NPR HEAD: RENEW COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITIES

The president of National Public Radio called for a renewed commitment to America's communities and neighborhoods during a tribute Monday to slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

"Our cities are dying," said Delano Lewis, a former telephone company executive who became president of NPR on Jan. 4. "Violence is invading our schools and universities."

Lewis said the solutions to social ills of crime and poverty rest with a partnership involving the home, schools, businesses, churches, the media and government.

Citizens, he said, must commit their time and talents to aiding their own communities and neighborhoods.

"We cannot depend on government leaders to solve these problems," said Lewis, who spoke at a memorial breakfast held in the University Center.

The breakfast was one of a series of events held at Southeast Missouri State University Monday in observance of the King holiday, celebrating the birth of the civil rights leader.

The snow and ice that blanketed the area kept down attendance. About 110 people, including some students from May Greene School, turned out despite the harsh weather. Last year, the breakfast attracted a crowd of more than 300 people.

At Monday's breakfast, Southeast President Kala Stroup unveiled a black-and-white portrait of the late Edward M. Spicer, who served as associate to the president at the university from 1977 until his death in 1991.

The portrait bears a small plaque, which describes Spicer as "leader, teacher, counselor, friend."

Stroup said Spicer was a "committed follower" of King. "He worked hard to make the university a different place and he succeeded."

Among other things, Spicer helped recruit minority faculty and students to Southeast.

Lewis, who grew up in Kansas City, Kan., and attended an all-black high school because of segregation, said his success in business is due to the legacy of King.

He said his first class with white students occurred in 1956, when he enrolled at the University of Kansas.

But he said he came from a good home, and that made a difference. "My parents were hard working, God-fearing members of the community."

His father was a porter for the Santa Fe Railroad. His mother was a domestic and later became a beautician.

Lewis' high school principal lived across the street and took an interest in him.

"We've lost some of that neighborhood spirit," lamented Lewis.

He told the crowd that it's important to stay in school and learn productive skills.

"The jails of America are full of black and Hispanic men," said Lewis. "They have no productive skills....They have low self esteem. They have no way to survive."

Lewis said the home must be the first place of learning. "We must have affordable homes.

"Some how housing is off the national agenda and we've got to get it back on the national agenda," he said.

"Our business community has a real obligation to provide the opportunities of employment," said Lewis.

He said he views his new job as head of NPR as "a wonderful opportunity to make a difference."

"What a marvelous opportunity to use public radio for the benefit of society," said Lewis.

At a press conference immediately following the breakfast, Lewis spoke at length about National Public Radio.

University officials used the occasion to celebrate the boosting of broadcast power for the school's NPR affiliate, KRCU Radio.

A 230-foot tower was recently constructed as part of the effort to boost the station's power. KRCU boosted its power last Friday and began broadcasting at 6,000 watts.

The station now reaches about 55,000 to 75,000 people within a 30-mile radius of Cape Girardeau, university officials said.

Lewis said NPR provides programming that's not offered by commercial stations. "It brings in-depth analysis of news. It brings perspectives you don't hear on commercial radio."

Said Lewis, "It is a tool, I think, in America that stimulates people to think." He added that he hopes it also stimulates people to act positively.

NPR, based in Washington, D.C., operates on a $46 million budget, with a staff of 400.

Critics contend that some of NPR's programming is too liberal.

But Lewis defended NPR, saying it is "certainly not involved in bias and programs that are not objective."

About a third of NPR's budget comes from fund-raising efforts, which will be even more important if federal funding is reduced, Lewis said.