S.H.A.P.E. has made presentations in London, England on “Building Institutions” in 1993 and in Washington, D.C. for the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC). It has conducted many seminars for HISD schools and has made presentations to over 100 schools in the HISD, Ft. Bend County ISD and Rice Consolidated ISD and others. S.H.A.P.E. has played leadership roles regarding numerous justice issues over the years including nationally recognized cases such as 1) the Clarence Bradley Case; 2) the Ida Delaney Case; 3) the Byron Gilliam Case and 4) the Gary Graham Case and the implementation of a Police Civilian Review Committee.
Over previous years, while directing the After School Community Watch, S.H.A.P.E. and its staff were successful in removing many hand guns and other weapons from youth on the streets of the Houston Third Ward Community, as well as transitioning those same youth into functional family programs.
By putting aside material gains and comforts, S.H.A.P.E. it’s staff and volunteers have accomplished many of its goals for uplifting the African-American community and the community at large, through collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, self-determination, creativity, unity and it’s faith in “The Greater Power” to persevere. S.H.A.P.E. recognizes that the philosophy of Inter-Dependence is the key ingredient in the community succeeding in all of its endeavors.
S.H.A.P.E. has instituted several economic development programs and activities including the Black Economic Development Association; T-Shirt/Silk-Screening Operations; a Nutrition Program and Restaurant with catering service.
Representing S.H.A.P.E., Deloyd T. Parker, Jr., Co-Founder and Executive Director for over 42 years, worked in the Ujamaa Villages of East Africa and traveled to many countries in the eastern part of Africa, spreading S.H.A.P.E.’s philosophy. His most recent trip to Africa was to The Gambia in West Africa, (summer 2000) where he met with the President of The Gambia and was able to expand relations with the government as well as grassroot community leaders. The initiation of the SHAPE philosophy was embraced by the people of The Gambia and “The S.H.A.P.E. of The Gambia” was born.
Growing up in Port Arthur, Texas, Deloyd’s parents, Mrs. Ruby Parker and Mr. Deloyd Parker, Sr., instilled in him a sense of humility, a willingness to help, the courage to face adversity and the strength to fight injustice when and wherever it is raises it’s ugly face. With this foundation, Deloyd along with countless Volunteers, Staff and Supporters have built S.H.A.P.E. a Comprehensive and Wholistic Community Institution. Brother Parker attributes all of these accomplishments, achievements, successes and victories to embracing the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa (Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work & Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith) and to…
GOD BE THE GLORY
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS OF S.H.A.P.E. Community Center
S .H.A.P.E. Community Center has worked, fought, struggled and endured for over 42 years to strengthen our families and communities on a local, national and international level. Strong Family – Strong Nation. Our programs, projects and efforts historically have always addressed the comprehensive, wholistic and institutional concerns. Just to list a few of our past victories and struggles and our (you included) impact on change:
• Hosea Campus Torres—Police Brutality case
• Mobilization of the A.L.D. African Liberation Support Committee
• Hosted the first citywide Kwanzaa celebration – It was the beginning of the celebration in Houston and the state of Texas
• Affirmative Action (voters mobilization)
• Election of Houston ‘s First Black Mayor (we mobilized the people to go to the polls non-partisan)
• Anti-Apartheid Movement—Winnie Mandela visits S.H.A.P.E.
• The Freedom of Nelson Mandela
• S.H.A.P.E. representative served as an International Observer during the election of Nelson Mandela for the Presidency
• S.H.A.P.E. representative helped to organize the Million Man March and Million Family March
• Pan African Cultural Festival (originally only 50 participants, within 26 years has reached 50,000)
• Part of the efforts to build the Third Ward Multi-Service Center
• Helped to organize, mobilize, plan and make possible for Clarence Brandley to be “Free” from Death Row He is now a productive citizen
• Byron Gillian and Ida Delaney Case – S.H.A.P.E. partly responsible for the officers’ conviction and firing (discharging) from Department
• Assisted with the birth of Kuumba House Dance Theatre
• Assisted New Body’s development and helped to bring together progressive wholistic health activists
• Over 25,000 youth have benefited from S.H.A.P.E.’s programs directly
• Help with the efforts to keep Texas Southern University alive
• Organized Community watch programs for six schools within the city
• Co-founder of the Third Ward Community Cloth Co-operative
• Helped with the and initial development of National Black United Front Local Chapter
• Over 200 press conferences held at S.H.A.P.E. addressing issues of injustice, discrimination, new programs, birth of programs, etc.
• Major participant in helping victims of Katrina & Rita natural and manmade disaster, housing, food, clothing, etc. Over 400 families assisted.
• Hosted Dick Gregory, Winnie Mandela, Martin Luther King III, Rubin Hurricane Carter, Maluana Karenga the Creator of Kwanzaa, Kalimu Ya Salaam, Dr. Sebi, Dr. Africa, and other great historians
• S.H.A.P.E. representatives attended the First Congress of African People
• Mobilized over 500 people to attend the Million Man March
• Hosted book signing and lecture for the First Black Woman Medical Examiner in the USA
• Designed and created “Our Park”
• Founder and operator of the longest running Fruit and Vegetable Co-op in Houston
• People United Against Police Brutality Movement city wide
• Hosted over 100 wholistic food workshops at S.H.A.P.E
• Hosted over 50 Health Fairs and 18 Wholistic Health Workshops
The above list represents merely a handful of victories that you have made possible by supporting S.H.A.P.E. There is neither time nor space that will allow us to list them all. We hope that you feel your life has been touched in some positive way by S.H.A.P.E..E. and its programs.