Published: January 21, 2008 10:12 pm         

Former city councilwoman honored for public service

Chambers awarded first ‘Seat for Social Justice’

“Take stock in your community.”

Elmer Day, executive director of the Beckley Human Rights Commission, says Madrith Chambers would give this valuable piece of advice to others when they were looking at ways to improve or be a part of their neighborhoods.

“She would say, ‘Take stock, Elmer,’” Day said. “I always appreciated her encouraging words.”

Monday, Chambers became the very first recipient of the “Seat for Social Justice” award during the second annual Martin Luther King Jr. Educational Service Awareness Day ceremonies at Beckley Elementary School.

“She taught me that it takes all of us in the community, working together, to make a difference,” said Frank Williams, a Beckley common councilman. “She truly loves her community and has always worked to make it a better place for everyone.”

Chambers served as a councilwoman for 12 years before stepping down in 2003.

Former Beckley Police captain and current at-large Beckley councilman Cedric Robertson said Chambers was instrumental in initiating community policing in Beckley.

“As a result there are now three police precincts,” he said. “She constantly focused on the recruitment and hiring of minority police officers. I love her very much for all that she has done for me and for this community.”

Chambers is also credited for taking the initiative to coordinate and facilitate training on a proactive approach for Beckley in “Undoing Racism,” to promote racial justice. She was an organizer of the city’s annual Kids’ Classic Festival, which promotes unity between parents and children.

“These projects helped create an umbrella of community unity in Beckley,” Day said.

The “Seat for Social Justice” award is a unique art concept that transforms a bus seat into a piece of artwork, according to Tracie Johnson, project coordinator for the Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia, which sponsored the day in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“The seat was dedicated to Ms. Chambers and will now be placed at the Beckley-Raleigh County Public Library where it will remain on display permanently for all of Raleigh County to enjoy,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Chambers’ involvement in her community “represents the values and spirit we all should strive to model and mirror our daily lives.”

“The goal was to honor someone from our community who has made a significant impact or change by supporting the community in which they came from,” Johnson explained. “If you look at Madrith Chambers’ history, certainly she has accomplished that.”

Chambers said she was honored and humbled after receiving the award.

“I can’t see all of you here today, but I can certainly feel your presence and that is what is important to me,” she said. “I am so happy, and I thank the Lord for enabling me to come out, for this joyous occasion in celebration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

Chambers has also been a second vice president for the Raleigh County Branch of the NAACP, a chairwoman for the Beckley Human Rights Commission for nine years, a board member of the Beckley Community Housing Resource Board, and chairwoman for the Mayor’s Committee on Disability Accessibility.

“I have always wanted to pave the way for those who would come behind me,” Chambers said. “As you can see, there are those coming behind me and continuing to work for others and for a better community.”

As part of the day’s events, volunteers of all ages throughout the Beckley and Raleigh County area helped with renovations and improvements to the school’s library, clear coating of school wide murals, and general maintenance of common areas.

“We wanted this day to be ‘a day on, not a day off,’” Johnson said.

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