THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996 TAG: 9602160191
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANIE BRYANT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Several Portsmouth churches were among those in Hampton Roads that sponsored Wednesday night meetings to discuss ways to stop violence in the community.
The night of ``town meetings'' was called for by leaders of Citizens for SAVE (Stopping Acts of Violence with Education), an organization started by Norfolk businessman Tom Taylor. Taylor was inspired by the call for community action delivered during the Million Man March.
Portsmouth's meetings ranged from a panel discussion at Martin Luther King Jr. United Methodist Church in Prentis Park to an open forum at Grove Baptist Church in Churchland.
The Rev. Melvin Marriner of Grove Baptist explained earlier that his church wanted to hear from those living in fear in the community, but also from some of those who have been involved in the crime.
Marriner had planned for testimony to be given by men who have been incarcerated and who are now ``saying I want a change of life.''
At Noble Street Baptist Church, which serves old neighborhoods like Douglass Park and Truxtun, the emphasis of the meeting was on the church taking more part in the work of the neighborhood.
From crime watching and rallies to attending civic league meetings, the talk centered around the need to overcome the fear that allows crime to take over the community, according to the Rev. Ronnie T. Northam.
The fear is a concern that has received even greater attention recently by police accounts of the number of homicides and other serious crimes that go unsolved because witnesses are too intimidated to come forward.
Northam was pleased with the 35 to 40 people who showed up and made a verbal commitment to the work ahead.
``It was marvelous,'' he said.
Northam said his group ``talked about ways and means that we can help out the police department. . . reporting crimes when we see them, not being afraid.''
The minister sees mobilizing a greater number of people as a solution.
``Where there's unity there's strength,'' he said.
Northam said there was also a focus on people becoming more aware of what's going on around them and even confronting the drug dealers on the street corner to let them know they're going to report them.
``We're scared being in the house,'' said Northam. ``Let's be scared enough and bold enough to go outside the house.''
Other churches holding meetings included Fourth Baptist Church; First Baptist Church, South Portsmouth; St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church; Noble Street Baptist Church and Third Baptist Church.
The goal of the meetings was to do more than just meet and talk, Taylor explained last week.
He wanted participants to go away that night having made a commitment to volunteer ``one hour a week or 52 hours a year'' into something that would help ``stem the tide of violence or promote traditional family values.''
Persons who want to be a part of that effort can call one of the participating churches or can call Nora Willoughby at 366-5501, Ext. 647. by CNB