Greetings in the name of our resurrected Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ, and in the spirit of our ancestors, the great torchbearers of wisdom who illuminate our path. Special salutations to our dear sponsors – advertisers and the many churches, mosques, businesses and community institutions that have said “Yes” to The Positive Community’s Great Roll Call to Progress.

We cannot fit on a single page the names of all the institutions of faith that have joined since the Roll Call was introduced. Many thanks for your support of this vision of progress. We are most grateful for an opportunity to serve and share. Our all new interactive website, thepositivecommunity.com powered by BlackNJ.com will soon be up and running. The website will include a complete listings of the roll call, news, information, on-line shopping, contests, prizes and much more.

The images and faces of our people caught in the tragedy of the hurricane in New Orleans, LA., are unforgettable. These luckless, leaderless, mostly poor African-Americans are now dependent on government and charity for survival. It will be debated long into the future why it took the government so long to respond with aid to the victims.

The relief effort now in full swing reflects the resiliency of the American spirit. Religious and community organizations of all races and faiths have answered the call of the suffering and displaced. The government is redoubling its efforts to repair the damage inflicted upon so many in the Gulf Coast region.

Recently my partner, Jean Nash Wells, and I attended the NJ Faith and Community-based Resource Expo in Atlantic City. The Rev. Calvin McKinney, chair of the Commission on Faith-Based Initiatives for New Jersey, the agency responsible for mounting the Expo, delivered the keynote address. His opening remarks were about New Orleans and how many African American clergy leaders, churches and businesses are networking not only to provide relief, but also to seek lasting solutions for challenges inherent in rebuilding lives and communities.

We were impressed with Rev. McKinney’s remarks. It is as true for other communities as it is for African Americans that the middle class should seek creative ways to support and remedy its underclass. It should not be the primary responsibility of government or charity.

The times demand that a new leadership organization be established and convened at the highest possible level to include clergy leadership, private institutions and those in business, entertainment and professional sports. This group, comprised of the best and brightest among us should create and administer a permanent superfund—by us and for us—to advance the economic, social and cultural needs of the people.

The community building ideals of self acceptance, self-reliance and self-respect must be applied in earnest to assure progress in the areas of eliminating idleness, illiteracy, teen pregancy and crime, through promoting values of family, education, health, art, industry and thrift.

If African Americans are viewed by the world with pity or haughty distain it affects every single one of us regardless of income or status. We owe it to God and our fellow man to be responsible for and accountable to the progress of our children, the community and the integrity of our culture.

What are the short and long-range goals of the African American people? Can we project a collective vision of hope and opportunity for our children 5, 25, 50 to 100 years into the future? As we see it, wise, effective leadership and inspired teamwork is what is required to navigate the high tides of social change along with the courage to withstand the turbulent floodwaters of adversity.

When all is said and done, of this I am certain: the Gospel of Jesus will ever shine on as a beacon of hope for a struggling humanity, and God will help those who help themselves. Shalom!