Challenger Community News March 11, 2015 by Challenger Community News

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Charter School of Inquiry Buffalo’s Newest Charter Offers Infusion of African & African American History and Culture in Curriculum PG. 3

INSIDE ROCHESTER

Headliner Jennifer Hudson to Perform at Rochester Jazz Fest PG. 2

50 Years After “Selma” Voting Rights Still Under Threat PG. 4

Ronnetta J. Coleman: Rising African American Jewelry Designer is Buffalo Native PG. 9

Dr. Catherine Fisher Collins Elected to Board of Regents PG. 3

Family Seeks Justice for Another Unarmed Black Teen Shot to Death by Police PG. 4

“Reading Is Grand” African Storytelling At The Merriweather Library This Weekend PG. 10

INSIDE ROCHESTER

Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

RADNEY’S SPORTS UPDATE

School of The Arts Wins Sectional Title

JENNIFER HUDSON

Headliner Jennifer Hudson to Perform at Rochester Jazz Fest Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Academy Awardwinning actress and best-selling author Jennifer Hudson will perform at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival on Wednesday June 24 at 8 p.m. in the Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. Tickets range from $55 to $120 and are available online at rochesterjazz.com or order by phone (585) 454-2060. From humble beginnings, Jennifer Hudson is an extraordinary talent. She began singing in a small Chicago church where, week after week, she brought the congregation to its feet. From there, she’s gone on to worldwide acclaim. Hudson most recently released her third critically acclaimed album, “JHUD,” which opened in the Billboard Top 10 in September 2014. Her sophomore album, “I Remember Me,” was introduced in 2011 to rave reviews, debuting at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top 200 and R&B Albums charts. It has since been certified RIAA Gold in the U.S. Hudson’s 2008 debut self-titled record won a Grammy Award for “Best R & B Album.” The year 2013 was an exciting year for Hudson, most notably, when she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She was also honored with the privilege to perform at the Presidential Inauguration, Super Bowl XLVII and the Academy Awards. In addition, Hudson was also honored by the Recording Academy at the Annual Grammy’s on the Hill for her philanthropic efforts, specifically with her organization, the Julian

chool of The Arts boys’ basketball team defeated Batavia for the A2 Sectional Championship on Sunday evening in a very exciting game 45 – 36. This was SOTA’s first Sectional championship since 2003. SOTA coach Al Nash: “It feels outstanding to By GEORGE win and the words can’t RADNEY explain the joy I’m feeling for the boys playing together to win the championship, and bring in a new belief on how the program should be run…SOTA was the laughing stock of the league for the last eight years and to come in my first year (as Head Coach) at SOTA and be able to turn things around and win a championship is great.” Coach Nash added: “I think it’s going to do wonders for the school, and I know it’s done wonders for their confidence and self-esteem. I’m a teacher by trade so getting to see kids learn and grow is an outstanding feeling.” Sergio Alicea ran the SOTA

SOTO Champs! Photo Jerome Davis

offense to perfection by being able to cross over his defender for most of the game and make key plays at crunch time to lead the way. Alicea and James Barron followed their coach Al Nash over to SOTA after Freddie Thomas closed at the end of last year. Sergio said of Coach Nash,” I enjoy playing with coach, He’s like family and more than a great coach.” SOTA tournament MVP Christian Simmons commented: “I thought we could do great things but never thought this; we love each

other and we’re champions!” This goes to show that when you have teachers and coaches that REALLY CARE about the kids, learning can be achieved and success will fol-

low. I hope the Rochester City School District will hire more teachers that really care about the students. SOTA Silver Hawks have a 20 -2 record.

Community Forum: School to Prison Pipeline Facing Race, Embracing Equity (FR=EE) / Race And Education Action & Change Work Group COMMUNITY FORUM (MAKING THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON-PIPE-LINE VISIBLE), will be held on March 14 at 1:00 pm at the Frederick Douglass Resource Center, 36 King Street to hear from RCSD families who have been victimized by the School-To-Prison-Pipe-Line, and enlist help from the community to bring it to an end. Formal invitations were sent to Rochester Board of Education Commissioners, City and County Officials.

Continued Page 9

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Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

AREA BRIEFS BMHA Housing Tenants Say Safety is a Serious Issue: Call for Ditching City Services for Private Security Force The move by the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority in 2010 to disband its own police force and contract with the City of Buffalo for police services may have saved the BMHA a reported $2 million dollars, but tenant safety has since suffered. After the most recent shooting last Friday of a 15-year-old in the KenfieldLangfield housing projects, tenants are pleading with the agency to hire a private security force to patrol the city’s pubic housing units. Since August, at least two other teens – Dakym Reese, 19 and Raymond Floyd Patterson III, 14 – were fatally shot. Reese was shot and killed on January 19 of this year a few feet from his Shaffer Village home. Patterson was shot and killed last August at Kenfield-Lanfield and three others wounded. Sam Smith, chairman of the Jurisdiction Wide Resident Council, said that the tenants safety plan is to hire a private security company to patrol the developments and engage in community policing. The plan also calls for security substations to be placed at Shaffer and Kenfield-Langfield.

Grant Hosting Last HEAP Outreach for the Season Legislator Betty Jean Grant is hosting the last HEAP Outreach for the 2015 season on Thursday, March 26 at the Delavan Grider Community Center, 877 E. Delavan, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. HEAP will be closing on March 27, 2015. A second Emergency HEAP grant has been approved for residents who qualify. If you have any questions, please call me at 894-0914 or Legislator Grant at 602-5877.

Giving Parents a Choice and Children a Chance

Charter School of Inquiry is Registering Children Now! Buffalo’s Newest Charter Offers Infusion of African & African American History and Culture in Curriculum

By Helene H. Kramer, Chair Board of Trustees

he Charter School of Inquiry (CSI), an exciting new Kindergarten through Grade 6 elementary school, is now accepting applications for children entering Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 for the school year that starts in August 2015. The school, located at 404 Edison Avenue on the east side of Buffalo, promises to achieve breakthrough outcomes by creating an inquiry-based learning environment with an intense focus on children learning to read and write well in all subject areas. One of the very unique features of the school is the infusion of African and African-American history and culture in all of the subjects all year round. Why We Started the Charter School of Inquiry While much has been written about the dysfunction and poor outcomes plaguing the Buffalo Public Schools, there seems to be no clear path, and little sense of urgency, about how BPS can fix the problems that have failed so many thousands of Buffalo’s children. I say this with no disrespect for the Superintendent, Board of Education, teachers or administrators. They have an almost impossible job. Yet, we cannot continue to sit by and accept the status quo. So what do we do, and what can we do quickly? The only solution that made sense – one that would allow for the flexibility, creativity and innovation to provide a world-class education for our children - was to start a charter school, one that would give parents a choice and children a chance.

CSI’s School Design We started by questioning what children needed to know and be able to do in order to succeed in school, and in life. We concluded that children who grow up in this fast-paced, ever-changing and ever more diverse world, would, above all, have to be able to think critically, learn to solve problems, work collaboratively and be effective communicators. The founders had their own ideas about how to design such an innovative and effective school. But we knew that wasn’t enough. So we researched urban districts across the country to find best practices and strategies that worked. And we talked to educators, parents, community leaders and others all across Buffalo to get their thoughts about what we should include. After many months of researching and engaging the community, we started to design our school. We can say, like almost every charter school, that we offer an extended school day, an extended school year, a vibrant afterschool program, and bus transportation But here are some things that make us unique: *An engaging, inquiry-based curriculum. In this digital age, it is not as necessary to memorize and repeat information as it is to know how to find and use information. At CSI, inquiry will not be an add-on but our whole-school methodology for teaching and learning. We take advantage of children’s natural curiosity. Students at CSI will learn to be plan effectively, think critically, navigate the digital world and other information resources, reason and evaluate their work, create new information grounded in evidence, and share their findings with peers, parents and other audiences. Children at CSI will be challenged to develop the habits of mind – critical thinking, problem-solving, imagination and innovation, creativity, collaboration, effective communicaContinued Page 10

Dr. Catherine Fisher Collins Elected to Board of Regents

atherine Fisher Collins was elected to the Board of Regents Tuesday - the state’s education policy-setting panel. Collins, a former member of the Buffalo school board, says her focus is the children. She was nominated on the Assembly floor by Assemblywoan Crystal Peoples-Stokes, “Dr. Collins is an educator,” Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes, who described her qualifications, and said she will offer “energy” and “independence” on the Regents. “I’m excited about her desire to be the kind of leader who’s willing to listen,” added Peoples-Stokes, who pushed Collins bid for the post with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Dr. Fisher-Collins over the past several weeks. Tuesday’s proceedings, which resulted in the election of four new female members to the 17-member powerful education policymaking panel (three African Americans including Dr. Collins) and the re-election of three incumbents (including one

Black man and a White woman) – made it more diverse than ever before. “My number one priority is going to be the children,” said Collins. “You know the old adage of children first, is first children. And, if we stay focused and fair, that’s what I want to make sure that we are fair with all the kids, and (make sure) all the kids, not only in Western New York but throughout all the state, have everything that they need to learn.” Collins said if they don’t have the fundamentals of learning, like reading, they are targeted to stay in poverty and she says that has to stop. She said Buffalo had success with much longer reading and math periods each day and that could be expanded. Buffalo Teachers Federation President Phil Rumore said it’s really important that Collins has taught and worked in schools on all levels. “Too often we have had people that had actually no background in education, no experience in the classroom, making policy decisions that affect the kids and the education of our kids, which is absolutely bizarre and I can’t remember when we have actually had somebody from the City of Buffalo that actually could represent and is really a part of our community,” Continued Page 10

Jimmie Lee Jackson

t was the death of an unarmed Black man in 1965, that spurred the first Selma to Montgomery march. Jimmie Lee Jackson was a civil rights activist in Marion, Alabama, and a deacon at the St. James Baptist Church in Mation, Alablama. He was inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr., who had come with other SCLC staff to Selma, to help local activists in their voter registration campaign. On February 18, 1965, while participating in a peaceful voting rights march in his city, he was beaten by troopers and shot by Alabama State Trooper James Bonard Fowler. After he and his mother Violal Jckson, and his 82-yearold grandfather, Cager Lee, ran into Mack’s Café behind the church, pursued by Alabama State Troopers. Police clubbed Lee to the floor in the kitchen;when Viola attempted to pull the police off, she was also beaten.When Jackson tried to protect his mother, one trooper threw him against a cigarette machine. A second trooper, Alabama State Trooper Fowler, shot Jackson twice in the abdomen. The wounded Jackson fled Continued Page 5

LOCAL + NATIONAL + WORLD

Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

President’s Eloquence in Selma Can’t Hide Black Community’s Doubts About America’s Commitment to Justice

housands of demonstrators gathered outside the historic Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Alabama on Sunday to reprise one of the most powerful acts of the civil rights era. But memorializing history was not the only order of the day, attorney general Eric Holder said in a speech inside the church. Holder attacked a 2013 supreme court decision that invalidated part of the Voting Rights Act as he called for a new national push for protections for minority voters. This year’s march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Holder said, was a symbolic call to finish the work of the original demonstration of 7 March 1965, “Bloody Sunday”, which set the stage for the passage of the Voting Rights Act. Police estimated the crowd crossing the bridge on Sunday at 15-20,000. “Let me be clear,” Holder said. “While the court’s [2013] decision removed one of the Justice Department’s most effective tools, we remain undaunted and undeterred in our pursuit of a meaningful right to vote for every eligible American.” In his interview, President President Obama leads Selma March. Obama – who spoke in Selma on Saturday – told CBS he was troubled by photo ID requirements to vote and said the government needed a revitalized Voting Rights Act to prevent ballot box discrimination, the Associated Press reported. Voting rights were under assault even before the high court decision, with a large minority of state legislatures, mainly in Republican-controlled states, passing new voter identification laws after 2010. Twenty-two states added voter-restriction laws between 2010 and 2014, a study by the Brennan Center for Justice found. Many of the laws were built on template legislation circulated by the conservative activist group American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC. Continued Page 5

Protests Follow Fatal Police Shooting of Unarmed 19-Year-old MADISON, Wis.— The fatal shooting of an unarmed Black 19-year-old by a White police officer, who authorities say fired after he was assaulted, prompted protesters Saturday to take to the college town’s streets with chants of “Black Lives Matter.” The city’s police chief said he understood the anger, assuring demonstrators his department would defend their rights as he implored the community to act with restraint. Tony Robinson died Friday night after being shot in his apartment following a confrontation with Officer Matt Kenny, who had forced his way inside after allegedly hearing a disturbance while responding to a call, authorities and neighbors said. Madison Police Chief Mike Koval said Kenny was injured, but didn’t provide details. It wasn’t clear whether Robinson, who died at a hospital, was alone. “He was unarmed. That’s going to make this all the more complicated for the investigators, for the public to accept,” Koval said of Robinson. The department said Kenny would not have been wearing a body camera. Several dozen protesters who gathered outside the police department Saturday afternoon held signs and chanted “Black Lives Matter” — a slogan adopted by activists and protesters nationwide after recent officer-involved deaths of unarmed Blacks — before walking toward the neighborhood where the shooting took place.

Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

Update on The Buffalo Billion Discussion On Wednesday, March 4, about 50 dedicated East Side Buffalonians, braved frigid temperatures and attended the “Spend Some of That Buffalo Billion Dollars On the East Side community discussion held at the Merriweather Library. Hosted by Erie County Legislator Betty Jean Grant and We Are Women Warriors, the purpose of the meeting was to hear ideas, suggestions and concerns regarding how the “Buffalo Billion Dollars” earmarked by Governor Cuomo for Buffalo, New York, would be spent. Attendees completed and handed in their suggestions and concerns and a list is being compiled for presentation to local elected officials and the Western New York State Delegation. Another meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at the Merriweather Library for further dialog. The list will be completed and finalized following that meeting. For more information contact Legislator Betty Jean Grant at 602-5877 or Karla Thomas at 894-0914.

Delavan Grider Center is Announces The Erie County Stay Fit Dining Sit The Erie County Stay Fit Dining Sit program is open to all Erie County residents 60 years of age and over. A confidential contribution of $3 is suggested but no one will be turned away for lack of ability to pay. SNAP benefits are also accepted at this location. Meals are served Monday through Friday at 12:30 p.m. For more information call 896-7021.

Find Our What Buffalo Is Doing to Push For Community Control Over Public Dollars! Find Our What Buffalo Is Doing to Push For Community Control Over Public Dollars!Attend a community powered event Wednesday, March 25 from 4-8 p.m. at The Old First Ward Community Center, 62 Republic Street. People like you are deciding how to spend pubic money in over 1,500 cities around the world. Through Participatory Budgeting (PB), you can propose ideas to improve your community, turn these ideas into real projects and vote to decide which projects gets funding. Hear from members of PBNYC who are currently deciding how to spend $35 million as well as members of Buffalo’s PB City Committee and Common Council. For more information or to request a ride to the event call (716) 852-3813.

BLACK HISTORY: JIMMIE LEE JACKSON continued

The Health Benefits of Alkaline Foods Perhaps one of the main reasons why there has been such a steady rise in cancer rates in the US is because of our modern Westernized diet, which includes tons of junk food, unhealthy snack foods, sugars, GMO grain, processed foods and factory farmed meats. All of the above foods cause our bodies to be very acidic, which is not a good thing. Numerous studies show that cancer cannot live in an alkaline environment; therefore, it is in our best interest to eat foods that reduce the acids in our bodies and bring it back to a more alkaline state. Our bodies work at their best when they run on the slightly alkaline side, with a pH of about 7.4. If you don’t know your body’s pH, you can find out with some simple pH paper, available at any drug store, and test your first morning urine. You can test yourself again, later in the day, and see if the foods you are eating are causing your body to slide towards a more acidic pH, or alkaline pH. Here are just a few sources of alkaline foods you should be eating daily to keep your body in the perfect alkaline state. 1. Lemons This one always has people scratching their heads because everyone knows lemons are acidic, right? Well, yes and no. It’s not necessarily the acidic value of a food, but rather how they affect the body. So even though lemons are acidic, they have an

alkalizing affect once they are in the body, especially when the juice from lemons is mixed with water. This is why many people drink lemon juice with some warm water every morning to help stimulate the body’s digestion, enzymes, and perform a bit of detox every single day. 2. Spices There are lots of spices you can add to your daily meals that will also have an alkaline effect inside the body. The best spices for this would be sea salt, Himalayan salt, curry, ginger, mustard, and cinnamon.

the café, suffering additional blows by the police, and collapsed in front of the bus station. Jackson , who was unarmed, died eight days later in the hospital. In 2007 former trooper Fowler was indicted in Jackson’s death, and in 2010 he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to six months in prison. Jackson’s death was part of the inspiration for the Selma to Montgomery marches in March 1965, a major event in the American Civil Rights Movement that helped gain Congressional passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This opened the door to millions of African Americans being able to vote again in Alabama and across the South, regaining participation as citizens in the political system for the first time since the turn of the 20th century, when they were disenfranchised by state constitutions and discriminatory practices. After the act was passed, Jimmie Lee Jackson’s grandfather Cager Lee, who had marched with him in February 1965 in Marion, voted for the first time at the age of 84. (Wikipedia)

SELMA MARCH continued A march 50 years ago over the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the only way out of downtown Selma across the Alabama River, ended in bloodshed when police and civilian recruits attacked the marchers in brutal scenes that gave the day the name Bloody Sunday. A preliminary 50th anniversary reenactment of the 1965 march was led on Saturday by Obama, the nation’s first black president, who crossed the bridge hand-in-hand with veteran activists who were beaten and hospitalized that day, including Georgia congressman John Lewis and 103-year-old Amelia Boynton Robinson. Also joining the march were former president George W Bush and his wife, Laura. Today, 50 years later, access to the polls remain “under siege” by a flurry of recent state laws, and a 2013 United States Supreme Court decision that weakened that landmark voting Rights Act. (Wikipedia and Atlanta Black Star, internet news reports)

3. Root Vegetables Almost all root vegetables have a powerful alkaline effect, as well as being high in fiber and loaded with healthy minerals. If you aren’t sure how to prepare these delicious root veggies, check online, as there are numerous ways you can steam, sauté, bake, broil, or add these healthy root vegetables to your daily meals. The best root vegetables for alkaline effects in the body are carrots, radishes (of all colors), horseradish, beets, turnips, and rutabaga.

NEW MOON “New Beginnings” MARCH 20, 2015

The new moon is the symbol of new beginnings. This is a good time to con¬tem¬plate upon your true motive. Why are you here on Earth? What did you come here to accomplish? What is your spiritual intention? - See more at: http://www. manspurpose.com/esotericastrology/meaning-of-newmoon/#sthash.8APu7pwc. dpuf

FAITH BASED

Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

Pilgrim to Host Women’s Conference

St. John’s AME to Host First Ladies Luncheon

ilgrim Baptist Missionary Church, located at 665 Michigan Avenue, will host a Women’s Conference on March 19, 20, 21 and 22 nightly at 7 p.m. The theme is “Wait on the Lord.” The speakers include Minister Sandra Clay, March 19 and Sister Sheila L. Brown, March 20. On March 21 a Health & Wellness Fair will be held and on Sunday, March 22, Worship Service will take place at 11 a.m. at the Church where Rev. Frank Bostic is the Pastor.

The Women’s Day Committee of Saint John’s African Methodist Episcopal Church will present the First Ladies Luncheon on Saturday, March 14 at 12 noon at Days Inn, 443 Main Street, Niagara Falls. The event will honor First Ladies Tristan Greer, St. John AME; Monique Pridgen,

True Bethel Buffalo; Kathy Bowman, Antioch Holiness; Bertha Brinson-Covenant of Grace Ministries; Mischell Jones, Grace Calvary; and Elvenia Robinson, Morning Star Church of God. Tickets are $30 and $20 for children 12 and under. For more information contact Gradycia Wil-

liams at 628-9234 or Jacinta Williams at 628-0969.

MAD DADS Tuesday Night Bible Study The MAD DADS organization is hosting a Tuesday Night Bible Study every Tuesday, with Rev. Derren L. Young, at GROUP Ministries, 1333 Jefferson Avenue from 6:30 – 8 p.m. All are welcome. For more information call 563-1834.

Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

St. Philips Episcopal Church Hosts Play and Forum on Solitary Confinement On March 20 at 7 p.m. a new play, Mariposa & The Saint, will be performed at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 15 Fernhill Avenue. After the performance there will be a short forum about the way New York State uses solitary confinement in state prisons. This performance will be the first time the play has been shown outside New York City. It is being presented by St. Philip’s and the local group of the Campaign for Alternatives to Isolated Confinement which seeks to curtail the use of solitary confinement in New York state. (CAIC; web site http://nycaic.org) CAIC reports that the state has almost 4,000 prisoners in solitary, often kept there for years, and including youth and mentally ill prisoners. The majority of the time, people are sent to solitary for non-violent, often trivial violations of prison rules. CAIC is working to pass legislation to address these issues.

Eagle Landing Summit...

The Eagle Landing Summit is coming to First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church 467 William Street, June 24-26.

FAITH & FAMILY

Third Annual Family Ministers Wives and Widows to Host Evening of Elegance Gala Conference The Great Lakes Baptist Association Men’s Ministry would like to invite you to attend our Third Annual Family Conference. It will be held Saturday, March 28, at the Calvary Baptist Church where Rev. Quinton Chad Foster is the Host Pastor, 1184 Genesee Street, Buffalo, NY. The lecturer for the conference will be Rev. Edward Jackson, Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church. The itinerary is as follows: 8:00A.M. - 8:45 A.M. Continental Breakfast 8:45 A.M. - Worship & Praise 9:00A.M. - 10:15 A.M. Lecturer 10:30 A.M. - 11:30 A.M. Workshop 1 11:45 A.M. - 12:45 P.M. Workshop 2 1:00 P.M. - Lunch The registration fee for this event is $15.00 per person. Checks made payable to: Great Lakes Baptist Association.

“An Evening Of Elegance: A Black And White Affair” sponsored by the Ministers Wives and Widows of Buffalo and Vicinity will be held on Friday, March 20 at 6 pm at The Hotel Lafayette, 371 Washington Street downtown Buffalo. For more information call Amaza Savage 704-5429, Joyce Reid 3818610, Sandara Baines 881-1973.

Humboldt Parkway Baptist to Celebrate Rev. and Mrs. John T. Hilliard’s 43rd Church Anniversary The Humboldt Parkway Baptist Church, 790 Humboldt Parkway, will celebrate Reverend and Mrs. John T. Hilliard’s 43rd church anniversary with the church family on Sunday, March 15 at 11 a.m. The morning speaker will be Minister Jason Keith. The celebration will culminate with a banquet at the New Golden Nugget located at 2046 Fillmore Avenue at 4 p.m. For more information call 896-4363 or fax 896-4364. The deadline for banquet reservations is Wednesday, March 11.

“Chicken Soup for Your Soul” New hope C.O.G.B.F. to Host Free Lunch For All in Need! The New Hope COGBF Outreach Ministry, 175 Woodlawn Avenue, will host a “Chicken Soup for Your Soul” free lunch for all in need on Saturday, March 21 from 11 a.m.to 4 p.m.. The meal will consist of chicken soup, a sandwich, a slice of cake and juice. Prayer will be available too! Please join us! “For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Matthew 25:35 ESV

“MARCH MADNESS” at Zion Missionary Pastor C.M. Jenkins II and the Zion Missionary Baptist Church invites the community to join them at the Church, 179 E. Ferry Street March 10, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. nightly for March Madness. The theme is “The Mission of the Minister” and will feature Min. Joe Adams and Min. Gregory Brice of Zion Missionary Baptist Church and Min. Julius Groomes of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Lackawanna.

WORSHIP THIS WEEK!

"All the Glory!"

Buffalo’s own Alexis Spight continues to make great gospel music. The Sunday Best finalist and gospel recording artist’s newest single “All The Glory” recently made the Billboard Gospel Charts and it’s moving up fast. It's only been out three weeks and is destined to be a number one hit. You can listen if you go to the website The Gospel Guru SoundCloud. Alexis is also working on her new CD (Dear Diary), and “All The Glory” is a single on that album. Great things are happening for this incredibly talented, spiritually inspired, beautiful young vocalist! Congratulations Alexis!

NYC Shopping Trip The Humboldt Parkway Baptist Church Mass Choir is sponsoring a Shopping Trip to New York City on March 22-25 (Fri-Mon) departing at 8 a.m. from the Humboldt Parkway Baptist Church, 790 Humboldt Parkway. The trip will include three breakfasts’ and three dinners and two guided tours of New York City.For more information and reservations contact Marguerite Spears at 893-9686.

For a FREE colorectal, cervical or breast cancer screening,

Call (716) 278-4898

ENTERTAINMENT

Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

“Girls to Women to Warriors Poetry Slam”

Queen City Black Film Festival BUFFALO, NY —Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) will host the annual Queen City Black Film Festival on Friday, March 20 from 4:30 to 9 p.m. in the Hohn Auditorium. The series, produced in collaboration with the African-American Roswell Employee Network (AREN), Wisteria School of Buffalo and the Western New York Minority Media Professionals Inc. (WNYMMP), will feature screenings of independently produced short films that were written, produced and/or directed by African-Americans. This year’s festival brings Ilham Askia, Wisteria School of Buffalo’s 2015 Distinguished Speaker and Executive Director of Gideon’s Promise, to discuss the award winning documentary “Gideon’s Army” and the role that education plays in balancing the scales of justice. Gideon’s Army was nominated for an Emmy Award, winner at Cannes Film Festival and featured at Sundance Film Festival. “The audiences that join us for these screenings will share in the discovery of innovative and unique films, and will also have a chance to hear diIlham Askia rectly from local film experts before and after the screenings,” added Michael Quinniey, Chairman of WNYMMP, a nonprofit organization committed to promoting social and educational opportunities through media for underserved youth residing throughout Western New York. All film screenings will be held in the Hohn Auditorium, located inside the Research Studies Center directly across from Roswell Park’s main hospital on Carlton Street in Buffalo, NY. The film festival is free and open to the public; no preregistration is required. Visit www.queencityfilmfestival.com for more details.

Betty Jean Grant 2nd District Erie County Legislator and “We Are Women Warriors” will present “Girls to Women to Warriors Poetry Slam” on Wednesday, March 18, from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. at the Frank E. Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Avenue. This poetry slam is in recognition of Women’s History Month. Poets will be free to select their own topics. Poems must be recited without paper. The format will be a “Last Woman Standing” type competition where female poets/ spoken word artists will perform free style and the audience, by process of elimination, will pick who goes on to perform in the next round. The final three participants will then compete for the 3rd, 2nd and 1st place in ranking and monetary prizes. All participants who register to perform for this event will receive a proclamation or certificate from Erie County. Want to sign up to compete? Please call Betty Jean Grant at 602-5877 or Karla Thomas at 894-0914 This event is free and the poetry-loving general public is invited to attend and be a part of this unique and different Women History Month celebration.

SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS!

ON STAGE *Comedian Katt Williams “Born Again…Again” Tour, Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, March 14; tickets @ Arena box office, Ticketmaster. com, all Ticketmaster outlets; charge by phone 1-800-7453000. *Ujima Theatre’s production of Topdog/Underdog starring Preach Freedom and Amilcar Hill, on stage now thru March 15 At Hallwalls, 341 Delaware Ave.* www. ujimacoinc.org * ujimacoinc@mac.com

The Shirelles at the Apollo, March 1963 from left: Micki Harris, Doris Coley (KennerJackson), Beverly Lee, Shirley Owens (Alston-Reeves).

*Doo Wop Legends: Shirley Alston Reeves of the Shirelles & Shades of Blue, March 14, 7:30 p.m., Riviera Theatre, 67 Webster St., N. Tonawanda; 692-2413; www.Riviera Theatre.org *WHO WILL SAVE THE NEW WORLD? The Road Less Traveled Productions presents the world premiere of Jan Elson’s “After America: Wasteland 2015”. The performance, opens March 13 thru April 4 at the theatre in the Market Arcade Film and Arts Centre downtown.Regular performance times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. tickets are $35 and $17 for students. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit www.RoadLessTraveledProductions.org or call (716) 629-3069.

PARTY OVER HERE! *Mr. D. Wilson’s GQ Affair, Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 7 PM  - to - Sunday, April 26, at 1:00 AM (EDT)Templeton Landing Restaurant , 2 Templeton Terrace Buffalo, NY 14202

*Battle of the Bands,, Rochester & Buffalo every Wenesday, The Groove Lounge, hosted by Regina Stannard & WBLK’s Todd Anderson, 1210 Broadway. No admission fee.

SEE YOU AT THE EVENTS!

Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

JENNIFER HUDSONROCHESTER JAZZ continued

Ronnetta J. Coleman:

D. King Gift Foundation. In 2009, Jennifer, along with her sister Julia, founded The Foundation, as a catalyst for change in children’s health, education and welfare. The Foundation exists to provide stability, support and positive experiences for children of all backgrounds so that they will become productive, confident and happy adults.

oxic behavior and poor leadership is what inspired African American jewelry designer Ronnetta J. Coleman to build a business producing one of a kind jewelry from her Union City, New Jersey home. After almost seven years of working at what she thought would be her dream job immediately turned into a nightmare due to a boss who delighted in instilling fear in her subordinates. Ronnetta decided to take control of her own destiny by starting a small jewelry business. She now creates hand crafted, innovative designs that reflect the personalities of existing and prospective customers. Each day, the designer is earning the confidence and trust of her clients by exceeding their expectations of quality, service, and creativity. Ronnetta J. Coleman is an

The Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival in Rochester, New York, is one of the nation’s most popular and most respected music festivals. It takes place this year from June 19 - 27, 2015 for 9 days! Shows start daily at 3:45PM and go through 11PM. Jam Sessions start nightly at 10:30P.M The festival is held in 20 different venues in Downtown Rochester’s East End Cultural District between East Ave and East Main street centered on Gibbs Street. You can walk to all venues! Ticket prices vary and there are a hnonst of free concerts which will be performed.

Rising African American Jewelry Designer is Buffalo Native

artisan that has amassed a list of budding accomplishments in a very short time period: 2012 - Selected to display and sell recycled hand crafted designs at the PGA tours in Orlando, Florida and China in support of going GREEN 2012 - Two pieces of jewelry were selected to be displayed in the Fashion Institute of Technology’s “New Works” exhibit 2013 - Editorial in Huds o n M o d Magazine, the Fashion Issue 2014 - Invited to showcase at the Super Bowl XLVIII - Females Football Philanthropy; Glamming up the Ultimate Tailgate Event for a Cause 2014 - Interview with Bionic Mark on Sirius XM satellite radio 2015 - Talk show host Wendy Williams wore a jewelry set on her January 16 show 2015 - Presented her “Lovely

Bound” collection in first runway show at New York Fashion Week. On September 12 she will be presenting her second jewelry collection at New York Fashion Week Ronnetta is a native of Buffalo, New York. Her appreciation and love for the arts led to a desire to create innovative jewelry for poised women. Growing up, Ronnetta always had aspirations of becoming a designer, and upon graduating high school she moved to Chicago to attend the Fashion Design program at the International Academy of Design and Technology. Inspired by the aesthetic of ancient Egyptian royalty this handmade line of fine jewelry has already garnered interest from major tastemakers and celebrities alike. Talk show host and television star, Wendy Williams, was recently seen sporting pieces from the “Lovely Bound” collection on her national television show while singing the designer’s praises. Meanwhile, HudsonMod magazine recently published, “Coleman has certainly made a name for herself, as

Ronnetta J. Coleman

she has been recognized by numerous heavy-hitters in the fashion world." The “Lovely Bound” collection recently presented in New York Fashion Week tells the age-old story of romance, seduction, and power, by utilizing modern designs and innovative construction techniques. Inspired by historical figures like Nefertiti and Cleopatra, Coleman’s groundbreaking line of wearable art Continued Page 10

Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

Generations

CHARTER SCHOOL OF INQUIRY continued

Shmerea Nalior

Scholarship Fundraiser in Memory of Shmerea Nailor

s too many young people have fallen victim to street violence, Shmerea Nalior’s life was recklessly cut short. She was shot by an unknown assailant on Thursday, October 9, 2014 in front of St. Mary’s and All Saints’ Episcopal Church in the Riverside area as she walked home with friends. Shmerea later succumb to her injury and has now made home with Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Shmerea Nailor was determined to be a role model in in her family, community and among friends. She was a leader whose basketball skills stood out among her peers. She embraced the challenges of academics and at the insistence of her mother succeeded beyond expectations. Shmerea had more than skills on the basketball court; she had passion for the sport. She worked hard to develop that skill. In her senior year at Burgard High School her skills on the basketball court caught the attention of Mississippi State College. She was a candidate for Mississippi State College in the fall of 2015 with a prospective athletic scholarship. As her family struggles to accept Gods decision we are planning a Chinese Auction to raise reward money for the capture and conviction of the person that murdered Shmerea Nailor. Additionally, a portion of the money raised will be awarded to a worthy Burgard basketball scholar in the 2015 academic year. The goal of the family is to continue this scholarship in Shmerea’s name. The event will be held at CRUICAL Community Center, 230 Moselle Street on March 21, from 5 to 9 p.m. For more information call 240-9620.

Tradition Keepers: Black Storytellers

“Reading Is Grand” African Storytelling Program At The Merriweather Library In Buffalo Members of Tradition Keepers Share their Family Stories Members of Tradition Keepers: Black Storytellers of Western New York will visit the Frank E. Merriweather Jr., Branch Library on Saturday, March 14 from 3-5 p.m. for “Celebrating Grand Families - Telling Our Stories,” a free program focusing on the importance of promoting, preserving, and perpetuating African traditions and experiences through the art of storytelling. Attendees will hear about the mechanics of storytelling and will be encouraged to listen to the stories of their elders and to create journals for their own stories. Well-known local storytellers Yvonne Harris (“Big Momma Boo”) and Joy O’Banion, both members of Tradition Keepers, will recite family stories and encourage youth and seniors in Buffalo’s richly diverse community to better understand their heritage through the wisdom of others. Attendees will each receive journals to record their own stories, as well as those of relatives and neighbors, encouraging mutual respect and understanding among generations. Completed journals will be on display in the library in late March. Open to the public, the program celebrates the vital role grandparents play within their own family heritage, extended families, neighborhoods and the community, while showcasing storytelling as an integral part in the understanding of one’s life story. The Reading is Grand! program is supported through a grant from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. Media sponsor is The Challenger newspaper. For more information on the program contact the Merriweather Library at 716-883-4418. The Merriweather Library is recognized for housing the largest and most complete collection of African American history and resources in its William A. Miles Center for African and American Studies. The Library is one of the 37 libraries in the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System. Visit the Library System online at www.BuffaloLib.org on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Twitter. .

JEWELRY MAKER continued showcases the power and sensuality of the female form. It takes strength and courage to revel in your own uniqueness and vulnerability. “Lovely Bound” offers that opportunity to every woman who chooses to adorn herself in these beautiful designs For more information visit the website at www.ronnettacoleman.com. To arrange for photographs or interviews, contact Ronnetta J. Coleman at 716.491.9753 or by e-mail to ronnettajcoleman@gmail.com

Readers are Leaders

DR. COLLINS continued

Rumore said. (Sources, Mike Desmond WBFO, Capital NY and news wires)

Dr. Collins: An Accomplished Educator Dr. Catherine Fisher Collins is a woman of many facets: a writer, teacher, nurse practitioner, college dean, television host, former Buffalo school board member and world traveler. She began her writing career to fill a gap in the literature on African Americans, especially women. Her doctorate and master’s degrees are from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Dr. Collins’ undergraduate work was completed at Trocaire College and State University College at Buffalo. Dr. Collins is a respected author of several published books. Dr. Fisher Collins has earned a Doctoral degree from the State University of New York’s University at Buffalo, from which she had also received a Master’s Degree in Allied Health Education, Evaluation and Curriculum Development. She completed her undergraduate studies at SUNY’s Buffalo State College, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocational Technical Education, and at Trocaire College, where she graduated from the Registered Nurse program. Dr. Collins is a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner graduating from the University at Buffalo’s School of Nursing Nurse Practitioner program. She also holds three certifications in health education. A longtime educator, she has held positions as assistant academic dean, department chair, full professor, and currently serves as an Associate Professor at SUNY’s Empire State College, as well as an adjunct professor at the University at Buffalo’s Women’s Studies Department.

tion - that are increasingly named by educators, academics and employers as the skills and abilities needed for success in the 21st century. *Infusion of African and African-American culture and history. The Charter School of Inquiry will infuse African and African-American history and culture into all subject areas throughout the school year, not just in February and not just in Social Studies. African-American children, and indeed all children, will benefit from gaining a better understanding of the richness and abundant heritage of Africans and AfricanAmericans. This infusion will be incorporated into Englishlanguage arts, math, science, social studies, music, art and physical education. Buffalo has deep roots and strong resources associated with the history of African-Americans. CSI will draw on local talent and local resources, as well as national resources such as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The National Museum of African American History and Culture expected to open in 2016 on the National Mall in Washington, DC, and other resources that tell the story of race and culture in a way that can unite us all as human beings. It is important to note that while doing this, CSI is committed to teaching about and honoring the history of all children who attend the school. *School Culture. Recognizing that the social-emotional aspect of child development is as important as the academic, and how children learn is as important as what they learn, CSI will develop a school culture and climate based on mutual respect, collaboration and community building. Teachers, parents, students and community will work together to create a climate of warmth and safety, a sense of belonging and a place where children feel free to experiment and take risks. *Asset-based parent involvement. CSI honors the fact that parents have talents, gifts, hobbies, passions, strengths, expertise, and interests that can contribute to a more vibrant and inclusive school community. Whether it’s chess, fixing bicycles, gardening, reading to children, or helping to create school policy, CSI will ask parents to use their talents to expand children’s experiences and knowledge, either during the school day or in the afterschool program. CSI will also work with parents to create a unified set of supports, expectations and behaviors between school and home. One parent, selected by the school’s parent organization, will be a full voting member on CSI’s board of trustees. *Building on the Strength of Community. CSI views itself as a neighbor, just like the residents, block clubs, places of worship, community agencies and businesses in the surrounding community. As each neighbor has a role to play to make the community vibrant, our role is to educate the community’s children. CSI recognizes that the school cannot be an island. If we serve the community’s children, then the community must have a voice in defining what children need, and provide supports to CSI’s children and their families as needed. CSI has already started to build a community engagement network to provide both input and support for the school and its children and families. What is a Charter School? Charter schools are public schools that are publicly funded and are open and free to all students who attend. They were created to encourage innovation in educational design and teaching methods, to improve student achievement, to increase learning opportunities for all students and to give parents more high-quality school choices for their children. They are governed by a not-for-profit board of trustees and follow all of the same regulations as public school systems such as the BPS. They are accountable, through the terms of a fiveyear performance contract with the New York State Board of Regents, for high student achievement. Parent Choice Parents, you do not have to send your children to a low-performing school!!! You have a choice. The Charter School of Inquiry, a Kindergarten through Grade 6 elementary school, is opening this August starting with Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2. (Each year after this one, we will add another grade.) Go to the CSI website, www.CharterSchoolOfInquiry.org, email us at CharterSchoolOfInquiry@gmail.com, or call us at 716-866-3876 for more information and to get an application for enrollment. We expect to get many applications so register your child now to make sure you get a seat.

Pray for Peace!

OPINIONS

Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

Governor Cuomo’s Opportunity Agenda Promotes None for Public Education

By Dr. Barbara Seals Nevergold

he State of New York’s Failing Schools” is the title of a report recently released by Governor Cuomo. As the title implies, this report is a compilation of selected data on 176 “failing” schools throughout the State. The schools are primarily located in urban districts like Buffalo, New York City, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, Yonkers, Utica and several others. Buffalo has 27 schools in the Report; Rochester has 15 and Syracuse has 18. The schools were identified using the criteria that they are schools “among the lowest 5% in the State in terms of combined English Language Arts and Mathematics performance that are not making progress, as well as those schools that have graduation rates below 60% for the last several years.” The Report provides a school by school snap shot of each school’s rating on the State ELA and Math standardized tests, enrollment numbers and the number of years the school has been “failing”. Other relevant data includes descriptions of the makeup of the student body citing the percentage of students who are minority and those who receive free or reduced lunch (a measure of poverty). The Report also tallies the amount of state funding provided to these schools as an indication of how much the State has invested in these “failing” schools with little to no successful outcomes, a point stressed by the Governor. The per-pupil expenditure is compared to the 2012-2013 national average and the difference, in almost every school, reinforces the claim that these schools have not only been amply funded but over-funded. As for outcomes, the Report suggests that teachers have the greatest accountability for the failures in the system. Since 2012 a new State initiated evaluation system has focused on measurements that purport to establish a direct link between teacher competency and student achievement. The Governor laments that it is a flawed system since more than 90 percent of teachers have been rated highly effective or effective. He cites these ratings as “incongruous” with student proficiency ratings. The Report prints the teacher ratings for each school as well to reinforce this deficiency. Another interesting, if superfluous bit of information in the report is the Assembly and Senate Districts for each school and their respective Legislators. To make sense of this Report, I think that one has to look beyond the specific information to the overall intent of the piece. As a result the Report can be viewed for what it truly is….a piece of propaganda that the Governor is using to bolster his Educational Reform Agenda and what some have described as its “draconian” solutions for the problems in our educational system. This Report is biased and slanted but offers just enough credible information to make the reader believe that it’s valid. It’s also difficult to refute statistics, especially if as a layman you have no extensive knowledge of the subject. Even the format, tables, charts, documentation etc. can be intimidating and difficult to argue with. Propaganda is intended to present a compelling argument to support the maker’s claims while omitting alternative conclusions in the analyses of the problem. For example, the Report posts numbers on the breakdown of the minority status and poverty of the student population in the “failing” schools. What’s striking about these statistics is that in the vast majority of the schools, the percentage of minority students ranges from 90 to 98% and the percentage of free lunch ranges from high 80% to low 90%. These statistics are important as they confirm recent reports about the high incidence of segregation in New York’s public schools and the high poverty rate. The Governor’s plan does little to address these disparities, however, or consider the known relationship between poverty and achievement. Further, far from being a question of spending too much money in our schools, a recent report has raised the question of equity in State educational funding. The ELA and Math scores are another example of how “some” information is used to make a point about the dismal proficiency scores. There is no analysis of the changes in testing tools or cut scores (the passing grade) that have occurred repeatedly over the last ten years. Nor is there any discussion about the most recent changes in the ELA and Math tests due to the adoption of the Common CORE Standards. In fact, the State Education Department predicted in 2013 that there would be a high failure rate on the new Common CORE ELA and Math tests because of the changes. The result was that the statewide passing rate was 31.3% for ELA and 31.2% for math. And guess what? The 2014 statewide test scores showed a miniscule increase, 31.4% and 35.8% respectively. The over-reliance on standardized tests as THE measure of achievement has ignited a test-refusal/save public education movement -- of parents, educators, politicians, school board members and others -- across this state and across this nation. The Report doesn’t examine this backlash nor does it explain that ALL children, regardless of learning ability or English language capability, take the same test! Is this truly a measure of student achievement for all students? There are other examples of why we should look at this report with skepticism. But, the moral of this story is that the art of propagandizing is alive and well. “The State of New York’s Failing Schools” is propaganda that distorts information for the purpose of promoting the Governor’s educational reform agenda. I urge readers to learn about this agenda, which advocates legislative authority for the appointment of a Receiver to take over “failing schools and districts; the creation of more charters; an even more restrictive teacher evaluations process and other tactics designed to weaken the teaching profession; continued excessive administration of standardized tests and the ultimate dismantling of public education.

“We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us.” - John Russwurm, Freedom’s Journal. 1827 America’s 1st Black Newspaper

Challenger Community News P.O. BOX 474 Buffalo, NY 14209

Defending Our Children, Defending Ourselves

By Sabirah Muhammad

n recent weeks, the focus on Ferguson, Missouri has intensified again, after the US Justice Department released the findings of its investigation into widespread claims of racial bias in policing of the town. The report demonstrated that the uncertain haze of rumors and widespread perceptions can actually be distilled down to provable fact, when the time is taken to gather and compile objective, empirical data. We, the parents of public school children in Buffalo, NY have been advocating fiercely for years for an end to the sub-standard education being forced upon our children. We have rallied, petitioned the school board, formed relationships with every level of education administration, networked with parents district wide, and more. For our trouble, we have been blamed for the failure of our own children, as we dared to expose the two-tiered system that favors a few, while condemning most to functional illiteracy, low self esteem, unemployability, and poor life chances. But in recent weeks, the results of another report have been released. Commissioned by the governor, it too bursts through the haze of propaganda to expose the nightmare that most parents and children have been living. It documents factually that New York State has 178 failing schools, in which 109,000 mostly minority children are enrolled. In Buffalo, 46 of our 58 schools are failing. Regardless of the word play with the terms “priority” and focus,” the recent skirmish that’s developed over the omission of City Honors and two Olmstead schools from the list for transfers has settled the matter. The removal leaves only nine schools in good standing, exposing the ploy to reduce the number of failing schools by calling them…something else. The report released by Governor Cuomo provides another heart wrenching detail: that during the past ten years, over 250,000 students have passed through failing schools, while those responsible for administrating them have done nothing. It gets worse…far worse. Administrators have not just passively looked the other way while this criminal waste of human potential has raged on. They have created and maintained the systems that prevent even the most ardent parent advocates from rescuing their children from certain failure. Such is the case of the persistent parent we met recently, who shall remain nameless for privacy’s sake. Three years ago, this mother heard from the District Parent Coordinating Council (DPCC) that she had the legal right to transfer her child from a failing school, and applied to transfer her son from BUILD Academy. He wasn’t granted the transfer, and failed the seventh grade. She applied again the next year, was denied again, and her son failed the seventh grade again. This young man, on the verge of sixteen years old, is presently in the same seventh grade classroom, with the same teacher, at the same school, for the third year in a row. Dismiss the automatic assumption that this young man is retarded, or scholastically challenged. Upon meeting him, we have found his mother’s report to be true…that he is well read, well spoken, well adjusted, and well able to perform scholastically. He gets suspended regularly, as a result of being bored and unable to pay attention to the same classwork for the third year in a row. This mother is well able to advocate for her son, and has done so relentlessly for 3 years, to no avail. When DPCC president Sam Radford informed her of last week’s report that there were no more parents requesting transfers, she replied that she was just in the office last week, pleading for a transfer; again. Supervisor of Placement Kelli Daniels confirmed that she knew the parent well. She told Mr. Radford that there was nowhere to send the young man. When Mr. Radford reminded her of the recent report announcing 174 available seats, Ms. Daniels responded: “But he didn’t apply for that kind of transfer.” Here is a young black boy, one of many, who is academically capable, inexplicably, repeatedly detained in one of the most humiliating situations a child can experience. On the continuum of responsible parties is a teacher, a principal, a Chief of School Leadership, a Chief Academic Officer, and a Supervisor of Placement, all of whom saw no need to intervene, or even respond to a vocal, present, relentless parent. Ultimately, her child couldn’t benefit from a new, successful environment … for three years…because his mother kept applying, and pushing, and pleading for a “transfer,” but didn’t speak the words: “Public School Choice.” How many of our children are being devoured similarly in this illegal, immoral, diabolical system because of gross incompetence, downright indifference, or malicious, deliberate intent? There’s nothing wrong with our children, and there’s nothing wrong with us. Know that.

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Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

BUSINESS PROFILE

TONNIE LOGAN Tonnie Logan is a Senior Training Manager at AT&T in the Buffalo/Niagara area. She attended Medaille College where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, Business Administration and Management. She is an award winning team player with twenty years experience in the highly competitive telecommunications industry. Ms. Logan, a former Wireless solutions sales consultant, is currently ranked the # 1 Instructor for Gross Add Generation in the Nation and # 1 in Total Recurring Revenue for the Northeast Region. Tonnie Logan is the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the 2014 Business Influencer, which ranked her Number One instructor nationwide. (Ms. Logan’s first name was inorrectly entered as “Tammie” in the headline last week. Our sincere apolgies!) (If you would like to be considered for our Business Profile, send a brief bio and photo to advertising@thechallengernews.com)

Program To Focus On Starting A Small Business

A free weekly program on starting a small business will be offered by the Daemen College Center for Sustainable Communities and Civic Engagement (CSCCE) starting March 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Matt Urban Hope Center at 385 Paderewski Drive. The first session will cover types of businesses, developing a business plan, legal issues, bookkeeping and financing and marketing a business. Sessions will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through April 28. At the conclusion of the program, mentors will be available to advise participants on getting their businesses off the ground. Registration is required to attend. To register, contact Dr. Sharon Benz, assistant director of CSCCE, at sbenz@daemen.edu or call 839-8524. The program is being co-sponsored by Daemen CSCCE and the Accounting Department, Buffalo First, Fillmore Corridor Neighborhood Coalition, and the Small Business Development Center at SUNY Buffalo State.

Buffalo State Graduate School Information Session The Graduate School at Buffalo State host an Information Session this evening (March 11) from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. in the E. H. Butler Library, Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Avenue. Register at the door or pre-register by calling (716) 878-5601.

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Ann Rhod’s Tailoring 3185 Bailey Ave. (716) 838-5633

Beverly Gray Business Exchange Center To Help Minority and Women-Owned Construction Firms

he Buffalo News reported the following in its February 28th edition: City officials are working to create a new business development center in Buffalo to help start and grow more minority- and women-owned construction contractors, as they seek to fill a void often cited by real estate developers who struggle to meet minority staffing requirements on construction projects. The city has been working for about six months on a plan to develop the Beverly Gray Business Exchange Center, with help from Next Street Financial LLC, a merchant bank and consulting firm based in Roxbury, Mass., that specializes in urban business development. The exchange will be located in a city-owned building at Utica and Jefferson streets, on the East Side, that city invested money into for im-

provements a few years ago. The goal is to ensure that the economic benefits of the city’s ongoing redevelopment boom and revival are being felt more broadly by residents and workers throughout the city’s neighborhoods, said Brendan Mehaffy, executive director of the city’s Office of Strategic Planning. “The mayor still hears from a substantial population in the city of Buffalo that they don’t feel this growth is for them,” he told developers’ forum this week. “…We are doing as much as

we can to make sure that everybody feels that the growth that is happening in the city of Buffalo is growth that everybody can benefit from and growth that will penetrate deep into the neighborhoods,” said Mehaffy.

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Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

Mayor Summer Youth Program Job Applications Now Available!

Pre-Advanced Manufacturing Training Opportunities Available: Focus on long-term Unemployed

Mayor Byron W. Brown has announced that the application process for the 2015 Summer Youth Internship Program is now underway. The program will provide six weeks of meaningful employment and work readiness training to city youth this summer. He also called upon local businesses to join him in his goal of providing an increased number of summer youth employment opportunities in the City of Buffalo. Young people between the ages of 14-21 will be employed for six weeks in the summer with the majority working from July 6 to August 14, earning $8.75 per hour. Buffalo youth interested in applying for Summer Jobs can download an application at www.city-buffalo.com or pick one up at Buffalo City Hall in room 1701. The applications must be returned by Friday, May 1, 2015. To be eligible for this program you must be a City of Buffalo resident between the ages of 14 and 21 and you must turn age 14 by

The Buffalo Urban League Pre-Advanced Manufacturing Training Program serves adults in Western New York who have been out of work for 20 or more weeks since 2008. The weeks of unemployment do not have to be consecutive. The program goal is to train individuals for careers in the fastest growing segment of the Buffalo’s economy, Advanced Manufacturing. “Our regional economy is growing, and employment opportunities are becoming available at a rate we have not seen in decades,” said Mrs. Brenda W. McDuffie, President & CEO of the Buffalo Urban League. “We are committed to helping individuals who have struggled to find steady employment develop the skills necessary to secure a job that offers a real opportunity to become economically self-sufficient,” said Mrs. McDuffie. Participants will receive up to 450 hours of instruction over a three month period that will cover such subjects as: •Blue Print Reading •Shop Math •Intro to Manufacturing •Industrial Safety Certification Participants who complete the training have the choice to either seek entry level employment with any of the Buffalo Urban League’s local manufacturing partners or pursue additional education through a strategic partnership with the Erie Community College Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Precision Machining Certificate Program. May 1, 2015. If you have any questions regarding the application please contact (716) 851— 5887 or 851-4001. Incomplete applications will not be accepted Private sector businesses can participate in the program by hiring youth who have submitted applications with the

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL City of Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency Request for Proposal Weatherization Provider The City of Buffalo (“City”), through the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency (“BURA”), is seeking proposals through this Request for Proposals (RFP) and requires the contractual services of a qualified Program Administrator to weatherize a minimum of 100 homes in the City of Buffalo. The funds for this program are available through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Applicants must be incorporated for-profit or non-profit entities to undertake affordable housing activities within the boundaries of the City of Buffalo. It is the policy of BURA, that all local Minority/Women Business Enterprises (M/WBE’s) be encouraged to submit proposals. BURA continues to ensure that all locally owned M/ WBE’s are afforded the maximum opportunity to participate as Applicants or Sub-Applicants in the provision of goods and services for BURA. BURA encourages the award of at least thirty percent (30%) of the total dollar value of this project directly or indirectly to M/WBE’s. Proposal Submission Deadline: March 30, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. Request for Proposal submissions are due to: Yvonne C. McCray, Director of Housing City of Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency 65 Niagara Square Room 315 City Hall Buffalo, N.Y. 14202 RE: 2015 Buffalo Weatherization Assistance Program A full copy of the Request for Proposal can be picked up in 315 City Hall or 920 City Hall, 65 Niagara Square Buffalo NY 14202, the Central Library, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo NY 14203 and http://www.city-buffalo.com/BuraBids or http:// www.city-buffalo.com/bids .

EM P LOY M EN T Qualified Health Consumer Services Record Coordinator: Review records for compliance with funding source requirements. NYS Licensed or Certified Health Care Practitioner; Resumes to HR, WNYIL, 3108 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14214 EOE

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BUFFALO & ERIE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Please check out our website at:

http://www.buffalolib.org/content/employment-opportunities/job-postings

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Mayor’s program Those businesses that hire city youth may also be eligible for tax credits. If a business or any individual would like to sponsor a youth for the summer employment opportunity, they may do so through the Mayor’s Fund to Advance Buffalo.

The Housing Office at SUNY Buffalo State seeks full-time temporary personnel to assist with summer cleaning of the residence halls. Must be able to begin employment May 11, 2015 and work through August 28, 2015. Shift is Monday – Friday, 7:00am – 3:30pm. Hourly rate - $13.09, 40 hour work week. Prior experience preferred. Working knowledge of cleaning substances, ability to follow verbal and written directions, stand for long periods of time, perform medium to heavy manual labor, use cleaning equipment and products, climb ladders. Applications are available at: http://hr.buffalostate.edu/forms. Completed applications should be mailed to SUNY Buffalo State, Human Resource Management, Cleveland Hall 403, 1300 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14222 and must be postmarked no later than April 10, 2015. NO PHONE CALLS WILL BE ACCEPTED

BIDS

INVITATION TO BID The NFTA is soliciting bids for Project No. 12MG1206, Metro-Niagara Street Corridor, Bid No. E-515 on March 31, 2015. www.nftaengineering.com

Buffalo State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and committed to respect for diversity and individual differences.

INVITATION TO BID The NFTA is soliciting bids for Project No. 12BA1501, BNIA – Airside pavement Maintenance, Bid No. E-516 on April 2, 2015. www.nftaengineering.com

Head Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving Coach/Aquatics Manager Buffalo State, State University of New York, seeks candidates for the position of Head Men's & Women's Swimming & Diving Coach/Aquatics Manager. For a full job description and to apply: https://jobs.buffalostate.edu

Buffalo State is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and committed to respect for diversity and individual differences.

JOBS

ccwny.org

Buffalo Employment and Training Center 77 Goodell St., Buffalo, 856-5627/ Fax 7856-5670 www.workforcebuffalo.org The BETC is here to help with your job searching needs. Free services to all jobseekers looking to find better paying work, an exciting new career, or wanting to upgrade skills to become more marketable in today’s marketplace. Orientation Times: Monday – Thursday, 10 am or 2 pm.

Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

NEW YORK STATE LOTTERY NUMBERS

3-WAY

MID- 6628 EVE- 8318

MID - 6457 EVE - 0268

MID- 3979 EVE- 1062

MID- 9927 EVE- 7908

MID -3162 EVE- 7716

MID-4428 EVE-3188

2-16-26-27-30

TAKE 5

2-6-27-28-29 2-6-24-32-39 1-12-26-30-34

1-5-9-11-21

4-6-17-36-38

HOT TIPS

888 055

216

000

Zakiyyah’s Rundown (ZR) 986-568-853-578-312-468-014065-768-981-852-679-254-756801-645-580-234-532-791-065Billy Bye Bye Sez: 189-901-659-514-1001447-1645-4444-8888 “Believe in miracles but don’t depend on them”

MARCH MONTHLY VIBES

874-254-594-890-347123

“its In The Stars”

Aquarius -681-972-897-103 Pisces - 136-663-169-166 Cancer - 285-123-018 Aries - 699-370-790-267 Taurus - 796-312-661-931 Gemini-652-106-305-257-817 Leo-210-840-345-312-315 Virgo -562-174-748-521 Libra -238-865-117-600 Scorpio - 679-411-956-729 Sagittarius - 147-685-923-508 Capricorn: 583-269-508-571

quick money $$$$ THE NUMBER BOOK 189-809-444 886-980-422 322-522-355 800-592-390 394-833-924 127-909-418 927-313-466 124-550-525 583-269-508 Grandma’s MARCH Picks 302 176-743-435-165-270

Powerful New Energy Shift for Chinese New Year of the Sheep, Lucky Number “8” , This year marks 4017 Years of Celedration. “Watch your temper!”

Best Triple for Month of MARCH “666”!

Doubles - 662-788-919-322

Bee’s Pix:133

“All My Children”

412-225-654-402-201-471-557

COMBO: 252, 228

18-24-29-35-38

5-26-34-36-44-57 #55

LOTTO

SUN 3/1 MON 3/2 TUES 3/3 WED 3/4 THURS 3/5 FRI 3/6 SAT 3/7 MID -604 MID-107 MID-356 MID-574 MID -933 MID-452 MID-072 EVE-123 EVE-068 EVE-673 EVE-587 EVE-129 EVE-991 EVE-637 MID- 3317 EVE-2217

WIN 4

RADNEY’S SPORTS UPDATE

11-20-23-29-53-58 #51

721

888

858

Challenger Hits Midday 072-Grandma’s March Pics (bx) 452-March Monthly Vibes (bx)

Evening

991-Doubles(bx) 068-Number Book (bx) *123-Luckie Duckie, Canc er, March Vibes (Straight), Leo, ZR (bx) LUCKIE DUCKIE

202 335 -2015-4444

134-431-143

648*123*104

980-422-809

981-989-970-990-080800 390-196-102-581-752319-408-378-352-126

189-444-886-202

322-522-412-432-421423

3-Way Winning Numbers Last Year

03/19/2014 Evening 03/19/2014 Midday 03/18/2014 Evening 03/18/2014 Midday 03/17/2014 Evening 03/17/2014 Midday 03/16/2014 Evening 03/16/2014 Midday 03/15/2014 Evening 03/15/2014 Midday 03/14/2014 Evening 03/14/2014 Midday 03/13/2014 Evening 03/13/2014 Midday 03/12/2014 Evening 03/12/2014 Midday 03/11/2014 Evening 03/11/2014 Midday

2014

3-9-6 3-8-9 4-8-1 0-4-7 8-9-8 2-4-2 0-5-1 6-1-7 4-0-8 9-4-6 4-8-0 6-8-6 0-1-6 8-6-2 2-0-0 2-4-1 9-9-7 1-9-6

Bills General Manager Doug Whaley

Bills Mean Business for the 2015 NFL Season

he Buffalo Bills General Manager Doug Whaley is showing what can be done with an owner allowing you to spend some money on quality players. The LeSean McCoy acquisition was stunning to most Buffalo Bills fans and now the re-signing of outstanding pass rusher Jerry Hughes will put the Bills in the hunt for the Lombardi Trophy next season. Terry and Kim Pegula have opened up their check book and obviously want a winning team in Buffalo. Doug Whaley is showing his savvy by restructuring McCoy’s contract in order to lower the salary cap hit on the team for this season and McCoy could make up to $16 million. Let’s be honest, Ralph Wilson would have never paid a running back or any other position player that kind of money. He also would not have resigned Jerry Hughes for five years at $45 million and the reported $10 million signing bonus. This means Jerry gets $10 million up front plus a $2 million salary during the upcoming season. The Pegulas seem to be quiet By GEORGE people, but are speaking quite loudly with their money. You also must keep in mind that they RADNEY are the second richest owners in the entire NFL. It’s quite obvious they are not afraid to spend money and have quickly made Buffalo a destination spot for quality NFL players. The Pegila’s have the right man running the show in Doug Whaley, who in his short time as Buffalo Bills General Manager has acquired quality backups to go along with the starters, and the reason why the Bills can afford to lose C.J. Spiller, Kiko Alonso, and Da Norris Searcy. The Bills strong safety Da Norris Searcy will be replaced by Duke Williams and backed up by Dack Rambo. That’s just an example of the type of depth the Bills now have on their roster. Doug said at last year’s pre-draft luncheon that fifth, sixth, and seventh round draft picks would be used as part of trade packages, because those players would not be able to make the team due to the high quality of players already on the roster. He also said this type of philosophy would put his staff in position to pick the best player available to them in the upcoming NFL Draft. I must say Doug Whaley is well on his way to using his philosophy to perfection and only time will tell how successful his system will be.

Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Wednesday March 11

Thursday March 12

Saturday March 14

Wednesday March 18

“Women Who Made History: Speaker Eva Doyle,” Public Library, 1 Lafayette Square; 858-8900. Main Floor, Noon – 1 p.m.

The Durham Central City Baby Café: every Wednesday and Thursday 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. 200 E. Eagle in the Durham Outreach Center. Dinner is free! Doris Gayles 885-6348.

Free Tax Help by NYS Tax Department: 12 Noon - 5 p.m.; Walk-Ins welcome; West Room Main Floor, Public Library, 1 Lafayette Square; 858-8900.

Health and Healing Circle: 2-4 pm 70 Harvard Place; for info: myhealthyadvantage@ yahoo.com or call 218-0373

The Durham Central City Baby Café: every Wednesday and Thursday 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. 200 E. Eagle in the Durham Outreach Center. Dinner is free! Doris Gayles 8856348.

Reading Is Grand”: Members of Tradition Keepers: Black Storytellers of Western New York , Frank E. Merriweather Jr., Branch Library 3-5 p.m. "Celebrating Grand Families - Telling Our Stories," a free program. For more info 716883-4418.

Board of Education Meeting: 5:30 p.m., Waterfront School, 95 Fourth Street. Khametic Ascendants: 9-10 a.m. & 12:30 am (after midnight), public Access Channel 20.

SEE YOU AT THE EVENTS!

Friday March 13 Birthday/Fish Fry Fundraiser for the Re-election of Betty Jean Grant: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., New Golden Nugget, 2046 Fillmore; donation $25; 6025877 or 400-1817. Free Tax Help by NYS Tax Department: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Walk-Ins welcome; West Room Main Floor, Public Library, 1 Lafayette Square; 858-8900.

Academy of Choice Charter School Information Sessions: 10 a.m. Niagara Branch Library, 280 Porter Ave. ; 1 p.m. at Crane Branch Library, 633 Elmwood Ave.; 4 p.m. Frank E. Merriweather, Jr. Branch Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave. Free & open to the public academyofchoiceaccs@outlook.com Annual All Male Youth Symposium: 11 a.m., Delavan-Grider Community Center, 877 E. Delalvan; Attorney John V. Elmore keynote speaker; hosted by Eta Rho Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Good for the Neighborhood Event: Primary Health Care is theme: 5-6:30 p.m., Doris W. Jones Resource Bldg., 3001 9th St., Niagara Falls.; sponsored by Independent Heath Foundation. Free Tax Help by NYS Tax Department: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m..; Walk-Ins welcome; West Room Main Floor, Public Library, 1 Lafayette Square; 858-8900. Monday March 16 African Consciousness Workshop: 6-7:45 p.m., Merriweather Library; Jefferson @ Utica; every Monday. Public invited. Aloma D. Johnson Charter School board of Trustees Open Meeting: 6 p.m., 15 Jewett Parkway; for more info 856-4390. Tuesday March 17 MAD DADS Tuesday Night Bible Study with Rev. Derren L. Young: GROUP Ministries, 1333 Jefferson Ave., 6:30-8 p.m., 563-1834; All welcome Juneteenth Committee Meeting: Frank E Merriweather Library Jefferson and Utica, 6pm. Help us to continue in this great tradition. Please call 891-8801 Wednesday March 18 Khametic Ascendants: 9-10 a.m. & 12:30 am (after midnight), public Access Channel 20.

Focus on Education “Getting College and Career Ready” Town Hall Event: 5-6:30 p.m., Buffalo Convention Center; To register 845-7000 ext. 345 or email townhall@wned.org Public Meeting Notice: Board of the Westminster Community Charter School at 3 p.m. M&T Bank, One M&T Plaza - 19th Floor. Film: “Conditions & Terms May Apply,” Presented by the Buffalo Committee Against State Repression, 7pm, Burning Books, 420 Connecticut Street. “Girls to Women to Warriors Poetry Slam”: The Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave. 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. To sign up to compete call 6025877 or 894-0914. Hosted by We Are Women Warriors. Free & open to the public. Friday March 20 Queen City Black Film Festival: Hosted by the Western New York Minority Media Professionals Inc., AfricanAmerican Roswell Park Employee Network, Wisteria School of Buffalo, 4:30PM to 9PM in the Hohn Auditorium, Roswell Park Cancer Institute; free and open to the public; Visit www.queencityfilmfestival.com for more details. Saturday March 21 Free Worker’s Compensation Info. Seminar Series: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m., Delavan-Grider Community Center, 877 E. Delavan Ave.; sponsored by Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes; free 8979714 for more info.

Challenger Community News • March 11, 2015

IMAGES OF US

HOLLYWOOD ACTRESS HAS PROFOUND AFFECT ON BUFFALO YOUTH

Award winning actress Aunjanue Ellis visited the Queen City on February 26th as she was the Keynote Speaker for the Canisius Academic Talent Search Black History Month Event. Prior to beginning her speech Aunjanue was presented with a proclamation by a representative of Mayor Brown declaring February 26th in the City of Buffalo as Aunjanue Ellis Day. Featured in “The Help”, “The Practice”, “True Blood”, “The Mentalist”, and “The Book of Negroes,” Ms. Ellis took the stage at Zion Dominion Global Ministries to impart wisdom unto a congregation comprised of WNY high school students. Ms. Ellis had a quick meet and greet shortly after departing the stage and was then whisked away to the airport in order to get back to her busy schedule. Aunjanue would like to thank Canisius’ Academic Talent Search, Elizabeth Caffee, Lilly Adams-Dudley, and all others that participated in making this successful event happen.

The Road to College Begins in Kindergarten School Highlights KCCS – a K-8 Charter School All graduates placed in elite Buffalo’s First Charter School – Established 2000

public & private high schools Newly Renovated Facility Extended School Day Athletics: Basketball, Track, Drill, Hockey, Swimming College Advisory Groups College Admission Support Throughout High School

Apply Online or in Person – Applications Due April 1st

A School in Good Standing

www.kccs.org – 156 Newburgh Ave, Buffalo, NY 14211 – 716-891-7912 !