Vol. 1 / Iss. 2 6.15.2011
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Austin-Area Urban League
Young Professionals O f f i c i a l Ne w s l e t t e r Y
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let t e r f r o m t h e p r es. – Fading Legacies – T h i s pa s t m o n t h , I ’ v e e x p e r i -
enced three surreal things --- I watched my first “big girl” album, The Mis-education of Lauryn Hill come to life for the first time. I witnessed the founding members of the Austin-Area Urban League receive a resolution from the State of Texas and listened as my brother reported to me what was splashed across news stations, that Gil Scott-Heron had died. It’s been quite a month. I can’t help but feel these things are somehow related. As a young teenager, Lauryn Hill spoke to me in a way that outside of Gospel and Contemporary Christian music, no other artist had. Her album, with its title reference to Carter G. Woodson’s The Mis-Education of the Negro and its cover art’s nod to the historic “Burning” album—was a watershed moment for hip-hop, female artists, and black expression for my generation. Thirty-five years ago in the basement of Wesley Methodist Church a need for resources and a civic voice was met with the creation of the Austin-Area Urban League. Dr. Dixon, Judge Murphy and several others planted a seed in what many considered unfertile ground, giving bloom to decades of council, discourse and mentorship. And a decade prior, Gil Scott-Heron recognized a need as well; in a musical canon that went where few others had dared, he unapologetically voiced the anger and resilience of the marginalized and oppressed. But, as I listened to the voice of Lauryn Hill resurrect the songs that I’d held so dear, I observed a struggle for rebirth. She’d remixed most of the songs and while I recognized the melodies and even the lyrics, I did not recognize the emotions I once had. And while I watched in admiration and appreciation as the forefathers of the Austin-Area Urban League were recognized on the floor of the House, I watched school children squirm in their seats struggling to understand the significance of the occasion and longing to get to their sack lunches. Then, with the news of the passing of Mr. Scott-Heron, my emotions were conflicted. Are we losing our con-
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nection with the things that had set the foundation for our cultural perspectives? Legacies don’t die with their bearers, but memories fade and too often their lessons follow suit. What happens to our sense of history as we lose our most notable touchstones? America’s nonprofit sector currently confronts a variety of challenges that it only dimly understands and for which it is not well prepared. These challenges include: demographic changes; commercial pressures pushing nonprofits into greater reliance on fee-for-service income; challenges to nonprofit tax-exempt status; and many more. But most importantly, we face a loss of knowledge of our history and a lack of connection with what should matter. As YPs let’s begin to reeducate ourselves on our legacy, build on it and respond to the call. We can start by using this Saturday’s Juneteenth celebration to further preserve our history--honoring the past by impacting the present. —Virginia Cumberbatch aaulyp president
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State of education /Bridging the Gap It a p p e a r s t h e F e d e r a l
I like to think that I am incredibly informed on all things political. I am an avid follower of happenings at the capital and anyone who has known me for even the slightest amount of time knows that I represent my party like they are playing in game 7 of the NBA finals. That being said, I also believe that we cannot sit and wait for the superhero party or an individual politician to save the children in our community. The Dalai Lama once said, “Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually.”We are the heroes. It is our responsibility to bridge the gap for these kids. This current legislative session has probably been one of the most heated any of us have seen in a while. The budget crisis is causing meltdown on both sides and unfortunately the Texas Educational System will probably weather much of the blow. Indeed school districts have projected layoff numbers in the hundreds, and some of my own co-
be found elsewhere. I will never forget the day one of my students stayed after class working on a project and shared with me her story. She was 16 years old and had 4 children. She was staying with a family member and had no idea about many social service resources available to her. As she confided in me I realized then how vast the information gap was between these students and the outside world. I went on to share with her my knowledge of programs she might be eligible for and took advantage of the opportunity to offer a little wisdom to her on other issues. How different might her life been had she had access to this information sooner? She is just one, but there are thousands of students like her who have been reached by some
workers have already been denied contract renewal. Texas schools will seem a little emptier in the fall with hundreds of teachers and staff missing from the classroom. The void however, will go much deeper than the physical. Yes the staff will have moved on, but with them also goes years of wisdom, practical knowledge, listening ears, and caring hearts. As an educator, we recognize that teaching is only a small portion of the job. You are an open door to a world beyond the classroom, to a world beyond a child’s current level of visibility. You are a counselor, a friend, a caring adult, and what I believe to be one of the most important roles; a mentor. Educators are a voice of reason and suggestions, even when there is none to
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Tashara Mitchell
educator or caring adult. Now that staff has been downsized in school districts how many of these kids will we allow to fall through the cracks for simple lack of access to information? So yes, I am incredibly active in politics and a fierce competitor, but more than being concerned with who will win the fight, I’m shifting focus to who will lose? We cannot forever point the finger to this or that person, when some of the answers and the resources lie within us. It is true that schools in the fall may be empty, however, they could also be filled, and not by paid staff, but by volunteers. We can bridge the gaping hole in access to information and wisdom that is left open by budget cuts. Schools everywhere are in dire need of mentors and volunteers. Students need people who can encourage them and offer practical knowledge. Many of us are storehouses of knowledge and life experience, why not use it? Bishop T.D. Jakes once said, “…out of all our life experiences, good and bad, God wastes nothing.” My parents always said that it takes a community to raise a child, so rather than depending on
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— C o n t i n u e d f r o m p. 2 — “State of Education”
community and save them ourselves. One major way you can get involved is by participating in The Education and Political committee’s 1st Educational Workshop designed to help prepare high school students in the urban community for the college application process and experience.
young money / Loaned Living I recently became the
very proud owner of my first credit card. Under the specific cautions of my mother, I went through all of college without one. A feat most people will never attempt to do especially when it seems college students are the bull’s-eye to predatory lenders. Match that with the rising, ahem, sky-rocketing cost of college and credit begins to look like a nice day at the beach. When I talk about credit cards, I usually get one of two reactions. One: “Why? You don’t need one. I would never get one. They will keep you in debt and ruin your life!” or some version of that reaction. Or two: “Oh good! Welcome to the world of credit. What took you so long?” The first type is afraid of credit cards. They believe that they will ruin your credit, cause you to stay in debt,
For more information about Austin education, contact Ricardo Zuvala at ryde008@yahoo.com.
—with—
Nikki Green
responsibly, they can make your life much easier and provide you with great benefits. Rewards, points, free upgrades, and insurances that debit cards and cash can not offer. Tips: Do your research. APRs, annual fees, rewards, interest rates, late fees, etc. Try your credit union. Credit unions often offer much better deals than traditional banks. Do NOT use credit like its free money. It’s not! There are strings, so proceed with caution. And as my parents, and yours have always said, be responsible. Here are just 2 tips for smart saving: One, have a goal; not just any goal, but a goal that is hard to reach but reachable, identifiable, and valuable. Two, get out pen and paper, computer or iPad and get to jotting down how your saving will get you there.
loose your home and cause slew of other financial woes to be bestowed upon you. Justifiably, they can be very scary…. if used incorrectly. Credit cards are LOANS! They are in the business of profits. And yes, they will hurt you if you do not pay on time. And use may more than you should, and if you do not do your research you can and will ruin your credit. The second type sees the benefits of credit cards and uses them to improve the quality of life. Sometimes, credit cards are necessary. Try renting a car out of state without one. You won’t; you can’t. Credit cards are useful especially when you want to make a large purchase, travel, or, when you want to establish credit to make your applications more credit-worthy. I am an advocate for the proper education on the use of credit cards. When used
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For more rants on personal finance, holler at Nikki at nikkisgreen@gmail.com For more tips from Nikki listen to KAZI “Young Money Today” Mondays at 5:30 p.m. http://www.kazifm.org/
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y p fac es m e m b e r s m a k i n ’ wav e s
tashara mitchell The local teacher and mentor recently served on the Harmony School of Science panel discussing the state of urban education. A hot topic considering the budget cuts, Tashara spoke from her perspective as a teacher on the role schools, parents, community entities and YPs need to take on.
graham cumberbatch
+ brandy Joy smith Both were chosen as featured stylists in the Blanton Museum of Art’s bi-monthly art social, B Scene. See photos of the event here: http://tinyurl.com/5rhjt2r
a.j. Bingham The up-and-coming Austin lobbyist and YP political correspondent was recently profiled by the AustinAmerican Statesman. Check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/3enn9ly
ricardo zavala City of Austin Health and Human Services Department Community Youth Development Program Coordinator graduated from the AISD UpClose program. Learn more about UpClose here: http://tinyurl.com/3zm2jge
To see more style work from Brandy and Graham, pick up the June issue of Austin Monthly (www.austinmonthly.com)
reading list http://thehairpin.com/2011/05/a-taxonomy-of-black-hairstyles http://www.newsweek.com/2011/05/01/back-to-school-for-the-billionaires.html http://juantornoe.blogs.com/hispanictrending/2011/03/gay-hispanic-leaders-changing-the-face-of-the-naacp.html http://issuu.com/givingcityaustin/docs/issue7?viewMode=magazine&mode=embed http://www.change.org/petitions/psychology-today-stop-publishing-racist-sexist-articles http://www.theroot.com/buzz/dark-girls-documentary-exposes-skin-color-bias http://vimeo.com/16210769
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P o l i tica l t ic k e r
May Review
// Legislation creating a state-wide smoking ban is on shaky ground. The language, authored by Rep. Myra Crownover, RLake Dallas, passed out of the House last week as an amendment to SB 1811, the measure prohibited smoking in restaurants, bars and other public facilities that require a license from the Texas Health department. Currently SB 1811 is being discussed in a conference committee, where appointed members of both chambers meet to reconcile disagreements. At least two senators have expressed opposition to the amendment both ideologically, on Constitutional/private property grounds, and practically, as the issue could bring down SB 1811 on procedural objections.
We are at the end. The Legislative Session concluded at 11:59PM on May 30, 2011. What a Session it was, and if we’re being honest, what a year. As the chambers wound down (at least in theory), what got done? // The biggest news came over the weekend on Saturday as legislators in both chambers adopted the conference committee report for HB 1, the General Appropriations Bill, which essentially set the state’s budget for the 2012/13 biennium. // The vote on the HB 1 report in the House was 97 to 53, coming along party lines where the GOP held 101 of the 150 seats. Likewise in the Senate where the vote was 20 to 11 (the GOP holding 19 of the 12 seats).
// Switching gears to local politics, Austin City Council member Randi Shade will face opponent Kathie Tovo in a run-off election for Place Three after the latter received 33% and Tovo 46%. The election is slated for June 18.
// In other news from the past weeks, the conference committee report for SB 28 was adopted by both chambers. The bill provides new eligibility standards for the TEXAS Grants program and well as its administration. Under the new standards students will have to demonstrate need and meet two out of four academic criteria: advanced coursework, assessment tests, a B average or placement in the top third of their class, or completion of a math class above algebra II. SB 28 becomes effective in the Fall 2013 semester so students have time to adjust to the new standards.
– A.J. Bingham
For more information about political happenings, check out A.J. Bingham’s monthly ticker on our YP Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/AAULYP
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—by—
Angela Oguntala
/Nigerian Boom
Nigeria , a place brim-
ming with bountiful resources in people and ideas has been seeing some fierce growth and promise in its technological sector. The tech and entrepreneurship scene is booming with an expanding group of minds avidly seeking to change
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African technological evolution. Among them, Google, has recently organized its second year of G-Nigeria. G-Nigeria, the largest of its G-Africa initiatives, is Google’s mission to make the internet relevant and useful to Africans by partnering with software developers, businesses and the tech community to focus on the tools driving technology and innovation. Other promising contributors include Vc4Africa - which provides opportunities to connect talent with funding and Co-Cre-
a sullied perception from the outside world tied to fraud and internet scams. As the players involved eagerly work to be seen as legitimate contenders in the startup world, many have already recognized this market for its ripe potential to stand at the forefront of the
tech tips
ation Hub - an organization aiming to create innovative solutions to the social challenges facing Nigerian society by helping entrepreneurs with business advice, funding and mentoring. From the variety of aforementioned collaborators, to the multitude of other forums, communities, and programs springing up, it’s going to be exciting to watch this emerging ecosystem develop.
new stuff Sparrow 1.2: The First Social E-Mail Client Mac mail client Sparrow will now be adding social layers to pull contextual information from your social networks. Its Facebook Connect option will show your recipients Facebook profile pictures and allow you to add them as friends. They will also be working on pulling in data from LinkedIn and Twitter. Exciting news as, to date, there’s no current mail client that uses all your social networks.
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bullet in events / j u n e 2 - j u ly 1 0 /
/ june 19 /
The Book of Grace at ZACH Theatre
Juneteenth Celebration at Rosewood Park
Don’t miss a rare chance to see the first producion of Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks’ new play to be directed by Ms. Parks herself! A South Texas family breaks through familial borders when a young man named Snake returns home, lured by his stepmother Grace, to reunite with his father, a border patrol agent. This surprising and truly original play finds three people bound together by longing, passion and ambition.
Celebrate Juneteeth with the AAULYPs, the Urban League family and the Austin community. We will have a tent set up for the festivities, including a parade. For a full listing of ways you can join the celebration visit: http://www.juneteenthcentraltexas.com/EventsCalendar.html
Need a refresher on the history of Juneteeth? Watch: http://tinyurl.com/5vs59ks and Read: http://tinyurl.com/3t3pmok
http://www.zachtheatre.org/show/the-book-of-grace
/ june 24 /
/ j u n e 2 4 -25 /
/ june 24, 26 /
BiTWiSE June 2011 Connect Microsoft’s South Central District Office 6-10pm
Austin African-American Book Festival
When Hip-Hop Lost Its Soul by Austin Black Theatre
Join fellow tech industry people of color Friday, June 24th 6-10 PM @ Microsoft’s South Central District Office in the beautiful hill country of Austin Texas for an evening of relationship building, hands-on-demonstrations, food, fun, music and more. Meet the folks you need to meet and learn what you need to learn to move your career forward or start the journey to becoming a respected software developer or information technology professional. RSVP by June 20th at
Want something educational to attend for FREE? Than this event is for you. Come out to the Carver Library and Museum for a wonderful gathering of literary brilliance. Education author Jawanza Kunjufu, Pop culture phenomena Sister Souljah, Historical author Shirley Sprinkles and many more authors will make their way to Austin for a page turning weekend. For the full list of authors and activities visit
Austin Black Theatre presents “When Hip Hop Lost its Soul: The Struggle to Liberate a Generation.” June 24 and 26. A powerful play that parallels the dehumanization that occured to blacks during slavery with the self-destruction within the black community today and how much of Hip Hop condones it. Friday, June 24 / 7pm Sunday, June 26 / 2:30pm Eastside Memorial HS Auditorium To purchase tickets contact:
http://www.aabookfest.com/.
thais@thesoulmovement.org
http://tinyurl.com/3as3oz8
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Have an event to promote? Want the YPs to get involved? To make a post in the next Young Prophet (May) submit your request(s) to: vacumberbatch@ gmail.com
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parti ng shots
YPs take part in the National Urban League Young Professionals Service Day by sowing into the community at Mayfield Park. June 11, 2011
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