AASU welcomes ‘Waddie’ for Common Read

For the second school year in a row, AASU is encouraging students – as well as other Savannahians – to participate in its yearlong, community-wide Common Read program. This year's honored text is "Waddie Welcome and the Beloved Community."

Co-authors Susan Earl and Tom Kohler promote advocacy and the importance of community in their account of a Savannah native who overcame obstacles with the support of many of the area's citizens.

Waddie Welcome was born July 4, 1914, with cerebral palsy, a debilitating disorder that affects the brain and nervous system by slowing down or stunting motor development in its victims. After the death of all of his known family, he was taken into the care of a nursing home. Eventually, local non-profit organization Chatham-Savannah Citizen Advocacy placed Welcome in a house in his old neighborhood.

"One of the lessons of the book is that there are unexpected teachers among us," Earl said. "Mr. Welcome and his friend and ally Mrs. Addie Reeves were two of those teachers."

Reeves had been a close friend to Welcome and his family for years. When Welcome was displaced three hours away from his home, Reeves contacted Kohler to bring him back.

An important member of Welcome's inner circle, Reeves' account of the world around Welcome makes up much of the book.

A "very strong willed, opinionated, clear and committed woman," Earl said Reeves was the epitome of the meaning of a beloved community.

Earl said Welcome was, "A man who had a zest for life, a wonderful sense of style and a great sense of humor."

Though he could not speak clearly, Welcome was very influential within his circle of friends and supporters, teaching life lessons about acceptance and the inclusion of people with severe handicaps into society.

Welcome's influence was so widespread he became a voice for those sometimes not seen as productive members of society. He pushed for changes public policy, such as advocating Medicare for the care of people living outside of nursing homes.

He once spoke at a conference for the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, using an audio device to give the speech.

Earl said Welcome was named one of Connect Magazine's 10 most influential people in Savannah in 1998 for changing the way people with disabilities are seen in the community and bringing awareness to participating in citizen advocacy.

Savannah-Chatham Citizen Advocacy makes long-term matches between an advocate and a protege. The advocate takes on the protege's issues as their own, creating a lasting bond and strong support system.

Earl said attorney and current state senator Lester Jackson was Welcome's advocate until Welcome died in 2001.

"The organization is all about people making personal decisions to be responsive and responsible in other people's lives," said Kohler, who is also the coordinator and executive director of Savannah-Chatham Citizen Advocacy.

The authors hope to discover what students will take from the story, as well as how freshmen will be affected by it.

Jane Rago, instructor of English at AASU, said readers can learn a lot about civic engagement. She also said young people can learn more about themselves and each other from the story.

AASU student Chatonna Powell, a community assistant for Compass Point, said she would like for her residents to be a part of the Common Read so they can see a different side of the Savannah.

"A lot of people aren't aware of the challenges and struggles that a large population of Savannah goes through," she said. "So I thought that this could open their eyes and maybe inspire them to do more."

For the rest of the academic year, there is a faculty panel, a student symposium, a film festival and other events dedicated to the book. There will also be a worldwide read and party on Jan. 17, 2011 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day.