Access Alaska

By Colleen Surridge
Parsons Sun

While her classmates sat in their classroom in Parsons learning the three Rs, 9-year-old Allie Jones was in Washington, D.C., last week learning lessons in history, politics and life.

It is in Washington where Allie saw direct action in progress -- the same type of direct action that has led to change over the years from the civil rights movement.

Martin Luther King Jr. once wrote in a letter from Birmingham jail, "Why sit-ins, marches and so forth? Isn't negotiation a better path? You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored."

Allie was in Washington for the 25th anniversary of ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today), a group that uses direct action to fight for legislation to promote services in communities instead of warehousing people with disabilities in institutions and nursing homes.

"It's about having access to everything, so they have their rights like everyone else does," Allie said.

Way to go Allie! Read more here in the Parsons Sun.

Racism and/or disablism both are stains and strains on our community.

April 16, 2008

Dear Fellow Citizen of Anchorage:

Once again, an incident of racial prejudice has shocked our town. Local disk-jockeys have made a “joke” at the expense of Native Alaskan women, and have been suspended pending “sensitivity training.” Does this treatment solve the problem? Not unless you think the problem is merely the public airing of sentiments and beliefs that most of us carry in our hearts.

Healing Racism in Anchorage, a grass-roots organization of volunteers, thinks there is a better, deeper way to cure the underlying sickness of prejudice, racism, and bigotry that infects our community.

A five-week session of classes begins with the video “Anchorage Is Our Home,” showing us the impact of stereotyping, prejudice, and racism in our own town. Discussion centers on the experiences and feelings of members of the class evoked by watching the video. All discussion is confidential - we agree not to report it outside of the classroom without prior consent of the speaker.

In successive meetings we watch other videos, including the powerful “The Color of Fear.” Members always have ample time to discuss, and to express their thoughts and feelings. Experienced leaders maintain confidentiality, safety, and respect at all times. Readings will also be provided for home study.

Whether you have already been a participant, or have not yet attended one of these classes, we invite you to join a new group that will meet for five successive Thursday evenings, starting May 15th:

6:30 – 8:30 P.M.
May 15 – June 12
BP Energy Center
(a separate building in back of the big BP headquarters at the corner of Northern Lights Blvd. and New Seward Hwy.)

Cost: Free to Members
$20 for a One-Year Membership
(reduced price to students and seniors)

Sincerely,

Healing Racism in Anchorage
PO Box 92086
Anchorage, AK 99509-2086
907/561-3238; 907/677-8918 fax
www.anchoragehealingracism.org; contact ppartnow@alaska.com

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"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!"

-- Martin Luther King, Jr., Memphis, Tennessee, April 3, 1968