Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for June 8, 2007 EDWARD SMITH HONORED

From the Southern Illinoisan...

Southern Illinois resident, organizations to be honored at banquet in Springfield

By Adam Testa
The Southern

A Southern Illinois man will join the ranks of Olympic athlete Jackie Joyner Kersee, Secretary of State Jesse White and former Illinois First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan.

Edward Smith of Olive Branch will be presented with the Paul Simon Community Service Award at a banquet sponsored by the Illinois Coalition for Community Services today in Springfield. Smith serves as the Midwest regional manager of the Laborers International Union of North America.

"He's also what we think is an exemplary example of someone who's not only making a difference through his labor, but he's also involved in his Southern Illinois community," said Joe Dunn, executive director of the ICCS. "This is just a way of thanking him for that."

Smith has been an advocate of bringing communities and labor organizations together to benefit each other, Dunn said.

"I'm honored to receive the award," Smith said. "I've really always admired the work Paul Simon did."

Smith stuffed envelopes during Simon's first congressional campaign in 1974, and in 1988, he attended the Democratic National Convention as a Simon representative.

The ICCS will also be recognizing 13 grassroots community organizations for their accomplishments and growth. Two of these organizations are based in Southern Illinois.

Supporting People in Need is a Murphysboro-based organization created as a disaster relief effort for all of Southern Illinois. The group also aids in child advocacy and operates a resale shop to offer clothing at low cost, among other projects. The group is currently renovating a wing of its office to create a shower facility for homeless people, said Gary Green, founder of the organization.

"We're proud to be recognized, but I'm just happy to be out there doing what we're doing," Green said.

The Salt Days committee in Equality also is being recognized at the banquet. Salt Days was the annual town festival, which had fallen by the wayside, Dunn said. Three years ago, a committee was formed to rejuvenate the Salt Days and bring it back after a 13-year absence.

"It's been a great way of promoting the community," Dunn said. "It's just been a great community building experience for people in Equality of all ages."

While the committee initially was created to plan the festival, it also has taken other projects under its wing, said Pat Frohock, who helped organize the committee. Projects have included aiding in the construction of a visitors center in Gallatin County, organizing a Farmers Market for the town and helping to bring small businesses into the community.

"We've always got hope because there are always these people with different hopes and dreams," Frohock said.

In 2006, the committee was given a Governor's Hometown Award for revitalizing the Salt Days festival.