Jo Marie Payton’s ‘Drama’ heading to local stage SEE PAGE 3
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
EE FR
JULIANNE MALVEAUX: Questions for presidential candidates on race, the justice system SEE PAGE 4
B-CU HOMECOMING 2015: FROM THE PARADE TO THE GAME SEE PAGES 7 & 8
OCTOBER 29 - NOVEMBER 4, 2015
YEAR 40 NO. 44
www.daytonatimes.com
NAACP to city: Where’s the diversity? Branch president wants commission to do full review of hiring and promotion practices BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES news@daytonatimes.com
The voice of the Volusia County-Daytona Beach branch of the NAACP was robust and firm during the Oct. 21 city commission meeting. The organization’s pres-
ident, Cynthia Slater, was the first citizen to address the Daytona Beach commission during the public comments segment with a letter that addressed employment equity and diversity for African-Americans Cynthia and minorities within city Slater government. Slater wants a full review of minority employees, including hiring practices, terminations and promotions ordered by the commission.
‘Bombarded with complaints’ Slater’s address began as follows: “I stand before you representing hundreds of member of the Volusia County Daytona Beach branch of the NAACP The branch’s goal is to enhance the capacity of African-Americans and other underserved groups by promoting diversity and inclusion in hiring, equal employment opportunities and career advancement. “Our organization has been bombarded with complaints from employees from the City of Daytona Beach throughout the years and our legal redress commit-
tee has held meetings with the city manager and his administrators with very unsettling outcomes. Therefore, it is with this great sense of responsibility that the organization speak out to what we believe are unfair practices in hiring and promotions within the city.”
Full review requested The public comments section of each city commission meeting allows any member of the public the opportunity to address Mayor Derrick Henry and the six Please see NAACP, Page 2
POVERTY UNDER THE SUN: ADVANCING FLORIDA’S POOR
PENNY DICKERSON/DAYTONA TIMES
Rajni Shankar-Brown moderates a student panel at Stetson University’s Poverty and Homeless Conference. Seated from left are VCS Instructor Gabriela Barros (homeless liaison), Chantial Vasquez, Tiffaney Langhorne, Alexander Greene, Chyina Powell and Bryanna Anderson.
Students open up about their experience with poverty and homelessness at DeLand conference. BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES news@daytonatimes.com
B
ryanna Anderson is an African-American senior enrolled at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach. Amidst tears and fragile nerves, she shared an emotional story this month that chronicles a life of poverty and homelessness. Her captive audience was a packed room of Volusia County educators and community leaders attending the 2015 Poverty and Homeless Conference (PHC) on Oct. 23 at Stetson University. “It all started when my oldest brother was sent off to prison. My mom felt like she was a failure. We stayed in shelters, shelters, more shelters, and when time was up, we’d have to move out. We’d stay with other people, and in hotels. The saddest thing was when me and my mother were going to the store and she was arrested right in front of me. I was 15 years
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series that illustrates how poverty critically affects the sustainability and welfare of poor people of color throughout the state in areas such as crime, education, homelessness and employment. In this installment, the effects of poverty on education is explored along with collaborative efforts between Stetson University and Volusia County Schools.
old. My uncle came and got me, took me to his house, but all my stuff was still at some hotel.”
Statistics that stall learning Anderson’s reality aligns with harsh facts. The state of Florida has one of largest populations of homeless children and youth, and according to the 2015 Florida Council on Homelessness Annual Report, 71, 446 students were identified as homeless during the 2013-2014 school year. More than 1.6 million children living in the United States are homeless (Institute for Children Poverty and Homelessness, 2014) and over 16 million live below the poverty line. The government considers a
family of four to be impoverished if they take in less than $22,000 per year (National Center for Children in Poverty, 2014).
Public education policy In 1987, President Ronald Reagan first signed the McKinney–Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which has been reauthorized serval times, most notably in 2002. The law states: “Schools must ensure that homeless children have equal access to a free, appropriate public education.” While the latter policy was drafted to protect school-aged students like Anderson, her haunting residential plight challenges the ability to legally report to school each morning with a presence of mind to learn. With a family in a state of domestic disarray, where do students like Anderson find the fortitude to be enthusiastic and attentive? How are they expected to perform as academic achievers when they sleep at night doubled-up in cars, separated from loved ones in shelters, or attempt to complete homework assignments in the noisy confines of crowded hotel rooms? And how do they muster courage to tell a teacher, or anyone, their embarrassing circumstances? Please see POVERTY, Page 2
Volusia’s Charter Review Commission seeking residents’ participation Volusia County’s Charter Review Commission is requesting public input about Articles I and II of the Volusia County Home Rule Charter during two upcoming meetings. The meetings will be held at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 9 and Dec. 14 in the second-floor Volusia Room of the Daytona Beach International Airport, 700 Catalina Drive, Daytona Beach.
ALSO INSIDE
During the Nov. 9 meeting, residents will be asked to share their thoughts on sections 101, 102 and 103 of Article 1, which deals with creation of the government. They also are asked to comment on sections 201, 201.1, 202, 202.2, 202.4, 203, 204, 205 and 206 of Article II, which addresses the powers and duties of the county. Volusia County commissioners and
the public will take a look at charter section 202.3, which concerns the Volusia Growth Management Commission, during the Dec. 14 meeting.
Read it online The charter is posted online at www. volusia.org/charter-review. Residents who are unable to attend the meeting
can submit their comments on the website. The meetings are open to the public and reservations are not required. Attendees may bring their parking slips to the meetings for validation. For more information, call Dona DeMarsh Butler at 386-736-5955 or Tammy Bong at 386-736-5934.
COMMENTARY: REV. JESSE L. JACKSON, SR.: THE TRUTH? ‘SEPARATE AND IMPOVERISHED’ | PAGE 4 COMMUNITY NEWS: FIRE DEPARTMENT ISSUES SAFETY TIPS FOR HALLOWEEN | PAGE 5