Historical February 1993 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
The pastor of St. Roch Church, Monsignor Sal Polizzi, joined members of the Clinton transition team and other guests in Little Rock to discuss neighborhood policy. Msgr. Polizzi explained that during the Carter administration Msgr. Geno Barone established a National Center of Urban Ethnic Affairs. Efforts that put together a neighborhood coalition prominent in the Carter years began during Gerald Ford’s tenure.
This Center had an office in the White House during this period. Because of his nationally known work on the Hill, Msgr. Polizzi was invited to be a member of the board.
The National Center of Urban Ethnic Affairs is now located at Catholic University.
Dr. John Kromkawski currently is director and he referred Clinton’s people to Msgr. Polizzi. Entitled the Nonprofit Roundtable, there were 25 participants who discussed neighborhood organizations and not-for-profit organizations. Polizzi enjoyed this new opportunity to network with others concerned with city neighborhoods.
He mentioned that networking is very important—a building block—that enables you to go anywhere and connect with people.
On this occasion, he was able to meet some new people. Perhaps more important Polizzi felt that this meeting provided hope. “The gang is coming together again.” Some of the appointments made by the president-elect also were viewed with optimism. Msgr. Polizzi noted that Donna Shalala had been named Secretary of Health and Human Services.
She had worked with Barone at HUD during the Carter years and provided a $50 million grant to the Center to study Community Development Block Grants.
The group met at the University of Pennsylvania and were able to affect policy prepared by those who hadn’t actually worked in the neighborhoods. And, Msgr. Polizzi felt positively also because the transition people did not care whether a participant had voted for Gov. Clinton or not. Polizzi felt that the meeting in Arkansas represented a large ray of hope.
In fact, he was called back regarding a job with the administration.
He refused as he had refused Senator Danforth a number of years earlier because his first duty is to be priest at St Roch’s.
However, he indicated that he would assist in an advisory capacity, such as as a member of a commission, if the opportunity arose.
Original photograph caption
Monsignor Sal Polizzi. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1993.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1993_02.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
