Congressman Dwight Evans Salutes Rev. Leon Sullivan for Black History Month

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

Happy Black History Month!!!

There are so many inspirational things and people to celebrate during this special time of the year, and I will be sharing them with you from time to time.

The Great Rev. Leon Sullivan

Pennsylvania Congressman Dwight Evans shared a memory of Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan - one of my personal heroes - who founded OIC (Opportunities Industrialization Center), Progress Plaza - the first Black Owned Shopping Center in Philadelphia, OIC International - which had branches throughout Africa, helping to train our African brothers and sisters in trades and businesses necessary to advance their county.  The first OIC center was established in Philadelphia in1964, in an abandoned jailhouse at 19th and Oxford Streets.  It is currently located at 1231 N Broad Street.  His church, Zion Baptist Church, is still active at Broad and Venango Streets.  

As I stated earlier, Rev. Leon Sullivan was one of my personal heroes.  I met him after I graduated from Lincoln University and was doing a graduate program in Philadelphia - It was just around the time that he founded OIC International.  I took a course in commercial sewing at OIC because I had considered going in to the field of fashion design - I have been designing and making my own clothes since I was 10.  My classmate/brother/friend and Fine Black Man, Sam Anderson, recommended I take the class so I could mass produce the items.  I took exactly 1 class on a power sewing machine at OIC.  Accustomed to a regular sewing machine, I was not prepared for the speed at which the machine sewed, and nearly sewed up my hand in the process.  It scared me to no end, and convinced me that I was not ready for power sewing.  in the interim, however, Dr. Sullivan and his staff made such an impression on me because of the wonderful work he was doing in teaching so many brothers and sisters in Philly the skill sets they needed to be employable.  Decades later, after his transition to the realm of Ancestor Angels, I met his daughter Hope Sullivan, at an African reception, that was also attended by Ambassador Andrew Young (another personal hero of mine) and her brother Howard.  And later found out that one of my Lincoln University classmates, Ralph Perkins, worked with Dr. Sullivan from the time he graduated from Lincoln until 2011, in his OIC International operations.

Such a wonderful example of yet another historical figure with Philadelphia beginnings.  It's no coincidence that ATAC (Avenging The Ancestors Coalition) holds its meetings at Zion Baptist Church, and continues the work of consolidating community groups for the betterment of Black people.  ATAC's founder, Black historian and educator, Dr. Edward Robinson was a friend and contemporary of Dr. Sullivan. 

In 2014, OIC celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a gala tribute to Rev. Sullivan.  His family continues to be involved in overseeing the organization, which has branches throughout the US and parts of Africa.   We can learn much from this wonderful leader who devoted his life to providing the practical application of our prayers and spiritual aspirations. 

Congressman Dwight Evans - D - Philadelphia, PA

Gloria D.,

From a very young age, I knew Reverend Leon Sullivan was a driving, positive force in the African American community -- and I wanted to be just like him.

In 1959, he organized a boycott of Philadelphia businesses that refused to interview Black youth for jobs. This "Don't Buy Where You Don't Work" boycott was extraordinarily effective. In fact, Sullivan's efforts in our community got the attention of none other than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. himself, who asked the Reverend to be a part of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

This Black History Month, I can't help but reflect on incredible Philadelphia civil rights leaders like Reverend Sullivan who inspired me to step up and get involved. Growing up in the 1960s, I saw countless African American men and women bravely taking action to make this country better for little Black boys like me.


That's why I'm more committed than ever to work with you to build a stronger Philadelphia -- and a stronger America -- block by block.

Reverend Leon Sullivan was also a pioneer in developing job training programs to create paths to better-paying jobs. His creation of the Opportunities Industrialization Center of America actually became the model for other cities across the country.

This is what always impressed me most about Leon: time and time again, he empowered people to change their own communities. He's the one who inspired me to create the Concerned Citizens of the 10th Ward. And, looking back on it, his effort to build Progress Plaza as America's first Black-owned and Black-developed shopping center provided me with a blueprint for revitalizing West Oak Lane.

This Black History Month, I encourage you to join me in reflecting on the African American leaders who've inspired you, and to support the vital work of local organizations like Philly We Rise and Black Lives Matter Philly.

And most of all, I hope this campaign has inspired you to get involved and think about ways you can work with others in your neighborhood to help build a better world for all of us. That's how we can honor our past and create progress for generations to come.
Thank you,
Dwight Evans

DONATE

 Dwight Evans for Congress appreciates any feedback you might have. Click here to contact Dwight Evans for Congress with any questions, concerns, or ideas. 

Dwight Evans is making history in real time - and we need to make sure he is able to continue doing so.  Make sure you're registered, and that you vote so he can continue representing our interests in DC

NOW THAT YOU KNOW

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

Stay Blessed & 

ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria Dulan-Wilson
eclecticallyblacknews@gmail.com

 

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Philadelphia School Problems tied to State Lack of Support - MAKE SURE YOU VOTE NOVEMBER 4 TO END THIS INSANITY

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:I received a press release from the office of Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, recently, that  makes it oh so clear as to where the woes and foes of progressive education and funding came from - significant, consistent, ongoing, pernicious decline in state support.

I.e. Something's rotten in Harrisburg.   It's so egregious that the City, under Mayor Nutter's direction, has had to come with ways to stem the tide of the continual slide of support from Corbett's regime.

 

Germantown H S, closed in 2013 -A group of concerned citizens are now trying to transform it into a Charter School and Community Business District

The closing of 30 schools throughout the Philadelphia school districts because of lack of sufficient funding has done more to hurt than to help the schools, communities, students.  Germantown High School, the only high school in the Germantown community was closed, causing students to be bused across the city to other already over crowed schools, and leaving a gaping hole in the fabric of a nearly 400 year old historic district.  Actually, when you consider it, Philadelphia, the birthplace of democracy, is an historic district in and of itself in its entirety, and should be given better treatment and more respect that it's been receiving under the current state adminstration.

Theoretically, the recently passed cigarette tax at $2.00 per pack, may provide some relief, as will the latest decision by the School Board to ask teachers and administrators to pitch in and contribute to paying their own health insurance, but by and large - with the state contribution in the negative, there are still major gaps that have yet to be closed.

While it does not state so in his press release, I'm going out on a limb and saying this to all Philadelphians and all Pennsylvanians - you had better make it your business to make sure that Corbett is not re-elected as governor of this state - because it will not only get worse, it may well spell the end of some very important institutions and quality of living across the board.  You have the opportunity to elect democratic candidate Tom Wolf, who will be a welcome change - make sure you don't blow it by sitting it out.  If you do, you've no one but yourselves to blame.

TOM WOLF FOR GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA

Whether or not you have a child in school - regardless of whether it's private, charter, public, parochial - you are being short changed.  In fact, in a statement during his speech at the 50th Anniversary of OIC (Opportunities Industrialization Center), Mayor Nutter said:  "The manner

in which Philadelphia schools are being treated is unconscionable."  Education is the key to everything.  Philadelphia is a world class city being treated like second class citizens at the hands of the State legislators.  There is a lot of pontification, followed by dog and pony shows.  But at the end of the day, a lot of sound and fury with no concrete action. 

WAKE UP PHILADELPHIA! WAKE UP PENNSYLVANIA!  You've got less than a month before the November 4th elections - and you have to use that time getting your people into play to make sure that you do not look up on November 5th with the same people in place who have done nothing for you but give you a hard way to go.  This is your wake up call.  The future of your children, you jobs, your communities, your neighborhoods are at stake.  The great part about it is that  you have the power to change it - but will you.  

THE PRESS RELEASE FROM MAYOR NUTTER FOLLOWS - Paragraph 6 is the beginning of the information on the funding crisis and lack of state support for Philadelphia Schools.  And while it may be happening in other areas, as Mayor Nutter has stated, it should not be happening in the 5th largest City in the US.:

City of Philadelphia

    MAYOR'S OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

         

                                                                                                                        Michael A. Nutter, Mayor

                                                                                                                        Mark McDonald, Press Secretary

                                                                                                                        Office: 215-686-6210

                                                                                                                        Cell: 267-303-9248                            

                                                                                                                                                             

Tuesday, October 7, 2014                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAYOR NUTTER’S STATEMENT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING

Comments on the School Reform Commission’s actions and the launch of the Campaign for Fair Education Funding

Philadelphia, October 7, 2014 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter released the following statement on public education funding in response to events that occurred on Monday.  The statement is as follows, please check against delivery (attached is a document outlining state and local funding to the School District of Philadelphia):

“Today, I want to address two significant events that occurred yesterday and that will impact public education in Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

First, in Harrisburg on Monday, a coalition of more than 40 organizations kicked off the Campaign for Fair Education Funding, an effort to ensure that every student has access to a quality education – no matter where they live in Pennsylvania.

Second, the School Reform Commission voted unanimously Monday morning to require PFT members to contribute to their healthcare benefits so that the School District can provide more money to schools and classrooms.

On the Campaign for Fair Education Funding, I am honored to be aligned with this diverse group of organizations that aim to work with parents and community members throughout the state to send a message to state legislators that fair funding for all public schools must be their top priority this year.  The launch of this campaign coincides with the on-going work of the Basic Education Funding Commission and the widespread recognition that more and more school districts across Pennsylvania are facing grim financial circumstances.

I’d like thank our Philadelphia delegation and other elected city and state officials for the “stopgap” measures they have approved to address some of the financial challenges facing our Philadelphia public schools. The legislature’s recent passage of the $2-per-pack cigarette tax and the extension of our city’s sales tax will reduce some of the District’s fiscal instability.  However, these measures are not sufficient to ensure that all Philadelphia students achieve at high levels and are ready for college or work, nor will they bring long-term fiscal stability to the District. In short, Philadelphia students are without the funds they need to succeed.

But here in Philadelphia, we’ve stepped up to the challenges of the school funding crisis over the last six years, as this document shows [see attachment]. We have increased the local annual contribution to our public schools, both district and charter managed, by $357 million over that period – by far the largest increase in the local contribution in the last 30 years. And City taxpayers now pay a higher percent of District costs than they have at any time in that same period.

These new dollars come from property tax increases, a use and occupancy tax increase, parking fee increases, the sales tax, the new cigarette tax and improved delinquent tax collections.  Local taxpayers have done their part.

The School District has also done its part by cutting 5,000 positions, closing 32 school buildings and renegotiating contracts with the blue-collar union and the principals union. These changes have impacted thousands of students and district employees, resulting in deep salary cuts and new contributions to health care premiums for the latter. 

The school funding crisis has affected nearly everyone in this city. We are trapped in an on-going, seemingly never-ending battle to make it through a school year – to even OPEN our schools. Yesterday, we saw the latest dire manifestation of the public school funding crisis.  The SRC did one of the few things left for it to do in order to get desperately needed services back into our schools. They asked their teachers and counselors and others in PFT to contribute to their healthcare.

As I’ve already said, principals and janitors alike have taken pay cuts over the last two years. They have already agreed to similar health care benefit changes. I support this and hope others can see it for what it is – another consequence of this horrible situation our schools have had to face year after year. I am pleased that Dr. Hite has chosen to reinvest these savings in schools and that our schools will have a say in determining how this reinvestment will be used in their buildings.  I have been in many schools and know what students are doing without and I also know what teachers are doing without.  I see how hard working they are.  They are the backbone of the system.  And in some small way, this reinvestment will make it better for students and teachers in schools ever day.

One striking example of the struggles of schools in Philadelphia: Principal Linda Carroll of Northeast High School, for instance, has a total operations budget for her 3,000 students of $15,000. That comes out to $5 a student for the basic school supplies required for a rudimentary education during the school year.

Another example: Last spring I went on a school listening tour. I visited George Washington High School in the far Northeast. I learned that there was one counselor for a school of more than 650 students. That is inexcusable. By requiring teachers to contribute to healthcare costs, additional resources, like counselors, can be added back into the classroom to prevent the educational calamity Philadelphia public school students face on a daily basis.

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And I hope that both the School District and the PFT will get back to the bargaining table as soon as possible, so that they can resolve the issues that stand between them.

Yesterday, at the launch of the Campaign for Fair Education Funding in Harrisburg, I heard again from other districts from across the Commonwealth.  The list of cuts and hardships in rural, urban and suburban districts is chilling now and for the future.

Philadelphia is not the only District in this situation.  This isn’t just a Philadelphia problem.  This is a state-wide problem that demands a state-wide solution.  So, I will say it again, and end with this: The way forward for all schools in Pennsylvania is a fair and full funding formula for the state’s basic education funding. And that is what we all should be focusing our efforts on in the days ahead.”

 Jolene Nieves, M.S.

Speechwriter

Office of Mayor Michael A. Nutter

215-686-6210 (office)

215-300-1071 (mobile)

Jolene.Nieves@phila.gov

While Mayor Nutter can't say this, I can:  PHILLY IS BEING SHORTCHANGED, BIG TIME.  And it's basically through Mayor Nutter's efforts and steadfast attention to details that things aren't much more dire than they already are.  You have a republycon regime superimposed over a democratic city - and the net result is the lack of support for the things that are essential to being the 5th largest city in the US, with one of the largest population of African Americans in an urban setting - 68%.   It's time to take a stand and get your act together Philadelphia.

I continuously hear people saying that the buildings and schools and other improvements are not being built for Black Philadelphians - well, that could end up being the case if you continue to make it a self fulfilling prophecy.  But if you actively become involved in the direction and destiny of your own city; if you show the unity and concern that it takes to make it happen, the improvements will be broadbased and wide spread, benefiting all who live here. 

I tried to include the adobe chart that details the ongoing decline of state funding for your children in your schools in your community - but it's not really necessary to have a graphic depiction on paper - just take the time to go visit the schools; take time to meet the teachers, talk with them; check in on what's happening with your children.  That's the best graphic of them all.  And for those of you who have 18 year olds in the home, whether or not they're planning to attend college, or go into a trade, their education is in jeopardy as the result of the lack of funding from Harrisburg.  As a parent, you should be furious and knocking down the doors there and in the local community.  Demand action - but more than that, take your 18 year old to the polls on Tuesday NOVEMBER 4, 2014 AND VOTE - time to take out the trash Philadelphia - nuff said!

NOW THAT YOU KNOW - WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT??!!!
Stay Blessed & 
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson 

State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas: Sale of William Penn is Illegal - OUR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION ON THE AUCTION BLOCK IN PHILADELPHIA, PA

-->By Gloria Dulan-Wilson
Hello All: 

The following press release was sent to me from the office of Pennsylvania State Representative W. Curtis Thomas - and is a problem that appears to be rife throughout Philadelphia - as a subsequent consequence of closing down 29 key schools in areas where they were sorely needed, under the guise of budgetary constraints.  

Rep. W. Curtis Thomas

 The so called SRC  -School Reform Commission - which is a loosely formed  school quality review committee - though it is dubious as to whether they would know quality if it walked in on two legs and sat down beside them - has closed down the schools in 2013, leaving several communities without essential neighborhood schools, and requiring many students to be bused across several communities in order to continue their education.  

Since their inception in 2001, to replace the school board,  their so called reforms have resulted in lower performing schools, increased confusion among faculty, staff, administration, as well as students and their parents - practically the entire community of Philadelphia.  There are five members on the SRC Commission - three appointed by Gov. Corbett (a Republican) and two by Mayor Nutter (Democrat).  Corbett's appointees serve for 5 years; Nutter's appointees serve for 4 years.  The unfortunate truth about the entire lot of them is that the educational future of Philadelphia is tied up in the hands of apparently incompetent people. Additionally, it's rather disingenuous to place the future of an entire city's educational system in the hands of people who apparently have no real interest in, or understanding of, the needs of the community. 

What has followed has been a major land grab of the remaining physical assets, and an attempt to sell off the schools to private developers, without regard to many legal requirements that should be adhered to, and blatant disregard for the communities who never wanted the schools to be closed in the first place.  Additionally, what is to be the distribution of those funds, once the properties are sold? 

This kind of chicanery is no doubt being played out in cities throughout the US, especially in predominantly Black neighborhoods, where moves are being made to render them null and void; marginal and expendable.    This indicates that we need to be banding together within our communities, but across the nation, to assist each other in these challenges, and outright assaults on our communities by forces whose only interests are that we no longer are viable or empowered to determine our own destinities.  The very educational lives of our children are at stake here.  

Mayor Michael Nutter, in a speech given before the OIC (Opportunities Industrialization Center) stated that "what is happening {in Pennsylvania} to the education of our children is a crime and an embarrassment, and must not continue ..."

  Well this appears to be the case in this situation.  Along with a heaping dose of egregious greed, and a blatant and total disregard for the needs of the community they purport to serve.

 Dr. Martin Luther King said, “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere
ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”  


Now that you know, what are you going to do?  

Stay Blessed & 
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria Dulan-Wilson 
{NOTE: Of course you know that the color and bolding are my emphasis of the Rep. Curtis' statements}

William Penn High School, Philadelphia PA

STATEMENT

State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas:

Sale of William Penn is Illegal

June 24, 2014

I am increasingly angered by the blatant disregard of the interests and wishes of the residents of the communities East of Broad Street regarding the closing and illegal sale of William Penn High School to Temple University. In 2001, Mayor John Street and Governor Mark Schweiker reached an agreement that transferred control of the School District of Philadelphia to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. According to the law that established the SRC, the governor appoints three of the SRC members, while the mayor of appoints two members of the commission. 

 

Four years ago, the SRC concluded that there was a need to keep William Penn High School open, but would have to close the school temporarily to address capital needs. The consensus was that it would reopen in 2014 as a career technical school. Members of the William Penn Development Coalition have met consistently with School District Superintendent William Hite who assured them as recently as May, that William Penn was not on the disposition list of schools to be sold. To my knowledge, there has been no formal resolution to reverse that decision or to turn the property over to the city. That’s why it’s troubling to me that on June 12, the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation contacted the William Penn Coalition, and told them to put $15 million on the table by June 13 or their proposal would be dismissed. That is unheard of and illegal, especially since Temple University was the only other party interested in acquiring the William Penn property. Although the coalition submitted their proposal for the reopening of the school as an educational center and building trades program in a timely manner, the fix was obviously in for Temple to win the bid. 

 

First of all, PIDC and the city have no legal right to sell property that doesn’t belong to them. State control of the school district also includes their property. The SRC must comply with the PA Public School Code in all matters pertaining to the school district. The PA School Code requires that hearings be held to allow a period of public comment before a school is closed and sold. That was never done.

Second, there was no official notice of a marketable appraisal of the William Penn property. Third, there is a conflict of interest when you have a Temple University official sitting on the Board of PIDC.

At what point does the interest of the students and the community come first? Once again, I am opposed to the marketing and sale of schools to entities that are not operating in the interest of the community. 

 

There are 650 homeowners and 500 seniors that reside within blocks William Penn. Have they been consulted about Temple’s plan to establish athletic fields and recreation space for Temple students? No! These are hardworking people who pay taxes to support higher education, pay additional sales tax and will pay an additional cigarette tax to support public education. Shouldn’t they have a say so? Has Temple president Neil D. Theobald met with the state legislators that represent Temple – a state-related university that receives funding from the commonwealth? He hasn’t met with me or the community even though they contribute to his salary.

According to the PA Public School Code, 2PACS, Chapter 5, Subsection N, the secretary of education upon receipt from the majority of the SRC, may issue a declaration of dissolution 180 days prior to the end of the school year, which shall be effective by the end of that school year. 

While it is too late to dissolve the SRC before September, it can be dissolved during the next school year. To that end, I am saying to members of the SRC, if you are not prepared to comply with the PA Public School Code, the PA Independent Regulatory Review Commission, the PA Department of Education and the Governors’ Budget Office, then you need to dissolve the SRC.

Our children’s education should not be sold on the auction block for selfish interests to developers and those who don’t respect or care about the needs of the community. This sale was hostile, illegal, arrogant and disrespectful. This transaction must be reversed.

State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas
D-Philadelphia
www.pahouse.com/Thomas

Pennsylvania State Representative W. Curtis Thomas represents the 181^st Legislative District that includes William Penn High School and Temple University.

-30-

Contact: Marilyn Kai Jewett

215/560-3261

mjewett@pahouse.net

Again, I ask:

NOW THAT YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? 

Stay Blessed & 

ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria Dulan-Wilson

 

Up Close Interview with OIC CEO Robert Nelson – 35 years of Service and Success

by Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All:

This week is the celebratory week for the founding of OIC – Opportunities Industrialization Center, founded fifty (50) years ago by Rev. Dr. Leon Sullivan, in Philadelphia, PA. The organization, from its outset, has been a stalwart in providing career path training in both traditional and non-traditional industries for African Americans and others who were in need of gainful employment, but did not have the necessary marketable skills, education, or level of sophistication required.

I recently conducted a telephonic one-on-one interview with Mr. Robert Nelson, CEO of OIC, who, after 35 years of continued service, 33 of which has been as CEO, is retiring at the end of June:

Robert C. Nelson CEO of OIC to Retire after 35 Years

 When Robert Nelson came to OIC, while a grad student at Temple University, the organization was in full swing – having established more than 133 branches throughout the United States and Africa. His original intention was to have a part time position while he completed his masters at Temple, so he could support his wife and family at the same time.

In addition to the milestone of fifty years as a viable organization still focused on the skills training and job development/placement, serving 35 years in an organization, when the current trend is to job hop, so to speak, I a major feat. More significantly, it is a labor of love.

Robert Nelson admits that initially, the job with OIC as a counselor, was an interim one. He actually left to take another position that was purported to be more in line with his field, but after having worked with OIC, found the new atmosphere not to his liking. So after two years, he returned to continue working with Dr. Sullivan, and has been there ever since. That was 35 years ago. And interestingly enough, it was probably the best move he could have made, because he has served as CEO of the organization for 33 of those 35 years. It's as much a testimony to Dr. Sullivan's great judgment in character as it is a testimony to Nelson's dedication to the principles of the organization, and the continued success they have enjoyed under his stewardship.

It's apparent that his enthusiasm and love for the organization has not waned over the years, even though he is retiring at the end of June. When asked what are some of the things he was most proud of, he responded: “Aside for the tenure of it all? My predecessor, Rev. Thomas Ritter, was first executive director, and he held the title of being the longest serving at 13 years. He's passed some years ago; but I've eclipsed his record. I only say that in a moment of levity – but this is kind of an accomplishment in that I kind of hung tough in the good and the bad times.”

Nelson continued, thoughtfully, “What I'm most satisfied with is that we never abdicated our responsibility. We've always maintained fidelity to the original purpose of OIC by Dr. Sullivan in helping people help themselves.”

In his role as CEO, Nelson had been tasked with both fund raising and innovational programs that would provide skills for OIC's constituents. He established two such programs that have evidenced immeasurable success, of which he is equally proud: “The programs that I was able to initiate here, was the OIC Futures program, which is really a social and vocational rehab program for mental health consumers. But, that was actually the first proposal I ever wrote, and that program lasted 22 years, until it lost its funding about two years ago. The second one in longevity is the Hospitality Training Industry Program I founded 23 years ago, and that's still going, placing about 150 people in jobs in hotels, restaurants, entertainment. I'm proud of those only because I can state that I founded them. They may not want to name one after me, but I'm proud of them, and at least I can say that that's what I did that really resulted in jobs for people.”

Robert Nelson at one of OIC's Hospitality Training Classes

OIC began during turbulent times in Philadelphia – when Dr. Sullivan, head pastor at Zion Baptist Church, was spending more time participating in protests, joining forces with Dr. Martin Luther King and others. Initial funds came from the churches and from the people, rather than from foundations and federal dollars. Per Nelson, in speaking of the continuing success of the organization: “The other thing I would say, for a community based organization, it's difficult to survive. It really is, because if you look at the federal level, state level – everybody's being impacted - particularly in Washington, because the President can't get anything done. On the state level they're cutting back – and the bulk of their budgets cuts affect poor people are primarily who are cut and they are the ones who we serve. We're 95% African American; 4% Latino and 1% other. So again, the two programs as my accomplishments, and being able to survive the vicissitudes of trying to survive this community based environment.”

It's clear that anyone coming behind Nelson is going to have some mighty big shoes to fill – something that was also said after Dr. Sullivan's passing in 2001. When asked what the criteria for his successor would be, he laughed it off initially, stating that the Board of Directors was basically taking care of that concern. However, with the upcoming conference, prayer breakfast and gala surrounding the celebration of the 50^th Anniversary Celebration, they've temporarily put it on the back burner.

But after I teased him about his successor needing to be able to walk on water, he laughingly responded: “That wouldn't be characteristic of my tenure either!  I think we begin with criteria that's more subjective than not. You really have to have a passion for what we do; and you've got to understand that it ain't easy.  Because having a passion for what we do, when we're dealing with is people coming in off the streets and applying in a city that has 200,000 low literate adults.  So you pretty much have to understand that we get people where they are - what they come with or don't come with. We certainly see people with a lack of educational experiences.  So the ability to understand that - the ability to try to empathize with that.  They have to be sensitive to those things things, because for the most part staff has it – good or bad.”

Nelson made it clear that while empathy is an important quality, being a phony is not acceptable: “And if you haven't lived it, don't be out there acting like you have.  I never grew up in public housing, for example. I never was on drugs; I was never unemployed for the most part.  So, I say to my people, don't use your own life experiences as a frame of reference for people that we receive. It's not the same!  You get people where they are, and you begin to motivate and progress them at a beginning point, which is their beginning point.  Don't try to give people your set of values.   You give people  space to formulate their own values. So that's one set of circumstances.”

It's apparent from this next statement that the new CEO will also have to have a thick skin and mental toughness:   “Plus you've got to be able to contend with every year fighting and struggling for dollars.  Don't get frustrated - because nowadays it's difficult to raise money from the foundations and corporations, because everybody else is going after the same limited pot of money.  So that's something you always have to deal with - and it changes from year to year whether your resources are going to come through – no resources, no programs, no jobs. It becomes a vicious cycle in that regard.  The other area is to be political.  I'm not that - I don't think that I've ever been that politically involved - things happen because of political relationships.  Not because I have a nice suit and tie on today, but because it's about understanding the political alliances, and how do you connect the dots that makes things happen for our organization.  That's why being politically astute is another thing that I would thing would be great.”

Dr. Sullivan established the Sullivan Progress Plaza, in Philadelphia on Broad Street, near Temple University, in the late 60's and it's still thriving today. When asked whether or not any of the revenues from the center are accrued to underwrite OIC, he responded, “No, it really doesn't.  It's a separate economic development initiative.  It was really one of the first one of Dr. Sullivan's focus on economics for civil rights.  His thinking was that 'It's okay and I will join the fight for people to have equal access in a restaurant, for example - and we can sit together. But what I'm really fighting for why don't we think about owning the restaurants, as opposed to working for the restaurant.' And then he decided well maybe what we ought to do is to create ownerships - and he designed what he called the 10/36 program.  He went around to any number of people in the church and the community and said "Give me ten dollars a month for three years, or thirty six months, and that will give us enough money to capitalize the Plaza.  The Plaza became the shopping center.  And that was started and that became another focus, as well as one in West Philadelphia.  And so that became the economic development activities that are still alive and well. “

OIC recently received a grant for $41,000 from the Philadelphia Foundation, to make it possible to build a state of the art interactive website for OIC, as well as produce the historical documentary celebrating fifty years of success. “Our website is our business card - it goes out to a number of different people.” 

One key program Nelson should also be proud of is the OICKeyspot Centers and NOMAD, which have been serving the Philadelphia area for quite some time, providing  free open access computer lab and mobile Computer lab facilities, as well as no-cost computer training in Internet Essentials, Computer Basics, Internet Safety, eMail Basics; Search Engine Basics, Microsoft Office Certification, among other essentials.  

N.O.M.A.D (Neighborhood Opportunities for Mobile Access Destinations) is a mobile computer lab outfitted with 50 laptops, WiFi internet access, and assist partner organizations that don't have computer lab equipment.  It serves more than 30 partner community based organizations.  Both are members of the Philadelphia Freedom Rings Partnership, which is a collection of community and local government agencies funded through the City of Philadelphia BTOP grant.  

Having recently lost funding for the program for those with mental challenges, as well as funding for homeless men who had been participating in the training in order to get back on their feet, is an indication that the larger funding population are not totally aware of how valuable and viable OIC is to Philadelphia in particular, and the US in general. So I asked Robert Nelson, if he was given the opportunity to sit down and have a conversation with those people and organizations in Philadelphia, and to the President of the US, what message would he give them about the necessity for maintaining the financial viability of OIC?

He took a deep breath and responded, thoughtfully: “I would first of all talk to them about the history.  We're a great organization with incredible institutional presence in and of the Philadelphia community - that's one part - the historical part … And what we really need to be talking about is to establish what the priorities that we have attached ourselves to.  And that's real simple.  We've attached ourselves to the vision of creating and placing people into jobs. That becomes critical so we need to talk about the resources that will allow us to do that.  But more importantly, or equally important is ability that we first identify where the jobs are, because the employers will say “Well we have jobs, what we have is difficulty finding people with the skill sets for those jobs.” We want to make sure that we are providing skills training for jobs that will be around in the future.”

Nelson is concerned that programs that equip themselves for the “hot jobs” of the moment are doing a disservice to people who are hard core unemployed. They may last for a few months or a couple of years, but are not jobs with longevity or career promotional potential. So when he asks where the jobs are, there is a very real concerns that these positions meet that criteria. He continues: “So for us the fundamental question is whether that employer, or that official  can help us  understand where are the jobs?  There are skill sets - because that's how we start to develop our training programs consistent with where the jobs were.  That would be a conversation - and it also involves the battle with the income equality. Because all we've ever doing in life is dealing with poor folks - so obviously, by definition, there's income inequality among the people we serve.  So, we would argue for a raise in the minimum wage - it's becoming contested all over the place; but in some places they're saying, "yeah, that's a good idea."  So a series of things like that.”

The biggest challenge, according to Nelson, with OIC's moving forward, stems from issues in Washington, DC. “There's government, and there's nothing moving in Washington - I think it's important to concentrate on the midyear elections - we'd better make sure that the president doesn't lose the Senate.  We'll never get anything else out of Washington at all.” 

Currently OIC has 44 Branches throughout the United States, with the largest being in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Antonio, TX, Washington State. There are also smaller satellite branches in Montgomery County, and Erie County, PA.

The bottom line of how much it would take to make OIC whole, to really service people in PA in terms of funding and grants, in addition to the funds they receive from the Department of Labor and the Department of Education, is not one that is easily quantifiable in terms of dollars and cents, according to Nelson, who stated: “I'm not sure I could even quote you a dollar amount - what we need to do is do the things that make OIC relevant.  Nowadays, development has changed over the years and what it means to certain people; what it means to the organization.  What are the core principles that we stand for - certainly education is one of them, with 200,000 low illiterate people, we've got to go back to the basics - I'm almost ready to get back to Dick, Jane and Puff - we got to go back there, because we have adults at a certain age who can't read!  It's such a sad situation.  They've spent their whole life compensating for no skills - so that's the fundamentals.”

He continued “The second part of that is that we need the understanding from the chambers around the city and wherever else, where are the jobs, so we can develop the training programs consistent with those people sets, and at the same time partnering with the companies who are going to be the employers. 'Hey! let's sit down; we're OIC, we have the capacity to fill your jobs, we want to train people to fill them.'  Once we do that, we can literally make that open up the doors for funding sources that your local manpower and people here in the city;   make partnerships with employers and community based organizations.”

As the bid for funding becomes more challenging, with the landscape now also encompassing community colleges, and churches who are using Sullivan's principles as prototypes for their own programs, it's important that the original not be allowed to go down in the dust. Not only does their longevity speak volumes, but those they have served are living proof of the viability and value of OIC now and in the future.

Nelson, who has participated in 33 graduations, mentions how impactful it is when people who have graduated, whose lives have been changed around – no longer on welfare, or formerly on drugs, formerly in different negative circumstances when they came to OIC, and they graduated and moved forward with their lives.   “We invite them back to OIC to tell their story. And you look around the room and everybody's crying.  We had a program for formerly homeless men – And one of our graduates - his wife and two kids were there - they had been reconciled by the fact that he came to OIC, completed the training, got a job, and went back and got his family.  I'm sitting on the stage with four or five men and everybody's crying - everybody!  And I've done it any number of times, because, you know, real men cry.  I don't mind - I don't mind crying - it's something that impacts you, and I think this whole position has a way of getting tears because we've done so many good things for so many good people.” And thus the reason for the criteria for passion – coupled with compassion, is going to be a large part of who follows in those illustrious footsteps.

In considering what his parting message to his co-workers and staff might be, Nelson stated: “This has been a great experience - not one that I would have anticipated 33 years ago - that I'd be here.  Could I have done something else? could I have made more money? could I be all the things that I might have become, on looking back?  I don't say that about here because it's been a great experience.  I have met people that I never would have met if it hadn't been for being a part of OIC.  I sat at a luncheon with Colin Powell;  had conversations with presidents of the United States, presidents of African countries.  I've done those things.  I've been to Africa - I've had a lot of experiences, and I got the chance to be around and among and with Rev. Sullivan, and all the people who were a part of his mission.  I've also been in the room with other executives and staff members and more people from around the country.  And being in the room with hundreds and hundreds of people, literally - they all were inexplicably kind to one another by virtue of OIC - we're all here the same - that is we're all here to help people.  Dr. Sullivan would always say that he was just a poor Baptist preacher doing God's work.  And I think in OIC we're all doing that - we're all doing God's work .  I think it was a great experience.  I will miss it.”

While Nelson is stepping down formally as CEO on June 30, it's doubtful that they will let him get too far away from them – and equally doubtful that he will be able to resist returning from time to time to his second home away from home.

This week end is lined up with wonderful events open to the community and the loyal supporters of OIC through the decades. It would be a great send off to come out and celebrate the accomplishment of both the organization and the man who kept it running - Robert Nelson and OIC - they are both legends.

PS:  FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY NOT BE AWARE, THERE IS A PRAYER BREAKFAST AND A COMMEMORATIVE GALA FOR OIC'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY THIS WEEK END:

Come and show your appreciation and continued support for the organization whose works are the gifts that keep on giving.

Stay Blessed &

ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria Dulan-Wilson

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