St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-05-26
Delegate To Denver
YWCA TrienniaI Tells
Convention HiqhIiqhfs
BY WREATHA MAXWELL

ems CHRISTIAN Association OF
America has been meeting every
third year in their Triennial Con-
vention to report on the many con-
Germs of the world, especially those
pertaining to women and girls
Therefore felt privileged and hap
py to be one of the 80 delegates
from the Minneapolis chapter to
attend the 22nd Triennial held in
Denver, Colo, May 8-13.
OF special interest was the roll
call of delegates present from the
Atlantic to the Pacific and the
Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico
women of many races and many
faiths, for six days working and
living together and in the process
finding inspiration and common
goal.
To name just a few leading Ne
gro women were Mrs. Helen Jack
son Clayton, former sister-in-law of
Roy wilkins and a former Mime
apolitan, who was elected first vice
president at large. Mrs. Lyle Car
ter, brilliant New York lawyer,
was a voting delegate; Mrs. Earl
Thomas of Kansas City, Mo, was
elected vice president of the Cen
trail Region, of which Minneapolis
is a part.
Miss Dorothy Height of the ma
tional YWCA staff, was coordin-
ator of the work groups; Mrs. v.
Bissel Attweu of Washington, D.
c., was organizational delegate,
representing the National Council
of Negro Women; Mrs. Addye
Lightner of Denver Colo, was an
Urban League delegate and humid
reds of others added beauty, charm,
creativeness, leadership and brains
to all deliberations.
Two speakers, DR.. Allan Nevins,
professor emeritus of American
History at Columbia University
spoke on "Our National Ideals:
How to Preserve Them" and DR..
Charles Wesley, president Of Cent
raj State College, Wilberforce, O.,
spoke from the subject, "Educa-
ton and Democracy, A Responsib-
ility of the Sixties" These two
speeches gave direction to our dis
cussions and deliberations in the
work groups, forums and resolu-
lions during the meeting.
It was in the work groups and
forums, spread turnout the city,
where women from all areas of our
nation, all creeds and colors, told
of their successes and failures and
asked the National Office for
clearer directives for hammering
away at this invincible wall. The
American image abroad was stres-
sed and emphasis placed on what
we as women can do to help make
our world a more inclusive one.
The delegates voted during the
triennium 1961-64 to place emphas-
is on indignation and full particip-
alton of minority groups into all
phases of community and national
life. To fight for equal justice for
all individuals and effective legal
steps be taken to safeguard against
mob violence, and all citizens have
equal voting rights and that they
be protected in the extension of
those rights.
The press was barred from the
work groups and forums, there
fore, voices spoke freely, emphasiz-
ing that we help all people have
equal opportunities; we must build
a fellowship, must know one an
other for personal contact is so
important, careful choosing Of time
and talent to build a Christ cent
cred world.
I was surprised at the courage
of the southern white women. One
woman from Atlanta said that
when one cannot crack a block of
ice-one can chip at the edges
and that in Atlanta-women (both
Negro and white), were chipping
in. One teenager (white), from
Virginia said, I've had a Won
derful fellowship here with all
kinds of girls. Back home I'm not