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Challenger Community News • t hec hallengernews.com •November 3, 2022
AREA BRIEFS
Please Support Fundraising Efforts for Families of Victims of Horrific Kensington Expressway Crash! The community continues to pray for the families and mourn the four young teens who lost their lives in the horrific single car crash involving a Kia Sportage on the inbound Kensington Expressway last Monday. So far family and friends have set up a Go Fund Me Page to raise money to meet funeral expenses for Ahjanae Harper, who was 14 at the time of her death. She turned 15 on Nov. 1 and leaves behind a 5 month old baby girl, Tru. YouthBuild Buffalo has established a GoFund Me Page for the families of Marcus Webster 19 and Kevin Payne 16, also killed in the crash. They were students at YouthBuild. Swazine Swindle, 17 was the 4th fatality. Swazine Kevin, and Ahjanae all died at the scene. Marcus died at the hospital. There were two survivors, the 16 year old driver of the Kia and one other passenger, a 14-year-old girl who is recovering at ECMC. The driver has been charged and ordered to wear an ankle bracelet. He's scheduled to return to court on December 12. There are still a lot of unanswered questions. Police believe the vehicle was stolen as part of a social media challenge, where a video explains how to steal certain models of Kia. IN THE MEANTIME, PLEASE GIVE TO THESE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS! AND KEEP THE FAMILIES IN YOUR PRAYERS.
Urban League’s Annual Gala Set The Buffalo Urban League is excited to continue a timehonored tradition by hosting its 2022 Annual Gala in-person on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. This year’s theme, “Resilience; Celebrating the Power of Love and Humanity,” highlights our community's resolve and commitment, to restoration and rebuilding in the face of immense adversity. Tickets and sponsorships are available now. For tickets or more information go to WWW.BULNY.ORG. Thomas Beauford Jr. is President and CEO of the Buffalo Urban League.
12-Year-Old Boy Is Accused Of Robbing A Bank On Jefferson Avenue Last Friday shortly before noon, police reported that a 12-year-old boy walked into the M&T Bank's Jefferson Avenue branch near E. Utica and handed the teller a note. There was no weapon displayed. The message demanded cash and the youth left with a small amount. Officers later took him into custody on East Utica according to sources. He was charged with third-degree robbery - a felony- but his name was not released because of his age.
Urban League Receives A $6 Million Donation "This gift will make an immense difference in the lives of the people we serve. "
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he Buffalo Urban League on Monday announced a gift of $6 million from Philanthropist and author MacKenzie Scott that will allow the organization to dramatically expand and enhance the reach of its empowerment programs. “This is a transformative time for the Buffalo Urban League,” said Thomas Beauford, Jr., President, and CEO. "This gift will make an immense difference in the lives of the people we serve. We’re Pictured at Monday's press conference announcing the $6 million donation honored and grateful that Ms. from left: Kendra Brim-Buffalo Urban League’s Board Vice Chair, Michael Scott and her team have rec- Osborne - Buffalo Urban League’s Board Member, Kenneth Africano (beognized the Buffalo Urban hind Mr. Osbourne) Buffalo Urban League’s Board Member, Thomas BeauJr. – President & CEO, Eunice Lewin- Buffalo Urban League’s Board League’s value and impact on ford Member, Jamil Crews- Buffalo Urban League’s Board Member, Chiwuike the community.” Owunwanne, Buffalo Urban League’s Board Member. Street Legacy Photo/ "The need has always out Darvin Adams. weighted the resources," continued Beauford, and the $6 million he said will be "very significant" in the agency’s ability to expand its capacity and its programming. The unsolicited one time gift is the largest single contribution in the local affiliate’s 96 year history. Prior to receiving the donation, the League, which is located in downtown Buffalo, was already making plans to relocate and build a larger facility in the community. The donation, said Mr. Beauford will be very helpful in bringing that to fruition. "Our community still continues to heal…still needs programming in numbers that we’ve not seen before," he said of the many challenges the community faces. “You can trust that this contribution will help this organization improve and continue its infrastructure into the future to make sure that we’re sustained and continue to deliver the services and programming we’ve been doing for almost the last century here.” The Buffalo Urban League is one of 25 Urban League affiliates around the nation that received similar donations from Ms. Scott, who in 2019 signed The Giving Pledge, a promise by the world's wealthiest individuals and families to dedicate most of their wealth to charitable causes. "By placing racial equity and social justice at the forefront of her philanthropic mission, Ms. Scott is shining a much-needed spotlight on the nation’s structural and institutional limitations and helping to build a stronger, more resilient society for everyone.” The Buffalo Urban League employs a five-point empowerment strategy to deliver critical programs and services in the community that is inherent in the organization’s mission. This includes: 1. Education and youth empowerment, 2. Economic empowerment, 3. Health and quality of life empowerment, 4. Civic engagement and leadership empowerment, and 5. Civil rights and racial justice empowerment. With this strategy, the Buffalo Urban League serves more than 60,000 individuals annually through comprehensive direct services. “ We’ve been fighting for this community for many years…” said Beauford. “This (donation) helps level the playing field substantially.”
New Team At Masten CAO
Recently, the Rafi Greene Masten Resource Center has returned to full capacity after losing Dahveed Mohammed, Patricia Elliott, and Pamela James. DaShaun Baldwin, Natalie Brooks, and Marshaun Quinniey make up the compassionate and committed new employees to help their Western New York community, as they work to build on the past accomplishments of the previous staff at the Center of the Community Action Organization. During this transition they have been aided by the continued steadfast leadership of Samuel Radford, and Aymanuel Radford. A main focus of this teams work will be business development, community development, and education advocacy in their efforts to cultivate their community and promote opportunities for low-income individuals, families, and communities. In the coming weeks the center will continue activities to commemorate the life of Rafi Green with a wide range of community activities. Last month, a meeting was held to help build Block Clubs. On Nov. 4th at 6p.m. the second workshop is set to help community members take an idea and make it a business. For more information contact Marshaun or Natalie at 716.332.3773 or visit Eventbrite at MLKJRBlockClubDrive-Fall22.eventbrite.com Let's Talk Business Workshop.
BLACK BUFFALO PART 2
Jimmy Lee Jackson
Jimmy Lee Jackson: the First Martyr of the Voting Rights Movement
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hen Jimmie Lee Jackson saw his frail 80-year-old grandfather rudely turned away from the registrar’s office in 1962 after attempting to register to vote in Marion, Alabama, the young man became angry. He knew he had to join the civil rights movement. On Feb. 18, 1965, he was among more than 200 people participating in a night march in Marion. Before they had walked a block, they were confronted by state troopers and the police chief, who ordered them to disperse. The marchers halted at the chief’s order, and suddenly all the streetlights on the square went out. A Black minister at the head of the march knelt to pray and was struck on the head by a trooper. Other troopers began swinging their clubs, and the marchers panicked, running for cover. Jackson and his mother huddled for safety in a café. When Jackson’s grandfather entered the café bloodied and beaten, the young man tried to take him to a hospital. But they were quickly shoved back by a crowd of clubswinging troopers and terrified marchers. The troopers began knocking out the café lights with their clubs and beating people. Jackson saw a trooper strike his mother, and he lunged for the man. He was clubbed across the face and slammed him into a cigarette machine. Another trooper pulled his pistol and shot Jackson in the stomach. It was two hours before Jackson arrived at the
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