The Feature Story

“One Church, One School Conference Focus is Training, Achievement, and Empowerment at the Local Level”

Bishop Henry M. Williamson, Sr., founder, expresses his appreciation to each and everyone who the 9^th Annual One Church One School Partnership Conference a success. “I continue to salute Bishop William H. Graves and Rev. Dr. Clay Evans, our Lifetime Achievement Awardees,” said Bishop Williamson. “One Church One School has always been a ministry whose work is accomplished by the cooperation and coordination of the clergy and lay of the church and community. The conference reflected the same. I look forward to a productive year of teaching our children to value life and value learning and seeing everyone next year at the 10^th Annual Partnership Conference.”

Student Empowerment Seminar

Three hundred high school students attended the Student Seminar held at the beautiful Harold Washington Cultural Center in the Chicago historical Bronzeville community. Student performances included Julian High School Choir (Ms. Kelli Williamson, director), and the Carter Temple CME Church Step Team. As keynote speaker, Rev. Phillip Jackson utilized the story of the Good Samaritan to get the teens to acknowledge their responsibility to each other and their community.

Lifetime Achievement Awards Banquet

Bishop William H. Graves, 1^st Episcopal District, and Rev. Dr. Clay Evans received the OCOS Lifetime Achievement Award. Their legacy of ministry and civil rights will forever be a part of the history of our people in the church and this nation. Mr. Ernest Green, one of the Little Rock Nine students to integrate the historic Central High School in Little Rock, AR, was the banquet keynote speaker. The presence, perseverance and prominence of an Ernest Green completed the efforts to effectively carry out the Conference theme “Brown v. Board of Education: Church/School Partnerships, Carrying out the Legacy.” His reflections and message kept the audience focused, reminiscent and charged to do the work of OCOS.

Conference Keynote Speakers :
Bishop Othal H. Lakey Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart

The challenges from our keynote speakers: Bishop Othal H. Lakey, 6^th Episcopal District, and Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr., 3^rd Episcopal District, were so powerful the clergy, lay and students renewed their commitment. Bishop Lakey and Bishop Stewart gave powerful, motivational and inspiration messages. Bishop Lakey’s “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” utilized a children’s nursery rhyme to challenge the adults to get on board with OCOS and give our children the necessary support for success. Bishop Stewart encouraged the participants to go deep into difficult situations to save our children. He called for us to go beyond the walls and pierce deeply into the urban blighted areas and the isolated rural regions to extend a hand to lift our children to the levels that God has called them. These speakers coupled with the intensity of the workshop leaders prepared attendees for the work ahead.

Knowledge, Skills, and Understanding

The workshops make up the interactive component of the conference. Topics included Working in the Schools, Freedom School, The History and Impact of Hip-Hop, OCOS and Program Planning, Grants and Proposal Writing, and KIIP Schools. Special workshops were designed for the specific the needs of the Episcopal directors. Participants expressed the value of the workshops in helping them to understand and gain skills to do the work of OCOS. Their request for more workshops will be honored at the next conference.

Recognition Luncheon

The luncheon very appropriately closed the conference with the recognition of those who are working models of OCOS. It provides OCOS with the opportunity to recognize those current leaders who are carrying out the mission of OCOS through their roles in the community.  The following are the award recipients.

Bishop Thomas L. Hoyt-Religious Leader of the Year; Mrs. Voiya Davis-Educator of the Year; Mrs. Lillian Curlett-Program Administrator of the Year; Sabrina Castello-Student of the Year; Ta’Vonna Robertson-Student of the Year.

Mark your calendar. The OCOS 10^th Annual Partnership Conference is October 21-22,2005, in Chicago, IL.