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Mark
of a great leader
Wednesday,
July 18, 2007
By
Edmund Zar-Zar Bargblor
The Liberian Community Association of Rhode Island has
Dr. Mator M. F. Kpangbai
evolved over time. Beginning with the Liberian
Students Association of Rhode Island (LSARI) in 1974,
when a small number of Liberian students conceived of
the need to unite and support each other in adjusting
to the American culture and way of life, LSARI emerged
from a student-based organization and changed its name
to the Liberian Community Association of Rhode Island
(LCARI), to include all Liberians within the State of
Rhode Island.
In
1982, the association was incorporated as a nonprofit
organization, and the association has been blessed to
have good leadership, especially in the 1990’s. The
current leadership of Dr. Mator Kgbangbai continues to
endeavor to follow in the foot prints of past leaders
to advance the interests of all Liberians residing in
Rhode Island. The Association continues to champion
the cause of all Liberians within the United States,
with reference to the Immigration dilemma that
Liberians are confronting today.
In
July of 2004, the Liberian Community Association of
Rhode Island, Inc. (LCARI) installed into office the
leadership of Dr. Mator Kpangbai.
The initial endeavor of the Kpangbai
administration was to develop a strategic plan to help
guide the functions and operations of the association
for the first two years, beginning August 1, 2004
through July 31, 2006. This plan laid out the
operational framework of the association, which
included the identification of five important
strategic goals. The implementation of these goals
provided for the clear objectives, strategies and
plans of action for their achievement. Also included
in this strategic plan were the performance measures
by which to monitor targeted goals.
Since
its inception, the Kpangbai administration has
introduced a series of programs that foster
inclusiveness, one of which is the “Friends and
Family Day.” Friends and Family Day was envisioned
to bring together families and well-wishers of the
Liberian Community of Rhode Island. Since July of
2005, this event continues to bring together families,
friends and other communities to enjoy entertainment
in the areas of live band music, food, sports/games,
African Art/Crafts, etc. The past two years LCARI has
experienced a turn out of a thousand to two thousand
Liberians to participate in activities of the Friends
and family Days Event.
Since
Dr. Kpangbai took office certain previously
established programs have been expanded. The Children
and Youth Education Program was established to
coordinate and facilitate the activities of the
learning center and make available to members’
families general information, including requirements
for entry into local area public and non-public
elementary, middle and high schools, and continue to
expand the after-school programs. A youth association
has been formed to provide a forum where
social-academic information and ideas are fostered
among Liberian students. A bus trip was conducted
recently to local colleges and universities within the
states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, designed to
expose children of community members to college and
university life.
The
Kpangbai administration has maintained a Crisis &
Intervention Committee that has been very effective in
the fulfillment of its responsibilities on behalf of
the Liberian Community Association. The Reach-Out
Mindset of the membership of this committee is
incredible to say the least. This committee continues
to conduct hospital visitations comforting bereaved
families of community members attending funeral
services, etc.
Also, the administration has introduced a website
which provides information about the association to
community partnership organizations, as well as,
different local, state and federal agencies, including
private, family and public foundations. This site
serves as the association’s window to the community
at large.
The
activities of the Elderly Affairs Committee have been
expanded as well. In this endeavor, the association
continues its working relationship with the Rhode
Island Department of Elderly Affairs in order to take
advantage of the following programs: 1) pharmaceutical
assistance to eligible elders; 2) home heating
assistance; 3) home and community care; 4) health
information and counseling; 5) nutrition; 6)
transportation; 7) subsidized housing; 8) job training
and placement services; 9) volunteer services for
seniors. A monthly workshop brings together elderly
members of the community to assess their needs, in
collaboration with Rhode Island Hospital and other
health institutions within the state. This monthly
meeting is designed to access and provide health,
nutrition, counseling and other social services help
to the elderly. Even some of the so-called critics of
the Kpangbai’s leadership parents continue to enjoy
the blessings of these elderly programs.
The
Liberian Community Association under the leadership of
Dr. Kpangbai continues to advocate for members through
collaboration with the Rhode Island congressional
delegation on matters that benefit or are of interest
to Liberians residing in Rhode Island.
Meetings upon meetings continue to be held with
congressional leadership in Rhode Island and
Washington, D.C. on the issue of TPS. Even few months
ago, Dr. Kpangbai had to travel to Washington, D.C. to
advocate for Liberians, especially at the time when
his wife, Mrs. Kpangbai was in labor.
Sadly,
there have been negative sentiments expressed about
Dr. Kpangbai’s integrity and personality by some
ghostwriters and elements within the Liberian
religious community of the state. Rubbish upon rubbish
has been posted on the Internet, with the apparent
intention of tarnishing the reputation of Dr.
Kpangbai. The question on the minds of most Liberians
here in Rhode Island is why?
Why
should some elements within the religious community
engage in activities that bring to question their
integrity as members of the clergy? As members of the
clergy, why have they deviated from their established
norm of fostering peace and reconciliation among
community members? Is it true that a weak-link has
been established to destabilize the Liberian Community
Association, so as to weaken its current onward surge
within the state of Rhode Island? The leadership of
Dr. Kpangbai will come to an end by July of 2008, why
are these critics refusing to wait for his tenure to
come to an end in order to participate in the
community elections of 2008? Why are his critics so determined to undermine the activities
of the Liberian Community Association, especially at a
time when thousands of Liberians stand to be deported
out of the United States? Are their concerns about the
improvement of the lives of Liberians residing within
Rhode Island or is it about perpetuating an agenda
that is Anti-Liberians? Who stands to benefit when the
activities and services of the Liberian Community
Association come to an end here in the state of Rhode
Island?
Civilized
societies have tried since the dawn of humanity to
advocate for the separation of Church and State, which
simply means, separating politics from religion.
Politics has the propensity to gravitate within
the realm of the unholy, and religion within the realm
of the supernatural. When these two compelling forces
unite, their union often entails serious consequences
of alarming proportions. The present day Middle East
is an excellent example. This is why ministers of the
Gospels are advised to stay far from politics. Christ
even advised his followers’ to render unto Caesar
that which is Caesar’s and unto God that which is of
God. Christ avoided mixing his message of spiritual
salvation with politics.
The
one incontestable fact which is the foundation of our
study of man’s existence is that man is seemingly
here on earth and that his life consists of a series
of experiences which at various periods bring joy and
sorrow, happiness and sadness, inner contentment and
unrest, love and hatred, peace and suffering. But God
in his infinite mercy, from time to time, brings forth
individuals whose mission it is to foster peace among
men and to render meaningful services. Mankind in his
blindness of the truth or ignorance often persecutes
individuals whose actions and activities he failed to
understand.
What
transpired during the past days of July 14 & 15,
2007, on the hosting of the Friends and Family Day in Providence, which brought about the turned
out in record numbers of Liberian youth was one of
inspiration. For two days, our youth interacted; they
played music, played soccer, kickball, danced to the
music of Liberian musicians, etc.
One
could see their faces of happiness, children of
Liberian parentage laughing, interacting, and the
singing of Liberian folk songs brought tears to their
parents’ eyes, as they reminisced about their days
of yesteryears. It seems that the scenery of merry
making had transported them back in time.
We all
were transported back in time, back to Liberia,
celebrating her sovereignty. Interestingly, a young
Liberian, a student enrolled at URI (University of
Rhode Island), spoke in his traditional language,
Bassa, expressing gratitude to the Liberian Community
Association and its leadership for successfully
hosting the county soccer tournament, when he was
called upon to receive the winner trophy. Grand Bassa
won the County Soccer Tournament. Other young people
looked on with admiration.
And suddenly, the famous Liberian musician,
Sunday-Gar’s song blasted the scenery, the young
people moved with dancing feet. Those of us advanced
in years, tried to out perform the young people,
trying to echo to them, that we too once were great
dancers during our days in Liberia. The two days were
one of happiness and excitement.
The old and the young all danced to the beats
of Liberian music.
Good
leaders throughout history inspire their people and
instill pride and honor in them. When we scrutinize
the writings of the Orientals and even of the
Christians, these writings speak of the soul in man.
They do not necessarily imply an individualized and
separated soul, but the soul essence and soul
consciousness of God that is resident in man. Each one
of us has a soul, but not a soul in the sense that it
is a thing apart from other souls in human beings. The
good books of all religions tell us that we are in
this life to be of service to each other and we are
here to do God’s works.
The
mark of a true leader is to endeavor to render
services. Good leaders give up their lives to help
others or to help to ensure that great ideas are
implemented to help others.
Dr.
Mator Kpangbai, from all indication is undoubtedly a man
of service and indeed a
great leader. The past three years of his
leadership have elevated the Liberian Community of
Rhode Island to noble heights, and his actions have
made and continue to reawaken in us a sense of pride
in our heritage as Liberians and indeed as Africans.
In
closing, I would like for the reader to reflect on the
words of the following poem entitled:
Wake
Up My People
Wake up my people
Wake up
and give a shout
Wake up
my people, know what’s life is about
And wake
up to the needs of all the ones who suffered sorrow
Wake up
and promise now to do your best to change tomorrow
Wake up my people and Open every door
Wake up is time now love my people evermore.
Edmund Zar-Zar Bargblor
is an educator within the Providence School
Department, Providence, Rhode Island. He is a graduate
of Cuttington University College, Liberia, Howard
University, Washington, D.C, and Israel Institute of
Technology, Haifa, Israel. Mr. Bargblor is Vice
President of the Liberian Community Association of
Rhode Island and former
President of the African Catholic Community of
Rhode Island. He can be contacted at: Zbargblor@aol.com
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