Document zjdEmJ590YL8J6j28ydOXr3

fated. jjis^fute 1200No. 13th StreetEast St. Louis, fujums 62205 (618) 583-2585 September 9, 1994 Monsanto The Chemical Group . W.G. Krumrarich Plant : 500 Monsanto Avenue Sauget, Illinois 2206-1198 Attention; Keith Miller Dear Keith/ Thanks to you Keith, I have received perhaps the most honored token of appreciation that a private citizen can receive from his or hometown, and that is a proclamation and a day set aside for you every year. Last Saturday, September 3, 1994 was Jahi Bakari and The Bakari Institute Day in Bast St. Louis, and without your contribution of funds; none of this could have been possible. I am truly grateful for your unselfish commitment to the inner city, and I am very proud to be associated with a fine gentleman such as yourself. I look forward to expanding the program this Fall. Give a special heartfelt thanks to Kevin Cahill for passing our information to you and to Russ Sackett for having faith in your judgement to give us a shbt. Thanks again. dsoo W3H0 oiraow mu m<zi 11 n-i\-w DSW 135582 STLCOPCB4035561 'he_______________ umsMonitoiast Si. A EAST ST. LOUIS, ILLINOIS--THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1984 Peaceful African Summer Nights Came To An End and Oilie May Stewart from' Southside Senior Citizens Center in St. Louis. Without them, I wouldn't have a pro gram.'' jaM Bated fttheftakarl Institute fay Kelvin donee of the Mayor's Office Bestows Proclamation upon Jaht Bakari A student of the Bakari Institute during tha aftamoon edition of Peaceful AfrilMS^imwNIghts Prognur^. .. . of th' e ES"L Farmer* Market. BY MONULITA CBUISE Hie last installment of the "Peaceful African Summer Nights" series ended Saturday, Sep. 3 at the East St. Louis Fanner's Market. Besides the ever present musical performances, there were a few surprises. The original program Includ ed music and dance from RlkkA-Thon Productions, Kumasl Kambeng, the East St, Louis Community Ensemble and Harvesting New Generations. There were also poetry readings and selections by Shanta Smith and Delia Payne. '^JahiBakarirExteuttve Direc tor of the Bakarl Institute, and Harvesting New Generations were the proud sponsors of this summer long "cultural awareness'' activity. Although the program did not take place at its original home, Jones Park, the crowd was equally, receptive. About 40 participants were on hand from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to support Bakari and Harvesting New Generations. "1 would like to give Kirk Goodrich. Director of the Farmer's Market, a very special thanks for allowing us to bring our concert to his business," One of our senior citizens was so moved by the selections, she decided to get Involved. Ms. Dorothy McCombs, age unknown, recited two poems that were cultural, real-to-life and well spoken. ifically Monsanto and King Dodge bent over backwards to put money into this community. Businesses and companies that care, such as these, should receive much support," Bakari said. But wsutl There was another surprise. Kelvin Jones, Press Secretary for East St. Louis Mayor Gordon Bush, dropped by. Jones presented 2fi-year-oid Bakari with a Proclamation from the Mayor's, office, for work he's done with youth in the community, leadership in molding young people and for presenting culturalprograms to the community'. "I am so happy right now. I thank you and Mayor Bush for recognizing me as making a dif ference in the community," Bakari said. "This proclamation gives me the motivation to continue to achieve my three major goals within three years: To reopen the Mary Brown Center; reopen Jones Park; and get businesses in the community more respon sive to the citizens. Bring to fruition the full capability of the East St, Louis Farmer's Market." isoD W3H0 oiraow mu am-11 to-zi-eo 0d DSW 135583 STLCOPCB4035562 Wf Cgys - ^ ^0 East St. LouisMOtlltOf jme 3i EAST ST. LOUIS. ILLINOIS--THURSDAY, JUNE 2. NUMBER 34 Kudos To Bakari, King Dodge & The Monsanto Fund * fliu* Sicken, Plant Managtr at the Meniento Biugai pimt Kan Sewell, FreeWent or King Oodge, Inc., presents Jahl preaema a *5,000 cheek on behalf of the Monsanto Fund to Bakari, Executive Director of The Bekeri Institute wllh Mini. the Baked Institute Executive Director, Jahl fiakair. Ven. King Oodge donated two vene to The Baked Institute. BY MONULITA CRUISE The Monsanto Fund presented Jahl Bakari with a check lor 35,000 to further enhance the Bakari Institute. "It's a pleasure for us to be a part of making Harvesting New Generations successful," said Russell F. Sackett, Plant Manager for Monsanto Chemical Plant in Sauget. He continued. "Jahi has done a wonderful job with these kids and we've seen big results." While the Monsanto Fund provides funds for programs, educational purposes, etc.. King Dodge provides the transportation for the Bakari Institute. "Jahl teaches students and in return, they teach others what they've learned." All funds donated go directly to benefit the students in the program. Bakari Is looking for ward to next Fall; He antielpates 100 students. "With more student involve ment, our program con really take off. We're blessed for all of our good fortune and we do spread it onto others," Bakari said. dHOO W3H0 OINVSNOW HOM HV9HI f6-ZI-60 DSW 135584 STLCOPCB4035563 Ceayngfitins GREGORY FREEMAN URBAN VIEW Elderly, Teens Harvest Ideas HEN rr COMES to teen agers, seniors arc often wary, ' Why not? The two seem to come from opposite ends of the spectrum. Teen-agers are loud, seniors think, they're wild, they're ... wefl. they're downright dangerous. Meanwhile, seniors, teen-agers will tell you, are slow, they're boring, they can't get around. What could these two groups possi bly have in oommon? Jahi Bskari and Oilie Mae Stewart have found a common denominator: gardening. Bakari la the founder and head of a program called Harvest ing New Genera - Uons. Based in East St. Louis, the program is aet up to motivate poor, urban youngsters. Last year, Baton'syoungsters grew a garden on the grounds of State Com munity College. This year. Baton wanted the participants to work with seniors. "They've got so much knowl edge," he said. "I saw it as a great . opportunity for them to share that *' with the students." , Through a mutual friend, Bakari ` hooked up with Stewart, director of . the Southside Senior Citizens Center at 3017 Park Avenue. The two put together plans for a fruit and vegetable garden next door to the center. AU summer long, Baton's 16 kids have worked on the garden with the seniors, growing tomatoes, herbs, squash, peppers and honeydew mel ons, The seniors, many of whom were born or grew up in the rural South, know a lot about gardening. POST-DISPATCH FRIDAY, August 12,1994 (5) 5-STAR "It'S amazing," said Bakari, 2J9. "I couldn't tell the difference between a weed and a plant. But many of the folks here could just took at it and toy, `Oh, we've got to pull that out, that's a weed.'" Stewart said many of the seniors had raised flower and vegetable gardens over the years. "Many of the people weren't necessarily people with mon ey," she said, "They may have been teachers or done domestic work, but managed somehow to scrape up enough money for a house. But they always had pretty yards, with lots of flowers in the front and small vegeta ble gardens in the baric." The seniors shared their expertise with the youngsters. Many of them enjoyed having young people interest- ' ed in what they knew. Many of them have taken to the students as if they were their own grandchildren. The seniors will cook the harvest and share them with the teens at a special event later this month. Jerome Moore, 15, is one of the participants. He said, "I've learned lots of new skills in gardening. I've learned how to plant, how to turn over the soil, how to weed, ali sorts of . things I never knew before. And I've enjoyed working with the rider people. They know a lot." Bakari aaid, "Many of the youth come from young parents and their . grandparents are relatively young -- 1 in their 40s or 50s. This is the first . chance they've gotten to actually work j with and talk to people in their 70s and 80s. And they've found it fascinating.'' Many of the seniors have passed along stories their parents taught them. "A lot of the youngsters have no idea what it was like being black in this country years ago," he said. "They're used to their life is it is and have never realised that there uas a time when African-Americans couldn't do this or couldn't do that, simply because of their color. This has been a living. breathing history lesson for all of us." Gardening is an important part of ' Baton's program. He compares gar dens with life. "I tell them that the 1 weeds in the gardens are like drugs or | teen pregnancy." he said. "You've got to weed those kinds of things out or they can choke out most of the good things in life. We're like vegetables and fruits, good things that can be hurt or even killed by drugs." Of course, gardening isn't the only component of the program. He views it as a way to expose the students to areas and ideas they may have never considered. They participate in Afri can dance, listen to professionals, learn karate and take part in s myriad of activities. Earlier this year, for example, the students went to Greenville College in Greenville, III, and performed African dance. "While they were there, they were surprised to learn that there were white students who were work ing their way through schooL Growing up and living in East St. Louis, where they just don't see many white people, they thought that`all whites were rich. The trip gave them a better under standing of life." Batori expects his charges to teach what they've learned to younger kids, "The program's called Harvesting New Generations," he said. "This is how we hope to harvest them." S0<i aaoo W3H0 oinvsnow m nm 11 te-zi-6o DSW 135585 STLCOPCB4035564