Marriage in the Black Community - 4/9/02

Tue Apr 9 17:42:21 EDT 2002

subject: Marriage in the Black Community - 4/9/02

from: Smart Marriages

- African American Marriage Event in Chattanooga
- Marriage in Black Community Luncheon at Heritage: An Invitation

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Here is a press release from Chattanooga's First Things First (FTF). I'm
sharing it to share both the excitement and the model.  Julie Baumgardner,
director of FTF says they already have 260 people registered and can
accommodate 300.  They also already have 40 couples for the Hall of Fame.
Their local paper featured the AAMI on the front page of the Faith and Works
section of the paper - media helps!  - diane
- - - - - - - - - - -  -
N  E  W  S   R  E  L  E  A  S  E
             MARCH 13, 2002 (02-3)
             CONTACT:  HEATHER WILSON  267-5383

AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLES WILL GATHER TO CELEBRATE MARRIAGE

This April the African American community will gather to honor couples who
have been married for a number of years and celebrate their own marriages at
a conference presented by First Things First and The Urban League.

Drs. Clarence and Ja¹Ola Walker from Philadelphia will conduct the two-day
African American Marriage Celebration that will focus on enhancement of and
practical applications toward strengthening marriages. The celebration will
take place April 12-13 at The Bridal Center of Chattanooga.

The Walkers are a couple who minister together teaching Biblical principles
to families, singles and youth. Clarence and Ja¹Ola have been married and
"in love" for more than 20 years.

The conference is for couples who:
- Want to know more about how to honor God in their homes and marriages;
- Want to understand their roles as husbands and wives;
- Want a creative love life; and
- Want spiritual intimacy in their marital relationship.

"Dr. Clarence Walker came to a national conference in Charlotte, NC and he
electrified the place," said Bishop Claudius Pratt from Cathedral of Praise
Church. "To miss he and his wife, Ja¹Ola at this marriage celebration, you
will really have missed a great treat."

The cost of the conference is $25 a couple and is from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
Friday, April 12 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 13.

This initiative came about a year ago as a result of a group of community
leaders who felt that the African American community had distinct marriage
issues that needed to be addressed. The rate of marriage for African
Americans has traditionally been much lower than for Caucasian couples.
Census figures show that 35 percent of Americans between 24 and 34 have
never married. For African Americans that figure is 54 percent. Researchers
have found that African American children are half as likely to live in a
two-parent household as Caucasian children.

Representatives from several local churches and agencies have been meeting
to discuss uniting our efforts to address these staggering statistics
affecting African American families. As a result of these meetings,
committee members have pledged to address the breakdown of the African
American family by strengthening marriages.

Currently the African American Marriage Committee is accepting applications
for couples to be honored in the Marriage Hall of Fame. Couples must have
been married at least 40 years or more to qualify.

This conference is sponsored by First Things First, The Urban League,
Memorial¹s Healthy Community Initiative and The Front Porch Alliance.
Churches supporting the conference include: The Bethlehem Community Church,
Cathedral of Praise, Friendship Community Church, Love Fellowship, New
Covenant Fellowship, Olivet Baptist, River of Life, Rock Island Baptist
Church, Second Missionary Baptist, and Temple of Faith Deliverance COGIC.

For more information on the African American Celebration or to get an
application for the Hall of Fame call First Things First at 267-5383.
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MARRIAGE AND THE BLACK COMMUNITY: LUNCHEON/LECTURE

You Are Cordially Invited To A Lecture

Marriage and the Black Community:
Real Life Stories of Welfare Reform Success
Featuring Robert L. Woodson
President of the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise
(Can be viewed live on the Internet at  http://www.heritage.org/live )

The black family survived slavery, Jim Crow, and the Great Depression, but
it couldn't survive the War on Poverty. Robert L. Woodson will talk about
how past values of the black community that promoted self-sufficiency and
strong, stable families can be restored, and the role that the
President&#8217;s welfare reform initiative can play in this
revitalization. Woodson will bring with him Pastor Shirley Holloway,
founder of a local faith-based program, and two couples who have overcome
tremendous personal challenges, entered into marriage, and are now
counseling others in the community. Woodson and these five individuals met
privately with President George W. Bush immediately before his major speech
Feb. 26 on his welfare reform initiative.

Robert L. Woodson Sr. is the founder and president of the National Center
for Neighborhood Enterprise and the author of The Triumphs of Joseph: How
Today's Community Healers Are Reviving Our Streets and Neighborhoods.

Tuesday, April 16, 200
12:00 noon
Lunch Provide

RSVP Online At <http://www.heritage.org/events> www.heritage.org/events
or Call (202) 675-1752

All events are held in The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium, unless
otherwise noted. The Heritage Foundation | 214 Massachusetts Ave. NE |
Washington DC, 20002

Hosted by: Michael Franc Vice President, Government Relations, The Heritage
Foundation

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