Oak Ridge Today

Local organizations, congregations celebrating community unity

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Community Unity Celebration has events this week. During the celebration, local organizations and congregations are working together to offer opportunities for residents of Oak Ridge and surrounding areas to come together to get to know each other and build community, a press release said.

The Celebration kicked off with the Human Rights Rally on Saturday, January 18, and it will end with the World Day of Prayer on Friday, March 6.

“Please join us as you can!” the press release said.

Here is more information about the events:

[Read more…]

Community Interfaith Harmony Month wraps up with two events this week

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Community Interfaith Harmony Month will be wrapping up with two special events this week, a press release said.

“Come lend your heart and hands and voice in celebration of the World Day of Prayer, Friday, March 1, 2019, at 7 p.m. in the Nave at St. Stephens Episcopal Church located at 212 North Tulane Avenue,” the press release said. “Church Women United will be hosting the worship service entitled ‘Come—Everything is Ready,’ written by women of Slovenia. It challenges all to widen their circles and invites all to follow prayer with action.”

Everyone is invited to the finale event to rejoice in celebrating community interfaith music and arts on March 5 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church located at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, the press release said. There will be poetry, music, and dancing performed by a diversity of community groups, followed by a fellowship reception. [Read more…]

Faith, church groups celebrating Community Interfaith Harmony Month

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Oak Ridge Community Interfaith Harmony Month Logo Feb 2019

The Oak Ridge Interfaith Partnership, Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge, and Church Women United are celebrating Oak Ridge Community Interfaith Harmony Month.

The Oak Ridge community is invited to join the celebration. The Community Interfaith Harmony Month is being celebrated from February 5-March 5.

The kickoff event will be held on Tuesday, February 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the historic Grove Theater. At 7 p.m., there will be a program featuring local youth, faith, and community leaders speaking about the importance of religious freedom, loving our neighbors, and engaging in community service, a press release said. During the program, a mayoral proclamation will be presented declaring the Oak Ridge Community Interfaith Harmony Month.

There will be booths for faith and nonprofit groups. They will be able to share information, service success stories, ongoing service opportunities, and what services exist to help those in need and what each person can do to help support them, the press release said. [Read more…]

Church Women United offers focus on community dialogue on Friday

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Church Women United will hold a public presentation on Friday, April 6, at Kern Memorial Methodist Church, which is located at 451 East Tennessee Avenue in Oak Ridge. Reverend David Allred of High Places Community Church will introduce an innovative supper program that the Oak Ridge Ministerial Association is developing to foster healthy conversation and closer ties between people of differing backgrounds, experiences, and core beliefs within our community, a press release said.

According to Allred: “Communities around the country are disconnecting from each other in ways that are driving us apart. We’re slowly losing our ability to listen to one another, fragmenting into ‘bunkers’ of sameness rather than giving space for each other’s differences.” To overcome this fragmentation, ORMA aims “to create spaces of togetherness that are not designed to fix community problems, but instead center on the practice hearing each other and being present with each other.” The inspiration for this program comes from the organization called “The People’s Supper.”

All are invited to attend the event however long they can, the press release said. Fellowship begins at 11:30 a.m. Friday, followed by a short meeting and prayer at noon, along with the presentation thereafter. Latecomers are welcome. Contact Gay Marie Logsdon at (865) 483-7940 for more information.

This press release was submitted by Gay Marie Logsdon.

CWU presentation to focus on domestic violence

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Church Women United will meet Friday, February 2, at United Way of Anderson County, located at 728 Emory Valley Road in Oak Ridge. The meeting will initiate the 2018 Blankets+ Campaign to collect bedding and support for those who have lost their homes locally and worldwide, a press release said.

In addition, Rachel Thompson, domestic violence victim advocate for Knox and Anderson counties, will be the guest speaker in a public program, the press release said. Thompson is a culturally specific domestic violence advocate for the African American community. She will talk about domestic violence, how it impacts victims in the African American community, and resources offered through the YWCA for victims of domestic violence, the press release said. [Read more…]

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority has 30th MLK Program on Monday

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Archie Smart

Archie Smart

In celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated (AKA), Oak Ridge Chapter, will present its 30th annual Community Speaks Program on Monday, January 15, at 9:45 a.m. at Consolidated Nuclear Security’s New Hope Center on Scarboro Road. This year’s theme is “Together We Win with Love for Humanity,” a press release said.

Archie Smart, the keynote speaker, is a native of South Carolina, a press release said. He received a bachelor’s degree in history from South Carolina State University. Smart is a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served as a commissioned officer in the Adjutant General Corps.

He is a project manager at Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), where he manages the third consecutive National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) project, the press release said. [Read more…]

Learn how to be a medical advocate on Friday

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Submitted

The public is invited to a program, “The Importance of Taking Charge: How to Be a Medical Advocate for Yourself and Others,” at noon on Friday, September 8, at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge.

Gay Marie Logsdon will speak from experience related to medical care within her family during the past 30-plus years, including dealing with major insurance agencies and receiving extended care after a head-on car wreck in October 2016.

A meet-and-greet session will be held at 11:30 a.m. before the presentation, in Room F-110 of the main (Coffey-McNally) building. The program is sponsored by Church Women United. All are welcome!

For more information, call (865) 483-7940.

This press release was submitted by Gay Marie Logsdon.

Celebrate World Community Day on Friday

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Church Women United invites the public to celebrate World Community Day on Friday, November 4, at United Church, Chapel on the Hill, 85 Kentucky Avenue, in Oak Ridge.

The celebration, “Sharing Gifts at the Table,” brings together women from different denominations and different racial and cultural backgrounds to honor the global dimension of the Christian faith through scripture, hymns, and prayer, a press release said. [Read more…]

Public program on Friday to focus on communicating with people who have dementia

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A public program in Oak Ridge on Friday will focus on communicating with people who have dementia.

Amanda Spencer, LPN, of Blue Harbor Senior Living, will be the guest speaker. Her presentation will help caregivers, family members, and friends better interact with loved ones whose abilities are diminished, a press release said.

The program has been organized by Church Women United. It’s the start of their 2016 fall season.

The event begins with fellowship at 11:30 a.m. Friday, September 9, followed by a short business meeting and the program at noon. [Read more…]

CWU celebrates reconciliation, grace, friendship on May 6

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Church Women United of Oak Ridge invites the public to its May Friendship Day celebration on Friday, May 6.

The celebration will feature a worship program titled “Finding Grace at the Table.” The program focuses on the table as a place for reconciliation and the need to recognize God presence in every person.

CWU will present Key Woman Awards to Mary Stephens and Judy Cohan for their dedicated service at Oak Valley Baptist Church and United Church, Chapel on the Hill, respectively, in addition to their contributions within the wider Oak Ridge community and Church Women United. [Read more…]

Pastor addresses CWU on school concerns

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Community-Matters-Unitarian-Universalist-Nov-1-2015-14

Pictured above at a Community Matters forum at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Nov. 1, 2015, are the Reverend Derrick Hammond of Oak Valley Baptist Church, center, the Rev. Jake Morrill of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, left, and Father Brent Shelton of St. Mary’s Parish. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

The high stress levels of students at Oak Ridge High School. The increasing number of students who take multiple Advanced Placement courses for status reasons, in response to parental pressure or to be in class with friends. The lack of social workers at ORHS, which has a rising number of at-risk, underfed students who qualify for free or reduced-cost lunches.

The finding that less than 2 percent of ORHS students are referred for almost half of the disciplinary actions taken, including suspensions. Yet, because of privacy laws, people interested in mentoring at least two dozen disciplinary students cannot learn their names.

These were some of the teacher and community concerns highlighted by the Reverend Derrick Hammond, pastor at Oak Valley Baptist Church, at a recent meeting of the Oak Ridge unit of Church Women United.

He announced that on Sunday, April 24, at Oak Ridge High School, from 4-5:30 p.m., city leaders will respond to public concerns raised during the three “Community Matters” sessions held last October and November. The speakers will include Oak Ridge High School Principal Martin McDonald and Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi. [Read more…]

Church Women United addresses Community Matters on Friday

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Community-Matters-Unitarian-Universalist-Nov-1-2015-14

Pictured above at a Community Matters forum at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church on Nov. 1, 2015, are the Rev. Derrick Hammond of Oak Valley Baptist Church, center, the Rev. Jake Morrill of Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, left, and Father Brent Shelton of St. Mary’s Parish. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Church Women United invites the public to a program “Since Community Matters” on Friday, April 1, at Kern Memorial Methodist Church in Oak Ridge. Reverend Derrick Hammond of Oak Valley Baptist Church will be the guest speaker.

Hammond will summarize three community meetings initiated in fall 2015 by the clergy of Oak Valley, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, along with Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi, to encourage citizens to speak up about community concerns. Hammond will give an update about the process of addressing those concerns and suggest steps that we and our church families can take to help strengthen our community.

Kern Memorial Methodist Church is at 451 East Tennessee Avenue in Oak Ridge. Fellowship at the Friday meeting begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by a short meeting, prayer, and program at noon. [Read more…]