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Your Passport to the Caribbean American Community
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Jun/Jul 2020
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L I F E S T Y L E
Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor
These are some crazy times, How do we deal?
M
an, I think we are going to have to speak plainly so everyone understands. These are tough times. Very few of us want to stay home. None of us likes wearing a mask. But we are doing it. We are doing it for the health and wellness of our families, our friends and our community.
feel less secure and emotionally safe. In turn, we feel the need to defend our values, part of which becomes attacking those of the other person. Political conversations are ostensibly about what’s best for the country, its people, and our common welfare. If kept in that frame, we can all find policies that have both benefited and harmed us, regardless of where we fall on the political spectrum. Recognizing and fighting our tendency to fall It feels like everyone has an opinion about where Coronavirus into defense mode can help us have constructive came from - whether they feel it came from a need to have conversations without jeopardizing relationships.” us stay home so they could put in 5G towers to it being a hoax. Or that it has killed as much people as the Flu, so why make —Justin Rhodes, mechanical engineer, Pompton Lakes, NJ it so important? I have heard too much craziness over the past few months. But our favorite quote on the matter comes from Mahatma Gandhi: I don't even know how to explain to a person who bought into any of the theories floating around out there that they should “Friendship that insists upon agreement on all matters is take it seriously. So here's the only thing I am saying..."It not worth the name. Friendship to be real must ever would be too hard to get everyone in the world to participate in sustain the weight of honest differences, however sharp this big a conspiracy, so mask the hell up, wash, disinfect and they be.” stay home as much as you can, until this thing is over." Samuel J. Roberts
Owner/Publisher/Editor
It seems as though we are divided by so much these days...those who believe in coronavirus, those who don't. Those who believe Black Lives Matter is a movement that is simply saying - Editor's note: the validity of systemic racism and the call for at this moment in time, we want to draw attention to a group of equal treatment of all individuals regardless of race is not people that are suffering. And those who believe that taking a and should not be debated as a political issue. It is a human moment to say that undermines them in some way. right. Everyone has an opinion about politics that is deeply ingrained and they don't seem to be able to change it as it means everything to them. 1969 Alafaya Trail • Orlando, FL 32828 Office: We have gotten more entrenched in an us against them war and we are all losing because of it. I feel that an important part of getting past this great divide is to seek to understand rather than convince them of how right you are. We found these tips that we loved! Find your mutual joy “Staying friends with people who have different political opinions isn’t difficult — if you respect one another, that is. My friends and I think of it as liking different NFL teams. Mutual respect comes when you understand that our opinions grow from our environment and experiences. Not everyone’s experiences match our own. If we remember that and ask them why they believe what they do, we set ourselves up for empathy and understanding. If that fails, agree to disagree, and focus on areas of your lives that bring mutual joy.” —Scott Miller, marketing director, Wilmington, DE Avoid a “me versus them” mentality “I prevent conversations from morphing into ‘me versus them.’ Talking politics is usually a way to discuss the core values that define us. So when others espouse a different set of values, we
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Should you desire to review past copies of the publicationgo to http://caribbeanamericanpassport.com and click on the 'Print Archive'. Editor & Publisher................................................................................... Sam Roberts Publisher ............................................................................. Guenet Gittens-Roberts Graphic Design & Layout .....................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Writers: ................................................................................ Tony Dyal .......................................................................................................................Ryan Davis ...................................................................................................................Sandra Fatmi .......................................................................................................................Gail Seeram .................................................................................................................Sasha Watson ..................................................................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Photographers ............ .......................................................Ted Hollins .....................................................................................................................Dilia Castillo .............................................. .............................................................Nancy-Joe Brown Central Florida Distribution........................................................Kadeem Roberts South Florida Distribution .............................................................Norman Williams NorthFlorida Distribution .....................................................................Theo Jack Jr. Tampa Distribution ..................................................................................Julian Pina Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.
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Exploring how we view black images....starting with the bible - Interview with Artist James C. Lewis Take a moment to picture the Bible characters you have heard and seen over the years. What race are they? Analyze how you feel about seeing these images of people in the bible that you may be familiar with. How do you feel seeing them portrayed as people of color? CAP Question: Your project on the Icons Of The Bible is really interesting...What inspired it? And what message, if any did you hope to relay through the imagery? James: I’m very pro Black which is obvious from my work, and that’s not to say I’m anti-white but I believe that we should learn to celebrate our culture more than we do and we don’t celebrate it because we don’t know. (We) as American Blacks, unlike those that that are from Africa, don’t really have a “rooted culture” because we were uprooted and brought to the Americas. So we don’t have anything that we can necessarily refer back to. So we can say we came from Africa, but we don’t know exactly where in Africa we came from. Well in my case, I know where I came from because from my great grand father’s side, they came over to the States at the turn of the century from Nigeria to South Carolina and Statesboro. So I have that knowledge from my mother’s father’ side, but from my other sides, I don’t know the makeup of who I am from those sides. So, I think it’s important that we understand and know who we are. I present the work in a way that people are captivated and it inspires or makes you want to go and read up on the characters. In regards to the Icons of the Bible, I was very sick of the whitewashing of everything and how everything is portrayed from a white man’s perspective. A saying goes- ‘history is told by the person that writes it’, so you could be in the middle of a war and losing, but if you’re writing it, you can say you won. There’s always a story to be told, so I’m telling our story. I’m telling the story of Black people, I’m telling the story of my African ancestry and lineage, I’m telling the story that they don’t want us to see. I’m giving them the visuals that for so long they’ve lied to us to say that it was something else. So I’m just taking a different creative spin on it. I’m giving the world what I see and what I’m inspired by. And I’m inspired by the beauty of our culture, the beauty of blackness, the beauty of our African ancestries. So those are the things that inspire me to creatively produce the works I do.
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The Importance of Voting by Hattie Lindell Voting. A word defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “an expression of opinion or preference.” A concept well known by all Americans, as it should, considering our many things about this country are decided by elections. President, judges, mayors and governors are all voted upon by the general population; and if not, they are decided by elected officials. Considering how much of our countries government revolves around voting and elections, wouldn’t it make sense for Americans to make their opinions heard through ballots?
change that world. However, you do. The youth of America have the power to make decisions that can affect the country. If you don’t like the way America is run, and yet you don’t vote in elections or make your opinions heard, then you, not the government is at fault. I hope that in reading this essay I have helped you realized the importance of voting: because with the power to choose what happens in this country, we make America stronger. You personally can make America a stronger country by making the electoral process better, and that means voting.
Interestingly enough, that isn’t what is happening today. The 2008 US Census Bureau says that only 63% of all people registered to vote did. That doesn’t seem that bad, until you realize that only 72% of America is even registered to vote. In reality, only 45% of America is even voting in these elections, even though they could determine the fate of the country. Personally, I believe that everyone should vote, because everyone has an opinion. In America’s democracy, we value our ability to choose who is in office, and revel in the fact that we have a say in what goes on in the political world. However, when less than half the country is voting regularly, we have to ask ourselves: is this really a democracy? Yes, many people will argue, of course it is. We still have elections, and the country is run by the President. But look at it this way: the whole purpose of democracy is for every person to have a say in what goes on, and when less than half the country is voting, not everyone’s voice is being heard. And when not everyone is being heard, that’s not a democracy. What concerns me is the fact that most of the people who don’t vote are young, those who are only 18 to 24 years old. Even though many people are opinionated and have different beliefs and ideals, most Millennials (individuals 18 to 29 years old) have removed themselves from the electoral process. When I first heard these statistics, I was shocked. We always assume that everyone votes, but that is not the reality. What I found hardest to believe was the fact that only about half of the Millennials actually actively voice their thoughts. I personally cannot wait until I am old enough to have a say in the workings of the government, and I hate the thought that people who have the opportunity abuse it. Because of this, and the fact that voter quite literally have the future of the country in their hands, I urge any and all people reading this to realize how big a part of democracy voting is, and to use the opportunities given to them to make a difference in America. Citizens of many countries complain about the world around them, and many don’t have to option to
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-SUMMER READING CARIBBEAN AUTHORS
TWO PICKS ONE AUTHOR MARLON JAMES From the author of Black Leopard, Red Wolf and the WINNER of the 2015 Man Booker Prize for A Brief History of Seven Killings.
WIDE SARGASSO SEA Jean Rhys, CBE, was a mid-20th-century novelist who was born and grew up in Dominica. From the age of 16, she was mainly resident in England, where she was sent for her education. She is best known for her novel Wide Sargasso Sea (1966), written as a prequel to Charlotte BrontÍ's Jane Eyre. Jean Rhys, whose original name was Ella Gwendolen Rees Williams, earned acclaim for her early works set in the bohemian world of Europe in the 1920s and ’30s but who stopped writing for nearly three decades, until she wrote a successful novel set in the West Indies.
THE GIRL WITH THE HAZEL EYES Callie Browning is an award-winning Barbadian author who loves great food and thrilling stories. This is her first book. The Girl with the Hazel Eyes was a finalist in the JAAWP Caribbean Writer's Prize. It will have you experience the highs and lows of the life of Susan Taylor, a reclusive author who flees her island home after writing a tell-all novel that shakes apart the social and political fabric of the Caribbean. You'll feel her love, loss and ultimately ask yourself what you would have done if you were in Susan's shoes.
Marlon James was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He is the author of The Book of Night Women, which won the 2010 Dayton Literary Peace Prize, The Minnesota Book Award and was a finalist for the 2010 National Book Critics Circle Award in fiction as well as an NAACP Image Award. His first novel John Crow's Devil was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Commonwealth Writers Prize, and was a New York Times Editor's Choice. In his third novel, A Brief History Of Seven
Rock the Vote - Register to Vote, Find Election Info:
Killings, James is exploring multiple genres: the political thriller, the oral biography, and the classic whodunit to confront the untold history of Jamaica in the late 1970's.
www.RocktheVote.com
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Ancient Healers: Adaptogens Adaptogenic herbs like ginseng are great for battling stress and boosting your overall immunity, strength, and resilience. If ginseng were a Hollywood starlet, she’d be cast as a brainy, energetic woman, playing roles that shine with range and subtlety. And she’d share the screen with her equally radiant and talented herbal peers known as “adaptogens.” Ginseng and other adaptogenic herbs share rare and coveted traits — they mitigate the negative impact of stress by strengthening and stabilizing your body. “No category of herbs holds more potential for overworked, overstressed Americans than adaptogens,” says David Winston, RH (AHG), herbalist, ethnobotanist, and coauthor of Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief (Healing Arts Press, 2007). “They are a bridge that can carry us over stressful situations with our health intact. Sound like a newfangled health craze? Hardly. Adaptogenic herbs — such as ginseng, rhodiola, ashwagandha, and eleuthero — have been used for thousands of years in ancient healing practices like Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Even so, many people have never heard of them. Stress and You Imagine the body’s interior as the shimmering surface of a calm lake. A small rock hits the water. The rock is an everyday irritant, like a traffic jam, that makes you late for the dentist. Plink. A few ripples appear in the water. No big deal. Thirty minutes later, the dentist says you need a root canal. Plunk. A bigger rock lands in your lake and the circle of ripples extends to the shoreline. Your heart beats faster and your mind spins. Then your credit card is declined as you try to pay. Splash! The ripples of stress transform into waves. Stress poisons every inch of the body. It cripples the immune system, upsets delicate hormones, and disrupts digestion, among other things. Most dangerous of all, it dials up inflammation. Stress lies at the root of every inflammatory disease, says Aggarwal, who is chief of the cytokine research section in the department of clinical immunology, bioimmunotherapy, and experimental
therapeutics at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “Controlled inflammation is useful, like using heat to cook,” he says, “but uncontrolled inflammation will burn your house down.” He counts off a few of the inflammatory diseases influenced, if not sparked, by stress: obesity, cancer, heart disease, arterial disease, depression, Alzheimer’s, arthritis — and the list goes on. “There are no two ways about it,” says Aggarwal. “Any kind of stress, be it physical, emotional, or psychological, will turn on inflammation in the body.” That’s where adaptogens come into play. The body has a master switch that responds to things like stress, radiation, and tobacco smoke, says Aggarwal. That single switch controls more than 500 genes responsible for inflammation. Adaptogens ensure that the switch turns off and stays off. In doing so, they help snuff out inflammation. Ginseng is one of the most well-known adaptogenic herbs. It is said to increase energy, improve cognitive function, act as an anti-inflammatory, help with erectile dysfunction, prevent flu and lower blood sugar.
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Evidence for Effectiveness of Cloth Face Coverings Cloth face coverings are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the cloth face covering coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice. This is called source control. This recommendation is based on what we know about the role respiratory droplets play in the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, paired with emerging evidence from clinical and laboratory studies that shows cloth face coverings reduce the spray of droplets when worn over the nose and mouth. COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), so the use of cloth face coverings is particularly important in settings where people are close to each other or where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
Who Should Wear A Cloth Face Covering? • General public CDC recommends all people 2 years of age and older wear a cloth face covering in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. COVID-19 can be spread by people who do not have symptoms and do not know that they are infected. That’s why it’s important for everyone to wear cloth face coverings in public settings and practice social distancing (staying at least 6 feet away from other people). While cloth face coverings are strongly encouraged to reduce the spread of COVID-19, CDC recognizes there are specific instances when wearing a cloth face covering may not be feasible. In these instances, adaptations and alternatives should be considered whenever possible.
• People who know or think they might have COVID-19 If you are sick with COVID-19 or think you might have COVID-19, do not visit public areas. Stay home except to get medical care. As much as possible stay in a specific room and away from other people and pets in your home. If you need to be around other people or animals, wear a cloth face covering (including in your home).
Who Should Not Wear a Cloth Face Covering Cloth face coverings should not be worn by: • Children younger than 2 years old • Anyone who has trouble breathing • Anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the cloth face covering without assistance
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Supreme Court agrees with Trump administration on limits on asylum seekers The ruling lets immigration officials quickly deport some asylum seekers without allowing them to argue their case to a judge. The Supreme Court recently ruled that asylum seekers who are turned down by immigration officials do not have a right to make their case to a judge, a win for the Trump administration and its desire to quickly deport people who enter the United States illegally. The ruling was 7 to 2, although the usual undercurrents of an ideological divide on the court were present. Two of the court’s liberals dissented, and the other two agreed only with the outcome in the specific case. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., writing for the majority, rejected a lower court’s ruling that the Constitution guarantees a “meaningful opportunity” for asylum seekers to make their case to a judge if they are turned down in an initial screening. Alito said the system set up by Congress weeds out “patently meritless claims” and provides for quickly removing those making them. Most pass their initial screenings, he noted, but those who do not have no additional recourse. At oral argument, the government said that allowing judicial review would prompt a “flood” of requests and place additional burdens on an immigration system already under strain.
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ICE to stop most immigration enforcement inside United States, will focus on criminals during coronavirus outbreak
United States immigration authorities will temporarily halt enforcement across the country except for efforts to deport foreign nationals who have committed crimes or who pose a threat to public safety. The change in enforcement status comes amid the coronavirus outbreak and aims to limit the spread of the virus and to encourage those who need treatment to seek medical help. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said late Wednesday that its Enforcement and Removal Operations will “delay enforcement actions” and use “alternatives to detention” amid the outbreak, according to a notification the agency sent to Congress. ICE told members of Congress that its “highest priorities are to promote lifesaving and public safety activities.” “During the COVID-19 crisis, ICE will not carry out enforcement operations at or near health care facilities, such as hospitals, doctors’ offices, accredited health clinics, and emergent or urgent care facilities, except in the most extraordinary of circumstances,” according to the notification. “Individuals should not avoid seeking medical care because they fear civil immigration enforcement.”
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Maintain a Healthy Routine for Seniors During COVID-19 The COVID-19 outbreak has caused many unexpected disruptions in our daily lives, especially for seniors dealing with isolation at home and social distancing. The older adult population continues to be most vulnerable to the disease, and family members and in-home caregivers are making necessary precautions to protect senior loved ones during the coronavirus. While the sudden changes created by COVID-19 are preparing us all for a “new reality,” it’s also important to instill normal routines and schedules for seniors during this time of uncertainty. Daily Routines are Important for Seniors It may be difficult to think of effective ways to maintain or enhance the well-being of older adults under these complex conditions. With some lifestyle changes, your elderly loved ones can reduce their risk of getting infected from COVID-19 and other viruses. Making sure they stick to healthy routines and remain calm, comforted, and safe has never been more critical. Here are some tips you should encourage seniors in your life to follow as they adapt to new healthy routines: Get adequate sleep Getting a good night sleep is essential for senior health. Older adults become sleepless for different reasons, but their sleeping patterns may be thrown off during the coronavirus pandemic. Make sure they get at least seven hours of shut-eye per night. Visiting Angels’ caregivers can help your elderly loved one establish a nighttime routine that helps them relax and sleep easier and more peacefully. Eat healthy meals Specific foods can do wonders for overall health and wellness, especially for the elderly. If they have medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, congestive heart failure, or coronary artery disease, their physician may recommend specialized diets. With your help or an in-home care provider, your senior loved one can stick to a nutrition plan and schedule. Stay active It’s never too late to promote healthy aging for older adults. Regular exercise, including yoga, is a great way for seniors to remain active, particularly during social distancing and isolation related to COVID-19. In-home caregivers can ensure seniors stay active by assisting them with low-impact exercises. Avoid dehydration Does your senior drink enough water daily? Seniors lose water content in their bodies during the aging process and can aggravate existing chronic conditions or create more serious health problems (kidney stones, urinary tract infections, heat stroke, etc.) if they suffer dehydration. Many elderly individuals may not understand the importance of water due to mental lapses or issues. A caregiver must play a vital role in ensuring the elderly consume enough water to maintain healthy levels.
Keep up to date with medications It’s important for seniors to strictly follow medication instructions from a doctor or pharmacist. A regular athome medication plan can provide proper daily routines for your senior loved one, especially if they have a lifethreatening or chronic health condition. Visiting Angels’ care specialists can provide older adults with much-needed medication reminders to ensure daily adherence and consistency. Practice safe hygiene Good hand hygiene reduces health risks for seniors. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the elderly must wash their hands frequently with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds each time) to prevent exposure to germs. If they need help with personal hygiene, in-home caregivers can assist them with bathing, dressing, grooming, and more. Connect with family and friends virtually During isolation or social distancing, you can still see and talk with your elderly family members, even if they live a long distance. Routine calls or video chats are events they may look forward to and appreciate. There are plenty of creative ways for seniors to stay active and keep communicating while maintaining social distancing. Hopefully, some of these tips can help your senior loved ones and you establish a “new norm” that is beneficial, healthy, and safe
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The 2020 Census at a Glance Counting everyone once, only once, and in the right place. The U.S. Census Bureau is the federal government’s largest statistical agency. We are dedicated to providing current facts and figures about America’s people, places, and economy. Federal law protects the confidentiality of all individual responses the Census Bureau collects. The U.S. Constitution requires that each decade we take a count—or a census—of America’s population. The census provides vital information for you and your community. • It determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress and is used to redraw district boundaries. Redistricting counts are sent to the states by March 31, 2021. • Communities rely on census statistics to plan for a variety of resident needs including new roads, schools, and emergency services. • Businesses use census data to determine where to open places to shop. Each year, the federal government distributes more than $675 billion to states and communities based on Census Bureau data. In 2020, we will implement new technology to make it easier than ever to respond to the census. For the first time, you will be able to respond online, by phone, as well as by mail. We will use data that the public has already provided to reduce followup visits. And, we are building an accurate address list and automating our field operations—all while keeping your information confidential and safe.
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About the Census: Your information is protected by law. The law requires the Census Bureau to keep your information confidential and use your resp-onses only to produce statistics. We cannot publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you. We will never share your information with immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE, law enforcement agencies such as the FBI or police, or allow it to be used to determine your eligibility for government benefits. Our Mission To serve as the nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. Census History Thomas Jefferson directed the first decennial census in 1790. As required by the U.S. Constitution, a census has been taken every 10 years thereafter. In 1840, the Census Act authorized the establishment of a centralized. Census Office. In 1902, the Census Office became a permanent organization within the Department of the Interior. A year later, it was renamed the Bureau of the Census and moved to the new Department of Commerce and Labor.
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LEADING LADY BEHIND THE SCENES - DR. KAREN GREEN member. There is a lot to Karen, but what stands out the most is her service to the empowering the Caribbean community through voting. Her passion when she speaks about the importance of the census, voting rights and candidates makes it clear where her passions lie...Politics.
Get ready to see more of Dr. Karen Green as we head into the 2020 elections. She will be working in the Caribbean community to drive voters to the polls. Let's tell you a bit about this Jamaican born fighter for our community and better leadership at a National level. Karen was born in Jamaica, and is now an American Citizen. She attended the College of Arts Science & Technology where she received her Bachelors of Science in Industrial Psychology, Mona Campus, Jamaica, WI in 1981. She later attended the University of West Indies, Mona Campus, St. Andrew, Jamaica WI where she received her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration in 1988. After completing her undergraduate studies, she enrolled into a Masters of Business program at the University of Greenwich and studied Global Management and received her certification in Business Management & Marketing for Entrepreneurs in 2011 while working on the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) Project 2011. In 2015, She was awarded outstanding community political Leadership of the year by Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) Orlando, Florida and was bestowed an Honorary Doctorate from (CICA) International University of Canada for Philosophy and Humanities. I was surprised to learn in our interview that she was the Vice President of the Jamaican Musician’s Union and remains an honorary
And she has pursued that dream, or maybe it caught her, but since moving to the United States, Karen has served community interests through her roles as Field Organizer for the Charlie Crist for Florida Governor Campaign, Vice President of the Caribbean Democratic Caucus-Orlando Branch. Over the last few elections, Karen has successfully rallied the Caribbean vote for President Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton. In 2016, she was able to advance a landslide victory for the Clinton Campaign in the US Virgin Islands in 2016, a feat that she repeated for the Bloomberg Presidential campaign again in 2020, when she served as Senior Advisor to Michael Bloomberg for the US. Territories for 2020. A 2019 Congressional honor recognized her in honor of Women's History Month for some of the following achievements: • Her role as a former U.N. Humanitarian Religious Ambassador At Large. • Being a tireless community advocate and social justice crusader fighting to enhance the rights of women, defend religious freedoms, and secure the civil liberties of immigrants. • Serving as the Democratic Party's former Caribbean Coalition Director for the State of Florida and its territories. • Her vast political and voter advocacy record includes service as a field officer for President Barack Obama's Presidential election campaign, • Coalition Director for Hillary Clinton's Presidential primary and general election campaigns, and political advance to U.S. territories. • Leadership on issues of universal healthcare, a woman's right to choose, and immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship under DAPA and DACA as well. • Working on the front lines of the fight to secure instate tuition for undocumented students living in Florida. Karen is now serving as the Florida Democratic Party's chair for the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is a political contributor on Fox, NBC and Spectrum TV.
Join me on the journey over the next six months with a recurring contribution at MarlonHill.com
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Tuni's adds their voice to the Black Lives Matter Movement Tuni's Fashion Boutique on Park Ave in Winter Park used their storefront to share the message of Black Lives Matter through signage and clothing. We can all use our voices in different ways to show our support. We are proud of them for using the resources available to them to make a statement.
The Caribbean Community joined the Juneteenth Celebration on June 19th
The collaborative effort was spearheaded by Liza, popularly known as Lady Mystique a host of Orlando Carnival Downtown and other events.
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Supreme Court Rules For DREAMers, Against Trump In a major rebuke to President Trump, the U.S. Supreme Court has blocked the administration's plan to dismantle an Obama-era program that has protected 700,000 so-called DREAMers from deportation. The vote was 5-4, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing the opinion. Under the Obama program, qualified individuals brought to the U.S. as children were given temporary legal status if they graduated from high school or were honorably discharged from the military, and if they passed a background check. Just months after taking office, Trump moved to revoke the program, only to be blocked by lower courts — and now the Supreme Court. Roberts' opinion for the court was a narrow but powerful rejection of the way the Trump administration went about trying to abolish the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. "We do not decide whether DACA or its rescission are sound policies," Roberts wrote. "The wisdom of those decisions is none of our concern. Here we address only whether the Administration complied with the procedural requirements in the law that insist on 'a reasoned explanation for its action.' " In 2017, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions simply declared DACA illegal and unconstitutional. "Such an openended circumvention of immigration laws was an unconstitutional exercise of authority by the executive branch," he said at the time. Sessions argued that the program should be rescinded because he said it was unlawful from the start.
blame the Obama administration for what it called an "illegal and unconstitutional" program. The chief justice didn't address that issue. Instead, says immigration law professor Lucas Guttentag, the justices in the majority seemed to be saying, "Why should the court be the bad guy" when the administration "won't take responsibility" for rescinding DACA by explaining clearly what the policy justifications for the revocation are? Joining the Roberts opinion were the court's four liberal justices, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Sotomayor wrote separately to say that while she agreed that rescinding DACA violated the law for the procedural reasons outlined by the chief justice, she would have allowed the litigants to return to the lower courts and make the case that rescinding DACA also amounted to unconstitutional discrimination. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the principal dissent, accusing Roberts of writing a political rather than a legal opinion. Joining him were Justices Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito, with separate dissents also filed by Alito and Justice Brett Kavanaugh. In a tweet, Trump blasted the decision as one of the "horrible & politically charged decisions coming out of the Supreme Court." The president also asked: "Do you get the impression that the Supreme Court doesn't like me?"
But, as Roberts observed, the attorney general offered no detailed justifications for canceling DACA. Nor did the acting secretary of homeland security at the time, Elaine Duke, who put out a memo announcing the rescission of DACA that relied entirely on Sessions' opinion that the program was unlawful. As Roberts noted, Duke's memo didn't address the fact that thousands of young people had come to rely on the program, emerging from the shadows to enroll in degree programs, embark on careers, start businesses, buy homes and even marry and have 200,000 children of their own who are U.S. citizens, not to mention that DACA recipients pay $60 billion in taxes each year. None of these concerns are "dispositive," Roberts said, but they have to be addressed. The fact that they weren't addressed made the decision to rescind DACA "arbitrary and capricious," he wrote. And none of the justifications the administration offered after the fact sufficed either, including a memo issued by then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen. That memo, said Roberts, was essentially too little, too late. An agency must defend its action based on the reasons it gave at the time it acted, he said, instead of when the case is already in court. Roberts made clear that an administration can rescind a program like DACA, and indeed immigration experts don't disagree with that bottom line. The problem for the administration was that it never wanted to take responsibility for abolishing DACA and instead sought to
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Tax-saving moves you can still make before the July 15 deadline With this year’s tax filing deadline, now July 15th, now is the time to take the opportunity to make some key moves, which could translate into nice tax savings. The Covid-19 crisis led the federal government to extend the due date for submitting your 2019 federal income tax return to July 15, which is also the last day to make contributions into certain tax-advantaged accounts.
Earn interest on your refund check And if you’re still due a refund, here’s some good news that you may not have expected: File by July 15 and earn interest on your refund check. As long as you file by that due date, the IRS says you’ll be paid interest compounded daily from April 15 until the date of the refund. Until June 30 the annual interest
Make IRA contributions You can contribute up to $6,000 into an IRA (traditional or Roth) and add an extra $1,000 if you’re 50 or older. Depending on your income, you could get a tax deduction on the pretax money you put into a traditional IRA. Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars. Contribute to a health savings account Have a high-deductible health plan with a health savings account? You can stash up to $3,500 if you have individual coverage — or up to $7,000 for family plans. Throw in an extra $1,000 if you’re 55 and over. HSA contributions are also tax-deductible. In the past, you would have had to get these contributions in by April 15, the typical tax filing deadline. Now you have until the new due date. You’ll need to make 2019 IRA and HSA contributions by July 15.
rate was 5%. The rate, which changes quarterly, is now 3% until Sept. 30. Your interest payment will arrive separately from your refund check.
Set up a payment plan if taxes owed If you aren’t ready to file your taxes by July 15, you can file for an extension that will give you until Oct. 15 to submit your return. However, the extension to file is not an extension to pay any taxes you may owe. “The IRS understands that those affected by the coronavirus may not be able to pay their balances in full by July 15, but we have many payment options to help taxpayers,” IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig said in a statement. “These easy-to-use payment options are available on IRS.gov, and most can be done automatically without reaching out to an IRS representative.” To avoid paying significant penalties and interest, “you can set up a payment plan — direct debit or write a check every month,” said Christina Taylor of Credit Karma Tax. “For a lot of people, if they’re struggling to make day-to-day expenses, went through their savings. There’s a little-known program known as ‘offer in compromise.’ You send in a form offering a compromise on your tax debt.” Find out more at IRS.gov/payments.
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The Hamilton movie is being released on Disney? How to watch the musical Few pieces of musical theatre have captured the imagination of the public in recent times to anywhere near the extent of Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton – and very soon fans will be treated to a front row seat. That’s because a filmed version of the original Broadway production is on its way to Disney Plus – allowing fans to make their way virtually to the Richard Rogers Theatre, either for the first time or for a repeat visit. And with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic meaning that Hamilton won’t be returning to theatres in the near future, the film will come as very welcome news to the musical’s many die-hard fans. And the experience will be as close as possible to the real thing, with Miranda confirming the film comes complete with intermission countdown and opening remarks from the character of King George III. There are a couple of tiny tweaks, however. On Twitter, Hamilton creator Miranda explained how the show had been censored for Disney Plus. ” On July 3, you’re getting the whole show, every note & scene, & a 1-minute countdown clock during intermission (bathroom!)” he tweeted. “But MPAA has a hard rule about language: more than 1 utterance of “F***” is an automatic R rating. We have 3 “F***s” in our show. So… “I literally gave two f***s so the kids could see it,” he quipped, saying the film mutes the expletive on one instance
during the song Yorktown and another in Washington on Your Side. “You can sing whatEVER you like at home (even sync up the album)!” he added. When is the Hamilton movie being released on Disney Plus? The Hamilton movie is coming to Disney Plus on 3rd July. You can watch it by signing up to Disney Plus. The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical has been brought forward by 15 months, having originally been scheduled to arrive in cinemas in October 2021. So momentous was the announcement that he “woke up like a jolt of energy” in anticipation of telling fans, his wife Vanessa Nadal revealed.
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How to sell your home in the age of coronavirus easily participate. And the host [agent] should have an assist from another person who is reading comments and making notes of questions.” While not all sellers can move out of their homes before selling, it certainly helps today. That way buyers can tour the homes on their own. Homebuilders are definitely benefiting from the ability to open up their models to individuals touring alone. Several companies now offer smart lockboxes with onetime codes to let buyers access the home through their smartphones. Minimal furniture can be left for staging, but nothing small enough to be stolen easily. Not a lot of homeowners want to put their homes on the market in the midst of a pandemic, but some do need to move, and it’s not the worst time to sell. Demand for housing is still incredibly strong, despite the hit to the economy, and supply is at a record low.
Sellers who are allowing individual buyers into the home while they’re still living there should make sure to vet those buyers carefully weed out the neighbors who might just be snooping around. For open houses, masks, sanitizer, shoe coverings and wipes should be made available at the front door.
For the week ending March 9, new listings were down 29% annually, and the total supply of homes for sale was down 19%, according to realtor.com. But now new listings, along with open houses, are starting to pick up as states reopen.
Sellers should also be very careful not to overprice their homes. There may be little to choose from on the market right now, but with the economy in free-fall, bidding wars are few and far between.
Selling a home is stressful enough, but selling in the age of social distancing may seem even worse, but it doesn’t have to be. Simple strategies can help.
“Buyers are not desperate, so the pricing strategy still must be sound,” said Rice.
First, staging the home to sell has never been more important, even if you’re not letting people in.
Home prices have not started to fall yet, not nationally, anyway, but the big gains going into this year are gone. Buyers today are more likely to jump at a bargain than they are to pay a premium.
“You must double-down on every good practice they had prequarantine, and make sure the house is even more prepared, if anything, than it was when the majority of people would be visiting it actually versus virtually,” said Paul Legere, a real estate agent with The Joel Nelson Group in Washington, D.C. Sellers should resist the urge to save on staging now and may even want to step it up. Virtual technology is a must, and some agents are now using the latest in 3-D touring, which allows buyers to move through the home on their own. “As we headed into quarantine, we invested in a 3-D Matterport camera so that we can shoot our own virtual tours and not rely on scheduling a photographer,” said Legere. Sellers should also make sure the agent they choose is willing to do personal, live virtual tours. Dana Rice, a real estate agent with Compass in Maryland, has been walking buyers through her listings over a smartphone or tablet so the buyers can ask questions in real time. Others are doing Facebook Live showings for groups. “The whole virtual tour thing is not just hosting a Facebook Live, because nobody wants to sit through that,” said Rice. “So there are a few lessons to take from doing them over the past seven weeks: It has to be private enough for a buyer to join in without feeling exposed, but open enough that people can
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Cherchez Les Femmes (Look For The Women) There are some one-liners that are unforgettable. For example, “Brevity is the soul of lingerie,” or, “The best way to keep children at home is to make the atmosphere pleasant and let the air out of their tyres.” Or take the review of a new book: “This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.” This wry and selfdeprecating comment on Halloween: “Duck for apples – change one letter, and it’s the story of my life.” These are classics by Dorothy Parker, writer, wit, and strong supporter of radical causes. Then there was the legendary Mae West, known as ‘the vamp of high camp’, with her famous purring trademark: “Come up and see me sometime.” In one of her stage shows, Mae was told that 10 men were waiting to meet her at her home. She replied, “I’m tired. Send one of them home.” Another time, after a long (and what she would describe as ‘hard’) day, she was asked, “You must be good and tired.” Her response: “No, just tired.” This is very much like one of her most famous retorts. “Goodness, Mae,” one of her friends commented when they met, “where did you get those beautiful pearls?” Mae replied, “Never mind. But you can take it from me that goodness had nothing to do with it.” In fact, that famous line, “Goodness had nothing to do with it,” became the title of the first volume of Mae West’s autobiography. No two famous women and quipsters could have been more dissimilar and yet so quick on the draw. Mae was irrepressible. When in her stage performance as Catherine the Great she met Field Marshal Potemkin, who brought her news of a war with the Turks, she told him, “Come up to the royal suite tonight – and we’ll talk Turkey.” In one of her early films, Mae was asked, “You ever meet a man that could make you happy?” Her reply was, “Several times.” Then the famous one-liner: “It takes two to get one in trouble.” Describing her role in the film No Angel, she said, “She’s the kind of girl who climbed the ladder of success, wrong by wrong.” When an astrologer told her, “I see a new position for you,” she responded, “Sitting or reclining?” Then there was Mae’s famous take on an old phrase: “A man in the house is worth two in the street.” Dorothy Parker was a true literary genius – a short-story writer, poet, and critic with a sharp tongue and sharper pen. She had a very low tolerance for hypocrisy and stupidity. When a young man, looking loftily around at a party, confided, “I’m afraid I simply cannot bear fools,” Dorothy Parker commented, “How odd. Your mother could, apparently.” BOGUS ADMIRATION Speaking about an acquaintance, she murmured in bogus admiration, “You know, she speaks 18 languages and cannot say ‘no’ in any of them.” She once collided with Clare Booth Luce, the writer, in a narrow doorway. “Age before beauty,” declared Mrs Luce, stepping aside. “Pearls before swine,” retorted Dorothy Parker, gliding through. She had previously remarked, when told that Mrs Luce was always kind to her social inferiors, “And where does she find them?”
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by Tony Deyal
On being informed that the stoic and taciturn American President Calvin Coolidge was dead, Parker queried, “How do they know?” Sometimes, her wit could be gentle. When one of her friends gave birth, Dorothy sent her a telegram stating, “Congratulations. We all knew you had it in you.” She could also be outrageous. Dorothy kept a small cubbyhole of an office in New York, but as she never had any visitors, she became depressed and lonely. When the sign-writer came to paint her name on the office door, she got him to write instead the word ‘GENTLEMEN’. Gentlemen, and some a little bit rougher and tougher, were a commodity that Mae West was never shy of. As she said, “It’s better to be looked over than overlooked,” and, “When I’m good, I’m very, very good, but when I’m bad, I’m better.” When told that people were shocked by her behaviour and language, Mae’s view was, “Those who are easily shocked should be shocked more often.” In fact, like every other punster or humourist, there was no subject, person, or thing out of bounds or too shocking to make a joke of. The one that was so typically Mae West (who had previously admitted that between two evils, she always picked the one she had never tried before) was, “It’s not the men in my life that count, it’s the life in my men.” Dorothy Parker was, if anything, more sarcastic. One of her friends was upset at having to get rid of his cat. Dorothy enquired, solicitously, “Have you tried curiosity?” When challenged to use the word ‘horticulture’ in a sentence, Dorothy quickly responded, “You can lead a horticulture, but you can’t make her think.” On learning that a certain London actress had broken a leg, the quick quip was, “How terrible. She must have done it sliding down a barrister.” As a journalist, Dorothy had to write a report on a Yale University prom at which the number and beauty of the girls present had clearly impressed her, and she wrote, “If all those sweet young things were laid end to end, I wouldn’t be at all surprised.” One of Dorothy’s greatest gifts, apart from her social conscience (she left her estate to civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr), was her ability to laugh at herself. Some years after she and her second husband, Alan Campbell, had split, they decided to remarry. At the reception after the ceremony, Dorothy confessed to the guests, “People who haven’t talked to each other for years are on speaking terms again today – including the bride and groom.” My favourite of all her responses is this one. While she was on her honeymoon, her boss at The New Yorker, Harold Ross, pestered Dorothy for a book review she was supposed to send in. Her reply: “Too ****ing busy, and vice-versa.”
*Tony Deyal was last seen repeating a Mae West quip that could just as easily have been made by Dorothy Parker. When asked, “How do you do, Miss West?” her reply was, “How do you do what?”
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