'Lifting as We Climb' hosted by IPFW

Courtesy of Ruby Cain

FORT WAYNE-Indiana University- Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), Northeast Indiana Area Health Education Center (NEI-AHEC) and the IPFW Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs hosted the FUN Breakfast on March 7. The topic of was "Lifting As We Climb: The History of African-American Organizations, Nationally and Locally."

FUN meets every first Friday, 8 a.m. at Link's Wonderland, 1711 East Creighton Ave.

Patrick Ashton, IPFW associate professor of sociology, discussed the historical perspective, as well as, the dual agenda prevalent in most African American organizations. He shared the little known facts regarding the organizing of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Bayard Rustin and Asa Philip Randolph, the organizers of the March on Washington-often attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Joan Baines, Health Visions of Fort Wayne program manager, discussed the National Federation of Colored Women, formed more than 100 years ago. Fort Wayne has two chapters and Joan served as the Indiana state president. Baines also shared the history of The National Bowling Association (formerly Negro Bowling Association). This organization was formed in 1939 when African Americans and other populations of color were barred from membership in ABC (American Bowling Congress) and WIBC (Women's International Bowling Congress). ABC and WIBC removed the restrictive clauses in 1950. TNBA has always been inclusive of all races/ethnicities.

Stella Goodman, president of Zeta Eta Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, shared the history of this African American nursing organization. Locally, Chi Eta Phi is active in health screenings, promotion and education.

Rufus Hamilton and Carol Cartwright provided an overview of the Fort Wayne Urban League. In 1920, a group of African Americans formed the Fort Wayne Community Association to assist in the transition of those moving to Fort Wayne from the south. They called their home the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center. The purpose was recreation and social. As the focus moved to economic empowerment, in 1949 the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center disbanded and the association became known as the Fort Wayne Urban League. Today, the Urban League's focus is on education, economic empowerment, and civil rights.

Other organizations to be highlighted at future meetings include the A. Philip Randolph Institute, Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, Inc., Fort Wayne Urban League and The Links, Incorporated.

Mary Simpson, founding member of Fort Wayne's Eta Upsilon Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority also gave a presentation. With more than 32 years of service to the Fort Wayne area, their founding principles are Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love and Finer Womanhood. The organization provides scholarships and has programs addressing the health issues prevalent in the African American community.

William Klemme, retired from IPFW, discussed the Workers Project. This program supported by the Central Labor Council, assists employees, not protected by collective bargaining agreements, in understanding and exercising their rights, as it relates to fair labor practices.

Ruby Cain, director of IPFW Northeast Indiana Area Health Education Center, relayed the history of The Links Incorporated. In 1975 Arbelia Epps, Mamie Smith and others formed the local chapter. Internationally, the organization has built three schools in South Africa. The focus is on friendship and community service in the facets of international trends, national trends, youth and the arts.

This is part of the March 26, 2008 online edition of Frost Illustrated.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you. Click here.