Local Group Celebrates 25 Years Of Understanding Between Young Blacks, Jews

A 25th anniversary celebration is being held this week for an organization that works to bring together teens from the African-American and Jewish communities.

For 25 years, Operation Understanding has put together African-American and Jewish high school juniors for a month of cross-cultural experiences.

Reed Lyons, an attorney with Blank Rome, was with OU in 1997.  He says the organization's challenge is to remain relevant:

"That same lesson can be translatable to other groups of people in society who are having issues with diversity and leadership."

Loree Jones, a 1985 alumna of the program and co-executive director of City Year, says there's still a need for Operation Understanding:

"I think that there is a tendency among Americans really to stereotype people and perpetuate myths."

Governor Ed Rendell will receive an award Tuesday night at Operation Understanding's gala celebration at the National Constitution Center.

Reported by Karin Phillips, KYW Newsradio.
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