Children's Group Tries to Stay Alive to
Fight Racism
By Bill Grady

(Click here by the printable version)

Among the ongoing community programs designed to fight racism, the little Danneel Street children's play group, sponsored by the activist group Erace, is hardly the most prominent or the most ambitious.

Its underpinning, adult volunteers willing to devote a couple of hours every few weeks to supervise playtime for children of different races, is fragile.

The play group caught on well after its inception in the summer of 1994. At one point, sessions were held every Saturday at Danneel Playground at the corner of Octavia Street and St. Charles Avenue, and another one Friday a month at City Park.

Both were supervised by mothers committed to introducing their children to youngsters of other races. The well-attended sessions were marked by a large banner proclaiming the aim of the project: "Eracism Playgroup. People of all colors with love and respect. Join us."

Those involved say the play group has been a touching experiment, although some wonder if it will survive. The City Park sessions are no longer being held, and the Danneel play periods have sputtered.

The problem, it seems, is attracting volunteer supervisors. "The program is limping badly," said Rhoda Faust, chairwoman of Erace. "It's still going on, but it's not doing what it's supposed to do."

"We had really nice mixed groups with several parents sitting around visiting," Erace member Pam Rieth said.

"Then, it just kind of stopped. There was no one to hand up the banner. I went out once and it was just me and my kid. I think some people felt it was too big a commitment."

In an effort to resuscitate the play groups, Rieth and another Erace member, Karen Ciaffa, have scheduled new sessions and hope to recruit more volunteers.

Ciaffa will supervise groups on the first and third Sundays in March, from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Danneel Playground. Rieth will be in charge March 14, from 10 to 11 a.m., also at Danneel Playground. "It's really not anything difficult," Rieth said. "One hour a month is all it would take. It's just a matter of trying to meet up with people on a regular basis and make some friends."