African-American groups put focus on jobs, health care

LYNN – One out of eight Lynn residents is an African-American, according to U.S. Census statistics, but relatively few work in city jobs and many do not have adequate health care, African American community advocates said Monday.Providing job opportunities, improving health care and putting young people to work, even in summer jobs, are priorities communities activists, including Pamela Burton, Gordon “Buzzy” Barton and Darrell Murkison, hope to discuss next Tuesday when Boston National Association for the Advancement of Colored People President Michael Curry speaks from 6-8 p.m. at the Community Brotherhood of Lynn.”From a general sense, the issues facing people of color include more inclusion, more hiring, including summer jobs for youth,” said Murkison, a longtime community activist.Burton and other local African-American women who own Saving Our Souls Foundation focus, Burton said, on at-risk youth, including teenagers returning to Lynn from prisons and juvenile detention centers.She said the organization needs support to expand training and rehabilitation skills programs focused on turning youth away from violence.”Our mission is to reach in and mine the incredible potential we believe lies within the lives of our proven at-risk youth,” Burton said in an electronic mail statement.Curry’s speech is part of the Lynn Community Health Center’s annual Black History Month celebration. Center Director Lori Abrams Berry said Curry is a voice for the NAACP and a legislative affairs director for the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers.”He’s a really smart, interesting guy,” Berry said.Berry said the center has been focused for more than five years on pointing out differences in health care quality and availability between different racial and ethnic groups. She said center board of directors members are working on a variety of concerns facing Lynn’s African-American community.”They want to strengthen the voice of residents. My concerns are the same: We’re looking for different ways to promote ways to reduce racial health disparities,” Berry said.City Councilor at large Barton said access to jobs for African-Americans and other minorities are top concerns for local organizations, including the Community Minority Cultural Center, Latino Business Association and NAACP Lynn chapter.”Look around the city – including City Hall – there aren’t many minorities: It’s a real small number,” Barton said.Saving Our Souls’ Burton said the organization works with local police and probation officers and juvenile court workers to help youth.”The core of our mission and vision is the aspiration to be the premier inner city resource for the city’s at-risk youth population,” she stated.