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IN THEIR PATH 2009!

MAY 30TH IS ALMOST HERE!
Joan will soon be at the end of her 250-mile walk and heading back to the Cozad-Bates House. On Saturday, May 30th, she will step off with other walkers from the Bratenahl Village Hall at 411 Bratenahl Road and walk the final 3.5 miles down East 105th Street, through University Circle, and on to the lawn of the house at 11508 Mayfield where a joyous celebration will follow at 1PM including music, speeches and refreshments. Please join us!

IF YOU WANT TO WALK THE DISTANCE WITH JOAN:
Meet in the park at the Bratenahl Village Hall as close to 10AM as you can make it. There will be parking in the lot adjacent to the park and also on several side streets. (Please note: if at all possible, arrange for someone who isn't planning to walk to drop you off there, and pick you up later at the Cozad-Bates House, so that you won't need to be transported back to your car.) Wear comfortable clothing and bring along only what you can easily carry: a water bottle and a small blanket to sit on after you get to the Cozad-Bates House, perhaps. We will have In Their Path 2009! t-shirts at the park available for $5, and you'll have a chance to donate to Restore Cleveland Hope at the celebration, so you might want to bring along a little money, too.

IF YOU WANT TO WALK PART WAY WITH JOAN (ABOUT A MILE):
Meet us at the Cancer Survivor's Plaza next to the traffic circle at Martin Luther King Drive, East 105th Street and East Boulevard. Park in the lot at Rockefeller Lagoon (across MLK Dr. from the tennis courts) or on one of the side streets in the University Circle area such as Magnolia, Mistletoe and Hazel. Sister Jewel and her drummers will be meeting Joan and the other walkers there as well, so listen for the drums!

IF YOU WANT TO ATTEND THE CELEBRATION AT THE COZAD-BATES HOUSE:
Park as near as you can wherever you can! Or come on public transportation. There is a large metered lot at Mayfield and Ford, another behind the shops at Mayfield and Euclid, and several University Hospital parking garages. Gather on the lawn of the house, bringing chairs and blankets to sit on. There will be a portopotty on the north side of the house, and by noon or shortly thereafter there will be popcorn, lemonade and cookies available. Or bring your own food and drink. Entertainment will start at noon, and the program itself at 1PM.

WHEN THE PROGRAM ENDS AT APPROXIMATELY 2PM:
If you need transportation back up to the Rockefeller Lagoon or Bratenahl parking lots where you left your car, there will be vehicles available to take you there. But in the spirit of the Underground Railroad, please figure out a way to provide your own transportation, and don't forget the possibility of RTA buses. The Healthline bus will take you down to East 105th Street where you can catch a #10 that will bring you back to where you started.

Thank you! See you May 30th!

Since its founding in 2003, Restore Cleveland Hope Inc. worked passionately to save the Cozad-Bates house and on April 7, 2006 University Hospital graciously donated the house to UCI.

Restore Cleveland Hope Inc. grew out of IN THEIR PATH 2003, an Underground Railroad 519-mile-walk, and has expanded by giving classes and workshops, presenting intergenerational programs, starting research, holding front lawn parties and church cellar UGRR safe-house re-enactments.

Now, RCH moves forward to establish an Underground Railroad Education and Resource Center in Cozad-Bates, our beloved pre-Civil War house. We are determined to hold onto the courageous spirit of the UGRR as evidenced in Martin Luther King's Beloved Community.

The Beloved Community:

Reconciliation, an era in which all religious, racial, cultural and political barriers will be removed.
Freedom, an era wherein all of us will be liberated from Bondage; and all of us free for service and responsibility.
Hope, the faith that the beloved community a society controlled by the law of love will be obtained.

On May 1st 2009 80-year-old Joan Evelyn Southgate will complete the circle by walking the last 220 miles in her 519 mile-long Underground Railroad journey. She will walk back from Canada's St. Catharines' Salem Chapel to Cleveland's Cozad-Bates' house.

IN THEIR PATH 2009! will be Restore Cleveland Hope's first capital campaign. Our goal is for pledges of $1,000 per mile, to raise $250,000 as we begin to fund renovation of Cozad-Bates and expand Beloved Community programming. Euclid Avenue Congregational Church will buy the first mile, followed by each RCH Board member's pledge to buy a mile. And we have received our first email, midwife Susan Greene says, "I want to sign up for a team to raise $1,000. Is there anything I need to do beside tell you and then talk to a lot of friends?"

We are off to an exciting start. Please make a pledge, write a check, form a team. We can help you design your team, your plea, or your plan. Call us 216-231-0301 or email letitiabaldwin@gmail.com

Come join Joan Evelyn on the last few miles!

Start training now and think how healthy we will all be by next May.

Joan started serious training (weights and walking) September 1st. She and her friend Binne' walk 5 miles every morning at 5:00 AM. And they will continue each pre-dawn-dark-day throughout Cleveland's lovely winter.

On Saturday May 30, 2009, at journey's end, come walk with Joan through Bratenahl down East 105th street, across Case Western Reserve campus up Ford Dr. and onto Cozad-Bates' lush lawn. May 30, is the last weekend in May after Memorial day weekend.

We are all freedom seekers, come along. It will be a joyful parade.

www.intheirpath.org www.restoreclevelandhope.org

Joan Southgate's Upcoming book Bout Time is a memoir of her life prior to the IN THEIR PATH Journey. This is a touching coming of age story that will capture your heart and break the silence. The book is available Now!

Ms. Southgate's Blog Purchase A Grandmother's 519-Mile Underground Railroad Walk

Cozad bates House Has been donated to University Circle Inc. (UCI) and Restore Cleveland HOPE! For more visit www.restoreclevelandhope.org

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©Joan Southgate 2001-2008