January 2020 Edition by Columbus African American News Journal

Columbus & Dayton

January 2020

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Becoming King By Rev. Tim Ahrens, DMin

A Physician Draws Inspiration from Dr. Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Words By Quinn Capers, IV, MD & Christian Anne Capers

Getting to the Mind: The Opioid Epidemic By Charleta B. Tavares

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. A COMMITTED LIFE Painting by Robert Hough

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PUBLISHER’S PAGE Founder & Publisher Ray Miller

Layout & Design Ray Miller, III

Assistant Editor Ray Miller, III Dayton Editor Benette Decoux Distribution Manager Ronald Burke Student Interns Jada Respress Olivia Deslandes

Lead Photographer Steve Harrison

Contributing Editors Tim Anderson Tim Ahrens, DMin Jasmine Ayers, MPA Lisa D. Benton, MD Rodney Q. Blount, Jr., MA Quinn Capers, IV, MD Christian Anne Capers Alethea Gaddis, MBA

In this historic January 2020 edition of The Columbus & Dayton African American, we have decided to highlight the “Best” of our contributing writers’ articles on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. After consulting with a representative number of our readers about the utility of this approach, we became more convinced than ever that there was much to be gained from pursuing this path of discovery about the philosophy, commitment, and leadership principles of Dr. King. In refining our editorial approach we were pleased to learn of the multiple uses in which the news journal is currently being utilized as a teaching tool in primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, bible studies, libraries, and rehabilitation facilities of various kinds. It was a joy to revisit nine (9) years of our publication (108 editions) and assess, even more deeply, the substantive contributions which our writers deliver every month of each year. Let’s initiate this undertaking with the content of my Publisher’s Page of January 2016. Here’s what I had to say: Who taught you that? I posed this question to the Fellows in Cycle VIII of the Progressive Leadership Academy two weeks ago. I did so because of how commonplace it is today to see individuals who occupy important leadership positions in our community, perform in a manner that clearly indicates their lack of knowledge of how they should make decisions. Yet, they are making significant funding, policy, programmatic and political decisions on a daily basis. Too often, these decision-makers, in all sectors (Government, Non-Profit, Private Corporations, and Business) are being told what they cannot do and are inundated with constant messages to convince them of their insignificance. Rather than embold them with the belief that they can and should make a positive difference for their customers or constituents. Our leaders are living in fear and fear paralyzes one--creativity is diminished, innovation disappears, public policy reforms are non-existent, and incrementalism prevails. The result is those who need help the most, actually are helped the least-across the board. Let’s explore this topic a little deeper. Behavior is a response of an individual or group to an action, environment, person, or stimulus. When we observe leaders who behave in a manner that is: 1) inconsistent with our history, heritage, and the needs of our people; 2) only concerned with what is best for themselves; 3) safe, comfortable, convenient and predictable; and 4) emotionally detached-It certainly makes one pose the interrogative: “Who Taught You That?” Who taught you to assume the safe position at all cost? Who taught you position neutrality, silence, and the importance of sanitizing your thoughts? Certainly, not someone with a significant record of accomplishments for their community, corporation, organization or governmental agency. I would encourage you to identify your primary influencers. Those who help to shape your attitudes, beliefs and professional opinions. In addition, take some time and identify the secondary influencers in your life. They may be historical figures, institutional or familial. Develop a small circle of friends who support you, want nothing from you, and will be honest with you to a fault. List what you admire most about your “friends.” Whom among those do you respect and admire the most? You may discover that your “friends” are really not your “friends” at all.

Cecil Jones, MBA Eric Johnson, PhD Ako Kambon Jacqueline Lewis-Lyons, PsyD Darren Lundy, MBA William McCoy, MPA Fmr. Sen. Charleta B. Tavares P.R. West, Sr. C. Dexter Wise, III, DMin

The Columbus African American news journal was founded by Ray Miller on January 10, 2011

The Columbus & Dayton African American

As we celebrate the life and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. it is instructive to apply the recommendations made above to him, his leadership style, his circle of friends, and his manner of decision-making. Dr. King was always strategic, he carefully weighed the consequences of all major decisions. He surrounded himself with many of the best thinkers in America who shared his beliefs and his goals for the development of a beloved community. Most importantly, he was willing to die for what he believed--and he did. Dr. King was not afraid. He did not live in survival mode. His social action, equal justice initiatives, corporate strategies, political engagement, and public policy goals were major--not miniature. Please read the cover story in this edition of The Columbus African American for a fuller understanding of the actions of this extraordinary American. It is hard to go wrong when your primary influencers are: Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, Mahatma Mohandas K. Gandhi, Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. and Henry David Thoreau. Finally, a word about diversity and equal opportunity. Hiring African Americans to advance racial equality is only beneficial if the individual is committed to bringing about substantial change--and is willing to lose their job to stand for the attainment of aggressive goals. Period. To do otherwise simply provides color, but not conscience. Remember, the best way to determine what one will do, is to closely examine what they have done. There are a number of African Americans in the City of Columbus and beyond who possess the requisite competencies to advance an honest effort put forth to bring about equal opportunity from a results-driven model. Happy New Year!

503 S. High Street - Suite 102 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Office: 614.826.2254 editor@columbusafricanamerican.com www.CAANJ.com

Ray Miller Founder & Publisher 3

The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

In This Issue

A Dream Deferred...

COVER STORY

Environmental Justice and Social Determinants of Health Addressed

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Give Us The Ballot” Speech March 17, 1957

at Forum 23

Getting to the Mind: The Opioid Epidemic

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: His Commitment to Education

MLK: Lessons in Leadership

Central State University Named HBCU Institutional Leader

16 19 33

by Fulbright Program

Bend the Arc: Policy Solutions for Black Men & Boys By: Jasmine Ayers, MPA

A Word from The Wise

Book Bags & E-Readers

Living Beyond - Eyes on the Prize

A Dream Deferred... By: Jacqueline Lewis-Lyons, PsyD

Pillars of Wisdom

Commit to Be Financially Fit

NSTN Brings Trade Training Back Into the

Commit to be Financially Fit

Community and Schools

By: Darren Lundy

Technology - Where Do I Go From Here?

The King Legacy, The

Greater Arts Council

Obama Presidency

Announces Fellowship

and the African American

in Honor of Aminah

Inimitable Obligation

Brenda Lynn Robinson

Becoming King

King Revisited

A Physician Draws Inspiration

Bend the Arc: Policy

Dr. Zelma W. George: Philanthropist, Opera Singer, Director & UN Diplomat

Community Events

Solutions for Black Men & Boys

from Dr. Martin Luther

Legislative Update

King, Jr’s Words

Environmental Cleaning

All contents of this news journal are copyrighted © 2015; all rights reserved. Title registration with the U.S. Patent Office pending. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, and illustrations will not be returned unless accompanied by a properly addresses envelope bearing sufficient postage. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

THE KING LEGACY, THE OBAMA PRESIDENCY AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN INIMITABLE OBLIGATION STORY FROM THE JANUARY 2017 EDITION OF THE NEWS JOURNAL

By Tim Anderson Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s leadership in the fight for freedom, equality and justice has been the most enduring and significant milestone in my life time. Our history was changed by one man’s dream, a dream that resonated not just in the south but throughout this country. A dream that connected on a global basis against oppression with the struggle for freedom, equality and justice in apartheid South Africa. Had King lived his natural life span, conceivable he could have been with us today. He would have witnessed, Shirley Chisholm and Jessie Jackson run for the highest political office in the land and Nelson Mandela becoming president of a post-apartheid South Africa. By the age of eighty he would have witnessed one of the most significant historical events of his life, the election of the first African American as president of the United States of America. The social trajectory of our nation was on dual course of reconciliation with its oppressive history and a healing path through landmark civil rights legislation and President Lyndon Johnson’s war on poverty initiatives. The nineteenth century writer and social critic, Charles Dickens in his novel, A Tale of Two Cities, starts by writing his paradoxical statement, “it was the best of times, it was the worst of time”. Had Dickens lived during the epoch period of the civil rights movement, perhaps he could have written, A Tale of Two Societies. Writing, “it was the worst of times, it was the hope of better times ahead”. Our hopes of better times ahead ended abruptly with the powder keg exploding over the assassination of Dr. King. From our sorrow came a collective purpose and obligation to honor the dreamer and continue his work. King’s assassin had ended the life of the prophetic dreamer but not his dream. King’s dream gave us hope. Inspiring blacks and whites, the rich and the poor, the old and the young, women and men, a nation and our world to seek freedom, equality and justice for all. Since King’s death, many of the policies that he died for have come under strong political and legal challenges, but still we fight, as we must. Fighting to protect our right to vote resulted in this nation’s electing the first African American president. Without the dreamer and his dream, many would have believed that the possibility of a black president was a century or more away, if ever. Had Dr. King lived he would have continued to been a major force on both the domestic and international stage. Inspiring us all to become engaged in addressing those most at risk: the poor, children, the elderly, healthcare inequities and social justice. He would have been leading and seeking solutions

for greater religious understanding and acceptance between Muslims, Christians and Jews. He would have fought for the rights of undocumented immigrants and opposed any barriers physical or otherwise that prohibited or restricted immigrants from entering this country. The Obama presidency demonstrates the powerful legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is far reaching and transcending. It is too early to determine what President Obama real legacy will become. Undoubtedly, history will judge whether his presidency and his policies were effective in diverting a global financial collapse, rescuing the U.S. automakers’ industry or creating affordable healthcare coverage. In his remaining days in the oval office, President Obama would be better served aligning his presidency with the King legacy rather than seeking to inoculate his key policies from the next administration. Two decades into the twenty-first century, Dr. King’s life remains a powerful symbol of conviction, contribution and the ultimate sacrifice. With King’s legacy rooted in the social condition of the African American experience, it is unequivocally and uniquely our own. By virtue of his presidency, Obama becomes a principal steward of the King legacy. With that responsibility, he is charged with ensuring that the dreamer’s dream and that of his legacy will continue to inspire others to serve this country. We now know what is possible; somewhere within our diverse community is an African American mother carrying in her womb her unborn child that will become president. Or an African American toddler who will one day aspire to become president, or within the next ten to twenty years an African American woman will seek to become the first woman president. The power of the King legacy makes all things possible. King’s dream rooted in the American dream continues to inspire us. For we are all

stewards of the dream and practitioners of his legacy. Let us be mindful that the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. legacy is a living legacy. We honor his legacy, not by a national holiday, a statue on the national mall, or by naming buildings or streets after him, or leading marches or holding large events; we honor Dr. King’s living legacy through service. On February 4, 1968, Dr. King gave his Drum Major for Peace sermon; two months to the day of his death on April 4, 1968. His prophetic sermon warned against the trappings of seeking accolades and personal attention. King cautioned on developing a drum major instincts for self-interest or gain. Instead, King illustrated that our true purpose is not to satisfy our selfish needs, but to serve those in need. To feed the hungry, clothes the naked, house the homeless, taking care of our elderly and the poor. Dr. King wanted to be remembered not by his awards, honors or fame, but as a servant to others through his deeds. He wished to be remembered as that drum major for peace, a drum major for justice and a drum major for righteousness. As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy, let us honor him by recommitting ourselves to service in our community. By addressing the unmet needs of those most vulnerable and at risk, we continue Dr. King’s legacy of service. Through our collective deeds of service, we ensure that King’s legacy will transcend, inspire and transform the lives of generations to come. It is the African American inimitable obligation to serve our community based on King’s legacy and his ultimate sacrifice. Tim Anderson is a columnist and essayist featured in the Columbus African American News Journal, as well as, on social media. Current writing project: Something to Say, Essays from a not-so-angry black man (Summer 2017). To reach Tim directly; contact him via email: tim.anderson614@ gmail.com.

The Columbus & Dayton African January 2015 2020 The Columbus African American NewsAmerican Journal • •February

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

BECOMING KING STORY FROM THE JANUARY 2017 EDITION OF THE NEWS JOURNAL

By Rev. Tim Ahrens, D.Min He was born Michael King, Jr. the oldest child of Rev. Mike King and Alberta Williams King on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. When he was nine, following his father’s trip to Europe and walking in the footsteps of the great Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther, Mike’s name (along with “Daddy King’s’’ name) was changed to Martin Luther King, Jr. He was sitting in the sanctuary when his dad told the congregation of his revelation and his name change. He was excited for his father and then realized, his name just got changed, too. It was a bit of shock for a nineyear child! By 15 years old, “M.L.” was a freshman at Morehouse College in Atlanta. By 19, he was a first year student at Crozier Seminary in Philadelphia. By 22, he was in Boston University working on his PhD and by 25 he was married to Coretta Scott and had been called as pastor of Dexter Ave. Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. One year and three months later, after Rosa Parks’ arrest on a Montgomery public bus, December 1, 1955, Martin was handpicked to lead the most important non-violent civil rights protest in American history. Twelve years, four months and three days later, Nobel Peace Prize winner and leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered by an assassin’s bullet while standing on the balcony of a Memphis, Tenn., motel just moments before he and friends were headed to dinner at the home of Pastor Samuel Billie Kyles. He was 39 years, two months and 20 days old. An autopsy said his heart was equivalent to a 60-year-old man. How did Mike become King? How did he become the first and only African-American for whom a national holiday is celebrated? How did he become a non-elected national and global leader whose memory is now enshrined in a beautiful memorial across the Tidal Basin from the Jefferson Memorial and a few hundred yards from the Reflecting pool, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument? How did Martin Luther become King? Friend of Dr. King and great Jewish theologian, Abraham Joshua Heschel, wrote these words about the prophets of old: “The prophet is a person who sees the world with the eyes of God, who holds God and humanity in one thought, at one time, in all times.” Rabbi Heschel continues: “The passion of God is speaking when the prophet speaks. . .. He feels fiercely. God has thrust a burden upon his soul and he is bowed and stunned by humanity’s fierce greed. . . . Prophecy is the voice that God has lent to the silent agony, a voice to the plundered poor, to the profaned riches of the world. It is a form

of living, a crossing point of God and man. God is raging in the prophet’s words . . . the prophet seldom tells a story, but casts events. . . . He lives in sympathy with the divine pathos.” (Found in Abraham Heschel’s The Prophets, Harper and Row, NY, NY, 1962, pp. 3-6). In Martin Luther King, Jr., God sent America and the world a prophet for our times. Like the Biblical prophets of old, King was not chiseled out of rock. He was not created in a vacuum. He was not dropped from high in the heavens. Martin was born and raised in the black church, in the Deep South, in the heart of America’s racial segregation and racial hate. He became King because of the influences of black men and women – intellectuals like Dr. Benjamin Mays, president of Morehouse College; activists like the middle-aged Pullman porter named E.D. Nixon; trained non-violent resisters like Rosa Parks; a young English professor and activist named JoAnne Robinson; and pastoral colleagues like Rev. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., pastor of First Baptist Church in Montgomery. He became King because he followed the pastorate of the great preacher and radical visionary Dr. Vernon Johns who was ousted from the pulpit of Dexter Avenue because he wore overalls and sold collard greens on the campus of Alabama State College (behavior unbecoming of Dexter Avenue’s pastor – according to Dexter Ave. Deacons). Martin became King because of his wife Coretta – who was much more of an activist than he was when they met - gave him books to read, brought him to lectures she felt he needed to hear, and took him to rallies when he would rather have been home reading. He arrived in Montgomery, Ala., in September 1954, six months after the landmark Supreme Court decision of Brown vs. the Board of Education. He became King on the streets of Montgomery, walking, talking, listening and learning from

The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

working men and women in the capital city of Alabama. became King as a pastor PhotoHe from WSYX ABC 6 Columbus comforting victims of racial violence, the victims of lynchings from the hanging trees of Alabama, economic violence and injustice and social evil. There were many reasons and many people, who pulled, pushed, persuaded and persevered in providing Martin the opportunities to pursue the prophetic imagination which was inside his soul. In the long run, Martin became King because Jesus Christ called him to pick up his cross and lay down his life for his friends. Let’s go back and take a look at the making of a prophet, the becoming of King. One member of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church said in November 1959, when Dr. King was leaving Dexter to head to the SCLC from headquarters in Atlanta and from there into the rest of the world: “The history books may write it Rev. King was born in Atlanta, and then came to Montgomery, but we feel that he was born in Montgomery in the struggles here, and now he is moving to Atlanta for bigger responsibilities.” Martin King was born in the struggles of Montgomery. In late-August 1955 (less than year after Martin’s return to the South), in a small, sleepy town called Money, Miss., a 14-year-old African-American from Chicago named Emmitt Till was visiting relatives in the Delta for the summer. In the general store in Money, he reportedly flirted with a white woman. Several nights later, the woman’s husband and his brother dragged Emmett from his uncle’s house, brutally beat him, tortured him and shot him in the head before throwing his body in the Tallahatchie River, chained to a 70 pound cotton gin fan. Three days later his body was discovered and retrieved from the river. Returned to Chicago, Emmett was buried with an open casket and thousands attending his funeral. With gruesome pictures in Jet

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Magazine, portraying Emmett’s condition, the whole world was watching. This was not just another lynching of another young black man. This lynching shifted the way people responded to racial hatred. How do I know that? Because Rosa Parks, less than three months after Emmett was buried, reported that when she refused to move from her seat on Friday, December 1, 1955, on a Montgomery bus, said, “I saw the face of Emmett Till and I knew I had to stay in my seat for him.” God bless your memory, Emmett Till. You had a part in helping Martin become King. Ms. Parks knew exactly what she was doing. She was trained in non-violent civil disobedience. Once booked and jailed for “disorderly conduct,” the whole of black Montgomery was in an uproar. Congressman John Lewis tells it this way: “The buzz flew through town. They arrested Ms. Parks? She wouldn’t hurt a fly. This is wrong! We have got to do something this time.” Over the weekend, the black community was organized. By Sunday morning, the morning announcements and the sermons from the pulpits of many black churches (including Dexter Avenue) were calling for a bus boycott. By Monday, December 4, the bus boycott had begun. People were walking to work. That night a huge rally was held at Holt Street Baptist Church. Martin was called on to preach. We need to remember that his preaching didn’t inspire the 50,000 bus riders to walk, but it gave them hope and vision and fired them for the second day and the subsequent 385 days. Taylor Branch, in his three part epic on King’s career, says that King was in his element. He was a great orator and preacher. While Dr. King participated in many direct actions, he NEVER initiated any by himself in his lifetime. His inclination was to inspire social change through oratory. The combination of his preaching and others leading the charge was to become the perfect storm for nonviolent social change that swept the South, then the North and in time, the entire nation in the years that followed. Although many things affected and influenced Dr. King, the January 30, 1956, bombing of his home in which the front porch of his house was blown up while Coretta and Martin the Third were inside, made Martin realize how dangerous his journey to justice would be. He knew that he may lose his life in the struggle. He knew that his family was at risk as well. That attack convinced him to no longer carry a gun – which he had to that point. He said, “No gun can save me. Guns will only inflict more violence in this nation and in our lives.” These are powerfully prophetic words for our day and time as well! Dr. King’s essential message was clear and it was formed throughout his childhood and youth. Clayborne Carson, King biographer and archivist of King’s sermons, letters and other writings, has studied the work of Dr. King more closely than anyone else.

Commenting on the Montgomery years, Dr. Carson writes: “King’s optimistic, hope-filled message rooted in the power of God inspired men and women to remain in and sacrifice for the struggle. His consistent emphasis on the love ethic found in the life and teachings of Jesus provided the theological undergirding for the strategy of nonviolence. King’s growing faith in God also fueled his conviction that the civil rights movement could become a vehicle for redemption in Montgomery, the South and the throughout the whole nation.” (Troy Jackson, Becoming King, The University Press of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 2008, p. 5). King was passionate in his commitment to the power of love and the centrality of the social gospel in his preaching and teaching throughout the Montgomery boycott. But he came to Montgomery ready for this task. He was fortunate to cut his preaching teeth before arriving in Montgomery. While a student preacher at Daddy King’s Ebenezer Baptist Church in the “Sweet Auburn” section of Atlanta, King had been addressing his views on race, segregation, peace, economic injustice from the pulpit. He had sharpened the tools for his craft in the workshop of his daddy’s church – his childhood church. He tells the story of his first sermon at Ebenezer. He was nervously pacing and talking to himself when one of the elder women of the church came upon him. “Martin, what is the matter?” He responded, “I am not sure I should be preaching. I am not sure this is right.” She smiled and responded, “Like Jeremiah, God claimed you in the womb of your mother. What’s right with God is right. It’s not for you to be nervous about. It is your destiny, son.” With these words and a tender touch to the cheek, Martin felt the peace of God which passes understanding sweep through his body and soul. Writing to Coretta during their courtship, he included a prayer with which he had ended a sermon three years earlier - when he was 20 years old. “Let us continue to hope, work and pray that in the future we will live to see a warless world, a better distribution of wealth, and a brotherhood that transcends race or color.” This time, he added to his beloved, “This is the gospel that I will preach to the world.” (Ibid, p. 49). During these years before Montgomery, Martin worked hard at developing quotation laden refrains that he memorized and used countless times in sermons and speeches to justify hope. From the pulpit of Ebenezer, he tested out his cadence and his refrain of hope: “There is something in the universe that justifies Carlyle in saying, ‘No lie can live forever.’ There is something in this universe that justifies William Cullen Bryant saying, ‘Truth crushed to the earth will rise again.’ There is something in this universe that justifies James Russell Lowell saying, “Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne, yet the scaffold sways the future

and, behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, keeping above his own.’ This is something in the universe that justifies the Biblical writer saying, you shall reap what you sow.” (Ibid, p. 42) No matter what the circumstances he faced, Martin maintained the hope and optimism of his faith grounded in the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In Montgomery, the young King was to face the challenges of any Baptist preacher. He was warned by friends and family that there was a small group of people in Ebenezer who didn’t like preachers. He was warned about Deacon Thomas H. Randall, who if he was still alive, was known to take pride in bringing down the pastors of Dexter Avenue. When Martin arrived, Deacon Randall was not only alive, but the chair of the Deacons. He kept a notebook on King recording any misdeeds, shortcomings, when he was late for meetings, and complaints from members and other citizens. While leading the movement for social change that would rock the nation, Dr. King had to deal with Deacon Randall. Even Jesus had his inner-church challenges and he had a membership of 12! Martin surrounded Deacon Randall with love and a plan. Martin took the high ground laying out to the whole church 34 recommendations for them – including a plan for growth and a social and political action committee. In the end, it was Deacon Randall who wrote of Dr. King at his departure in 1960, “The kind of life Dr. King has lived as pastor has been inspiring. His sermons and talks have served as a compelling force in our lives – urging us to live the full life – thus broadening the horizons of our responsibilities beyond our own church.” (Ibid, p. 174). In time, his greatest detractor became his great friend. What a friend we have in Jesus! Forged in the crucible of Montgomery, Martin went forward his last eight years to change the course of history. As a prophet of the social gospel, Martin saw the world with the eyes of God – holding God and humanity in one thought, at one time, in all times (to paraphrase Rabbi Heschel). He spoke with the passion of God, feeling fiercely and casting events and always keeping step with the divine pathos he had come to know in Jesus Christ his Lord and savior. In the end, we come to know the divine pathos by walking with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In the end, he became King by knowing and following his King. We would be wise to follow Martin and Jesus in our journey of faith. After all, Martin had the drum major instinct. What a great gift! So let us be wise so that we too may become like King. Thanks be to God for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rev. Dr. Tim Ahrens is the Senior Minister of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in downtown Columbus. A church known for its witness to social justice since its birth as an abolitionist congregation in 1852. Rev. Ahrens is the fifth consecutive senior minister from Yale Divinity School and is a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ.

The Columbus & Dayton African January 2015 2020 The Columbus African American NewsAmerican Journal • •February

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

KING REVISITED STORY FROM THE JANUARY 2017 EDITION OF THE NEWS JOURNAL

By Eric Johnson, PhD The yearly visitation of Dr. King’s legacy has in many respects become routine but the value of his message is as important today as it has ever been. Not because Donald Trump is President-Elect but because many of the issues that he spent his life addressing persists as on-going barriers to the fulfilment of America’s promise. Dr. King’s missive addressed issues such as political disenfranchisement, economic disparities, the psychological impact of oppression on the oppressor as well as the oppressed, and he even addressed the Black Lives Matter subject more than four decades ago. This year as we do every year we try to ask relevant questions such as: What is the relevant meaning of Dr. King’s legacy today? Where do we go from here? How do we apply the lessons learned from his message to move us forward? These questions and many others serve as the mechanism by which we adjust our course and assess the progress of the journey thus far.

ground work for continued progress and understanding. We are yet still faced with very similar complexities. While Dr. King was not an advocate of the slogan Black Power he was nonetheless very aware of the need for its existence, why it was important and why the black community should in some ways subscribe to it. Anyone who doubts that fact should refer back to Dr. Kings’ book “Where do we go from here: Chaos or Community?” Dr. King often wrote about his disappointment in the at best inconsistent systemic responses to what he saw as injustice and at worst implicit consent to a status quo that maintained the oppression and exploitation of the black community.

The courage necessary to do what Dr. King did is in many ways is unimaginable. His willingness to continue in an effort that almost most certainly would result in his death requires both our admiration and respect. The faith to beat the drum of justice for the fulfilment of promises never before seen in an environment where the mortal dangers were both clear and present. Dr. King more often than not targeted the conscience of liberal White folks because he believed agitation would yield less fruit than reconciliation. Moreover, he believed that agitation was While over four decades ago Dr. King wrote not sustainable and reconciliation laid the about infant mortality rates, police violence, and the general need for social change, today we are still faced with the same issues. Application of the lessons born from King’s legacy has proven to be a major task. One lesson that can be learned by Dr. King’s Life is to instill in our children a sense of purpose that is rooted in an understanding of human dignity. The dignity that every human being exist for and with a purpose that does rely on the recognition of a potential oppressor. While certainly speaking truth to power is an important element of social change, so is developing a sense of individual and collective purpose that works for our good without apology. Dr. King’s apparent faith in the conscious of good people has proven to be less than optimal. Dr. King lamented the fragmentation of individuals and organizations in our community. A collective sense of purpose may be both our most effective and most sustainable tool in the fight for equality and social change. The yearly

The Columbus African & Dayton American African American News Journal • January • February 2020 2015

visitation of Dr. King’s legacy has to be more than an academic exercise. Our referral to the King vestige each year has to either give new insight to the past or provide a novel clarity to the road ahead. As the inheritors of Dr. King’s legacy each of us is required to do the work necessary to create a better tomorrow for our children and our community. If there is a single lesson to be gained from the life of Dr. King it is that we are all required to sacrifice for the world we wish to bring into existence. This year like all the years before and all the years to come is time for each of us assess where we are and where we wish to be both as individuals and as a community. There are no magic potions to be applied, we are either willing to do what is required or we are not. We are not in control of what happens outside our communities, but we are solely and singularly accountable for the sense of purpose in ourselves and in our children. Dr. King’s message sometimes lacked that element explicitly but it represents the potential for our community far more than the conscious of White liberals whose collective commitment has been in some cases critical. However we cannot assign responsibility for the future of our community to anyone other than ourselves. So this year as we should every year, let us celebrate the legacy of Dr. King by recognizing his and others contributions and assessing the work we have to do in the coming year. Dr. Eric L. Johnson currently serves as the Chief Consultant with Strategies to Succeed and is on the faculty at Virginia International University. He is the former Chief of Research Publications for the United States Air Force Academy.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

A PHYSICIAN DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR’S WORDS STORY FROM THE JANUARY 2019 EDITION OF THE NEWS JOURNAL

By Dr. Quinn Capers IV and Ms. Christian Anne Capers Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was, is, and will continue to be an American symbol of strength, hope and peace - not only in the Black community, but to the rest of the world. For physicians, his words can give pause and sustenance, as so many of his lessons and precepts are easily applicable to what we do. Connecting his immortal words to the universal mission of medical and osteopathic doctors can give perspective on what drives us and help us to reflect on our daily labor of love. “All humanity is involved in a simple process, and all men are brothers. To the degree that I harm my brother, no matter what he is doing to me, to that extent I am harming myself” (“Experiment in Love,” 1958) Dr. King believed, as must all ethical physicians, that we all belong to one human family. If for one group of patients I deliver the highest quality of care with all of the compassion within me, and I fail to do so for another group (race, gender, sexual identity, religious preference, physical ability, etc.) then I am ignoring the high calling that attracted me to medicine, not to mention the vows that all doctors take upon graduating from medical school. To be influenced by superficial traits to withhold quality care to patients in need is unthinkable when said out loud, but it happens daily throughout the nation. Black women are less likely than white men to be treated with life-saving implantable defibrillators after suffering a cardiac arrest (the medical term for when the heart stops beating), Hispanic children with cancer pain are less likely than white children with the same diagnosis to be treated with narcotic pain medications, and one recent study showed that cancer doctors with an unconscious preference for whites over blacks spend less time with their black patients and tend to talk over them and ask them fewer questions. Physicians who harm their brothers and sisters this way, even unknowingly, harm the entire human family, injecting mistrust into the doctorpatient relationship and leading many to delay or forego seeking medical treatment and preventive health services. When large segments of the population forego, for example, annual flu vaccinations based on this mistrust, flu epidemics can cost thousands of lives across racial, gender, and socioeconomic boundaries. “... The question is not whether we will be extremists but what kind of extremist will we be. Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice - or will we be extremists for the cause of justice?” (“Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” 1963)

Physicians have a legacy of being activists for social justice. One modern-day example is when pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha informed the state of Michigan that the drinking water in Flint, MI was poisoning children with dangerous levels of lead, that an immediate advisory should be sent out, and that people, especially children, should stop drinking the water. This was an unpopular stand, but was based on her sound research and an example of a physician speaking out to advocate for justice. Oakland, Californiabased physician Dr. Tolbert Small is another example of a physician-activist. When he left his native Detroit, MI to pursue residency training in Oakland in 1970, he drove up to the national office of the Black Panther Party and offered his assistance. As a friend and affiliate of the party, he helped found its free clinics, free ambulance service, and brought much-needed attention to the terrible disease sickle cell anemia, a disease that strikes people of Black Americans much more than White Americans, by starting a communitybased sickle cell screening program. Physicians have many role models to study when looking for doctors who went even further with their activism, from local leaders who simply refused to retreat (Dr. Albert E Perry, NAACP chapter vice president in Monroe, NC, who, with an armed rifle club of NAACP members, repelled a gang of KuKlux-Klan night riders intent on shooting up his home and burning a cross in his yard in 1957), to brilliant theorists (Frantz Fanon, psychiatrist and author of “Wretched of the Earth”), to social agitators of international freedom movements (South African martyr Steve Biko—a medical student). Like Dr. King said, most of us will be extremists. Physicians, as professionals dedicated to prolonging life and easing suffering, must be extremists to preserve not only the health of the individuals that we physically touch, but must be activist-agitators to heal society. “People are often surprised to learn that I am an optimist… They expect these experiences to harden me into a grim and desperate man. They fail, however, to perceive the sense of affirmation generated by the challenge of embracing struggle and surmounting obstacles.” (“A Testament of Hope,” 1968) Here Dr. King speaks of an undying optimism. Even facing almost certain defeat, he and his colleagues had a sense that justice would ultimately prevail, and that their fight was necessary for justice to win, regardless of whether they would personally witness the victory. This is a very appropriate description of the mindset of the physicianscientist toiling away for a cure for cancer. Against overwhelming odds, the loss of many lives, and mounting unsuccessful research studies and clinical trials, the physician researcher and the bedside physician have an undying optimism, an unspoken sense that the next study will unlock a mystery that will save lives. When I interact with a

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

patient with a severely weakened heart and I adjust his medications one more time to allow him to breathe easier, even though the last “adjustment” was unsuccessful, I always have an inner sense that this time will be successful. Likewise, when working to open a blocked artery in a heart attack patient, if I was unsuccessful with the last heart attack patient, the only thing on my mind is victory: opening the artery, saving the patient’s heart muscle and ultimately, the patient. A doctor’s job is not always easy, but an undying optimism is in the physician’s genetic makeup, allowing us to embrace “struggle and surmounting obstacles.” We are convinced that victory is right around the corner, even if we will not be around to see it. “We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects us all.” (“Letter from Birmingham City Jail,” 1963) Racism is one of the inescapable ills of modern society, in the US and abroad. Physicians are among a group of public servants that society must be able to trust to dispense expertise in a fair and equitable manner. As a physician, I must have faith that the teachers will treat my children fairly, that the police officer will treat me like a human being with intrinsic worth, and that the judge will dispense justice to me without bias. Likewise, all of these professionals will likely be under a doctor’s care at some time, and will feel exposed, anxious, and very vulnerable. They must have confidence that their physician will follow a higher calling, and not be influenced by race, or any other superficial characteristic, in dispensing ethical, compassionate care. Each time any of these (or other) professionals places a higher or lower value on an individual because of his or her race and practices his profession based on that valuation, our just society crumbles a little bit. Ethical physicians realize this, and dispense justice with a scalpel, a prescription pad, a therapeutic touch, a kind word, and an open heart without regard to race. Fifty years after his death, the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can be applied to the field of medicine. We ARE inexplicably connected by a network of mutuality and by the fact that we are all members of one race – the human race. This sentiment crosses boundaries into all disciplines, across barriers of color, gender, background and creed. As we ultimately work to help our fellow man, physicians and all healthcare workers can and should gain inspiration from his words. Quinn Capers, IV, MD is a cardiologist and the Associate Dean for Admissions at The Ohio State University College of Medicine Christian Anne Capers is an English major at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Sources: The Words and Inspiration of Martin Luther King Jr. (2007), Blue Mountain Press Boulder, Colorado

The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

GREATER COLUMBUS ARTS COUNCIL LAUNCHES NEW FELLOWSHIP AND RESIDENCY IN HONOR OF AMINAH BRENDA LYNN ROBINSON

Photo by Jeff Bates

COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Greater Columbus Arts Council (Arts Council), in partnership with the Columbus Museum of Art (CMA) and with support from community leaders, launched the Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson Fellowship and Residency, two new programs that will honor Columbus artist Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson and support African American professional, visual artists. In 2020 both programs are made possible with the financial support of Loann Crane. The Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson Fellowship is locally focused and provides an unrestricted grant to an African American professional visual artist residing in Franklin County. In 2020, the 90-day fellowship includes a $15,000 award, several community outreach activities (facilitated by Arts Council staff) and the opportunity for a public presentation and/or exhibition. The residency is nationally focused and provides an African American professional visual artist residing in the United States the opportunity to live and work in Robinson’s soon-to-be-restored Shepard community home, and to devote dedicated time to creating art within Robinson’s home studio. In 2020, the 90-day residency will include a $2,500 award, a stipend up to $5,500; lodging and studio access is provided free as part of the residency. Community outreach activities (facilitated by Arts Council staff) are required and artists will have the opportunity for a public presentation and/ or exhibition.

“Aminah cared a great deal about mentoring the next generation of African American artists,” said Tom Katzenmeyer, president and CEO of the Arts Council. “I think she would approve of how we are honoring her legacy and the gift she has given to our community.” Robinson was born in 1940 in Columbus, Ohio and grew up in Poindexter Village, a new federally funded apartment community. From an early age, she absorbed the stories of her elders about historic Columbus neighborhoods and about the family’s ancestral roots in Africa. Throughout her life, she documented these stories in her art and journals, in order to pass them on to future generations. Her work is grounded in the African concept of Sankofa— the importance of understanding the past in order to move forward. Robinson’s diverse body of work is about building bridges and making connections between the past and present, America and Africa, and the physical world and the world of spirits. When she was 17, she moved with her family to the Shepard neighborhood on the near east side of the city. She eventually purchased her own home in that same neighborhood and lived there the rest of her life. When she died in 2015, Robinson left her estate, including her house, to the Columbus Museum of Art. Since that time, CMA has worked diligently to catalog the artist’s incredible collection of artwork and collaborate with the Arts Council and the Columbus community to decide how her estate could best be used to support African American professional

The Columbus African & Dayton African American • January 2020 2015 American News Journal • February

visual artists—resulting in the newly opened fellowship and residency. The capital campaign to raise funds for the restoration of Aminah’s home also was launched officially today. Local attorney Larry James will spearhead the fundraising effort to renovate Robinson’s home for the residency, with contracting and construction work guided by Mark Corna and Aaron McDaniel of BluePrint Investments. The fellowship and residency are annual programs. Applications are now open for each and each will be juried by a committee that will include representatives from the Shepard and Poindexter neighborhoods where Robinson lived, CMA and the Arts Council. The fellowship jury will also include an artist or arts educator familiar with Robinson’s work and history, while the residency jury will include esteemed artists or curators from across the country. The application deadline for the fellowship is Feb. 3, 2020 and the fellowship period is March 2-May 31, 2020. The application deadline for the residency is March 9, 2020 and the residency will take place Aug. 17- Nov. 15, 2020. For complete guidelines for both programs go to: gcac.org/grants-services/individual-artistfellowships/. The Greater Columbus Arts Council receives major financial support from the City of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners and the Ohio Arts Council. Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

COLUMBUS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE: Transforming More Lives Than Ever Before

Founded in 1963, Columbus State has been part of the fabric of Central Ohio for more than a half century. In the last decade, the college has committed to access, affordability, and equity like never before. That commitment was recognized on a national level last year when Columbus State was named a recipient of the Leah Meyer Austin Award from Achieving the Dream, a national network of community colleges committed to closing performance gaps for low-income students and students of color. This is the highest honor the organization confers and is the result of the college’s steadfast focus on student success and completion, particularly for underrepresented, first-generation, and low-income students. • Narrowing equity gaps: By introducing more than fifty success interventions, the college has seen big student-success gains. For Black students who participate in three or more success initiatives, semester-to-semester retention has improved dramatically: in 2015, 68 percent for Black students and 83 percent for White students were retained. Three years later, the rates were 81 percent and 84 percent respectively, narrowing the gap from 15 percent to just 3 percent. • Providing early access: Columbus State has aggressively pursued dual-credit enrollment among at-risk high school populations who are underrepresented on the region’s college campuses. Since 2012-13, Columbus State has seen a 12-fold increase in the total number of high school students participating in dual-credit programs and a fivefold increase among underrepresented students. • Helping more students reach their goals: Columbus State’s graduation rate has increased by more than 160% since 2010. Last spring, Columbus State graduated the largest and most diverse graduating class in the college’s history, putting thousands of students on the path to a high-growth career or bachelor’s degree success at partner universities. 2018 CENTRAL OHIO AFRICAN AMERICAN COLLEGE GRADUATES

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WRAP-AROUND STUDENT SUPPORT

76% of Columbus State graduates leave with zero loan debt. Nationally, most bachelor’s degree graduates (70%) borrow an average of $39,000 – with an average pay-off time of 21 years.

Food, housing, and financial security are central to Columbus State’s student success mission.

300+ companies place Columbus State students in paid apprenticeships and other learn-and-earn positions. Most students are offered full-time positions upon graduation.

On-campus case-manger support for students With financial stability a key component to student outcomes, Columbus State recognizes that the more supportive services available to students, the greater their chances for success. Efforts intended to provide support beyond the classroom include a partnership with the Franklin County Department of Job and Family Services which, in 2019, joined the college’s one-stop downtown student services center to provide on-site access to supportive community resources including housing, food, transportation, and childcare assistance. One full-time and one part-time county JFS representative started office hours on campus in winter 2019.

Columbus State is Ohio’s largest community college, with more than 45,000 students annually. In fact, Columbus State’s enrollment makes it the second-largest postsecondary institution in the state. Only OSU has more.

Columbus State has also partnered with Catholic Social Services to place an additional three case managers on its downtown campus. With three years of initial funding, the “Stay the Course” program will help students address personal, economic, and social barriers to college success through intensive case management and emergency financial assistance. Initially developed by Catholic Charities of Fort Worth, “Stay the Course” has found that when paired with a case manager, students graduate at a rate four times higher than those who don’t receive services. On-campus produce market combats food insecurity In the fall of 2019, Columbus State opened the Mid-Ohio Market, an innovative partnership with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank designed to address the growing issue of food insecurity for our students, their families, and the neighborhoods surrounding the Columbus Campus. Adopting a pay-what-you-can model, the market offers fresh produce and other staples sourced from the Mid-Ohio Foodbank in a convenient and accessible destination.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

Columbus State is the most diverse higher-education institution in the region. Students of color make up nearly half of the College’s enrollment, and our student body includes a wide range of ages and backgrounds. Columbus State’s Preferred Pathways to four-year schools guarantee affordable transfer. Students earning an associate degree transfer seamlessly to one of nine partner universities with guaranteed acceptance and transfer of every credit toward their bachelor’s degree. More than three out of four Columbus State graduates are employed right here in Central Ohio. Local jobs in growing and in-demand fields like health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing, science, engineering, business, and public safety are filled by Columbus State graduates.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

POLITICS BEND THE ARC: POLICY SOLUTIONS FOR BLACK MEN AND BOYS By Jasmine Ayres Martin Luther King Jr. famously said, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” He emphasized however, that bending the arc would take hard work and commitment from activists, community organizers, policymakers, politicians, teachers, grandmothers and clergy members. We need to turn that call to action, to Ohio’s Black men and boys. From how they are treated by the criminal justice system, to lack of access to mental health resources, to the wages they earn, Black men face a particular set of challenges in Ohio. Everyone is entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. King’s words give us a blueprint for how to break barriers that keep Black men and boys from reaching their full potential. Criminal Justice Reform “Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and when they fail in this purpose, they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress.” – MLK Jr. Ohio spends more than $1.8 billion a year to keep nearly 50,000 people in prison, disproportionally men of color. We lock up a larger share of our neighbors than all but 13 other states. Only two states have a higher share of people on probation. Many people in our corrections system struggle with substance-use disorder. Sometimes, drug possession is their only crime. Yet we have the nation’s second-highest overdose rate and 5,111 Ohioans died of drug overdoses in 2017. Focusing on punishment rather than treatment breaks up families, damages communities, overcrowds prisons, and drains our state’s resources.

trauma after losing a child, we sometimes fail to address fathers’ grief. Black men are caring dads. They spend more time with their children than fathers of any other race, according to the Center for Disease Control. One study showed that 70% of Black fathers bathe, dress, diaper, or help their children use the toilet on a daily basis – a higher percentage than both white and Latino dads. In the most recent state budget, lawmakers made addressing infant mortality among Black babies a priority – increasing support to expand the “Help Me Grow” home visiting program, an evidence-based approach to lowering infant mortality. In addition, lawmakers expanded screening for breast and cervical cancer, which helps lower infant mortality. These are great preventative measures, but more steps need to be taken to support Black fathers grieving from the loss of a child.

In the new budget, state lawmakers increased investment in state hospitals, prevention, wellness and recovery, and local crisis response. Overall, they boosted funding to address the drug epidemic and received some new resources from the federal government. But at the same time, the Trump administration and some Ohio lawmakers want to make it harder for people to get addiction and mental health treatment through Medicaid. While we applaud the governor for increasing funds, we must demand programming that addresses the particular trauma endured by Black boys and men. Minimum Wage

“The dignity of the individual will flourish when the decisions concerning his life are in his own hands, when he has the means to seek self-improvement. Personal conflicts among husbands, wives and children will diminish Government policies shape our ability to when the unjust measurement of human care for our kids. If we cannot take time off worth on the scale of dollars is eliminated.” when a new baby is born, that could hurt our – MLK Jr. ability to bond with our babies. Statewide paid family leave would give dads a chance Struggling to get by takes a mental and to connect with a new baby or take time off physical toll on people. That, coupled with to be with a sick child. It could also lead to the stress of living with racism, makes life declines in infant mortality rates, according particularly difficult for Black men earning to a recent study in Health Affairs. at or near the minimum wage. Paid parental leave is often administered in a way that reinforces gender-biased roles for parents. An Ohio man recently reached a settlement in a class-action case against JPMorgan Chase, whose parental leave policy assumed mothers were primary caregivers except in special circumstances. The company agreed to clarify its policy and compensate fathers who were improperly denied leave.

People with low incomes have higher infant mortality rates, lower life expectancy, and are more likely to die from disease than the well-off. They are also at higher risk of suicide than people with higher incomes, according to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. At the start of the year, Ohio minimum-wage workers received a small wage increase to $8.70 an hour, to keep pace with the rising cost of living. That is nowhere near enough to take care of an individual let alone a family. If policymakers increased the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2023, they’d give 2 million Ohioans a raise. That would mean a raise for 54% of Ohio’s Black workers, who in 2018, earned a median wage of $14.62 an hour, $5.12 less each hour than white Ohioans.

Wins like this help fathers be caregivers. In many jobs, paid time off is not an option. In the United States just 14% of civilian workers have access to paid family leave. While 88% can access unpaid leave under Senate Bill 3, under consideration in the Ohio the Family and Medical Leave Act, many Senate, would provide addiction treatment working families can’t afford to take unpaid Black men deserve to be able to provide for instead of incarceration to Ohioans charged time off. themselves and their families. Meaningful with minor possession of certain drugs. Mental Health criminal justice reform, investments in It would reclassify some low-level drug mental health resources, and an economy offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. that respects their hard work is the only way “If America would come to herself and return The War on Drugs of the 1980s and 1990s we move forward as a state. to her true home ‘one nation, indivisible, targeted Black men with tough sentences for with liberty and justice for all’, she would minor drug crimes. Some still face barriers Ayers is is Policy Matters Ohio’s to housing, good jobs and higher education give the democratic creed a new authentic Jasmine policy liaison. In her role, she connects the because of past felony convictions. ring, enkindle the imagination of mankind group’s research and analysis with state .Lawmakers could make Senate Bill 3 and fire the souls of men. If she fails, she policymakers, allies and the general public. even stronger by applying reclassification will be victimized with the ultimate social Jasmine was born and raised on Columbus’s retroactively – so people ensnared by the psychosis that can lead only to national north side. She received a bachelor’s degree drug war would also benefit. But it would at suicide.” – MLK Jr. in history from Wake Forest University in least be a step in the right direction. North Carolina and a master’s degree from A New York University study found that the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Infant Mortality boys made up 74% of the 1,661 Black Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. “Babies, we are told, are the latest news from children aged 5 to 17 who committed suicide heaven.” MLK Jr. between 2001 and 2015. Exposure to racism Policy Matters Ohio is a non-profit policy is stressful. Not only is it mentally and research institute. They create a more vibrant, Ohio has the nation’s second-highest infant emotionally traumatizing, it causes chronic equitable, sustainable and inclusive Ohio mortality rate for Black babies. While stress and hypertension, which leads to heart through research, strategic communications, coalition building and policy advocacy. mothers endure unimaginable pain and disease. The Columbus African & Dayton African American • January 2020 2015 American News Journal • February

POLITICS

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

By Senator Charleta B. Tavares (Ret.)

Reflections on Accomplishments and 2020 Elections Ohio Legislative Black Caucus: Members Priorities Representative Stephanie Howse (D-Cleveland), President of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) reflected on the first year of the 133rd Ohio General Assembly, which concluded on December 31, 2019. She issued a statement on the historic levels of bipartisanship during the 133rd General Assembly, which, through the first year, has seen the percentage of bills clearing the House sponsored by Democrats double over the previous two General Assemblies. “I believe that Ohio’s working people and families want to earn enough to thrive, not just survive, and leave a better future for the next generation. Democrats are committed to restoring Ohio’s promise of opportunity for all by continuing to work together to deliver results that benefit everyday Ohioans. It is my hope that we continue to work collaboratively across the aisle to make our state benefit the many, not the few,” said Rep. Howse. Some of the OLBC member priority bills passed in the first year and House Chamber included: • HB 1 – Rep. Paula Hicks-Hudson (D-Toledo)* and Rep. Phil Plummer (R- Dayton): Criminal justice reform prioritizing rehabilitation in lieu of conviction;

• HB 14 – Rep. Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland)* • Tiffany White, chair of the North Central and Rep. Brian Baldridge (R-Winchester): Area Commission Create Kinship Care Navigators Program. This is your opportunity to review their records in office for those who are incumbents Rep. Howse further mentioned that more and in the community for those who have than 40 percent of bills that have passed the never before been appointed or elected. The House in 2019 had at least one Democratic individuals all have a record in how they sponsor, compared to just over 20 percent have spent their time, talent and money. throughout the entire 131st and 132nd General Assemblies. Who has or is standing up and taking action on the issues that are important to you, your *OLBC members family and community? There are currently eighteen (18) members including one Asian American member Who has just occupied the seat – going along participating in OLBC. For additional to get along, talking and not listening to the information on the Ohio Legislative community? Black Caucus, contact Chris Scott, Executive Director OLBC at cscott@ Who has taken on the tough issues affecting ohiolegislativeblackcaucus.org the African American community – police brutality, criminal justice reform, business 2020 Ohio General Assembly Elections development and equity for African American businesses, lack of affordable housing, The March and November 2020 Elections health care justice and racial disparities? will provide an opportunity for the voters throughout the 88 counties in Ohio to Who has demonstrated their commitment elect all 99 members of the Ohio House of through contracting and employing African Representatives and sixteen (16) members Americans (in their elected office, business of the Ohio Senate. There will be Primary and campaigns)? Elections in at least 10 races in the Ohio General Assembly as of the final filing date These are just some of the questions you deadline, December 18, 2019. The race that should look at before casting your absentee, is of most interest to the members of OLBC early voting, March 17 (Primary Election) or and the African American community November 3 (General Election) ballots for in Franklin County is the primary race those who are asking for your vote. for House District 25 in Northwestern Columbus. The seat was most recently held We will continue to explore the candidates by Rep. B. Kennedy Kent a Democrat who for President, Congress, County and State fell out with the House Democratic Caucus offices, as well as early voting dates in the and OLBC. She decided two days before February – March editions of the Columbus/ the filing deadline not to run for re-election Dayton African American. to her seat, which sets up a highly contested If you are interested in testifying on any primary race. of the bills introduced in either the House or Senate, please contact the chair of the Who are the candidates running to committee who can be found at www. represent the 25th District? ohiosenate.gov or www.ohr.gov.

• HB 4 – Rep. Phil Robinson • Nicholas Bankston, project manager, Additional Contacts (D-Cleveland)* and Rep. Tracy Richardson Neighborhood Transformation Strategies, (R- Marysville): Cut red tape for credentials UPDATE: The Ohio General Assembly for the city of Columbus; and certificates for Ohio workers; sessions and the House and Senate • Mohamud Jama, a Franklin County Committees are televised live on WOSU/ • HB 8 – Rep. Tavia Galonski Democratic Party Executive Committee WPBO and replays can be viewed at www. (D-Akron)* and Rep. Susan Manchester ohiochannel.org (specific House and Senate member; (R-Waynesfield): To support foster sessions and committee hearings can be searched in the video archives). caregivers; • Dontavius Jarrells, Black Caucus chair of the Young Democrats of America; Former Sen. Charleta B. Tavares, • HB 11 – Rep. Stephanie Howse • Gary Josephson, a real-estate appraiser and D-Columbus, is the 1st Democrat and (D-Cleveland)* - to improve prenatal and ex-labor leader; African American woman to serve in the maternal health outcomes; Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio • Mayo Makinde, a Franklin County Senate from Franklin County. She is also • HB 12 – Rep. Thomas West (D-Canton)* Department of Job and Family Services clerk the first African American woman to serve in and Rep. Gayle Manning (R-North leadership in the history of Ohio and the 1st and 2016 HD-25 candidate; Ridgeville): To create Children’s Democrat woman to serve in leadership in Behavioral Health Prevention Network to • Kofi Nsia-Pepra, associate professor of both the Ohio House of Representatives and support social, emotions, behavioral health political science at Ohio Northern University; the Ohio Senate (House Minority Whip and of Ohio children; and Senate Assistant Minority Leader). and

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANING By Lisa Benton, MD, MPH What was the most meaningful health story for you in 2019? When I think back on all the health stories of last year, at the top of my list is the study that confirmed there is indeed increased cancer risk for African American women who use chemicals to perm and straighten our hair. I felt like this story didn’t get as much media attention as it deserved. The study by Harvard researchers looked at This study confirms work that was done over a decade ago suggesting a link between chemicals for perms and cancers. When you consider what has already been know about the link between other chemical exposures and cancer, I can’t help but feel this work was Research shows that having a healthy long overdue. immune system matters for fighting disease. That means eating right and controlling your The results of this research remind us once weight. It means cutting back on sugars, again that disparities in health outcomes exist excess carbohydrates and other junk foods and are in full swing. It also should empower that promote inflammation in your body, us to take better control of our health choices predisposing you to breakdown. It means when it comes to caring for our bodies. increasing the fruits, vegetables and healthy Whether that means leaving the life of perms sources of protein high in antioxidants which and going to weaves, wigs, braids or other fight aging and breakdown of your body at au natural styles, you can make your choice. cellular level. Breakdown at the cellular level is responsible for just about every problem You need to take control of as many of your from cancer to dementia to just plain old health choices as you can since there is winkles and sagging skin. data that shows that cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke have factors causing these If you’re thinking it’s too expensive to make diseases that we can impact. You do have healthy choices, consider how much more some power and some control over what living healthy now matters for the long run. happens to your health. Now is the time for quality over quantity when it comes to taking care of yourself. My dentist reminded me of this when he was removing some of my old mercury fillings. Exercising by walking is very cheap. There You may remember seeing a broken mercury are plenty of free and online resources to get thermometer with the balls of silver as a kid. a simple home exercise program started. You Unfortunately, you may even remember don’t need to own a Peleton or NordicTrak seeing other kids play with them. Not good. and can access them through your community Hopefully, you recall seeing the area where center or the YMCA. the mercury spilled, not just wiped up, but decontaminated. Mercury is extremely toxic If you have health insurance, check to see if to our bodies, even in the smallest amounts. It you have a wellness benefit that covers gym is no longer used for fillings by most dentists memberships, yoga, meditation or nutrition worldwide. consults. Some physicians are writing prescriptions for their patients to get exercise

and having mixed success with getting the services reimbursed and paid for. As a senior, you can check to see which health and wellness discounts AARP, Silver Sneakers, and the Golden Buckeye card offers. Be creative about your health, wellness and fitness needs since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Making healthy food choices goes a long way too. You can take small steps to a healthy plate. Reducing your portion size and substituting more green vegetables. If you snack, try substituting a handful of granola or protein such as nuts instead of chips or candy. Commit to take a health and wellness step for yourself every day. Start today and try again tomorrow and the day after until it’s a habit and a lifestyle. Give your body, mind and spirit a fighting chance now, rather than waiting another decade or more to hear more scientific news about another chemical or chemicals or environmental toxin exposure that is breaking our bodies down and killing us. Stand up more, eat right and sleep right starting now to have a richer and rewarding 2020. Lisa D. Benton, MD, MPH (The Doctor is In) breastsurgeonlb@gmail.com, Twitter:@ DctrLisa (415) 746-0627

To Advertise in The Columbus - Dayton African American contact us at: editor@columbusafricanamerican.com Ray Miller, 503 S. High StreetPublisher - Suite 102 750 East Long Columbus, OH 43215 Street, Suite 3000 614-571-9340 Columbus, Ohio 43203

The Columbus African & Dayton African American • January 2020 2015 American News Journal • February

HEALTH

A DREAM DEFERRED... By Jacqueline Lewis-Lyons, PsyD As human beings, we have dreams. Ideas and thoughts that inspire us, motivate us, and pull us forward into who we were meant to be. Unlike other creatures, we have the ability to make our dreams come true. The difference is taking action. Sometimes the action steps that are required push us out of our comfort zones, and we hesitate. We tell ourselves “It’s too difficult” or “The timing isn’t right” or “I’m not ready because…” The fact is, a true dream is not a factor of your time, ability, or skill level. When we look at Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous speech, we can see that his dream was so large and so far away that many of us today are still waiting to see it come true. But, he did not wait. Dr. King was positioned in the center of the civil rights movement and did not shirk away from the enormity of his dream. For many of us, we have been harboring dreams deep inside, not willing to speak them out loud for fear of ridicule, failure, or simply lack of support. Do you have a dream deferred? Is there something that has been laying on your heart for years, but you have not been able to bring to life? As you know, Lorraine Hansberry’s play “A Raisin In The Sun” was based on Langston Hughes’ poem. This play about a Black family from the South hoping for a better life, was recognized as the Best New Play in 1959 by the New York Drama Critics Circle. I am sure that while Ms. Hansberry was driven to write this story, she had no idea of the effect it would have on future generations to come. Her dream had wings, which took her voice far beyond a stage in 1959. When you have a dream, it drives your purpose. It gets your heart pumping as soon as you wake up. You are excited, and sometimes scared about the impact you want to make in the world. We cannot afford to allow fear of failure, self-doubt, or a negative environment quench that fire. It will make you literally “heart sick” in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and resentment. I see patients every week who are dealing with regrets about not following their dreams, because of fear – How could they accomplish it? What would others say? Sometimes, we need to turn off the opinion of others and listen to our own hearts to feel the beat, and follow where it leads. I love the American Family commercial with Derek Jeter who is talking to a little girl. She is making bracelets to sell to raise money for children who don’t have food. He asks her “How long have you had this dream?” “Ten years” she answers. “Wow! Ten years. How old are you?” he asks. “I’m Six years old.”

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up Like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore-And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over-like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode?

A Dream Deferred By Langston Huges

Now, I know it is a commercial but the point is, your dream must become a priority at some time in your life. Otherwise, that dream deferred may dry up, like a raisin in the sun. What is truly holding you back? Are you putting so much time in ‘busy work’ that you have forgotten your true passion? I know that there have been periods where I have let go of my dreams to help another with theirs. While I am glad to help, I cannot ask my dreams to continue to wait. I don’t have endless time here and neither do you. I hope you feel an urgency to adjust what needs to change so that you start this new year being who the world needs you to be, accomplishing your true purpose. Take some time and really consider what that might be for you. Don’t worry about the “How” yet, figure out the “What” you need to do. Let’s 19

not let another year go by, with dreams being deferred. I know I am planning how to bring my dream to life - of helping more African—American women develop healthy, active lifestyles so we can be the best for our loved ones and our community. I will address personal growth, fitness, nutrition, and offer a positive support network. If you would like more information on this, please contact me. Have a wonderfully blessed New Year! Dr. Jacqueline Lewis-Lyons’s office is located in north Columbus. Her practice centers on helping clients with depression and anxiety related disorders. In recent years, after discovering a love of running, she expanded her practice to include servces related to Sports Psychology for athletes of all ages and levels.

The Columbus & Dayton African January 2020 The Columbus African American NewsAmerican Journal • •February 2015

COVER STORY STORY FROM JANUARY 2015 EDITION OF THE NEWS JOURNAL

The & Dayton African American • January 2020 2015 The Columbus Columbus African American News Journal • February

COVER STORY

The Columbus & Dayton African American â&#x20AC;¢ January 2020

HEALTH

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ADDRESSED AT FORUM By Charleta B. Tavares PrimaryOne Health held its Quarterly Community Health Forum on Saturday, November 16, 2019 at the Columbus Metropolitan Library Karl Road Branch, 5590 Karl Road, Columbus, OH 43229. The attendees heard from Kalitha Williams, Asset Building Project Director at Policy Matters Ohio and Robert “Bo” Chilton, CEO, IMPACT Community Action on environmental toxins and their impact on the health and wellbeing of community residents. Each of the presenters discussed policies that affect the health and well-being of communities of color and/or those economically challenged based on social and environmental factors. They further discussed how place, race and income have a direct and profound impact on disease and illness. Finally, they shared resources, programs and advocacy efforts to address mold, lead and toxins in homes, food, air and water. “Our goal is to

inform, educate and empower our residents Columbus/Franklin County. The next forum to advocate for the healthcare needs of our will be held on February 08, 2020 at the community,” stated Charleta B. Tavares, Columbus Metropolitan Library at 3540 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43207. CEO, PrimaryOne Health. Please contact Chris Stein at christine. IMPACT Community Action provides stein@primaryonehealth.org to be added to energy efficiency programs, utility assistance, the invitation list, for additional information empowerment services and outreach or to confirm participation. services. The mission is to reduce poverty by providing hope-inspiring help and real Visit www.primaryonehealth.org , opportunities for self-sufficiency. For more Facebook @primaryonehealth or Twitter information visit www.impactca.org or call @primary1health to learn more about our services and career opportunities. 614.252.2799. Charleta B. Tavares is the Chief Executive Policy Matters Ohio is a non-profit policy Officer at PrimaryOne Health, a Federally research institute. The mission is to create Qualified Health Center (FQHC) system a more vibrant, equitable, sustainable and providing comprehensive primary care, inclusive Ohio through research, strategic O B - G Y N , p e d i a t r i c , v i s i o n , d e n t a l , communications, coalition building and behavioral health and specialty care at 10 policy advocacy. For more information visit locations in Central Ohio. The mission is www.policymattersohio.org or call 216. to provide access to services that improve the health status of families including 361.9801. people experiencing financial, social, or The Quarterly Community Health Forums cultural barriers to health care. www. are free and open to the public throughout primaryonehealth.org.

Charleta B. Tavares, CEO of PrimaryOne Health

Bo Chilton - IMPACT Community Action

Kalitha Williams - Policy Matters Ohio

The Columbus African & Dayton African American • January 2020 2015 American News Journal • February

HEALTH

GETTING TO THE MIND: THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC1

ADDRESSING ADDICTION THROUGH COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS By Charleta B. Tavares The birthday celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. provides an opportunity for us to focus on the populations that are bearing the brunt of the unnecessary, unacceptable and unconscionable disparities in mortality and morbidity rates – our racial and ethnic communities. Unfortunately, when former state Representative and Senator, Ray Miller, Jr. established the Commission on Minority Health (1987) and later Minority Health Month in the state of Ohio (1989) he did not realize that he would give “birth” to a movement around the country to establish state offices of minority health, and national recognition of Minority Health Month (2001). As his Legislative Assistant during the period, I know of the hard work and the strategic efforts that were undertaken to identify the right staff, members to serve as commissioners and the proactive, undeterred leadership of the chair (Miller) that was necessary to keep the Commission alive and resolute on the health of racial and ethnic populations. The Commission and her advocates have been unwavering and indefatigable in addressing the premature death and disease among racial and ethnic populations throughout the last almost 33 years. The diseases and illnesses the Commission is charged with addressing are: - Cardiovascular - Cancers - Diabetes - Infant Mortality - Substance Abuse - Violence - Systemic Lupus Erythematous Substance abuse is one of the diseases that has and continues to affect our African American community disproportionately and with more severe consequences than the Caucasian community. Throughout the 1980s and beyond during the “War On Drugs”, “Three Strikes, You’re Out” and “Just Say, No” campaigns – African Americans were systematically targeted for their use of heroin, “crack” cocaine and other drugs, charged and slammed into the criminal justice system. Fast-forward, if you will, to 1991 and the drug of choice is now opioids. The number of prescriptions for opioids (like hydrocodone and oxycodone products) have escalated from around 76 million in 1991 to nearly 207 million in 2013, with the United States their biggest consumer globally, accounting for almost 100 percent of the world total for hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin) and 81 percent for oxycodone (e.g., Percoceti. The populations now being affected are Caucasian young, middle-income, rural and suburban residents in Ohio and the United States. Because prescription opioids are similar to, and act on the same brain systems affected by heroin and morphine they present an intrinsic abuse and addiction liability, particularly if they are used for nonmedical purposes. They are most dangerous

and addictive when taken via methods that increase their euphoric effects (the “high”), such as crushing pills and then snorting or injecting the powder or combining the pills with alcohol or other drugs. These new addicts however, are not summarily being relegated to the criminal justice system. Now the rallying cries are: “we have to treat the disease”; “we need to provide treatment”; “we need more resources”; “we cannot send them to prison because this is an illness”. Addiction counselors, social workers, psychologists and other substance use disorder providers all agree with these comments. African American and communities of color also agree that we need to understand and have compassion for those with the disease however; they are also asking – where were you when the drug plague was killing our children and sending our family members to prison indefinitely? We have to do more to eliminate substance use disparities, unequal treatment and consequences. We have to work to undue the harm done to our communities’ residents who are still fighting for their lives by getting treatment, staying sober/drug-free and in recovery. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services former Secretary, Sylvia Burwell released $94 million in 2016 to community health centers across America to provide substance use services including medication-assisted treatment. PrimaryOne Health received one of the grants for $325,000 and partnered with Maryhaven and CompDrug to expand our continuum of behavioral health services to treat all residents in need including African American, vulnerable, un/underinsured and others in need of substance use services.

PrimaryOne Health has received $1.5 million (over three years) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA) to expand medication-assisted treatment and other behavioral health services in Franklin and Pickaway Counties. In addition, Sen. Sherrod Brown held a press conference with PrimaryOne Health and Netcare in 2016 to announce his efforts in Congress to comprehensively address the multidimensional needs of those with substance use disorders with the introduction of the Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and Reduction Act and the Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment Act (TREAT Act). Dr. King did not want African American, people of color and others marginalized to be judged or discriminated against based on their circumstance or color of their skin. We have an opportunity to work to ensure that all of our residents are valued, are given care that is appropriate, accessible and specific to their needs. We can make sure that the mistakes of the past are not revisited in the future – addiction effects all and needs to be addressed in a humane, respectful and appropriate way. We can and must root out discrimination and Unequal Treatment in Health Careii. Footnotes: Revised reprint of April 2016 article, Cols. African American news journal i International Narcotics Control Board Report 2008. United Nations Pubs. 2009. p. 20 ii Institutes of Medicine Report http://www. nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/ Report%20Files/2003/Unequal-TreatmentConfronting-Racial-and-Ethnic-Disparitiesin-Health-Care/DisparitiesAdmin8pg.pdf Charleta B. Tavares is the Chief Executive Officer at PrimaryOne Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) system providing comprehensive primary care, OB-GYN, pediatric, vision, dental, behavioral health and specialty care at 10 locations in Central Ohio. The mission is to provide access to services that improve the health status of families including people experiencing financial, social, or cultural barriers to health care. www. 1

Over the last three years, the federal government has continued to prioritize and increase funding to address the opiate crisis in Ohio and throughout the country. Staci Swenson, Director of Behavioral Health and Social Work at PrimaryOne Health continues to lead the organization’s efforts to expand services and build effective screening, prevention and education tools to assist our Central Ohio community members struggling with addiction. Over the last year (2018/21), primaryonehealth.org. 23

The Columbus & Dayton African January 2015 2020 The Columbus African American NewsAmerican Journal • •February

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING: HIS COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION STORY FROM JANUARY 2019 EDITION OF THE NEWS JOURNAL

By Alethea Eunice Gaddis, MBA This month, we will again pause to remember and reflect on the lasting legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. We always recognize his dynamic leadership during the turbulent Civil Rights Movement. Remember also though, that his advocacy for civil rights brought awareness to the direct correlation between education and equality. Dr. King clearly understood the role of education in advancing the condition of minorities and in annihilating long-standing societal prejudices in the classroom. Most are aware that he possessed a brilliant mind. In 1944, he entered Morehouse College at the age 15, skipping his first and last year at Booker T. Washington High School. He earned a B.A. Degree in Sociology at the age of 19 and received his B.A. Degree in Divinity from Crozer Theological Institute at the age of 22. By 1955 he had earned his Ph.D. in theology from Boston University. Rev. King demonstrated in his work and service, a commitment to education and his belief that it develops and prepares us to make a difference in the world, not just for ourselves, but for others as well. Education, opportunity, and civil rights are seamless, and Dr. King through the Movement sought to eliminate any lines of demarcation. Does Education Level the Playing Field? Opinions on this subject are as varied as pebbles lining the famed Pebble Beach in Monterey, California. Here is not the place to engage in debate on the matter. However, even a surface perusal of society’s landscape will reveal that with increased access to education, people are positioned to live healthier, cultivate strong families, better ensure their children’s wellbeing, maintain a clean environment, and reduce violent crime. How Do I Celebrate Dr. King’s Life? While I do participate in various community activities, I also strive to honor his legacy daily. Reading the communication that contained the editorial focus for the January edition of The Columbus & Dayton African American Journal stirred something in my spirit. The given assignment was to approach our submissions (as they relate to the life of Dr. King) from the vantage point of our profession. I was immediately challenged to view not just the holiday, but the man, from a wider lens and with a focus on both his educational path and his fight for equality in the classroom. As an entrepreneur, I work with people and churches in various capacities, and also visionaries who want to engage in philanthropic endeavors. I am most passionate though, about ensuring young

March 2, 1965, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks at the Charter Day ceremony at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

people receive early exposure to opportunities which help them discover their niche and channel it to a career they love (not just a job). I thrive on encouraging young people to explore all institutions of higher learning (if that is the path of their choosing). By guiding youth on visits to Historical Black Colleges and Universities, I am fighting for equality in access to education. Often students and families are reluctant to discuss an HBCU as a viable option. For some, an HBCU is the best environment to propel them to success. I believe every young person should visit an HBCU to consider the advantages of receiving an education from these historic institutions. After visiting, exploring what they offer, or even enrolling, a student may determine that an HBCU is not a good fit. And that is OK. Just recently I attended the Anitka Grayson HBCU Symposium held at Columbus Africentric High School. Interacting with parents and like-minded individuals fueled my passion, vision, and desire all the more. Every viewing of “Tell Them We Are Rising” is inspiring. I am planning now, for the 2019 Jump Start U4 College Program and Tour scheduled during the week of June 9 - 14. I unequivocally love every detail of planning and implementing the program. It is fulfilling to help students discover their spark, affirm what they may already know and prepare them for the campus visits. And even when I am weary from a week on the bus with teens, and just managing a project of such magnitude, that shot of adrenaline when a student says, “Miss G, I found a home,” is

The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

a slice of heaven. Dr. King began at an HBCU, and it launched him to matriculate successfully to other institutions of higher learning. His time in college prepared him to live out his purpose by developing leadership and the strength of character to navigate life. In 2018 we visited North Carolina A & T followed by a visit to the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro. The museum has preserved the F.W. Woolworth lunch counter occupied by students from A & T and Bennet College during the sit-in movement of the ‘60s. The look of respect on the faces of our students, and the affirmation they embraced from the stories of those brave college students not much older than them, literally reduced me to tears. January 21st is not a day off. The dreams of Dr. King, other civil rights workers (named and unnamed) and even those who took part in the Great Migration in search of more must not die. They are counting on you and me. Alethea is passionate about creating opportunities to help others thrive. As former Executive Director of New Beginnings Christian Revitalization Corporation for First Church of God, she developed youth leadership development and educational programs for youth and created clean, safe, affordable housing for low-to-moderate income families. She and her brother Randal are co-founders of the Willie and Vivian Gaddis Foundation for KIDS, offering the Jump Start U4 College Tour and scholarships. As a licensed, independent insurance broker, she works with individuals, families, and churches to protect their assets.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

MLK: LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP By William McCoy, MPA Do you find it disheartening or even disgraceful to witness an African-American rise to a top position and fail to help, hire, or do business with other Black people? True story: A Black woman was elevated to “acting director” of an office within a federal agency. She passed over two African-American males to name a White woman as her “acting deputy director.” This was necessary, she reasoned, to show her White superiors that she was “color-blind” and committed to hiring and promoting the “most qualified” people. Six months later, this color-blind African-American was blind-sided. In a reversal of fate, her White superiors agreed that the “acting deputy director” was the “most qualified” and named her permanent director. The Black “former acting director” was demoted and, according to one African-American staff member, “welcomed to the back of the bus.” The “color-conscious” White female director, then, hired a White male as the permanent deputy director. Unlike some African-Americans in leadership positions, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) was truly a man of courage. Far too many African-Americans who sit in seats of power and influence fail to use them for the benefit of people that look like them or live in communities of color. Many of these people lack what Merriman-Webster Dictionary defines as “courage”- i.e. “the strength of mind to carry on in spite of danger; the moral courage to speak out against injustice when no one else will.” Mike Dilbeck, founder of The Revolution for Courageous Leadership, describes courageous leadership as “standing up, stepping in, and speaking out for what’s right- first for ourselves, then for others.” MLK did just that. Sadly, a lot of Black leaders and individuals are afraid to speak truth to power or make a special effort to help other people of color. Many elected and appointed government officials, corporate and nonprofit executives are ineffective, because they fear retribution, retaliation, or rejection from their White superiors, peers, and/or subordinates. These poor souls lack the strength to say what needs to be said or do what needs to be done. They carefully parse their words, after calculating the potential cost or reaction. MLK was not one of them. To the contrary, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a fearless advocate for the less fortunate and powerless. MLK was a driving force behind the Montgomery (AL) bus boycott (1955-56), Albany Movement (1961), Birmingham Campaign (1963), March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963),

Bloody Sunday (1965), Chicago (1966), Vietnam War opposition (1967), and Poor People’s Campaign (1968). If he was afraid, he hid it well. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. knew he was risking his life as an advocate for unpopular causes. Dr. King put his life on the line for White people, as well as people of color. Like Jesus, he gave his life for othersincluding those who hated him. MLK said, “If physical death is the price that I must pay to free my White brothers and sisters from a permanent death of the spirit, then nothing can be more redemptive.” In his last major speech, Dr. King acknowledged the inevitability of his death when he famously said, “It really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop. . . I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. . . Like anybody, I would like to live a long life- longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. . . I’m not worried about anything; I’m not fearing any man.” Less than 24 hours after uttering these prophetic words, James Earl Ray assassinated Dr. King. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a visionary. He proclaimed, “I have a dream. . . This will be the day when all God’s children will be able to sing with new meaning: My country ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my father’s died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!” I, sometimes, wonder what Dr. King would have said about Barack Obama’s election as the 44th President.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

In conclusion, MLK was a charismatic, visionary, and ethical leader, who was expert at situational and transactional analysis. He was a master strategist took advantage of the knowledge and skills of those who surrounded him. Dr. King capitalized on the politics and optics associated with each challenge or opportunity. Through all of this, MLK was a pacesetter, mentor and coach who transformed the people, places, and institutions with whom he interacted. Dr. King had a dream; and day by day, that dream comes closer to being reality. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man of principle, ethics, and faith. As the 2020 elections come into view, consider Malcolm X’s warning that “everyone who acts friendly is not a friend.” As you reason with others, remind them Dr. King said, “He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.” Wise counsel from one of America’s greatest leaders. William McCoy is founder and president of The McCoy Company- a world-class, personal services consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, economic development, and training that helps its clients articulate and achieve their visions, solve problems, and capitalize on their opportunities. He has worked with national think tanks, held two White House appointments, and consulted with every level of government, foundations, and the private sector. Mr. McCoy holds a BA in economics and a MPA in finance, and is profiled in Who’s Who in the World and elsewhere. You can reach William McCoy at (614) 785-8497 or via e-mail wmccoy2@ themccoycompany.com. His website can be found at www.themccoycompany.com.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

EDUCATION CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY NAMED HBCU INSTITUTIONAL LEADER BY FULBRIGHT PROGRAM WILBERFORCE — Central State University is proud to be named a 2018-2019 Fulbright HBCU Institutional Leader. Beginning in 2019, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is recognizing the noteworthy level of engagement that selected Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have achieved with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program. Central State has been named one of the 19 HBCUs to receive this distinction.

We look forward to continued collaboration in promoting mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. We hope that this recognition inspires HBCUs as well as other institutions to take advantage of all the Fulbright Program has to offer – internationalizing campuses while supporting scholars and students who benefit professionally and personally from a Fulbright experience.”

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program of the United States government and was Through this inaugural “Fulbright HBCU created to increase mutual understanding Institutional Leader” designation, ECA between the people of the United States and recognizes 19 HBCUs that have demonstrated the people of other countries. noteworthy support for Fulbright exchange participants during the 2018-2019 academic CSU is currently home to three Fulbright year and have promoted Fulbright Program Scholars from Russia, Taiwan and Tunisia. opportunities on campus. ECA has established this designation to acknowledge The primary source of funding for the the strong partnerships between the Fulbright Fulbright Program is an annual appropriation Program and HBCUs, and to encourage the made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. of State’s Bureau of Educational entire network of HBCUs to increase their Department and Cultural Affairs. Since its inception in Fulbright engagement. 1946, the Fulbright Program has given more than 390,000 passionate and accomplished Assistant Secretary of State for Educational students, scholars, teachers, artists, and and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce conveyed professionals of all backgrounds and fields her congratulations by stating, “We are the opportunity to study, teach and conduct pleased to recognize our Fulbright HBCU research, exchange ideas, and contribute to Institutional Leaders for the work they have finding solutions to important international done in engaging with the Fulbright Program. problems.

The global network of Fulbrighters fosters mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, advances knowledge across communities, and improves lives around the globe. Fulbright is active in more than 160 countries worldwide and partners with participating governments, host institutions, corporations, and foundations in foreign countries and in the United States. Many of these organizations also provide direct and indirect support. ECA sponsors the Fulbright program, and several non-profit, cooperative partners implement and support the program on the Bureau’s behalf. For more information about the Fulbright Program, visit eca.state. gov/fulbright. Central State University, located in Wilberforce, Ohio, is a regionally accredited 1890 Land-Grant University with a 132-year tradition of preparing students from diverse backgrounds and experiences for leadership, research and service. The university, which was named 2017 HBCU of the Year by HBCU Digest, fosters academic excellence within a nurturing environment and provides a strong liberal arts foundation and STEM-Ag curriculum leading to professional careers and advanced studies globally.

WORD FROM THE WISE THE ABC’S OF EFFECTIVE PARENTING “A Word from the Wise” will be a monthly column written by Dr. C. Dexter Wise III published in the African American News Journal. The first series will be excerpts from his book, “The ABC’s of Effective Parenting.” Below are articles for the first 12 months. C is for check your child’s progress. With things the way they are today, parents are not physically able to spend as much time in the home as they did in days gone by. In two parent households, both parents must work to make ends meet. In single parent households, the parent seldom has any choice, but to be away at work in order to provide for their family. Still, while economic hard times require more money, children do not require any less supervision. That is to say, whether the parent goes to work or not, they still need to make arrangements to regularly check on their child. Any parent who is too busy to check on their child’s progress now will be sorry about it later. You don’t have to feel like you are nosey or a member of the CIA when you check on your child. You are the parent. You have the right to know. They have the need to be supervised and guided along. Parents should check: *Their child’s homework. Even if you can’t do it, check to see if it has been done. *Their child’s report card. Are they doing their best? *Their child’s room. It may be a combat zone, but what pictures are hanging on their walls? What paraphernalia is on their dresser? Are there any unusual spots on their dirty clothes? Have you noticed strange magazines stuck underneath the mattress? How does the room smell? *The company their child keeps. Who are they hanging around with and why? Who are their peers and what pressures are they applying? *Their goals. Where are they going and what do they want to do in life? What steps are they making now to get there? *Their child’s mass and social media intake. What are they watching? Which movies are they viewing? To what music are they listening? What, if anything, are they reading? *Their child’s dress. What do they look like when they leave the house? You don’t have to be a drill sergeant. However, your child should have to pass some form of an inspection before they leave home. *Their child’s attitude. It is a truism that attitude has a direct relationship to the altitude we attain in life. Don’t feel guilty! Go ahead and check on your child. An ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure. Dr. C. Dexter Wise III is the founding pastor of Faith Ministries Church in Columbus, OH, the President of Wise Works, Inc. and an International Best Selling author on Amazon. His books, ABC’s of Effective Parenting, 21 Words to Get Your Child 21, Preaching to Empty Seats and many other publications can be found at www.wiseworksonline.com. (614-898-1997) The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

NATIONAL SKILLED TRADES NETWORK WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT “CHANGING PERSPECTIVE CHANGING LIFE”

National Skilled Trades Network creates job opportunities in the community through NCCER accredited construction training. We prepare young men and women for lucrative skilled craft jobs of the future, like Solar Photovoltaic Installation (pictured). Possible tuition assistance available through the VTAC construction training program at IMPACT Community Action. VISIT: http://www.nstnetwork.org | EMAIL: nstnetwork@nstnetwork.org

Construction Trades Training Center: 1994-1996 Britains Lane Columbus, Ohio 43224 Michael Watkins: NSTN Executive Director, NCCER Certified Master Trainer and Master Electrician

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

By Ray Miller Open Season - Legalized Genocide of Colored People By Ben Crump

To Shape a New World - Essays on the Political Philosophy of Martin Luther King, Jr. By Tommie Shelby & Brandon Terry

As seen on CBS This Morning, awardwinning attorney Ben Crump exposes a heinous truth in Open Season: Whether with a bullet or a lengthy prison sentence, America is killing black people and justifying it legally. While some deaths make headlines, most are personal tragedies suffered within families and communities. Worse, these killings are done one person at a time, so as not to raise alarm. While it is much more difficult to justify killing many people at once, in dramatic fashion, the result is the same—genocide. Taking on such high-profile cases as Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and a host of others, Crump witnessed the disparities within the American legal system firsthand and learned it is dangerous to be a black man in America—and that the justice system indeed only protects wealthy white men.

In To Shape a New World,

Tommie Shelby and Brandon Terry write that the marginalization of King’s ideas reflects a romantic, consensus history that renders the civil rights movement inherently conservative―an effort not at radical reform but at “living up to” enduring ideals laid down by the nation’s founders. On this view, King marshaled lofty rhetoric to help redeem the ideas of universal (white) heroes, but produced little original thought. This failure to engage deeply and honestly with King’s writings allows him to be conscripted into political projects he would not endorse, including the pernicious form of “color blindness” that insists, amid glaring race-based injustice, that racism has been overcome. America’s Unholy Ghosts The Racist Roots of Our Faith and Politics By Joel Edward Goza America’s Unholy Ghosts examines the DNA of the ideologies that shape our nation, ideologies that are as American as apple pie but that too often justify and perpetuate racist ideas and racial inequalities. MLK challenged us to investigate the “”ideational roots of race hate”” Thus, Ghosts comes to a close with the brilliant faith and politics of Martin Luther King, Jr. who sought to write the conscience of the Prophetic Black Church onto American hearts, minds, and laws. If our nation’s racist instincts still haunt our land, so too do our hopes and desires for a faith and politics marked by mercy, justice, and equity--and there is no better guide to that land than the Prophetic Black Church and the one who saw such a land from the mountaintop.

Breaking White Supremacy Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Black Social Gospel By Gary Dorrien The civil rights movement was one of the most searing developments in modern American history. It abounded with noble visions, resounded with magnificent rhetoric, and ended in nightmarish despair. It won a few legislative victories and had a profound impact on U.S. society, but failed to break white supremacy. The symbol of the movement, Martin Luther King Jr., soared so high that he tends to overwhelm anything associated with him. Yet the tradition that best describes him and other leaders of the civil rights movement has been strangely overlooked. In his latest book, Gary Dorrien continues to unearth the heyday and legacy of the black social gospel, a tradition with a shimmering history, a martyred central figure, and enduring relevance today. A More Beautiful and Terrible History - The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History By Jeanne Theoharis The civil rights movement has become national legend, lauded by presidents from Reagan to Obama to Trump, as proof of the power of American democracy. This fable, featuring dreamy heroes and accidental heroines, has shuttered the movement firmly in the past, whitewashed the forces that stood in its way, and diminished its scope. And it is used perniciously in our own times to chastise present-day movements and obscure contemporary injustice. In A More Beautiful and Terrible History award-winning historian Jeanne Theoharis dissects this national myth-making, teasing apart the accepted stories to show them in a strikingly different light.

The Source of Self-Regard Selected Essays, Speeches and Meditations By Toni Morrison The Source of Self-Regard is brimming with all the elegance of mind and style, the literary prowess and moral compass that are Toni Morrison’s inimitable hallmark. It is divided into three parts: the first is introduced by a powerful prayer for the dead of 9/11; the second by a searching meditation on Martin Luther King Jr., and the last by a heart-wrenching eulogy for James Baldwin. In the writings and speeches included here, Morrison takes on contested social issues: the foreigner, female empowerment, the press, money, “black matter(s),” and human rights. She looks at enduring matters of culture: the role of the artist in society, the literary imagination, the Afro-American presence in American literature, and in her Nobel lecture, the power of language itself. 29

The Columbus & Dayton African January 2015 2020 The Columbus African American NewsAmerican Journal • •February

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The Columbus & Dayton African American â&#x20AC;¢ January 2020

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

A 400 YEAR HISTORY- OF COURAGE, BRAVERY, LIVING BEYOND EYES ON THE PRIZE STORY FROM THE JANUARY 2019 EDITION OF THE NEWS JOURNAL LEADERSHIP AND SACRIFICE - OUR MILITARY SERVICE By Tim Anderson By Lisa Benton, MD, MPH I am the son of a career military Everyone wants to have at least parent. My father served in the United Airforce for one story toStates tell that connects thirtytoyears achieving the highest rank for them greatness. Whether it is your brush a noncommissioned officer, Chief Master with a celebrity or someone else famous you Sargent. His father, grandfather, James want an encounter or my experience to share. D. Anderson Sr. (1915-2010) from Ruleville, Mississippi attended Jackson Statehave and For me and my sisters, we will always latermemory attended Tuskegee Pilot the of the sitting a table Army away from Training Center, where he became a pilot Denzel Washington in an off-Broadway as a Tuskegee Airman during WWII. After restaurant where, in between our excited the war he screams, would resettle in the LostoAngeles schoolgirl we were able hold it area andenough fly eleven years for theofCalifornia together to ask a couple questions Civillet Airhim Patrol. have served and knowMy webrothers were some of his in the military as well; one serving fifteen greatest fans. years in the United States Air Force and the other serving in the Ohio Air National Guard. IFinally, am just my as delighted to John, recount the time oldest son served fourI and my x-ray technician figuratively ran years in the United States Army, whereinto he President Bill Clinton when the in secret service was stationed in South Korea the missile was walking him through back hallways defense deployment unit. the Four generations of the hospital during my surgery training. of black men from my family have served We will always remember looking up into during war and peace time with honor and adistinction. warm friendly face and shaking his hand while he thanked us for all our hard work. In our four-hundred-year history military Just as those encounters left lasting service was brief not initially a part of our memories the few of us that were there, experience.forAlthough prior to August 1619, so did the were interactions a generation with Africans among of earlier expeditions to North Souththe America, primarily as Dr. King. and However, lasting effects of the laborers on board These moments with Dr. European King werevessels. exponentially expeditions andwaves large,made military amplified, thewere sameby way by a expansions colonial monarch pebble tossedofinto a pondEuropean resonate on and on nations. Those nations included Spain, and on, into infinity. One celebration of Dr. England, France, Portugal theway Dutch King’s legacy showed up in a and special for empires which were all heavily involved in our family. the slave trade and the colonization of North and mom Southreminded America and The My me the thatCaribbean. Dr. King had first Africans not of an expedition, who came visited Newark, NJ in the weeks before to was colonized north American were from he assassinated. He had been through Angola. They were aboard a Portuguese slave Newark several times since the city was still ship which was pirated by other slave traders reeling from the 1967 race riots. Newark and sold to the British. Eventually these had been decimated and was city where enslaved Africans would finda themselves the messages of his Poor Peoples in Jamestown, Virginia in AugustCampaign of 1619. really resonated. Jamestown would become the epicenter for slavery, migrating the slave trade along the Ieastern remember seeingcolonies all the broken glass and seaboard from Georgia to boarded up schools, apartments, stores and Massachusetts. restaurants. The economic base of the city was ruins.traders, I have memories of being told to The in slave the European Monarchs stay away from the windows and how to along with their military brought slaveryduck into and cover if we heard gunshots whenever we what is commonly referred as the Middle visited our grandparents that time. Passage. In 1770, theduring descendant of an It was here, in Newark, that Dr. King came enslaved African and a former slave, Crispus to preach and teach his powerful messages Attucks would die at the hands of a British of hope,atjustice and non-violence. I looked soldier the Boston Massacre Rebellion back through several news stories recounting in Boston Massachusetts. His death would his trips. be recognized as the first blood shed for America’s independence from England. I found pictures of Dr. King in the streets of Newark thatstates I knew andmilitary in the Both colonial andby thename British high school gym where my dad, uncles offered slaves their freedom if they chose and cousins played basketball. It made me to serve in their respective military. Slave tingle with excitement as I found an article owners would allow their slaves to enlist in

Photo Courtesy of New York Times

On March 27, 1968, Dr. King (center) walks through the neighborhoods affected by the riots in Newark, NJ.

showing one of my high school classmates was a community activist and one of the leaders of the annual King Day celebration commemorating his trips to Newark. I also found an interview with former U.S. the military during the Revolutionary War. Congressional Representative Donald Payne With the promise that at the end of their Sr. He was a contemporary of my father. enlistment, earn and theirsupported freedom. My father they knewwould him well However, this was a promised not kept. him. Congressman Payne shared howMany much of these black militiamen were killed in battle Dr. King inspired him and how Dr. King’s and those who survived were often placed message for him was “life altering”. back into slavery. Not until the American Civil War and at the urging of Fredrick But there was black even serve something that Douglas would in the richer military. flowed from uncovering the history of Dr. King andpressured the legacies from hisPresident visits to Douglas, andleft persuaded Newark NJ. Lincoln to allow the formation of an allblack military regiment. The Emancipation W h e n m y s iset s t e forth r w a sbyc oLincoln m p l e t iwhich ng an Proclamation international adoption and ran into roadblocks abolished slavery in all states, established it was Congressman Payne who cameoftofree the the foundation for the recruitment rescue. With staff, heblacks was abletotobecome facilitate blacks and his enslaved my sister’s travels to1st and from soldiers in thesmooth Union Army. The Kansas Ethiopia. All the diplomatic hurdles were Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment would managed byall-black his officeregiment, so my sister able be the first thewas second all blackand regiment would be the Fiftyto adopt bring home my niece Sara from Fourth Massachusetts Volunteer the orphanage without any problemsInfantry at all. Regiment, known as the Massachusetts 54th made known the 1989 That (and was another touch oninmany of ourfilm, lives Glory). Both regimens were commanded out of the overflow of Dr. King’s legacies by officers, our blacks could thatwhite has allowed family tonot getbecome beyond commissioned obtainAsrank and rise aboveofficers, racism but andcould inequity. the as noncommissioned officers. Both sons of struggle continues, I believe there are many Fredrick Douglas served in the Massachusetts more intersections attributable to Dr. King’s 54th as Inoncommissioned officers. legacy. think they are just lying in wait One to be of Douglas’ sons was wounded during the uncovered in your lives as you search through failed assault against Confederate forces at your family’s stories. Start looking now and Fort Wagner in Charleston South Carolina. don’t wait until MLK Jr. Day to find them. Lincoln would later credit the recruitment and service of black soldiers as the major turning As part celebration Martin Luther point in of theyour outcome of the of American Civil King Jr. this year, take time to ask a senior War. or any elder to share the story of where they were during the the famous March on After the Civil War, United States Washington, D.C. or any other day during his Congress passed legislation that enabled

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

life. You may be pleasantly surprised by the stories and the new perspectives on Dr. King. I bet you’ll be impressed by the details you learn and see the impact that King’s life and death in a new way. You’ll learn something else about our history you can treasure. black soldiers to serve in peacetime in the western E v e n bfrontier. e t t e r , Known y o u mas a ytheg aUnited i n d eStates eper Colored Troops (USCT) they would later understanding of the richness of Dr. King’s become known as the for Buffalo A legacy and its overflow futureSoldiers. generations. name given to them by an indigenous tribe You’ll be able to see how what he did then of the western plains, the Cheyenne warriors. really made, and still makes a difference for There were a total of six authorized black your life now. regiments under the command of white officers. The Buffalo Soldiers, as a domestic Let that new knowledge of Dr. be one peacekeeping military force didKing participate of the sources of ongoing inspiration in fierce battles with indigenous tribes ofand the motivation for you to live healthier, more plains. enlightened and well-rounded in 2019. The first black commissioned officer of the Learn AStates Little military More… served in USCT. A United former slave and West Point graduate, Henry WeFlipper Found became Our Daughter in Ethiopia by O. this nation’s first black Lita Anderson officer as told as to aJessica commissioned BuffaloDecostole. Soldiers. Retrieved He wouldfrom: later https://www.redbookmag. be court-martialed and lose his commission, only to have his case com/life/mom-kids/advice/a1677/daughterappealed ethiopia/ 118 years later, when then President Bill Clinton exonerated his prior court martial conviction and restored commission. Newark Reflects on Dr. his King’s Last Visit 50 Beyond, theCarter. peace Retrieved in the plains of Years Agokeeping by Barry from: North America, Buffalo Soldiers have fought https://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2018/04/ outside of United States’ borders. Buffalo newark_reflects_on_dr_kings_visit_50_ Soldiers have fought in the Spanish-American years_ago_car.html War of 1898, The Philippine-American War (1899–1902) World War I. Domestically, King had aand Grim Premonition During five hundred Buffalo Soldiers were among Whirlwind N.J. Visit, 8 Days Before His our nation’s first national park rangers; Death by Seth Augenstein. Retrieved from: patrolling Yosemite National Park, Sequoia https://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2015/01/ National Park and the Sierra National Park. king_had_a_grim_premonition_during_ Their signature cavalry hats with the four whirlwind_nj_visit_8_days_before_his_ indented side peaking at the top is still worn death.html and coveted by the National Park Service Lisa D. Benton, (The Doctor is Rangers of today.MD, TheMPH seventy-five year old National Park Service pitch-bear,Twitter:@ Smokey In) breastsurgeonlb@gmail.com, DctrLisa (415) 746-0627

The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

PILLARS OF WISDOM By Ako Kambon Stop Cussing at your children - PART II: I ended last month’s article by asking everyone who might be or who knows someone who does; to stop ‘Cussing’ at the children. I’m sure that I made a few people mad. It was not my intention to accuse anyone of such behavior, but ALL of us have heard adults talk, indeed cuss, at 2, 3, 4, 5-year old children like they were grown adults. And we said nothing! I am not suggesting that you become the STOP THE CUSSING POLICE, and go up to every person you hear cussing at children and tell them to stop it. But I am asking you to tell any family member, friend or close associate that you might hear cussing at a child to STOP IT. Here is why; when a child sees that an adult is angry and that adult cusses because they are angry; then when that child becomes angry at school, they are likely to follow that same pattern and cuss. Or, when a child sees an adult making a point by using profanity, then that child is likely to use that same ‘behavior’ when they want to make a point. It’s easy to see, children learn from observing adult behavior. (Can somebody say, “OK, I’ll stop!”) Pillars of Wisdom #11 • The only institution our children are mandated to attend is SCHOOL One of the greatest influences in your child’s life is school; what happens there, what they learn there, the people that they meet there, the words of encouragement or discouragement they hear there, and most children learn how to socialize there. Therefore, there are several things I encourage you to do: 1. Visit your child’s school, at least, once a semester 2. Let your child know that you will support the teacher and building staff 3. Require your child to read 20 minutes per day 4. Give your cell number to the teacher 5. Please don’t tell your child that you were “bad” in any subject 6. Develop a daily after-school routine or schedule for your child Pillars of Wisdom #12 • We live in an unjust society. But we have, we are and will continue to succeed I pride myself on making things perfectly clear. So let me make this clear. Almost all standardized test are ‘culturally bias.’ In other words, standardized test in America are designed by and for the current American majority. They favor the culture, behavior and vocabulary of the American

majority. And while I know that our children can rise above this injustice (as our people have for years); our ability to rise above the injustice does not make this act of injustice right! But, until that injustice is eliminated, we must prepare our children to succeed despite the injustice and help them to perform exceptionally well on these culturally bias tests. There are two basic ways to do that: 1. Increase our children’s vocabulary – starting at an early age 2. Increase our children’s reading skills – starting at age 5 That simple! Pillars of Wisdom #13 • College is more than academics I’m hearing more and more Black parents buy into the notion that “My child doesn’t need to go to college.” More and more black parents believe that their child can attend a trade school or take several on-line courses and become employable and without the massive cost of a 4-year institution. Herein lies the irony. They are right! If the only reason you want your child to go to college is to GET A JOB, then they don’t need to go to college! But the primary reasons a child should go to college is to BROADEN THEIR ACADEMIC EXPERIENCES and CREATE RELATIONSHIPS THAT CAN BENEFIT THEM FOR THE REMAINDER OF THEIR LIVES. In other words, college is more than academics, it’s universal preparation. When they “broaden their academic experiences” they will be academically equipped for whatever job they choose to pursue. Plus attending college, offers your

The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

child the opportunity to “create long term relationships” with others who are likely to be employed, or owners of companies. And that relationship just might increase the likelihood of your child using those academic skills or impact their lives forever. Think about this example; while I attended THE Ohio State University, I met a young brother who told everyone (everyday) that he was going to become the mayor of Cleveland, Ohio. He and I became roommates. After graduation, in about 5 years, he was elected Mayor of Cleveland! That means that I have a relationship with the mayor of one of the largest cities in America. While I was not interested in relocating my family, attending college allowed me to meet someone in college who I could call on for an opportunity to exhibit my academic skills. By the way, I met my wife of 45 years (and mother of my 3 daughters) at THE Ohio State University, too! (talk about life changing) One last thought, I have never heard successful white families say “My children don’t need to go to college!” In fact, they DEMAND that they EXPAND their knowledge so that they can increase the family wealth! Say AMEN somebody… Remember, Parenting is a daily journey, not a quick trip… I’m honored to be your tour guide. See you next week… Once again, I would love to hear your thoughts. Ako Kambon is the president of Visionary Leaders Institute and he is sharing his Wisdom information as part of his company’s commitment to community education. All views expressed and information provided are the sole ownership of Mr. Kambon. Should you desire additional information or desire to reprint the information, please contact him at 614-332-5715 or ako@vli123.com.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

BUSINESS COMMIT TO BE FINANCIALLY FIT

By Darren Lundy, MBA Many Americans spend time during the holiday season reflecting on their lives and subsequently making what we call New Year’s Resolutions for the upcoming year. These resolutions consist of things such as losing weight, changing jobs, reducing debt and saving for the future. As many of you may be able to relate, we often begin these new commitments only to fall back into our old habits within the second or third week of the New Year. It reminds me of going to the gym during the first two weeks of the new year. There is an increase in wait time for equipment due to all the new faces. However, based on my experience, after about two weeks the influx of new members has returned to normal; the New Year’s Resolutions crowd is history. Starting something new is always challenging, but sticking to it until it becomes a habit is even more challenging. MAKE A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT. Here we are again approaching a new year. Let’s agree to stop complaining about our financial situation make a New Year’s Resolution to Commit to Be Financially Fit! Many of us desperately want a brighter financial future, yet we continue living the same money lifestyle, for example, living pay-check-to-paycheck, living above our means, living in debt, or making excuses why we cannot save for the future. Let’s declare 2020 the year we Commit to Be Financially Fit. No matter where you are financially, now is the time to make the commitment to improve your overall financial situation.

SELECT A COMPETENT FINANCIAL GUIDE. It’s never recommended to take on such a daunting task on your own. Remember, you don’t know what you don’t know. Many people do not think they are ready to work with an advisor. However, no matter where you are financially, the right advisor can be beneficial to your overall financial health. Select an advisor that has the experience and wisdom to help you navigate the complex financial landscape and guide you from your current financial position to a mutually agreed upon financial goal. More importantly, the chosen advisor should be a fiduciary. A fiduciary is a person or organization that owes to another the duties of good faith and trust. The highest legal duty of one party to another, it also involves being bound ethically to act in the other’s best interest. Never underestimate the value of the right financial guidance in achieving your financial goals. Again, even if you do not think you are ready for professional financial guidance, you would be pleasantly surprised at how much valuable information you can gather working with the right advisor. SCHEDULE A COMPLIMENTARY FINANCIAL ASSESSMENT. What is a financial assessment? A personalized assessment helps you determine your current financial fitness and offers suggestion of how to strengthen your financial well-being. If you are in debt or barley making ends meet there is hope for improving your financial health. An assessment can help determine what is holding you back. Is it fear, low self-esteem or a false belief that you do not

deserve wealth and prosperity? Maybe it’s simply a cash flow problem? There are several time-tested tools and techniques available to help extinguish debt and achieve positive cash flow. Are you already saving and not exactly sure where to put the money to get a higher rate of return? Stop allowing others to benefit more than you do when using your money. There are many options available than you may be aware of. GET YOUR ASSESSMENT TODAY. Give us a call at (614) 468-1660 for a complimentary consultation. Upcoming Workshop: Thursday, February 20, 2020 Wealth Conscious – “Money Matters & Millennials” Location:1103 Schrock Road, Ste 108, Columbus, OH 43229 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. | 1ST Floor Conference Room | Free Admission | RSVP Seating is Limited: 614-468-1660 or Email: darren@wealthconscious.com Darren, a Columbus, Ohio native has earned degrees in Business, Accounting, and an MBA. He has over twenty-five (25) years’ experience in financial services. The Ohio Company, First Union Securities, and Merrill Lynch were instrumental in his career prior to starting his own Wealth Management Firm, Wealth Conscious LLC, (614) 4681660, www.wealth-conscious.com. He holds his Series 65 and Life and Health licenses. Investment advisory services are offered through Foundations Advisors, LLC an SEC registered investment advisor

The Columbus & Dayton African January 2015 2020 The Columbus African American NewsAmerican Journal • •February

BUSINESS

NSTN BRINGS TRADE TRAINING BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY & SCHOOLS

By P.R. West, Sr. Columbus, OH. The National Skilled Trade Network (NSTN) is on a mission to provide skilled trades training to create viable careers for both students and young adults in search of an alternative to the college only or bust narrative of success. “In Delaware County, there’s the Delaware Joint Vocational Center.” quips Howard Williams, Founder and Executive Director of Operations for NSTN. “Many students within Franklin County don’t have this option since their high schools do not offer vocational training.” he added. The skilled trades has taken a back seat in secondary schools curriculum over the past few decades as many high schools opted out of offering vocational training while pushing traditional two and four year college degree programs. This was a disservice for many urban students as not all high school graduates are interested in college -- unless that includes an expanded definition of any post-secondary training that can lead to both industry credentials and a viable career. “It’s smart to secure training for a career as young as possible.” said Michael Watkins, NSTN Executive Director adding: “I started my electrical career in high school.” Many trades now struggle to find viable workers or apprentices in the labor force. The lack of emphasis in vocational education not only occurred from school to school and from district to district. Statewide, the Ohio Department of Education, under their Construction Technologies link on the ODE webpage, states: “ODE now recognizes NCCER as an approved industry credential and requires schools to use another sponsor.” Hence, it seems as if the state abrogated their jurisdiction over such training programs by deferring to use the national training standards and organizations as well.

North, Delaware Area Career Center South provides these options for students living there. “People-of-color and students-ofcolor need this training.” says Williams. In Franklin County, the only option for local students is to enroll in either Fort Hayes or Columbus Downtown High School out of the 20 Columbus City high schools, according to the district website. Or shall we say, they were the only option, . . . until now. Starting January 2020, two public area community schools will capitalize on a partnership with NSTN to create career training opportunities for their students. Capital High School and Road to Success Academy two local Ohio community schools, will offer skilled trades training for interested students thru the NSTN. “We look forward to the NSTN partnership enabling and equipping our students in making a better life for their future.” said Anthony Forte, Board President for Ohio Community Schools. Forte continued: “The Board and administration of our schools are excited to launch this partnership and are pleased to join the efforts to bring vocational education back to the community. As the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has identified, skilled trades jobs are in abundance.”

Recognizing this vacuum, the NSTN set out several years ago to be both an approved accredited training sponsor and trainer. They have their own facility that meets the National Center for Construction Education and Research requirements (NCCER) and they have an approved training staff licensed, bonded and trained as trainers and master trainers to teach the approved NCCER curriculum for multiple vocational trades.

Students enrolled at either charter high school can enroll in the NCCER core curriculum course before moving to more advanced training in specific areas of interest for electrical, carpentry, concrete finishing, plumbing and heating & cooling (HVAC). “Ideally, we would start each school out, and eventually, since we are an authorized trainer, be able to set each school up to run their own program independently.” said Executive Director of Operations Williams.

A Google review of vocational offerings indicate Williams is on point about the lack of opportunities and systemic de-emphasis of vocational education. The Eastland-Fairfield Career Center offers vocational training for students in Fairfield Country, and to the

NSTN first cut their teeth locally serving adults interested in job training thru a program sponsored by Impact Community Action. Their partnership allowed interested adults to take workforce development training in the NCCER Core curriculum sessions for an introduction into the skilled

The Columbus & Dayton African American • January 2020

trades. Securing the NCCER blue card - an industry credential, is the minimal credential required for placement as new hires on many construction sites. These efforts have not escaped the peripheral view of area movers and shakers. Democratic U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio) has provided commendations for young adults who have disciplined themselves to complete the training process by awarding an acknowledgement during the NSTN graduation ceremony to retrained workers. Since 2018, NSTN has trained six cadres of workers. Classes started with as many as 18 students. The highest number of graduates was 13 from one class. The average cohort produced 12 student graduates per class. “I actually got to learn the essentials of basic safety and teamwork on worksites.” said Cassandra Pettway, a NSTN Alum who now is employed by the NSTN. “There’s no age limit, no deterrent. All of the NSTN instructors have their own businesses. They are professionals who own businesses and that experience and support shows in their thoroughness, care and training.” Additionally, for student placement, NSTN brings in 18-20 construction companies and industry affiliates who are interested in hiring students after completing their basic training. “Jobs are available.” added Pettway. The community school classes and the workforce development classes for adults serve different populations. All school aged students are trained together as are adults. Evening and weekend classes are arranged for adults who are already working a job while training for better career opportunities. The NSTN training facility is located at 19941998 Britains Lane, Columbus, OH 43224. For more information, contact NSTN Executive Director Michael Watkins or visit the NSTN website at https://www.nstnetwork. org/ P.R.West, Sr. is a former news reporter and the Board President of the NSTN.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

BUSINESS

TECHNOLOGY: WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? now being done by the manager or director. Managers and directors need to stay of top of their technology skills to accomplish their work, which may include bring new technology into the organization. While leadership and management are critical skills for managers, they cannot ignore keeping their technology skills current.

By Cecil Jones, MBA It is 2020, a new year. Some of us have new financial goals. Some have exercise/weight/ health goals. Some have educational goals. What are your technology goals?

All of Us

This publication serves a broad audience, so let us look at a few different audiences.

Whether you are a leader who needs to learn a new technology, a high school/ college student using new software or a grandparent communicating with others, we all should periodically take inventory and ask “Technology: Where do I go from Here?”. You have likely learned a few new features that are on your phone or downloaded a new app that allows you to do something new, recently. Don’t get stressed but more id on the way.

Small Business Owners How well do you know your customers? How are you communicating with them? How are they communicating with you? As with many small business owners, let’s assume that the technology budget is low to fair, staff is minimal, and you have no major formal experience with social media. You want to use technology to help add to your revenue and to reduce your expenses. You do not want to commit a lot of time to maintaining technology.

There are technology and certification clubs in schools and immediately after school. Some high schools have A+ and other technology certifications as part of their curriculum. In addition to taking courses to graduate, a few more certification courses prepare you for Let’s start with the basics. entry level positions in the workforce. If your T u r n F a c e - t o - F a c e C o n t a c t s i n t o option is not to attend college immediately, you still have an advantage over non-certified Electronic Friends students with high school diplomas, if you There are so many retail businesses apply for entry level technology positions. (restaurants, clothing store, barbershops, other shops, etc.) that know their customers Taking technology courses or certification faces but the knowledge stops there. Provide readiness courses are helpful if you are a mechanism or forum for your customers heading to college. You may be able to to share information with you. For example, earn credit for and/or skip basic entry level provide your telephone number, email technology college courses. address, twitter address, Instagram and Facebook contact information on your As you look for certification and technology receipts. Or at least post your contact club learning options, consider Goodwill. information in the store. If you don’t have They have a certification program for those twitter, Instagram or Facebook, set up in need. Also, take a look at www.bdpa.org to see what their adult members and high school accounts on each. computer competition students are doing. You do not need to use these communication avenues each day. We tend to ignore people Working Employees who try to sell items or ideas every day to us. You may have an upcoming sale that There are always new technologies being you want customers to know about. Let’s used in the work environment. Rather than think about overstock situations and you wait until your employer tells you that there want to sell some of that inventory. With is new technology that you will need to your customers’ communication information learn, stay ahead of the game. Think about (email, twitter, etc.), you can get that what would make your job more efficient information out to them quickly. Keep your or effective. How can you make your customer information in a location that is presentations or data sharing better? Are there features in MS Office that you can use easy to get to and easy to use. for better data association (example, Excel For similar and sometimes different reasons, Pivot Tables)? Are there free Cloud meeting these same principles apply to churches, non- software sites (Evite, etc.) that you can use? profits and other organizations. We all need to stay in touch with those that we can help With the flattening and elimination of layers of management, managers and directors and those that can help us. need to add to or at least brush up on their technology skills. Some of those reports Students and communications done by others are

Think about the technologies and software that you use today that you were unaware of just a couple of years ago. The rate of change in the development of new software (and new technology overall) will continue to accelerate. Pick and choose those technologies that will help you in your daily life. Coupons, sales, discounts, etc. are being pushed digitally. Group texts and invitations are being sent to you. Others (stores, schools, businesses, friends) assume that you know how to respond and work with the communications and technology objects they send to you. A few years ago, when you went to a brick and mortar store, they told you about the tollfree telephone number that you could use, instead of coming to the store. A few years later, when you call the toll-free interactive voice response, it gives you the link (name of the website) to do your business with them online. One good technology trend is that many of the things we want to learn are free, online. What technology functions and features do you need to learn this year? Anticipate your technology needs and how you will learn what you need to know! Are you looking for a technology networking group to help you get smarter? What new technology or process have you learned this month? Need advice on how to look for that technology position? Are you considering technology education (courses, certificates or degrees) and need information? Do you have a business, process, project management, personnel or technology question? Please let me know. admin@accelerationservices.net Cecil Jones MBA, ABD, PMP, CCP, SCPM, FLMI, Lean Professional, 614-726-1925.

The Columbus & Dayton African January 2015 2020 The Columbus African American NewsAmerican Journal • •February

HISTORY

DR. ZELMA W. GEORGE: PHILANTHROPIST, OPERA SINGER, DIRECTOR AND UN DIPLOMAT By Rodney Blount, Jr., MA On Monday, January 20, 2020, we will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day honors Dr. King who was the principal Civil Rights leader during the Civil Rights movement. He protested racial discrimination in federal, state, and local law. Coretta Scott King, Rep. John Conyers, Sen. Edward Brooke, Rep. Katie Hall, several labor unions and countless others worked hard to make Martin Luther King, Jr. Day a reality despite confronting antagonistic politicians and individuals. By extension, this special day also reminds us of the efforts of all the brave men and women who were civil rights activists and fought hard for equitable changes for all Americans. Ohioans have a long history of active African American communities who fought for civil rights before, during, and after the Civil Rights movement including luminaries like George Washington Williams, Fred Shuttlesworth, C.J. McLin, Jr., and Louis Stokes. Among that list of distinguished Ohioans is Dr. Zelma George. She was multitalented and excelled in everything she endeavored to achieve. Zelma Watson George was born on December 8, 1903, in Hearn, Texas. She was the daughter of Samuel and Lena Thomas Watson. Samuel Watson was a minister in the Baptist church, causing the family to move around the south and mid-western United States during Zelma’s childhood. He was also active in the early civil rights movement and was acquainted with several leaders of the day including Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois, and several others. Zelma was greatly influenced by her father and other early civil rights leaders. America’s foremost hate group, the Ku Klux Klan, threatened Mr. Watson and led him to accept a pastor position in Topeka, Kansas, in 1918. Zelma Watson George graduated from high school in Topeka in 1920, experiencing integrated education for the first time. Despite discouragement from her high school counselor, Zelma attended the University of Chicago but was not allowed to live on campus because of her race. Due to the refusal of housing and her father’s fear that she was too sheltered to move to Chicago alone, the family went along. Samuel Watson became the pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago. Dr. George was active in campus activities, including swim class and choir, but faces discrimination every step of the way. Zelma graduated in 1924 with a degree in Sociology. Upon graduation she became a caseworker for the Associated Charities of Evanston, Illinois, and then a probation officer in the Juvenile Courts of Chicago. She received a certificate in organ and church music from Northwestern University, a two-year program, and studied voice at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago. Samuel Watson, her beloved father, passed away suddenly in 1925. Zelma postponed her musical and other career ambitions to help her mother with providing for the education

of her younger siblings. In1932, she took a teaching position at Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State University and became Dean of Women there. Her mother was already employed there and served in several positions, working as a dormitory matron until the age of 80! In 1937, she married Baxter Carrol Duke, a pastor, and moved to Los Angeles, California, to establish the Avalon Christian Church and Community Center. She also continued her graduate studies at the University of Southern California, with a study on Negro music and its impact on society. Her marriage ended in divorce, but she continued her education. She received a two-year Rockefeller Foundation grant to continue her studies of black music and she completed her Master of Arts Degree in personnel administration at New York University in 1943. She married attorney and member of the Cleveland Civil Service Commission Clayborne George in 1944, after coming to Cleveland to study African American music. Dr. Zelma George wrote Chariot’s a Comin!, a musical play based upon her research of this subject. She went on to headline in The Medium, an opera by Gian-Carlo Menotti, at Karamu Theater. Some consider her to be one of the first Black women to assume this typically White role. She earned her Ph.D. in sociology and intercultural relations from New York University in 1954. In the 1950s she served on national government committees during the Eisenhower administration She became the first African American woman to serve on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Armed Services (DACOWITS) in 1956. Dr. Zelma George was a good-will ambassador and an alternate U.S. delegate to the United Nations General Assembly from 1960-61. On a return trip home from lecturing at Bethune-Cookman College, she stopped in Orlando to visit relatives. During a delay at their airport, she took a seat in a waiting room and was approached by a police officer to leave the room: “Get out you Yankee trouble-maker or I’ll throw you out!” She responded angrily to the room of 75 people: “I am a United States delegate to the United Nations. Not long ago I returned from a round-the-world lecture tour at the request of the State Department. I was trying to create for people in foreign lands an image of my country as a land where all men are created

The Columbus African & Dayton African American - January 2020 2015 American News Journal • February

equal and freedom is everyone’s birthright. Is there no one in this room who will stand up for me now?” There was no one who spoke up for her. From 1966-74 she was the Director of the Cleveland Job Corps where it experienced immense growth. The Job Corps Center was operated by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in conjunction with the federal government and helped to train young women in a trade or to receive a high school diploma/GED to help them become employable, independent, and successful. She retired from the Cleveland Job Corps Center in 1974. Even in her retirement she lectured, wrote and taught at Cuyahoga Community College in the Elders Program; her classes were extremely popular due to her experience, knowledge and passion. Dr. George received numerous honors including the Dag Hammerskjold Award, the Edwin T. Dahlberg Peace Award, inducted in the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame, and selected by the Greater Cleveland Women’s History Committee as one of the “Women Who Shaped Cleveland.” The Salvation Army’s Zelma George Family Shelter, the Zelma Watson George Recreation Center, and the Zelma Watson George Roller Skating Facility are named in her honor. Zelma Watson George was an active member of Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio and was a member of several boards and organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Links, Inc., the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the Girls Scouts, Karamu House, the Conference of Christians and Jews, the Council on Human Relations, and many others. She received several awards and honorary degrees. Dr. Zelma George passed away on July 3, 1994 in Shaker Heights, Ohio. She was preceded in death by her husband. Dr. George lived a long life and had several illustrious careers. Her parents provided the ultimate example of pursuing scholarship, working hard, and fighting for civil rights. Like Martin L. King, Jr., she was a drum major for justice. Dr. George supported his message and in her later years she was an active participant in Martin L. King, Jr. Day celebrations. I encourage each reader to learn more about leaders like Dr. George because the 21st century needs more drum majors for justice and can learn from those who came before. Works Cited http://ead.ohiolink.edu/ http://www.womeninhistoryohio.com/zelmawatson-george.html https://case.edu/ech/articles/g/george-zelmawatson Rodney Blount is an Educator and Historian. He received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Ball State University and a Masters of Arts degree from The Ohio State University. His work has been featured in several publications. Rodney is a native of Columbus, Ohio and is a member of several organizations.

COMMUNITY EVENTS Columbus, Ohio January 7, 2020 Mentoring Workshop Making of a Mentor/Relationship Building is a must have course for all new mentors. This workshop is sponsored by MENTOR Central Ohio at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Participants will learn to identify methods to build rapport and earn trust; distinguish key characteristics and roles of a mentor; recognize and embrace cultural differences and gain specific communication skills to build your relationship. This event is free for MENTOR partner agencies; the cost is $25 for non-partner attendees. Contact sponsor for additional dates and times. Location: MENTOR Central Ohio @ Big Brothers Big Sisters Address: 1855 E. Dublin Granville Rd. 43229 Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Admission: Free Contact: MENTOR Central Ohio to reserve a seat614.839.2247 X199

January 20, 2020 15th Annual Westerville MLK Breakfast MLK Jr. Legacy Project (formerly the MLK Breakfast Committee) invite you to the 15th annual Westerville Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Celebration, “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?” This year’s featured speaker is the Pastor Vaughn Bell. Enjoy a delicious breakfast, music by the Tony Hagood Trio and our annual Fouse and Alston Awards ceremony, which recognize students and community members who have put the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. into action. Location: Villa Milano Banquet & Conference Center Address: 1630 Schrock Rd. 43229 Time: 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM Admission: $25 -$35 Contact: Matt Lofy, Leadership Westerville Program Manager at 614-882-8917

January 14, 2020 ECDI Informational Economic and Community Development Institute (ECDI) presents a brief overview presentation to inform prospective ECDI clients and partners about programs to develop, fund, and launch a business. The information session will also explain ECDI program requirements, follow-ups, and procedures. Program is required for prospective ECDI clients; must register in advance. Check with organizer for additional dates and times.

January 23, 2020 Building the Black Agenda The Columbus African Council is hosting a workshop on Building the Black Agenda. Jobs. Mental Health. Housing Affordability. Education. Poverty. Criminal Justice. Homelessness. Eviction. Food Insecurity. Addiction. Environmental Justice. Civil Protections. Transportation. Community Development. These are just some of the issues affecting the African Diaspora throughout #Columbus. As we empower ourselves to build healthier lives, stronger families, and vibrant communities -- it will require all of us to share in the responsibility to develop a unified strategy in addressing our collective concerns.

Location: ECDI Address: 1655 Old Leonard Ave. 43219 Time: 6:00 PM -7:00 PM Admission: Free Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/info-session-tickets86134495595?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Location: Columbus Metropolitan Library Address: 96 S. Grant Ave. 43215 Time: 6:00 PM -8:30 PM Admission: Free Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-the-blackagenda-tickets-79093319247?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

January 20, 2020 35th Annual MLK Breakfast The theme of the 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Breakfast is “Keep Moving Forward.” We invite you to this memorable signature City of Columbus flagship MLK Jr. Day ceremony and breakfast event to honor the memory of the iconic civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The largest community event of its kind honoring the fallen civil rights leader Dr. King in the nation. Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center in Exhibition Hall C Address: 400 North High Street, 43215 Time: 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM Admission: $50 - $60 Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/35th-annualdr-martin-luther-king-jr-birthday-breakfast-tickets67045387559?aff=ebdssbcitybrowse

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

January 25, 2020 Family Game Day The Gertrude Wood Community Foundation (GWCF) is sponsoring a Family Game Day at Wolfe Park. Come out and enjoy board games and more with your family and friends. The GWCF is a grassroots faith and community-based organization that provides social services to residents of Driving Park and surrounding communities. Location: Wolfe Park Shelter House Address: 105 Park Drive 43209 Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Admission: Free Contact: Call 614-252-7456

The Columbus & Dayton African American - January 2020

COMMUNITY EVENTS Dayton, Ohio January 4, 2020 Queens of Soul with a Tribute to Aretha Soul meets symphony through the music of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, and Donna Summer. Our tribute to these ladies of soul is a full-on extravaganza of pop and orchestral music, back-up singers and dancers and four headliners vocalists out front doing their thing! Location: The Schuster Performing Arts Center Address: 1 West 2nd Street 45402 Time: 8:00 PM Admission: Call for prices. Contact: Call 937-228-7591 or https://www.daytonlocal. com/concerts/dpo-queens-of-soul-with-a-tribute-to-arethafranklin.asp January 11, 2020 January is National Mentoring Month Big Brothers Big Sisters of Butler County is partnering with Tried Stone Baptist Church and Monique’s Events to shine a light on the impact of mentoring in the community we share. Hear from current “Bigs” and “Littles” about their experiences with mentoring and speak with Big Brothers Big Sisters staff members about getting involved. This event is FREE and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. We look forward to seeing you! Location: Tried Stone Baptist Church Address: 621 Lafayette Ave. Middletown 45044 Time: 1:00 PM -3:00 PM Admission: Free Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/resolutions-forpotential-the-power-of-mentoring-tickets-85533383653?aff =ebdssbdestsearch January 13, 2020 Faith, Race & Politics Conference A conference on civic engagement, democratic participation, and faith-based convening. This conference will bring together community leaders, elected officials, congregants, scholars, faith leaders, philanthropists, and other thought partners from Cincinnati and around the country to explore how the intersection of faith, race, and politics has impacted both personal civic engagement and local policy, with a focus on specific programs in the Cincinnati area. Panelists will consider how the Crossroads community has been able to build bridges across racial divides through its Undivided program, which In turn has catalyzed people into action around coalitional initiatives. The Undivided experience provides a springboard to a broader discussion about what people of faith, civic leaders, and community organizations can learn about civic engagement, democratic participation, and faith-based convening as we enter the 2020 election season. Location: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Address: 50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati 45202 Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Admission: $0 - $10 Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com

January 19, 2020 MLK Unity Day The Salvation Army of Dayton will hold it’s Annual MLK Unity Day Celebration. The event will start with a 10:45 with morning service followed by a Luncheon and Program following morning service. The speaker for the day is Major Marion Platt area Commander of The Salvation Army of Memphis & the Mid-South. Location: The Salvation Army Dayton Kroc Center Address: 1000 N Keowee Street, 45404 Time: 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM Admission: Free Contact: Kip Moore 937-528-5211 January 20, 2020 MLK Celebration 2020 Building a Place for All: The Work of Solidarity. Join the University of Dayton’s Campus Ministry Center for Social Concern as we remember and celebrate the life, the dream, and the actions for justice of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Center for Social Concern has partnered with the Multi-Ethnic Education and Engagement Center to get the campus involved in the march and rally, the Martin Luther King Social Justice Plunge, and series of other events surrounding Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Contact the Center for Social Concern for information regarding events. Location: University of Dayton Address: Liberty Hall, Room 107, 300 College Park Ave 45469 Time: Varies Admission: Contact organizers Contact: 937-229-2524 January 20, 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast 2020 This is an annual event to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. This year’s featured keynote speaker is Dr. Elfred Anthony Pinkard, President of Wilberforce University. A native of Miami, Florida, Dr. Pinkard holds a Doctorate degree from Harvard University, a Master’s from Howard University, and a BA from Morehouse College. Dr. Pinkard will speak on “King’s Beloved Community Re-Imagined.” Location: Yankee Trace Golf Club Address: 10000 Yankee Street, Centerville 45458 Time: 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM Admission: $20 Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/martin-luther-king-jrbreakfast-2020-tickets-81816845387?aff=ebdssbdestsearch January 21, 2020 2020 Census Discussion Beta Eta Omega and Tau Lambda Omega Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. want to hear from you regarding the 2020 Census. Nearly 470 billion in federal funds are distributed annually based on the census count. We want our share. Come out and learn what to expect in the upcoming 2020 Census and give your input on how to make sure our community is counted. Location: Dayton Metro Library – Northwest Branch Community Room Address: 2410 Philadelphia Drive 45406 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Admission: Free Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/census-solutions-workshoptickets-86745513165?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Please note: Information for this section is gathered from multiple commnuity sources. The Columbus & Dayton African American is not responsible for the accuracy and content of information. Times, dates and locations are subject to change. If you have an event that you would like to feature in this section, please email us at editor@columbusafricanamerican.com. Submissions are due the last Friday of each month. The Columbus African & Dayton African American • January 2020 2015 American News Journal • February

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus African American News Journal â&#x20AC;˘ February 2015