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Week of Thursday, February 26, 2004
Dingell to speak to By JUDY
BUSACK Keeping alive the dream of the Rev. Thomas Smith, the 51st Brotherhood Banquet will be Friday, Feb. 27. Smith envisioned improving the relationship of people in the community with a spirit of love, peace and unity. He started the banquet in 1953 during a time when there was considerable racial tension in the community. Brown Chapel AME currently sponsors the annual banquet to benefit the community spiritually and financially. William Lewis, this year’s chair, said, "What we try to do is to include as many of the surrounding churches, community organizations and other people who really represent the community to have the real true meaning of brotherhood." The theme of the banquet this year is "Meeting the Challenge of Today Through Unity," inspired by Psalm 133:1. Keynote speakers at the banquet have included state Rep. Ruth Ann Jamnick, Bishop Philip Cousins and Milton Little, president of the Urban League. This year’s keynote speaker will be John Dingell, 15th district U.S. Representative and Dean of the Congress. "First we operate on a man-woman basis and then black-white. Then we try to get someone from the religious community or from the political community," said Lewis, explaining the process for choosing a speaker. Serving as mistress of ceremonies will be Dingell’s wife Debbie. Tickets are $60 for the banquet, and once the bills are paid, the remaining money is donated back to the community. In the past recipients of the donations have been Huron Valley Christian Academy, the Girl Scouts, Parents Together and Safe House. "We take a certain percentage to offer the organizations throughout the community that need help. They submit a form on what they are all about and what they need money for," said Lewis. The banquet begins at 6 p.m. with a reception and dinner at 7 p.m. For more information, call 482-7050. |
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