DATE: Saturday, September 20, 1997          TAG: 9709200387

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   99 lines

BLACK MEN'S GROUP STRIVES FOR BETTER COMMUNITY CEREMONY SET FOR SUNDAY IN NORFOLK TO SHARE ITS VISION

Marvin Felton, like several other members of the Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men, pauses, almost reverently, when he talks about the ``Committee'':

``I see so much positive energy,'' Felton said. ``With such a diverse group

The possibilities with some of the area's most influential African-American men working to strengthen the community is astonishing, he said.

A membership of proven leadership - a police chief, city council and school board members, Navy officers - aiming to build minority businesses, raise test scores and brother young men without fathers is inspiring.

The group's ability to command attention with its political, social and economic reach, which many other groups have been unable to do, is promising.

``There are such great leaders in this group,'' said Felton, a 46-year-old business owner. ``I'm willing to follow.''

The Committee of 200+ Men is a diverse group that has grown to more than 320, and it's promising hope like no other in Hampton Roads. The group, which includes barbers, college students, and busi nessmen from Newport News to Suffolk, wants to concentrate on education, community and economic development issues. It is a nonpartisan group, but it is concerned about local politics.

It operates in the spirit of the Million Man March, a rally held two years ago in Washington, D.C., where more than a million African-American men met and took an oath to help themselves and their community.

The committee, which formed in late February, is holding a ``coming out'' ceremony Sunday at St. John A.M.E. Church in Norfolk to share its vision of community betterment with the public.

``We want to make an effort to improve the conditions in the community, particularly the African-American community,'' said committee President George Crawley, an assistant executive director with the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority and a former assistant city manager for Norfolk.

``We don't want it to be an elitist or a social group. . . . Our membership is growing: barbers, retirees, military, civil service. It's really A-to-Z in our community, which gives us impact.''

The group began last winter when Crawley and a few friends decided to plan a summer reception for Norfolk State University's new president, Marie V. McDemmond. The men sent out letters to friends, hoping to recruit 120 to help with planning. By the June event, 240 men had signed on.

About 600 people attended the Norfolk Airport Hilton reception.

With that success, Crawley and others saw the potential for a permanent organization. They incorporated and established an annual $100 membership fee. The group is currently looking at membership requirements; it doesn't want to ``put barriers up,'' but it does like its focus.

``It is important that we as African-American men take a leadership role,'' Crawley said. ``That's not to say that we won't have auxiliary groups or take on partners as we work with specific projects.''

Chuck Penn, public relations specialist with the city of Norfolk, has worked with a Million Man March group that has come and gone. He believes this committee will be successful because of its detailed organization.

For example, the committee has different sub-groups, such as an education initiative committee, which will analyze requests for help. If the group hears that a school needs more reading tutors, or perhaps money for homework supplies, the committee can allocate physical or financial support. The committee can allocate such support but will see that every project has a ``start and close'' to make sure the group is answering the need and not spreading itself too thin.

That wasn't the case with Penn's former Allentown, Pa., organization, which he helped start shortly after the march.

``We lacked the necessary resources and the focus. We made the mistake of trying to do too much instead of selecting a niche,'' Penn said. ``What inspires me about the committee is the fact that the focus is there.''

John F. Smith Sr., an assistant superintendent for Norfolk Public Schools, was active in the community long before he heard of the committee. His Elks lodge sponsors Berkley students for summer computer camps and is active in the Campostella Elementary School PTA.

But he sees great opportunities with the committee. He said he's already tapped the group to help mentor Norfolk students and will invite them to network with committee members at meetings.

``It's one of the best things that has happened to the Hampton Roads area,'' Smith said. ``It's the first time I've seen so many African-American males coming together, bonding together for the betterment of our city, our immediate communities and the like.''

Felton said he finds comfort in the group. While other community groups push particular political agendas, this one won't. While others didn't have the know-how to tackle legal issues such as discriminatory banking practices, this group has professional expertise. While others suffered from internal squabblings for power and control, Felton said, this group is ready to share the chores and credit.

``We have a monopoly of the black intellectuals and people who want to do things in the Hampton Roads area,'' Felton said. ``We don't have black men in our group. We have black gentlemen.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

George C. Crawley

Graphic

CEREMONY

The Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men Inc. will have its

presentation ceremony Sunday, Sept. 21, at 6 p.m. at St. John A.M.E.

Church at 542 E. Bute St. For more information about the group, call

623-5630.

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