King’s dream is
realized in Frankford

By Jeannie O’Sullivan
Times Staff Writer

It was a dream come true in the basement of St. Joachim’s Roman Catholic Church, where a noticeably diverse group of about 100 celebrated what has become a symbol of harmony in the melting pot that is Frankford.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was the dreamer, and the reason why clergy members, homeless residents, government leaders, community volunteers and students convened under the same roof on Monday for Frankford’s 20th annual breakfast celebrating the slain civil rights hero.
As always, the event featured a multitude of area sponsors and coordinators, including Frankford Group Ministry; Joan Oliveto Catering; Nulty Funeral Home; Frankford Garden Club; the Frankford CDC; Frankford Hospital; and Frankford High School students, who served the meal after their school’s ROTC members led lead the group through a presentation-of-arms and the national anthem.
The dignitaries represented a "who’s who" of Frankford’s last two decades and spoke of this year’s theme, Peacemaking in the Neighborhood.
Steve Blackburn, of Frankford Family Support Services, talked about the need to bridge the racial gap at a young age.
"They’re going to carry the torch," said Blackburn, referring to the youth in the room. "This is not a day off, this is a day on."
Councilman Rick Mariano (D-7th dist.) was smiling and cheerful despite his looming trial in federal court for multiple corruption charges and a possible prison sentence.
Mariano presented the Frankford Coalition of Neighbors with a Philadelphia Activities Fund check for $2,500, commenting that he didn’t know what the next year would bring. He added, if "I can, I’m going to be right here."
In their addresses, the Rev. Marie Johns, pastor of Second Baptist Church of Frankford, the Rev. John Clodfelter of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, and the Rev. Robin Hynicka, who preceded Catherine Bowers as executive director of the Frankford Group Ministry, urged everyone to be mindful of King’s message and its local impact.
It was a group of Frankford’s clergy members, after all, that formed the Human Relations Coalition (HRC) in 1986 to improve ethnic relations in the neighborhood, where racial tensions had reached fever pitch.
"People have told me stories about getting chased home from school," said Jennifer Powell-Folks, who heads HRC’s offspring, the Frankford Coalition of Neighbors (FCN). The group, which took over the annual breakfast six years ago, focuses on volunteerism and fostering peace via community gatherings.
Raymond Perry, former president of HRC’s board of directors and current administrator of Redirection Center, Inc., reflected on the ups and downs endured by the grassroots organization that ultimately served as a driving force in progress. The HRC eventually disbanded, he said, for a simple reason:
"We didn’t need it anymore," said Perry.
But the message was clear that Philadelphia as a whole — which tallied 380 homicides last year, up from 330 in 2004 — still needs help.
The keynote speaker at Monday’s breakfast, Bilal Qayyum, heads Men United for a Better Philadelphia (MUBP), a prevention group that formed in 2002 to combat drug-related homicides citywide with teams in each sector of Philadelphia.
In honor of the holiday, MUBP had launched a street-corner outreach on Jan. 13. Dubbed the Peace Tour, volunteers traveled by RV encouraging men of all ages to take advantage of Philadelphia’s employment resources.
King, said Qayyum, was not just a mere dreamer, he was a revolutionary of positive change and social progress.
"We’re asking men to stand up and be a man in their community," Qayyum told the group. "Until we develop that mindset, nothing’s going to change. We’re all in this together." ••
Reporter Jeannie O’Sullivan can be reached at 215-354-3038 or osullivanj@phillynews.com