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As a community organizer for over 32 years, and one who worked directly with Barack Obama on what I think is his most significant work as a community organizer, your Sunday, September 7th editorial shows why it is easy for the GOP and others top down play the work of community organizers. The most significant accomplishment of Barack Obama as a community organizer was when he was the head of PROJECT VOTE (GOTV) that made political history in 1986 when that city-wide voter registration, education and Get-Out The vote campaign put over 100,000 new voters, that made it possible for the historic election of Carol Moseley Braun to the U.S. Senate, the 1987 reelection of Harold Washington as Chicago's 1st Black Mayor, and a new Chicago City Council.
The GOP and others would have to rethink the challenge to the work and real leadership responsibilities of community organizers when they are clearly reminded of the historic nature of many of the campaigns of community organizers. Consumers of all kinds immediately check and rely on expiration dates on foods and other products, never making the connection to the work of community organizers that led to the laws being passed that required expiration dates on food. The core reason that there are more Democrats elected to office and States like Illinois and the U.S. Congress with Democratic control is because on the continuous work of community organizers and their voter registration, education and GOTV campaigns.
New community development benefits for ordinary citizens to new legislation of all kinds start at the core with the work of community organizers who assess community based needs and work on those improvements to make peoples lives for the better. Too many times when mentioning community organizers and their work, those major accomplishments are not noted, and thus today critics do note the 1986 community work and leadership of Barack Obama and other community organizers as historic and not worthy of how they try to downplay its significance.
Mark S. Allen Community Organizer and Activist 773-392-0165
Special Public Service Announcement UPDATE !!
More Churches Follow the lead of Bishop Jordan, Rev. Crider and Father Pfleger in Leading Special Sunday Fundraiser To Save CeaseFire Program in Roseland; Also Prayer Vigil and March Set for Friday, September 5th, at 5:00 PM on 109th & Loomis (2 blocks from Roseland Ceasefire Office) in honor of Terrance Jones, Chicago teenager shot and killed in gang crossfire while playing basketball across from his home
CeaseFire Sunday Scheduled For Sunday, September 7th
Contact Mark S. Allen @773-392-0165 or Roseland Ceasefire Director Bob Jackson at 773-895-7991
Religious leaders across Chicago and in the Roseland area in particular are being asked to please use this Sundays September 7th church services to support Ceasefire Sunday, The Roseland Ceasefire Project's fundraising campaign to keep their doors open while they await new funding to be finalized. Roseland Ceasefire desperately needs the public's financial support so they can continue to aide and assist the communities of Roseland, Maple Park, Morgan Park, West Pullman, Pullman and all the other areas where they lend their support, and continue their hands on efforts to stop the violence. They have went almost $40,000 in debt while new funding sources were being identified.
Roseland Ceasefire provides hands on programming at the grassroots street level in crime prevention, intervention of retaliations and they help get kids off the street corners through job training, job development, substance abuse coaching, spirituality coaching, civic education and much much more !! The Rev. Tyrone Crider and Father Michael Pfleger have worked and marched directly with Roseland Ceasefire and were the first two religious leaders to respond to the call for special collections and/or financial donations to help Roseland Ceasefire remain open.
Other churches that have responded who will support this special fundraising effort for Ceasefire Sunday this Sunday September 7th should are Greater New Mt Eagle Baptist Church, Bellview Baptist Church, New Progressive MB Church, Greater Tabernacle, Mt. Calvary MB Church, Greater Everlasting Baptist Church, Progressive Baptist Church, Greater Pleasant Green Baptist Church, call 773-238-5599 or 773-895-7991 Roseland is just one area where these gang shootings continue to kill as with the recent killing of teenager Terrance Jones caught in gang crossfire just 2 blocks from the Roseland Ceasefire office, so Roseland CeaseFire deserves this special community fundraiser to get their workers back in the streets providing full time prevention and intervention.
Republican Strategist Dan Proft Responds To The Questions
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Contact Mark S. Allen @ 773-392-0165
National Media Question Challenge Regarding Sarah Palin - What If She Is Found Guilty?
None of the national spin I have seen and read from last night has answered this question, BUT we MUST push push PUSH the question of "What Happens if Sarah Palin is found guilty of using her influence in trying to get her sisters ex-husband fired? All I have heard is that she has hired a lawyer BUT WHAT is the timetable on her guilt or innocence? Do the American people deserve to have this matter resolved before the election? Will the national media aggressively challenge Palin on this issue or conveniently ignore it as a major issue that must be addressed before the election, and provide the american people with an analysis of the impact on her candidacy if she is indeed found guilty.
Answer - Hilarious...found "guilty" of firing an at-will employee?
There's a reason it's not being talked about...it is without merit on its face.
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Question. What is the purpose of her having to hire a lawyer?
Answer- The purpose of a lawyer is to deal with all of the legal frivolities being imposed on her (with likely more to come) from political opponents.
Question - So you are saying that she will never have to appear before a Judge who will have to make a ruling on her innocence or guilt?
Answer - I do not believe so
Dan Proft
Republican Strategist
Those Who Threatened Obama Should Have Been Prosecuted Fully
by veteran political activist Mark S. Allen, Associate Editor of The South Street Journal Newspaper in Chicago
Media Availability @ 773-392-0165
In my judgement, the Denver U.S. Attorney failed to show how serious the matter is to threatens ones life, especially a person like Barack Obama that may be President of The United States. As a former national staff member to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr in 1988, I experienced my share of briefings on how to deal with threats that could have come to Rev. Jackson and those close to him. The thought of losing your life is something that should be not taken lightly and any threat needs to be treated very seriously. There are people being prosecuted for making phony bomb threats or any appearance of relationship to terrorism, and in my judgement, these individuals should have been fully prosecuted for fully arming themselves and openly admitting that they said Obama should be shot. Just because they didn't actually get to shoot doesn't make the proposed crime less serious, but you are 90% there when you get some drugs to stimulate and motivate yours\elf, recruit accomplices, openly admit why you want to harm the candidate, openly admit they should be shot, and then fully arm themselves was enough to fully prosecute and show anyone that there is zero tolerance for the planning to bring physical harm to a major political figure.
If the Denver U.S. Attorney was not going to set the example needed to show zero tolerance with the assassination planning of any kind, then they never should have held press conferences regarding this alleged plot to hurt Obama. It was painful, and insulting to hear the law enforcement officials dismiss this threat as "non operational." That is not only an insult to Obama but to all they key staff of Obama who also become targets when people who threaten a candidate look to others as targets when they determine they cannot access the candidate close enough, so it's okay for staff and associates to be within reach of their guns as long as it wasn't the target of Obama himself. The Denver U.S. Attorney failed to make it clear to others that it clearly unacceptable to make statements that a person needs to be shot, go obtain the weapons to do so, recruit others, obtain drugs for stimulation, and then go in the City where the target that they said needs to be shot is located.
The Denver U.S. Attorney should revisit the issue for these individuals had the necessary "operational" armed weapons that could have truly done harm to those associated with Obama who don't benefit from full time security. Ordinary people need to know that their lives are equally important. And ordinary people who closely associate themselves publicly with major public figures need to know that those who make threats, drug and fully arm themselves will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Thank God for the woman who made officials aware of the plot to hurt Obama for clearly after being on drugs, fully armed
and intent on hurting Obama could have had easy access to any of those who support Obama, and could have hurt and possibly kill someone with the weapons hat they had in their possession.
Clinton's "Let Us Unite" Message Hit A Home Run
by veteran political activist, Mark S. Allen, Associate Editor of The South Street Journal Newspaper in Chicago
Media Availability@ 773-392-0165
Senator Hillary Clinton scored a home run with her speech to her supporters at the Democratic convention. Even before she even thanked her own supporters she wasted no time in making it clear that she strongly endorses Barack Obama and forcefully challenged her supporters to "get going" with no time to spare in organizing support for the election of Obama and the next President. She clearly answered to those pundits who had been saying that her recent comments of Obama were just casual comments and even timid in tone, but her convention speech was the strongest and most powerful I've seen, and crystal clear in her support of Barack Obama. Clinton's message was electrifying, brought the entire audience to their feet, and absolutely proved she is a strong member of the team who came through in the clutch. Her serious call for unity was exactly what the Obama Campaign
needed.
Hillary Clinton supporters were in tears, saying that her speech proved how good she would have looked and sounded as the Vice President nominee, and many of her hard core supporters seem intent on saying that despite her appeal, they are not decided on Obama. The hard core Clinton supporters with their continued "abandon Obama" movement are putting Clinton in the campaign to save her political career. If Obama loses this election, it will surely be blamed on Clinton and Obama supporters would not reelect her to the NY Senate and clearly won't support a Clinton candidacy for President. Hard core Clinton supporters have put Clinton in the political fight of her life. But as the clutch performance tonight proved, her future appearances will fill the bill. Because of hardcore Clinton supporters you will see a very aggressive Democratic Party Clinton promotional campaign with billboards with Obama/Biden/Clinton, grassroots leafleting, radio and TV promotions and Clinton appearances with Obama/Biden.
The McCain Campaign response that was supposed to be negative has actually even stepped up and provided the Obama campaign with the blueprint for Clinton's future appearances and promotions for Obama. Just because McCain made a point out of Clinton not saying Obama was prepared to be Commander in Chief, that as soon as tomorrow, you will hear Hillary Clinton, Biden and even President Clinton making the point that Obama is prepared to be Commander in Chief. But Clinton made it clear that Obama is her choice for the national elected office on the November ballot. And if McCain is asking people to look for Commander in Chief on the ballot to vote for is reason enough to know that he can't be President suffering from Alzheimer's. The McCain Press Department provided Clinton with the bullet points for her future statements on Obama.
If the purpose of Clinton's speech tonight was to challenge Democrats and those who supported her candidacy to come back home, she definitely hit a home run with her speech, and now must accept the challenge to stay actively in the game until November
for that's the only real thing that will overshadow the efforts of Clinton hardcore supporters who will still try to convince people to abandon Obama allegedly in the name of Clinton. Today was just the beginning of the one-two punch of the Clinton message. President Clinton is next.
UNITED THEY STAND
DIVIDED THEY FALL
It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.
Nationally Known Chicago Activist Seeks Help For Son Who Faces
Murder Charges in Tennessee
Kwesi Ron Harris, prevention director of the Bobby E. Wright Health Center, is one of the nationally known anti-tobacco activists to remain vigilant in their efforts to stop tobacco companies from targeting young people for their products. Six months after being questioned and released by Tennessee police, Harris son, Lavaughn (graduate of Chicago's Simeon High School and Senior at Tennesse State University) was arrested for 1st Degree Murder and bond has been set at $750.000
Click here
Ravaugh Harris Support Page - Welcome and Thank You for your support!
How I Remember Bernie Mac
Aug 11, 2008 | 4:39 PM PST
Category:
News
Thank God for the many nameless people who donated their spare change to Bernie Mac all those times he performed on popular CTA Transit stops, for look how far that small investment took him. Bernie Mac and I grew up in the Englewood community and attended the same Chicago Vocational High School (CVS) and we briefly worked in comedy promotions together. I remember meeting with Bernie at the old Godfather II nightclub on East 87th Street trying to negotiate his appearance at the old Comedy Act Theater in Chicago that I was a partner in that used the old Sauers Restaurant on 23rd Street as a venue for up and coming comedians. It was there that we hosted other comedians like WGCI's Tony Sculfield, Faizon Love, Jamie Foxx, Damon Wayons, Cedric The Entertainer and new Zeta Phi Beta Sorority President Sheryl Underwood.
The highlight for many of us in the local community was when Bernie made his appearances of Def Comedy Jam, which at that time was the success that many local promoters looked to as the most important pinnacle to achieve if a comedian wanted to make it. Of course Bernie achieved that and much much more, and I am just one of many who are just glad to have been a small part in the tremendous career of Bernie Mac, now one of the legends of Comedy. He always believed in himself, backed with his traditional big smile. He never lost his sense of social consciousness in that his last public appearance was at a fundraiser for Barack Obama.
Thank God for his wife who accepted and fulfilled the challenge Bernie gave to her to stick with him from the beginning of their relationship, She was there for the downside, his rise to superstardom, and was there as he rose to heaven. Of course he will be missed, but Bernie's legacy will certainly live on through his many comedy show featuring his stand-up performances and his movies, and through the many stories that those of us who worked with him through the years will continue to talk about for years to come.
The Black Leadership Development Institute, BLDI 773-392-0165
Gang Members and Illegal Gun Dealers Admit How They Benefit From Gun Turn-Ins
"I never thought that the Mayor and Preachers would make it this easy"
"This weekend I am going to get me a new big plasma TV." An alleged illegal gun dealer admitted that he has already received several thousand dollars in commitments from gang members who want to purchase new illegal guns with their $100 gift certificates that they are going to get from several Black churches this weekend. One young man who called himself "Rudy" on 76th & Halsted said that he is going to St. Sabina Church and turn in an old 22 caliber gun that he bought for $30 and bag of weed, and use his $100 gift certificate to trade on a new $32 caliber gun from his local illegal gun contact.
Rudy says that his illegal gun contact will furnish his new apartment with the things he can buy after this weekend, collecting damn near $10,000 in $100 gift certificates from gang members turning in guns to various churches this weekend. "Glen" on 83rd & Cottage Grove said "Its hard to believe that the Mayor and preachers would make it this easy. There has to be some undercover operation to this despite them saying no questions asked when turning in guns that they have used in unsolved shootings, and spending thousands of dollars from the gift certificates at local stores."
A brother named "Cheat" from Gladys Street said that "just because the preachers said no questions asked doesn't mean that the police ain't asking, so gang members and gun dealers better be careful with eliminating finger prints and serial numbers from those guns and better not spend too much of those gift certificates at one time in one place, for the leaders cannot be making this so easy without some way of trying to track people." "You mean to tell me that the people who just shot those people on the westside can now get away with those shootings cause they can go the local church this weekend, turn their guns in with no questions asked and get paid $100 for each gun and not have to think about going to jail?
If we are to believe the Mayor and these preachers, hundreds of unsolved shootings will never get prosecuted cause we can all turn our hot guns in with no questions asked and get rewarded with gift certificates and don't have to worry about being prosecuted. It's a trick, for it cannot be this easy without some sort of undercover police monitoring," said Cheat. The major media reported last week that the buy-back program was challenged by Dr. Carl Bell, a psychiatrist and president and CEO of Chicago's Community Mental Health Council, who said at a City Council hearing that the guns being turned in "don't work in the first damn place."
Mark S. Allen veteran community/political activist says that he continues to tell ministers each time that they have a gun turn in how you can hear people in the streets talk openly about how gang members and illegal gun dealers anxiously await the turn-ins so they can get money to buy better guns, and the thousand of dollars in profits they make from the gift certificates. "I respect the Mayor and church leaders for what they think they are accomplishing, but I've got to continue to challenge them on how they are empowering the very people to better commit the shootings and killings they are fighting against. It would bother the hell out of me to know that I have preached the funeral of a kid who was killed by a gun they were able to buy with their gun turn-in gift certificates, or I just completely furnished some illegal gun dealers house with the thousands of dollars they made from using the gift certificates they exchanged with gang members who turned in their old guns to the church," said Allen.
Allen said shootings and killings are continuing to rise despite these gun turn-ins and they are going to continue after the gun turn-ins, and the real funding for this gun buy-back program could have been better used by funding groups like Ceasefire and others who provide hands on prevention and intervention efforts in challenging peoples consciousness not to commit these senseless acts of violence whether its with a gun, knife, golf club, baseball bat, or fists.
"Mark Allen is one of the best organizers of grassroots people in this country"
(U.S. Senator and U.S. Presidential Candidate Barack Obama; U.S. Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr)
MARK S. ALLEN, 46
Volunteer Activist/Organizer with Ceasefire
Recently included in the 2007-08 edition of Who's Who In Black Chicago, and listed in Who's Who Among African Americans. Mark S. Allen is a veteran community/political activist with over 32 years of public service on local, state, and national levels, including 7 years as a national staff member to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Allen is a former talk show host on the legendary news/talk station WVON-AM. He is currently the Associate Editor of The South Street Journal Newspaper and Co-founder of The New Black Independent Media Coalition 773-392-0165
Chicago Increase In Violent Crime
Jul 18, 2008 | 4:18 AM PST
Category:
News
Chicago Police Chief Hearings Produce More "Finger Pointing
and "Paralysis of Analysis."
VETERAN POLITICAL ACTIVIST CHARGES ALDERMEN, MAYOR, POLICE CHIEF AND OTHER LEADERS OF "CONTINUING TO PLAY POLITICS" WITH PROVEN CRIME PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION FUNDING WHILE
CHICAGO VIOLENT CRIME AND KILLINGS TO RISE
Our youth continue to die in Little Village, Westside , Southside, Roseland, Kenwood, Auburn/Gresham, Woodlawn, Northside. The Mayor and other civic leaders continues to raise more money for the "future" Olympics versus the "right now" funding for proven crime prevention and intervention.
How does The Mayor, Police Chief, Aldermen, and other leaders continue to discuss how to address the Chicago violent crime increase, WITHOUT publicly recognizing that a majority of violent crimes are occurring in EVERY area where there used to be full time Ceasefire prevention and intervention workers YET there is no concern to find ways to restore their funding as we watch people in those once covered areas continue to die. More "paralysis of analysis" It became popular for other elected officials to point the blame totally at the Governor who had cut their funds as the reason why Ceasefire could no longer find funding as if these acts of violence were not occurring in shared jurisdictions.
The news media accurately reports each week that these acts of violence and killings and overall increase in violent crimes are in a Ward, State legislative district, County Board district, Congressional District, so the commitment to securing successful prevention and intervention efforts like Ceasefire and others is more than just the Governors, but all elected officials, civic leaders must be held accountable to show a "collective and comprehensive" leadership responsibility. People are tired of more sound bites and finger pointing..
"Mark Allen is one of the best organizers of grassroots people in this country"
(U.S. Senator and U.S. Presidential Candidate Barack Obama;
U.S. Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr)
MARK S. ALLEN, 46
Mark S. Allen is a veteran political activist with over 32 years of public service on local, state, and national levels, including 7 years as a national staff member to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Allen is a former talk show host on the legendary news/talk station WVON-AM. Recently included in the 2007-08 edition of Who's Who In Black Chicago, and listed in Who's Who Among African Americans. He is currently the Associate Editor of The South Street Journal Newspaper and Co-founder of The New Black Independent Media Coalition.
To The New Yorker Magazine
I will NEVER purchase or read The New Yorker Magazine again !! I found your current cover on the Obama's extremely insulting, hurtful, racist and not worthy of the reward of my continuing to purchase The New Yorker.
"Mark Allen is one of the best organizers of grassroots people in this country"
(U.S. Senator and U.S. Presidential Candidate Barack Obama;
U.S. Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr)
MARK S. ALLEN, 46
Recently included in the 2007-08 edition of Who's Who In Black Chicago, and listed in Who's Who Among African Americans. Mark S. Allen has over 32 years of public service on local, state, and national levels, including 7 years as a national staff member to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Allen is a former talk show host on the legendary news/talk station WVON-AM. He is currently the Associate Editor of The South Street Journal Newspaper and Co-founder of The New Black Independent Media Coalition.
NO TO A CONGRESSMAN JACKSON CANDIDACY FOR ILLINOIS GOVERNOR
The Sun Times Columnist Laura Washington wrote a column regarding the 2010 Illinois Governor's race and that one possible candidate could be Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. The campaign of Roland Burris put a bad taste in the mouths of any Black politician aspiring to be Governor. It was made clear that the majority White population abandoned Roland Burris who should have been Governor for he was the highest vote getter in EVERY part of the State when he was State Comptroller and Attorney General, but those same communities that elected him those prior positions did not vote for him for Governor. At this point I do not see another Black politician able to generate the kind of support that Roland Burris enjoyed when he was voted Comptroller and Attorney General.
Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr is in line to be the most powerful Black politician in Congress with a few more elections, for the majority of those in line for major political power in Congress will either be dead or gone from office, putting Jackson in a position to be the first Black to be Speaker of The House or Chairman of the powerful House Ways Means Committee with the ability to personally direct where federal dollars go and that can mean the most significant influx of dollars to Urban communities. We need NOT take Jackson out of that Seniority line.
Congressman Jackson will be able to help more people from the constituencies he is concerned about as The first Black Speaker of The House or Chairman of House Ways and Means than being the Governor of Illinois. I do not see another Black politician on the rise that has the ability to generate the Seniority in Congress that Congressman Jackson currently represents. Those of us who call ourselves politically astute need to recognize the points I am making and should be doing all they can to keep Congressman Jackson where he is for the much bigger picture than just the State of Illinois.
"Mark Allen is one of the best organizers of grassroots people in this country" (U.S. Senator and U.S. Presidential Candidate Barack Obama; U.S. Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr)
MARK S. ALLEN, 46 Recently included in the 2007-08 edition of Who's Who In Black Chicago, and listed in Who's Who Among African Americans. Mark S. Allen has over 32 years of public service on local, state, and national levels, including 7 years as a national staff member to the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Allen is a former talk show host on the legendary news/talk station WVON-AM. He is currently the Associate Editor of The South Street Journal Newspaper and Co-founder of The New Black Independent Media Coalition. 773-392-0165
Excerpts from Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr's 1984 Democratic Convention Speech Addresses Current Controversial Obama Comments
"If, in my low moments, in word, deed or attitude, through some error of temper, taste, or tone, I have caused anyone discomfort, created pain, or revived someone's fears, that was not my truest self. If there were occasions when my grape turned into a raisin and my joy bell lost its resonance, please forgive me. Charge it to my head and not to my heart.
My head -- so limited in its finitude; my heart, which is boundless in its love for the human family. I am not a perfect servant. I am a public servant doing my best against the odds. As I develop and serve, be patient: God is not finished with me yet.
This campaign has taught me much; that leaders must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb the pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving."
I understand that someone at The Defender is working on a story regarding Parker House. I just spoke at length with 3rd Ward Alderman Pat Dowell regarding saving the historic Parker House Sausage as a Black owned institution and even discuss the possibilities for expansion of the business. I told the Alderman that I am publicly committed to convening and challenging other civic, business, and political leaders to make a priority issue in directing the proper resources to sustain Parker House as Black owned business. I have specifically contacted Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr at The Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and Cheryle Jackson, new President of The Chicago Urban League.
I was very upset and read with total disbelief, an e-mail (attached) from a Parker House employee who alleges that Parker House representatives have not been able to get the attention of The Chicago Urban League or Rainbow/PUSH, two organizations that the late Daryl Grisham, former Parker House President/CEO was an active member and totally committed to financially during his life. Grisham and Parker House has been connected too deeply with these two organizations and their Black empowerment agenda's for me to believe that they would not respond to any request that involves sustaining it as Black owned, and helping find resources to improve the existing facility as well as expand the business to provide even more jobs for Black community and increase the Black economy and provide a new generation of civic responsibility.
I have been on staff at The Chicago Urban League and Rainbow/PUSH and I cannot remember and major events that I was involved in organizing that did not enjoy the support of Mr. Grisham and Parker House employees. Alderman Dowell told me directly that she will immediately put an end to any rumors that she has not responded to any request to help Parker House and she instructed me to have my contact at Parker House to contact her directly, which they did today, and she will host a meeting to officially hear whatever specific requests from the current Parker House ownership.
As a co founder of The Chicago Black Wall Street Economic Summits, I am going to seek the support of the over 300 people that have attended the summits and committed to our campaign to sustain and increase Black businesses. And that includes our outreach campaign to create Black consumer clubs like the old days of Operation Breadbasket where we trained people at the very grassroots community levels with ongoing campaigns on the purchasing of Black owned products. We must not lose another historic Black business for I am convinced that we have the collective resources from our various levels of leadership to save, sustain and even expand Parker House Sausage.
I am humbled that the Parker House employees reached out to me, and I am making a public commitment not to let them down. I am glad that Alderman Dowell responded quickly to my call and personally called me repeatedly until she got me after she heard my call. So I hope that this the first step in our leadership to support the current owners of Parker House, and let them know that The Black community and it's collective leadership will support them, and they can tell those who have made overtures, that Parker House is not for Sale.
Mark S. Allen Founder of The Black Leadership Institute, BLDI and a Cofounder of The Chicago Black Wall Street Project 773-392-0165
Mark,
I don't know how much of that rumor is true..however, I have been
working for months for Mr. Maurice McFolling, the current owner and
stepson of the founder Colonel Parker in trying to get Black clergy,
the Chicago Urban League, the City Council's Black Caucus, Ald. Pat
Dowell(in whose ward Parker House is located), Reverend Jesse Jackson
and several other Black prominents to step forward and speak up and
speak out on behalf of the Parker House Sausage Company.
To date, no one has felt the need to go to bat for a company that went to the wall
for many a Black civil rights group. As you well known from your days
at Rainbow(Breadbasket) former Parker House CEO Daryl Gresham
sustained that organization, often paying the payroll when no one else
would. Gresham's leadership also spawned the first merger of two
major Black lending institutions. He was a pioneer Black businessman
who blazed a trail for the Bob Johnson's and the Earl Graves' to
follow. For years, the city's land-hungry and social engineering elite
have salivated over the thought of driving Parker House from South
State Street. If the Black community does not stand up and speak out
to save Parker House, then no Black business anywhere in the city of
Chicago is safe. Give me a call.
On 6/20/08, Marksallen2800@aol.com wrote:
> Friends:
>
> I just got a an anonymous voice mail allegedly from an employee of Parker
> House Sausage asking me to look into the fact that they may be up for sale
> and
> if they are looking at Black buyers. So I figured I'd put out this heads up
> just in case we may be about to lose yet another historic Black owned
> institution.
>
>
51 years of marriage
Minor J. Allen, Sr. and his wife Ollie Evans Allen celebrated 51 years of marriage in Chicago, Illinois
Mrs. Allen is retired from the Montgomery Ward Company Corporate Office as a Telecommunications Manager. Her devoted mate is retired from the former McCormick Center Hotel as Banquet and Conventions Services Manager. The Allen's are currently part owners of the Dixie Kitchen Restaurant founded in Chicago's Hyde Park Community. They have three children and two grandchildren.
Anniversary Date: June 29, 2008
Humbly submitted by their children Michele (Allen) Marsh, Mark Allen and Minor J. Allen Jr. and grandchildren Dania Allen and Markus Allen
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