From June 14-19, 1965, about 350 predominantly white volunteers in the SCLC-SCOPE (Summer Community Organization and Political Education) project were oriented by a distinguished group of SCLC-SCOPE "faculty" at Morris Brown College in Atlanta. The "faculty" programs, coordinated by Mr. Bayard Rustin (who gave some excellent mini-lectures), included, Dr. King (who spoke at Joe Louis Gym,where most to the lectures were held), Hosea Williams, Andrew Young, Jim Bevel, Ralph Abernathy, Jack Greenberg, John Doar, Ralph Helstein, John Hope Franklin, C. Van Woodward, Clarence Mitchell, Joseph Rauh, Norman Hill, and others (including some of the SCLC field staff -- "Big Lester" Hankerson, James Orange, Willie Bolden, Willie Tabb, Jimmy Webb, Golden Frinks and others).
Willy Leventhal, a SCOPE volunteer from UCLA — who later went on SCLC staff in Americus (GA) in July, and then served as the west coast college coordinator from the fall of 1965 through the Poor Peoples Campaign and Resurrection City in DC in June 1968 — would like to commemorate the 40th anniversary, in tribute to Hosea and Dr. King and those of us who volunteered and worked with the local African American leaders in 70 counties in six southern states ... Black and White together.
There may be an event in Atlanta — and, there will be an effort to get at least some kind of event in LA, and, if there is interest, in SF (or anywhere there are SCOPE vets who want to help make it happen). Willy would like to hear from any interested crvets. He also is planning to have a commemorative book on Hosea and SCOPE out in mid-June — which can be provided to local press (and educational entities and school districts). His email is: Email: Willy_21@hotmail.com.
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Last Modified: April 25, 2005.
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