WEST CHESTER TWP. — What began a decade ago with a few African-American parents forging a dialogue in a predominantly white school district has grown into an ad hoc committee ready to address issues of race and diversity in the suburbs.

        The racial issues in the forefront since the April violence in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood affect the entire Tristate, and suburbs need to help ease tensions and promote solutions, said the Rev. John Stevenson, pastor of Heir Family Worship Center here.

TV RATINGS

An estimated 43,000 TV households tuned to Common Ground special on race relations Thursday on Channels 9 and 48.    The first hour (8-9 p.m.) simulcast by those stations was third in the time period, behind NBC's Friends and CBS' 48 Hours. It drew a bigger audience than Fox and WB shows on Channels 19 and 64.    “This shows that there is significant interest in a program like this,” says Bill Fee, Channel 9 general manager.    An average of 12,000 homes watched the second hour broadcast only by Channel 48.    The TV show also was simulcast by WDBZ-AM, WVXU-FM, WNKU-FM and WIZF-FM.

        The committee of about two dozen from across the community provides West Chester and Liberty townships a head start confronting racial issues.

        “There is racism in West Chester and Liberty township. It's here the same as it is in Cincinnati,” said the Rev. Stevenson, who is African-American. “You start solving the problem at the grass roots level.”

        The group already is involved in community discussions on regional race relations. Many members were at the Lakota Board of Education offices to view and discuss the regional town hall forum televised by WCET and WCPO — an effort of the Cincinnati Media Collaborative, a consortium of local media including the Enquirer.

        “This group will play a key role in taking a regional look at race relations,” the Rev. Stevenson said. “I think we have the ability to discuss things and share ideas and help in other areas of the (Greater Cincinnati) community. I've had a recent conversation (with the schools superintendent) in Norwood. And, based on what is happening here, she is starting up a similar thing there.”

        Lakota Schools Superintendent Kathy Klink said the group was launched when a parent, Cynthia Pinchback-Hines, approached her as a representative of the African-American Parents of West Chester in the early 1990s. A small group of school and minority residents formed to discuss diversity and racial issues in the school system.

        The group was created as a voice for the increasing number of minority students arriving in the burgeoning Butler County school district.

        At first, the partnership offered only a forum for discussion, but later grew into an organization developing strategies to welcome all students without discrimination and dealing with any racial issues that might arise.

        Since the initial group began, the percentages of Asians, African-Americans and Hispanics in the school population have all jumped in the fast-growing district. The percentages of African-Americans and Hispanics more doubled in that time.

        About two years ago, the group, which by then included Hispanic parents, broadened its scope to include business and community leaders, clergy, law enforcement, and others, Mrs. Klink said.

        Joe Hinson, president of the Southeastern Butler County Chamber of Commerce and a committee member, said the region's economic and social success hinges on all residents working together.
       

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