Getting ready for Christmas

I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping. Giving is the best part of the holiday season. In addition to getting my husband and children their special requests for Christmas, I'm also trying to get the little ones to understand why we celebrate Christmas. I challenge everyone to celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas season. We can do this by donating to charities, visiting nursing homes and helping others. It doesn't have to be on a grand scale. By just helping one person, you make a difference in one life!

Church swap discussion at Fred Batts Leadership Luncheon - Monday

Fred Batts Leadership Luncheon – December 20, 2010

I will join Ramona Curtis, Director for Leader Development & Civic Engagement at Baylor University, and Jo Welter, Immediate Past President of the Community Race Relations Coalition, as keynote speakers at the Fred Batts Leadership Luncheon. We will discuss, “A Grassroots Effort to Dismantle the Most Segregated Hour in America" at noon on Monday, December 20, at the Bledsoe Miller Recreation Center, 300 Martin Luther King Blvd.


Curtis hopes to help dismantle what Martin Luther King, Jr. called “America’s most segregated hour” -- the 11 a.m. hour on Sunday morning when people go to church.


“Our world is growing more and more diverse,” Curtis said, “I’ve never understood why we are so segregated during that 11:00 hour on Sunday morning.”


Church Swap participants will document their journeys via video interviews, a personal blog and Facebook posts. They will also read Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America and United by Faith: The Multiracial Congregation As an Answer to the Problem of Race.


After two months, they will return to their home church where they will spend another two months writing about what they have learned. Using this information, project managers will produce a research paper, a Web site, a video documentary and a research paper detailing their experiences.


Curtis who grew up in a predominantly black church made the switch several years ago, and she is glad she did.


“I have grown tremendously as person because of my open-mindedness,” she said, “I am challenged to be able to be comfortable and see people as people and not the color of their skin.”


A $10,000 grant from the Kellogg Foundation’s Racial Healing Initiative allowed Curtis and the Community Race Relations Coalition to challenge the segregation stronghold.  Jo Welter, owner of the community Race Coalition, helped secure funding for the project.

 Lunch (optional) will be available for $5.00.The weekly event aims to help Waco residents stay familiar with and abreast of the people and issues that affect  communities.

Insana Quotient Interview: “Barack Obama: Campaigning while Allegedly Muslim”

Insana Quotient Interview: “Barack Obama: Campaigning while Allegedly Muslim"

Ron Insana interviewed me yesterday about my research on Barack Obama. 

Here is a link to the interview. 

http://www.roninsanashow.com/programhighlights?date=20101215

I am featured toward the end of his broadcast.

While our findings are not surprising, there are two points worth noting:

1. People have so fused Muslims with evil, President Obama’s opponents tried to bring him down by saying he was Muslim. This was possible because the media has created the impression that being an Arab or a Muslim (they are not synonymous) automatically is "a sinister accusation." Rarely did the news media ask the "So what?" question, which would clarify that even if Obama were a Muslim, it would not influence his qualifications to be president. Christians have made lousy leaders.

2. The rumor mill is more powerful than it has ever been, and it will undoubtedly increase in strength as people continue to use the Web to spread gossip and rumors. The rumor that Obama is Muslim began with a chain e-mail when he was running for president, and it still persists. Many intelligent people swear by it. This  trend will undoubtedly gain momentum in future elections.

“Barack Hussein Obama: Campaigning While (Allegedly) Muslim”

Newswise — Despite reporters’ goal of objectivity, some broadcast accounts and articles about rumors that President Barack Obama is Muslim suggest that being an Arab or a Muslim automatically is “a sinister accusation,” according to a study by Baylor University researchers published online in the American Communication Journal.
The article — “Barack Hussein Obama: Campaigning While (Allegedly) Muslim” — was written by Dr. Mia Moody, an assistant professor of journalism and media arts at Baylor University, and Aisha Tariq of Houston, who earned a master’s degree in international journalism from Baylor in May 2010.
The two did textual analyses of three articles from key sources — Insight online magazine, The Washington Post and an article posted on Obama’s website and also published in the Los Angeles Times — and also reviewed six broadcast transcripts from Fox News and CNN.
Moody and Tariq found that members of the media have reinforced public animosity toward Arabs and Muslims, in part by fusing Arab ethnicity, Islamic faith and terrorism post-Sept. 11, 2001.
They examined news coverage between Jan. 17, 2007 (when Insight online magazine broke a story about rumors that Obama was Muslim in an article headlined “Hillary’s team has questions about Obama’s Muslim background”) through Election Day, Nov. 5, 2008.
Textual analysis often looks at culture as a narrative in which those who produce texts or “cultural artifacts” — such as a pop song, magazine article or television program — either consciously or unconsciously link themselves to larger issues in society. Media framing is the way reporters portray news, including determining what is newsworthy, what can be taken for granted and how that influences audience perception.
A crucial finding by Moody and Tariq was that all of the stories — which were intended to convey, counter or consider that rumors that Obama is a Muslim — ignored the issue of whether accusations or defenses demonstrated hostility towards Muslims and Arabs.
Some framing tactics included use of Arabic words, highlighting parts of Obama’s biography that seemed foreign and concealing information, Moody and Tariq wrote. For example, some pundits referred to Obama’s middle name “Hussein;” one article never stated that Obama is Christian but rather stressed that he attended a Church of Christ but “is not known to be a regular parishioner.”
While rumors initially spread via Internet and word of mouth, the article that “broke” the story was Insight online magazine’s report that a campaign staffer of American presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton had leaked a report to an Insight reporter. The report said that Obama had attended “a so-called Madrassa, or Muslim seminary" during his childhood in Indonesia. The article said the Clinton campaign planned to use this against him in the primary campaign.
The story then was covered by Obama’s website and in The Washington Post.
Subsequent coverage by Fox and CNN examined (1) the revelation that Obama had attended an Islamic school; (2) the removal of women wearing Islamic headscarves from a visible position behind then-Sen. Obama during a rally; and (3) the publication of The New Yorker magazine cover with a satirical cartoon of Obama dressed in traditional Muslim clothes, among them a turban.

Church Swap

Tyrone Smith pictured with Director, Romana Curtis

and Administrative Assistant, Melinda Blomquist of

the Academy for Leader Development & Civic Engagement

I am excited to work on a new, worthwhile project with long-time friend and colleague, Ramona Curtis, director of Baylor University’s Academy and Leadership Development. The project titled "Grassroots Approach to Dismantling the Most Segregated Hour in America," will document what happens when participants of various races switch churches for two months with a person of another race.  

Curtis’ goal is to dismantle what Martin Luther King, Jr. called “America’s most segregated hour” -- the 11:00 hour on Sunday morning when people go to church.

“Our world is growing more and more diverse,” said Curtis, “I’ve never understood why we are so segregated during that 11:00 hour on Sunday morning.”

Participants will read Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America by Michael Emerson, and United by Faith: The Multiracial Congregation as an Answer to the Problem of Race

After two months, they will return to their home church where they will spend another two months writing about what they have learned. Using this information, project managers will produce a research paper, Web site, a video documentary, and a research paper detailing their experiences.

Curtis says going to a church that is predominantly white has helped her to see things differently.

“I think they will gain a lot based on my experiences. I have grown tremendously because of my open-mindedness,” she said, “I am challenged to be able to be comfortable and see people as people and not the color of their skin.”

A $10,000 grant from the Kellogg Foundation’s Racial Healing Initiative allowed Curtis and the Community Race Relations Coalition to challenge the segregation stronghold.  Jo Welter, owner of Persnickety Tim's and member of the community Race Coalition, helped secure funding for the project.

The ultimate goal of the initiative is to encourage people to think more critically about racial divisions, and to look for ways to create partnerships and open a dialogue. If participating churches become multiracial as a result, that will be “icing on the cake."

Curtis also hopes the project will yield a tool kit for other organizations.  For example, historically black universities may exchange students with predominantly white ones.

“This will definitely provide an interesting, educational exchange,” she said. “We will document our experiences and provide guidelines for other organizations.”

I will help document their journeys via video interviews, a personal blog and Facebook posts.
The results should be very interesting. Stay tuned.
For more information, visit: http://newamericamedia.org/2010/05/kellogg-foundation-awards-75m-anti-racism-grant.php

Winners of this year’s OurBlook PR Campaign Design Contest

Winners of this year’s OurBlook PR Campaign Design Contest were Baylor seniors, Amber Rice, Mandy Power, Jessica Mejia and Olga Ball.  The team designed the best PR-social media strategy for the OurBlook.com Journalism Resource Center, which will debut later this year.

Sandy Ordonez, a digital specialist with OurBlook.com, said OurBlook representatives had a difficult time selecting a winner.

“To say that the class did an amazing job is an understatement,” Ordonez said. “I was floored by the thoughtful, careful, and creative PR plans presented to the OurBlook team. They were similar to those that we have paid top dollar for professionals to create.”

Ordonez said the winning team’s plan was the most cutting-edge and creative. Additionally, it fostered a good balance between traditional and online PR.

“Their presentation was spectacular and reflected their skills, creativity and understanding of the Web,” she said. “They helped me visualize what the online campaign would look and feel like. They pushed the envelope while still maintaining a solid foundation.”

Five teams participated in the contest as part of the OurBlook's University Partnership Program, which partners with universities to help professors and students integrate new media resources into projects. Second-place went to Baylor seniors, Brittany Black, Ashley Morris, Felicia Wong and Erica Johasky.

Ordonez invited Dr. Mia Moody’s PR Programming students to participate in the pilot program after Moody wrote a column for OurBlook’s social media section. Moody, an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Arts at Baylor University, will share ideas and exercises with other faculty members in the spring. She said the partnership was beneficial to everyone who participated.

“The industry is changing so rapidly professors must use every resource available to stay current,” Moody said. “Students were able to take social networking to the next level and add a variety of aspects to PR campaigns that we never considered before.”

OurBlook.com is a philanthropic organization created and used by academics, public policy officials and journalists. Visit the OurBlook Web site at http://www.ourblook.com

The Waco Chapter of The Links, Inc. Holds Successful Santa’s Workshop

The Waco Chapter of The Links, Inc. Holds Successful Santa’s Workshop

 

The Waco Chapter of The Links, Inc. held its annual Santa’s workshop Dec. 4 at the Phoenix Ballroom. The event was even more successful this year than ever before with more than 150 participants, including children of all ages and their parents.

Links leaders decided to offer the workshop as an outreach project.

“We did not charge an admission fee this year because we wanted every child in the community to participate,” said Links President Josette Ayres. “Previously we’ve charged more than $25. I thought it was well worth the sacrifice.”

The workshop included refreshments, pictures with Santa, storytelling and crafts. It was funded through generous donations from Wal-Mart, Waco Art Center, Oakbrook Farms, and Mars Chocolate.

“We would not have been able to provide such an elaborate event free to the community without our generous sponsors,” said Sonya Todd, this year’s chair. “Activities included a wonderfully, elaborate gingerbread house, Christmas card making and cup cake decorating.”

The event organizers believe children from all walks of life benefited from the festive occasion.

“It really touched my heart to see the excitement in their faces when they saw rows and rows of gingerbread houses and cupcakes,” said Vashon Sutherland, Waco Links PR chair. “Many said they had never had the opportunity to see a real gingerbread house before. It almost makes you want to cry.”

The Links, Inc. founded in 1946, is one of the oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the culture and economic survival of African Americans and other persons of African ancestry.  The Waco Chapter of the Links, Inc, was founded in 1974 and is proud to be a contributing member of the Central Texas community.

Church Swap, Waco, Texas

What might happen if a congregant of an all-black church switches places with a congregant of an all-white one?

Ramona Curtis, director of Baylor University’s Academy and Leadership Development, will find out through a project called "Grassroots Approach to Dismantling the Most Segregated Hour in America."

Curtis hopes to help dismantle what Martin Luther King, Jr. called “America’s most segregated hour” -- the 11 a.m. hour on Sunday morning when people go to church.

“Our world is growing more and more diverse,” Curtis said, “I’ve never understood why we are so segregated during that 11:00 hour on Sunday morning.”

Participants will document their journeys via video interviews, a personal blog and Facebook posts. They will also read Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America and United by Faith: The Multiracial Congregation As an Answer to the Problem of Race.

After two months, they will return to their home church where they will spend another two months writing about what they have learned. Using this information, project managers will produce a research paper, a Web site, a video documentary and a research paper detailing their experiences.

Curtis who grew up in a predominantly black church made the switch several years ago, and she is glad she did.

“I have grown tremendously as person because of my open-mindedness,” she said, “I am challenged to be able to be comfortable and see people as people and not the color of their skin.”

A $10,000 grant from the Kellogg Foundation’s Racial Healing Initiative allowed Curtis and the Community Race Relations Coalition to challenge the segregation stronghold.  Jo Welter, owner of the community Race Coalition, helped secure funding for the project.

Welter said the ultimate goal of the initiative is to encourage people to think more critically about racial divisions, and to look for ways to create partnerships and open a dialogue. If participating churches become multiracial as a result, that will be “icing on the cake,” she said.

Curtis hopes the project will yield a tool kit for other organizations.  For example, historically black universities may exchange students with predominantly white ones.

“This will definitely provide an interesting, educational exchange,” she said. “We will document our experiences and provide guidelines for other organizations.”

The results should be very interesting. Stay tuned. I will blog about our journey!