Text only

POWER holds strength in black history, minority future

 By Ted Troupis

Stopping racism, name-calling, stereotyping and ending all prejudices is the focus of the IVCC student organization POWER, which stands for People of the World End Racism.

According to advisor Kim Abel, the organization is still going strong after more than nine years of spreading their message of tolerance.

At this time, about 10 active members in the group have taken on the task of presenting proper attitudes concerning racial equality and tolerance to grade school and high school students in the area. At the high school level, tolerance toward the gay lifestyle is also addresses in an effort to alleviate fears and help bring an end of homophobia.

During the fall semester, POWER members reached an estimated 350 students from the fourth grade up.

"I think these students did a great job," Abel said. "Their message is very well received by the students, and we have been invited back to each school."

In their presentations, the IVCC students use an informal question and answer format seeking to involve the young students in the audience. Demonstrating examples of negative attitudes that lead to hurt feelings or fear, the IVCC group then provides the facts and demonstrates by example the words, behaviors and new attitudes that are positive.

"The school children they visit seem to relate comfortably with my POWER students," Abel said. "I think because of the relative closeness in age to their target audience, the group is able to get their message across.

"If the same message was delivered by me or a set of middle-aged educators, I am sure we would not be nearly as effective in communicating these important messages," she said.

Vice president Lori Mavity has found personal rewards in her participation: "Being in POWER has been not only a learning experience, but a personal growth experience as well. It is rewarding to know that we are accomplishing something to help society put an end to all types of intolerance, injustice and racial hatred."

Abel also finds her association with the POWER members rewarding: "It is remarkable in my years of working with student groups to have this kind of commitment, and I want to praise them in a very public way."

In observance of Black History Month, POWER and the Student Government Association are co-sponsoring a performance of Adawee, a group of black women percussionists, on Feb. 27 in the Cultural Centre.

On March 28, POWER members will participate in a discussion with Dr. Carl A. Grant, an authority on diversity and human rights issues. Grant will be on campus to talk with various members of the campus community about multicultural education.

The POWER group’s next off campus presentation will be March 9 at LaSalle-Peru High School to the freshman health classes.

The advisor invited students interested in helping to spread the message of tolerance to contact her or any POWER members. POWER also accepts monetary donations, which are used to buy necessities and gifts for needy children, Abel said.