One Church One School 11th Partnership Conference. One Church One School (OCOS), the 13 year-old Chicago-based community partnership organization celebrated its 11th Annual Partnership Conference on Thursday and Friday, October 19 and 20, 2006.
An orderly crowd of over 400 public high school students from Chicago and Gary, IN, filed into the imposing International House on the campus of the University of Chicago to attend the OCOS Student Empowerment Seminar held in conjunction with the Conference. Marcellus Jones, Gospel Radio AM 1390 personality facilitated the program. The seminar addressed the hip-hop industry’s impact on today’s youth
Professor Lance Williams, Ph.D. assistant director of the Jacob H. Carrouthers Center for Inner City studies at Northeastern Illinois University, engaged the youth, their chaperones and the religious leaders attending the conference in a dynamic dialogue surrounding the images depicted in hip-hop videos and music. He also provided the historical setting for hip hop’s evolution from social consciousness to its present negative state espousing vulgarity and demeaning women. The reaction from the audience was full of applause shout-outs and other signs of agreement. The students did not want to leave and expressed their appreciation to Professor Williams and the One Church One School Sponsors.
After the power packed morning with the students, the religious leaders, educators, community members, program volunteers and parents returned to the Oak Lawn Hilton Hotel and Conference Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois for a demonstration of the revolutionary and powerful Professor B Mathematics Program. Professor Everard Barrett has created a guaranteed strategy for parents, tutors and teachers to help children successfully learn mathematics.
In the evening all gathered to enjoy the Lifetime Achievement Awards Banquet with sumptuous food, a dynamic message and a celebration. Emcee, Bishop Dotcy I. Isom, Jr. enhanced the evening with his quick wit. Bishop Thomas L. Brown, presiding prelate, 4th Episcopal District, CME Church and former Dean, Phillips School of Theology in Atlanta, GA, banquet speaker, reminisced with the audience on when we were Christian and Colored. The banquet hall, full to capacity, came alive with responses of applause, verbal affirmations and laughter. Dr. Elnora Daniel, president, Chicago State University, and Dr. Elnora Hamb, president, Women’s Missionary Council, CME Church, received One Church One School Lifetime Achievement Awards for their dedication and lifetime commitment to the education and welfare of our young people.
On Friday morning, Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart, 3rd Episcopal District, CME Church and Bishop Tom G. Benjamin, Senior Pastor Light of the World Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN, presented compelling motivational and inspirational messages. Bishop Stewart challenged the conference with the apostle Paul’s message to keep on pressing toward the mark...regardless of the obstacles, for our children are in trouble. Bishop Benjamin’s charge was captured in the phrase “What’s your purpose?” Whatever one’s position or achievements, most important is knowing and fulfilling one’s purpose. He praised One Church One School for fulfilling its purpose in supporting the academic and social development of our children.
Plenary sessions were followed with interactive workshops including The Impact of the Hip Hop Industry, Community Health Issues, No Child Left Behind Act, Freedom School, Steps to a One Church One School Partnership. Participants expressed the value of the workshops in helping them to understand and gain the skills necessary to do the work of One Church One School
Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. facilitated the Recognition Luncheon that recognized those on the front line in service to our children: Mr. Earl Bryant - Educator of the Year, Bishop Ronald M. Cunningham - Religious Leader of the Year, Mrs. Ruth Vance - Volunteer of the Year. Scholarships and award plaques were given to Mr. Dion Broughton and Ms. Kayla Moore Students of the Year. Dr. Barbara Eason Watkins, CEO Chicago Public Schools saluted the awardees and shared with the audience her history with church/school relationships and their positive impact on her life.
Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr. founded One Church One School in 1992 and has spearheaded the organization from a single church and school partnership to a nation wide network of more than 300 partnerships. For more information, please contact Mrs. Phedonia Johnson at (773) 651-0071; Fax: (773) 651-1056; Pjohnson@onechurchoneschool.org.