8/31/10

Tune Into WURD To The Thera Martin Connelly Show Sunday September 5, 2010,  At 12:30 To Hear More About THE FREE HEALTH AND WELLNESS FAIR and To Hear About And Remember Father Paul Washington. Christine Washington, The Wife Of Father Paul Will Give Us All An Inside Look At The Miraculous Life Of Father Paul.

* NEWEST PARTNER - DENTEX DENTAL MOBIL ( We accept - Government insurances: Access, Health Partners, Americhoice, Bravo Silver, Keystone Mercy, Aetna Better Health, and all Medicare and Medicaid
insurances. We do not accept cash or private insurances. We also do not perform any treatments for free.)

8/30/10

* LIVE BROADCAST FROM WURD

* FREE FOOD * LINE DANCING (11am - 12 noon)

* MARTIAL ARTS SELF DEFENSE (1 pm - 2pm)

AWARDS AND COMMENTS
Ann Guise and The Bright Lights
State Senator Shirley Kitchen
Sarah Glover - Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists
Pam Africa
Weekend of Peace
Father Paul Washington Community Committee

SONIA’S BIO
Poet, Mother, Professor, National and International Lecturer on Black Culture and Literature, Women’s Liberation, Peace and Racial Justice, Sponsor of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Board Member of MADRE. Sonia Sanchez is the author of over 16 books including, Homecoming, We BaddDDD People, Love Poems, I’ve Been a Woman, A Sound Investment and Other Stories, Homegirls and Handgranades, Under A Soprano Sky, Wounded In The House of a Friend (Beacon Press, 1998), and the most recent Shake Loose My Skin (Beacon Press, 1999). In addition to being a contributing editor to The Black Scholar and the Journal of African Studies, she has edited an anthology We Be Bad Sorcerers: 25 Stories by Black Americans, BMa: The Sonia Sanchez Library Review, is the first African American Journal that discusses the work of Sonia Sanchez and the Black Arts Movement. A recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts the Lucretia Mott Award for 1984, the Outstanding Arts Award from the Pennsylvania Coalition of Black Women, the Community Service Award from the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, she is a winner of the 1985 American Book Award for Homegirls and Handgrenades, the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Humanities for 1988, The Peace and Freedom Award from Women International League for Peace and Freedom (W.I.L.P.F.) for 1989, a PEW Fellowship in the arts for 1992 - 1993 and the recipient of the Langston Hughes Poetry Award for 1999. Does Your House Have Lions? was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. She is the Poetry Society of America’s 2001 Robert Frost Medalist and a Ford Freedom Scholar from Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Her poetry also appeared in the movie Love Jones. Sonia Sanchez has lectured at over 500 universities and colleges in the United States and has traveled extensively, reading her poetry in Africa, Cuba, England, the Caribbean, Australia, Europe, Nicaragua, the People’s Republic of China, Norway, and Canada. She was the first Presidential Fellow at Temple University and she held the Laura Carnell Chair in English at Temple University. She is the recipient of the Harper Lee Award, 2004, Alabama Distinguished Writer, and the National Visionary Leadership Award for 2006. She is the recipient of the 2005 Leeway Foundation Transformational Award. Currently Sonia Sanchez in one of 20 African American women featured in “Freedom Sisters,” an interactive exhibition created by the Cincinnati Museum Center and Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition and was the Robert Creely Award for 2009.

The event turned out to be a “spiritual moment” in our lives.
Odean Pope with his orchestra/band did a special tribute, thirteen year old Autum Ashanté was beyond her years with her prophetic words of wisdom, the awards bestowed upon our sister were from the heart. When the event was over we all were different and changed spiritually. it was a once in a lifetime and I feel sorry for those who didn’t make it.

THE FRESH GROCER
FAMILY PLANNING COUNCIL
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
PHILADELPHIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
HEALTHY PHILADELPHIA
TEMPLE HEALTH CONNECTION
AMERICORPS VISTA/THE HEALTH FEDERATION OF PHILADELPHIA
POINT MAN INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES
MOMS AGAINST GUNS
WOMEN AGAINST ABUSE
SAINT ELIZABETH’S COMMUNITY CENTER, PROJECT H.O.M.E.
FRIENDS HOSPICE
CHURCH OF THE ADVOCATE
FR.PAUL WASHINGTON COMMUNITY COMMITTEE
PHILADELPHIA FIRE DEPARTMENT
PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
GLOBAL CITIZEN
MOTHERS IN CHARGE
YOUTH EMERGENCY SERVICE
ZHANG SAH MARTIAL ARTS
SUSAN G. KOMAN FOR THE CURE
TEMPLE FAMILY PLANNING VONDA PEARSON - LINE DANCING AS EXERCISE                                                                                     DENTEX - DENTAL MOBILE ( We accept - Government insurances: Access, Health Partners, Americhoice, Bravo Silver, Keystone Mercy, Aetna Better Health, and all Medicare and Medicaid insurances. We do not accept cash or private insurances. We also do not perform any treatments for free.)

September 11, 2010
10am - 4pm
Church of the Advocate
18th & Father Paul Washington Avenue (AKA Diamond Street)

WHO IS INVITED: anyone who needs health care and anyone who has health issues or concerns
SERVICES: Mammogram Screenings (off-site), High Blood and at risk Stroke Screenings, Diabetes Screenings, HIV/AIDS, STD’s Screenings, Dental Screenings and Eye care exams. Health Information will be provided by Health Care and Peace Organization Vendors.

COST: FREE
RAIN DATE: Sunday September 12 (Same time and location)

Follow up and After care provided
Karate (self defense class) and Youth African Dance (as exercise)
Light Refreshments

We will deliver flyers and posters for those who wish to display or distribute, contact Michael Washington 484-680-0099.
Check fatherpaulwashington.com for the latest information, updates and partners (under repair but will be available August 19, 2010).

We welcome all but are not limited to doctors, nurses, health care professionals and health care services, we welcome all health care organizations and peace groups to set up tables and provide information to our communities.
To volunteer or to participate, please call Kemah C. Washington 484-432-1242
we need your help to make this event a much needed success.

thanks,
Kemah.

The mission of Mothers In Charge is violence prevention, education and intervention for youth, young adults, families and community organizations. In addition, Mothers In Charge works with elected officials on legislation to support safe neighborhoods and communities for children and families and collaborates with community and faith based organizations.
Mothers In Charge will advocate for families affected by violence and provide counselling and grief support services for families when a loved one has been murdered.

SIXTH ANNUAL WEEKEND OF PEACE

PRESENTS

A JAZZ AND SPOKEN WORD CONCERT

JULY 18th

FROM 2PM-8PM

NON-STOP MUSIC, POETRY, AND SPOKEN WORD FOR ALL AGES!

AT

CHURCH OF THE ADVOCATE

18^TH FATHER PAUL WASHINGTON AVE (AKA DIAMOND STREET)

TO BENEFIT

THE WEEKEND OF PEACE

FRIDAY, JULY 31 TO SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2009

MINIMUM FIVE DOLLAR PEACE OFFERING

(UNDER 10 YRS, ADMISSION FREE WITH GUARDIAN)

FEATURING:

SONIA SANCEHZ-SHYSTER-TRIMICKA “MECCA” CRUMP-GOLDII, JADE & ICE-TIFFANI DEAN-COMMUSICATION JAZZ BAND-BERNARD COLLINS-SWAYYAH-MONICA McINTYRE-BARBARA MONTGOMERY-TANNIKA CHARAE-HARAMBEE WORLD AFRICAN CULTURAL DRUM & DANCE ENSEMBLE-STEPHANIE RENEE McNEAL-JAN JEFFRIES-MARCY FRANCIS-THE’ONE SUN’LION RA-QUEENZY LUV-SHAYNA SHENESS ISRAELl-DAMIN MILEY-VENDORS-SUPRISE GUEST

AND MORE…

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT THE WEEKEND OF PEACE BENEFIT COMMITTEE: TRIMICKA  “MECCA” CRUMP  267-979-7182   –   BARBARA  MONTGOMERY  484-431-7474 - KEMAH   WASHINGTON  484-432-1242

TO SEE LINEUP GO TO WWW.FATHERPAULWASHINGTON.COM

TRIAL POINTS

Your Honor, Being arrested January was never my intention. I did not go to be a nuisance nor did go to engage in any tumultuous behavior but I hear the cries from our children and knew I had to react to their cries, I knew I had to stand up and be a voice for those who have been killed or maimed by gun violence.

There were 12 of us who were arrested, that number has a special significance to us and to all religious people. There were 12 before us who also answered the call, “Whom shall I send, who will go for us?” Each of us answered just as Isaiah did, “here I am, send me.” So we are not unlike the body of 12 that served our Lord. We are here today because we serve our Lord and have been obedient to His will.

This day is very dear to me. It is my dad’s birthday; he would have been 88 this day. My Dad was Father Paul Washington. I could talk about his service to the community and to all of humankind but I only have a few minutes to try to convey to you my journey to Colosimo’s gun shop. I will simply say that he loved life, he loved everyone unconditionally and he loved the Lord. He never turned his back on anyone, he helped anyone and everyone. One person commented to me, “I heard your Dad speak once and when I did I heard the voice of God. What a man of extreme decency.” Chuck Stone a former Tuskegee Airman, an accomplished journalist from the Philadelphia Daily News, one whom 75 people surrendered to rather than to the police said, “To Fr. Paul Washington, the world will always be his pasture. As one of his sheep, I will be forever grateful for his gift of love that summoned me to a renewal of my life.”

My life was nurtured by his passion to help and guide those who were lost and broken, my principles were shaped by his love and compassion to those “other sheep,” the ones who society shuns and looks down on. I myself have served our community since I was a teenager. I was blessed by God because he has given to me that same compassionate heart and soul. It is a gift from God and am so very indebted to Him for the compassion that resides in me. Like all other blessings there are always two sides, the other cries out when a child is murdered or a mother is shot and killed. My soul weeps when I see the lives of innocent young adults being snatched away, it weeps when I see those who have been maimed, paralyzed, those who are now vegetables because of gun violence . When my soul is troubled like this it is then that what I am doing is reaffirmed.

I talk to a lot of young adults just to trying to encourage them, to see how they are, to see how much pain they are in. I talked with one young lady who was getting ready to graduate from high school. I asked her if she was going to college. She said no, I’m going into the service. Now I think serving one’s country is gallantry at its finest but I had to know why. We talked about the war in Iraq and I asked her, aren’t you worried that you might get killed? She replied, “I’d rather die there than die in the streets.” I talked with another young man who said he lost ten of his friends to gun violence and one died in his arms. I asked another young man who was on a path to destruction why, why do you do these things? He said, I probably won’t live to see 25 anyway, I’m having my fun now. When I hear their stories and feel the pain they are in, my soul tells me not only that it’s right to do something about gun violence but it tells me I must do something about gun violence.

Fr. Miller, my brother and I had been involved with many anti-violence and anti handgun events and programs, so when he said there was an interfaith group who wanted to address gun violence we jumped on board and joined Heeding God’s Call. After many meetings we decided that we should rally around some important issue, one that would help to change one or some of the elements that lead to gun violence. We decided to look at gun shops and the Responsible Retailer Partnership Agreement. After some research we were led to Colosimo’s Gun shop. We met with Mr. Colosimo and asked him to sign the agreement and he refused. We marched to Colosimo and asked him again, he yet again refused and that led us to be arrested and led us to this day.

Your Honor…you, our police officers, our religious leaders and everybody else here all seek and pray for the same things; peace, love, understanding and an end to the mindless gun violence that is tearing apart our families, our lives, our communities and our nation.

Gun violence is a battle that I will continue to fight and I pray all of us, our politicians, our law enforcement officials, our neighbors and yes, Mr. Colosimo included can all work together to put an end to gun violence.

Kemah