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September 18, 2006 —
Rome wasn't built in a day and according to Judge Darnell Jackson, neither are bridges.
This reference to efforts to bridge the gap between races was one of the pillars of Jackson's speech during The Bridge Center for Racial Harmony's annual meeting held in Curtiss Hall last Thursday.
Jackson, a board member of the organization, added the group's mission of achieving racial and ethnic harmony remains the same because the need still exists. This point was reinforced by the evening's main attraction, "Race," a one-act play directed by SVSU professor Ric Roberts.
Starring Prince Robertson, Mat Easterwood, Rementa Doyle, and Maria Provenzano, the show was performed in the intimate Black Box Theatre and delved into the issue of race through a series of racially-driven scenarios. These included several real-life occurrences, like the story of Emmett Till, an African-American teenager who was brutally murdered by a pair of Mississippi men in 1955. The play was a first in The Bridge Center's history of annual meetings, but delivered a message so in-sync with the group's core values it was only fitting it be a part of the program.
Founded in April 1995 by several individuals and organizations in greater Saginaw, The Center was initially administered by the Saginaw Community Foundation and the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Since its inception, the group has grown to include approximately 30 board members and has developed several programs available to the community.
"This program works because it is one of tolerance, not intolerance," said Jackson. "Because of this program, I've seen barriers broken down and friendships forged."
Although the programs offered by The Bridge Center are for all interested parties, there's a heavy emphasis on the younger generation. Board member Rehana Khan-Brown stressed the importance of passing the goal of racial harmony on to the youth: "I feel it's our obligation to pass the message of racial harmony to the youth," said Khan-Brown. "We aren't going to be here forever, so it's important we get that message across to them."SVSU is doing its part in connection to The Bridge Center to see this realized.
In May of 2005, SVSU President Gilbertson pledged the University's support to the group.One by-product of this support has been the Saginaw County Youth Leadership Institute.In its second year of existence, the program provides the opportunity for selected junior and senior leaders from diverse communities in Saginaw County.
The group meets on campus throughout the school year for training sessions that culminate with a service project entirely organized by the Institute's participants.
Special Assistant to the President for Diversity Programs, Dr. Mamie Thorns, who is heavily involved in both The Bridge Center and Youth Leadership Institute, believes the two programs go hand-in-hand, raising racial awareness and working to understand other races and cultures.
"Racism still exists in the community and world and we think it's important we have a better understanding of one another," Thorns said. The quest for racial harmony has naturally proven to be a difficult endeavor, but The Bridge Center isn't backing down from.
Jackson reminded the audience they "won't step off the line if you don't step away from us.”