Results

2007-2008

10 Myths Brochures Available

At the Stop the Hate Rally in September, CARE promised a brochure entitled "Ten Myths about Gay Sexuality... and their Corrections." The brochure is now ready and lists facts that disprove 10 common myths about gay sexuality. If you would like copies, feel free to contact us.
The brochure is being disseminated in cafes, churches and other publicplaces. People have also asked to use the brochure in workshops being offered to school nurses, guidance counselors and other professionals.

CARE is beginning work on a directory of services to benefit diverse
populations in the Valley. Included will be professionals who are known to be knowledgeable about the needs of specific groups, such as lawyers, doctors, teachers, business owners, clergy, and counselors. If you know of a person r group that you think should be included in our directory please let us know.

CARE and the Donald Heiter Center Collaborate on
Plans for Martin Luther King Celebration
which will be held at the Donald Heiter Center . Babbette
Rose-Faison, along with others from CARE's Task Force for African American concerns will help with the planning and the cooking.

CARE Leads Off Stop The Hate Rally

Lois Passi, Co-chairperson, spoke to a crowd of approximately 200
Bucknell University students, staff persons and community members in Hufnagle Park at the Unity Jam – Stop the Hate Rally on Tuesday 9/25/07. After a kind and generous introduction by the Director of Bucknell University's Multicultural Center, Jessica Hess, Passi took the stage other Steering Committee Members and members
of the Clergy Roundtable. Passi highlighted CARE’s commitment to equality for all people and reminded audience members that CARE respond not only to individual incidents of discrimination but also to public matters concerning diversity. She cited the recent cancellation of a Lewisburg High School Marching Band trip to Knoebel's Grove on the same day that a Gay Pride picnic was being held in the amusement park as an indication of how much work needs to be done to insure respect and equality for people of all sexual orientations in the Susquehanna Valley.

Passi announced CARE's launching of a 10 Myths Campaign in mid-
November as one step toward addressing fear of gays among the people of the Susquehanna Valley. CARE will disseminate a brochure that lists 10 myths about GLBTs, the truth. She asked audience members to help by giving a 10 Myths brochure to a friend, relative, coworker or neighbor that may not have accurate information about GLBTs. In addition, she said that brochures would be made available to local businesses and churches. Passi noted that CARE members would make newspapers and radio stations aware of this campaign. Passi ended her speech with a poignant anecdote about the
Vietnamese Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hahn.

Following Passi's speech. Melissa Ferrick, played guitar and sang. Ferrick is a musician from Massachusetts who has opened for Ani DeFranco the past few weeks on tour. Attorney Chris Sabas spoke about inalienable human rights in the context of the Hazelton backlash against Latinos. Erica Lopatofsky, a Bucknell University graduate student, and Lee Saville-Andree performed two songs. Marissa Calhoun, a Bucknell student, invited community members as well as students to join her activism efforts. Peggy Cronin, from the Bucknell Writing Center, introduced the crowd to the two parts of the America Project, the second of which is Sekou Sundiata’s upcoming “51st (dream) state.” Following a song by Voices of Praise and
thanks by Ms. Hess, the crowd marched by candlelight onto Market Street, down 4th Street and back to Hufnagle Park in Lewisburg.

Milton Area Homework Club Ready to Go
The Milton Area Homework Club, co-sponsored by CARE, the YMCA of Miltonand the Milton Area School District, is set up and ready to go! Fifteen tutors volunteered to tutor students on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Transportation from the schools to the YMCA was arranged by the school district, and teachers are now aware of the program. All of the money was successfully raised by Milton Area businesses.

CARE joins the “No Hate in Our Town” Campaign.

On September 1, 2007, while supporters of the Hazelton mayor’s antiimmigration ordinance held a rally in Harrisburg to breed more fear and distrust of immigrants,”No Hate in Our Town” press conference was held in Harrisburg by a coalition of groups to speak out against hate and in support of all workers. “No Hate in Our Town” is a joint venture of six statewide organizations (including the Pennsylvania Network of Unity Coalitions in which CARE participates). It is an effort to unite Pennsylvanians in support of fair and inclusive communities. In the face of divisiveness caused by discriminatory local anti-immigration ordinances and other forms of scapegoating, the coalition calls for unity in addressing the root causes of economic, health and public safety issues in our state. As a show of support, the photo below was taken on Sunday, September 2, 2007 in Lewisburg by Mary Hague, who initiated the event. Across the back row: Helen Nunn, unidentified mother & daughter in arms, Alex Wilce, Doug
Sturm, Kerry Walters, Kim Daubman. Middle row: Adrian Levin, Margie Sturm, Caroll Bloom, Cindy Peltier. Front row: two unidentified children.

For more information about this campaign, please contact mhague@bucknell.edu.

May, 2006 - June, 2006
Co-sponsor: Latino culture in-service training for elementary and high school teachers, Milton, PA

CARE teamed up with the Milton Area School District and Bucknell University to present two workshops, one for elementary school teachers and the other for High School teachers, about Latino literature. Snacks from various ethnic groups were donated from various restaurants, and CARE donated many books to the libraries of the Milton Area School District. This group will continue to work with the Milton Area School District to supplement their multicultural books in their libraries.

Click here to download the selected bibliography to "Interrupting Prejudice.

Click here to view A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MATERIALS ON LGBT ISSUES Compiled by Kathleen Ballard, September 2007.

May, 2006
Dr. Ghayda Al Ali

Dr. Ghayda Al Ali, a local Iraqi citizen living in Lewisburg for one year, and a Bucknell professor of Arabic, spoke to a small group about her perspective on the situation in Iraq. A lively discussion followed.

Spring, 2006
Multi-cultural books in Milton Area School District

Lois Passi began a project to increase the number of multi-cultural books in the Milton area schools. After a review of the card catalog for the Middle school, four Latino books were donated, and other books identified for other cultures. Lois is currently seeking donors for these books, as the budget in the schools is very small.

Spring, 2006
Libros en Espanol

Claudia Wilshusen, a Lewisburg resident, brokered the establishment of the first Spanish language section of an area public library, Priestly Library in Northumberland, PA. Pam Ross, the librarian, re-organized the library to accommodate 30 Spanish language books and additional magazines. Many CARE donations paid for the books, along with a discount on each book provided by the proprietor of Page After Page in Lewisburg.

April, 2006
Panel: What Role Should Education about Religions Play in the Public Schools?

Held on Palm Sunday, this afternoon event began with an hour long presentation by three panelists: Lois Passi, co-chair of CARE and chair of the religious diversity committee; Kathy Hummel of the CSIU; and Joe Burroughs of West Perry, a teacher of World Cultures. A 45-minute discussion followed. Approximately 25 people attended this event.

March, 2006
Co-sponsor: Dr. Signe Waller

CARE co-sponsored Dr. Signe Waller, who spoke about the Willingboro murders and use of a truth commission to facilitate healing years later. This event was held at Bucknell University.

February, 2006
Co-sponsor: Briars in the Cotton Patch

CARE, under the direction of Cindy Peltier, co-sponsored a movie entitled Briars in the Cotton Patch which was shown at the Campus Theater to an audience of approximately 300. This 1 hour long documentary chronicles the history of the Koinonia movement in Georgia. Brian Johnson led a discussion following the movie. This event was co-sponsored with the Center for Non-Violent Living and Union-Snyder Habitat for Humanity.

January, 2006
Co-sponsor: Martin Luther King Celebration

CARE co-sponsored the Martin Luther King celebration held at the Donald Heiter Center in Lewisburg. Featured were a multicultural display provided by CARE, a timeline of the Civil Rights movement, a gospel choir, a potluck dinner, and a speech by Babette Faison of Lewisburg. Approximately 100 people attended this event.

December, 2005
Candlelight Vigil

In early fall, several parents and children discovered a burned cross at their bus stop in Milton. CARE organized a candlelight vigil entitled Replacing a Flame of Hate with a Flame of Love in response to this cross burning. Approximately 50 people attended. Brian Johnson, a Milton resident and chair of Multicultural Affairs at Susquehanna University, gave a speech. Additionally, Lois Passi spoke for CARE, Oscar Guerrero and Chris Acosta spoke for Latinos (with speeches given in both English and Spanish), and Mayor Ed Nelson also spoke.

Fall, 2005 - January, 2006
Essay Contest

An essay contest was launched at the festival discussed above. The title of the essay was How will YOU make the world a better place? The Daily Item sponsored the contest with $550 prize money. There were three categories: ages 4-7, 8-12, and 13-17 with first, second and third prizes in each category. Winning essays were published in the Daily Item. Each winner received their prize check and a book. Additionally, each of the 109 entrants received a personal letter with a certificate thanking them for "making the world a better place" and specific feedback about their essay.

October, 2005
Friends around the World: A Multicultural Event For the Whole Family

This first-ever multicultural event was held on October 1 at RiverWoods, Marlow Hall, Lewisburg. It was free and open to the public. A large room was divided into continents. Each continent area held displays, artifacts, food samples, and crafts from various cultures. Additionally, there were games, a storytelling tent sporting stories from around the world, a "religions" section, and a "garden table" highlighting the beauty of diversity. Shoba Kumar, a resident of Selinsgrove, performed classical Indian dance. The River Road Whistlepigs played international music. The Susquehanna Valley International Folk Dancers taught us dances from around the world. Approximately 100 people attended this event.

October, 2005
Peace and Justice Festival (co-sponsor)

CARE marched in the Peace and Justice Festival held annually with Bucknell University. Featured speaker was Floyd Cochran, previous member of the Aryan Nation turned human rights activist.

August, 2005
Diversity Picnic

Our annual diversity picnic was held at St. Mary's Park in Lewisburg. While those attending enjoyed good food and fellowship, attendance was poor. Causes were identified and rectified for future programming.

July, 2005
Annual Meeting

Our annual meeting was held at Peking Garden Restaurant in Lewisburg. A presentation was offered by Lois Passi in which we began to explore the possibility of establishing a board of directors in the future. We also discussed the possibility of an expanded development program.