The First "Hungry Club" Debuts at Big Mama's
Donna Carter
On April 9th, Big Mama’s Kitchen and Catering in cooperation with Preston Love Jr., launched the first meeting of the “Hungry Club.” The Hungry Club was developed to satisfy the hunger for information and dialogue about our community, and satisfy your hunger for a good meal. Although I was personally unable to attend the event, thanks to the wonders of technology, The Omaha Community Kwanzaa Group, and Community Talk Radio, I was able to listen to a broadcast of the session via my computer (the broadcast is also available via RSS).
The speaker for the first Hungry Club, was Frank Peak, Community Outreach Services Administrator with Creighton University. Mr. Peak provided a very persuasive presentation on the topic of continuing legacies and preserving institutions in our community. He spoke about the legacies of individuals such as the late Sybil Myers, and institutions like the Great Plains Black Museum, and how it is our responsibility to continue the legacies and preserve the institutions that shape our community.
For me, the most compelling part of Mr. Peak’s presentation, was his warning to all of us of the possible repercussions of relying on the funds and assistance from those outside our community to accomplish what needs to be done. According to Mr. Peak, “We have to take the responsibility to do it ourselves and stop relying on others…if someone else does it, it becomes their legacy, not ours.”
According to Mr. Peak, there is a “...great disconnect between ourselves and our legacy.” And he challenged all of us to become more involved in the community, and the future of institutions that represent a legacy in our community such as the Omaha Star, Omaha OIC, and the Malcolm X birth site. He questioned why it is so hard for some of to do so, and opined that our lack of involvement may reflect on how important (or unimportant) preserving our legacy is to some of us.
If you’re thinking “none of this is new” and that you’ve “heard it before”, you’re right, you probably have. But speaking for myself, it never hurts to hear it again. Sometimes we get complacent and forget about the things that are really important, and we can all probably use a reminder, especially considering the fact that we have all “heard it before,” and yet we’re still discussing it!
If this first meeting was any indication of what’s in store in the future, I highly recommend that you attend the next meeting on May 7th. The session was highly interactive, and unlike some of the meetings that take place in our community; this meeting was a dialogue, not a monologue. Mr. Peak encouraged comments and discussion from the audience, and it was great to hear differing opinions from a diverse group. I hope this format is continued.
Meetings of the Hungry Club are scheduled every month. View the OUC Calendar of Events for the dates and featured speakers.
Click here to listen to the broadcast of the Hungry Club at Big Mama’s Kitchen and Catering.
For more information on the Hungry Club, contact Preston Love Jr at 812-3324
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Ron Parker Delivers Foster Parent Training
Ron Parker, representing his “Mr. B.Clean” organization conducted training April 15th for foster care parents. The training focus was on strategies and proven experiences dealing with African-American males. Attendees were able to obtain needed certification as well as information for them to better perform as foster parents.
Parker, who speaks to youth and adult audiences has also been a foster parent for over ten years. His foster care African-American males have a very successful rate of graduations and accomplishments. Attendee Ms Newsom stated “this was the kind of information I need to better serve my foster care duties and help to develop my young man”
For more information regarding Ron Parkers’ organization call 208-9839 or email rvparker60@yahoo.com.
