July 2018 Edition_The Columbus & Dayton African American

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Columbus & Dayton

FREE

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The Dawning of The Information Age - What Is Next?

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Understanding Advances in Medicine is Just a Click Away

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July 2018

By Robin A. Jones, PhD

By Lisa Benton, MD, PhD

Open Letter to My Mom: Charlotte A. Bell By Charleta B. Tavares

TECHNOLOGY IN CENTRAL OHIO


N.U.L. EXPERIENCE EXPO THE

FREE! AUGUST 2–4

11:00 AM–5:00 PM Greater Columbus Convention Center 400 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215

THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE SO DON’T MISS THIS! Join us for three dynamic days of community, culture, connection and change at the National Urban League’s N.U.L. Experience & Expo. Be empowered from over 100+ exhibitors, a Health & Wellness Zone, a Legal Clinic, a Volunteer Zone, Seminars, Entertainment and so much more.

CAREER & NETWORKING FAIR AUGUST 2–3 This is not your average Career Fair! Get the resources you need to find your dream job and to thrive in your career. • INTERVIEW WITH TOP RECRUITERS • FREE MAKEOVERS + PROFESSIONAL HEAD SHOTS • RESUME + LINKEDIN PROFILE CRITIQUES • PROFESSIONAL CAREER COACHING

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SMALL BUSINESS MATTERS Entrepreneurship Summit AUGUST 4 Money, marketing and management— Acquire the knowledge you need to start a new business or to take your current business to the next level. • FREE WORKSHOPS + RESOURCES • NETWORK WITH SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS, INVESTORS & INDUSTRY LEADERS • COMPETE TO WIN MONEY IN THE PITCH CONTEST

• WORKSHOPS AND MORE!

• LEARN ABOUT THE CERTIFICATION PROCESS AND MORE!

Register for free at bit.ly/SmallBizMatters2018

TECHCONNECT

BACK TO SCHOOL COMMUNITY & FAMILY DAY

AUGUST 2–3 Explore the intersection of technology, culture and entertainment with innovators, creators and game changers in activities that will elevate you.

AUGUST 4

• TECHCONNECT DEMO DAY

• FREE BACKPACKS + SCHOOL SUPPLIES

• THE PODCAST VILLAGE

• FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS

• THE LIVE, LOVE & LEARN LOUNGE FOR FASHION + BEAUTY

• FREE HAIRCUTS + STYLING

• CELEBRITY WORKSHOPS • LIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND MORE!

Prepare your child with the important things they need to get a fresh start in the new school year.

• ENTERTAINMENT, GAMES & PRIZES • GRAB BAG OF FRESH FOOD

Learn more about these events at www.nul.org

TITLE SPONSORS


PUBLISHER’S PAGE Founder & Publisher Ray Miller

Layout & Design Ray Miller, III

Assistant Editor Ray Miller, III

Media Consultant Rod Harris

Missed opportunities! The pathway to the fulfilment of your dream was right there before you--and you missed your opportunity to own it. There are some people who are unprepared for the opportunity when the door opens; and there are others who are prepared, but yet unwilling to act in a decisive, strategic manner when the opportunity avails itself with open arms. The Latin phrase is carpe’ diem--seize the day. We have such an opportunity being presented to us within a month--less than 30 days from today. The National Urban League will host its annual conference in our City. More importantly, the conference will focus on the “Digital Revolution.” Many people might say, “I don’t know anything about technology. I don’t do digital. I don’t use a computer....and never will. I’m doing just fine without it. What they don’t know is that technology knows everything about them and affects them in every aspect of their life. You can choose to be technologically illiterate, but you cannot excuse yourself from its impact and influences.

Lead Photographer

Years ago, I started the Columbus African American Literacy Initiative. I worked with the Columbus Literacy Council in structuring this important organization. At the time, there were more than 90,000 individuals in Franklin County who were functionally illiterate; they could not read at a third-grade level. I formed this program because of the large number of people who would come into my legislative office, requesting my assistance, and it was clear that they could not read. They were grown adults who had mastered covering up their inability to read. We used newspapers to teach them the fundamentals and selected books to enhance our instruction. Many of the students expressed in the most passionate words that they wanted to learn to read because they wanted to read the Bible.

Contributing Editors

Illiteracy silences you. Illiteracy removes you from the conversation. Illiteracy places you in a vulnerable position wherein one can be manipulated and taken advantage of in any number of ways--employment, education, health, housing, transportation, safety, income etc. In fact, the non-reader removes him or herself from conversations that are both casual and critical.

Distribution Manager Ronald Burke OSU Student Intern Malini Srikrishna Steve Harrison

Lisa Benton, MD, MPH Rodney Q. Blount, Jr. MA Alethea E. Gaddis, MBA Robin A. Jones, PhD Cecil Jones, MBA Jaqueline Lewis-Lyons, PsyD William McCoy, MPA Cecelia McFadden Zack Space Senator Charleta B. Tavares

I certainly am not the most technologically proficient guy on the planet--far from it. Less than eight years ago, I had never touched a computer; and now, I publish the largest news journal in Columbus & Dayton, Ohio. We have to keep learning. There is no going backwards to the days of information being transferred and transmitted at a snails pace. E-Commerce, robotics, drones, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, self-driving cars and buses, microchips for humans, voice commands with Alexa, the Assistant and Siri are real today, and are substantially impacting every aspect of our lives.. I had the opportunity to speak to a group of brilliant young people from the YMCA who were convened by Daniel Crease at his Multi-Cultural Center to here a few leaders in sports, music, the media and politics. At the conclusion of my remarks I informed those present that I was not at all interested in their questions. I shared with them that I was only interested in their answers. One young man heard me clearly and took it from there--instructing all of us on what kind of leaders our young people need to have brought before them today--not drive-by leaders or periodic leaders who flash in and never return to the communities that gave birth to them, their aspirations, and goals. But people who genuinely care about them and will give real time to transfer the knowledge that we have to the next generation. We need more answers. The National Urban League Conference is an opportunity. Twenty thousand African Americans will converge in our City to discuss the major issues of the day and what we should be doing to address them. This conference provides a launching point for serious-minded individuals to put forth answers--have them debated, refined, and properly directed. To be clear, no conference is a panacea or end all. They can, however, be forums that give birth to progressive ideas and business ventures that will hopefully transform our communities for the better. Don’t miss your opportunity and do not get left out of the Revolution. See you on August 1-4 at the Convention Center. Bring your notebook or better yet, your iPad or iphone!

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

With Appreciation and Respect,

The Columbus & Dayton African American 503 S. High Street - Suite 102 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Office: 614.826.2254

Ray Miller Founder & Publisher

editor@columbusafricanamerican.com www.CAANJ.com

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • July 2018


In This Issue

24 Brown Secures Provision

for Central State University

in Farm Bill

25

Why The Auditor’s

Race Matters

26

A Major Victory Against

Trump

The Technology Issue Cover Story – Page 19

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TechnoHealth - Improving and Connecting Care By: Charleta B. Tavares

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Microsoft Is Complicit in Trump’s Mass Incarnation & Deportation of Black & Brown People

24

Brown Secures Provision for Central State University in Farm Bill

5 BDPA And Other Technology 15 Agencies 6 The Technology Gap 16

7

The Dawning of The Imagination Age - What Is Next?

8 9

TechoHealth - Improving and 18 Connecting Care Understanding Advances 19 in Medicine is Just a Click Away 23

10

Do You Need A Break from

Your Cellphone?

22

The Columbus & Dayton African American • July 2018

Even In A Field Dominated by Women, 25% Of Female Educators Say #MeToo

29

Book Bags & E-Readers

30

Open Letter to My Mom:

Charlotte A. Bell

32

Columbus Urban

League Prepares for

National Conference

Next Month

33

Community for New

Direction Awarded

$35,000 Grant

34

Linden’s Farmers

Market Grand Opening

34 Judge Glenda Hatchett

to Speak at Women’s

Day Celebration

35

Moulded on Africa’s Anvil

36

Ella P. Stewart -

Trailblazing Pharmacist

& Civic Leader

37

Community Events

Microsoft Is Complicit in Trump’s Mass Incarnation and Deportation of Black and Brown People A Tribute to Our Fathers - Part II COVER STORY Legislative Update AARP Wants You to Come Out and Help at State Fair 4

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.


TECHNOLOGY BDPA AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY AGENCIES By Cecil Jones, MBA Are you looking to participate in a Technology organization that is also focused on improving your community? Consider BDPA (www.bdpa. org). The Columbus chapter of BDPA had a great, interactive session on Thursday June 28 at the IDEA Factory near COSI. Will Burrus, an Interactive Technology Visionary, shared the current (and future) state of Virtual Technology. As you can imagine, it was a visual, very interactive session. Some of Will Burrus shared included: - Movie viewing using Virtual Reality headset

The Columbus Chapter of BDPA meeting held on June 28, 2018

- Video recording using 360 degree video recording (seeing in front of you, in back of BDPA provides career mentorship. There is a you, and also seeing the activities in back of place in BDPA for all, from ‘The Classroom to the Boardroom’. There is even a place you, simultaneously) for those who have an interest but are not formally, currently working in technology - Training efficiencies using Virtual Reality positions. The monthly sessions (I don’t that are more effective and less expensive dare call them meetings) are essentially than the face-to-face training most of us free training sessions/interactive speakers receive today in classes providing current and future technology and related management practices. Many chapters - Virtual Reality options currently in practice, have a High School Computer Competition to reduce/avoid pain medications component where high school students learn and build software projects. This work - Virtual Reality so real that you physically culminates in an annual national competition feel that you are in another part of the world, (see www.bdpa.org). doing any activity you so choose, just as if you were there. This can include For those looking for a new position, BDPA experiencing parachute diving, without actual is a great mechanism to understand the going up in a plane. employment scene in most organizations, very quickly. Its members work in many of - Additional technology we can expect to be the corporations, government, college and non-profit organizations in the area. Some using in the next year or two of those organizations actively sponsor meetings, training, volunteers, etc. to BDPA What is BDPA? (again. See www.bdpa.org for examples). BDPA (www.bdpa.org) Information Technology Thought Leaders – Specifically, All of us use technology in our jobs and the website says “BDPA is a non-profit daily lives. Almost all of us have an interest organization of profession working in or in technology which means anyone can join having an interest in the Computer Science BDPA. and Information Technology fields”. Having been a leader in the Columbus and Cincinnati Columbus and Dayton BDPA chapters, in addition to being a member of the Philadelphia and Dayton chapters, I will To attend the sessions in Columbus or learn say that it is much, much more than that. It more, email jimlocke3@mac.com. Jim Locke is an organization of affirmation for African- is the President of the chapter. Americans (and others). The talent in the organization is better than any technology To attend the sessions in Dayton or learn organization in which I belong (I belong to more, call Leroy White, the BDPA Dayton Chapter President at 937-671-9620 or email many). the chapter at the email address: contact@ The chapters in which I have belonged have btg-tech.com for a quick response. launched young entrepreneurs that have great, continually growing businesses today. Other Technology Organizations 5

There are multiple organizations that can support your technology needs. An organization that focuses on IT Leaders that have been in the business for a few years is AfricanAmericanSeniorITLeaders@yahoo. com. Additional organizations that focus on the needs of our community are active, also. If you are looking to engage with a volunteer technology organization and sharpen your skills, please contact me. My contact information is below. Get involved! What new technology, processes and devices are you using? Help Us to Help You The purpose of this column is to provide useful information and knowledge that you can use, today. If you have a technology question (how to get something done, what business, process or software solution might be available for your situation, how to secure that technology position, etc.), please email the question or comment to the email address Admin@Accelerationservices.net for a quick response. People, Process and Technology 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 & DaytonNews African American • July 2018 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015


TECHNOLOGY

THE TECHNOLOGY TRAP By William McCoy, MPA Everywhere you look people are carrying and using cell phones, smartphones, tablets, laptops, computers, and other electronic devices. The Pew Research Center released a report on January 6, 2014, entitled “African Americans and Technology Use: A Demographic Portrait,” authored by Aaron Smith. This study said, “Some 92% of black adults are cell phone owners, and 56% own a smartphone of some kind.” That same study went on to say, “72% of all African Americans- and 98% of those between the ages of 18 and 29- have either a broadband connection or a smartphone” (Smith, 2014). Technology is everywhere. There are many benefits associated with this technology. Cell phones, smartphones, and computers allow instant communication through talk, text, instant messaging, and email. They enable us to access information from a seemingly unlimited number of sources, on-demand. These devices provide instant access to government data bases, public records, websites, online postings, nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, and more. If you want information on a topic, person, organization, or virtually anything else, just Google it or search the internet. In a matter of minutes or seconds, you can get the answer to almost any question you may have. There is also a downside to the instant communication, access to information, and archival storage capabilities technology offers. People can use these tools to invade your personal privacy and space. Your phones, computers, and other devices may contain hundreds- maybe thousands- of photos, text messages, emails, contacts, emails, and other personal information. Court records and other public archives can

be accessed and used to uncover all kinds of information about your personal activities and affairs. Your travels and whereabouts can be tracked through your cell phone. In short, thanks to technology, your life is an open book. Case in point: the FBI’s raid of Michael Cohen (Donald Trump’s personal attorney) resulted in thousands of pages of information being taken from his phones, computers, tablets, and other electronic devices. How much information could be gleaned from your technology? In addition, personal technology can hinder interpersonal communication. It is fairly common to see people sitting in a meeting, restaurant, or public place staring into a smartphone, texting, or talking to someone while ignoring the person or persons they are with. I recently witnessed a young couple having dinner at a restaurant. They were both focused on their smartphones- not looking at each other or talking. I asked myself, what is the point of getting together if not to get to know one another or interact? This couple would have been better off if they did not have their phones with them. Technology can cause people to act out of character- especially on the internet. Personalities can change when people converse in chat rooms and other forums. Normally polite, courteous, and respectful people can become short-tempered, toughtalking, mean, and vulgar when hidden behind a fictitious screen name or computer screen. Furthermore, cell phones can be addictive. An online article entitled “Signs and Symptoms of Cell Phone Addiction” explores the self-described topic (read it see on line at https://www.psychguides.com/guides/signsand-symptoms-of-cell-phone-addiction/). This article describes the signs and symptoms of cell phone addiction, physical effects of addiction, and physiological effects of cell phone addiction. The article includes a selfassessment tool for readers to see if they are addicted to their smartphones. According to

The Columbus & Dayton African American • July 2018

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the article, if four or more of the following criteria apply, a person may have a cell phone addiction: (1) increasing cell phone use to achieve the same desired effect; (2) persistent failed attempts to use cell phone less often; (3) preoccupation with smartphone use; (4) turn to cell phone use when depressed or experiencing anxiety; (5) excessive use characterized by loss of sense of time; (6) use that puts a relationship or job at-risk; (7) need to have newest phone and apps, or more locations; and (8) withdrawal symptoms (e.g. anger, tension, depression, irritability, or restlessness) when phone or network is unavailable. In conclusion, technology can be a blessing or a curse. The benefits of smartphones, cell phones, computers, and other technology are many. On the other hand, there are potential negatives associated with these technologies. Taking advantage of technology is increasingly required in today’s workplace, schools, and social circles. People should strive to be proficient and smart about how they use smartphones, cell phones, laptops, computers, tablets, and other technology. A serious effort should be made to avoid falling into a technology trap. William McCoy is a self-employed consultant specializing in economic development, strategic planning, and training. He has been involved with over $1 billion in financing, helped over 100 people go into business or expand their existing business, served on the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Financial Roundtable, convened National Urban Policy Roundtables on capital access and minority business enterprise, and moderated White House Conference on Small Business sessions. Mr. McCoy holds BA degree in economics and MPA in finance. He is an award winner who has served every level of government, foundations, nonprofits, and for-profit enterprise- including two White House appointments. William McCoy can be reached at (614) 785-8497 or via e-mail at wmccoy2@themccoycompany.com.


TECHNOLOGY

THE DAWNING OF THE IMAGINATION AGE - WHAT IS NEXT? It was not just a challenge, it was a very rewarding challenge. Each step or platform of my career placed me with greater challenges from fortune 50 companies to being a founder of my own software development company. Yet my ultimate challenge was receiving an assignment located in the largest tech industry in the world, Silicon Valley, a city just south of San Francisco, California. Silicon Valley, the technology haven for all technology. Blacks working in Silicon Valley are not few and far between, they are slim to none. (I will discuss the employee culture at another time).

By Robin A. Jones, PhD

Oh – through the lens of the Technology Age transcending into the Digital Age and emerging to the Imagination Age. Initially coined by Rita J. King, the Imagination Age is a theoretical period driven by technological trends such as virtual reality and the rise of digital platforms. When we refer to the evolution of the “AGES”, what is the message? There are so many questions yet in reality, very few answers. For Whenever I heard references about ‘Silicon example, when we refer to computers; is that Valley’, I would tell myself, ‘one day, I the Technology Age? When we refer to the will be there.’ While employed with IBM, Internet is that synonymous with the World opportunities were frequently available to Wide Web; is that the Information Age? The visit the Silicon Valley office. When those Digital Age and Imagination Age; through occasions occurred, I did not hesitate to the lens of technology, what is the message? What are we really saying and what are we and end users are just trying to maintain accept the assignment. It was like living a dream. On every street corner there was a rather than ‘keep up’. doing? global tech company. While I was dreaming For our parents, grandparents, and great Through an interview on a news media and hoping, little did I know, I had planted grandparents who had to crank a car to channel, I remember listening to Bill Gates, a seed of opportunity! In 2007, I posted my drive now have grandchildren who have founder of Microsoft, when he predicted resume online seeking relocation, after a very access to driverless cars. I tell my students, that every household will have a computer difficult battle with breast cancer. I was two never can you say that you go a day without within 10 years. He was laughed and scoffed years post those dreaded chemo treatments using a computer because everything is by every major company. Not long after when I told myself, “If I don’t go now, I computerized. For example, flipping a light Bill Gates returned with more predictions, never will.” I decided, it was going to be a switch to turning on a water faucet; is all specifically he said, “People will carry around sink or swim situation. Well swim I did. It about using computers. Whether you are small devices that allow them to constantly took just six months and I was working at changing a baby diaper or walking your dog, stay in touch and do electronic business from the University of California-Berkeley, Haas it still involves the use of technology. As I wherever they are. They will be able to School of Business (Berkeley-Haas) just 40 have learned through the years, technology check the news, see flights they have booked, miles from the Valley. I was on my way to is born out of purpose. The purpose for get information from financial markets, and California. I was in the door of Silicon Valley. something stronger, and more powerful such do just about any business transaction.” No one could stop me. My dream was now a as immediate access to news, and faster Thus the iPhone came about in 2007. Bill reality. The only place to go from here was transportation. You see every generation Gates also envisioned the display of Social up, and I did. When God has a plan for your actually sets the precedent for the need of Media and the rise of YouTube, all within life, there is no stopping Him. All my hard something more powerful and better than the the last 10 years. He also had the foresight work, education and commitment was in my previous generation. Whether it is as simple that the Digital Age, better known as digital hands as I started as a Senior Manager of the as a microwave oven or a more powerful computing, would replace CD’s and DVD’s. Haas School of Business, Computer Center. lawn mower, there is and will be a need for Maybe we should refer to Bill Gates as the Working in the Computer Center provided many opportunities and privileges. I became ‘Father of Technology’. technology. what was known as a “student always.” It was In 1960, IBM introduced the Super Computer The emergence of technology has taken our a constant learning process. called the IBM 360. It was so large it was lives by leaps and bounds. Unlike my life Technology is here and everything about our housed inside of a warehouse. Today, a flip and career as a professional in the world life is driven by automation. While there are phone holds more computing power and of information systems, today’s youth have locations within the United States and abroad memory than the IBM 360. As a matter of never lived a life without technology. The which are not wired for the Internet, they are fact, your smartphone is millions of times commonality of computer terms for persons considered connected in ways that keep them more powerful than all of NASA’s combined 30 years of age and younger is within engaged with the world today. computing in 1969 (ZMEscience.com). Now their norm. Because I started my career this is not an apple to apple comparison during a time when African Americans and Dr. Jones has a commitment to a strong because there will need to be software specifically women were not employed in work ethic, education and a passion for modifications and improvement. However the field of technology, many times I have entrepreneurship. In her 40+ years of the storage capacity of the phone is far greater been asked where and how did I get my start employment, Robin spent 30 of those than 64kbyte of memory. Fast forward to in working with computers. Well, it was a years gainfully employed with fortune 50 companies such as GE, IBM, Ashland Oil, 1965, Gordon Moore, solidified Moore’s situation of being at the right place at the and the U.S. Department of Energy, and Law as the golden rule for the electronics right time. I have always been infatuated Department of Defense. Robin started her industry to have economic, technological, and with engineering and computer systems. career path as a database developer building societal impact. Moore’s Law was noted for After college, I began my career working her first database for the F14 Aircraft Fighter predicting that technology, specifically the as a software developer at General Electric, planes and from there she catapulted her chip industry, will continue to find growth Aircraft Engine Group. I was responsible way to the position of Interim CIO. In her every 19 to 24 months. However with the for developing the data base for the F14 most recent employment capacity, Robin is a speed of evolution, the chip industry is no USAF Fighter Planes (also known as the retired Senior Manager PMO Director of the longer going to treat Moore’s law as the Blue Angels). It was that assignment which Computer Center at University of California, target to reach for. At this time, companies solidified my career in Computer Systems. Berkeley - Haas School of Business. 7

The Columbus & DaytonNews African American • July 2018 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015


HEALTH TECHNO-HEALTH: IMPROVING AND CONNECTING CARE By Charleta B. Tavares With the advances in technology we are able to share information across multiple systems, health providers and care organizations to ultimately provide continuity of care and allow authorized practitioners to see all of the care and services being delivered to the individual patient. One of the devices developed over the last decade is the electronic health record or EHR. According to HealthIT.gov an EHR is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. EHRs are real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users. While an EHR does contain the medical and treatment histories of patients, an EHR system is built to go beyond standard clinical data collected in a provider’s office and can be inclusive of a broader view of a patient’s care.

these small practices could not afford the EHRs so they opted for the EMRs. The goal with the ACA was to provide a roadmap to connect all health practitioners, organizations, hospitals, home health organizations etc. to There are other benefits to an EHR which improve quality of care and provide better can: health outcomes for America’s people. o Contain a patient’s medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, and laboratory and test results; o Allow access to evidence-based tools that providers can use to make decisions about a patient’s care; and o Automate and streamline provider workflow. The EHR allows health information to be created and managed by authorized providers in a digital format that is capable of being shared with other providers across more than one health care organization. They are built to share information with other health care providers and organizations – such as laboratories, specialists, medical imaging facilities, pharmacies, emergency facilities, and school and workplace clinics – so they contain information from all clinicians involved in a patient’s care.1

Unfortunately, many healthcare organizations embarked on identifying EHR hardware and software that does not allow for easy exchange of health information. There are many EHR products that do not “talk to or exchange data” and health information effortlessly. There are a multitude of products certified and used by Community Health Centers (CHCs/FQHCs), hospitals and practices such as CliniSync, Allscripts, NextGen, Dentrix, EPIC, eClinicalWorks, ChartLogic EHR, CQMsolution, NextGen and more than 2,500 additional products that are on the Health Certified IT product list of the ONC. Most of these products created by technology developers do not talk with each other or are not interoperable.

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) is responsible for advancing connectivity and interoperability of health information technology (health IT). ONC’s 10 year plan for advancing interoperability is laid out in a document entitled Connecting Health and Care for the Nation: A Shared The Office of the National Coordinator for Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap. Health Information Technology (ONC) makes a clear distinction between an The Roadmap, shaped by stakeholder input electronic medical record (EMR) and an and public comments, supports the vision that EHR. The two are discrete in that the EMR ONC outlined in Connecting Health and Care is specifically for the individual practice for the Nation: A 10 Year Vision to Achieve to allow the clinician and staff of the one an Interoperable Health IT Infrastructure. practice/provider organization to track data over time, identify who is due for preventative The three goals of the Roadmap are: screenings and monitor and improve quality of care within the practice, etc. 1. The vision of a learning health system where individuals are at the center of their One of the major initiatives of the Affordable care and providers have a seamless ability to Care Act (ACA or ObamaCare) was to securely access and use health information provide technology grants to individual from different sources. practitioners to develop EMRs and EHRs. Most individual practice offices have an EMR 2. To provide access to individual’s health to collect and track data on their patients information, which is stored in electronic however; the information does not travel health records (EHRs), but includes outside of the clinicians’ office. Many of The Columbus African & Dayton American African American News Journal • July• February 2018 2015

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information from many different sources and portrays a longitudinal picture of their health. 3. Helping public health agencies and researchers rapidly learn, develop, and deliver cutting edge treatments.2 We are not there yet and the road is bumpy. PrimaryOne Health and our sister FQHCs/CHCs are working with our state and national organizations to address interoperability across all services and organizations that touch our patients. As a comprehensive and integrated healthcare provider, PrimaryOne Health is working with our patients, board, practitioners and staff to ensure that we can deliver highquality, integrated behavioral health, dental, vision and specialty services to each of our patients. Technology will enable us to track, monitor and deliver both within our centers and with other provider organizations care that is the most appropriate. We are focused on improving health outcomes for African Americans and other marginalized populations who are bearing the burden of premature and preventable death in Central Ohio. We recognize that in order to eliminate unnecessary disease and death among our community members, we have to work with our health and human services institutions to holistically diagnose and treat our patients’ needs. Footnotes: 1

HealthIT.gov

2

HealthIT.gov Interoperability Roadmap

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 11 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. primaryonehealth.org.


HEALTH

UNDERSTANDING ADVANCES IN MEDICINE IS JUST A CLICK AWAY By Lisa Benton, MD, MPH Even though studies show that music being played actually helps surgeons focus and concentrate while operating, I bet that cosmetic surgery doctor dancing the Nae/Nae Whip in the operating room with her patients asleep under anesthesia wishes that certain video technology didn’t exist. I also hope that readers of the African American News Journal are too savvy to have fallen for the Theranos scam that promised scanning one drop of your blood could diagnose all your medical problems. Despite what may seem to be the latest and greatest medical intervention on the scene, this fake testing machine is just one more reminder to do your homework when it comes to your health. These incidents should alert you that some advances in disease management may be early in the pipeline, still on the drawing board or at a place where they still need more testing thorough clinical trials to show that it’s not only safe to be used or that it really makes a difference in making you better.

will be useful for giving the next person with your same illness their best fighting chance. Your information is protected so you or your descendants are not discriminated against. You will not be strung along with false hope and your financial resources will not be drained. Given some of the dark scientific moments in history such as Tuskegee experiments, the story of Henrietta Lacks, the medical testing that happened during post slavery and segregation or the tragedies of the Holocaust, there are laws in place to assure these atrocities never happen again.

In many cases, when the researchers tell you a breakthrough is on the horizon it often means it is still years away. Also If the new treatment or device sounds too good to be true, when it comes to your health it is. As much of a pain it is to read the fine print when it comes to medical advancement, it can, as they say, “save you and often your wallet a One success story of African Americans world of hurt or pain later.” and clinical trials happened with BiDil. This medication was found to be so much more For example, you may be optimistic about the effective for managing heart failure based on President’s new “Right to Try Bill” that was the results of Black patients participating in signed last month. the study that BiDil is marketed as preferred therapy for us. While your first response is that it will do no harm and potentially help people who are at Whether you are seeking care for stroke, the end of their rope in what medicine can heart disease, cancer, the words “center of offer to save their lives, a lot what the new bill excellence”, “referral to the top experts in promises was already available for patients the field”, “multidisciplinary team”, and with terminal illness through enrolling request “second or even third opinion” should in clinical trials that have safeguards and not make the providers you’re talking to protections in place to keep you from getting cringe. Ask for a patient navigator or patient taken advantage of. advocate if you feel like you don’t understand the medical conversation or all the steps in In approved clinical trials, the U. S. Food and the care process. Don’t be afraid to ask your Drug Administration and other government insurance company for help sorting out all agencies assure that you are not just another your medical question either. guinea pig and the testing and research of any treatment is being done with protection When it comes to technology and innovation against further harm and exploitation of you in health care, there is almost news breaking or your situation. The testing is being done about some therapy, medication, procedure by a team of doctors, nurses and researchers or device daily. While we are living longer that have been specially trained. You can with all the advancements there is still a lot follow the FDA on twitter at @US_FDA to be said about keeping your body healthy or on other interactive media. Their website by eating right, exercising and getting enough is set up to be friendly in your search about rest. what scientific products are approved for human and yes-animal use. Doing your part for better health gives you stronger building blocks and pushes The information about how you respond to the timeline further away from when you the new treatments being tested will become may be faced with considering a clinical part of a confidential official database that trial or unproven treatments that are being The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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tested. Take the latest quiz on healthy food choices by the American Heart Association and AARP to see you only need to fill your refrigerator’s vegetable and fruit bin with the right answers. Staying healthy now is the best investment you can make for and in yourself now and it doesn’t have to break your wallet. With all of the free information available at your fingertips, you really don’t have an excuse not to connect and click on to better health. Learn a little more… Quiz: Heart Healthy Food Choices, February 6, 2018. Retrieved from https://www.aarp.org/health/healthyliving/info-2018/heart-healthy-foods-quiz. html#quest1 Clinical Trials. Gov Help For Patients and Families. Retrieved from https://www. clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/help/for-patient U. S. Food and Drug Administration Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/ What is “Right to Try” and Will it Help Terminally Ill Patients? By Morten Wendelbo, Timothy Callaghan/ The Conversation/ May 30, 2018. Retrieved from https://www. cbsnews.com/news/right-to-try-bill-trumpsigning-will-it-help-terminally-ill-patientstoday-2018-05-30/ What you Need to Know About Right to Try Legislation by Jacqueline Howard. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/22/health/ federal-right-to-try-explainer/index.html Heart Failure is Different for African Americans. Retrieved from https://www.bidil. com/about-heart-failure/african-americans Lisa D. Benton, MD, MPH (The Doctor is In) breastsurgeonlb@gmail.com, Twitter:@ DctrLisa (415) 746-0627

The Columbus & Dayton African American • July 2018


HEALTH

DO YOU NEED A BREAK FROM YOUR CELL PHONE?

is real. The need to constantly check your phone for whatever prompted that little signal which grabs your attention is the main factor – social media notifications. Studies By Jacqueline Lewis-Lyons, Psy.D in recent years have addressed our growing dependence on and need for feedback in the I have a confession to make – I have form of social media. mixed feelings about my cell phone. It is truly a love/hate relationship and I Social media in itself is probably not a completely acknowledge that the stress of terrible thing. But, if you allow yourself to this relationship is my fault. You see, I have become drawn into the pictures and posts never had much interest in all those fancy which prove that everyone is living a better things that a smartphone can do. I have life than you, or the constant need to check always used my cell phone to…(gasp) … how many people are following you or make phone calls. I know. It’s embarrassing. ‘liking’ your posts, you may need to consider So, when I finally got my first smartphone taking a break from your smartphone. It has several years ago, it was in response to the been documented in several recent studies nagging (or loving encouragement) from a that people believe social media helps friend who was nearly 20 years older than them feel better, but the reality is that most me. She convinced me that if she could do it, people actually feel worse. Think about I could do it. Well, it continues to be quite a it – how good do you feel seeing a distant struggle for me. And, I thought I had a built- acquaintance’s posts about their perfect in solution. I have repeatedly bought the same trip to the islands when you are struggling phone for my daughter that I get for me every to get a long weekend to a campground for time we upgrade. Yes, this was a way to have your family. Even if you love camping, you her learn the phone, and then teach me what find yourself comparing vacations and you I needed to do. See, great plan. Not really. may experience some underlying feelings She has lost nearly all patience with me and of envy. Think about those posts of your even signed me up for a class at the library, friend’s very well-behaved children – do you which I did attend. I was getting better but ever wonder how many shots were actually last week, I was blindsided. After three years taken before they all smiled so angelically? with my smartphone, we had to upgrade. I Have you caught yourself checking every was nearly in tears at the store as I realized I few minutes to see who has responded to a would have to start all over again, especially post you made? And, how did you feel about with the teasing/nagging/lack of patience of some of those responses? Did you get enough my primary tech support person. If you have ‘likes’ to feel good or did someone’s critical been challenged by the rapidly changing face comment cause some doubt about yourself? of technology, you understand my feelings. These are some of the factors that point to a I’m actually considering starting a support possible addiction, which is simply defined as engaging in a behavior despite its negative group. effect. However, I realize that I am probably in a very small minority. Clearly, most people A study completed at MIT in 2017 involved have a great relationship with their smart looking at how students responded to phones – so much so that they cannot put giving up their smartphones for one day. It them down. While a few of us may not was included as a class requirement at two understand how this happens, phone addiction business schools in Italy and France. The The Columbus African & Dayton African American • July• February 2018 American News Journal 2015

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students acknowledge heightened anxiety and confusion about what to do with their extra time. It was compounded by the fact that they could see peers who were not doing the assignment continue to use their phones. They noted that on average, the peers checked their phones four times in ten minutes. Another study in the United States indicated that students felt symptoms of withdrawal, increases in heart rate and blood pressure, and a sense of loss when access to their phones was limited. We are also seeing significant mental health issues associated with the smartphone/social media craze in teenagers. The Centers for Disease Control noted more instances of depression and suicidal behaviors in teenaged girls who spent five or more hours a day on social media. We are all currently aware of the prevalence of bullying which occurs through social media and it is a fact that our young people are not developing adequate social skills for life in the real world. Yes, the addiction is real. What can we do about it? First, limit the time you spend attached to your electronic devices. Model for your children the value of face-to-face interactions. Get involved in activities that don’t involve a screen. I have seen challenges where people have meals together without their phones. If you need that type of structure, try it. Keep your phone out of the bedroom. And, don’t start your day by checking social media. Write in a journal for a few minutes, meditate, or set a positive intention for your day. Then, let the work day begin… 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. To reach her, call 614-443-7040 or email her at Jacqui@DrLewisLyons.com


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The Columbus African & Dayton American African American News Journal • July• February 2018 2015

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The Columbus & DaytonNews African American • July 2018 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015


ADAMH

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015


EDUCATION EVEN IN A FIELD DOMINATED BY WOMEN, 25% OF FEMALE EDUCATORS SAY #METOO

The #MeToo movement has felled the careers of some of the most celebrated and influential men in the country while exposing the pervasiveness of sexual harassment and assault in industry after industry. As more women come forward, it seems no place is immune: whether it be inside Hollywood, the Washington Beltway, or the news room. The same is true, it turns out, of the schoolhouse. Forty percent of teachers and school administrators report having been the victim of sexual harassment or assault in their jobs or witnessing such incidents, according to a nationally representative survey conducted by the Education Week Research Center­­. The survey gives a rare look at the prevalence of this issue in the K12 workplace. Twenty-five percent of female educators say they have personally experienced sexual harassment or assault on the job, even though the profession is predominantly made up of women and most teachers spend much of their day in a classroom, isolated from their coworkers. Six percent of male educators say they have been sexually harassed or assaulted at work, according to the survey. Permissive school cultures where abusers are not punished, as well as power differentials between early-career teachers and their superiors, create situations that can be ripe for abuse, experts told Education Week. Nearly 60 percent of teachers and administrators who said they had either

experienced or witnessed sexual harassment than a half dozen other women for this or assault said they did not report it to any story who said they had been harassed or authority. assaulted on the job, none would go on the record with their stories or were willing to But while enduring abuse in silence can be share enough information that we could emotionally fraught for educators who do independently corroborate. Even in this not report it, coming forward doesn’t always extraordinary #MeToo era, ordinary women bring closure, either. who’ve experienced harassment at work are often reluctant to share their stories publicly, Reluctant to Go Public much less report the incidents to managers or other authorities. Rachel Man, a teacher in Prince Georges County, Maryland, said she has often second- It is not uncommon for women to choose to guessed her decision to formally accuse a remain silent about sexual harassment and fellow teacher of groping her in an empty assault that takes place at work or among classroom after school hours. colleagues, said Linda A. Seabrook, the general counsel for the advocacy group It happened in 2013, near the end of Man’s Futures Without Violence. To do otherwise first semester as a teacher. Initially, Man said could put their job, career, and even their she told no one because she was afraid she safety at risk, she said. was being “dramatic.” But she eventually reported the incident to the school’s principal Seabrook said it’s both incumbent on— and then to the police. The male teacher was and imperative for—workplaces to make charged with first degree assault and 4th sure victims feel safe to report misconduct, degree sexual offense. The case went to trial because when sexual harassment goes and he was found not guilty. unchecked, it exacerbates the problem by encouraging the abuse to continue. Man, who eventually transferred to another school in the same district, says “Most harassers are not single victim the experience continues to affect how she harassers,” Seabrook said. “Workplaces interacts with people. generally know who those people are. To see that person get promoted, get the best office, “I am that much more nervous around people, move up the chain unfettered and without that much more cautious about how I act or consequences, it’s just demoralizing to the what I do,” she said. “I have to get out of entire workplace.” my own head, because if I was talking to any other woman, I’m like, ‘You can wear what Still, some women in K-12 have come you want, say what you want, and no one is forward recently with charges of harassment. allowed to touch you.’” A lawsuit filed by two teachers this month While Education Week interviewed more in New York City alleges that for years an

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EDUCATION

assistant principal demanded sexual favors from multiple teachers and would punish those that did not acquiesce. The school’s principal, the lawsuit contends, promoted the assistant principal over objections from several staff members and was aware of multiple complaints against him but did nothing. And a complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in May claimed that the superintendent in Fayetteville, Ark., sexually harassed a female employee who did not report the harassment for a long time for fear of retaliation, according to local media reports. The superintendent was fired by the school board this week. When teachers and school administrators do report problems, the vast majority of the time they do so to their direct supervisor, according to the Education Week Research Center’s survey. Employees were the least likely to report an issue to their union or to a state or federal agency, the survey found.

Ninety-one percent of those who had worked in a setting outside of education told the Education Week Research Center that they felt sexual harassment and assault happened more frequently in other workplaces than in schools and district offices.

“Oftentimes in a school setting we say, ‘We’re not going to be like that.’ But that culture can grow up, and we don’t do enough to stop it,” she said.

A high percentage also said that they felt confident that they knew what to do if they were the target of sexual harassment or assault, or saw it happening to someone else. Sixty-two percent indicated that they were either “extremely” or “very knowledgeable” about protocol, and an even greater share, 67 percent, said they had received training on preventing or responding to sexual harassment and assault. Again—over half of those respondents rated their training as either “extremely” useful or “very” useful.

And that culture can do long-lasting damage to victims and their careers.

Charol Shakeshaft, a professor who has studied teacher misconduct at Virginia Commonwealth University, was struck by those numbers. She pointed to the nearly 60 percent of survey respondents who also said they didn’t report incidences of sexual harassment or assault.

Is Sexual Harassment Less Common in K-12? “How useful was the training? If it was so useful, then why didn’t you report [the sexual It’s hard to say if sexual harassment and harassment]?” Shakeshaft said. “Their reports assault happen in K-12 education less don’t bear out that they’ve internalized the often than in other fields. Research on the training or the policies.” frequency of sexual misconduct in the general workplace varies greatly. She said training that requires participants to practice or act out a scenario where they “Studies range between 25 percent of report someone is most effective. But such working women and 90 percent,” said training, Shakeshaft added, can only do so Heather McLaughlin, a sociology professor much without a corresponding critical look— at Oklahoma State University who has and overhaul if need be—of workplace researched workplace sexual harassment. culture. “It really comes down to measurements and our understanding of what sexual harassment Shakeshaft warned against believing that means.” K-12 education is immune from these issues. Gender, age, and industry all factor into Some may falsely assume that the kind of people’s perception of sexual harassment, people who want to become educators are less likely to perpetrate such behavior and she said. that can lull school leaders and others into But K-12 education professionals certainly complacency, Shakeshaft said. think it’s more common in other industries.

Years-Long Recovery

“People who were sexually harassed were much more likely to quit their jobs—forgoing opportunities for advancement there,” said McLaughlin, the researcher at Oklahoma State. “Women in our studies had higher amounts of financial stress, really operating through that job change.” Many switch industries altogether, according to McLaughlin’s research, and it can take years for women’s income to rebound after leaving a job. That’s in addition to the physical consequences of harassment which can include depression and even posttraumatic stress symptoms. After the trial, Man, the Maryland teacher, said she felt ostracized by the rest of the teaching staff, which is what pushed her to move to a job in a different school. Although Man feels as though she’s finally found her footing again as a teacher, it’s been a long recovery process over the past five years. One that included a lot of self-doubt and therapy. “I handle it by asking myself, what would I tell my students to do?” Man said. “I need to live the life I would tell my students to live. But it’s a conversation I have to repeatedly have with myself.” But, she added, “I don’t think there is a safe place for avoiding sexual harassment and assault.” Librarians Maya Riser-Kositsky and Holly Peele contributed to this report. Article from www.EdWeek.org

MICROSOFT IS COMPLICIT IN TRUMP’S MASS INCARNATION AND DEPORTATION OF BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE Trump’s executive order amending the ‘zero tolerance’ practice that separated families at the border was forced by hands of the millions of outraged people across the country, but it doesn’t go far enough to end the criminalization of immigrants.1 Trump’s order means that families will be detained together going forward, but there’s no plan to reunite children currently detained in isolation.2 This is unacceptable, statesanctioned violence. There shouldn’t be any kids in cages, at any time or in any place. Not in tent cities at our borders, not in abandoned Walmarts, and not in juvenile detention centers. We have to dismantle the structures of mass deportation, not institutionalize them.

Black folks know that the answer to family separation is not family detention. We know that the southern border is a point of entry for many of our folks from the Caribbean.3 We have to consider the impact this will have on Black immigrant families, who are affected by both immigration enforcement policies and the criminal legal system which mutually inform each other and are deeply embedded within each other. As outrage over ‘zero tolerance’ has built over the last week, the role of corporations in enabling the deportation machine has been revealed. It was exposed that Microsoft is actively profiting from a $19.4 million contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 4 Trump is really

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clear about his agenda to entrench the racist systems of incarceration and deportation, we have to be really clear about our intentions to dismantle that same system. Tell Microsoft to stop enabling Trump’s deportation machine and cancel their contract with ICE. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently claimed the company “will always stand for immigration policies that preserve every person’s dignity and human rights.” 5 So, it’s unclear why he won’t cancel a contract with an agency that routinely violates Continued on Page 17


EDUCATION

There is a growing movement for corporate accountability for the impact tech companies have in the world. Color Of Change, with organizational partners, recently helped Google and Facebook see that they should divest from the bail bond industry.12 Further, under pressure from advocates like Color Of Change, Trump was In recent days, Microsoft has denied being forced to disband his American Technology directly involved in ‘any projects related to Council.13 Companies can recognize the separating children from their families at power of consumer demands. the border’ but they can’t deny their overall complicity.7 However, in a January blog Let’s demand Microsoft drop ICE and stop post, Microsoft boasted that their cloud turning a profit at the expense of Black and computing software Azure, is “mission- Brown families. critical” to ICE’s operations. Azure has capabilities that range from hosting a Until Justice is Real, customer’s data to facial recognition. Nadella maintains that the company is “supporting -- Scott, Rashad, Arisha, Clarise, Anay, legacy mail, calendar, messaging, and Kristen, Marena, Tamar, Lorran, Daniel, and the rest of the Color Of Change team document management workloads.”8 constitutional and human rights.6 If we can build enough public pressure to remind Microsoft that their clients and contracts should reflect their ideals, then we can get them to drop their contract with ICE and dismantle the technological structure ICE needs to fuel their deportation machine.

Tell Microsoft to embody their stated support References of human rights by withdrawing their 1. “Trump Retreats on Separating Families, technical support of ICE. Signing Order to Detain Them Together.” Recently, the momentum has been building New York Times, 20 June 2018. https://act. within the company. Microsoft employees colorofchange.org/go/65466?t=10&akid=1 signed an open letter, published in the New 4730%2E1786040%2EeVmPPv York Times, asking the CEO to cancel the contract with ICE, citing ‘the grave 2. “The Government Has No Plan for responsibility that those creating powerful Reuniting the Immigrant Families It Is technology have to ensure what they build is Tearing Apart.” The New Yorker, 18 June 2018. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/654 used for good, and not for harm.’ 9 68?t=12&akid=14730%2E1786040%2EeV In recent months, tech companies have mPPv taken principled stands on immigration and criminal justice issues when public 3. “The experience of black immigrants pressure combined with internal pressure. foretells what’s to come for Central More than 4,000 Google employees signed Americans.” The Hill, 16 May 2018. http:// a petition objecting to the company’s work act.colorofchange.org/go/65470?t=14&akid on Project Maven, which seeks to apply AI =14730%2E1786040%2EeVmPPv to the military.10 Internal protest combined with external objectionst from academics, 4. “Microsoft’s ethical reckoning is researchers, and shareholders. Last week, here.” Wired, 18 June 2018. https://act. Amazon shareholders published an open letter colorofchange.org/go/65472?t=16&akid=1 asking CEO Jeff Bezos to halt development 4730%2E1786040%2EeVmPPv of Amazon’s image-recognition software for use in government surveillance until it can be 5. “My views on U.S. immigration policy.” examined by Amazon’s board of directors.11 LinkedIn, 18 June 2018. https://act.

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colorofchange.org/go/65474?t=18&akid=1 4730%2E1786040%2EeVmPPv 6. “Ice and Border Patrol Abuses.” ACLU. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/65476?t= 20&akid=14730%2E1786040%2EeVmPPv 7. “Microsoft statement on separating families at the southern border.” Microsoft Corporate Blog, 18 June 2018. https://act. colorofchange.org/go/65478?t=22&akid=1 4730%2E1786040%2EeVmPPv 8. “My views on U.S. immigration policy.” LinkedIn, 18 June 2018. https://act. colorofchange.org/go/65474?t=24&akid=1 4730%2E1786040%2EeVmPPv 9.”Microsoft Employees Protest Work With ICE, as Tech Industry Mobilizes Over Immigration.” New York Times, 19 June 2018. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/654 80?t=26&akid=14730%2E1786040%2EeV mPPv 10. “‘The Business of War’: Google Employees Protest Work for the Pentagon.” New York Times, 4 April 2018. https://act. colorofchange.org/go/65481?t=28&akid=1 4730%2E1786040%2EeVmPPv 11. “ Amazon shareholders demand company stop selling facial recognition technology to governments.” Independent, 18 June 2018. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/65482?t= 30&akid=14730%2E1786040%2EeVmPPv 12.”Bail-bond industry suffers another blow as Facebook and Google ban ads.” NBC News, 8 May 2018. https://act.colorofchange. org/go/48418?t=32&akid=14730%2E17860 40%2EeVmPPv 13. “How the business president lost the business community.” Vox, 17 August 2018. https://act.colorofchange.org/go/65590?t= 34&akid=14730%2E1786040%2EeVmPPv Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • July 2018


A TRIBUTE TO OUR FATHERS - PART II In honor of Father’s Day 2018, The Columbus & Dayton African American asked our contributing writers to submit comments, reflections and/or short stories about their fathers. Below are some of the stories that we missed last month. Happy Father’s Day!

Alethea Gaddis My Daddy experienced horrific hardships growing up in segregated Mississippi. His parents Willie and Eunice (McGee) were sharecroppers. Though poor, he shares fond memories of his childhood among his cousins, grandparents, extended and immediate family. Cherish family. As a young boy, he determined, that he would own his own home, his own business have a have a wife and four children. How did a little black boy muster such an ambitious vision of his future? Well, he witnessed first-hand the downside of working for someone who cheated them of their earnings. And, the boss-man also owned the house they lived in. When the owner would slump into a drunken rage, he would evict them until he sobered up. Being mistreated by the boss and dependent also on him for shelter sent a loud message. Have your own! Then the unthinkable happened. His mother died when he was seven. His Dad traveled to work during the week while he and his sister lived with other relatives. He only completed the 8th grade, but he understood that an education is essential, and to this day, at age 91 he has a tutor. He always went to night school as we grew up, even after he and Mommy founded Gaddis & Son. He trusted God, pressed on to overcome barriers and has always been willing help someone in need. Thank you Daddy, for showing my brother and sisters, your grandsons and now great-grandchildren, what it means to be a real, strong man.

William McCoy Jr., MPA My father, William McCoy, Sr., got me ready for life. The things he taught me are too numerous to recount. Thinking back, however, one of the most important things he taught me was how to think and act like a man. For him, being a man meant (and means) standing up for yourself, your family, and your beliefs. Being a man meant (and means) taking responsibility for the things you say and do. Being a man meant (and means) not being afraid to “tell it like it is;” and being willing to speak truth to power, when others are scared. He made it plain at an early age that I (and my brother and sisters) were going to do well in school and get (scholarships) college degrees. We all did. My father was (and is) a borderline genius, who didn’t just talk, but walked (and walks) the walk. Failure was not an option. My father did not just talk about these things- he modelled (and models) them. He was (and is) a “real man.” During his prime, he was 6’5” tall, 250 pounds, with grey eyes and a no-nonsense demeanor. When he walked into the barber shop, people stopped talking.He didn’t allow anyone (White or Black) to disrespect him. In the early 1990s, he fell off the fifth floor of a building at a construction site, landed on his feet, and bowled a perfect (300) game just over a year later (and mailed me the newspaper article). I remember coming home from school with a 2nd grade paper or test. I ran to him and proudly exclaimed, “Dad look, the teacher gave me an A.” He looked at me and said (in a stern voice), “That teacher didn’t GIVE you an A, you EARNED it- and don’t forget that!” He went on to say, “Nobody is going to give you anything, you either earn it, take it, or talk them out of it.” Lesson #468 learned. My Dad gave me courage, confidence, and the mindset I needed to take on my peers, teachers, bosses, naysayers, and others I would encounter on my quest to succeed. I was truly equipped to take on tough people, situations, and tasks- thanks to him. I used to say, “It’s hard having Superman for a father,” but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Years ago, the Chilites ang, “Let me be the man my Daddy was.” I’m good with that.

Lisa Benton, MPH, MD My Dad, Kenneth F. Benton, Sr. You need to know where you came from to know where you are going. He used to paraphrase Solomon and his words of wisdom from the Bible, “Nothing is new under the sun.” My dad constantly reminded me, “Wisdom and common sense may just be waiting for you to open a book or newspaper to find them. You can shed new light on any old idea.”

The Columbus African & Dayton African American • July• February 2018 American News Journal 2015

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COVER STORY TECHNOLOGY IN CENTRAL OHIO:

PROLOGUE AND PRAXIS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS By Cecelia McFadden Prologue Columbus, Ohio will be home to the 2018 National Urban League conference from August 1-4. The conference theme is “Save our Cities: Powering the Digital Revolution”. Over 20,000 attendees are expected to arrive in the 14th largest city in the United States. During the forum, attendees will be empowered with information and the latest reports on the State of Black America, including a Digital Inclusion Index (National Urban League, 2018). What is the significance of the digital revolution for African Americans in the Columbus,-Dayton region? Are the region’s concerns more acute than those outlined in the National Urban League report? Who are the local business owners, politicians, entertainers and community activists that are the face of the local tech disruption? To follow are some points and considerations for an informed technology perspective. Evolution The digital revolution can be defined as a shift in manufacturing production from analog and electronic technology to digital technologies. This shift began as digital computing via transistors began replacing human computers and filament vacuum tubes that powered the computing machines of the era. The early part of the revolution was depicted in the 2016 film, Hidden Figures which focused on the life of soon to be centenarian mathematician Katherine Johnson. The next revolution component was the World Wide Web, or Internet, which became a publicly available product in 1986 and a component of most business operations by 1992 (Techopaedia, 2018). From there, mobile phone technology created a communication platform for personal and business technology innovation, and television signals began to switch from analog to a digital format. Research now shows that 70% of the world’s population owns a mobile device. Research specific to African Americans in the United States indicates that 92% of African American adults own a cell phone, and in the 18-29 age range when controlling for education and income, there are no differences between mobile phone use and internet use in comparison with whites. There are some differences when controlling for race, gender and age as it pertains to smartphone adoption (Pew Research Center, 2014).

Scope The digital revolution and technology changes that are being experienced today had their roots in the career activity of 20th century scientists and mathematicians. So, it may be proper, then, to understand the flow of African Americans into what has now been defined as STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) or computer science fields to understand the potential to cultivate the contemporary Benjamin Banneker or Euphemia Lofton Haynes. The National Urban Leagues’ digital inclusion index, when controlling for age, race and education, did not find statistically significant differences in Ph.D. compensation and activity for fully tenured faculty. Additionally, they found that there was a slightly higher percentage of African Americans holding a Ph.D. in Computer Science than white counterparts (National Urban League, 2018). That means that people like Dr. Fay Cobb Payton (cobbpayton.com), current Director of the National Science Foundation and former NSF Director, Dr. Walter Massey (1991-1993), have the platform and unfettered influence to use their individual careers to advocate for the closure of digital disparities that exist for technology career professionals of color. At the macro level, organizations like the Black Data Processing Association (BDPA. org) have been in existence since the 1970s and consist of professionals working in or having interest in the Computer Science or Information Technology fields. With 45 chapters nationwide, this non-profit entity

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seeks to create a forum for exposing youth to technology career skills and providing support for the African American technology career professional. There is an active local chapter in central Ohio. Technological Innovation and Its Meaning Over Time Examination of the research metrics associated with the digital revolution and technology infrastructure access give us a tactical snapshot of what could possibly be happening in residential geographies inhabited by African Americans. The numbers from Pew Research and the National Urban League aren’t necessarily provocative, nor do they give African American leader champions the tools to confront policymakers and elected officials the way other socioeconomic statistics can (homelessness, underemployment, joblessness, incarceration rates). Why would this be so? The answer lies in the paradigmatic shifts in what constitutes technology economic stability. Historically, the natural resources and physical infrastructure of an area would determine its economic potential. Those assets would include potable water, land for development and utility access (electric and natural gas). The assets of a technology economy are dynamic, and they have a dependency on a broadband infrastructure. Talent acquisition, assets and even product may only be available virtually. It is possible to manage organization assets that are physically located miles away as if they Continued on Page 20

The Columbus & DaytonNews African American • July 2018 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015


COVER STORY

Answers to these questions in the public and private sector loom locally. There is room for improvement after baselines are documented. No collar workers and certifications. The lines of demarcation in the workforce continue to blur. In some technology roles, personal experience in social media activity has translated into careers at the corporate or entrepreneurial level. The other trend is that of technology certification. Many times, the certified technology worker will get the nod over the degreed candidate. This is an inclination that needs to be monitored. Local technology policy. There are smart city initiatives fueled by disruptive technology that are underway in the region. How many readers know about the Hyperloop project? The driverless Scioto Mile Shuttle? That Smart Columbus has been funded to the tune of $550 million? Since 10% of that funding consists of grants, are African Americans being represented during RFP and contract award activities? What are specific outcomes that are designed for the region’s diverse residents? What are the social, economic and security challenges that will emerge during project implementations? If policies are in place, do they support digital equality values and bring currently marginalized community residents toward socioeconomic opportunity inclusion?

were next door. A Columbus or Dayton company’s business advantage may be to manage a facility in a distant location from area headquarters to make gains in cost, talent and market penetration.

technology innovation and associated gains in economic opportunity and lifestyle? The answer rests with understanding the underlying trends of the economy and adapting or positioning one’s business or skillset to receive benefits. A synopsis of External validation of technology activity trends across access, occupation and policy in the region has been received. Columbus follow. has received numerous awards for being a broadband infrastructure leader and was Access Translation. Many underserved named Intelligent Community of the Year in communities of color across the United 2015 by the Intelligent Community Forum States are still looking for affordable (www.intelligentcommunity.org). More broadband access to ignite opportunity on importantly, it has doubled the amount of personally owned devices. In central Ohio, broadband fiber miles within the city limits this is not the case. What is the case is the to correspond with the square miles of the absence of the results that access in the city itself (107 miles in 2007 to 280 miles in region brings. Are the numbers of African 2015, www.columbus.gov). American technology leaders increasing? Are the numbers of computer science majors Opportunities and Prerequisites to Entry and coders increasing at local colleges and universities? What metrics are being captured What opportunities lie ahead for the informed as it pertains to digital literacy? Why are tech African American resident as it pertains to jobs being filled with virtual v. local talent?

The & Dayton African American • July• February 2018 The Columbus Columbus African American News Journal 2015

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Praxis The concepts of technology, innovation, the professional, and its community have all evolved. Consequently, trends, reflexive thinking and policy frameworks must inform the intentions that close digital divides, expand access and enhance lifestyle and community. Central Ohio has the foundation in place for technology growth and acceleration. In conscientious community, let us insure that public policy and private opportunities have synergies that are meaningful for the currently underserved that resemble us in the digital economy. After reviewing this article, one may realize that dialogue on this topic is ongoing. Instead of saying in conclusion, one must simply say more to come. Cecelia McFadden is a technology professional and Managing Director of Millennium Technology Associates, LLC. She currently provides project management consulting services to a Fortune 500 client central Ohio. She is an avid reader, loves genealogy, quilting and all things Buckeye. You can reach her at millenniumtechnologyassociates@gmail.com


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The Columbus & Dayton African American • July 2018


AARP WANTS YOU TO COME OUT AND HELP AT STATE FAIR Columbus, Ohio -- AARP Ohio will host a booth at the Ohio State Fair July 25-Aug. 5. Thousands of people are expected to stop by the air-conditioned space to cool off and pick up AARP information and giveaways. The state office is recruiting volunteers to help staff the booth. People who volunteer to work a three- to four-hour shift will receive a free T-shirt as well as free parking and admission that day. Last year, nearly 170 volunteers from around Ohio traveled to the Ohio State Fair in Columbus to staff the AARP booth. During the entire run of the Fair, the AARP Ohio Prize Wheel was a draw for people of all ages. Our volunteers cheered visitors on as they won everything from an AARP fan to help beat the heat to concert tickets for the shows at the Fair. The volunteers had a great time handing out prizes as booth visitors spun the prize wheel. As volunteer Jane Henry said, “This was the first time I volunteered and would very much do it again. Not only did I meet some great people, I had a very positive experience. I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

State Fair was no different,” said Barbara AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonp a r tis a n o r g a n iz a tio n d e d ic a te d Sykes, AARP Ohio State Director. to empowering people 50 and older to “If you are looking for a fun way to have choose how they live as they age. With a a positive impact in your community, then nationwide presence and nearly 38 million explore the opportunities of becoming an members, AARP strengthens communities AARP Ohio volunteer. Get to know us! and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability We look forward to meeting you,” added and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces Ernestine Jackson, Lead Volunteer for the nation’s largest circulation publications: Central Ohio. AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To “AARP Ohio volunteers always go above and learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow beyond when it comes to making a difference For details, email ohvolunteers@aarp.org or @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social in the community, and their work at the Ohio call 866-389-5653 toll-free. media.

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The Columbus African & Dayton African American • July• February 2018 American News Journal 2015

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POLITICS LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

OHIO LEGISLATURE’S EXPECTED RECESS MAY BE CUT SHORT By Senator Charleta B. Tavares The Ohio General Assembly conducted a lengthy Session on June 26 and forwarded a number of bills to the Governor for signature. The Ohio General Assembly however; left some meaty and important legislation on the table – Pay Day Lending, Gun Safety Reform and etc. The bills signed into law on June 29 included:  SB 8 (Gardner, Terhar) Establishes the 1:1 School Facilities Option Program, revises the law regarding applied bachelor’s degree programs offered at two-year state institutions of higher education, modifies the schedule for phasing down tangible personal property tax reimbursement payments to school districts…(a host of other provisions are included which are not necessarily germane to the subject). SB 33 (Eklund) allows disclosure of information from the law enforcement automated data system (LEADS) to a defendant in a traffic or criminal case; authorizes a court to continue on intervention in lieu of conviction an offender who is on it and violates any of its terms or conditions; and allows certain state highway patrol troopers to administer oaths and acknowledge criminal and juvenile court complaints, summonses, affidavits, and returns of court orders in matters related to their official duties.  SB 71 (Manning) allows a board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services to authorize its executive director to execute contracts valued at $25,000 or less without the board’s prior approval and allows temporary cash transfers to the Targeting Addiction Assistance Fund.  SB 134 (Gardner) designates multiple memorial highways, a memorial bridge, and a memorial picnic area and to amend and create multiple license plates.  Sub. SB 169 (Wilson) Permits the Superintendent of Insurance to act as or

select a group-wide supervisor for an internationally active insurance group, in regard to delinquency proceedings involving insurer-members of federal home loan banks, and to oversee the sale of travel insurance.  SB 62 (Yuko) Designates July 8 as “Harrison Dillard Day.”  Sub. HB 132 (Dever, McColley) Grants the Ohio Casino Control Commission the authority to regulate fantasy contests and exempts fantasy contests from the gambling laws.  HB 170 (Duffey, Carfagna) Amends current law regarding academic content standards and curriculum requirements for computer science; revises educator qualifications regarding computer science; authorizes public schools to establish computer science and technology funds; and permits a nonreligious chartered nonpublic school to choose the manner by which auxiliary services funding is distributed to the school.  Am. HB 174 (Hughes, Lanese)* Adds two judges to the Domestic Relations Division of the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, one to be elected in 2018 and one to be elected in 2020, and declares an emergency.  HB 199 (Blessing) Creates the Ohio Residential Mortgage Lending Act for the purpose of regulating all non-depository lending secured by residential real estate, limits the application of the current Mortgage Loan Law to unsecured loans and loans secured by other than residential real estate, and modifies an exemption to the Ohio Consumer Installment Loan Act.  HB 214 (LaTourette, Merrin) prohibits a person from performing, inducing, or attempting to perform or induce an abortion on a pregnant woman who is seeking the abortion because an unborn child has or may have Down Syndrome.  HB 196 (Lipps) Designates October as “Ohio Chiropractic Awareness Month.”  Am. HB 215 (Riedel) Creates the Paulding County Municipal Court in Paulding on January 1, 2020, establishes one full-time judgeship in that court, provides for the

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nomination of the judge by petition only, abolishes the Paulding County Court on that date, and provides for the election for the Paulding County Municipal Court of one full-time judge in 2019.  Sub. HB 69 (Cupp) Requires reimbursement of certain township fire and emergency medical service levy revenue forgone because of the creation of a municipal tax increment financing district, authorizes subdivisions to remove territory from existing joint economic development zones (JEDZs), authorizes townships to enter into enterprise zone agreements with retail businesses with the approval of the affected school district, allows a county or transit authority to levy sales tax in increments of 0.25%, modifies the procedures by which resolutions proposing the levy of property taxes are submitted to electors, and increases the appropriation for the Medicaid Local Sales Tax Transition Fund.  Am. HB 223 (Dever) Amends current law relative to transfers of structured settlement payment rights and relative to the placement of fiduciary funds in interest on lawyer’s trust accounts. *Senator Tavares originally sponsored this legislation in the 131st GA as well as Senate Bill 130 (132nd GA). The Speaker of the House and President of the Senate have announced the planned schedule for the rest of the year and the end of the 132nd General Assembly. Sen. Charleta B. Tavares, D-Columbus, is proud to serve and represent the 15th District, including the historic neighborhoods of Columbus and the cities of Bexley and Grandview Heights in the Ohio Senate. She serves as the Ohio Senate Assistant Minority Leader and the vice-chair of the Finance – Health and Medicaid Subcommittee; Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Human Services and Medicaid Committee and a member of the powerful Controlling Board.

The Columbus & DaytonNews African American • July 2018 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015


POLITICS

BROWN SECURES PROVISION FOR CENTRAL STATE UNIVERSITY IN FARM BILL, URGES CONGRESS TO PASS IMMEDIATELY

Brown Introduced Amendment Included in education of our youth. I hope Congress will firsthand the important role these institutions Farm Bill to Provide Funding for HBCUs pass this meaningful, bipartisan legislation play in their local communities,” said like Central State University in Ohio immediately.” Congressman Luetkemeyer. “By supporting research on regional priorities, the REAL Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod “1890 HBCUs contribute more than $4.4 Opportunity Act strengthens both HBCUs’ B r o w n ( D - O H ) a n n o u n c e d t h a t h i s billion to their local economies and provide capacity for leadership and the communities amendment to provide additional funding and pathways of opportunity for 1000’s of they serve. I am proud to be a cosponsor of research opportunities for Historically Black Americans. That is why this bipartisan this important legislation, and I thank my Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) like Act is essential. We must work together colleague Congresswoman Adams for her Central State University in Ohio was included to ensure these schools finally receive leadership.” in the Senate Agriculture Committee’s the resources they need to continue their recently passed bipartisan Farm Bill. This groundbreaking research and extension The designated lead universities at each provision would increase the research programs both locally and nationally,” said center would be required to develop publiccapacity and outreach of 1890s Historically Congresswoman Adams. “As a proud alumna private partnerships, to ensure that their Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) of NC A&T State University, an 1890 Land- research activities provide increased access by creating six Centers for Excellence and Grant University, I have witnessed firsthand and economic returns to farmers and rural Leadership on campuses like Central State the impact these institutions have and I am communities, and to contribute to poverty University in Ohio. The bill is expected to pleased that Senator Brown successfully reduction, reduce health disparities and be considered by the Senate on the floor this spearheaded an effort to include these Centers economic vulnerability of local communities. week. of Excellence in the Senate farm bill. Now, I Additionally, this legislation would authorize urge my colleagues in both the House and the $20 million in federal funding over five years Brown’s amendment was based on the Senate to ensure this language is incorporated to be divided evenly between the Centers. bipartisan REAL Opportunity Act, which in the final farm bill.” was introduced in the U.S. House of For more information about this bill, contact Representatives by Congresswoman Alma “As a proud alumnus of Lincoln University, Senator Sherrod Brown’s office at 202-224Adams (D-NC) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (R- an 1890 Land-Grant University, I understand 3978. MO). Brown had his amendment included in the Farm Bill, which was passed out of the Agriculture Committee two weeks ago and is expected to be considered on the Senate floor this week. Brown, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, urged his colleagues in both the House and the Senate to pass this bipartisan bill. “By creating these Centers of Excellence at 1890 Historically Black Colleges and Universities like Central State University in Ohio, we invest in groundbreaking research and the economic development that HBCUs spur throughout their local communities,” said Brown. “HBCUs have fostered generations of African American professionals who would have otherwise been denied opportunities due to segregation and continue to play a vital role in the The Columbus & Dayton African American • July 2018

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015


POLITICS

WHY THE AUDITOR’S RACE MATTERS Congressman Zack Space Democratic nominee for Auditor of State Down in Athens County, not far from the Ohio River and West Virginia border, lies the site of an old, abandoned mine. If you know where to look, eventually you’ll find it, marked solemnly by a tall historical marker. A ghostly brick smokestack stretches from the Appalachian woods, reaching several stories into the sky. Eighty-seven years ago, 82 men were killed when an explosion in that very mine triggered its collapse. The Millfield Mine Disaster, as it’s known, remains the worst mining disaster in Ohio history. Two months prior to that catastrophic event in Athens County, my father Socrates J. Space was born to a family of Greek immigrants in another Appalachian community just south of Canton. Soc grew up in Dover, Ohio during the Great Depression -- in the poorest part of one of Ohio’s poorest towns. He shined shoes as a kid, then worked in the steel mills and fought with the Marine Corps in Korea before attending Ohio State on the G.I. Bill. Soc and I practiced law together in Dover for 20 years, until I was elected to Congress in 2006. His long tenure in Democratic politics inspired me to get active in the first place. My father earned the success he’s enjoyed in life. He learned English as a young child after speaking only Greek at home. He volunteered to fight in a war a world away, spending the winter of 1952 on the Korean Peninsula. He completed undergraduate and law degrees, succeeding where no one else in our family had before. Such a story should be possible for everyone born in the United States, and for all who come here. But it’s not. Government, the institution designed to be responsive to the people, has no business suppressing the potential of its citizens. But it has. And race has been perhaps the best predictor of individual success and prosperity, or lack thereof, throughout American history. If my father was a black man, things probably would have turned out differently for him and for our family. The turning point in our history, the single event that helped us escape generational poverty, was Soc’s college education, made possible by the G.I. Bill. Yet these benefits were specifically withheld from black veterans. Far too few Americans acknowledge the extent to which systematic discrimination by our government has denied people of color the opportunity to reach the security and happiness that my father achieved. It’s time we had an honest conversation about the state of politics in this country. About the

corrupting influence that money has on public policy. About how partisan gerrymandering and voter suppression -- which target people of color - -- destroy our faith in the political process, and in the power of the vote. And perhaps most importantly, about the gaps in wealth and wellness that still persist between races. Last August, when I officially announced my campaign, I held kickoff events in four carefully-chosen places. The first two, Martins Ferry and Zanesville, are poor Appalachian towns in Eastern Ohio, where a generational reliance on natural resource extraction has stunted the development of a resilient regional economy. The third was East Columbus, in a predominantly black neighborhood where beginning in the 1930s “redlining” prevented residents from securing loans to buy homes and develop the area. That legacy of systematic discrimination persists today. Our final stop was in Lima, a working-class manufacturing city in Northwestern Ohio that has been upended by globalization. The histories and cultural demographics of these places are vastly different, but they have all been hurt by political decisions made without their input and interests in mind. By striking at the heart of the deep-rooted flaws that exist in our political process, we can end the political injustices that have prevented our system from working for all Ohioans. The Auditor of State is Ohio’s top taxpayer watchdog, with the broad authority to review all spending of taxpayer dollars. The dynamic potential of this office has barely been touched. Through what are known as “Performance Audits,” the Auditor can review entire state agencies and departments to make wholesale recommendations for more effective and fair government. For instance, an audit of the Department of Medicaid can create recommendations for

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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an aggressive and proactive plan to deal with the opioid epidemic, worse in Ohio than anywhere else in the United States. The State of Ohio spends hundreds of millions of dollars to deal with this crisis every year, however, no comprehensive action plan has been produced. Another example: a recent audit of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections avoided asking any tough questions of Ohio’s criminal justice system, and instead merely reviewed the efficiency of the Department’s vehicles. At a time of sweeping reforms to criminal justice nationwide, and with such a regressive Attorney General leading the U.S. Department of Justice, Ohio should focus on finding progressive ways to do the right thing and save taxpayers money. When my administration reviews the Department of Corrections, we’ll be much more aggressive and dynamic in tackling fundamental questions of racial disparities. The Auditor is also a member of the Redistricting Commission, which will soon redraw Ohio’s legislative districts. I will use my role on that Commission to end partisan gerrymandering in Ohio once and for all. My father has taught me so much about politics and life. He insisted on the importance of social justice in its many forms: access to a decent education, access to health care, racial justice, gender justice, environmental justice, and more. But unless and until we achieve political justice -- and ensure the preservation of the most basic principles of our democratic society -- progress across the realm of social justice will not be as effective or sustainable. Let the memories of the miners killed in Millfield in 1930 and the perseverance of those pushing for change in the streets today, serve as our inspiration. The fight for political justice is daunting. But it is, without question, a worthy one.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • July 2018


COMMUNITY

A MAJOR VICTORY AGAINST TRUMP Dear Friends - Ever since Donald Trump was sworn into office, he has been on a mission to kill the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that has provided health insurance for millions of Americans, especially poor people and their families. It’s part of his cruel agenda to shift public resources away from people in need to pay for tax cuts that further enrich billionaires like himself. Trump’s latest scheme would have allowed Kentucky to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients. According to the state’s own estimates, this would have resulted in nearly 100,000 low-income Kentuckians losing the health insurance they receive through Medicaid. We sued the Trump administration to stop this, along with our good friends at the National Health Law Program, Kentucky Equal Justice Center, and the law firm Jenner & Block. On Friday, a federal judge ruled in our favor, blocking the change that would have gone into effect as soon as this week. This is a major victory. Not only will all of these Kentuckians continue to be able to access health care services through Medicaid, many other states are considering similar work requirements. Had this policy gone into effect, it likely would have fueled a movement to cut health insurance for poor people across America. Within hours of being sworn in last year, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at dismantling ACA – also known as Obamacare – his predecessor’s landmark health reform law. Obamacare expanded Medicaid to cover

millions more people. Although Congress failed to repeal and replace Obamacare, Trump has taken steps to weaken it by going around the legislative process. Allowing states to impose work requirements on Medicaid recipients was one of those steps. In its own words, the Trump administration has said this would have “fundamentally transformed” Medicaid. The purpose of Medicaid is to provide medical insurance to people who cannot afford it, not to create roadblocks to coverage. The Trump administration claims that work requirements will lead to better health outcomes because employment can be linked to improved health, which they say will help move people off Medicaid as they make more money. This line of argument ignores the fact that nearly two-thirds of Medicaid recipients are children, blind or otherwise disabled, or elderly. More than half of the remainder are, in fact, already working. If they are not working, they are likely elderly, disabled, retired, sick, or caring for a loved one. Simply put, almost all Medicaid recipients who can work are working. The Trump administration knew its argument was disingenuous, and recognized that many worthy Medicaid recipients would lose their health insurance. So it sought to protect its voters from the changes, while intentionally cutting Medicaid benefits for low-income people of color. Kentucky’s waiver — as well as pending waivers for other states — would have exempted counties with high unemployment

The Columbus & Dayton African American • July 2018

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rates, which tend to be majority-white, GOPleaning, and rural. By contrast, many lowincome people of color who live in urban centers would not qualify for the exemption. That’s because these cities are surrounded by wealthier suburbs, which pull the county unemployment rates below the qualifying limit. What’s more, the Trump administration’s rhetoric on Medicaid and waivers are fraught with decades-old racial myths suggesting that low-income people of color are somehow living lavish lifestyles on government assistance, while refusing to work. These ugly, old stereotypes are contradicted by the actual lived experiences of Medicaid recipients: Again, most enrollees who can work, do. For now, Trump is defeated. Those 100,000 Kentuckians can continue using Medicaid to see their doctors and access medical services. But we know Trump is not going to give up — he will very likely appeal this ruling. And he will likely approve similar plans in other states, refusing to recognize the inhumanity of what he is doing. He has a grotesque fixation with eliminating all of President Obama’s accomplishments, and doesn’t seem to care that undoing ACA would cause millions of Americans to lose their health insurance. This is a life-and-death matter. People die when they cannot access medical care. That’s why we will continue to fight for them. Thank you for caring and supporting our work. Countless people are counting on us to stop Trump from shredding the safety net. Article from The Southern Poverty Law Center.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015


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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015


By Ray Miller Chaging the Face of Engineering The African American Experience By John Brooks Slaughter, Yu Tao, Willie Pearson, Jr. For much of America’s history, African Americans were discouraged or aggresively prevented from becoming scientists and engineers. Those who did enter STEM fields found that their inventions and discoveries were often neither recognized nor valued. Even today, particularly in the field of engineering, the participation of African Americans is shockingly low. In Changing the Face of Engineering, twenty-four eminent scholars address the underrepresentation of African Americans in engineering from a wide variety of disciplinary and professional prespectives while proposing workable classroom solutions and public policy initiatives.

Democracy In Black - How Race Still Enslaves The American Soul By Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. America’s great promise of equality has always rung hollow in the ears of African Americans. But today the situation has grown even more dire. From the murders of black youth by the police, to the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act, to the disaster visited upon poor and middleclass black families by the Great Recession, it is clear that black America faces an emergency - at the very moment the election of the first black president has prompted many to believe we’ve solved America’s race problem. Part manifesto, part history, part memoir, Democracy in Black argues that we live in a country founded on a “value gap” - with white lives valued more than others - that still distorts our politics today.

The Power of Moments - Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact By Chip & Dan Heath

The President is Missing By Bill Clint & James Patterson The President is Missing confronts a threat so huge that it jeopardizes not just Pennsylvania Avenue and Wall Street, but all of America. Uncertainty and fear grip the nation. There are whispers of cyberterror and espionage and a traitor in the Cabinet. Even the President himself becomes a suspect, and then he dissapears from public view. Set over the course of three days, The President is Missing sheds a stunning light upon the inner workings and vulnerabilities of our nation. Filled with information that only a former Commander-In-Chief could know, this is the most authentic, terrifying novel to come along in many years.

While human lives are endlessly varable, our most memorable positive moments are dominated by four elements: elevation, insight, pride, and connection. If we embrace these elements, we can conjure more moments that matter. What if a teacher could design a lesson the he knew his students would remember twenty years later? What if you had a better sense of how to create memoreis that matter for your children? Many of the defining moments in our lives are the results of accident or luck - but why would we leave our most meaningful, memorable moments to change when we can create them? The Power of Moments shows us how to be the author of richer experiences.

Black Fortunes - The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires By Shomari Wills

12 Rules for Life - An Antidote to Chaos By Jordan B. Peterson What does everyone in the modern world need to know? Renowned psychologist Jordan B. Peterson’s answer to this most difficult of questions uniquely combines the hard-won truths of ancient tradition with the stunning revelations of cutting edge scientific research. Humorous, suprising and information, Peterson tells us why skateboarding boys and girls must be left alone, what terrible fate awaits those who criticize too easily, and why you should always pet a cat when you meet one on the street. His journeys broadly, discussing discipline, freedom, adventure and responsiblity, distilling the world’s wisdome into 12 practical and profound rules for life.

The astonishing untold history of America’s first black millionaires former slaves who endured incredible challenges to amass and maintain their wealth for a century, from the Jacksonian perioud to the Roaring Twenties - self-made entrepreneurs whose unknown success mirroed that of American business heroes such as Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, and Thomas Edison. Black Fortunes is an intriguing look at these remarkable individuals, including Napoleon Bonaparte Drew - the first black man to own property in post-Civil War Virginia, Madam C. J. Walker, Robert Reed Church, Annie Turnbo-Malone, O.W. Gurley and Mary Ellen Pleasant. Black Fortunes illunminates the birth of the black business titan and the emergence of the black marketplace.

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The Columbus & DaytonNews African American • July 2018 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015


OPEN LETTER TO MY MOTHER: CHARLOTTE A. BELL

Dear Mom: This is to thank you for your unconditional and unselfish love of Renee´, Jeff, Eddie and me, as well as your siblings, nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends. You are the Mom that made my friends envious of our relationship and your ability to listen, counsel and not judge. And, I freely and without hesitation or resent shared you with my friends, family and community members who needed a mother’s loving touch, word of encouragement or shoulder to cry. You have been the rock for our family in spite of the challenges and painful events in your life. I want you to know that I am honored and blessed to be your daughter, friend and supporter. Your loved ones and I did not get to say good-by because you slipped away without words however; we wanted to share our love and thoughts of you with this letter. We love and miss you but wanted you to know that your love and spirit is with us always. Until we see each other again…. With love and gratitude, Charleta B. Tavares and Edward Bell

Aunt Charlotte was a remarkable lady. The impact she has had in my life has been both extensive and extraordinary. She taught me that the real possibilities for my life were limitless. At a very early age, my yearn to learn was elicited through her insight and action. First through the trove of books she gifted to me during my youth as well as through the cultural experiences she curated for my summer vacations in her home on Ivanhoe Drive. To this day, I find respite from life’s turmoil by applying my understanding of her worldview. Ron Bridges Nephew (Catherine) Mother Bell was emotionally available. Whatever she believed in her heart she followed through in like manner. Her thinking and judgement was sound her counsel on matters of consequence, priceless. Mother Bell was in my corner. She was painfully there, lovingly there, tirelessly there, tenderly there, spiritually there. When odds were stacked against me, she’d say “Mark, the best chance that any of us have is a prayer.” I replied, “Ain’t that the truth.” Rev. L. Mark Hensley

The Exemplar of Mrs. Charlotte Bell (Aunt Mom Bell was called “mom” by not only myself but family, friends and even community Donnie) members. Her strength and ability to handle People talk of the strength of our slave adversity was beyond belief, withstanding ancestors. I don’t know who they were. things that would take most people down. But God gave me a present-day exemplar She did it with grace, tenacity and above all, of strength —my Aunt Charlotte Bell. As a faith. She truly cared about members of the child, I only saw that she had a nice house, community who had no voice. Charlotte will clothes, and so forth. However, as I matured, be remembered as the quiet lioness whose I witnessed her ability to endure so much that passion, moral compass and faith in God would have felled a weaker person—man or mushroomed over everyone she touched. She woman. Generations to come in our family will be missed. will know of Aunt Donnie. I am thankful to God that I have lived in the light of her Michael A. Tavares (son-in-law) phenomenal presence. Dr. Choya L. Wilson Niece (Viola) Charlotte A. Bell was married to my father’s older brother, Edward. When we grew up my parents were divorced, in 1962, and we were left very poor. We lived in a barn converted to a house, not chic back then. After the divorce, she came and brought her entire family to visit and treated us kindly and “normal.” Aunt Charlotte taught me acceptance and what it meant to “make no difference in people”; she treated us all the same. Tressa Bell-Burton Niece (Kenneth Bell)

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Whenever in her presence, I was always profoundly aware of her lifelong commitment to her family, her faith and the community. Her sacrificial service to others provided me an example of Servant Leadership. Fueled by her faith, she was an unwavering trailblazer in the demand for mental health service access. As a Board Member to the Commission on Minority Health, she was a true champion for lupus services for minority women. Thank you “Mom Bell”. Angie Cornelius Dawson


When I was born unfortunately doctors found cancerous growth in my mother, Viola. I am the nephew of Mrs. Bell. My mother needed surgery and time to convalesce so my Aunt Charlotte took me into her home and raised me as a son. Her role as a mother figure in my life never waned throughout the years as all of my aunts had contributed to my upbringing she remained very diligent with concern for my health and welfare. She always inspired me to do my best and more importantly to have compassion. I know that she will embrace me again in God’s glory. I am extremely emotionally compromised although it may not show on my face but it definitely is still hurting my heart. However, every memory, every moment, every uplifting conversation balances the pain with the unspeakable joy and gratitude for my Aunt, Mrs. Charlotte Bell. Amen!!!

She kept her faith in God throughout her life and it was never clearer to me than our visit last Thanksgiving. Saddened and confused, I questioned why God would let her suffer but of course, I would not ask her directly nor want her to know that I doubted God. To my surprise and out of nowhere, she said she never expected to be ok with being at the nursing home for such a long period of time but God has been so good to her. Aunt Charlotte admitted she would have preferred to be able to get around but was thankful she had no pain. I thanked her for her testimony while I fought back my tears knowing her love for the Lord is what had sustained her through all of life’s challenges. George Bridges Nephew (Catherine)

James Wilson Nephew (Viola Wilson)

I am the daughter of Antoinette Magdalene Simmons the second oldest sister of Charlotte Bell. I never knew my aunt by the name of Charlotte she was always my Aunt Donnie. As far back as I can remember, my aunt always picked me up on the weekends, took me shopping and lunch and always talked to me about how I felt. She would ask what was really going on in my life and if she could help. My aunt made sure that I was The Center of her attention the entire time we were together. Growing up with my aunt gave me the courage to speak up when I needed to and know that I too, have a voice. Growing up with my aunt gave me the needed push for me to go to college and continue to keep a stable position with the state of Ohio for 21 years and still going strong. Because of my Aunt Donnie I have empathy, compassion and love for people. And throughout trials and tribulations I walk completely by faith and not by sight and I thank my Aunt Donnie for being the glowing example of a true Christian woman. Anne “Michelle” Hunt Niece (Antoinette Godfrey Simmons)

Crying in the midst of pain and frustration, not knowing how to help my daughter who was not getting needed support and care I met Mrs. Bell. She spoke “hope” into my life and encouraged me to fight for my child. She told me one day I’d make a big difference and help African Americans. I am grateful for her guidance and support in the growth and development of Tova’s N.E.S.T. I will miss her dearly. Tracee’ Black-Fall Executive Director Tova’s N.E.S.T Mrs. Bell was an incredible role model to women and girls in our community. Her love for God, family and people from all walks of life made her so special. She was a community activist and a true servant of God. One of the things I admired most about her was her sense of loyalty and devotion to her friend, my now deceased mother. The love and the bond Mrs. Bell and my mother shared as friends was eternal. Over forty years I witnessed them sharing laughs and tears. Mrs. Bell always there offering support when needed. She was the kind of friend that you only get one or two in a lifetime and you feel so blessed that God placed them in your life. She will forever be in our hearts and minds. Mrs. Charlotte Bell showed me the definition of a true friend.

When Aunt Charlotte came to visit our family in Ypsilanti Michigan, I remember her smile and how happy she seemed to be. As a small child I watched her hold and care for her handicapped baby girl. Although I was only five or six years old, I knew if I ever had children, I would love them no matter what, just like my Aunt Charlotte loved hers. LaDonna Bell Wyatt Niece, (Kenneth Bell)

She was always ready to listen to me about anything and then give me advice on her many life experiences which always helped me. She always made me feel like a part of her family, not just because of my relationship with her son, Jeff but because she cared about me. I will always love her for that. Mom, was a great woman and I am going to miss her. Gloria Jefferson

Fierce. Passionate. Advocate. Champion of the people. These are words often used to describe Charleta. When I first met Charlotte Bell, I then understood where those attributes came from. Mother Bell had a warm spirit that made me feel welcomed and as if I had known her all of my life. She taught me that I could be kind and loving but still speak out against injustice. She was for me, the ultimate truth teller. Robert “Bo” Chilton

Mrs. Bell was a source of infinite wisdom. She was socially conscious and politically savvy about conditions that negatively impacted people. Mrs. Bell just did not talk about issues, she was active in addressing them. Whether it was advising young adults about improving their lives, creating community programs to help those in need, or articulating her concerns about public officials using their platform to serve and not self-serve – she understood the futility of not directly addressing a problem. Mrs. Bell embodies the words of Mary McCloud Bethune, “We are heirs and custodians of a great legacy, and we shall bare this burden with strength, dignity, and determination.” Kevin L. Dixon

Janet D. Austin (daughter of Janie Hayden) Mrs. Bell was a mother to the motherless. When I think of her, which I often do, I think of how she had that motherly intuition. Sometimes she would call me when I had the thought of calling her. When she called, she would say, “how are you doing…you have been on my mind, let’s have lunch at Panera”. I saw her as a quiet, but effective woman who was loving, understanding, caring and patient, but would give you honest advice. She led by example. She was my other Mother. Betty Howton

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

Some forty plus years ago Charlotte Wilson Bell and I met while employed at Xerox Education Publications. After Xerox, we continued to nurture our friendship until her recent passing. Charlotte is the example of what a friend is and should be. I know her to be loyal, unselfish, and dedicated in managing her various relationships with “All of God’s Children.” I am missing my dear friend for whom there can never be a replacement. Charlene E. Hairston

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • July 2018


COMMUNITY COLUMBUS URBAN LEAGUES PREPARES FOR NATIONAL CONFERENCE NEXT MONTH By Stephanie Hightower Don’t miss the historymaking National Urban League Conference August 1-4! We will tune into some of the world’s most provocative voices like Tarana Burke from #metoo, experience some of our greatest talents like Fantasia and be a part of the unveiling of this year’s report on the status of Black America. We will also remember and honor our community. The Career Expo August 2-3 and Small Business Matters on August 4 offer real networking and growth opportunities to jobseekers and entrepreneurs. And, Community Day on August 4 boosts our families, with free backpacks for children, free haircuts for men, free manicures for women and so much more. Amidst all the excitement of attracting more than 20,000 people and generating $4.6 million in local economic impact, it’s easy to forget the overriding theme of this year’s event, Powering the Digital Revolution. far less likely than higher wage earners to pay for broadband Internet access at home or own But this exactly the time we should hone in a laptop or tablet. This means trying to use on how technology could either widen the a flip phone for important transactions like chasm between races or bridge the digital submitting a job application and denying our divide. kids the ability to connect to the rich virtual world and play learning games or find help Pew Charitable Trust has tracked trends in with homework. technology use for several decades. Their data tells us that black folks and lower income In other words, outdated equipment and an families (those earning $30,000 or less) are inability to pay the freight for Internet travel represent another brick in the wall of success that separates lower income and African American families from their middle and upper income white counterparts. That’s the digital divide. What’s next is murky. We stand on the precipice of a whole new wave of innovations. Artificial intelligence, robotics, virtual reality – all promise to drive whole new disruptions in mental health, medical care, education, manufacturing – nearly every aspect of our lives. For example, think about the smart new Internet of things. Our lights cycle on, our dishwasher kicks in and our dryer starts to run – all at low peak periods to capitalize on energy efficiency. We can use tele-med to consult with the world’s best physicians and virtual reality to treat PTSD and social anxiety disorders.

insurance and your dishwasher looks like a sink, a rag and a well-used bottle of Dawn. If technology ushers in massive amounts of information, resources and connections, why can’t it bridge the divide and achieve true economic mobility for all? Can’t such a powerful evolutionary force also touch off a tsunami of social and political change, tidal wave-sized shifts in thinking that draw us together and usher in a new era of equality, compassion, civility and respect? It’s tough to calculate. That’s why these are the real conversations that will take place on August 1-4. Join us. Register now for the National Urban League Conference August 1- 4 Greater Columbus Convention Center Go to CUL.ORG Also Don’t Miss Community Day, Saturday August 4, Greater Columbus Convention Center Free backpacks for kids, manicures for women, hair cuts for men. Call 614-372-2310

Visit the Columbus Urban League booth Free consultations with job coaches, credit And that’s a short list of what’s in our near score and expert financial advisors, best-inclass Head Start teachers. future. Go to Booth #311 But none of that matters if you’re still struggling to pay your monthly electricity Stephanie Hightower is the CEO & President bill, can’t afford medical care, don’t have Columbus Urban League

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015


COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT AWARDED $35,000 GENERATION RX GRANT FROM CARDINAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

The Community for Newd Direction is proud to announce that we were awarded a $35,500 Generation Rx grant from the Cardinal Health Foundation to help further educate our students and community in Columbus about medication safety. We look forward to partnering with Cardinal Health’s Opioid Action Program to fight the opioid epidemic in Franklin County by helping the next generation avoid opioid and medication misuse. CND In 1989, residents living in Franklinton, west of downtown Columbus, OH felt that a lack of positive opportunities in the community resulted in too many youth turning to the negative choices of drugs, alcohol, gang activities and crime. So, from a two-bedroom apartment in the Sullivant Gardens Housing Development, The Community for New Direction (CND) began as a volunteerrun program providing youth development and prevention programming to high-risk youth. The program focused on building relationships with youth and began to demonstrate success. In 1995, the program incorporated as a 501C-3 non-profit agency. As a result of its continued success, the

Franklin County ADAMH Board asked the Foundation have partnered to provide open agency to open another office and expand its source educational materials that anyone can use to help prevent the misuse of prescription services to the near eastside. drugs. These ready-to-use resources are In 2010, The Prevention Council of Central designed to provide everything you need to Ohio’s Board of Directors voted to pursue a make a presentation or offer a program in merger of its programs and funding with the your community, school or college. Community for New Direction. Today as a result of the merger, CND serves over 1500 Our core messages are quite simple: youth a year. After 25 years of serving youth, in 2014 CND added outpatient treatment Only use prescription medications as directed to provide a safe haven where adults can by a health professional. find the support they need to make healthy choices that will strengthen their connections Never share your prescription medications with others or use someone else’s to a better life. medications. Generation Rx Always store your medications securely to The mission of Generation Rx is to educate prevent others from taking them, and properly people of all ages about the potential dangers dispose of medications that you no longer of misusing prescription medications. In need. doing so, we strive to enhance medication safety among our youth, college students, Be a good example to those around you other adults in our communities, and older by modeling these safe medication-taking adults. Prescription medications can help practices and discussing the dangers of us live longer and healthier lives, but any misusing prescription drugs with your family, medication has the potential to do harm – friends, colleagues, students, or patients. especially when misused. www.GenerationRx.org Since 2009, the College of Pharmacy at The Ohio State University and the Cardinal Health www.CNDOnline.org

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 Street, Suite Columbus, OH 43215 3000 614-571-9340 Columbus, Ohio 43203

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The Columbus & DaytonNews African American • July 2018 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015


COMMUNITY

LINDEN’S FARMERS MARKET GRAND OPENING In the black community, Sundays are viewed as a time to commune, fellowship and break bread together. This summer, residents in Linden will have more time to spend together during the Linden Farmers Market. The market is open every Sunday, from 1-4pm until August 26, at Gye Nyame Place, 2830 Cleveland Avenue. “Farmers markets are a part of tradition of growing and sharing,” said Landon Adams, the Linden Farmers Market Manager. “This is an expression of how Linden works. This is so important.” The market accepts the Ohio Directions Card (EBT/SNAP), WIC and Produce Perks. “Piloting a farmers market in Linden is a great opportunity for the City and the residents of Linden,” said Councilmember Priscilla Tyson. “To provide affordable, fresh local produce and promote urban farming in Columbus’ inner core is truly amazing. This is the work of community partners coming together to empower one another and will provide a model that we can utilize in other communities.” The opening day kick-off event was held on July 1. It not only featured local farmers and food producers, it also included music and community information booths. “We’ve been doing the work of reducing the food insecurity in our neighborhood for a while,” said Adams. “This focuses our work on a larger scale.” Columbus City Council passed Ordinance 1484-2018 earlier this year which allocated over $40,000 to support initiatives identified in the Local Food Action Plan including improving access to and education about

Adam Troy welcomes people to the grand opening of the farmer’s market.

healthy, affordable and local food. More than $32,000 was dedicated to the launch of the farmers market in Linden. “With the help from Columbus City Council, we are able to better meet the needs of the community,” Adams continued. “We’ll be able to increase access to healthy food in our neighborhood, while also providing opportunities for economic development, cultural exchange and celebration and overall community building.” The Linden Farmers Market is not only a great way to purchase local produce and goods, but it is a place to enjoy the day with family and friends. “This market will be a prototype to having

a similar market in other parts of the community,” said Tyson. The Ohio Farmers Market Network is using the managers of two successful central Ohio markets, Worthington and Clintonville to train Adams to run the Linden market. The network was formed in 2008 to educate farmers market managers and producers about best practices, regulations, tools and opportunities for sharing ideas. They work together to address the needs and concerns of the markets both large and small. Members are located throughout Ohio. The Linden Farmers Market is open every Sunday, 1-4pm, from July 1 through August 26, 2018.

JUDGE GLENDA HATCHETT TO SPEAK AT WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION DAYTON, OH. – One of the most inspiring and powerful female voices in America is coming to Dayton, Ohio to empower and encourage the women of the community to be their authentic selves and to utilize the power within. Judge Glenda Hatchett, who is the star of the syndicated television series The Verdict, will be the guest speaker at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church’s Women’s Day Service on Sunday, July 22. The worship experience, which begins at 10:45 am, will feature a 50-voice women’s choir and St. Luke’s Praise Dance Ministry. The public is invited to hear Judge Hatchett’s powerful message. The service will be the culmination of a month’s long celebration of activities focused on women. On Saturday, July 7, the church will hold a Women’s Day Kick-off Fair from 2 -5 p.m. at the church, which is located at 2262 N. Gettysburg Ave. The fair will include a hat auction, various vendors and a Christian praise dance demo class. “I am inviting all women to join me this month as we celebrate women exuding Christian values,” said Jasmine Allen, First Lady of St. Luke Baptist Church, who is leading the activities. This year’s theme “The QUEEN IN YOU:

Women Exuding Christian Excellence” comes from Peter 3:3-4. Rev. Renard D. Allen, Jr., Pastor of St. Luke Baptist Church, said the church is excited about bringing Judge Hatchett to the Dayton community because she is a perfect representation of this year’s Women’s Day theme. “Deeply rooted in the Christian faith, Judge Hatchett is an elegant and electrifying speaker with an ability to reach people across racial, gender, political and even religious lines,” he said. “She uses her faith, knowledge, experience and enormous success to inspire others to seize one of life’s greatest opportunities: to make a difference in the world from where we are. We expect the women of St. Luke

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and the city of Dayton will never be the same after hearing Judge Hatchett speak!” A graduate of Mt. Holyoke College and Emory University School of Law, where she was an Earl. Warren Scholar, Judge Hatchett is a legal scholar whose training has taken her from being a senior attorney for Delta Air Lines to becoming Chief Presiding Judge of the Fulton County (Atlanta, Georgia) Juvenile Court – becoming the first African American Chief Presiding Judge of a state court in Georgia and head of one of the largest juvenile court systems in the country. Judge Hatchett is best known for presiding over the two-time Emmy nominated nationally syndicated show, Judge Hatchett, for 15 seasons (Sony Pictures Television). She is also the author of the National Best Sellers, Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say and Dare to Take Charge. Currently, Judge Hatchett is the proud founder of The Hatchett Firm, P.C. located in Atlanta. St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, which is committed to helping people discover and follow God’s plan for their lives, is a ministry for people on the grow. Pastor Allen’s biblical teachings help people grow in knowledge, grace, faith, service and love.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015


COMMUNITY

MOULDED ON AFRICA’S ANVIL By Alethea E. Gaddis, MBA Deeply entrenched in African tradition is music. Before Africans were ripped from the motherland and brought to America, singing was an intricate part of everyday life whether at work, in worship, or at leisure. In addition to voice, the drum was a most important instrument because Africans also communicated by playing different beats and rhythms. Sadly, while chained together for months in the dark bowels of a dirty disease ridden cargo ship, they interacted with beats, rhythms, moans, and songs in their various native tongues. Enslaved Africans who survived the middle passage continued to sing and communicate rhythmically. The tradition of “call and response,” when a person calls out with a voice or an instrument and then another person answers, continued on American soil. The songs served many purposes. For example, songs and music provided rhythm for repetitive chores and hard labor, like working the cotton and tobacco fields. The Africans sang songs as they worked to help keep the pace of the task they were doing. Doing so often enabled them to avoid punishment. It was a survival mechanism that helped to nurture solidarity among a people who were fighting to survive in a strange land. Singing was more than an art form; it was a source of spiritual inspiration and motivation. The songs became useful tools to remember and to communicate hidden messages between themselves. Later, those slaves making the dangerous and courageous journey north came to also depend on songs for safe passage to the Underground Railroad. As they traveled in unfamiliar territory, a simple song could be coded with critical information including who to trust or not, which way to go, when to keep moving and when to wait. Many slave songs used Biblical references and analogies of Biblical people, places, and stories, comparing them to their plight. On the one hand, they sang of their hope in God and a heavenly reward. While on the other hand, the same lyrics about “going home” spoke of freedom from slavery, and Canaan was symbolic for going north to freedom. I have always been both encouraged and fascinated with the boldness and strength of my ancestors, and I am proud of their profound intelligence and ingenuity. I challenge you to research songs of the Underground Railroad; the historical significance is rich. The melodious and rhythmic songs that served as a living map are priceless. Allow me to offer just a couple for your inspiration. Wade in the Water This Negro spiritual has as a biblical reference, “From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.” (John 5:4 NIV). Then, imagine Harriett Tubman singing the song, directing slaves to the water, concealing their

location because the dogs could not trace their scent. Wade in the water Wade in the water, children, Wade in the water God’s gonna trouble the water. See that host all dressed in white God’s gonna trouble the water The leader looks like an Israelite God’s gonna trouble the water. Steal Away In my mind’s eye, I see activity in the slave quarters slowing down, the sunset announcing the benediction to an arduous day. Suddenly, in hushed tones, someone bids farewell and sends the message of escape with these lyrics. Steal away, steal away! Steal away to Jesus? Steal away, steal away home! I ain’t got long to stay here! My Lord calls me! He calls me by the thunder! The trumpet sound it in my soul! I ain’t got long to stay here! Sweet Chariot If the words of this song echoed across the field, the intended would receive the message to be ready to escape; that a band of angels is coming.The Underground Railroad, symbolizing the sweet chariot, is coming south or swinging low to take the slaves north, home to freedom. Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home, Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home. I looked over Jordan and what did I see Coming for to carry me home, A band of angels coming after me, Coming for to carry me home. I you get there before I do, Coming for to carry me home, Tell all my friends that I’m coming, too, Coming for to carry me home. Follow the Drinking Gourd This song is my favorite if there can be such. The lyrics spin a message of escape in the spring when the days are longer. It also refers to quails which start calling each other in April. And the drinking gourd is a water dipper, a code name for the Big Dipper which also points to the north. It’s commonly 35

known that moss grows on the north side of dead trees, so if the Big Dipper is not visible, dead trees will serve as a guide to the north. When the Sun comes back And the first quail calls Follow the Drinking Gourd. For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom If you follow the Drinking Gourd. The riverbank makes a very good road. The dead trees will show you the way. Left foot, peg foot, traveling on, Follow the Drinking Gourd. The river ends between two hills Follow the Drinking Gourd. There’s another river on the other side Follow the Drinking Gourd. When the great big river meets the little river Follow the Drinking Gourd. For the old man is a-waiting for to carry you to freedom If you follow the drinking gourd. Cultural contributions to the arts by Americans of African descent are distinct and have enormously influenced the world. The music traditions have crossed the ocean, transcended time and made a splash on every continent. Look closely. Listen intently. The African influence is threaded and woven through every genre of music, including spirituals, gospel, jazz, blues, reggae, rap, hip-hop, In fact, one of my favorite Julian Bond quotes may sum it up, “Moulded on Africa’s anvil, tempered down home.” Alethea is passionate about creating opportunities to help others thrive. She has 30+ years’ experience in the non-profit sector. 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. She has also directed youth drug and alcohol prevention programs and is currently a Franklin County CASA/ GAL volunteer advocating for abused and neglected children. As a licensed, independent insurance broker, she works with individuals, families, and churches to protect their assets.

The Columbus & DaytonNews African American • July 2018 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015


HISTORY ELLA P. STEWART - TRAILBLAZING PHARMACIST & CIVIC LEADER

By Rodney Blount, Jr., MA As we celebrate in the Fourth of July celebrations, we reflect on the founding of the United States of America and American advancements over the last 243 years. There have been great achievements made by individual Americans and groups that have not only benefited the citizens of the United States, but also people throughout the world. The contributions of African Americans, especially African American women, have consistently been overlooked, but they have been gaining more attention over the past fifty years following the Civil Rights movement. One remarkably accomplished woman I have recently learned more about is Ella P. Stewart. Ella Stewart was one of the first African American female pharmacists. Her story embodies what it truly means to be an American as she used her intelligence and perseverance to break barriers. Ella Nora Phillips Stewart was born on March 6, 1893, in Stringtown, Virginia to Henry H. Phillips and Eliza T. (Carr) Phillips. She was the oldest of four children. Ella’s parents were sharecroppers. At the age of six, she was sent to live with her grandfather in Berryville to attend grade school. Ella excelled in school and graduated at the top her grade school class. She won a scholarship to attend Storer Normal School (now Storer College) in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, at the age of 12. Ella met her first husband, Charles Myers, at Storer and the newlyweds moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After their only child, Virginia, died of whooping cough at the age of three, they divorced. Stewart initially had plans on becoming a teacher, but after she began working in a local pharmacy as a bookkeeper, her interest in becoming a pharmacist was born. Pursuing her goal of becoming a pharmacist, Stewart applied and was at first turned away from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Despite the challenges she faced both as a woman and as an African American, she persisted and gained admittance to the program in 1914. She completed her degree in pharmaceutical chemistry (Ph.C.) in 1916, becoming the first black woman to graduate from University of Pittsburgh’s pharmacy program. In the same year, Stewart passed the state examination becoming the first African American female pharmacist in the state of Pennsylvania and one of the first African American female pharmacists in the country. Ella Stewart worked as an assistant pharmacist for the Mendelsson Drug Company, owned by two classmates from the University of Pittsburgh. She quickly gained a reputation for her professionalism and became the owner and operator of a drug store at the General Hospital in Braddock,

Pennsylvania, and Myers Pharmacy in Pittsburgh. Ella Phillips married William Wyatt “Doc” Stewart and the Stewarts moved to Youngstown, Ohio, around 1920. Ella Stewart got a job as a pharmacist at a Youngstown hospital breaking another barrier because the job was initially open only to white applicants. The Stewarts then moved to Detroit for a brief period but made the choice to open their own pharmacy in Toledo, Ohio, in 1922. The location of the pharmacy was at the corner of Indiana and City Park Avenues in the heart of Toledo’s Pinewood District, the location where two thirds of the city’s African Americans lived by the end of the 1920s. Notably, the Stewart Pharmacy was the city’s first and only pharmacy owned and operated by African Americans. The Stewarts lived above their first-floor pharmacy, as was common among business owners at that time, and soon their spacious home and business became a gathering point for residents of the neighborhood. Visitors from out-of-town who did not stay in one of the racially segregated hotels in the city sometimes found lodging and a warm reception at the Stewarts home including Marian Anderson, Mary McLeod Bethune, and W.E.B. DuBois. The Stewarts were among the leading African American families in Toledo and operated their pharmacy until they sold the business in 1945. Ella Stewart became a leading member of community groups in Toledo, including the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and the Enterprise Charity Club, a social-service organization run by AfricanAmerican women. From 1944 to 1948 she served as president of the Ohio Association of Colored Women; and from 1948 to 1952, she ascended to the presidency of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs (NACWC). As leader of the NACWC, Stewart spoke out against segregation,

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discrimination, and racist stereotypes. In 1961 she became an inaugural member of the Toledo Board of Community Relations, which worked to improve race relations in the city, and to ensure enforcement of civil-rights legislation. In 1952, Stewart was appointed as an American delegate to the International Conference of Women of the World, held in Athens, Greece. She spent time during the 1950s touring as a goodwill ambassador for the United States and in 1954 one of her U.S. State Department tours took her to several nations in Southeast Asia. In 1963 she was appointed to the United States commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In 1937, Stewart became a charter member of the Toledo Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. She was also a member of the Toledo League of Women Voters (the first African-American member), the League of City Mothers, and the Toledo Council of Churches. Ella Stewart received many awards during her lifetime and posthumously. In 1961, the Ella P. Stewart Elementary School was named in her honor in Toledo (later: Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls). Stewart volunteered at the school regularly. In 1969, she was named to the roster of Distinguished Alumni of the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. In 1974, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Toledo. In 1978, she was inducted into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame and in 1999, she was an inaugural inductee into the Toledo Civic Hall of Fame. Ella Nora (Phillips) Stewart passed away on November 27, 1987. She was preceded in death by her husband, William W. Stewart, in 1976. Ella Stewart was a trailblazer who lived a remarkable life. She pursued her passions in pharmacy and civil rights and excelled in both. The odds were stacked against her being an African American woman during the Nadir of Race Relations, but she persevered. Due to the length of her accomplishments, I encourage each of you to find out more about this very distinguished civil rights leader and allow her to serve as an inspiration to continue to pursue your dreams because it is never too late. Works Cited https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/ news-wires-white-papers-and-books/stewartella-1893-1987 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ella_P._Stewart http://www.toledoblade.com/ memories/2017/11/27/Monday-memoriesImpressing-legacy-Ella-P-Stewart.html 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.


COMMUNITYEVENTS Columbus, Ohio July 5, 2018 Concerts and Conversation: “Having Our Say” Enjoy the collaboration between Cedric Easton, Circle Friends and Christian Howe’s Creative String Workshop in a night of music and thoughtful insight. This Jazz and Fiddle style music is coupled with a panel discussion on equality and women’s rights in our society. For more information call 614-445-7342. Location: Church & Community Development for All People Address: 946 Parsons Ave, 43206 Time: 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM Admission: Free Web: www.Facebook.com/events/190718634834386 July 6, 2018 6th Annual Columbus Black Theatre Festival Calling all back actors, poets, dancers and artists. Come out and celebrate the 6th Annual Columbus Black Theatre Festival with multiple days of events including spoken word, plays, dance recitals and more. For more information visit the website below. Location: Columbus Performing Arts Center Address: 549 Franklin Ave, 43215 Time: Fri - 6:00 PM, Sat - 2:00 PM Admission: Call 614-464-9400 for prices. Web: www.ColumbusBlackTheatreFestival.com July 9 - 27, 2018 Tuition Free STEM Program for Minority Males The Verizon Innovative Learning Minority Male Program at Central State University is looking for minority males in grades 6-8 to participate in this tuition-free program. If you know of a young man that enjoys learning about topics such as robotics, 3D printing, virtual reality or augmented reality, this may be the team for him. To register, visit the website below. Space is limited. Location: Central State University - Dayton Address: 840 Germantown St., 45402 Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (Weekdays) Admission: Free Web: www.CentralState.edu/camp July 14, 2018 WSAX Jazz Ram Jam with Marion Meadows Join the SEMM Foundation & Jazz 98.5 FM for an evening a smooth jazz at Whitehall Yearling High School. Hear sounds from Marion Meadows, Urban Jazz Coalition, Mark Hampton and more. This is one live jazz concert that you do not want to miss. For tickets or for more information visit the website below. Location: Mike Ferguson Stadium Field Address: 675 South Yearling Rd, 43213 Time: Noon - 5:00 PM Admission: $10 - $15 Web: www.EventBrite.com/e/wsax-jazz-ram-tickets

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

July 18, 2018 The Opiod Crisis and WHO Can Help The Whitehall Division of Fire is presenting writer of Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidenic, Sam Quinones for a one-day seminar. The former LA Times reporter, along ith local and county resources, will present the tools needed to curb the crisis in Ohio. This free and open to the public. Location: Kae Avenue Elementary School Address: 4738 Kae Avenue, 43213 Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Admission: Free Web: www.Whitehall-oh.us July 20, 2018 Summer Movie Series: Shaft (1971) The CAPA Summer Movie Series presents Shaft (1971). A cool and collected private investigator, John Shaft, is hired by a crime lord to find and recover his kidnapped daughter. “The mob wanted Harlem. They got Shaft...Up to here.” Oscar winner for Best Original Song! Location: Ohio Theatre Address: 39 E State Street, 43215 Time: 7:30 PM Admission: $30 Web: www.CAPA.com July 28, 2018 Tuskegee Alumni Club Scholarship Breakfast Join the Tuskegee University Alumni Club for a special fundraising breakfast featuring music, keynote speaker, university update and more. All funds will be donated to the scholarship fund to support current and future Tuskegee University students. For tickets or for more information visit the website below. Please support this important event. Location: First Church of God Address: 3480 Refugee Rd, 43232 Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Admission: $15-$40 Web: www.EventBrite.com/e/columbus-ohio-tuskegee-alumni August 4, 2018 FamJam 2018 Join Franklin County Children Services and Mayor Andrew J. Ginther for the annual FamJam celebration at Columbus Commons. This family enrichment festival is free and open to the public. Enjoy activities for the kids, health resources, food and music. For more information, visit the website below. Location: Columbus Commons Address: 160 S High Street, 43215 Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Admission: Free Web: www.ChildrenServices.FranklinCountyOhio.gov

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • July 2018


COMMUNITYEVENTS Dayton, Ohio July 9 - 27, 2018 Tuition Free STEM Program for Minority Males The Verizon Innovative Learning Minority Male Program at Central State University is looking for minority males in grades 6-8 to participate in this tuition-free program. If you know of a young man that enjoys learning about topics such as robotics, 3D printing, virtual reality or augmented reality, this may be the team for him. To register, visit the website below. Space is limited. Location: Central State University - Dayton Address: 840 Germantown St., 45402 Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (Weekdays) Admission: Free Web: www.CentralState.edu/camp July 9, 2018 Business Reboot Join the Miami Valley Community Action Partnership for this free lunch and learn series designed to help business owners reboot and grow their companies. Participants will be given handouts and assignments towards developing an action plan. For more information call 937-341-5000 ext. 125. Registration is required. Location: Miami Valley Community Action Partnership Address: 719 S Main Street, 45402 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM Admission: Free Web: www.MiamiValleyCap.org July 20, 2018 BeBe Moore Campbell Minority Month Event The US House of Representatives proclaimed July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Health Awareness Month. The Greater Cincinnati National Alliance on Mental Illness will host a special awards gala featuring Dr. Tamara Campbell as the keynote speaker. For tickets or for more information call 513-238-7788. Location: Mardi Gras on Madison Address: 1524 Madison Rd, 45206 Time: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Admission: $50 Web: www.EventBrite.com/e/bebe-moore/campbell July 21, 2018 2018 Blessed with Success Book Tour - Stop #4 This interactive and action-oriented book club will read, share and grow together! The Success: Powered By Relationships will travel throughout the Miami Valley. On our 4th stop, we will feature Chapter 13 author, Utsey Shelton - where she explains the impact of The Power of 5 on her success journey. Bring your book, business cards and let’s start building. Books will be available for purchase at the event. Location: The Back House Address: 4077 Salem Ave, 45416 Time: 10:00 AM - Noon Admission: Free (Donations) Web: www.Sharing-Ministries.com

July 21, 2018 50th Anniversary of Urban League Guild The Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio’s Guild is celebrating a big milestone - the 50th Anniversary of the Guild! The goldent anniversary will be marked with a luncheon and awards ceremony. For tickets or for more information, call 937226-1513. Location: Marriot Hotel Address: 6189 Muhlhauser Rd, 45069 Time: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM Admission: $50 Web: www.ULGSO.org July 22, 2018 Judge Glenda Hatchett to Speak at Women’s Day Celebration Judge Glenda Hatchett, star of the syndicated tv show, The Verdict, will be the guest speaker at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church’s Women’s Day Service. The worship experience will feature a 50-voice women’s choir, Praise Dance Ministry and a powerful message from Judge Hatchett. For more information, please visit the website below. Location: The Alpha House Address: 2262 N Gettysburg Ave, 45406 Time: 10:45 AM Admission: Free Web: www.StLukeDayton.org July 27, 2018 The Alpha 4 Corner Sip & Greek Stroll Off Come out and enjoy a casual evening with the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Theta Lambda Chapter. Enjoy food, drinks, music and see the slickest strolls from NPHC, AKAs, Deltas, Zetas, SGRhos, Alphas, Kappas, Omegas, Sigmas and Iotas. Location: The Alpha House Address: 3614 Salem Ave, 45406 Time: 7:00 PM - Until Admission: $20 Web: www.EventBrite.com/e/alpha-phi-alpha-4-corner-sip September 15, 2018 Play: Mama Knows Alot, But Grandma Knows Everything A Cortez Jackson Make A Star Production presents a new play - “Mama Knows Alot, But Grandma Knows Everything!”Come out and check out this comedy and support a local production. For tickets call 937-401-4585. Location: Dayton Convention Center Address: 22 E 5th Street, 45402 Time: 4:00 PM Admission: $30 General/$35 VIP Web: www.MakeAStarProduction.Weebly.com

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 call 614-826-2254 or email us at editor@columbusafricanamerican.com. Submissions are due the last Friday of each month.

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Board of Commissioners

hr-boc.franklincountyohio.gov/job-openings/

Franklin County employees help Central Ohio thrive Local government employees contribute to the community while being a part of a dynamic, fair and flexible environment. Visit our website today to see how you can make a difference!

KEVIN L. BOYCE

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JOHN O’GRADY

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015


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CPO Management & CPO Impact: 910 East Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43205 Phone: 614.253.0984 www.cpoms.org | www.cpoimpact.org

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015


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