Bishop Leecroft Clarke
The formation of the Chautauqua County I.D.E.A. Coalition was announced at this weekend’s Juneteenth celebrations.
The coalition is made up of 17 organizations and businesses and is aimed at pursuing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (I.D.E.A.) strategies in the community. The I.D.E.A. Coalition’s goal is to make Chautauqua County a place where everyone belongs and has opportunities to thrive, especially those who have been historically marginalized. They are committed to addressing, prioritizing, and giving voice to those directly impacted by racism and social injustice in the community.
United Way of Southern Chautauqua County Executive Director Amy Rohler said in a press release, “After the George Floyd murder in 2020, we knew there was a need to proactively address racism in our community”
Rohler added that the incident prompted several informal conversations with individuals from educational institutions, law enforcement, local businesses, and nonprofits across the county.
The United Way is serving as the backbone agency for the I.D.E.A. Coalition. In May 2022, the United Way hired Bishop Leecroft Clarke to be the Project Director for the I.D.E.A. Coalition. He is currently the lead pastor of Healing Word Ministries. His extensive community service includes his roles as the chairperson of the Addiction Response Ministry of Chautauqua County, co-chairperson of the Racial Reconciliation Taskforce of Chautauqua County, past board member for the HOPE Chautauqua Coalition, and a past member of the ESPRI Taskforce.
The Coalition’s initial efforts would start with engaging the African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino communities, expanding efforts and conversations to other historically marginalized populations in the county.
Membership in the I.D.E.A. Coalition is open to any organization interested in supporting its initiatives and signing the membership agreement.
In addition to United Way of Southern Chautauqua County’s investment, the I.D.E.A. Coalition has received grants to fund its work through Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, and the Cummins Foundation.
More information about the Coalition can be found at www.uwayscc.org/ideacoalition. Organizations and businesses interested in becoming a member can contact Leecroft Clarke at IDEA-Director@uwayscc.org.
I have an idea! There are plenty of people of every color and background who were perfectly content with Chautauqua County NOT being a hotbed of activity for Cartel Fentanyl, Heroin, Cocaine, Meth and Marijuana smuggling, sex trafficking, human trafficking, murder, weapon-crime, and many other terrible crimes to which Chautauqua County is historically unaccustomed to experiencing. Though largely socially colorblind, we’re experiencing increasing difficulty not being observant to the fact that most of these unusual crimes (for our formerly sleepy little county) seem to be perpetrated or lead by members of the Hispanic and/or African American population, so before this county, which without so much crime had a markably difficult time even noticing or caring about the racial background of any decent people, becomes harangued into somehow having more diversity and inclusion than Governors Cuomo and Hochul have already actively seen to, I would suggest that your important efforts be focused on correcting the actual injustices facing all families of every color, which contribute to the greater malaise being experienced by the communities you specifically wish to focus your efforts upon.