March 21, 2007
Patricia Russell-McCloud is known around the world for her eloquence, her command of the English language and her ability to captivate and energize an audience.
She's been doing just that for decades and she didn't disappoint the hundreds who attended the Omicron Mu Omega Foundation's 21st Annual Image Award Scholarship Luncheon in Las Colinas this past weekend.
The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.'s foundation honors "individuals who have made significant contributions to the community."
Focusing on the theme: Called to Serve...The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few,” the Atlanta resident said she came to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth."
"There’s work to be done," she said, focusing on the work her sorority has done as it approaches its centennial next year. "We've got to make it happen."
Stressing the need for involvement, she continued, talking about how men are able to work together while it takes longer for women to do so.
"We need an attitude check," she said. "Working together works. Persistence and stick-to-it-tiveness works."
Interrupted several times by thunderous applause, Attorney Russell-McCloud referred to an era when people learned that their acts had consequences but today things are much different even though there are more people with degrees and higher incomes.
It's time to galvanize the forces, she said. "Get involved and stop complaining." As the world continues to change, Ms. Russell-McCloud pointed to some areas that need attention, namely multicultural, multiethnic and multi-faith issues.
Changing demographics make it necessary to find commonalities.
As the world struggles with issues, what she calls "intellectual capital" is important to deal with everything from the "warehousing" of men and women in prison and the AIDS epidemic to the crisis in education, men on the down low and how to choose the next president of the United States.
"Every candidate requires our scrutiny," she said. “And shame on us if we don't let leaders lead us."
Taking her seat to two standing ovations, Ms. Russell-McCloud, while clearly the headliner for the afternoon, shared the spotlight with this year's Image Award recipient, the Rev. Issac C. Johnson.
As the founder and coordinator of the Coalition of Churches in Prison Ministry, "Rev. Ike” said the organization was created to "take the love of Jesus Christ behind the Texas prison wire."
In an impressive video presentation, Rev. Ike’s work was chronicled as units around Texas were adopted and the lives of hundreds of inmates were touched. But the work does not stop there.
According to the Lincoln High School graduate and owner of Ike's Moving and Delivery Service, the church holds the key to dealing with a major crisis.
"We've got a major epidemic that's basically plaguing the African American Community," he said. "When you see city managers and mayors lobbying to have a prison built in their community, something is wrong."
Worship services, a pen pal correspondence ministry and efforts to help former inmates transition back in the community are just a few of the areas that the Coalition of Churches in Prison Ministry has been successful in servicing this special population.
This father of eight, along with is wife, is also the sponsor of an elementary school named for them in Leogane, Haiti.
Rev. Ike joins an impressive list of past recipients, including: Linda C. Walker of the Jeffries Street Learning Center, Ann Williams of the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Rev. Zan Wesley Holmes and former NBC anchor/reporter Ramona Logan.
The foundation also presented a scholarship to Paul Quinn College student, Marcia Jones, who received their first Mature Woman's Scholarship, which is presented to a female who is at least 25 years old. In her greeting, chapter president Jackie Blalock Robinson explained, "We recognize that many adults want to return to college to help improve their lives, but lack the financial support. It is our hope that this first step will assist a young woman in fulfilling her dreams."
Ms. Russell-McCloud is the former chief of complaints for the Federal Communications Commission. A graduate of Kentucky State University and Howard University School of Law, she is the author of “A Is for Attitude: An Alphabet for Living.” In addition to being named by Ebony Magazine as one of the most influential people in the U.S. for the past four years, Ms. Russell-McCloud is a past national president of Links, Inc.
In keeping with their international focus, members wanted to spread the word about a health fair on April 28 from 11a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at T.L. Marsalis Elementary School in Dallas.
The Omicron Mu Omega Chapter was founded in 1984.
Cheryl can be reached at csmith@dallasweekly.com
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