Happy Birthday, Everett Parker!

On January 17, 2020, we celebrate Rev. Everett Parker's birthday. Rev. Parker was responsible for the successful court case that made owners of all broadcast stations accountable to the communities they serve. His legacy continues today in the work of the United Church of Christ Office of Communications.

Please consider celebrating with us by making a $60 donation to OC Inc. to help us continue the work that Rev. Parker started 60 years ago.

Recently I went to see the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and since then I’ve been thinking a lot about Rev. Fred Rogers, a Protestant minister who recognized the role that television could play in connecting with children to comfort and educate them. Generations of children and parents knew him as Mister Rogers.

My Mister Rogers memories reminded me about Rev. Parker, who also brought significant changes to the broadcasting world. He recognized the role that television should play in educating children and families, and he sought to ensure that all broadcast stations devoted at least some of their programming time toward that goal.

Fred Rogers and Everett Parker could not have been more different in their public personas: one a comforting, slow-talking television personality, the other a stubborn, demanding policy advocate. For example, Parker once recalled that he probably would not have pursued the litigation that established the right of individuals to petition the Federal Communications Commission if the National Association of Broadcasters had bothered to respond to his letters  complaining about the lack of minorities on “Romper Room.”

Today, OC Inc., the media justice ministry that Everett Parker founded 60 years ago, builds upon his work, seeking to ensure that broadcasters meet their programming obligations to all.

Please join me in supporting this effective ministry and celebrating 60  years of this work, with a contribution to our $60 for Sixty Years Campaign.

Sincerely,

Marti Weston

UCC OC Inc. Board Member