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October 2004

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More than 200 Radnor township residents, commissioners, spiritual leaders, and members of the Villanova University academic community gathered on September 14 in the Villanova Room for the fourth annual Unity breakfast to celebrate diversity and promote equality.

After a brief introduction by Henry G. Mahoney, Radnor Township board of commissioners  president, Dr. Helen Lafferty, University vice president welcomed guests.

 “We are living in a world that is very fractured,” she said. “We are living in a world that we will be passing on to our children and our children’s children.  It is you and I that need to be concerned with what that world will look like.”

Lafferty went on to say that the dictionary defines unity using synonyms such as solidarity, integrity and union; words that should dictate our actions.

The Rev. Dr. Albert F. Campbell, pastor at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in his keynote speech related his experience with racism in the 1960s. He spoke of segregated bathrooms, seating and lunchroom counters. He urged the audience to resist making assumptions based upon “mere language, labels, caste or class.”

Vice president of the board of commissioners Lisa Paolino presented special recognition awards to Margaret “Peggy” Gaskins who worked with Radnor Township to create the Bryn-Rose Civic Association and develop the student rental housing ordinance.  Gaskin  received a citation of proclamation from the township as well as a citation from State Representative Greg Vitali. Gaskin is the first African –American woman to serve on a board in Radnor.   

Township manager Dave Bashore and Nicki Plumb administrative assistant presented an award to Francine Christy who has directed the Radnor High School Meistersingers at the  breakfast each year.

 Mahoney concluded the event by saying, “it was a joy to bring people of all facets of life together.” He added that Radnor does not tolerate hate or bigotry.

The Unity Breakfast as an annual event grew out of requests to continue after the township’s 100^th anniversary celebration.