Walk for CommUNITY Fosters Friendship
Last updated Friday, November 14, 2008 10:29 PM CST in Our Town
By Bettina Lehovec
THE MORNING NEWS
Just Communities held its sixth annual Walk for CommUNITY in downtown Fayetteville on Nov. 9.
A throng of 200 paraded from the Fayetteville Town Center to Dickson Street and back. Their message? That cultural diversity enriches the community and that it benefits all to build bridges of understanding and respect.
“The walk is an opportunity to bring people together, to talk about what is happening in our community, to fellowship,” said executive director Ana Hart. “It’s an opportunity to learn about other cultures, other components of the community that are not otherwise experienced.”
Belly dancing at the start of the program and step dancing at the end opened eyes to different forms of entertainment, Hart said. A community prayer led by representatives of various faiths joined hearts toward a common goal.
Walk teams represented area businesses, schools, sports teams and families. The Arkansas Wizards, a Springdale-based soccer league, won the Spirit Award for its enthusiastic support. Approximately 80 people walked with the team, from little children to grandparents, Hart said.
Allyn Lord, executive director of The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History in Springdale, received the Al Lopez Community Ambassador Award for 2008. The award recognizes a community member who exhibits a consistent ethic of inclusivity and respect.
Lord has done that in her work at the museum and in the community at large, Hart said.
The walk raised about $2,500 to help with Just Communities programming, Hart said. Programs emphasize cultural awareness and diversity leadership training for youth and adults. More than 500 adults took part in eight different training programs this year, Hart said. Nearly 500 youth in 14 schools went through a training geared to their needs and age level.
The trainings and related programs help build a culture of inclusivity in Northwest Arkansas, said Bruce Gillispie, chairman of the Pride Resource Group at Wal-Mart Stores.
“Their focus on education and building coalitions between diverse groups of people and backgrounds lines up with our core values,” he said. “We see the need and certainly see the benefit if we can eliminate bias and bigotry and all the things (Just Communities) works against.”
Just Communities
Mission: To advance diversity, challenge assumptions and advocate for understanding and respect through cultural awareness and diversity education and training.
Information: 927-3055, www.justcommunities-nwa.org
Source: Staff Report
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