Transcript:US Bahá’í Newsreel/Volume 16/No 3 (Spring 2007)
| Note: the text below this box was generated by a computer and will contain many errors. The computer generated transcript has been added to reduce the work of transcribing the talk, and enable some limited search capability. If you would like to help proofread the transcript you can edit this page and make corrections as you listen. |
Yeah. In the late 18 hundreds, the Baha'i of Iran suffered persecution throughout the nation. Since the inception of this newborn religion. It was seen as a threat to the established system of that country. Many Baha'i were tortured, put to death, their properties, looted, confiscated and destroyed in search of a promise for security of life and property. A few Baha'i wrote baha allah, the prophet founder of their faith and implored his permission to settle in abha, located in Russia. Yeah. By 18 84 the first four Baha'i immigrated to that city and slowly began the process to permanently settle in their new community. The city was nothing more than a clutter of mud huts. Yet for the Baha'i, it was an oasis of peace because for the first time in the short history of their faith, there stood a government that protected their religious rights and gave them the freedom to exercise their faith in the years that followed. There was a steady trickle of Baha'i arriving in Akbad. By 19 oh two, there were approximately 1000 Baha'i living in this new community of Russian Christians, Turkman tribesmen, an E abha Iranian at the close of the first decade of Abdul baha ministry, the son and successor of the prophet founder of the Baha'i Faith Akbad was chosen as the location for the construction of the first Baha'i house of worship unique in their purpose. The Baha'i houses of worship are designed with the intention of serving the social and spiritual needs of their localities. Although they are built and maintained by Baha'i, they are not for Baha'i, the houses of worship are built for the sole purpose of offering humanity regardless of race, culture or religion, a location where all can unite in worship in response to this call. Despite the difficulties that surrounded them, the Baha'i of the East rose up to the challenge with great excitement to give of their means. Haji Mirza Mohammad ya, who had been the Russian consular agent in ya was instructed by Abdul baha to proceed to Akka to supervise the construction. He lived a very simple life but spent much of his wealth towards the completion of this historic edifice. Contributions also came from all over Iran and the rest of the Baha'i world, a Russian official who was in Akbad at the time has recorded in his memoirs, the first official recognition of the Baha'i faith as a legitimate religion by a state. I presented Haji Mirza Mohammed Tahirih to the military governor of Transasia who agreed to lay the cornerstone of the Baha'i Temple. It was an impressive ceremony. This Russian recognition of the Baha'i faith as an established religion at a moment when hundreds of Baha'i were being slaughtered in Persia. A prominent Baha'i at the time who visited the city in 19 oh eight, described his experience as such that, which impressed me more than all else as I stood before. This house of worship was the fact that the Baha'i of the East had all worked with one accord and had given freely towards its erection. The rearing of this temple in the east has been a great source of strength to the Baha'i people around the world for expressing their unity through sacrifice, to build this temple of God. The Baha'i of the orient have become stronger and more united than ever before. Who can estimate the effect that is produced by this building. It is the house of unity open to all peoples. It is a haven of rest to many a soul in many ways. The house of worship in Akbad was unique and ahead of its time. In addition to serving as the spiritual center for the growing Baha'i community in that province, it also became the cornerstone for humanitarian ideas. The building itself was accompanied by a number of subsidiaries such as a hospital, a school and a hostel for travelers. Thus, Akka became in reality as well as in the meaning of its name. The city of love. 100 years have passed since preparations were made to begin construction on the first ever Baha'i house of worship. Since then, this nascent faith has blossomed into a global community. Despite the dangers, it continues to boldly face in the land of its birth. Today, Baha'i around the world are working in the same spirit of sacrifice and unity as their spiritual ancestors to achieve the completion of the last continental house of Worship in Santiago, Chile in New York City, Hariri Panini, the architectural firm of the Chilean Temple was recently honored by its peers at the P awards for their design of the Temple of Light. Within our peer group architects look to who's going to win this year to see where the direction of architecture is going. This is the highest award that you can receive from your peers for a project that hasn't been built. The progressive architecture awards known as the P A awards has had a distinguished history among architects worldwide. The awards have a long history among architects as being sort of the moment of Oscars for architecture and projects that are new and interesting. So we're really happy and we're here to celebrate since the beginning of this project, the Chilean Temple continues to receive positive attention both domestically and internationally. Although there has been much progress with the contributions that have been made towards the construction of the Chilean Temple. Continuous support is necessary to achieve the goals set for April 2008, like the first temple in Akbad, this new temple will realize the same vision, a house of unity open to all peoples and a haven of rest to many a soul. 40. It looks like the right place. This is a story of two individuals. Two Baha'i who are very different people. Despite their backgrounds, they formed a powerful friendship through a commitment to building a diverse and vibrant community in their work together. They benefit from each other's unique skills and passions. Venustiano Holguin has a long history of working with Latinos and promoting social justice. He was raised by parents who emigrated from Mexico to work on farms in Southern California. He and his family experienced mistreatment and poverty common to the migrant farm workers life. When he was in graduate school in the 1960 s, Venustiano met Cesar Chavez, the leader of the United Farm Workers Union, joined the Union and dedicated many years to promoting the rights of farm workers across the country. Mark James was raised by a middle class American family in Billings, Montana. His mother stayed at home to raise Mark and his siblings while his father went to work each day. Mark studied computer science at a university in Montana. That's where he met his wife, Loreen and she introduced him to the Baha'i faith. Mark decided to join the Baha'i community which has inspired him to promote the spiritual progress of humanity. Venustiano discovered the Baha'i faith and joined the Baha'i community in the 19 nineties while he was teaching at a college near San Francisco. I would find people that were really wonderful and very warm, but I didn't see much uh action in terms of changing the world, you know, in terms of, of really grappling with the difficult issues of, of society. The aim of the Baha'i faith is to create the kind of community that Venustiano has always worked for. One that is committed to social justice and the inclusion of all people in society. This commitment is not easy and there are struggles along the way, building a diverse inclusive community he knows will not be an overnight success. And at the heart of my concern here, my concerns here were, was what kind of society am I leaving for my kids? Mark's commitment has led him down a path like Venustiano of inclusiveness, relationship, building and individual action, all of which are essential to community life being a Baha'i trying, you know, praying, trying to deepen ourselves in the running, trying to incorporate, trying to memorize, that's the being part to me. And then the doing part is actually turning that into some action. You actually actually do something to, to further the cause in whatever community you live in. Now, both Venustiano and Mark live in Beaverton, Oregon. Beaverton serves as a center for International Business. A variety of corporate headquarters call it home. Beaverton is a suburb of Portland. It is the fourth largest city in the metropolitan area with a high number of Latinos approximately 11% of the Beaverton population. The Baha'i, there are interested in creating a loving environment for their families and Children. One that includes people of all backgrounds, Mark and Venustiano are both committed to contributing to this kind of community. They've developed the skills that aid them to create deep spiritual bonds with those who cross their path. These skills are enhanced through a Baha'i training program. This training consists of a sequence of courses known as Ruhi. Ruhi empowers people to provide acts of service to those in their lives and the community at large, the moral education of Children and pre youth gatherings for prayer and worship and studying the Baha'i writings are activities that are at the core of Baha'i community life. One of the desired outcomes of getting involved in the process and taking you through recourse is, is hopefully as an individual, you will, you will choose to do something. Mark took the initiative to create an interfaith devotional gathering at the Beaverton Baha'i center on Sundays. The event is attended by people from a variety of cultures and religions. Turns out it actually is the outcome of one of the ruby books. Uh Ruhi, one is to host, host a devotional meeting. I help out uh with devotions on Sundays and then after devotions. So I go to a study circle, a rookie study circle uh with Latinos and it's done in Spanish. And uh it is very, very fulfilling. A few years ago, the Baha'i in Beaverton began to notice that more and more Spanish speaking residents were attending Baha'i events and showing interest in Baha'i teachings. Mark was interested in connecting with the Latinos that he met at various Baha'i activities. He realized that his limited Spanish language skills hindered him from developing meaningful friendships. It is in the Baha'i community where Venustiano and Mark met and discovered their mutual interests. Don Mark and Vio decided to team up and visit the Spanish speaking friends who were interested in the Baha'i, one thing about the sort of the Spanish culture, Hispanic culture is you must convey warmth when you get together. If you can't exude warmth, then um they can feel it. Mark is a very compassionate human being. Uh He cares and he also wants to learn Spanish. So, so he, he listens to my discussions with people and, and then I uh you know, give them tips about what's app culturally appropriate, the kinds of things that you can ask. If you want to have an in depth conversation, you have to have a language skills that can take it to a deeper level. For me, it's been, it's been good because it makes me aware, culturally speaking because sometimes there are things that I just take for granted, you know, either in the way that I express myself or uh uh in the way that I treat people and so on. And I'm not aware that for someone else. It's not, may not be so easy through these relationships. It became apparent that there was a need to connect the Latinos and the Baha'i in Beaverton. It was clear that language would provide that connection. On Monday nights, Venustiano teaches English and Spanish classes at the Beaverton Baha'i center for him. It's an opportunity to both help the Baha'i community and assist the Latin population in developing skills that will help them economically. Marcus is Venusian in the English class and is a student himself in the Spanish class. I mean, Venusian is clearly a teacher and uh you know, and he can teach both languages uh easily and uh you know, he has a skill and he has a history and, and, and, and you know, he's, he's done this before. And so it, it's, it's purely purely done as a service I like. Mm baha is beautiful. The people spend night together is good for good as for people, everybody. The Baha'i and Beaverton continue to concentrate their energies on creating deeper relationships with their friends and neighbors together. Everyone is adding to a richer happier environment, activities like children's classes, devotional gatherings and study circles are helping Baha'i and their friends build the core of a dynamic community life. Each individual can contribute unique skills and passions to create the kind of community that they want and one they want to leave behind to their Children. It's a consistent commitment and uh uh you know, change is not going to occur by itself. It's not going to occur, uh, by doing it just, you know, like going on a picnic now and then, uh, is not going to, although picnics are important, you know, uh, it's not gonna be, uh, it's not gonna happen doing it just when you feel like it, you know, it has to be a commitment, a deep seated resolve that you are going to do your part to change the world. It's been said that, you know, heaven and hell are not places. They are states of being when uh Mark and I out there visiting people just as it is, is true. When, when I'm teaching E S L, it's heaven these days for anyone who wants to know more about the Baha'i Faith Albuquerque, New Mexico is a good place to be every night of the week. Baha'i, there are hosting activities, learning opportunities that are open to everyone. There's Joseph's Sunday night prayer meetings followed by homemade dinners can be holds a weekly introductory lecture and discussion series, Richard and Sarita, invite their extended family to a weekly study circle. Teenagers and grandmothers alike, talk about the purpose of life and the power of prayer. Nelson and his friends cover the same topics at a local art gallery and on the weekends, Nelson's home fills with kids and teenagers from the neighborhood. This youth group is learning to be inclusive and befriend those who are different from them. Baha'i in Albuquerque aren't just telling others about their religion. They are also learning, learning how to build a community life where people share a common sense of purpose and care about one another. Thank you. All of this learning converges twice a month when Albuquerque's local spiritual assembly meets at the Baha'i Center. Local spiritual assemblies are elected every year by Baha'i in most towns and cities around the world. Together, these councils work to ensure that the Baha'i community remains unified, that individuals feel supported and that the community grows. We come together and we consult in unity, but we try to incorporate ideas that clash. Ultimately, a decision is made and sometimes we're absolutely astonished at the wonderful, beautiful results of the decisions of the assembly. In recent years, Albuquerque's Assembly faced a dilemma that was difficult to solve so difficult. In fact that they wrestled with it for nearly five years. All members of the community agreed on one thing they wanted their community to grow. What they couldn't agree on was how this would happen. On one side, there were a few Baha'i who wanted to try a training program called Ruhi. The concept behind Ruhi training is that by studying the Baha'i writings and trying community building exercises, the Baha'i faith would grow Baha'i in other parts of the world were finding that this training program helped Baha'i feel comfortable talking about their religion with others. But for the local spiritual assembly of Albuquerque. The program was of little interest. The Assembly's first concern was that the material seemed too easy for people who had been Baha'i, for decades, some individuals felt, I felt that Ruhi really wasn't for me. I thought that it was for other people that needed it. There also appeared to be a sense of exclusivity among those who were involved with the course, those who were being trained, put undue restrictions on the efforts of those who were not trained. I was even told I cannot teach because I haven't taken one. A lot of people are veteran Baha'i and good teachers of the faith. And when they hear this from people who are enthusiastic and sincere in what they're saying, sometimes it's hurtful for those people. The resistance among members of the local spiritual assembly was palpable and I would just speak against it very vocally, verbally attitudes of the assembly, really sort of directs the feeling of the entire community. I usually, you can kind of tell if the, if the assembly is kind of stressed out about a situation that resonates throughout the entire community. The assembly finally reluctantly agreed to try the course as we all began as individuals to, to take the Ruhi courses. Uh something magical happened. Um It was spiritual growth and we didn't expect that we, you know, we, we didn't know it's been a complete 1 80 for a lot of people. Um The assembly is just gone. Bonkers trying to get on board with the training programs, focus on interaction and community building. The assembly is learning new ways to carry out their work. One of their tasks is to help community members feel loved included and supported. During times of struggle, local assemblies are supposed to be loving shepherds to their communities during their training. The simply found that perhaps this work entailed more than holding meetings. So there was a distinct decision at that time to pull back one of the meetings so that we could immerse ourselves into the community and to some of the other activities. One of the training exercises was to visit the homes of other Baha'i, they began visiting those who were sick or shut in. We became aware that how many people they need a loving visit of, you know, a few friends made it just clear for us that these are the basics for our community, makes people to feel better, makes they again feel that they are in the community and they are not isolated. The local assembly now uses home visits as an alternative approach. When dealing with the difficult personal issues, community members bring to them, you get a whole different perspective of of the community and when you bring that back into the, into the assembly room and helping and it helps us make decisions because now we have more of a personal understanding of what's going on through these experiences. The assembly's passion for training became just as palpable as their resistance had once been. In just one short year, nearly 50 other Baha'i have completed the course and this has led to the explosion of Baha'i activities now offered in Albuquerque as more and more people in our community take the Ruhi courses. Their joy is increasing and their spiritual growth is, is visible. It's very visible. Nelson no longer serves on Albuquerque's local spiritual assembly. However, his training in the Ruhi courses has led to a busy lifestyle and a bustling household. He's become so involved in what's going on. And you know, he took book five and immediately started a junior youth group in his home and he took book three and he immediately started a children's class in his home. Nelson's son feels comfortable inviting the boys, his neighborhood to their weekly youth group. It's a place where they can be themselves and have fun while also learning to be inclusive and befriend people from different backgrounds. In the first six months of the program, some neighborhood parents have noticed a change in their son's behavior. There was one who was a Baha'i and his son started attending and he said, you know, Nelson, you started six months ago in August last year. Did, do you know that there is no incident at school incident? Meaning they weren't called by the school for something that the son had done and also at home. And I just want to thank you for, for, for that, I am a beneficiary and my wife is a beneficiary of the faith. You know, it is a faith that is so wonderful and exciting and it opens a lot of portals to opportunities um friends that you haven't met before, it will change your whole life. Baha'i in Albuquerque say they experience a level of support from their local spiritual assembly. They couldn't have imagined. Five years ago, Katherine remembers a visit from an assembly member during a recent weekend training program. The message he delivered, brought her to tears and he told us we are so proud of you and you are so precious to us and you're doing this amazing job and we're so glad to have you in the community. And we just wanted to let you know that anything you need to serve the community in this way, the assembly will be behind you that we're with you 100%. And you can just see like our jaws dropping on the floor because we've never quite felt that from the assembly before. And it was such a relief. It was such a change. And we felt like the assembly really loved us. The society for years has have made them feel inferior to men. So they like deep inside, they don't trust themselves. They don't feel like they can do anything. They are not educated, they're not educated and um trafficking. It occurs a lot and we childrens are traffic dead in, um, like buses. Lots and lots. I think I've seen violence back home. You know, not necessarily done to me, but I've seen it through my friends. You know, it could be the girl sitting next to you in class. It could be somebody who comes through your door as a foster could. It could be one of your kids in children's classes when all mankind shall receive the same opportunity of education and the equality of men and women be realized, the foundations of war will be utterly destroyed without equality. This will be impossible because all differences and distinction are conducive to discord and strife. The 51st session of the Commission on the Status of Women took place over two weeks in the spring of 2007 at the United Nations in New York City. The commission is a follow up to the fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. Each year, delegates represent their governments and organizations from all over the world to offer solutions on a specific theme stemming from the Beijing conference. The Baha'i community has a deep history of involvement at the United Nations and gender equality is a core principle of the Baha'i faith. This year, Baha'i from around the world sent both adult and youth delegates to contribute to the commission. So this year, the theme is elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child. That's why we started communicating with national spiritual assemblies regarding the theme and we requested not only um assembly representatives but also participate with girl delegations. And we had incredible response of the 43 delegates from around the Baha'i world. 11 were teenagers. They raised issues ranging from female genital mutilation or FGM in Africa to sexual assault in the United States. They were able to share their voices with the world. So we are given opportunities but deep down, um the cultural practices are the ones that are stopping us because for example, in these societies on the northwestern part of Tanzania, they still practice F G M and like it's deep within them, like the girls themselves thinks it's, it's a good uh practice. They wanted it themselves. You know, it's been built up in their mind that they needed to, to be complete women. One of the things that we have seen, unfortunately doing foster care, you do see the underside of a community we have seen, we have seen two and three year old girls who are afraid to go to sleep tonight because they're afraid their grandfathers will come through the door. Many of the people talk about this as if it's not in your backyard as if it doesn't affect you. But in some strange way, you know, it could be the girl sitting next to you in class. It could be somebody who comes through your door as a foster could. It could be one of your kids in children's classes, you know, and you have to think of it in terms of this is the world we live in, not somebody else's world. During the conference, delegates attend sessions to bring their experiences to the world stage as well as learn from each other. The main goal of the conference is to submit an analysis of the theme with realistic recommendations for governments and other institutions at the international National regional and local levels. These statements are known as agreed conclusions and are drafted by conference attendees. The final report of the commission is submitted to the United Nations Economic and Social Council and could become policy. In essence, delegates like these girls directly influence un policy, these outcome documents that they make, they can, well, they don't, they don't have to be obeyed by the member states. But the whole point is um by, you know, if you go and call your government to account and say, why aren't you obeying this? The government just don't want to be seen as they don't want to be seen in negative light. And so the way it works is because all the different government delegations frown upon each other if they realize one of them isn't obeying it. Coming here has allowed me to like, you know, in those caucuses, we have like the power I should call it to change and make sure that something is done. It was really important because then I could do something about it. Ya Fade. A young delegate from England spent time in the West Africa region as a child. She saw firsthand how UN policy can impact the peace process. And there was a lot of arms going out to the market and all the men were trading arms at the market. And um part of this Security Council resolution was that women should be allowed um should be involved in decision making peace processes. So, um basically, to cut a long story short, the women managed to get involved because they went to their local council at the peace process making table. And they said according to the Security Council resolution 13 25 we must be allowed to participate in this discussion. And at first, the men were like, you must be jerky, you're not being involved. And then through different methods, they managed to really changed the minds of the men by proving that you know, you have to obey this un resolution. And so they were allowed to be involved in the decision making processes. And in the end, what happened was they actually managed to, to melt down all the guns that they were being that were being passed around. The Baha'i youth delegates came from all over the world to share their voices on the theme of violence against the girl child. As they began to participate, they realized their natural leadership skills came from the Baha'i community in our cos you, you all sit down and discuss and in the Baha'i community, we have assemblies and feasts every month and we all talk about what we can do to make our community better to advance our community. And here we're talking about advancing the world and advancing uh all women and men together. The Ruhi Institute helps a lot and creating leadership because many of the problems and discussions there is in the Ruhi Institute, it helps you outside the world, how to manage and to communicate a better point of view, a high point of view with others. And I think because if at home, all of us, our younger girls here are able to speak out their opinions whenever they need to, it's easier for us to come to a group of people and do the same thing. Nobody else jumped up there and was like, ok, this is what we're going to do. But all the Baha'i girls did and now it's sort of taken for granted that we're leading the girls caucus. I think the Baha'i are just willing to get out there and try anything. And I think people will see that they are um providing their spiritual perspective into the processes into the events that they are, they are participating and they are taking the leadership role, the moral leadership, they are providing their services. Um The principles of consultation during the caucuses, they are attending part of the conference for the youth delegates was creating relationships in the Baha'i group and with other delegates, they made friends from across the world and shared experiences beyond their own villages. As the youth delegates are working towards gender equality on the worldwide level, they were also able to reflect on ways to contribute towards equality in their own communities. I think there should be more Children in classes because we should start from way below and we should teach the kids from ever since they were young. You know, like boys, we start with the kids and teach them that we're equal. It will be easier for the next generations. Well, I do, I teach children's classes and junior youth classes and I'm part of the youth group and I'm in school of course. And I can just teach so many people about it and there's just so many people who don't know and I can teach them now because humanity is like a bird. Also one of the Baha'i passages that says that one wing is the female and the other is a male. So in order that to the bird, to obtain his flight, that has to have an equilibrium. So I think that humanity has to work on together so that we can obtain peace. So it will come to pass that when women participate fully and equally in the affairs of the world, when they enter confidently and capably the great arena of laws and politics, war will cease for women will be the obstacle and hindrance to it. This is true and without doubt. And I would walk from 30 35th and Indiana to 51st and uh Indiana and I would sell the defenders. Chicago defender, Chicago defender, and people would reach to out out of the window, bring me up a paper boy, bring me up a paper sign. During much of the last century, the Chicago defender was a force for significant social change in the lives of African American people throughout the United States. The newspaper promoted everything from rising stars like Nat King Cole and Langston Hughes to the northern migration of African Americans from the south. The paper's reach extended outside of the newsroom and into the lives of Chicago's families. Since 1929. The Chicago Defender has sponsored programs for Children among the most well known the Bud Bill back to school parade. America's second largest parade. But before there was a Chicago Defender and before there was Bud Akka, there was a young man growing up in Greenville, Mississippi. His name was David Callum. My father uh was walking down the street, uh in uh Greenville, oh, dad must have been about 14, 13 or 14 years old. And uh there were some white kids that were coming toward him, about eight of them and he wanted to pass them and they wouldn't let him pass. And uh so they decided that if you don't get off the street, then I'm going to whip you up and all of them jumped on my father. And so my grandmother decided that the best thing for me to do is to send uh David to Chicago. Uh And at that particular night, she, she call some friends and they put place dead on the IC, which of course is the Illinois central train. And the friends met him, uh the next day, attended high school in Chicago and then went on to college. He wanted better conditions, he wanted everything to be better. He didn't want anybody else to have to go undergo what he what happened to him. And as a result of it, he excelled in school, he became a uh major, the first black um major in the R O T C, which of course the Reserve officers training Corp for high school students. And then from that point on, and he went to, to Northwestern Medill School of Journalism even though he went to school and nobody would give him a job. And so he, he went to uh the stockyard and as a result of it, he became a, a uh beef lugger that was before they had the the the technology of of putting a, a piece of beef uh on a, on a uh a hook and it being transferred into another room, he had to lug it in and of course, there were other fellas doing the same thing all in all he uh decided that that beef wasn't the thing for him. And he finally uh went to Mr Abbott Robert S Abbott who owned the Defender at the time, Mr Abbott uh was reading uh a newspaper at his desk and dad could read upside down better than anybody in the world, believe me. And he saw, uh uh he saw something that gave him an idea and he said, uh Mr t I can increase your circulation if you will hire me. He said, well, how can you do that? Dad wanted to know, what will you hire me if it sounds good to you? He said yes. So he said, well, why don't you have an organization where there were Children who could, who could belong to a, a club? Uh, and, uh, they could, uh, uh, become, oh, pen pals all over the world. But what would we name it? Now, this is where necessity is the mother of invention. Dad read an ad that was in the newspaper and of course, it said Bill and Shoes and that's how it started. Now, dad's idea was in the back of his mind was one world. He felt that everybody should get along good. And when I began to receive pen pals from, from various countries, uh, from Africa and from, from the Middle East, uh, he would tell me, he said this is the way it's supposed to be the Bud Bien Pen Pal Club was just one of many children's activities sponsored by the Defender. There was a Thanksgiving party, an Easter music festival and finally, there was the Bud Blike back to school parade. David Kellum was one of the originators of the parade, along with Defender, owner Robert Abbott and editor in chief Lucius Harper, originally designed as a way to thank Chicago Defender News Boys. The parade grew into the largest African American parade in the country on the night before the parade, he would go to bed and wake up maybe about 12 or one o'clock to look out to see whether or not it looked like it was gonna rain and he would pray to God that it would not rain. And for all those years, it never rained that day. And they had the, the various uh bands or the boy scouts, the American Legion, all sorts of organizations would join in and they would march down his basic um idea was just to bring everybody together. They have a one good day in the summer where everybody enjoyed the self. It's no racial overtones or anything. Just, you know, where people can bring their Children, you know, and have a good time. He became really the, the first integrationist in Chicago. I remember, forget that uh that he uh integrated uh uh Chinese. I remember some of the, the Chinese people that participated and, and they act various activities and, and, and other whites, other, other nationalities of people. I just feel. It's a good ho homage to my grandfather to see people from all around going, you know, in the suburbs, gathering up on the buses, have their chairs, their lunches, water bottles and things. It's just a wonderful feeling every year to see that. The Akka Day parade continues to be a highlight of the summer on Chicago's South side, it's televised nationally and is second largest of any parade next to the rose Bowl. In addition to fun activities like the parade and the Pen Pal Club. Kellum helped area youth find ways to serve their community. The Bud Bill Junior fire patrol included about 2000 area youth. They would stand patrol night and day outside of South side tenement houses, they were commended for their efforts in saving lives in a community largely underserved by municipal agencies. Eventually, Kellum would find a community of people who shared his interest in bringing everyone together. Then my mother passed when I was two years old, so I don't know about her, but he did meet, they did meet later on in life. Uh uh Mother Kathleen, her name of Kathleen Ford and he married her and as a result, uh she was a member of the ya and uh he, uh he decided that, well, maybe this ought to be all right, this one world bit fit right into what he thought about. And as a result of it, uh she brought him into the baha and from that point on. He uh he lived as a Baha'i, he did all the he worshiped as a baha. And uh he was a believer in all good things and people, everybody being equal. When Ken became a Baha'i, he joined many other prominent African Americans who embraced this new faith among them, Elaine Locke who coined the term Harlem renaissance and was a major player in that movement, national poet laureate Robert Hayden, Elsie Austin, the first African American woman to be an assistant state's attorney for any state in the union, jazz trumpeter, Dizzy Gillespie Kim's friend and employer, Robert Abbott would also become a Baha'i. According to Black metropolis, an historical account of Chicago's South Side in Kellams time, the Baha'i community was known as a safe harbor for individuals who crossed the color line and sought an interracial social life. From the time of its inception, the Baha'i faith's central aim has been to unite people of all backgrounds across the world. Baha'i are building multi racial communities. The David Cullum Award is one more expression of this principle of unity and diversity. Each year, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i of the United States presents the David Kellum Award to those who represent positive role models for youth of all races and who contribute outstanding service to the community. This award honors the memory of David Kellum who dedicated his life to improving relations between the races despite his own hardships and those of the young people. He served David Kellum, brought together the gifts of Children and youth throughout Chicago. In doing so. He created lasting long cherished community traditions. The winners of the David Kellum Award carry on this legacy to submit a nomination for the David Callum Awards call the Baha'i House of Worship at 847853, 2300.