘85
Gerald Bruce, ‘78
Delores S. Coleman-Kirby, ’72 (Fallen Lion)
Jason Hunt, '00
Dr. Guy A. Sims, ‘83
W. Keith Williams II, Esquire ‘87
Special Acknowledgement Award:
Ruth “Sissy” Faber, Lincoln University 50yrs of Service
Support for the event can also be made through the purchase of Ads in the 2021 E-souvenir journal.
This year the journal will be a featured presentation during the event
and available for view online.
Ad choice can be purchased here along
with your ticket purchase or made via the AALU website at www.aalu-philachapter.org. complete online Ad form and
upload a 'camera ready' copy of your Ad and email to
aaluphila.2ndVP@gmail.com. Please include your ticket number with your
Ad.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM PREVIOUS TICK COLEMAN AWARD EVENTS
Special Guest and University President, Dr. Brenda A. Allen(R).
The
ballroom of Treasures on Germantown Avenue was packed to capacity
last Saturday morning, despite the fact that the temperature was a
vicious 16 degrees with vicious whipping winds. The Germantown/Mt. Airy
community turned out to celebrate the re-election of State
Representative Stephen Kinsey, who is now serving his second term
representing the 201st district in Philadelphia.
Stephen Kinsey
Residents
of all ages and economic backgrounds showed up to congratulate him
and let him know how pleased they were with who he was and how he was
representing them.
The
opening ceremony with a color guard from the Boy Scouts and another
local youth organization was followed by a musical rendition of Lift
Every Voice and Sing performed by Darryl McKeever on sax.
Kinsey's
adorable little daughter, Myla Rose Pearl Kinsey, dressed in white
blush, greeted the audience and welcomed them to her dad's
inauguration.
There
was an overwhelming sense of family as you looked around the
capacity-packed room. People spoke with pride about the difference
Kinsey has made since being in Harrisburg. John Odom spoke of his
outstanding character, stating, “What stood out was a man who
treated everybody on the same plane. I am grateful to know him at
this stage of my life. Hope to see you running for president,” he
concluded.
John
Myers, his predecessor, stated that Kinsey had come up under his
leadership. Myers shared his wisdom knowledge and was determined to
make sure he was able to carry on the work of David Richardson (one
of Kinsey's icons).
Per
Myers, “Steve Kinsey is like a political son to me. I had said to
Steve in five years we could make you a leader in Harrisburg. He
said 'no way!' He later had to turn down leadership positions people
wanted him to take. Steve is a soldier for his people. He knows
what is right and when it's right; what to say and when to say it. I
want to make you the 800 pound gorilla. We need an 800 pound gorilla
in this city!” Myers went on to say that Kinsey needed an army to
become the 800 pound gorilla. And that army was made up of community
constituents who can help out by making phone calls, sending emails
and letters and standing with him on the issues.
“I
want you to pledge to be that army,” he continued. Per Myers
Kinsey must have the people behind him willing to do the work
necessary.
Stating
a fact in political math, Myers reminded the audience that a 1500
voter turnout for the most part will get little to no attention; but
when you have 15,000 voters turning out it makes everybody sit up and
take notice. “If we want to see changes made, it continues after
he gets in office. If you look in the mirror and see someone other
than yourself looking back, you need to change the mirror.”
Spoken
word artist, Kirwyn Sutherland's brilliant piece, which started with
– “Generation B has wide wings...there is no stolen history
ritalin can reconstruct – and culminated with “you are not
alone, every single one of us have gravely sinned – we invite every
part of you in,” lent a contemporary basis to the high regard the
so called generation 'z' have for the Representative, who has broad
personal appeal across the age and economic ranges.
The inauguration was as much a lesson in civics and politics as it was the celebration of the re-election of Stephen Kinsey. With many of the who's who in the the Pennsylvania political arena.
State Representative Cherelle
Parker stated enthusiastically, “This is my tenth year. And it took people like John
Myers, Dwight Evans, John White, Jr., Dave Richardson – all of
those people who sort of laid the foundation - to give people like
Steve Kinsey and Cherrelle Parker the opportunity to do what we do.
And to do what we do in a way that is so selfless, that when we get
there - you know when you get elected, people begin to call you,
address you as 'honorable.' And if you're not careful, if you're not
grounded, if you don't come from a place where you realize that if it
wasn't for the Grace of God, that could be me – you could lose
yourself in what we do. And you can get to Harrisburg and you could
forget Germantown. Right? You're walking the halls and people say,
'Oh I want to meet with you!' 'Oh, I want to talk to you!' And all
of a sudden, you just get grand! And don't start reading you press
releases – you start reading your press releases and believing it;
your picture in the paper – and if you are not careful and
disciplined – you get so busy you forget the purpose. He sits next
to me; he hasn't forgotten purpose! John Myers, you know it's easy to
talk about what you believe in in front of this crowd, because you're
home. They feel what you're feeling, and believe what you believe!
But when you go to Harrisburg, and you get inside that conference
room, when you get on that floor, where there are 203 members and
only 25 of us from Philadelphia, and we do not always agree. But I'm
impressed with Kinsey, because when he got to Harrisburg he didn't
mind speaking out, especially when people came from different places.
You can sit there and be quiet and try to make people like you –
but you'll never get anything done. You can speak up about your
concerns – school closings; economic dollars that once helped to
stabilize schools – you can say it or you can be quiet and be
afraid to speak up,” she stated, wanting to make it emphatically
clear that role Kinsey plays in Harrisburg.
Parker spoke of how rare it was to be a part of the appropriations committee
so early in his political career, and how thorough and fair Kinsey
was in his determinations; playing a key role in the effort to ensure
that Germantown has its fair and equitable share.
With
a flair of humor, Rep. Parker stated that she would "like to be fly on
wall of the appropriations committee when Rep. Kinsey was putting
forth his concerns for he budget and its impact on the whole of
Philadelphia." She stated, “You have made a good choice – to
succeed Dave Richardson you sent John Myers. And to succeed John
Myers you sent Stephen Kinsey and my friend represents you well.”
City
Councilwoman Cindy Bass rounded out the accolades by stating that
there has never been a time since Kinsey took office that she has
called and not received the help she needed from him. There has
never been a time when he was unavailable to the constituents she
represents in his district.
“I
can't do the things I try to do in the City Council without Steve's
help. If you're trying to get bills passed in the city, you need
government in the state. You need people who are really able to do
the work. Who are well qualified, but also has the heart about the
work that needs to be done,” she emphasized. “He will always be a
part of my team, and I will always be a part of his team!”
Kinsey's focus has been education, economic empowerment and building a cohesive community. Prior to the inauguration he hosted an open house in his new office at 5952 -54 Germantown Avenue (Corner Harvey) directly across the street from the now shuttered Germantown High School, his alma mater. Kinsey has been supportive of the GCCS - a consortium of community organizations and residents who are working to have the school transformed into a viable sixth through twelfth grade charter school. It was the only high school in Germantown and would have celebrated its 100th Anniversary had it not been shut down in 2013.
Among
the guests and well wishers in the audience for Kinsey's second
inauguration, were members of Kappa Alpha Psi's Philadelphia Alumnae
chapter, members of the Germantown Community Charter School
Coalition, and other community based organizations from the
Germantown area.
Suffice it to say that those in the 201st district fortunate enough to have Kinsey for their state representative have nothing but praise for his first two years and are looking to working with him in making sure that the 2nd term is as successful as the first.
We are on the eve of the 160th Anniversary of The Lincoln University, in Lincoln University, PA. That's right, it is the first Degree Granting HBCU in the USA - or anywhere for that matter - founded 11 years before the beginning of the Civil War, on April 29, 1854. It was originally called Ashmun Hall, but was renamed Lincoln University in 1866, in honor of President Abraham Lincoln following his assassination.
I just want to insert a quick note, for our brothers and sisters at Cheyney State University, who maintain Cheyney was the first College. Cheyney was founded in 1837 as Institute for Colored Youth in Pennsulvania. And it has the distinction of being the first of its kind. However, it did not become a degree granting institution until 1914. They are both great schools; and Pennsylvania has the distinction of being the state where the first two Black HBCU's were founded - you'd think they'd buy a clue and capitalize on this distinction, instead of trying to undermine these great institutes of learning.
You hear me brag about Lincoln all the time. It's my Alma Mater - along with such greats as Cab Calloway, Thurgood Marshall (the Only Black Supreme Court Justice); Kwame Nkrumah, first President of Ghana; Nnamdi Azikewe, first President of Nigeria; Peter Ndiege, brother of Tom Mboya, Minister of Finance of Kenya; Langston Hughes, Judge Bruce Wright (a/ka/a Turn em loose Bruce); Gil Scott-Heron, Randy Cain of the Delphonics; Philadelphia Representative Cherrelle Parker; John Jay professor Dwight Murph; Temple University Professor Anthony Montiero; activist/author/professor Sam Anderson; - but enough of the name dropping.
Okay, just one more fact: Lincoln University is the Only HBCU to have given Africa two Presidents: Nkrumah and Azikewe. And its' the college Philadelphia native Bill Cosby sent his TV daughter, Vanessa, to when she went away to school, on his award winning TV SitCom, The Cosby Show.
Lincoln University has nurtured some of the greatest Black minds on the planet. And continues to do so, despite the fact that there has been a reduction in financial assistance via the State of Pennyslvania. There are time honored traditions that has made it one of the most outstanding HBCUs in history. Our Alumni Association is the first African American Alumni Association in the US, and dates back to 1872. And while there are many who would try to say otherwise, the importance and viability of Lincoln University, and other HBUs throughout the US is more crucial and significant than ever before.
At issue is the fate of the original buildings on Lincoln University's campus that have been there pretty close to its inception. As with any other college or university - Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Princeton - these structures are hallowed halls, and go to make up the character and history, the very nature of the environment itself.
It has come to our attention that there is a threat to demolish these buildings to make way for more "modern" edifices. One building in particular, named for African Presidents Azikewe and Nkrumah, and the oldest structure on the campus, built in 1865, was announced to be scheduled for demolition!!! Something that is unthinkable under any circumstance.
There historical structures on Lincoln's campus should have long ago been part of the National Register of Historical Buildings. Architects have studied the properties and identified the ones that have distinct historical relevance - however, as far as I'm concerned, none of the older buildings should be demolished - but I can't say the same for some of the newer ones that were constructed under substandard conditions.
We, the Alumni Association of Lincoln University are rallying to make sure that these buildings are not to be demolished. To that end we are circulating petitions, and would appreciate it if you would kindly sign it and return them to the email address below. They will be presented to the State of Pennsylvania Historical and Landmarking society, and other entities to preserve these buildings, not just because they are a part of Lincoln University, but because they are a part of Our Black Heritage as a people. It's part of the mosaic that we are still piecing together that tells the complete story of who we were, who we are, and how far we've come.
And while it's important for Alumni to sign this petition, we are not limiting the circulation to Alumni alone. We are asking everybody who honors Black history, and who feels that our contribution as a people is just as viable, if not moreso, than any one else's in this country, to sign to send a clear signal that our history, our story has value and is to be preserved, honored and respected.
Please read the following message, and sign the petition to Save and Preserve the Historical Buildings on the Campus of Lincoln University, PA.
New
York alumni and Friends of Lincoln University, we are just a few
signatures away from the goal of 10,000 signatures on the petitions to
save Azkikwe-Nkrumah Hall and to tell the Board of Trustees to consider
the alumni proposal to create a Lincoln University Historic District
that will save all 15 historic buildings. So proud of all students,
alumni, faculty, staff and friends who have signed. If you have not
done so, please sign today to let them know that these buildings are
monuments to all past, present and future students and far too valuable
as part of Pennsylvania's history, African-American history and the
nation's history to be destroyed. Let's go beyond goal by forwarding to
family and friends! You’ll find the petitions on our website: http://www.luheritage.org/ God bless you all!
Help save historic buildings at Lincoln University
Lincoln University Heritage Initiative
(LUHI) are concerned alumni of Lincoln University of Pennsylvania in
mission to save Azikiwe-Nkrumah Hall, Bond House, Cresson Hall and
Houston Hall from imminent demolition. In addition LUHI seeks to have
all 15 historic buildings on the Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania
campus recognized as the Lincoln University Historic District on the
National Register of Historic Places. Please help!
