ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, August 11, 1996 TAG: 9608120065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JAMES TOLLIVER JR. STAFF WRITER
SEVERAL BLACK ORGANIZATIONS began rebuilding the Northwest neighborhood by beautifying the streets.
As the sun rose Saturday, it shone brightly over the beautiful Star City. As the sun climbed higher, so did the hopes of some residents of Northwest Roanoke.
That's because members of Rebuilding the Black Community, a nonprofit organization inspired by the Million Man March, were up early to take part in a street cleanup and health fair. The organization is taking this first step to help rebuild parts of the community as well as the spirits of those who live there.
The cleanup started on 11th Street and continued west on Melrose Avenue. After the cleanup, members of the RBC started working on their headquarters.
They cut the weeds and scraped the old paint off the front of the building where the RBC's logo eventually will be placed.
As Anthony Reed, president of the RBC, swept the freshly cut weeds from the sidewalk, he looked up and flagged down various people driving on Melrose.
"Hey, come and get your blood pressure checked," Reed shouted.
Reed wanted people to come into the RBC's headquarters to the free health fair, which also was a part of the cleanup day.
Dr. Pink Wimbish and his wife, Jacquelin Jacobs, both podiatrists, were on hand to answer questions about diabetes, high blood pressure and sexually transmitted diseases.
"It feels good to come here and do things for the community," Wimbish said.
Pat Bruce is a volunteer for the American Cancer Society. She read an article in The Roanoke Times about the health fair and decided to help.
"This is an excellent start for this organization," Bruce said. "I thought this would be a great way to get the word out about services offered through the Cancer Society."
Just one block away, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. were doing their part to beautify Northwest Roanoke, too. The alumni chapter picked up debris from Lafayette Boulevard.
"These are not two groups that talk with no action," said Demetria Tucker, a member of both RBC and the AKA sorority. "We're talking with a whole lot of action."
The Roanoke chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was sending out its message of nonviolence to the youth at Eureka Park.
The SCLC provided food, music and some encouragement to the youth at the park.
"We can't motivate people if we are not motivated ourselves," said Henry Loney, chairman of Roanoke's chapter of the SCLC.
Everyone from doctors to librarians to ministers spent their Saturday working with these positive ventures. All three organizations plan to continue improving the looks of Northwest Roanoke.
The RBC has begun a "Rites of Passage" program. Participants will be responsible for such things as getting a library card and adopting a senior citizen they can assist. The RBC also will tutor elementary children during the school year.
"These programs will really help give these young kids some direction in their life," said Reed, president of the RBC.
Roanoke's alumni chapter of AKA, which has adopted Lafayette Boulevard, will continue to clean it..
SCLC will sponsor another cookout at Washington Park on Aug. 24, with speakers there to talk to the youth.
"We can't keep going to the city every time we need help," said Lenord Hines, a member of the SCLC. "We have got to do things on our own."
"We can't stop here," Reed said. "If we want to change the community, we've got to keep working."
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: PHILIP HOLMAN Staff. 1. Jim Brown scrapes the sign aboveby CNBthe offices for Rebuilding the Black Community on Melrose Avenue.
Participants in RBC cleaned up the area around the offices and
removed trash from Melrose Avenue between 11th and 24th streets and
on Lafayette Boulevard on Saturday. color. 2. Dr. Pink Wimbish
checks Alverta Steptoe's blood pressure at a health fair sponsored
by RBC at its office on Melrose Avenue. color.