O'ROURKE, Karen

O'ROURKE, Karen. (Dubuque, IA- ). O'Rourke helped organize the Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, AFL-CIO toward the end of the 1970s. She also authored Nurse Power, a description of the profession of nursing within the field of health care. Considered a "how to" book of organizing, the book dealt with legislation, insurance, collective bargaining procedure, and labor law.

O'Rourke began nursing as an aide at the MOUNT CARMEL MOTHERHOUSE. She graduated from WAHLERT HIGH SCHOOL and received her bachelor's degree in sociology from the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE while being employed at MERCY HEALTH CENTER.

In 1993 O'Rourke was the executive director of the Center for Public Ministry which had offices at 1069 Main. In March after an incident outside OLD SHANG (THE), black youth and the DUBUQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT were involved in charges and counter-charges that led to involvement of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE (N.A.A.C.P.), CURE, and the United States Department of Justice. O'Rourke offered to be a "bridge builder" in the situation. (1) However, she also called for Ernestine MOSS to step down from the presidency of the local branch of the N.A.A.C.P. (2)

Recognizing that most problems between police and young people occurred between 9:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m., she proposed that midnight basketball might give the youth a positive activity and therefore avoid confrontation. She maintained her solution was "colorblind." Several endorsements were quickly offered from the community. (3)

A thirteen-member task force was formed to meet periodically to organize the league for people ages 16-28 and decide where games were to be played. The task force was also to look at an educational program that would focus on determining literary skills and leadership development. O'Rourke stressed that what needed to be addressed was the "underlying economic structures that result in this kind of chronic unemployment/underemployment of our young people." (4)

See: AFRICAN AMERICANS

See: Integration

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Source:

1. Glindinning, Mary. "Complainers Need Not Apply, Telegraph Herald, March 7, 1993, p. 1

2. Bagsarian, Tom. "Mixed Reviews for NAACP, Police Memorandum," Telegraph Herald, March 16, 1993, p. 3A

3. Bagsarian, Tom. "O'Rourke's Plan for Race Relations: Midnight Basketball," Telegraph Herald, March 9, 1993.

4. Bagsarian, Tom. "Panel Determines Deadline for Basketball Game," Telegraph Herald, March 13, 1993, p. 3A