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Show Fall 2001 The West View - Issue #3 page 6 Message from the Chair be Edie Trimmer In the days after September 11, our view of the world has shifted. We question whether the world is a safe and reasonable place. This doubt about our future is true for all of us, whether we are adults or children or young people facing service for our country. This doubt is true for those of us who were born in this country or who immigrated to our country for economic or political reasons. In our view of our country, we are divided on many issues. We often question how well we achieve our ideals of equality of opportunity, freedom of expression and A few of the banners that are now hanging along Poplar Grove Boulevard religion, and justice for all our citizens. We have divided opinions on whether we encourage or hinder those ideals for other (400 South) nations. But, I believe all of us have a deep love for those ideals and a hope that humanity can ultimately find - each country in its own unique manner - a way to live within those ideals. These past three months have been dif- ficult for our neighborhood in multiple ways. The death of Senator Pete Suazo sent waves of shock and grief through our neighborhood. We continue to ask Poplar Grove Celebrates Youth and Diversity with Banner/Olympic Party by Charlotte Fife-Jepperson Just recently, a vibrant community celebration at Sherwood Park brought together people from all different eth- followed by City Councilman Van Turner. Then, after some moving, patriotic choir numbers, Poplar Grove's Community Council Chair, Edie back- Trimmer, who helped spearhead the project, acknowledged the sponsors Governor Michael Leavitt, our congres- grounds. If you were among one of the and all of the people who have been sional representatives, national agencies and Union Pacific to consider the impacts that the "powerful" have on a neighborhood of modest, hard-working people when a rail line through our neighborhood is reactivated after years of very little use. We comfort ourselves from these various trials by means of a democratic society. We gather at the Utah State Capitol to grieve the loss of a leader. We rally in public with our neighbors and those political leaders who are courageous enough to join us in expressing our opposition to decisions that will harm our neighborhood. We use the legal system to defend ourselves, knowing that the legal system might reject our claims. We gather at the Jordan River to grieve the great losses of those 2,000 miles away from us. We burn candles at our homes in memory of our losses. We continue to celebrate the many fortunate people to witness this colorful Banner/Olympic Celebration, you would've caught a glimpse of what Poplar Grove is all about. At about 10 am on Saturday, November 3rd, a buzz of energy was in the air as the handful of organizers began anxiously setting up tables, working together come to fruition. the afternoon was all the children in park, showing-off preparing the banners (made by local ings of a long river, meandering both through mountains and city landscapes alike. Some proudly display pictures of children of every color playing togeth- intelligence and creativity of our children as we hang banners with their art on our streets. We comfort each other when we celebrate our children's art, or gather in beau- tiful places we have created for ourselves, or speak to one another, whether face-toface or in our newspapers. May we continue to see ourselves in these images and actions of hope, compassion and toler- ance. > nic, religious, and economic school children), and arranging space for food, activities, and entertainment. Children and their families began to arrive as the lively sounds of "Ritmo Caliente", a local Salsa band, wafted through the air during their final sound check. A group of about 20 to 30 kids from the Franklin School Extended Day program began to assemble and to see this project But, the highlight of when the Mayor led a parade around the the newly created banners while dancing to the upbeat, Latin rhythms of Ritmo Caliente. Some of the banners contain paint- er. But, stand flavor The effort whatever the scene, they all out in a vivid display of the rich of our neighborhood. banner project is a collaborative between many different commu- nity entities. The main participants warm up their voices, as members of include, the Poplar Grove Community Council set up their barbecue grill for chili and hot dogs. Girls from a local Polynesian dance group, called "The Islanders", prepared their outfits and hair, while teachers and directors from local Elementary, Guadalupe School, Neighborhood House, Global Artways, Poplar Grove Community Council, schools rounded up kids for the banner parade that was about to take place. Everything was beginning to fall into place for the celebration of Franklin SLC Weed and Utah Federation Elementary, Seed, and for Youth. Edison W.O.W., Over a School children and parents display banners at parade photo Leon Thompson ecarrorszes) Our community's youth and their involvement artistic in_ the Poplar Grove Boulevard Banner project: To kick off the event, Mayor Rocky Anderson, who helped make this project possible, spoke to the crowd, wee vere mTOR oN A |
