2012 Freedom Fund Banquet
With songs, original poems, youngsters shine at Bethlehem NAACP banquet
Bethlehem’s NAACP chapter recognizes Liberty High School principal on her retirement.
Ashanti Littlejohn’s poetry earned her a standing ovation from the audience.
SAT Prep Courses 2011
The City of Bethlehem Southside Recreation and Northampton Community College proudly present SAT Prep classes to meet your needs in: Math and Verbal
This course will provide an in depth look at what you need to know to prepare for the SAT test. The course includes strategies and techniques for taking the test and a review of Verbal and Math concepts. You will also work on how to tackle the essay portion of the test. Bring the calculator you will be using for the test.
All Classes are held at Northampton Community College Fowler Family Southside Campus.
Click link below to download a Form.
If you have any questions, call Mark Atkinson at 610-997-7971
Planting Peace Celebration
PBS39 and United Religions Initiative Present:
Planting Peace at SteelStacks
Peace Pole Dedication & Celebration of Peace in the
Lehigh Valley and Around the World
September 11, 2011 at 3:30pm
PBS39 at SteelStacks in Southside Bethlehem
Keeping The Dream Alive
In the footsteps of Martin Luther King Jr., Bethlehem’s Esther Lee has fought for equality and effected change
By Steve Esack, OF THE MORNING CALL
January 15 2011, 11:24 PM EST
Esther Mae Grimes didn’t want to be a domestic helper for the rest of her life. So when she spotted a newspaper ad for a front desk clerk, she decided to apply. She had the skills -; typing, filing and bookkeeping, which she had learned at Liberty High School.
The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-bethlehem-esther-lee-20110115,0,4655452.story
Visit mcall.com at http://www.mcall.com
Bethlehem NAACP Calls For Action
The Bethlehem NAACP continues to PROTEST THE BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT. The administration and secretaries in the district do not honor Dr. MLK Holiday, however the students are off. Discussions with district and union personnel have been unfruitful. We find this to be very disrespectful. Is this because Dr. King was a Negro? Our ongoing question is what can the district be doing on this particular Monday that can’t be done on another Monday? Are district employees working on President’s day?
Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed in 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. We still have local colleges and universities who do not observe the Dr.MLK Holiday on the given day. The colleges and universities all should be closed. Most are using the holiday for students to return from winter break and have classes. Lehigh University and Moravian College were contacted by the Bethlehem NAACP in January 2010 regarding closing. Both replies were ambiguous. WHY IS DR. KING, JR. ANY THE LESSER?
Community Issues
RE-ENTRY PROGRAM FOR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS
We have watched as more and more African American individuals are incarcerated. The system seems content on budgeting more money to house these folks rather than rehabilitate them. The system should be seeking ways to provide more training, on a larger scale to prevent recidivism. We note that as individuals have been/are released from jail/prison it is increasingly difficult for these persons to find employment. Our system must devise a way for released incarcerated persons to rejoin society. Providing a way for them to raise their families and earn a living will assist in stabilizing their lives. Our country is very slow in opening jobs for these people and help them reenter the workforce. A goal for 2011.
EDUCATION
As we move forward into 2011 we must be more mindful of how education is being provided to youth . Especially African American youth today. Bethlehem NAACP feels that guidance is not being provided as it could be. We have become too generalized. The students that need assistance are “being left behind.” If a child has special education services are we going the “extra mile.” In our quest to balance budgets … we must insist that all youth be provided the best education possible. A CONTINUED GOAL IN 2011.
EMPLOYMENT
Almost daily, we [NAACP unit 2250] receive a call that an African American individual has lost his/her employment. In our Bethlehem Area School District check the numbers of African American employees … personnel claim that they can’t get qualified individuals to accept employment here in Bethlehem.
REAL ESTATE
1. Local real estate finds red lining continuing. Realtors refuse home mortgages or home insurance to areas/neighborhoods deemed poor financial risks.
2. To discriminate against by refusing to grant loans, mortgages, or insurance to.
3. It was reported today by the media, January 3, 2011, that the White House, Washington, DC has lost it’s value… is it because President Obama is African American? This coincides with the local and national climate. IT’S SHAMEFUL!!!