Panel calls on C.R. African American community to take action

CEDAR RAPIDS - When asked ‘what are the biggest issues currently facing the Cedar Rapids African-American community?' Denise Bridges had a long list to go through.

The prevention specialist with the Area Substance Abuse Council gave a lengthy description to attendees during a panel discussion Saturday at the African-American Museum of Iowa on the state of the local African-American community.

Drugs, poverty, homelessness, housing, education, gangs, unemployment, aggressiveness, poor communication and depression were all listed as factors afflicting the community.

“We have to do something,” she said.“We all have to work together.”

The need for action was a common theme throughout the discussion, sponsored by the African American Family Preservation and Resource Committee, which brought together eight African-American leaders from different parts of the city. Participant backgrounds were varied, ranging from the law to education to religion.

Organizers wanted to bring together a broad variety of community pillars in the hope of starting a dialogue among people who might not normally talk to each other on a daily basis, said Vickie Clark, the administrative coordinator for the AAFPRC.

“This is the second year we've done this and it really warrants being done because it brings these people together who normally don't come together very often,” she said.

While many subjects were discussed during the course of the two-hour panel, one subject participants continually returned to was how to keep youth away from destructive activities and focused on education.

The importance of role models and reaching out to kids was especially highlighted. Aaron Green, director of equity for the Cedar Rapids School District, called on attendees to become more familiar with how the school system works, regardless of whether they personally have children currently in the district.

“The system wasn't designed for all kids, so don't think they're going to get through without assistance. If you allow the school to dictate how things are, you're being left out. Parents and the community have to be aware,” he said.

The AAFRPC is assembling a youth summit to try and get more young people involved in constructive activities. Many panelists expressed frustration that government institutions, both in Iowa and across the country, continue to antagonize African-Americans.

Sharon Hallstoos, a local family attorney, spoke of difficulties her clients had when working with the Department of Human Services, while Chad Simmons, the executive director of Diversity Focus, shared a story of being stopped by local police to search his car for drugs when he was going six miles over the speed limit.

“Let's get rid of the excuses,” he said. “The way your procedures are set up are causing people to not want to live here.”

Along the same lines, several panelists led a discussion of the book “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander, which covers ways the war on drugs has hurt African Americans.

Despite the challenges, panelists were encouraged to see people getting fired up to confront the problems facing the local population.

“We have to be committed and understand that it's not going to be easy, but it is definitely doable,” Clark said.