.D.
By ROBBIE CRU P- cCOV
p!C I to tM Mlchlfl!n Cltlan
D OIT - Bandele i an M-
rican male name, the transla­
tion of which i "follow me
home", It' a pecial Sp ulding
project in ponse to the alarm­
ing number of Black school a
children, particularly, males,
currently awaiting permanent
hom in the Detroit metropoli­
tan area.
The group held a gigantic
celebration Sunday at the Hart­
ford Memorial Baptist Church
in 0 rvance of the 25th anni­
versary and titled Spaulding for
Children:
Directing the project were,
Rev. Wendell Anthony, pastor,
and Fellowship Chapel; Rev.
William Harri t pastor and
Grac Community; Rev. Car­
lysle F. Stewart and Hope
United Methodist and St. Olaf
Evangelical Lutheran, Tillis B.
Butler, director of music.
The Bandele Agency partners
are Catholic Social Services of
Oakland County; Ennis Center
for Children; Evergreen Chil­
dren's Center, Lula Belle Ste­
wart Center; Lutheran
Adoption Services; Methodist
Children Services, Spectrum
Human Services; St. Francis!
Sara Fisher, Teen Ranch and
Wayne County.
BANDELE IS FU DED in '
part by a Federal ctJ1!.nt from
Health and Human Services, Of­
fice of Children any Youth. It is
supported in a large way by
Wendy's International restau­
rants. The founder Dave
Thomas recently accepted an
award from Spaulding Board
member, Joyce Hurst.
The 25th anniversary Sun­
day was highlighted with a
goepelfest when the joyous cele­
bration was highlighted with
singing by the Generation Choir
with Arthur Lee Merriwether
III directing; the Chancel Choir
of Hope United Methodist; the
St. Olaf Gospel Group; Hartford
Young Adult Choir; Grace Com­
munity's Children's Choir and
Courville Elementary Concert
Choir with William Hines, direc­
tor.
Rev. Diane Smalley-Norman
said the invocation; Alan Tump­
kin greeted guests; Dr. Delbert
E. Gray, president of the board
of Spaulding, gave opening re­
marks and Rev. Anthony gave
greetings. A testimony support­
ing and praising the work of
Spaulding was given by Derrick
L. Lopez: adoptive parent; Mary
Lee Pearson and Dr. Charles G.
Adams gave closing remarks.
The main focus of Spaulding was
given as the development of col­
laborative partnerships be­
tween community churches and
agencies to educate, train and
recruit prospective adoptive
families for kids. In 1992, 576
Wayne County children were
adopted, but there are approxi­
mately 1,300 still waiting.
In a letter to the group, Pier­
ree Shepherd, adoptive son of
Mr. and Mrs. Alton Shepherd,
wrote from Cornell University
where he is a student, "It must
be by the gra of God that I'm
alive today and you are hearing
my tory. My life took a 360 de­
gree turn from nowhere to
where I am today, after being
adopted by the Shepherds".
T CHILD E lected
by Spaulding are often victims of
neglect, abandonment, and
other forms of abu e, some are
wai ing in fos r hom ,for per­
manent famili .
While the Sunday celebration
was an effort to honor families of
adop ions, it also was an effort
to find additional home for
other children. It cited African­
Am riean mal the m t un­
wanted foster children, and it's
aim also is to e the thinking
h.a the Black family does no
want to dop.
E t church p to involved
in a joint tatement id, "This
is n effort to hatter the reo­
type th t Blacks don't adopt.
20021 W. Chicago, Grace Com­
munity Church, and Rev. Harris
an wholistic approach to
Christianity, religion and 0 her
i u , as an inter-denomina­
tional, inter-racial church with
a family orientation. It has sin­
gl , couples and men's fellow­
ship.
Hartford, 18700 Jame
Couzens, has Agape House, and
programs Achieve designed to
enrich youth like Big Brother,
Big Sister; Junior Achievement
and OASI otiv tion for Hi
choole .
Fello hip Cha 1, 19555 W.
Mc ichol , ha d t rt,
Ri te of Pa g Progr m,
G.E.D. Program; Afrocentric lit-
rature, Afri n Artifa nd
Alcoholic Anonymo program.
Hope United, 23795 Civic C n­
ter Drive,also offe Ri ofP -
age program; entoring
program with Southfield High
School; Imani Institute, African
American Political Education
program and African American
League.,
All four churches have Bible
studie programs.
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