BLACK FAMILY REUNION SET FOR THIS WEEKEND

Plans for this weekend's Black Family Reunion in Cape Girardeau remain on target, organizers say. Fund-raising efforts continue, as details are made final.

The reunion will be held Friday through Sunday at Cape Girardeau's Arena Park.

Benjamin Hooks, former executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, will be guest speaker, and the muscial groups Commissioned and Guess will perform.

The concept of black family reunions is not new. Reunions have been held in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, and Memphis, Tenn. But Cape Girardeau's reunion is the first being held in a small, rural city, said Paul Garland, co-chairman of the event.

The idea for the reunions started with the National Council of Negro Women, which sponsors reunions in some cities.

At the corporate level, Procter and Gamble Paper Products Co. has sponsored Black Family Reunions by making donations to the National Council of Negro Women, Garland said.

But in Cape Girardeau, the area Procter and Gamble plant is sponsoring the local event.

The reason, Garland said, is because several people who instigated the idea for a local reunion also work at the factory.

Garland learned about the events through the 1990 reunion in Memphis.

"We just saw a need for something of this nature in Cape," Garland said, "both from a minority economic development standpoint and to celebrate the black culture."

While Procter and Gamble is a sponsor, the reunion isn't a corporate event. And although the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce is the event's host, it isn't a chamber event. It's open to anyone, Garland said.

As of Monday, the reunion has collected $43,000 in donations and goods and services. Cash donations totaled $32,000. The goal for organizers is to raise $78,000.

The reunion begins Friday with a prayer breakfast and leadership forum, where Benjamin Hooks, past executive director of the NAACP, will speak.

On Friday, a concert at the Arena Building features national rhythm and blues group Guess.

On Saturday, 11 theme workshops will address issues like health care, gang awareness, teen-age parenting and black entrepreneurship.

That night, the Grammy-nominated gospel group Commissioned will perform at the Show Me Center with the Williams Brothers and Rapture.

On Sunday, a free fellowship picnic will be held at Arena Park following morning services at area churches.

For information on events or tickets, call the chamber of commerce or the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau.