wfn.org | Partnership aims to bring economic literacy campaign to Houston

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

July 10, 1998        Contact: Tim Tanton*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-31-71BP{409}

NOTE: A photograph is available with this story. 

HOUSTON (UMNS) - The Texas Annual (regional) Conference of the United
Methodist Church
has announced a partnership aimed at empowering more minorities to
participate in the American Dream.

Through the partnership, announced July 9, the conference's Shalom Zone
Institute and the Organization for a New Equality (ONE) are teaming up
to bring the National Campaign for Economic Literacy to 35 area
churches. 

Through those churches, the campaign will impact some 20,000 Houstonians
during the four-month-long effort to provide African-American religious
leaders and their congregations with information on the power and
potential of effective participation in the economic mainstream. 

The national campaign has been implemented in other cities, including
Boston, New York, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. It is based on the
premise that a better understanding of economic systems provides new
opportunities for minorities and women. Other major partners in the
Houston campaign include Wells Fargo Bank, which donated $25,000 to the
effort, and the Fannie Mae Foundation.

The Rev. Charles Stith, a United Methodist minister, founder of ONE and
recent appointee as U.S. ambassador to Tanzania, was keynote speaker
launching the campaign.

"The name of the economic game in America is not just income, it's
equity. It's not what you can buy, it's what you own that is the key to
the American Dream," Stith said.

"As U.S. ambassador to Tanzania, part of my responsibilities include
touting the virtues of capitalism in Tanzania," he said. "We sing the
praises of capitalism all over the world, but we do a poor job in this
country of teaching people how it works. More specifically, African
Americans. We do not have the practical information we need to access
and fully participate in the American Dream."

The economic literacy campaign is designed to build an economic
infrastructure in the minority community. Dollars earned in the black
community rapidly are spent outside that community, and because of that,
blacks have income but not wealth, Stith said. The average net worth of
white families is significantly higher than that of black families. That
means a lot of black families are two paychecks away from poverty. 

"To close the gap, we have to use better what we have and have better
access to what we need," Stith said. "Economic literacy is important.
You can't do what you don't know, and no institution is better
positioned (to lead the effort) than the church."

ONE has three outstanding partners in the Houston effort. They are
Shalom Zone Ministries, from the religious community; Wells Fargo Bank,
which is a national financial institution, and Fannie Mae, which defines
home ownership in this country, he said. 

Peter Beard, vice president of National and Neighborhood Initiatives for
the Fannie Mae Foundation, said the foundation supports nonprofit
organizations working to provide decent, affordable housing and to
otherwise improve the quality of life in communities. The foundation
believes people should have opportunities and recognizes that barriers
to those opportunities exist. Home and business ownership are important
components of helping people improve their lives and their communities,
he said. 

Studies show that families who own homes are healthier, their children
tend to stay in school, they participate more in elections, they care
more about their schools and they are more active in their
neighborhoods. 

"(Home ownership) stabilizes neighborhoods," Beard said. "It creates a
legacy to pass on to the next generation. It creates opportunities to go
forward. There is an inherent pride in owning a home."

Faith-based institutions are an important gateway in reaching people
with the information necessary to break down those barriers to
opportunities, he said. People trust churches at a time when they do not
trust other institutions, such as those in finance, he said. 

The campaign begins in July with a series of seven church bulletin
inserts for participating churches addressing personal finance, home
ownership and small-business development.

The effort progresses to a series of seven informational workshops and
ends with a special event
designed to bring consumers together with local financial institutions
and advisers to encourage the building of long-term economic
relationships, said the Rev. R. Jeremiah Booker, executive director of
Shalom Zone Ministries of the Texas Annual Conference.

"We want to help church and community leaders see their communities
differently," Booker said. "We want them to see the potential and wealth
that is in those communities."

The United Methodist Church created the Shalom Zone initiative in
response to issues raised by the 1992 riots in Los Angeles. "Shalom"
being the Hebrew word for peace, the Shalom Zone concept involves
creating sites of peace, safety and prosperity in at-risk communities. 

The partnership with ONE is consistent with the Shalom Zone goals of
working with other institutions and individuals to heighten economic
prosperity, eliminate racism, develop indigenous resources, and empower
local leaders and residents to plan for their community's future, Booker
said.

While the focus is on the African-American church community, the
campaign's overall goal is to generate economic opportunity for those
historically left out of the mainstream. In keeping with that goal, one
of the Houston workshops will target the Hispanic community, Booker
said. Other organizations participating in the educational effort
include Consumer Credit Counseling Services, Housing Opportunities and
the Houston Small Business Development Corp. 

# # #

NOTE TO EDITORS FOR OPTIONAL INCLUSION IN STORY: For information about
the Houston Campaign for Economic Literacy or the Texas Annual
Conference's Shalom Zone Ministries, call (713) 521-9383.