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October 22, 2007

Rosa Parks Commemorated at United Nations - Lifting the Voices of Children

October 24, 2007 will be the second anniversary of the death of the late esteemed
Mrs. Rosa L. Parks, and the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the United Nations.

The volunteers at Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute, an organization that she co-founded to carry on her legacy, have long dreamed of having a program for young people highlighting the extensive work Mrs. Parks’ emphasized in the area of non violence and peace keeping. That program is about to take place, beginning at 6 A M with an ecumenical prayer service at the Church of the Covenant, 310 E 42nd St, NYC. Dr. C. Herbert Oliver, Senior Pastor will lead representatives from the faith community in extending prayers. The prayer focus will be to address peace, environmental issues, and complex problems thrust upon young people such as sexual and economic abuse and exploitation, pandemics, genocide and other challenges that negatively impact the lives of our future leaders globally. Concurrent prayers will commence around the globe.

Later that morning following a tour of the UN, the United Nations Association USA will provide a briefing and a Model UN simulation as part of a Youth Peace Summit. They will focus on the plight of child soldiers and hear the testimonies of young refugees. In response, students will make a commitment to assuming leadership roles and demonstrating peacekeeping efforts within their communities.

The day will end with a reception at the Marble Collegiate Church (former church of Norman Vincent Peele) 3 West 29^th Street at 5^th Ave, 10^th floor conference room, where friends of peace can view a display of sample programs developed by the Rosa & Raymond Parks Institute, along with a selection of crayon drawings expressed by children of Darfur.

It is the hope of the Institute that this impactful Pathways to Peace program, initiated after 9/11 (prior to Mrs. Parks’ retirement), will be replicated in communities across the world, engaging children in dialog and inspiring them, like Rosa Parks, to lead change.

Mrs. Parks is historically remembered for refusing to give her seat to a white male passenger on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama December 5, 1955. She became the catalyst for the modern civil rights movement, and went on to establish the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development in 1987. Mrs. Parks was the first woman to lie in honor in the nations Capital Rotunda. Additionally, a bill was signed by the President of the United States for a full statue of her to be placed in Statuary Hall of the Nation’s Capital. Last year the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act was named in her honor along with Coretta Scott King and Fannie Lou Hammer. She will always be remembered as a lady of grace, humility and service.

For more information, visit the web site www.rosaparks.org or telephone Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute at (313)965-0606, Anita Peek, Executive Director.