Daytona Times - December 03, 2015

Top honor for B-CU coach SEE PAGE 7

East Central Florida’s Black Voice

EE FR

BILL FLETCHER: ‘Asking directions while Black’ could be deadly SEE PAGE 4

PALM COAST RESIDENT WITNESSES MEDAL OF FREEDOM CEREMONY SEE PAGE 3

DECEMBER 3 - DECEMBER 9, 2015

YEAR 40 NO. 49

www.daytonatimes.com

Residents not impressed with city’s hiring report Black Daytonans say city must improve employment practices

BY THE DAYTONA TIMES STAFF

While the City of Daytona Beach’s Black population is 35.4 percent, 18.7 percent of the municipality’s workforce is Black.

The city’s total minority workforce stands at 25 percent.

Those were some of the numbers cited at Wednesday night’s City Commission meeting by James Sexton, the city’s human resources director.

From November 2013 through November 2015, non-Whites filled 33 percent of the city’s va-

cancies through internal promotions, Sexton noted.

His presentation focused on the city’s hiring and promotional process, a report that had been requested by the commission.

However, his comments didn’t satisfy all of the commissioners and requests were made for additional information, which will be presented at a commission meeting in January.

Mayor Derrick Henry requested more information on salary breakdowns of those in top decision-making positions. He and some of the other commissioners also were concerned that only 29 percent of the city’s workforce lives in Daytona Beach.

Commissioner Paula Reed

asked for a list of people on the last five selection panels to see how diverse they were for upperlevel positions.

Beyond the numbers In a series of recent stories, the Daytona Times reported on Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) claims filed against the city that charge racial discrimination. Other stories also revealed that Daytona Beach’s municipal employee and managerial staffs are overwhelmingly White in a city with a large nonWhite population.

Employees who have filed EEOC complaints against the city have stated that fear of retaliation was a factor in their decision to

come forward. Sexton noted that the city has received eight formal EEOC complaints in the past five years, and two are active.

Numbers aside, those issues were foremost on the minds of some attending Wednesday night’s commission meeting.

“This is only the surface of what we need to address,’’ the mayor said. “I appreciate the statistics and these are starting points for us…The numbers are what the numbers are… I think there are areas in which they can improve.”

‘Grow your own’ Sexton pointed out that a shortcoming has been that over the past two years, just 33 per-

cent of the job applicants were minorities. While the city no longer uses newspaper advertisements – not even in the Daytona Times – to attract non-White candidates, jobs are posted at Bethune-Cookman University.

Reed urged the human resources director to reach out to the other three HBCUs in the state as well – Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida A&M University in Tallahassee and Florida Memorial in Miami Gardens.

She also encouraged promoting those already working for the city.

“Grow your own. We have more than enough,” the comPlease see REPORT, Page 2

Gordon Parks’ Black Daytona photo exhibit still at center

BY DAYTONA TIMES STAFF

PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

The Turkey Run had plenty to offer for lovers of vintage cars.

A treat for fans of classic cars Thousands of vintage cars on display during annual Daytona Turkey Run

Left to right: Natasha Lemonier, Brenda Lemonier, Rashard Causey, Stephanie Causey, Madison Lemonier and Reagon Causey were among the car enthusiasts.

The 42nd Annual Daytona Turkey Run was held Nov. 26-29 in the infield of the Daytona International Speedway. The classic car show and swap meet attracted more than 150,000 spectators. The smaller spring event is scheduled for March 25-27.

According to its website, the Daytona Turkey Run is the largest combined car show and swamp meet in the country. It attracts car enthusiasts from around the U.S. and the world.

The event started in 1974 and is held every Thanksgiving Weekend and the last weekend in March.

More than 6,000 vintage, classic, muscle cars, race cars and trucks are displayed.

If you haven’t done so, there’s still plenty of time to catch a local exhibit showcasing Black Daytona Beach 70 years ago. The display at the Yvonne Scarlett Golden Cultural & Educational Center features the works of renowned photographer Gordon Parks.

Titled “Midway: A Portrait of a Daytona Beach Neighborhood, 1943,’’ the display of photographs of Parks artfully captured the lives of AfricanAmericans in the mid-20th century with compassion and empathy. The exhibit, which began on Sept. 11, ends Jan. 15. The center is at 1000 Vine St., Daytona Beach.

Life in Midway In 1943, a federal assignment brought the world-renowned photographer to Daytona Beach to capture photos of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of BethuneCookman University.

Parks stayed on for weeks, capturing images of the Daytona neighborhood known as “Midway.” He photographed classes and sporting events at Bethune-Cookman College (now University) as well as everyday life in the neighborhood.

The display includes 40 photographs taken in Daytona by Parks, who is perhaps best remembered for his photo essays in Life magazine. He died in 2006 at age 93.

Leonard Lempel, a history professor at Daytona State College, has said this about Parks’ work in Daytona Beach: “Gordon Parks’ 1943 photographs reveal a poor but proud and cohesive AfriPlease see EXHIBIT, Page 2

‘Miss Katie’ Williamson dies SPECIAL TO THE DAYTONA TIMES

Katie Ruth Williamson, the matriarch of one of the city’s well-known Black families, died on Nov. 24 in Daytona Beach.

She was 87.

Born on April 2, 1928 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, she was one of seven children of the late Benjamin and Zelena Putney Williams. On June 5, 1947 she married

ALSO INSIDE

the late Grover C. Williamson. To this union, seven children were born-six surviving, one deceased.

Katie Williamson was affectionately known as “Miss Katie” throughout the Black community, particularly to her neighKatie bors who lived in the viWilliamson cinity of her Hudson Street home located in the Daytona Beach Housing Authority’s Palmetto Park housing development, now popularly known as “PPU.” She raised all six of her children there.

Most of her working career was in do-

mestic work. Her meticulous housekeeping skills paved the way for her children’s individual successes. She loved reading, solving crossword puzzles, cooking and traveling.

“She had a wonderful sense of humor and positively embraced life,” her children told the Daytona Times. “Her entire life centered around her children. We loved her and appreciated her dearly.”

Survivors include three sons: Cleveland Williamson (Delphine) Palm Coast; Frank Williamson, Daytona Beach; Percy Williamson (Carmen) Daytona Beach; three daughters: Ruth Williamson Moore (Seziel); Daytona Beach; Ann Williamson Williams (James) Daytona Beach; and

Peggy Williamson Turner (Ira) Jacksonville.

She also leaves a host of grandchildren: Tracy, Janine, C. Cory, Anita, Taneesha, Tina, Frank Jr., Dante, Cheleasa, D’Artan, Eric (deceased), Nicole, Percy II and Daniel Williamson; Kimberly Wilson Butts, Jeanae Williams Pate, Aja Williams Torrence, John Tucker Jr., Jason Tucker, Ira Turner II, Sophia Tucker, Sycloria Moore, Vernita McBride (deceased) and Angela W Wiley; 40 great-grandchildren; 14 greatgreat-grandchildren; one goddaughter, Gwendolyn Williams Jenkins; best friends Ms. Maybelle Whigham of Houston, Texas and Mrs. Rose Turner of Jacksonville; and a host of other loving relatives and friends.

ENTERTAINMENT: MASTER P AND FAMILY TO STAR IN REAL ‘EMPIRE’ TV SHOW | PAGE 5 SPORTS: LEBRON BLAMES HIMSELF FOR NOT FACING KOBE IN NBA FINALS | PAGE 7

7 FOCUS

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DECEMBER 3 – DECEMBER 9, 2015

Residents, activists have their say Prior to Wednesday night’s commission meeting, the Daytona Times asked some local residents these questions: “Should the city’s staff and management reflect the city’s population? If yes, do you have confidence that the mayor, city commissioners and the current city manager will improve the racial diversity of the city’s staff and management?”

The Black population in Daytona Beach is nearly 35 percent. Here are the reflections of some residents and area activists who would go on record with their responses.

Michael Pastore

in the employee makeup, we are not, and that’s what puzzling to me. If it were me, I would redress these issues because it seems to be a network of good old boys and it’s alive and well.

“I believe the City Manager Jim Chisholm needs to go. Ten years is a long time to be in that position for a small town like Daytona Beach. I believe that this entrenched culture of fear and intimidation that has been prosecuted over the last 10 years has to go. Something needs to done.”

Michael “Pastor Mike’’ Pastore Community activist and minister

Be ‘civically engaged’

“It is very unfortunate that in this day and time we still don’t have equality, and I do believe that many of the complaints are justified. It appears that the City of Daytona Beach has not adequately reflected the population. It remains to be seen whether or not they will comply with what the citizens of Daytona Beach are asking for.

“I don’t think someone should be hired Derrick R. just because of the color of their skin. The Harris person hired should be qualified to handle the position. I do believe that there are many minorities qualified to handle these positions in city government. We as members of the community are going to continue to bring diversity to the City of Daytona Beach by any means necessary.’’

Superintendent Derrick R. Harris, Pastor, Master’s Domain Church of God in Christ and owner of Cut Masters Barber Shop

“Yes, the staff with the city should reflect the diversity in our community. In terms of our elected/appointed officials. I think we genuinely have good-intending individuals in public office in this city. I know many of them, and I don’t think they go to work with intentions to discriminate against citizens in this community.

“However, we live in a country that has a history of systemic discrimination against Mykal R. Tairu minorities and if we aren’t intentional about resisting these oppressive systems, we will fall victim to them without knowing.

“I hope our officials will adequately respond to these issues. However, I think this situation stresses the importance of people in this community being civically engaged and informed on what’s going on at City Hall. I’m honestly not too concerned with our officials because they work for us. What’s important to me is our collective engagement in the political process. We must show them that we care.”

Mykal R. Tairu, State Coordinator, Vincentian Re-Entry Organizing Project

‘Something needs to be done’

‘They were shoved out’

“That’s part of the tenets of good government representation going back to the forming of our country with tax without representation.

“If you have issues important to the social economic group, it should reflect in their elected representative and in the municipal employee makeup.

“We have the Mayor (Derrick Henry), Commissioners Paula Reed (Zone 6), Commissioner Patrick Henry (Zone 5), on the city commission. We are well-represented yet

“Unfortunately the reflection of what you see in the offices at City Hall are not reflective of what you see in the community. What was reflective of that was during Mayor (Yvonne) Scarlett-Golden’s (tenure) when she corrected a lot of long-overdue inconsistencies. Once she passed away, things started to go back to what it was like in the 1970s and since I grew up here I can speak on that.

“I think that the city commissioners and the mayor have not pushed the city manager at the level that they

‘Many minorities qualified’

should. He believes that he is the one in charge. He doesn’t act like he reports to the city commission. It’s more like the city commission reports to him.

“I find that to be very disturbing. We try to do what we are supposed to do in terms of voting people into office and we try to follow a systematic approach on improving our community. Yet when you walk inDr. Evelyn Bethune to a door of City Hall, and say Midtown, the first thing the commission says is that Midtown has no money. Well, what’s that about? You find money for the racetrack and they don’t need the money.

“So when I look at who the hierarchy is, I don’t feel a reflection of African-Americans. There are a lot of White women working for the city. I don’t have anything against White people. However, I believe that the town has passed over deserving African-Americans or somehow they were shoved out the door. …. When you release that many people, you can go back and look at the history and pull the documents from HR. (human resources), the facts will be substantiated by the documents.’’

Dr. Evelyn Bethune CEO, Mary McLeod Bethune Legacy Preservation Institute Inc.

‘Start with the head’ “I am a former employee of the City of Daytona Beach. In 2007, I sustained an on-the-job injury that left me permanently disabled. The city then fired me, but I’m still battling with them about my injury. During this time, the city manager was Jim Chisholm. There is a need for more diversity within city management. We need more African-Americans who are qualiHosea fied to handle these positions working for Crooms the city.

“You can’t have change unless you start with whoever is at the top first. Once you do that, the rest of management will follow. If you don’t follow this strategy, change may never come. “ Hosea Crooms, former City of Daytona Beach employee who said he was fired in 2007 after an injury

Daytona Times photojournalist Duane C. Fernandez compiled this report.

EXHIBIT from Page 1

can American community at a crossroads – still largely excluded from white America yet in the midst of the momentous changes being wrought by a world war that initiated fundamental changes in American race relations and the status of African Americans.’’

Second exhibit In addition to the Parks photographs, “Neighborhood ’99: Midway Revisited’’ is on display at the Daytona center. Neighborhood ’99 is a photography project made up of images of the same areas and intersections photographed by Parks over 50 years earlier.

Both exhibits are on loan to the Yvonne Scarlett Golden Cultural & Educational Center from the permanent collection of the Southeast Museum of Photography at Daytona State College.

The “Neighborhood ’99’’ images were produced in 1999 during a workshop led by photojournalist Eli Reed that provided Daytona Beach Community College students an opportunity to document these same neighborhoods from an updated perspective.

A selection of Reed’s images and work by two of the student participants, Aaron Mervin and Jim Gavenus, were donated to the museum’s permanent collection at the end of the project.

These exhibits can be seen at the Yvonne Scarlett Golden Center Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

James Sexton, Daytona Beach’s human resources director, addresses the commission Wednesday night.

REPORT from Page 1

missioner remarked, mentioning the city employees. She added that she believes that’s why there has been a morale problem.

Not satisfied The Volusia CountyDaytona Beach branch of the NAACP has continually urged Daytona Beach’s city commission to address employment equity and diversity for African-Americans and minorities with-

in city government.

Branch president Cynthia Slater has said the local NAACP branch has been bombarded with complaints from employees from the City of Daytona Beach throughout the years about “unfair practices in hiring and promotions within the city.”

Speaking during the public comments time, she expressed concerned about Sexton’s report.

“The NAACP is in no way satisfied with the report,” she said, noting that “something is wrong” with 18.7 percent of the workforce is Black when the

population is at 35 percent.

“It may appear that African-Americans are doing well in the city,” Slater noted, calling it a “play on numbers.’’ Slater further remarked that five current city employees who are “afraid of their jobs and afraid to come forward” have contacted her.

She added that Sexton’s report did not “address the elephant in the room, which is the culture in the city.’’ She added that neither the commission nor the NAACP “ should stick our heads in the sand and pretend that everything is fine.’’

PHOTO BY GORDON PARKS

Above is a street scene in Daytona Beach in 1943. Bill Mobley’s Shoe Shine Parlor was located next to the Ritz Theater. Across the street from Mobley’s was Lizzie Jones’ rooming house and next to it was the Stewart Memorial C.M.E. Church.

PHOTO BY GORDON PARKS

Bethune-Cookman students are shown using microscopes in this 1943 photograph.

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DECEMBER 3 – DECEMBER 9, 2015 COMMUNITY DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

M A YNEWS OR

Marya Bosley, second from left, enjoys the ceremony with Congress’ D.C. delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, left, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Attorney General Loretta Lynch and former Attorney General Eric Holder.

Palm Coaster witnesses history at White House ceremony President Barack Obama’s conferral of the posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom to Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm (D-N.Y.) has emboldened Marya Bosley, the congresswoman’s goddaughter, to stand her ground and become unbought and unbossed.

It was both surreal and phenomenal for Palm Coaster Bosley and her family from New York to watch Andre Dubois, Mrs. Chisholm’s grandnephew, accept the award from President Obama on the afternoon of Nov. 24 in the East Room of the White House.

The president bestowed the nation’s highest civilian honor upon 17 “individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors” - and that is to say: Katherine G. Johnson, a NASA mathematician, who’s a woman of color; baseball greats Willie Mays and Yogi Berra, singers Barbra Streisand and Gloria Estefan, conductor Itzhak Perlman, civil and human rights leader Minoru Yasui, among others.

Mrs. Chisholm was the first African-American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. She served seven terms since 1968 until retiring in 1983.

During her stellar career, she was assigned to the House Agricultural Committee, and this was to her dismay because she represented an urban area. All the same, the Brooklyn congresswoman fed the poor and hungry with the surplus food.

BRIEFS Palm Coast’s Starlight Event & Parade set for Dec. 12 Celebrate the holiday season with your family, friends and neighbors at the City of Palm Coast’s Starlight Event & Parade on Saturday, Dec. 12, at Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast. Admission is free.

The day kicks off with the preparade Starlight Event from 4 to 6:30 p.m. featuring live entertainment including a steel drum band, DJ Vern and music by students from Flagler Palm Coast High School; visits and photos with Santa; knockerball, a “Peanuts” gift bag craft and Letters to Santa activities for children; and food and treats available for purchase.

At 7 p.m., the Starlight Parade will get under way – featuring colorful lighted floats, marching bands and prizes for the top entries. The parade route will begin near the Round-About on Cen-

PALM COAST COMMUNITY NEWS JEROLINE D. MCCARTHY

She was the driving force behind SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children).

She also was the first AfricanAmerican female to become a major-party candidate for the 1972 Democratic nomination for the U. S. presidency. Her campaign slogan held firm the narrative “unbought and unbossed.”

Having no support from the Democratic establishment and little from Black male leaders, she is quoted saying, “They think I am trying to take power from them.

The Black man must step forward, but that doesn’t mean the Black woman must step back.”

The distinguished humanitarian, scholar and spokeswoman for racial equality and other realms of support - especially to women, children and the poor - backed up education, health care and social services. Representative Chisholm was one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Organization for Women. She gave of herself to live a life of service.

Local, national tribute Through a proclamation issued Nov. 17 by the Palm Coast City Council, Nov. 30 was de-

tral Avenue (near entrance to the Landings Apartments) and head east; turning north onto Park Street, east onto Lake Avenue, and south on City Place; then continuing south of Bulldog Drive.

A variety of food options and treats will be available for purchase from local food trucks and vendors.

For more information, visit www.palmcoastgov.com/starlightparade or contact the Palm Coast Parks and Recreation Department at 386-986-2323.

Affordable Care Act assistance available at library Trained navigators will offer enrollment assistance from noon to 6 p.m. Mondays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays through Jan. 28 (except Dec. 24) at the Daytona Beach Regional Library, 105 E. Magnolia Avenue, Daytona Beach.

Navigators will also be available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 23; and from

isholm’s’ artifacts and writings to be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution. Congresswoman Lee, together with former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, worked or interned in Mrs. Chisholm’s Congressional office.

It’s also part of Bosley’s journey to showcase the 10th-year anniversary of Mrs. Chisholm’s death with a dinner and program at a venue to be disclosed and tentatively have Representative Lee as the guest speaker. Within the same purview, a birthday party was celebrated Monday for Mrs. Chisholm.

This is the window that Bosley now is in because she did not want to go to the White House.

“But, I have to give honor and praise to God for truly making me aware to walk in that destiny,” she shared. She gives a shoutout to LaSherica Jefferies in church who sang, “Order My Steps” for which lay the confirmation testifying of Bosley’s time to continue Mrs. Chisholm’s legacy.

“I didn’t have the confidence that I now have in myself,” she revealed. “Unfortunately, our culture does not embrace the positive as much as they embrace the negative.”

“Am I, my brother’s keeper?” exhorted Bryant. “I think our culture has been through so much as a people, that we have lost who we are,” and so to be restored and say, “I am a proud Black woman, it’s something deep about that.

“Black women have “started to embrace their kinks; they’ve started to embrace their imperfections; they’ve started to embrace their quells - of who they are - the nose, the butt, the hips, the everything...and so that’s why I moved my organization from one place to another because that confidence needed to be restored within us as a people,” said Bryant.

Coming together

COURTESY OF MARYA BOSLEY

Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm’s niece, Valerie Dubois poses with grandnephew Andre Dubois and Marya Bosley. clared “Shirley Chisholm Day.” Mrs. Chisholm had retired in Palm Coast until relocating to Ormond Beach, where she passed away Jan. 1, 2005. During her retirement, she wrote, taught at various colleges, and gave speeches.

She imparted to students that “if you don’t accept others who are different, it means nothing that you’ve learned calculus.”

When questioned about how she wanted to be remembered, she stated, “I’d like them to say that Shirley Chisholm had guts.”

President Obama refrained that Shirley Chisholm had guts while bestowing the nation’s highest civilian honor.

The outlets, paying tribute to a giant of a woman, have inaugurated the journey to become definitive. Things are having the same resonance for Bosley as they did for Congresswoman Chisholm. In fact, it has been an exhorting exchange with Orjanette Bryant, NatOrjanette ural Nubian enBryant trepreneur/owner of the non-profit, specializing in the chemical-free approach to beauty.

10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9.

Appointments may be scheduled by calling 904-762-8609 or visiting www.getcoveredamerica. org/connector. Walk-ins are also welcome, but will have a longer wait time.

DeLand center to host Christmas workshop On Dec. 12 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Master Gardener Linda Landrum will host a Christmas workshop for adults in the West Volusia Historical Society’s Conrad Center, 137 W. Michigan Ave. DeLand.

The workshop will feature how to make holiday decorations out of natural materials. Attendees will learn how to make an evergreen garland and a table arrangement to take home. The cost of this event is $10 per person. Reservations are required.

Additionally, the entire month of December, the West Volusia Historical Society will run an exhibit titled Holiday Symbols from Around the World. This exhibit features Edwardian period Christmas decorations and will

Bryant searched for Bosley after a meeting of the minds with Office Divvy owners Ky and Lisa Ekinci in presenting a national awareness campaign honoring the congresswoman - and using the social media hashtag #IknowNow. The couple started the quest of a desire to know and/or remember who Mrs. Chisholm was, and solicited help from a digital team of student interns at their business - Kedron Abbott, Monica Lao and Trenton Moore. Abbott wrote the proclamation, which was delivered to Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts.

That same principle is still riding high because “you take it every step of the way,” said Bosley, “because if you give up and give in, you’ll never make a change.”

“If we are intelligent Black women,” added Bryant, “then no one has the right to tell us that we have to be suppressed of that intelligence...That’s something that she (Mrs. Chisholm) taught us, just to be bold about what you have to say, and don’t hold back...”

Another tribute in works Bosley has taken a parallel stance with Robert, the congresswoman’s assistant, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) to involve Representative Ch-

be at the Conrad Center. Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.

Call 386-740-6813 or email delandhouse@msn.org.

Presbyterian church to present Dec. 13 cantata The United Presbyterian Church Choir will present a cantata titled “A Love to Save the World’’ at 10 a.m. Dec. 13. Richard Butler, United’s choir director, is coordinating this special event. The cantata is free and open to the public.

The church is located at 730 Beville Road, Daytona Beach.

For further information, contact the church at 386-253-2324.

‘Jazz’ series continues at Daytona library Ken Burns’ “Jazz” documentary will continue with episodes seven through 10 at the Daytona Beach Regional Library at City Island in December.

The episodes will cover the rise of bebop, swing music, west

This resorts to a picture, where “we have in this community organizations that we need to partner with,” continues Bryant, ...to add the inclusion diversity aspect of what we are doing.

“And holistically, if we can get our community involved...” added Bryant.

“If we can bring everybody together,” interjected Bosley, “it doesn’t matter, what walk of life, what you’ve achieved, what’s your pedigree, what degree you hold.

At the end of the day, we are all one body, one sound.”

“And so, if we can get all the churches, all the people together,” asserted Bosley, “it does not matter if we’re Baptist, we’re A.M.E., we’re Catholic. It’s all about the community and saving our children and bringing us back together,” she added.

“Because if we pull together as a community, then we can continue to educate our children and we won’t have children robbing people. We won’t have children riding up and down the road and taking things from people,” Bosley stated. “And, (we can) get back to that foundation of what family values truly are. The most important thing in my goal and my objective is to bring together in some manner, somehow, the community as one,” affirmed Bosley, who’s passionate to be Congresswoman Chisholm’s goddaughter.

••• As always, remember our prayers for the sick, afflicted and bereaved.

Celebrations Birthday wishes to Ernestine Logan, William Day, David Freckleton, Dec. 5; Lawrence Wettlin, Dec. 6; Alexis Luckett, Dec. 9.

coast jazz and avant-garde jazz in the 1940s and 1950s. The schedule includes “Risk” Dec. 15, “The Adventure” Dec. 22, and “A Masterpiece by Midnight” Dec. 29.

The acclaimed documentary features musical selections and interviews with jazz performers including Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller and Miles Davis.

The free viewings are sponsored by the Friends of the Daytona Beach Library.

For more information, contact Adult Program Librarian Cindy Fouraker at 386-257-6036, ext.

16166.

Palm Coast chorus plans holiday concerts The Community Chorus of Palm Coast will perform a holiday concert on Friday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 13 at 4 p.m. The concerts will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 156 N. Florida Park Drive in Palm Coast. Donations are welcome.

Call 386-986-8899 or visit www.communitychorusofpalmcoast.com for more information.

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7 EDITORIAL

DECEMBER 3 – DECEMBER 9, 2015

Another senseless murder by police In the spirit of the season, my original plan for this week was to present a column that was light-hearted and uplifting, but my spirit of festiveness was overcome by the events of the past week. We’ve been given no room for a casual, much less festive, reflection at this time.

Dead on the streets I learned more about Laquan McDonald. Unfortunately, he was among the ever-growing list of young Black people who’ve been assassinated on the streets of this nation for no good reason.

I can only surmise that my reaction was like millions of others who asked the question, “When will this legally sanctioned murder and brutality end?”

For those who reject the thorough scrutiny of current events because of the never-ending surge of mayhem and murder, Laquan was a 17 year-old Black male. More than a year ago, he was shot 16 times and died from his wounds. At the time of his death, he was a ward of the state.

Like many of his contemporaries, he lived a rough life navigating the cruel streets of Chicago.

The official Chicago Police Department statement regarding

DR. E. FAYE WILLIAMS, ESQ. TRICE EDNEY NEWSWIRE

his shooting and death was that Laquan lunged at police with a knife and was shot once in the chest and died. Even at the time of his death, eyewitness reports contradicted the official police version, but, as is usually the case, police statements trumped those reports.

Truth revealed However, last week the ship of truth sailed out of stormy weather. A judicial order forced the police dashcam videos to be released to the public showing the truth of the matter.

Laquan was shot 16 times while walking away from police.

This hail of bullets came from the firearm of a single officer, Jason Van Dyke. Based upon the video, Laquan never acted in a threatening manner toward any of the police on the scene. It was a clear case of murder.

I’ve heard Whites and Blacks alike try to minimize the signif-

Make anti-poverty tax credits permanent “The Earned Income Tax Credit is the most effective anti-poverty program in the United State.

It both encourages and rewards work by allowing low-income workers to recoup money that otherwise would have gone to taxes.

And since low-income people are more likely to spend their income than to save it out of necessity, it is also an economic stimulus.” – Alice Lieberman, Professor, University of Kansas School of Social Welfare With only a few weeks left in the year, Congress is debating a series of key issues for working families.

One of the most important is the fate of key parts of two tax credits that help millions of low-income working Americans.

MARC H. MORIAL TRICE EDNEY WIRE

Powerful tools The two credits – the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) – are powerful tools that reduce poverty and encourage and reward work.

Together, they lift more children out of poverty than any other program, while also promoting greater mobility and opportunity for families. And, with four million African-American children living in

‘Asking directions while Black’ could be deadly Sherry McLain, age 67 – a White woman from Tennessee – was loading her car in a WalMart parking lot. James Crutchfield, a 52-year-old Black man, approached her seeking a light for a cigarette. McLain allegedly pulled a gun on Crutchfield. She later stated that she had never been more afraid.

Crutchfield is quite lucky to be alive. McLain was arrested, though she protested that this was unfair and that Crutchfield was the problem.

In reading about the case, I found myself thinking about the manner in which it illustrated so much about the reinforcement of

BILL FLETCHER, JR. NNPA COLUMNIST

racism. Cameras that filmed the incident apparently indicated no evidence of aggression on the part of Crutchfield; yet McLain felt that she was well within her rights to pull a weapon on an unarmed man.

Presumption of guilt The McLain incident reminds

Humane treatment shouldn’t require demonstrations In October 2014, 17-year-old Laquan McDonald was shot 16 times and killed by a Chicago policeman. With the support of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, the city fought several attempts to have the dashcam video of the incident released to the public.

Local elections were a month away when the shooting took place. The tape was withheld from the public pending an offi-

REV. JESSE L. JACKSON, SR. TRICEEDNEYWIRE.COM

cial investigation. For more than a year, there was no action on that investigation.

Large settlement Yet even while the tape re-

icance of this murder by questioning the lack of indignation when Blacks murder Blacks.

This is a false equivalence. Anyone who’s grown up in the midst of urban violence has learned by experience to calculate the odds of becoming a victim of violence.

Contrary to this understanding, the expectation for encounters with law enforcement is for reasonable action and justice to prevail.

Conventional thinking does not support a belief that police are allowed to shoot someone 16 times for an act that, at its worst, could be called “brandishing a weapon,” but more likely a minor peace disturbance. It is my belief that we have once again seen the demonstration of the complete devaluation of a Black life by a police officer.

Youth ‘exterminated’?

Given what was seen on the video, Van Dyke made the conscious determination that Laquan McDonald’s actions had breached societal good order to the extent that he no longer had or deserved the right to live. Or maybe Laquan’s Blackness was so offensive to this officer, that he felt justified in exterminating this

poverty today, the EITC and CTC make a critical difference in our communities.

In 2009, President Obama signed into law temporary improvements to the credits that dramatically expand access to the CTC to very low-income working families and provide additional help for some families receiving the EITC. Although these very important improvements to both tax credits were extended in 2012, they will expire in 2017 unless Congress acts to make them permanent.

This fall may be the best opportunity that Congress has as it debates legislation that could make some business tax breaks permanent. As the House and Senate consider this legislation, they cannot leave working families behind.

They must make the improvements of the EITC and CTC permanent as well.

Disproportionate harm

VISUAL VIEWPOINT: THE WAR AGAINST ISIS

PAT BAGLEY, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

offensive creature!

Clearly, Van Dyke did not exercise the judgment or professional discretion that is commonly taught in modern police academies. His “malicious remedy” to the problem he saw in Mr. McDonald is the basis for the appeal that “Black Lives Matter.” If for no other reason than to have police officers re-consider their own real attitudes toward people of col-

If they don’t, African-Americans would be disproportionately harmed: two million working African-American families and four million children would lose an average of $1,200 per year. A single mother of two working full time at the federal minimum wage would lose every penny of her CTC. “In many cases, these two measures are what allows working families to stay in their homes,” said Don Cravins, Jr., Executive Director of National Urban League Washington Bureau. “The consequences of ending the credits would be nothing of devastating.”

In the course of these discussions, Congress also has a chance to address the plight of lower-income workers without kids, many of whom are left out of the EITC. Expanding the EITC to cover these workers has bipartisan support and would help promote work, could reduce incarceration rates, and boost earnings.

us that in the U.S., the presumption of guilt always hangs over the head of those of us of the darker persuasion.

About a year ago I was driving through South Carolina on my way to a conference in Myrtle Beach. I said to my wife that there were certain places along the route where I would fear breaking down – not because they were cell phone dead zones, but because they were White areas and that I would fear for my life knocking on the door of some resident in order to seek help.

While some would consider this paranoia, you only have to remember the tragic killing of Renisha McBride in Michigan for doing just that. Her car apparently broke down and she knocked on the door of a White man for help – only to receive a bullet as a reply.

Dangerous, violent

mained secret, the Chicago City Council, acting on advice of a city attorney who had seen the tape according to local media reports, voted for a $5 million settlement for the McDonald family before the family even filed a lawsuit. Officials continued to oppose release of the video until a judge finally ordered its release under the Freedom of Information Act laws.

In Chicago, officials offered no remedy. Instead they sat on the tape for more than a year, buried the killing in an unending investigation, gave the officer a pass, and got through the elections.

Jeffrey Neslund, one of the attorneys for McDonald’s fam-

ily, argues that “the bigger story is the process. That needs to change. If the mayor and people in his administration know how devastating this is, and they can’t fire this officer and recommend that he be disciplined and charged, it is ridiculous.”

It is not just that incidents such as the McLain vs. Crutchfield run-in, or the killing of McBride, are unjust and tragic. These incidents flow from the deeply-held view among so many Whites that Black people are dangerous, volatile and prone to violence.

It is a notion that is rooted in slavery and the fear that the White population held that the slave might someday revolt and bring violent revenge upon Whites for the oppression we have suffered. This fear has existed wherever there has been slavery and/or colonialism.

The fear of the Black; the fear of the Native American; the fear of the Asian; the fear of the Latino. In each case we are portrayed as unscrupulous and as wild as the worst animal, ready to pounce upon a White at a mo-

Shakeup necessary Long ago, the mayor should have announced a complete shakeup of the Chicago Police Department. Only that can begin to revive any trust in the police. The unending secret investigation should make its findings known.

Black lives do matter. Chicago’s

Charles W. Cherry II, Esq., Publisher

Opinions expressed on this editorial page are those of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the newspaper or the publisher.

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or, we must not waiver in our demand that people acknowledge that Black Lives DO Matter!

Dr. E. Faye Williams is national chair of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc. Contact her via www.nationalcongressbw.org.

Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

Permanent treatment The Obama administration is calling for Congress to make the improvements to these working family tax credits permanent.

Now is the time to make your voice heard in the halls of Congress.

You can help by contacting your senators and representatives, urging them to make the improvements to the EITC and CTC permanent and reminding them of the importance of fixing the glaring hole in the EITC that leaves out childless workers without kids.

With your help, we can make the key provisions of these credits permanent so that they can keep making a difference in our communities.

Marc Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League. Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response. ment’s notice.

This is what is truly at the core of the gun debate. It has little to do with the Second Amendment.

It has to do with the gun as a definition of Whiteness; a symbol of authority over, first the African and Native American, and later the Latino and Asian.

It appears that Ms. McLain was following in this very sick and tragic legacy, and doing her best to reinforce it.

Bill Fletcher, Jr. is the host of “The Global African” on Telesur-English. He is a racial justice, labor and global justice activist and writer. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and at www.billfletcherjr.com.

Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response. citizens should not have to demonstrate in the streets in order to be treated justly. Citizens of color should feel protected, not threatened, by the police whose salaries they help pay.

Elected officials should worry less about covering up the horrors than about remedying them.

Only action will heal the city’s wounds, and the time for it is long overdue.

The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. is president and CEO of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

Click on this story at www.daytonatimes.com to write your own response.

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5 7

DECEMBER 3 – DECEMBER 9,DECEMBER 2015 ENTERTAINMENT 14 - 20, 2006

MAYOR

‘Superwoman’ singer left out of ‘Soul Train Awards’ tribute EURWEB.COM

As always, the Soul Train Awards has a moment or two to talk about.

And this year was no different as the tribute to Babyface included many of the artists he helped make household names singing the songs that put them on the public radar. From After 7 to Cameo and Tevin Campbell, among others, it was definitely a throwback vibe.

While there was no doubt that Fantasia did her thing on the late 1980s hit “Superwoman,” folks were left wondering why Karyn White, the song’s original vocalist, wasn’t the one on stage singing her signature tune.

Apparently, White felt the same way. The 50-year-old entertainer gave the scoop on her no-show on Facebook, saying that she was flooded with phone calls and messages asking if she was OK since she wasn’t in Las Vegas to perform “Superwoman.”

According to White, she “doesn’t know” why she never got a call from BET, Centric or Soul Train reps to appear at the Soul Train Awards and perform “Superwoman” for the Babyface tribute despite the fact that she “made it a hit.”

As for her thoughts on Fantasia’s performance, White had nothing but praise for the “American Idol” winner.

White went on to reveal she’s still active on the music scene and just released a new album.

Master P working on real ‘Empire’ show Single father wants to debunk stereotypes about music industry

BY RICK BENTLEY FRESNO BEE (TNS)

Move over Cookie, Master P wants to show the world what a real music “Empire” looks like.

The music mogul is opening the doors to his family home for the Reelz series “Master P’s Family Empire.”

Master P, whose real name is Percy Miller, is a single father who made it his mission to forge the Miller family empire.

The one thing Master P wants to do differently is to debunk many of the stereotypes about the music industry that have served as plot points in the Fox series “Empire” or other music-oriented reality shows.

“This is not like a makebelieve empire. This is the real empire. We come from the struggle. We changed our lives. My kids have real talent. We are a musical family. For us to be able to be here and rise among all those things that happened, it was a struggle,” Master P said during an interview at the Television Critics Association meetings. “You’re going to see how we really live and what we really do. I also have some younger kids that come from the streets that are changing their life that I’m mentoring their careers and managing their careers too.

“You’ll actually see where this empire comes from, where it started at, where we are going, the evolution of us. It’s going to be magical.”

JOHN SALANGSANG/BFA/SIPA USA/TNS

Master P, shown at an event in October in California will star in a reality show with his kids titled “Master P’s Family Empire’’ on the Reelz network.

Kids from 9 to 25 Just as Cookie, the character on “Empire,” found out, children can complicate the process. Master P has five offspring ranging in age from 9 to 25.

Romeo’s the oldest; he has found success in music, TV and film. His sister, Cymphonique, is an ac-

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tress, singer, dancer and writer. Veno is forging a career in modeling, while the youngest members of the family, Hercy and Mercy, are working toward careers in basketball.

“When you look at reality TV, you look at a lot of negative things that happened. But I also wanted to show the positive things that happened in hip-hop without family stereotype. Romeo went to college. Veno went to college. Cymphonique’s going to college. My boys are in school,” Master P remarked. “And we want to show that the entertainment side of this, but also the business side, and also, you know, we’re not a perfect family, but we realize that the values that we have, that hopefully other families are going through those same things in their lives.

“To me, it’s more about showcasing what hip-hop can go to.”

‘It was a struggle’ Master P knows both the personal and professional sire of the music world.

He’s a self-made music mogul who grew up in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in New Orleans.

Since establishing his music career, Master P has sold more than 75 million records.

His children have established their own musical careers, a necessity because Master P’s parenting philosophy is “I’m your father, not your friend.” He’s supportive of his children but at the same time expects them to be self-sufficient.

Master P’s life has always been about hard work.

“I feel like when you talk about family empires, you got to look at us with all the dues that we paid to get here. It was a struggle.

It wasn’t like Master P, here, you coming from money, you’re going to be successful,” Master P said. “No, it was a real struggle coming

from nothing.

“And the most important thing, we’re also able to give back and touch other people and reach other people.”

Keeping it positive The series focuses on Master P and his children as he and his ex-wife, Sonya Miller, were dealing with divorce proceedings when the series was being shot.

At that time, Master P wasn’t certain whether his ex-wife would be on the show. Part of Master P’s plan for his reality show to stand out as different is to keep everything positive.

That works when talking about his children but not necessarily with his ex-wife. But he’s not completely ruling out her being on the series.

“So as the show lasts and go on, as relationships grow and people grow up, you never know,” he added.

MC Lyte, above, will join Kelly Price, Faith Evans and Ledisi at the W.E.A.LTH. Experience event Jan. 2-5 in Miami.

COURTESY OF BET.COM

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www.excellencewithoutexcuse.com Download immediately as an eBook or a pdf Order softcover online, from Amazon, or your local bookstore ISBN#978-1-56385-500-9 Published by International Scholastic Press, LLC Contact Charles at ccherry2@gmail.com

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MC Lyte to host W.E.A.L.T.H. Experience in Miami next month Hip Hop Sisters Foundation founder MC Lyte, president/CEO Lynn Richardson, and Executive Director Latoyia Dennis have announced the W.E.A.L.T.H. Experience, presented by Prudential, to be held Jan. 2-5 in Miami at the upscale beachfront 1 Hotel.

Notable speakers include Kelly Price, Faith Evans, Ledisi, Nicci Gilbert, Dr. Robin Smith, Erica Campbell, Lil Mama, Tamika Mallory, Cheryl “Salt” James, Tai Beauchamp, Michele Thornton and Miss Diddy.

The W.E.A.L.T.H. Experience connects likeminded business partners and friends for goal reflection and spirit renewal through general sessions, workshops and themed events that teach women how to master their personal, business and financial objectives.

“I am honored to present the

W.E.A.L.T.H. Experience as a way of life for women around the globe as we work together, build wealth together, and ultimately, as we change the world together,” said MC Lyte, who recently completed two historic White House visits.

Purpose of event The W.E.A.L.T.H. Experience is one of many events hosted by the foundation that raises funds to support its scholarships and programs.

Event creator and celebrity financial coach Lynn Richardson added, “Womanhood, Expansion, Assets, Leadership, Transformation and Health are components of maintaining financial wealth. We as Black women have accomplished many milestones, but with all of our accolades and educational accomplishments, wealth is not a term that categorically describes our financial state.

“The W.E.A.L.T.H. Experience aims to close the wealth gap by providing us with tools, strategies and behavioral changes -within a safe atmosphere of open communication and honesty – necessary for the harmony that creates and sustains true wealth.”

For more information, visit wealthexperience.info.

R6

7 CLASSIFIEDS

DECEMBER 3 – DECEMBER 9, 2015

YOUR SON HAS ASKED

A CALCULUS QUESTION

YOU DON’T

UNDERSTAND

AT ALL Do you: (A) Create a diversion.

(B) Look up the answer on your phone but pretend you knew it.

(C) Hire a tutor. For yourself.

When it comes to being a parent, there are no perfect answers — just being there is enough. So don’t worry, you don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent.

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7

SPORTS MA YOR

DECEMBER 3 – DECEMBER 9, 2015 DECEMBER 14 - 20, 2006

James blames himself for never facing Bryant in NBA Finals

BY JASON LLOYD AKRON BEACON JOURNAL (TNS)

COURTESY OF B-CU

Lynn Thompson, vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics at B-CU, congratulates Terry Sims last year on being the new head football coach.

B-CU’s Terry Sims named MEAC’s Coach of the Year SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Terry Sims, BethuneCookman University’s firstyear head football coach, was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Coach of the Year Monday. In addition, five B-CU student-athletes were named to the all-conference first team, while another five were selected to the second and third team, respectfully.

Sims, having taken over the reins of the Wildcats program on Dec. 22, 2014, guided the Wildcats to a share of the MEAC title in 2015, including a 9-2 overall finish and 7-1 mark in league play. For the Wildcats, the title represented the school’s fourth consecutive (eighth overall), matching South Carolina State (1980-83) for the second-longest streak in ME-

AC history.

The Wildcats were victorious over in-state rival Florida A&M, 35-14 in the annual Florida Blue Florida Classic to secure their stake in the conference title. B-CU led the MEAC in several statistical categories, including scoring offense (31.4 average per game), total offense (445.0 average per game), rushing offense (191.8 yards per game), pass offense (253.2 average per game), and pass efficiency (164.1 efficiency).

Making the teams B-CU also holds top 10 positions in the FCS in passing yards per completion (sixth) and team passing efficiency (third). B-CU entered the STATS FCS Top 25 poll in the final ranking of the season (25th) and has slowly climbed the FCS

Coaches Poll to reach No. 21 following the last game of the regular season.

Also representing Bethune-Cookman on the All-MEAC first team was quarterback Quentin Williams from Tampa, wide receiver Jawill Davis from Miami, offensive lineman Dariusz Bladek (Kissimmee), linebacker Robert Way (Belle Glade) and defensive back Marquis Drayton from Fort Lauderdale.

Representing the Wildcats on the All-MEAC second team are running back Anthony Jordan (Atlanta) tight end Ja-Quan Lumas (Orlando) and linebacker Donald Smith (Tampa). On the third team was running back Michael D. Jones (Sarasota) and junior punter Jonathan Cagle (Pensacola).

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — LeBron James blamed himself Tuesday for never meeting Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals. The two superstars have combined to play for a championship each of the last nine years, but never faced each other. It will end as one of James’ few disappointments in his career.

“I didn’t hold up my end of the bargain,” James said of 2009, when the Cavs were upset by the Orlando Magic in the conference finals. “I know the world wanted to see it. I wanted it, he wanted it. He held up his end, I didn’t hold up my end and I hate that. I hate that it didn’t happen.”

And now it never will.

Bryant announced his retirement this week while the Los Angeles Lakers are struggling through another miserable season.

James took a day to collect his thoughts before delivering a powerful 15-minute tribute to Bryant on Tuesday, the future Hall of Famer whose posters hung on James’ wall as a kid.

“I mean, in high school I wore a nappy-ass afro because of Kobe Bryant.

Because he wore it,” James said. “I wanted to be just like him.”

Team USA bond James first met Bryant when he was 15 years old and attending an ABCD camp. Bryant later gave him a pair of his Nikes to wear against Oak Hill Academy and Carmelo Anthony.

“Just being a competitor, he took me to that next level, and understanding how important competition is and just have a willingness to never die,” James said. “You may lose a game, but you’re always going to win every battle or win the war. You get that all from Kobe, just competing against him every year.”

While James has always admired Bryant, it hasn’t always been reciprocal. Bryant seemed cool toward James earlier in his career, but the admiration has grown in later years. The two spent last season laughing and joking throughout their January game in Los Angeles.

James believes their time together with Team USA deepened those bonds, when Bryant learned about James’ work ethic in 2008 and again in 2012.

‘All about winning’ Some of James’ favorite Olympic memories included watching Bryant’s key four-point play to beat Spain in the gold medal game in ’08. Prior to that, Bryant earned a flagrant

for barreling through Pau Gasol on a screen in a preliminary game in ’08 when the two were Lakers teammates.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, this guy is on another level. …

This guy’s all about winning and whoever he’s playing for or who he’s playing with at that point in time.’ ” James recalled.

“I loved it. … He really forgot Pau was his teammate. Like he really forgot that he was about to see him in three weeks in L.A. I swear. It was crazy.”

James was saddened to hear this is it for Bryant. He has spent time in the locker room after Cavs games this season watching the Lakers and rooting for Bryant. He looked at the schedule Monday night to see when the Cavs and Lakers will meet this season: Feb. 10 in Cleveland and March 10 in Los Angeles in what will be the final game between two legends who never met when it really mattered.

“I think it’ll be very emotional and very fun.

Obviously I want to win and he wants to win, too.

But some things about that will be much bigger than a win or a loss,” James said. “I don’t know.

It won’t really make sense next year when you see the Lakers and you don’t see Kobe in a uniform. … It’s going to be pretty weird.”

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Lady Wildcat honored as top defensive player of the week Bethune-Cookman women’s basketball redshirt junior Kailyn Williams was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league announced Monday, Nov. 30.

After going 2-1 on the week with wins over Edward Waters (67-48) and North Florida (53-49), Williams averaged a doubledouble with 10.7 rebounds and 12.2 points, while add-

Kailyn Williams and her team return to action on Dec. 7. ing 2.3 blocks and 1.7 steals per contest.

During a loss against Western Illinois, the 6-4 center pulled down 12 boards and blocked four shots while adding 11

points.

The team returns to action on Monday, Dec. 7 as B-CU opens MEAC action hosting the South Carolina State Bulldogs in Moore Gym at 5:30 p.m.

R8

7NATION

DECEMBER 3 – DECEMBER 9, 2015 sional and volunteer leadership.

To avoid fraud or waste, don’t ever give at the front door or over the phone.

Ask questions Most nonprofits have admirable mission statements and appealing websites with lofty, unassailable goals. Rather than merely reviewing what they do, however, it is important to ask, “So what difference have you actually made? Where have you fallen short?”

Go deep, not wide No matter how much you give, it is better to give boldly to fewer nonprofits than to spread your funds thinly over many. Respond to legitimate matching gift opportunities and consider making a two to three year pledge.

Contribute time, talent

PHOTO COURTESY OF MCDONALD GARDEN CENTER

Military families around the country and overseas will receive free trees for Christmas, thanks to the Trees for Troops program, sponsored by the Christmas Spirit Foundation in conjunction with the National Christmas Tree Association and FedEx. Donation information is available at www.mcdonaldgardencenter.com.

Feeling generous?

What to know before making holiday donations

BY BRUCE DEBOSKEY TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

During the holiday season, our mailboxes are overflowing with catalogs, holiday cards — and requests for donations. At this time of year, when people are feeling most generous, nonprofits work hard to raise needed funds.

Although important to non-

profit budgets, most year-end giving is transactional rather than transformational. Donors give once — often devoid of strategy — and nonprofits receive a one-time donation. Next holiday season, the whole process starts over.

Donors who wish to truly maximize the impact of their giving must develop a strategic rather

than a random approach to philanthropy. As with any important decision — investment, business or personal — a thoughtful longerterm strategy enables you to determine what you want to achieve and how to do so effectively.

Following these seven key steps will help you get the most “bang” for your philanthropic buck.

Why you’re giving Determine what you’re really trying to achieve with your giving (both for your family and your community) and what causes you’re passionate about. People often give to charities out of habit or because a friend who supports the cause asks them. Ask yourself: Does the nonprofit really do the work that matters the most to me and will help me achieve my goals?

Involve family Talk with other family members, up and down the generations, to learn from each other what matters most and what values you share. Then consider setting aside a portion of your “gift purchase” money for each other to be contributed to a collective “family and friends” cause that reflects your family’s desire to make a difference for others. In addition, put a donation to your favorite charities on your gift list and ask others for theirs.

Research nonprofits Make sure any nonprofit about to receive your money is currently approved by the IRS as a 501(c) (3).

Look at financial reports on the organization’s website. Review IRS Form 990 filings, available online. For significant donations, meet with the nonprofit’s profes-

Volunteering is one of the best ways to really get to know the work of nonprofits, and many badly need your help. Volunteering levels the playing field, making it possible for people of all income levels to meaningfully contribute. It can also be a tremendous family experience.

Start early in 2016 Think of your philanthropy as a different type of investment — one seeking an important social return.

Research, engage others, develop a strategy, diversify, implement and evaluate. For significant gifts, seek advice from philanthropy experts and make your donations only after thoughtful consideration.

The giving season is a wonderful time of year when many people serve others and find ways to repair the world. Following these steps will not only help you achieve better outcomes for the causes you care about, it will help you find the joy and meaning of this special time of year.

Bruce DeBoskey is a philanthropic strategist working with The DeBoskey Group. Email him at bruce@deboskeygroup. com.