Project Diversity graduates latest class; project remain for grads

Let’s Be More Like George W. Bush. Seriously.

Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman

Demagoguery has always flourished during times of national unease. And so it is not surprising that while Americans grapple with the consequences of war and recession, media personalities and future presidential hopefuls are preying on their fears.

For the past several weeks, talk radio and cable news has been abuzz with the controversy regarding the proposed Islamic center in lower Manhattan, not far from the site of the 2001 terrorist attacks that killed thousands of people and destroyed the World Trade Center.

Because of the hyperbole with which this topic has been discussed in the media, it is understandable—though regrettable—that many Americans have a negative reaction to the proposal. It is extremely unfortunate, however, that some of our would-be leaders are using this moment to fan the flames of division and intolerance.

The question of whether Muslims in New York have the right to build an Islamic Center near Ground Zero isn’t really a question at all: Of course they do; this is America. Religious freedom is one of the foundations upon which this nation was built. Every American has the right to worship how and where they see fit.

This principle, enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution, is one of many that make me proud to be an American. But others apparently think it should be revisited. For example, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich recently suggested that when it comes to religious freedom, America should follow the lead of Saudi Arabia.

“There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia,” Gingrich said.

Gingrich is clearly hoping to ride this issue all the way to the 2012 Republican presidential nomination, though I don’t know that suggesting that America take its cues from an Islamic theocracy is the best strategy.

Not all opponents of the New York mosque are making as radical a case as the former House speaker. Some have acknowledged that Muslims have the right to build a mosque in lower Manhattan, but say they should have the decency to refrain from exercising that right because of the attacks of nine years ago.

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Project Diversity graduates latest class; project remain for grads

By Felix Hoover

For Your News Columbus

Oct. 1, 2010

Since its beginning nearly 20 years ago, Project Diversity has graduated 300 community leaders to serve on boards and committees of nonprofit organizations.

That number includes 18 new graduates of the eight-month program, which is run by the United Way of Central Ohio.

The ceremony on Friday at Grange Insurance on S. High Street marked the end of the program’s 19^th cycle, said Shayne Downton, United Way’s assistant vice president, program alignment/diversity & inclusion.

The 18 members were chosen from about 80 applicants, he said.

Downton was a graduate of the 11^th class, when he was executive director of Strategies Against Violence Everywhere, or SAVE, so he understands different perspectives on getting people from different backgrounds up to speed at the beginning of each cycle.

“I was amazed how quickly this class jelled,” he said. “Right off the bat they were able to come together and have good dialogue.”

Marie Davis, vice president, technical & quality operations, Tween Brands Inc., said that she has long envisioned herself serving on community boards, but lacked the skills to do so before she became a member of Cycle 19.

Now that her children are older, she feels that can spend more of her time giving back to the community.

“The training that was provided from April to now has been invaluable,” Davis said.

And it’s apparently effective, seeing that she has already landed a board position with the New Directions Career Center.

The grads chose Priscilla Hammonds, senior consultant for Nationwide Insurance, to speak on their behalf at Friday’s program. She talked about the different leadership styles exhibited the class and some of the exercises used to build self-confidence and team trust.

The grads also heard from United Way President Janet Jackson and Bob James, president of Grange Insurance, which has sponsored Project Diversity the past 10 years.

One of the features of the program is a group project, which for Cycle 19 will be a health and education fair on Oct. 16 at St. Stephen’s Community House.