National Black Deaf Advocates

2007 Conference

During the 4th of July week, NBDA celebrated its 25th anniversary, themed as “Today’s Vision is Tomorrow’s Reality”. The theme reminds us of how 25 years ago, people’s vision became today’s reality, and now we have to create a new vision today that we want to become tomorrow’s reality. Pamela and Ari Ogoke, the co-chairs, wanted the conference that “rejuvenates each participant and revitalizes NBDA.”

The conference’s future is highly dependent on the young generation and the conference was able to introduce the organization to 23 youth students in the Y.E.S. program and 16 college students in Collegiate Black Deaf Students Leadership. Co-founders Ernest Hairston and Lonnie Cook were given special recognition for their role in establishing NBDA. (Note: Co- founders Deacon Willard Shorter, Linwood Smith, and Zoe E. Collymore Page will be missed.) Twenty-five individuals who served leadership roles within NBDA wee asked to write a Hot Topic essay in the program book. Notable passages from the topics include:

            Lottie Cook: “Homeless people (and organizations) are like rolling stones. They travel light, they have little credibility…”

            Pam Lloyd-Ogoke: “I am reminded of the 3,422 soldiers and civilians who died in a war for OUR freedom and none of us know their names…True heroes are willing to go to war for their beliefs and not for the expected glory upon their return…it’s time to stop whining and time to start supporting YOUR organization!!!”

            Ronnie Mae Tyson-Jones: “NBDA needs to be more involved in obtaining grant funding to provide the younger generation with full scholarships…let’s get in touch with other historical black colleges and media outlets such as Essence, Ebony, and Jet magazines to market ourselves…”

            Betty Henderson: “My self-esteem has greatly increased in both my personal and work life and I am a much healthier, stronger and involved leader because of the love, support, and encouragement of NBDA.”

            Reichelle Anderson- “Nobody is coming to save us!...The most pressing issue for black deaf people is your problem. No one is or will address it for you if you do not. You must identify your issues, needs, and concerns, then address them yourselves. After the identification process comes planning. It has been said: ‘If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.’”

            Glenn Anderson: “ …a long term agenda for NBDA- have an effective media and public relations programs, network with educational programs serving deaf students, have effective self-help programs for our member chapters, make economic empowerment of NBDA a high priority…”

            Fred Beam: “ One of the biggest questions is “does our present generation know who the people are that paved the way for them?” We need to showcase and highlighting special gifts, talents, and culture of Black Deaf community. We need to make films for everyone to see us in a positive light.”

            Lindsay Dunn: ”Chapters should consider parent/deaf infant support groups and volunteer to teach them ASL so their child has language at the correct age. Chapters must request participation on appropriate groups like PTA’s so they know how black students are doing academically.”

            Festus Fabilola: “Hosting the conferences in big cities and posh hotels make it extremely difficult for the average black deaf person to attend. Does NBDA want to reach out to all black deaf people or just the rich and well-to-do ones?...[conferences] is a time to devise plans for fighting for our rights, and equal opportunities.”

            Kristi Merriweather: “Why do we continue to have “chapters” worrying about maintaining membership and doing fundraisers instead of “small businesses” worrying about which charity to donate some of the profits to?”

Fun events included Riverboat Cruise/Firework on July 4th, Harrah Casino, and Family Fun Night hosted by Greater St. Louis Association of the Deaf at their deaf-owned club. (Note: St. Louis is particularly known for a good number of wealth circulating among deaf people (due to the number of wealthy families sending deaf children to private deaf schools).)

The historical bread and butter of the conferences tend to be the workshops, the pageant, and the banquet, and this year was no exception. Among the most popular attended were “The Gallaudet Protest” its Relevance and Ramifications for Black Deaf America” and “Stop this Madness…The Failure of the Education System in Meeting the needs of African American Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students in America” Dr. Isaac Agboola, Workshops Chair, observed, “I was quite pleased to observe that most workshops were well attended, with some running well beyond the time allowed due to the intensity of the discus sions. In retrospect, some of the topics clearly should have been scheduled as plenary sessions not in conflict with any other presentation so that everyone could attend. The presentation on the state of education of black deaf children and young adults is an example. For future conferences I suggest that topics like this should be scheduled as the first activity in the morning, and not in conflict with any other presentation. Finally, I give the lion share of the credit for the success of the workshops to the presenters. They were the ones that came up with interesting topics and presented them in a way that was engaging and inspiring.”

Tim Albert and Evon Black emceed the 24th pageant in which four ladies competed for the crown. Jonelle Thames of Detroit was awarded the title formerly held by Ms. Roxann Richards of Rochester, with Miss. Philadelphia Adanya Saunders as first attendant and April Gardner of Chicago as second runner-up.

At the banquet, Michelle Thomas, the Banquet Chair, presented Total Prayze Ministries, an Atlanta-based signing gospel group, as the main entertainment feature. Michelle speaks of the banquet: “The 2007 NBDA's 25th Anniversary Banquet was a fabulous success at Landmark Ballroom in Grand Renaissance Hotel! Being Banquet Chairperson was a great experience for me to socialize with fine people of St. Louis. Volunteers Patrice Joyner, Melvin Creamer, Sharon White, and Jeannette Slone helped me set up the tables and check guests' name tags for banquet dinner. I really appreciated the interpreters' wonderful services for aiding me with banquet programs. The Mistress & Mas ter of Ceremony were Tyese Wright and Fred Beam, who did a marvelous job. The keynote speaker, President of Gallaudet University, Dr. Robert Davila outlined a program to upgrade the university (and addressing issues regarding black deaf students). The food was delicious. Total Prayze Ministries' performances were fantastic. DJStarBaby Entertainers (Tina Washington and Lauren Morgan) played the music for everybody's pleasure. They were remarkable! I applaud the Conference chairpersons and committee members for making this 25th Anniversary Conference a very successful one. I truly enjoyed this week events! See you at the next 2009 NBDA conference!!”

Fred Beam was elected as the President, with Benro Ogunyipe as Vice President, Cory Parker as Secretary, and Martina Moore-Reid as Treasurer. Their term officially begins October 1, 2007.

Michael E Graziano