by S. Rotan Hale
Residents of northwest Roanoke braved one of the hottest days of summer Saturday, July 23, for the 2nd annual Unity in the Community Career & Life Development event.
Samone Gilbert was emcee for the affair held on 11th St. organized to raise awareness to many inner-city issues and offer solution-based initiatives for those in the area who continue the struggle for better living conditions.
The project is the brainchild of Khalid Jones, a community activist and business owner who is also chief organizer of the event.
“If you have the opportunity to do anything, you have to take action for it to come to fruition,” said Jones who also spoke on the importance of “sacred connections” explained as: “someone or something that comes into your path that enables you to have a full focus motion allowing you to get whatever God has set for you.”
Among the many who spoke during the event was Eddie Seay, with Your Vote, Your Voice, who gave an eye-opening address regarding voter suppression and various other forces that stifle the progressiveness of America’s ever-changing population.
“Our Democracy is failing in too many communities as the cynical whims of politicians fail the collective will of the people. Your Vote, Your Voice and our partners will bring communities and campuses together to strategically move Democracy forward with a new energy.”
Through prepared remarks, Seay continued to push the ideals of fairness and justice and suggested that Democracy should be a “movement inclusive of everyone in this nation.”
Robert Wormly aka “Fat Rob” and Russell Poindexter spoke briefly on “Training to Work,” a new TAP program that equips individuals, in work release programs, with the skills necessary to reintegrate back into society.
“We help individuals get training to acquire certification, job readiness and resume writing which leads to gainful employment,” said Poindexter.
“Out of 45 program participants, 35 are presently employed,” he said referencing facts regarding the program’s success.
Wormley aka “Fat Rob” later energized the event as one of several Rappers who delivered socially conscious lyrics to a flood of infectious and throbbing beats.
Adding diversity to the mix, rappers Joann Wormley “Burna” and Jason Lambert “Face Valyou” blessed the crowd with their “blue-eyed soul” versions of rhythms and rhymes.
Burna first joined Fat Rob on stage and showed her skills solo during a performance that was true to form and very well received.
Before his performance, Lambert spoke briefly about 15NowRoanoke, a movement, with an online presence, launched to raise the local minimum wage to $15 hr.
“In 1968, almost 50 years ago, the lowest paid workers were paid $1.60 hr. and that is equal to $10.75 today,” said Lambert adding facts to his cause.
“Think about that, almost 50 years ago the average worker was paid $3.50 more than the lowest paid workers today (when you do the math). Wages have gone down!”
Adding balance to his claim, Lambert denounced “those at the top” for hording the wealth and said “If minimum wage had kept pace and had been spread among the workers who actually produced the wealth–the minimum wage would today be $21hr.”
One of the most powerful and informative displays came from a group of three African American women who gave revealing personal testimonies.
Each woman in their own raw and honest manner, revealed with great detail the various forces (ie addiction, prostitution, abandonment, etc.) they overcame to ultimately become proud, upstanding individuals with a renewed self-respect and focus.
Their willingness to share their stories of courage and uplift raise the bar for functions of this type that continue to be a rare display of Unity in the Community.
