Common Ground 2001/2002
 Civil unrest in Cincinnati in April 2001 represented a turning point for our community. Like everyone else, we here at CET have been doing our part to help heal the wounds that were exposed. We call our effort COMMON GROUND.
Through efforts spearheaded by CET's President and CEO Susan Howarth, virtually all local media outlets joined forces in an effort called the Cincinnati Media Collaborative. Through the Common Ground series, CMC members worked to engage citizens across the region in informed discussions about the issues surrounding the area's racial tensions.
"We are excited about and extremely thankful for the hard work that the community has put into both the Cincinnati Media Collaborative and putting together the broadcast of the Common Ground specials," said CET President & CEO Susan Howarth.
For the entire Common Ground effort, all programs have been made available without charge to schools in our community and Patsy Carruthers, Director of CET's Learning Services Department, has designed lessons that not only enhance students' understanding of the issues but also correlate to the Ohio Proficiencies. Links to the lessons have been posted on below.
Special thanks for the success of the Common Ground series of programs go to our supporters.
Major funding for the project was provided by the Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the Corporation For Public Broadcasting (CPB). Additional support came from Cincinnati Bell for fiber video connections between CET and lead media partners; Maxx Traxx Productions for recording the theme music; the PPS Group for editing the Common Ground music video; Rent-A-Center for television sets at the Cincinnati CAN watch parties; the Wilder Foundation; and all members of the Cincinnati Media Collaborative for their promotion and continued support of the Common Ground project. |
Common Ground: Working for Change
Broadcasts began September 6, 2001, with Common Ground: Working for Change with media partner WCPO-TV9. WCPO produced videos shown during the program that illustrated why people living outside the city limits should care about and be involved in a solution to race problems. Additional stories illustrated that race problems do indeed exist at all socio-economic levels; that this issue affects us all, even the very young; and what the barriers are to understanding. Other stories described ways to resolve problems in police-community relations and some good things going on in Cincinnati about which we can all be proud. Between segments, members of a studio audience, along with viewers, presented their concerns and solutions. The program, written by Tom McKee, WCPO, co-produced by McKee and Joanne Grueter, CET, and hosted by Clyde Gray, WCPO, and Eric Ellis, Integrity Development, Inc.
In support of the broadcast, Cincinnati CAN sponsored watch parties throughout the community, each with a facilitator trained by NCCJ - the National Conference for Community and Justice -- to assist in discussion on the issues presented in the broadcast. Also, viewers were able to phone and email questions and comments for the panel that was an integral part of the program. Over 120 emails came in through the Common Ground website, and more than 140 questions were called in. Viewers were also offered volunteer opportunities in coordination with The Greater Cincinnati United Way & Community Chest, where over 150 callers were placed into volunteer opportunities.
WCPO-TV9 was the lead media partner for this program. Others who supported the program include WVXU-FM, WNKU-FM and WDBZ 1230 AM. Also, the first hour of the program was seen on the Ohio News Network and heard on WDBZ 1230 AM and WIZF 100.9 FM. Stories about the program and this unprecedented partnership were carried in by media partners The Cincinnati Herald, The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Cincinnati Post, The Cincinnati Business Courier, and City Beat. Other members of the Cincinnati Media Collaborative supported the effort through promotion of the broadcast.
Common Ground: Neighbor to Neighbor
In December, Common Ground: Neighbor to Neighbor provided viewers throughout the tristate with a glimpse into the workings of The Cincinnati Enquirer's Neighbor to Neighbor project. This project was designed to get people talking about why Greater Cincinnati is divided by race -- and how to bridge the gap.
Using a videotape from the "Racial and Ethnic Tensions" project designed by the National Issues Forum, The Cincinnati Enquirer organized meetings across the region. Thousands of people attended, and voiced their beliefs on improving race relations in their neighborhood as well as throughout the tristate area.
In the program, dialogue leaders Dr. Barbara Rugen and Mr. Charles Houston, Jr., led participants through four major questions and recorded their responses. The discussions centered on three possible broad approaches: look beyond race & ethnicity; build self-identity first; and, open all doors to everyone. The groups' responses fell into four areas: Where do we agree? Where do we disagree? What can we as citizens do? What should our community leaders do?
Common Ground: True Colors
Common Ground: True Colors was produced with media partner 12WKRC and the National Conference for Community and Justice. WKRC and the Ohio News Network carried the first hour of the program, while WVXU-FM, WNKU-FM and WDBZ 1230 AM aired all 90 minutes.
Program hosts Rob Braun, Kit Andrews from 12WKRC, and Eric Ellis, President/CEO of Integrity Development, moderated the discussion with a diverse studio audience invited by NCCJ. The program tacked three major issues in our community: racial profiling, Issue 5 and police-community relations, and showed how talking about race has helped increase understanding among people of different colors. Watch parties featuring program participants were held in Northern Kentucky at the Erlanger City Building, and in Western Hills at the Lodge at Harvest Home Park.
Cincinnati CAN also worked with schools, business and community councils to set up Watch Parties for community discussions following the broadcast.
Common Ground: Diversity in the Classroom
With Common Ground: Diversity in the Classroom CET partnered with The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Cincinnati Post, Newspapers in Education (NIE), the Center for Peace Education (CPE), and with other members of the Cincinnati Media Collaborative to produce a program that dealt with diversity and solutions to racism in the classroom. Eric Ellis, President and CEO of Integrity Development, Inc., moderated the program and discussed the issues with Ilyas Nashid, Center for Peace Education Laniese Fuqua, Windsor Elementary School; Kathryn Chambers, Hayes Porter Washburn School; Victoria Carr, Ed.D., Arlett Center, University of Cincinnati; and, Eugene Blalock, Mt. Healthy North Middle School. Features included young children's perspectives on race and a discussion among teens about how they handle race issues in their lives. This Common Ground program in particular was formatted for use in the schools and was accompanied by classroom lessons.
On the Same Page: An Evening with Ernest J. Gaines
 Another program in the Common Ground Initiative was On the Same Page: An Evening with Ernest J. Gaines. It stemmed from On the Same Page Cincinnati, a community-wide book club spearheaded through The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Magazine, CET, The Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County, Kenton County Public Library, Boone County Public Library, the Cincinnati's Mayor's Office, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, and Cincinnati Public Schools. WLWT also partnered to provide promotional support.
The book club was designed to get people talking about race issues. The book chosen for the first year was "A Lesson Before Dying," by Ernest J. Gaines. The novel centers on racism in a rural black community in Louisiana in 1948. A local schoolmaster is asked to help his young cousin die with dignity after he is condemned to death for a crime he did not commit. As they meet and talk the teacher and his condemned student struggle with their problems and insecurities to reach a lesson of a greater truth for each of them.
The television program centered around a live interview with Mr. Gaines and included questions from the studio audience and questions from the viewing audience via telephone and e-mail. Michelle Hopkins, WLWT, moderated the program. Mr. Gaines talked about writing the book and formulating the characters and about the issues surrounding the story.
The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow
CET, in partnership with the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, and NCCJ (National Conference for Community and Justice) produced a 90-minute live program on Thursday, October 24, 2002, in support the PBS series, The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow. Robert "Chip" Harrod, Executive Director of NCCJ, facilitated discussion during the program and Michelle Hopkins of WLWT was the host.
The local program was produced in three segments. In Segment 1 on the history of segregation/desegregation in Greater Cincinnati, guests included:
- Karla Irvine, Executive Director, HOME - Housing Opportunities Made Equal;
- Carl Westmoreland, Senior Researcher, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center;
- Daniel Hurley, founder, Applied History Associates; and,
- Michael Washington, Professor, Northern Kentucky University and Director, Afro-American Studies Program, NKU.
The topic of economic empowerment of African Americans: Jim Crow to the present was addressed by:
To discuss judicial issues on desegregation on the local and national level:
- Nate Livingston, Jr., Activist;
- Al Gerhardstein, Civil Rights Attorney;
- Wendy Parker, Professor, University of Cincinnati Law School; and,
- Michael Washington, Professor, Northern Kentucky University and Director, Afro-American Studies Program, NKU.
FOCUS
 CET's weekly public affairs program, Focus, has been airing special reports that address issues that are important to healing our wounds. From programs on Cincinnati CAN's education team and the Mayor's special counsel to police-community relations, diversity training and youth in our community, Focus provides information and stimulates ideas, illuminating the search for answers and sharing the progress - or lack of progress - in the healing and resolution processes.
Common Ground Music Video
The Common Ground music video was a labor of love for Eric Ellis. As part of the Common Ground initiative from its inception, Ellis - who is President and CEO of Integrity Development, Inc. - wrote the lyrics, produced the video and sings lead. The music was written by Maurice David Crutcher. Choir members and friends from Solid Rock Church Choir, Monroe, Ohio, join Ellis for the production. Charles Menifee, co-owner of Maxx Traxx Productions and Recording Studios on Sycamore Street generously provided multi-track recording equipment and engineers to record the music video in CET's studio. Video and post production was provided by PPS.
*RealPlayer is required to watch all Common Ground videos. Download it free from www.real.com.
|
