June 2019 Edition

Columbus & Dayton

June 2019

22 25 30

FREE

Tribute to Former State Senator Charleta B. Tavares

Black Tennis in Columbus, Ohio - The Resistance Continues

By Stephanie Bridges

Relax, Breathe Deeply and Grow Food

By Tim Anderson

SUMMER FUN GUIDE

“I Got Your Back.”

Assist boys in growing to become men.

Become a SIMBA mentor today!

How do they become men without knowing what a man really is?

This generation of black boys is in dire need of black, male, role models. They need men like you to offer their time. You don’t need to be perfect; in fact, it’s better if you’re not. These boys need you to share your time and give them a better chance at being the best men they can become.

For more information call (614) 275-2690 or visit www.childrenservices.franklincountyohio.gov

PUBLISHER’S PAGE Founder & Publisher Ray Miller

Layout & Design Ray Miller, III

Assistant Editor Ray Miller, III

Distribution Manager Ronald Burke Student Interns Jada Respress Olivia Deslandes

Lead Photographer Ira Graham

Contributing Editors

Tim Anderson Lisa Benton, MD, MPH Rodney Q. Blount, Jr., MA Anthony Cilluffo Marian Wright Edelman Richard Fry, PhD Cecil Jones, MBA Robin A. Jones, PhD Kim Krisberg Darren Lundy, MBA Marc H. Morial Charleta B. Tavares

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

The Columbus & Dayton African American

Welcome to the 99th monthly edition of The Columbus & Dayton African American. Obviously, we are looking forward to producing our 100th edition of the news journal next month--if not before. We will keep you posted on the celebration of this important ensuing milestone. It is because of you--our readers, contributing writers, advertisers, and subscribers that our publication has been so well received in both Columbus and Dayton, Ohio. As we watch well-established newspapers folding, merging, and being sold out, I count it a genuine blessing that we have very carefully and strategically developed a business model and a humanistic approach which has enabled our continued growth and attraction.

This edition of the news journal is our Summer Fun Guide. We thought it appropriate for us to produce such an edition because Columbus and Dayton are vibrant with festivals, concerts, fairs, restaurants, the arts, science, sports, and a broad range of entertainment venues.

Our contributing writers have creatively stretched these topics in a very educational and inspirational way. I had given considerable thought to focusing this column on my travels to Africa, Asia, South America or the Caribbean Islands. Only for the purpose of encouraging some readers to be moved in a way that they would be inspired to travel to those continents and regions of the world. And then I had a better idea.

This is also the time of year for graduations and commencement exercises. There are few things for me that are as gratifying as being a part of a graduation ceremony. I have witnessed the pride and exhilaration of graduates and the support of family members and friends upon their loved one’s name being announced and their degree being conferred upon them.

This process takes on a deeply spiritual and historical reflection in the African American community on “ how we got over.” Tears flow, testimonies abound, and exhilarating screams fill the air as witnesses to “the first” take their place of honor.

I no doubt thought about this subject because of a speech I will be delivering on Saturday, June 8, 2019, to the graduates of the Dayton Business and Technology High School. Often those of us who are regularly called upon to deliver keynote addresses or sermons will contextualize our speeches with a story about a major incident, occasion, experience, or the sharing of the life of someone of historical significance. For a person with my kind of background, it would not be uncommon to structure one’s remarks through a brief biographical summary of Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, A. Philip Randolph, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Ella Baker, Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown or Congresswoman Barbara Jordan--as examples. Following normative logic, one rarely uses a local icon to illustrate a major point. After all, “One is never a prophet in his own land” or at least that’s what they say.

I have decided to go against the grain and frame this upcoming speech by further introducing the audience--graduates, family members, and guests to the late State Representative C. J. McLin, Jr. Why? Because of his many significant accomplishments on behalf of his constituents throughout the City of Dayton, the State of Ohio and the nation. Further, I plan to dissect one of C.J.’s most powerful, albeit very short, three-minute speeches on “What we want.”This will be articulated within a 400-year history from 1619 to 2019. Not to worry-this sprint through history will illuminate and reinforce major milestones within 3-5 minutes.

The aforementioned speech which Representative McLin delivered was raw, full of frustration, bitterness, broken promises, and expressed in no uncertain terms a pent up sense of betrayal.

The immediate object of Representative McLin’s deep-seated anger and disappointment was the State of Ohio’s newly elected, brilliant, liberal, racially sensitive Democratic Governor-Richard F. Celeste. Mclin, as the President of the powerful Black Elected Democrats of Ohio (BEDO), had worked tirelessly to get Celeste elected and the Governor had quickly moved on to governing without real inclusion from the base of his support. When McLin virtually screamed these words to the 100’s of supporters convened at the Columbus Downtown Sheraton Hotel, it was more than a reactionary pronouncement. His words were, in a very real sense, the public delivery of an unequivocal message laced with consequences. McLin shouted, “the Governor want to know what we want.........WE WANT IT ALL---WE WANT IT ALL! The take away for the graduates will be the opportunity to have a clear understanding of their role in advancing democracy and its promises for all Americans, and to hear lessons of one of the most brilliant political minds in our nation--the late C.J. McLin, Jr. (May 31, 1921--December 27, 1988).

This is serious business. Let’s learn and act together!

With Appreciation and Respect,

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

Ray Miller Founder & Publisher

3

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

In This Issue

29

Book Bags & E-Readers

30

Relax, Breathe Deeply and

Grow Food

32

The African American

Vote is Under Attack

33

Legislative Update

34

Remembering Unita

Blackwell

5 15 17 5

Graduations and the Handling of the Student Loan Crisis in Black America By: Robin Jones, PhD

Racism is Killing Us: Not Everywhere By: Charleta B. Tavares

Summer Safety is an Easy Investment By: Lisa Benton, MD, MPH

Graduations and the

35

Are Your Money Beliefs

Holding You Back?

36

Calvin Lawshe: University

of Toledo Administrator

and Toledo City Director

37

15

Racism Is Killing Us:

Handling of the Student

Not Everywhere

Loan Crisis in

Black America

17

Summer Safety is an

Easy Investment

6

A Rising Share of

Undergraduates are from

18

Thousands of Children,

Poor Families, Especially

Teens Killed by Guns

at Less Selective Colleges

Annually in US

8

Summer Fun Guide

19

COVER STORY

22

Tribute to Former State Senator Charleta B. Tavares

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

4

Dayton to Columbus, the I-70 Entertainment

Expressway 38

My Summer Bucket List

All contents of this news journal are copyrighted Š 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.

EDUCATiON

GRADUATIONS AND THE HANDLING OF THE STUDENT LOAN CRISIS IN BLACK AMERICA

By Robin A. Jones, PhD The Month of June - The Prominence of Graduations June is “camped” between two largely celebrated holidays which established the Independence of the United States - Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. It is a month of special days and historical events. We all have our personal takeaways for the month of June. The most prominent and significant event, especially for African Americans are graduation ceremonies. While parents are proud of their child’s accomplishments, walking that “stage” comes with a cost that includes multiple factors according to age, school, and degree of discipline.

For most African American families, a graduating student is a marked and monumental event. It is a proud moment in time. Because, as Blacks we were denied the opportunity to learn and become educated.

My father, who finished school in the sixth grade, cried as I walked my high school ceremony. He said, “It is a day I will always remember.”

The Racial Divide and the Ceremonies African Americans look forward to a graduating senior during this time of year. It is noted as an honor. The financial rewards as the next generation moves forward to plan and build their career, are endless. Many students are first generation participants walking the plank, to make their families proud. Students graduating from high school and entering college - undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate, along with top medical degrees, and other areas of interest are opportunities awaiting the call.

Whether it is high school, community college, traditional college, or other - ceremonial graduations have taken on new meaning. For some colleges, African American students continue to celebrate very racially divided graduations because they are not included in the student-body ceremonies. To this day, much has changed, much has not. For example, although students have earned their right to keynote their graduating peers, many African American students are denied the opportunity to speak at their ceremonies as Valedictorian and Salutatorian.

Why African Americans need Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) In 1837, Americans, knowing that African Americans were not accepted in many of the traditional colleges and universities started the establishment of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

Philanthropist Richard Humphreys gave funds to the establishment of the oldest HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.

Despite the positive impacts of HBCUs, the federal government has reduced funding to private HBCUs by an unconscionable 42%.

At the same time when you consider the fact that a disproportionate number of African American students end up relying on private student loans with far less favorable terms and higher interest rates, it is unsurprising that HBCU graduates leave college with a disproportionately high amount of student loans that they are less likely to repay.

HBCU Landscape – Morehouse College We must acknowledge the special role HBCUs play in the higher education landscape, where according to the United Negro College Fund, they make up only 3% of colleges and universities. Despite this small number, HBCUs produce close to 20% of the nation’s African American graduates and enroll 10% of the total population of African American students.

Morehouse College’s success with African American males exemplifies the HBCU advantage. African American male college students have a six-year completion rate of 40%, the lowest number of any racial and gender-based subgroup. Morehouse College, however, has a 53% graduation rate, with 52% of these graduates enrolling in graduate or professional school within five years of graduation. It also helps that private HBCUs like Morehouse are significantly more affordable than similar non-HBCU institutions, and that public colleges and universities serve 74% of the HBCU total student population.

Indebted Black Students have the Lowest Graduation Rates Because college is a new area or an area of interest for Black families, some are not familiar with the cost or the financial outlay that institutions consider an investment. We don’t know lwhat it cost for some books, for entrance exams, for application fees, for dorm rooms, for meal cards, for transportation to and from the college, and to get home to come back to visit with family. When we look at the financial outlay we look at financial aid, student loans, and scholarships if we’re eligible.

But as African Americans look forward to moving into their formal education years, for the most part, it’s a financial obligation that holds them back and removes them from a steady growth path. Did you know many students graduate only to receive empty folders? Did you know their diploma can be “held-up” because they owe or have a financial obligation with their school? As they shake the hand of the Dean, President, Chancellor or otherwise, they are given a basic pat-on-the-back, “ATTABOY”, hoping that eventually their diploma, certificate or degree will be soon-to-come. Because they lack the documentation for proof of 5

graduation, and an official transcript is not available, they cannot get employment in their field of study.

African American Students and the Student Loan Debt An estimated 86.8% of black students borrow federal student loans to attend a four-year public college, as opposed to 59.9% of white students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Roughly 60 percent are first-generation college students from low-wealth households. Therein lies the hope: that these students will inspire and motivate others in their community to do the same, going forth to achieve careers, dreams and a better life than they previously thought achievable. Our mission to elevate the education of underserved students is paramount.

This results are lopsided where community colleges serve a majority of black and Hispanic students and 41% of first-generation college students are spending $531 less per student compared to pre-recession spending, while flagship public universities spend $404 more per student while serving less diverse, more academically prepared students.

Why Smith Paid $44.7 million in Student Loans Smith, of whom, keynoted in his message to 400 students who will be graduating college without the burden of student loans because he paid the debt for the entire student graduating body. “You will create amazing opportunities for Morehouse College’s Class of 2019.” But the longer-lasting aspect of Smith’s inspirational gift to 400 students is giving you a timely opportunity to question is how we create a new “normal” for the 44.7 million adults managing the burden of student loan payments, a burden that is still felt more acutely for the diverse student populations who benefit the most from access to higher education.

Forbes Tweeted: But missing from the coverage of Smith’s unprecedented generosity is a crucial question about the value of higher education in the United States: How did it become normal for fewer than 400 students to accumulate $40 million in student loan debt?

Dr. Jones has a commitment to a strong work ethic, education and a passion for entrepreneurship. In her 40+ years of employment, Robin spent 30 of those years gainfully employed with fortune 50 companies such as GE, IBM, Ashland Oil, and the U.S. Department of Energy, and Department of Defense. Robin started her career path as a database developer building her first database for the F14 Aircraft Fighter planes and from there she catapulted her way to the position of Interim CIO. In her most recent employment capacity, Robin is a retired Senior Manager PMO Director of the Computer Center at University of California, Berkeley - Haas School of Business.

The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2019 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

EDUCATION

A RISING SHARE OF UNDERGRADUATES ARE FROM POOR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY AT LESS SELECTIVE COLLEGES

By Richard Fry and Anthony Cilluffo

The overall number of undergraduates at U.S. colleges and universities has increased dramatically over the past 20 years, with growth fueled almost exclusively by an influx of students from low-income families and students of color. But these changes are not occurring uniformly across the postsecondary landscape. The rise of poor and minority undergraduates has been most pronounced in public two-year colleges and the least selective four-year colleges and universities, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of National Center for Education Statistics data. There has been less change at the nation’s more selective four-year colleges and universities, where a majority of dependent undergraduates continue to be from middle- and higher-income families.

How students’ economic situation is measured As of the 2015-16 academic year (the most recent data available), about 20 million students were enrolled in undergraduate education, up from 16.7 million in 199596.1 Of those enrolled in 2015-16, 47% were nonwhite and 31% were in poverty, up from 29% and 21%, respectively, 20 years earlier.2 The rising proportion of undergraduates in poverty does not mirror wider trends in society. The official poverty rate for adults age 18 to 64 (12%) was similar in 1996 and 2016, suggesting that access to college for students from lower-income backgrounds has increased since 1996.

The share of students in poverty differs considerably between dependent students – those who are younger than 24 and assumed to be receiving financial support from their family – and independent students, which includes those ages 24 and older as well as younger students assumed to be receiving little or no financial support from their parents. In 2016, 20% of dependent students were in poverty, up from 12% in 1996.

Among independent students, fully 42% were in poverty in 2016, compared with 29% 20 years earlier.

The increase in the share of dependent students who are in poverty has been most pronounced at private for-profit colleges, public two-year institutions, and minimally selective and open admission four-year colleges and universities. At more selective institutions, a growing share of dependent undergraduates are from higher-income families (incomes at least 7.5 times the poverty line). For poor independent students, the increase has been substantial across different types of postsecondary institutions.

The share of undergraduates who are racial or ethnic minorities has increased in all types of

postsecondary institutions, reflecting at least in part the country’s changing demographics.

But the change has been most pronounced in public two-year and minimally selective four-year colleges.

The increase in the minority share of undergraduates comes amid a relatively large increase in Hispanic enrollment. Hispanic undergraduates have more than doubled their share of enrollment at four-year colleges and universities since 1996 (from 6% to 16% in 2016). Hispanics are now the largest minority group among students at minimally selective four-year institutions (eclipsing the black share of enrollment) and are even with the black share of enrollment at moderately selective four-year institutions.

The analysis also finds that undergraduates today are more likely to borrow to pay for college expenses, with the greatest increase among middle- and higher-income students.

In 2016, 39% of middle-income students took out a loan, similar to the borrowing rate of students in poverty (38%). The likelihood of borrowing is now mostly unrelated to income, marking a significant change from the past.

Undergraduates are also significantly less likely to be employed while enrolled than in 1996.

Larger shares now attend four-year and private for-profit institutions, with fewer at community colleges.

Compared with 20 years ago, undergraduates are now less likely to be enrolled in community colleges. Public two-year institutions educated 36% of undergraduates in 2016, down from 44% in 1996.3 Enrollment increased at public four-year colleges and universities and private for-profit institutions. In 2016, 32% of undergraduates were enrolled in public four-year institutions, compared with 30% in 1996. The share enrolled in private for-profit institutions steeply increased from 1996 (5%) to 2012 (13%) but has contracted recently (9%).

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

6

While the share of undergraduates at fouryear colleges and universities has increased overall, the share of four-year undergraduates educated by very selective institutions has fallen since 1996. The share enrolled at minimally selective and open admission institutions has increased over that time.

The type of institution a student attends is important because more-selective institutions are associated with better student outcomes. For example, about fourin-ten undergraduates beginning at public two-year colleges (39%) have finished an undergraduate credential (either a certificate, associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree) within six years. The corresponding completion rate for undergraduates beginning at a four-year institution is significantly higher (67%).

More-selective institutions devote more resources to a student’s education in terms of instructional spending and faculty qualifications. In addition, students graduate at higher rates at more selective institutions, and earnings after college may be higher for students from selective institutions.

Undergraduates increasingly likely to be from families in poverty In 2016, 20% of dependent undergraduates were from families in poverty, a sharp rise from 1996 (12%). Since poverty in the wider 18- to 64-year-old population remained flat at about 12% during these same periods, it suggests that more poor students are participating in postsecondary education than 20 years earlier.

The share of dependent undergraduates who are from higher-income families has remained at roughly one-in-ten students from 1996 to 2016.

As the ranks of poor and near-poor students have grown and the share of higherincome students has held steady, the share of dependent undergraduates from lower-

EDUCATION

middle-income and middle-income families has decreased from 1996 (63%) to 2016 (52%).

Independent undergraduates are about twice as likely as dependent students to be in poverty (42% vs. 20%). As is the case among dependent students, the share of independent students in poverty has risen considerably since 1996, while the share who are lowermiddle and middle income has fallen and the share who are higher income has remained stable at 3%.

Share of undergraduates in poverty has grown most at less selective institutions The growth in the share of dependent students from families in poverty has been uneven across postsecondary education.

Their growing presence has been most dramatic among less selective institutions.

At community colleges, the share of dependent students who are in poverty has doubled from 13% in 1996 to 27% in 2016.

Similarly, private for-profit institutions have experienced a 13 percentage point increase in the share of dependent students who come from poor families. In turn, public and private nonprofit four-year schools have had more modest growth in students from families in poverty (6 and 3 percentage points, respectively) since 1996.

The shares of dependent students from higher-income families have remained relatively stable at public two-year and four-year colleges and at private for-profit institutions since 1996. But a larger share of dependent students at private nonprofit fouryear schools now comes from higher-income families (17% in 2016 vs. 11% in 1996).

A similar pattern emerges when looking at the share of students in each income group at four-year colleges and universities by admissions selectivity.4 At minimally selective and open admission institutions, poor students have nearly doubled their presence from 14% in 1996 to 25% in 2016.

The growth in the share of poor students at moderately selective and very selective four-year institutions has been more modest.

At more selective four-year colleges and universities, a growing share of dependent students come from higher-income families.

For example, at moderately selective fouryear institutions, 12% of dependent students were from a higher-income background in 2016, up from 7% in 1996.

A different pattern appears in the changing income background of independent undergraduates. Among independent undergraduates, the changes are not aligned with selectivity. For example, the shares of independent students with higher incomes are small and unchanged among all types of institutions. Meanwhile, rising shares of independent students are in poverty, and the largest increase occurred at very selective four-year institutions: 52% of these students were in poverty in 2016, up from 32% in 1996 (see figures in Appendix).

Share of nonwhite undergraduates has increased at all types of postsecondary

Hispanic undergraduate growth has been greatest at less selective tiers. The Hispanic share of public two-year enrollees has increased from 11% in 1996 to 24% in 2016 – a 12 percentage point increase.5 Their presence at private non-profit four-year institutions increased a more modest 6 points (from 5% in 1996 to 12% in 2016).

Among four-year enrollees, Hispanics increased their share at minimally selective and open admission four-year institutions by 15 percentage points (from 6% in 1996 to 22% in 2016). At moderately selective and very selective four-year colleges and universities, Hispanics increased their enrollment share by 8 percentage points. But Hispanic growth among moderately selective four-year institutions has been enough that they now equal the black share of enrollment at these institutions.

institutions Reflecting broader changes in the U.S. population, racial and ethnic minorities are increasing as a share of undergraduates at public and private nonprofit four-year colleges and universities. The same is true at public two-year and private for-profit institutions, although whites remain the majority at four-year institutions.

The growth in the minority share of undergraduates has been greater in the less selective tiers of postsecondary education.

The share of nonwhite undergraduates at community colleges and public four-year colleges and universities each increased by 19 percentage points from 1996 to 2016, but only 10 points at private nonprofit four-year institutions (from 27% to 37%).

Among undergraduates enrolled at public and private nonprofit four-year institutions, the presence of minority students has increased most at minimally selective and open admission institutions (21 percentage points). The minority share of enrollees has grown less at very selective and moderately selective four-year institutions (by 16 and 15 points, respectively).

The increase in minority enrollees is partly driven by Hispanic enrollment growth. The growth of Hispanic undergraduates reflects both demographic trends and increasing educational attainment. As of the 2000 census, Hispanics became the secondlargest racial and ethnic group in the overall population, behind non-Hispanic whites. It took longer for Hispanics to reach similar milestones in educational attainment.

Hispanics outnumbered blacks among the nation’s public high school graduates starting in the 2007-08 academic year. The share of Hispanic youth enrolling in college has markedly increased in this century.

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Students in poverty are no more likely to take out a student loan than other undergraduates A rising share of undergraduates are borrowing to pay for college. Some 39% of undergraduates took out a loan during the 2016 academic year, compared with 26% in 1996.6 The pattern of borrowing by students has radically shifted since 1996. In 1996, students that were in poverty were the most likely to borrow (33%) and higher-income students were the least likely to do so (8%). In 2016, there was no longer a clear relationship between the likelihood of borrowing and student income: 38% of students in poverty took out loans, as did 30% of higher-income students. Middle-income undergraduates were just as likely to borrow (39%) as those who were in poverty (38%).

Students attending four-year colleges and universities are more likely to borrow than community college students. But, with the exception of students in the private forprofits, the share of students borrowing has increased by about 10 percentage points at both two-year and four-year institutions.

The analysis also finds that undergraduates increasingly are not working while enrolled.

In 2016, 36% of undergraduates were not employed, compared with 20% in 2000 (comparable work information is not available for 1996). The share working full time dropped significantly, from 38% in 2000 to 25% in 2016.

Richard Fry is a senior researcher at Pew Research Center. He is an expert on school and college enrollment in the United States, as well as the returns to education in the labor market and marriage market, and its connection to household economic wellbeing such as net worth. Fry received his doctorate in economics from the University of Michigan.

Anthony Cilluffo is a a research assistant focusing on social and demographic trends at Pew Research Center.

Article from www.pewresearch.org

The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2019 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

SUMMER FUN GUIDE Columbus, Ohio

June 7 – August 9 Join us for Commons for Kids every Friday through August 9. This is a free weekly event for kids to get outside, jump into the fun, and explore their creative side with different crafts and activities. These events will feature inflatables, activities, carousel rides, crafts and more every Friday from June to August!

Location: The Commons (Downtown) Address: 160 S. High St. 43215 Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://www.columbusonthecheap.com/commonsfor-kids/ June 8, 2019 The 2019 Columbus Arts Festival will be held along Columbus’ beautiful downtown Riverfront. The Riverfront will again be transformed into a stunning outdoor art gallery as the nation’s top artists display their work and attract art enthusiasts from all over the country. In addition to hosting more than hundreds of nationally acclaimed artists, the 2019 Festival will feature fantastic gourmet fare from some of the city’s finest restaurants, live concerts, dance and theatre performances, film screenings, hands-on art activities and more--there will truly be something for everyone!

Location: Downtown Riverfront at the Scioto Mile Address: N/A Time: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: 614-224-2606 or http://www.columbusartsfestival. org/ June 8, 2019 The monthly Short North Gallery Hop is a monthly tradition that spans 30 years of celebrating art, local shops and good food. There are street performers, special events, food and drinks throughout the District.

Galleries, restaurants, boutiques, and salons showcase Ohio-based artists and feature the works of nationally and internationally acclaimed artists, while musicians, singers, dance troupes, and other entertainers perform in the streets.

Vendors also sell unique handcrafted items throughout the Hop. No matter your age or style, you’ll find something to enjoy at Gallery Hop, and can enjoy a bite to eat or a beverage at some of the best restaurants and bars in the city.

Location: North High Street Address: N/A Time: 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://shortnorth.org/arts-galleries/gallery-hop/ June 12 (Wednesdays) through August 28, 2019 Easton Town Center will host a series of free concerts every Wednesday through the Summer. The concerts feature a mix of local, regional and national performances presented by the Easton Community Foundation. Bring your blanket and enjoy!

Location: Easton Town Center Address: 160 Easton Town Center 43219 Time: 6 – 9 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: 614-337-2200 June 13 – October 31, 2019 On one glorious day each week – Thursday - food trucks invade Columbus Commons. CDDC will continue to offer the downtown daytime population access to Columbus’ best food trucks. Eight trucks will be featured, along with two rotating each month to provide variety for patrons.

Note: There will be no Food Truck Food Court on July 4 or September 12.

June 14, 2019 SUMMER614 brings some of your favorite R&B and Hip Hop artists from yesterday and today to the Columbus Commons.

Get together with your friends and family; make new friends as you rock with Kool & The Gang to Celebration, Cherish, Jungle Boogie and more. With music, food, drinks and vendors you won’t want to miss it!

Location: The Commons (Downtown) Address: 160 S. High Street 43215 Time: 8 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.

Admission: $10+ Contact: https://columbuscommons.org/ June 14 - 19, 2019 The Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival boasts the “Best Blues & Jazz in Ohio.” The festival offers more than 90 hours of Ohio’s best blues and jazz. Not to mention, they have plenty of activities to entertain all generations in your family.

Location: The Banks of Creekside Park Address: 117 Mill Street Gahanna 43230 Time: Varies Admission: $10+ Contact: http://www.creeksidebluesandjazz.com/schedule.html June 15, 22, 29 2019 Near East Safe Passageways is excited to announce our launch event! Our parent/caregiver and young adult Self Exploration and Expression Summit (S.E.E. Summit), is full of ways to connect and have fun through expressing your talents, and competitive family play. The event will consist of a grounding meditation ft. Katana “Kay” Waters, family all expression open mic hosted by Safi Bein & DJ JC spinning, and an interactive workshop presented by the Kim Brazwell of KiMISTRY. The “Great Migration” community building simulation finishes the summit while the selfie station and Resource Trail assures your family has something #fbf worthy, a few community destinations to explore for keeps and conversation for years to come #familygoals.

Lunch and snacks will be provided throughout the day.

Location: East High School Address: 1500 E. Broad Street 43205 Time: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: 614-645-0380 or www.eventbrite.com/e/near-east-safepassageways-s-ee-summit-tickets-62446101972?aff=ebdssbdestse arch June 16, 2019 It’s time for the Annual Celebrating Father’s Community Event.

Join in the fun to celebrate our village protectors. There will be free food, entertainment and activities for the kids. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for an afternoon of family fund. Nominations for “Village Protector” are due by Monday, June 10. For nomination forms go to: https://forms.gle/ZvLTRxa72gNqhvjS8.

This event is supported with a United Way Neighborhood Partnership Grant.

Location: MPACC Box Park Address: 925 Mount Vernon Ave. 43203 Time: 4 – 7 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: www.eventbrite.com/e/annual-celebrating-fatherscommunity-event-tickets-62771993723?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Location: The Commons (Downtown) Address: 160 S. High St. 43215 Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Admission: N/A Contact: https://columbuscommons.org/events/food-trucks/

The Columbus African & Dayton American African American News Journal • June • February 2019 2015

8

SUMMER FUN GUIDE

June 17, 2019 Barbershop Talk is an event that brings together local barbers and the community to address the conversations held in Columbus barbershops. The event provides a safe space for men to talk about the issues that impact their lifestyle, individual well-being, and family health.

Free dinner will be provided along with entertainment

by Guest Master of Ceremonies, Comedian Ricky Smith.

Come meet and talk. Last year, several hundred people attended this event.

Location: Africenric High School Address: 3223 Allegheny Ave. 43209 Time: 5:30 -8:30 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: Mr. Luke at nluke@ncusolutions.org or call 614754-7511 June 21 - 22, 2019 Join us for the summers hottest event to cool down!! The 2nd Annual Columbus Food & Wine Festival. Enjoy live ‘chef demonstrations, wine tastings from wineries from across the country, live performances and eat some of the best food the Midwest has to offer.

Grab some food, a glass of wine and sit in our reserved blanket picnic areas or under the umbrellas by the stage.

Location: Battelle Riverfront Park Address: 25 Marconi Boulevard 43215 Time: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: www.ColumbusFoodWine.com June 22, 2019 Raw Yoga614 is hosting Trap Yoga & Food Trucks; a carefree, light-hearted good time of yoga, Hip Hop, R&B, food trucks and vendors. Yoga teacher Yaizmen Shereè will lead the 60-minute session that promises to energize and challenge you. All you have to do is pick your spot and lay your mat. Raw Yoga614 is a black-owned yoga and massage studio established to create a comfortable, safe, and fun space where students, especially those of color, experience diverse yoga and mindfulness instruction by diverse instructors, staff, background, and music.

Location: MPACC Box Park Address: 925 Mount Vernon Ave. 43203 Time: 6 – 10:00 p.m. Check-in starts at 6 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: www.trapandfood.com June 22 – July 27, 2019 Jazz in Westerville is back this summer with great music and entertainment, food trucks and fun. This year’s lineup includes: Alexander Zonjic and Jeff Lorber, Nexlevel and Nick Colionne, Jessy J and Brian Simpson, Urban Jazz coalition and Althea Rene and Eric Darius.

Location: Alum Creekk Amphitheater Address: 221 W. Main Street 43081 Time: 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://www.westerville.org/Home/Components/ Calendar/Event/11157/35?curm=6&cury=2019 June 28, 2019 For close to 50 years, Tower of Power has delivered the best in R&B music. Fans that come out to see Tower of Power this year will get a look at their brand-new lead singer, Marcus Scott. Group co-founder Emilio Castillo says he’s a perfect fit. “It’s phenomenal. Most bands lose their singer and it’s over. But we’ve changed singers and other players so many times, the fans actually get excited about who’s next. Marcus has everything – he looks great, he sings great, he’s a good person. We’re just really blessed to have him. “You get to an age where we’re at and things can start to run down but it seems like for us that things are really kicking into high gear.” And, that’s the way Tower of Power likes it!

Location: The Event Center at Hollywood Casino Address: 200 Georgesville Road 43228 Time: 9 p.m.

Admission: $19-$155 Contact: www.eventbrite.com/e/tower-of-power-50thanniversary-tour-tickets-55413896456?aff=ebdssbcitybrowse

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

June 29, 2019 It’s finally summer and we’re ready to shine the sunlight on some of the most talented women of color artisans, crafters, and creators in Columbus! This year’s event will be bigger than ever!!

Hosted by Zora’s House, the WoCO (Women of Color) Summer Market will feature products created by women of color artists and entrepreneurs - from jewelry to candles to clothing and everything in between.

Come ready to shop, eat, mingle, and to treat yourself!

Location: Weinland Park Address: 43201 (call for location address) Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: 614.636.2594 June 29 and 30, 2019 The neighborhoods of Columbus house charming stories with rich histories. However, there are still many residents who have not been afforded a platform to share their stories. Designed in 2000 as a project in Denmark, the Human Library has now become an international movement. The Human Library seeks to challenge stereotypes and prejudice through dialogue by loaning out real people (instead of books) to readers to share their stories. In a Human Library, the storyteller is referred to as a “book” and the listener is a “reader”. At these events, there is a designated space that acts as a “bookshelf” where people can “check out” a human similarly to the way one would check out a hard copy book at a regular library. The difference is that when a reader reserves or checks out a Human Library book, the book will tell their story directly to the reader. Think of the practice of oral histories, except you’ll be there for the actual storytelling!

Location: Lincoln Theatre Address: 769 E. Long Street 43203 Time: Saturday 29 at 4 p.m. Sunday at 2 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: www.eventbrite.com/e/human-library-presented-bykimistry-tickets-62649983788?aff=ebdssbdestsearch July 3, 2019 Red, White & Boom is not only Ohio’s largest fireworks display, it’s the largest Independence Day display in the Midwest. Hundreds of thousands of families congregate in downtown Columbus for the parade, street festival, two stages of entertainment and, of course, the fireworks!

Location: Downtown Riverfront Address: N/A Time: 10 p.m. fireworks Admission: Free Contact: https://www.columbusonthecheap.com/red-white-boomcelebration/ July 11 (Thursdays) – August 15, 2019 The King Arts Complex’s Music Heritage Festival has been a signature Columbus community celebration for nearly two decades.

The festival has consistently attracted crowds of nearly 5,000 attendants each week! Our annual festival is a family event enjoyed by men, women and children of all backgrounds. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and relax in the beautiful Mayme Moore Park.

Location: Mayme Moore Park Address: 867 Mt. Vernon Ave. 43203 Time: 6 – 9 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: http://kingartscomplex.com/heritage-music-festival/ July 12 – August 9, 2019 The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the Jazz Arts Group are teaming up to heat up your summer with some cool jazz during this JazZoo Concert Series. Experience the many talents of Artistic Director Bryon Stripling and the Columbus Jazz Orchestra at the Water’s Edge Events Park at the Columbus Zoo. This series is presented by Cardinal Health. Event series includes Maurice Hines sings Nat King Cole & Sinatra; critically acclaimed jazz saxophone and flute virtuoso Nelson Rangell; and, American Idol winner Michael Lynche sings your favorite soul-stirring hits from Sam Cooke to James Brown and more.

Location: Columbus Zoo & Aquarium Address: 4850 W. Powell Road, Powell 43085 Time: Gates open at 6:30 p.m.; concert starts at 8 p.m.

Admission: Varies Contact: https://www.columbuszoo.org/home/visit/plan-your-visit/ event-calendar#/1e0bd132-bd2f-67d7-bdc2-ff0000bf4b43

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

SUMMER FUN GUIDE

Dayton, Ohio

July 19 -21, 2019 The 40th annual Jazz & Rib Fest, presented by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, pairs barbeque masters from across the country with both internationally renowned jazz artists and top local talent.

Situated along the Scioto Mile, this free, community event offers a diverse line-up of artists and 23 award-winning BBQ teams serving up sizzling ribs, chicken and more.

Ongoing In response to the recent tornado and severe storms that swept the Dayton area, Wesley Community Center located 3730 Delphos Ave. Dayton, OH 45417 will offer children’s clothing sizes 0 months to 6 in children. Along with baby products such as wipes, soap and much more! Our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted by the storm.

Location: Scioto Mile Downtown Address: Riverfront Downtown Time: Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://www.hotribscooljazz.org/about-the-event/

Location: Wesley Community Center Address: 3730 Delphos Ave. 45417 Time: Call for drop-off times Admission: N/A Contact: 937-263-3556 ext. 218

July 20, 2019 Up-tempo R&B and precision choreography define every performance of The Spinners as they perform hits from their more than six-decade-long career, including “The Rubber Band Man,” “Then Came You,” “I’ll Be Around,” “Games People Play,” and “One of a Kind (Love Affair).”

Ongoing The Funk Music Hall of Fame & Exhibition Center is the home for the legacy of Funk music by acknowledging the artists who brought this art form to life while showcasing the Funk experience. The Funk Center provides a central location to house and display Funk memorabilia, to educate children and adults in the Funk music genre, and to build a lifelong audience for Funk music. The center offers a dynamic and constantly evolving program and exhibition space.

Location: The Columbus Commons (Downtown) Address: 160 S. High Street 43215 Time: 8 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.

Admission: $10 and up Contact: https://www.ticketcity.com/concerts/the-spinnersin-columbus-tickets.html

Location: The Funk Music Hall of Fame & Exhibition Center Address: 113 E. 3rd 45402 Time: By Appointment Admission: Contact: www.thefunkcenter.org

July 24 - August 4, 2019 The concert series at the Ohio State Fair is one that you don’t want to miss! On July 26, socially minded R&B singer/songwriter Lyfe Jennings will share the stage with Chante Moore and Carl Thomas. Then on August 1, you can “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” with the sounds of the S.O.S. Band and Midnight Star. Tickets are on sale now.

Now – June 23, 2019 An author and icon of civil rights, Dorothy Irene Height (19122010) was known for her intelligence, leadership, courage … and hats! She was rarely seen in public without a hat, and this exhibition will explore the extraordinary life of Dr. Height by bringing together 42 of her favorite hats, on loan from The Dorothy I. Height Education Foundation, Washington, D.C. Admission to the exhibition is included in museum suggested general admission.

Location: Celeste Center at the Ohio State Fairgrounds Address: 717 E. 17th Ave. 43211 Time: July 26 @ 7:30 p.m.; August 1 @ 7p.m.

Admission: $25 Contact: 614-644-3247 or https://ohiostatefair.com/ concerts/

Location: Dayton Art Institute Address: 456 Belmonte Park N. Time: Varies by day Admission: Belmonte Park N. Contact: 937-223-4278

July 28, 2019 Come on out to John Bishop Park on Whitehall Weekend for our 3 on 3 basketball tournament and stick around for a spell-binding performance. MojoFlo while remaining rooted in funk, rock and jazz, manages to transcend the traditional boundaries of said genres and keep you moving.

June 8, 2019 African men, women and children can actively begin to take charge of their health, destiny and well-being through health awareness and prevention. The African American Wellness Walk event provides health information, education, free health screenings and promotes physical activity to reduce health complications. It serves as a community resource linking people to health services and wellness programs within Montgomery County. It is a fun-filled festive event the entire family can enjoy and is a great way to take the first steps to creating a healthier lifestyle for yourself and your family. Activities are geared toward early detection and maintenance approaches to chronic disease prevention. All proceeds benefit Mahogany’s Child, a program for underserved African American men and women to help educate them about healthy behaviors and emphasize the importance of early detection of disease.

Location: John Bishop Park Address: 4920 Etna Road, Whitehall 43213 Time: 6:30 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://www.whitehall-oh.us/334/Music-in-thePark-Series July 30 – September 28, 2019 No contracts, no excuses! Among the park perks at Columbus Commons are free fitness classes. Sponsored

by UnitedHealthcare and coordinated by Seven Studios, you’ll find seven classes every week. Two sessions will be offered, so mark your calendars to enjoy a unique open-air experience. Note: No classes on August 10, August 17, August 24, September 10, September 11 or September 24.

Location: University of Dayton River Campus Address: 1700 S. Patterson Blvd.

Time: 8 a.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://www.daytoncvb.com/event/african-americanwellness-walk/11109/

Location: The Columbus Commons (Downtown) Address: 160 S. High Street 43215 Time: Check online schedule for times Admission: Free Contact: https://columbuscommons.org/

June 8, 2019 Check out the Yellow Springs Street Fair with more than 200 arts, crafts and food vendors. There are two music stages where performers include Willie Phoenix and the Soul Underground, Honey & Blue and more. This is a festival like no other!

August 16 -17, 2019 Don’t miss the annual Columbus Food Truck Festival!

Head down to the Columbus riverfront and sample delicious food from more than 70 Ohio food trucks. In addition to the food, there is plenty of live music and arts and crafts for all ages.

Location: John Bryan Community Center Address: 100 Dayton St. 45387 Time: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: (937) 767-7202 or http://www.yellowspringsohio.org/ street-fair/

Location: Scioto Mile Downtown Address: Riverfront Downtown Time: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://columbusfoodtruckfest.com/

Continued on Page 14 The Columbus African & Dayton African American • June 2019 American News Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2019 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2019 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

SUMMER FUN GUIDE

June 9, 2019 If you love jazz, you don’t want to miss the Dayton Jazz Fest!

From early afternoon to late night, there’s a line-up of jazz artists to please even the most discerning fan. Scheduled to perform are: The Next Phaze, Brian Cashwell Trio featuring Pamela Mallory, JT Frederick “Saxgrooves,” Sandra Rutledge & Friends and Eddie Brookshire Quintet featuring Brenda Flowers.

July 14, 2019 The best blues bands and performances this side of the Mississippi! Food and merchandise vendors will be on site.

Bring blankets or event seating, but no tents, pets, outside food or beverages, please. Free water.

Location: Levitt Pavilion Dayton Address: 134 S. Main St. 45402 Time: 1 – 9 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://www.daytonlocal.com/festivals/dayton-bluesfestival.asp

Location: Levitt Pavilion Address: 134 S. Main 45402 Time: 1 – 9 p.m.

Admission: Contact for information Contact: 937-333-8400 https://www.daytonohio.gov/Calendar. aspx?EID=446&month=6&year=2019&day=5&calType=0

August 11, 2019 Funk Fest, celebrating Dayton’s best-known contribution to the world of popular music is happening in Downtown Dayton.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy!

June 10, 2019 For a smallish state, Ohio has had an enormous impact on the history of our country. From prehistoric times to today, an amazing number of important things have started here, been invented here, happened here, and gone on from here to change the world. Come and learn about Native American Ohio, Ohio as the first frontier, Ohio and the Civil War, Ohio and important social movements, famous and memorable Ohio men and women from Annie Oakley to General Grant to Jesse Owens to Paul Newman, Ohio and the Amish, Ohio triumphs and tragedies, and weird and unusual Ohio facts and trivia. You‘ll even learn (in case you ever wondered) why Ohio is called “The Buckeye State.”

Location: Levitt Pavilion Dayton Address: 134 S. Main St. 45402 Time: 1 – 9 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://www.daytonlocal.com/festivals/dayton-funkfestival.asp August 17-18, 2019 This family event brings the richness of the African American experience to Dayton and its surrounding communities through culture, education and music. Come see an African Village, a pavilion of paintings and enjoy live R&B, Gospel and Jazz performances. Merchandise and food vendors will be on site.

You won’t want to miss this citywide event where diverse people will be brought together in celebration.

Location: Dayton Metro Library Address: 1041 Watervliet Ave Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://www.daytoncvb.com/event/%E2%80%9Cithappened-in-ohio%E2%80%9D%3a-fascinating-facts-about-astate/9882/

Location: Aug 18 - Dayton Island Metro Park; Aug 19 Courthouse Square Address: 101 Helena Street; Corner Third & Main Time: Aug 18 Noon – 8 p.m.; Aug 19 Noon – 6 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://www.daytonlocal.com/festivals/dayton-africanamerican-cultural-festival.asp

June 13- July 20, 2019 Shortly after sunrise, from mid-June through mid-July, rows of lawn chairs begin appearing between the limestone cliffs of Veterans Park. It’s the time-honored method for reserving a prime spot for a great evening of entertainment! Get your chairs ready for our 53rd season of admission-free summer concerts, music and theater, and join us a Springfield tradition - The Summer Arts Festival! See contact information for a schedule of performers.

September 1, 2019 Groove with the beat of the drums and be free to live in the life of the reggae moment. Food and merchandise vendors on site.

Bring a blanket or event seating, but no tents, pets, outside food or beverages, please.

Location: Veterans Park Address: 700-785 N. Plum St. Springfield 45504 Time: 8 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: http://www.springfieldartscouncil.org/series/summerarts-festival/

Location: Levitt Pavilion Dayton Address: 134 S. Main 45402 Time: 1-8 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://www.daytonlocal.com/festivals/dayton-reggaefestival.asp

June 15-16, 2019 Cincinnati will celebrate Juneteenth Freedom Festival.

Juneteenth celebrates the end of legal slavery in the United States in 1865 after the Civil War. On June 19, 1865, a Union General arrived in Galveston, TX, and re-issued Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Thus the name “Juneteenth.”

Texans have been celebrating Junteenth ever since.

Please note: Information for this section is gathered from multiple commnuity sources. The Columbus & Dayton African American is not responsible for the accuracy and content of information.

Times, dates and locations are subject to change. If you have an event that you would like to feature in this section, please email us at editor@columbusafricanamerican.com. Submissions are due the last Friday of each month.

Location: Eden Park Address: 950 Eden Park Dr. Cincinnati 45202 Time: Noon – 9 p.m.

Admission: Free Contact: https://www.juneteenthcincinnati.org/ June 15, 2019 Juneteenth has been a day of celebration for African Americans; a de facto second Independence Day commemorating the end of slavery. We will enjoy an afternoon of food, drink and music as we build community and get to know our neighbors. There will be a brief presentation on the history of Juneteenth and the abolitionist history of Yellow Springs.

Location: 321 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs 45387 Address: 321 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs 45387 Time: 2 – 5 p.m.

Admission: $20 Contact: www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenthys-tickets61328912428?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

HEALTH RACISM IS KILLING US: NOT EVERYWHERE

By Charleta B. Tavares I had the special pleasure of visiting the island of Cuba recently. This is where my father indicated that my grandfather’s family originated. An island that has a storied history with the United States (Cuban Missile Crisis), Communism and President Fidel Castro (deceased), an archenemy of many U.S. presidents.

We have heard many stories from different vantage points and perspectives. The Cuban people who left the island during the military coupe orchestrated by Fidel Castro. These people were largely wealthy and educated with land, money and businesses that were going to be transferred to the new government. The U.S. government, who had its own propaganda to keep Communism and Fidel Castro as an enemy of the state. The people who remained in Cuba – largely poor, uneducated and disproportionately of African descent.

According to the World Population Review, “The University of Miami’s Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies found that 62% of the population of Cuba is black.”

These are many of the reasons that I wanted to visit this small island with one of my closest friends and goddaughter’s mother, Sue E. Moore. Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is a country comprising the island of Cuba as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located in the northern Caribbean where the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean meet. It is east of the Yucatán Peninsula, south of both the U.S. state of Florida and the Bahamas, west of Haiti and north of both Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Havana is the largest city and capital.

The island has approximately 11.4 million people, which is comparable to the state of Ohio.

I can attest to the numbers of native Cubans who are of African and multiracial descent.

The demographics are evident in the culture, languages, food and music. Driving down the scenic boulevards and historical sites we saw many people of African descent who as it is said “looked like someone we knew in Ohio”. The beauty is that we felt connected and comfortable. So, how are the people doing compared to their brothers and sisters in Columbus and Dayton, Ohio?

Cuba vs the United States – Infant Mortality: The Caribbean country boasts an overall infant mortality rate of 4.3 per 1,000 — lower than the United States’ 5.7 per 1,000, according to World Health Organization data. Unfortunately, there are no readily available statistics breaking out the African/Black and Caucasian/White death rates for Cuban babies. However, we can extrapolate and guesstimate that the infant death rate is lower among African/Black/Multirace babies due to the high percentages of both.

Cubans are of mixed heritage: Spanish descent, Black African ancestry and Asians. At least 50

percent of the population in Cuba is classified as mulatto (mixed African and European descent). Therefore, we can guess that it is lower than Franklin and Montgomery Counties with a 25.4% and 23.1% African/ Black populations respectively. The death rates of African/Black infants in Dayton/ Montgomery County is 15.5 babies per 1000 and the Columbus/Franklin County, Ohio deaths are 12 babies per 1,000 who do not reach their first birthday.

What Is Being Done to Address Infant Mortality in Cuba?

MEDICC Review: So how has Cuba achieved such low infant mortality? Isn’t this achievement incongruent with the resource scarcity and budget constraints that have dogged the country for so long?

Fernando Domínguez: There is this idea among pediatricians and neonatologists, especially in Latin America, that you need huge amounts of resources to lower infant mortality. Why? Part of the reason is that doctors like me and my Latin American colleagues are reading scientific research in high-impact journals— all published in developed, industrialized countries. These are results from contexts with cutting-edge diagnostic techniques and technologies.

Many pediatricians in the global South, influenced by these studies, conclude that the way to save infant lives is with first-line antibiotics, high-tech ventilators and other costly resources. But it starts way before that. What really has an impact on infant mortality in developing world contexts is ensuring optimal maternal health, before and during pregnancy, and that each child is born in the best health possible. For example, a baby born with a healthy birth weight has a

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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much better chance of survival than a baby born under normal weight or with low birth weight. This doesn’t require huge resources.

If you look at countries around the world with the lowest infant mortality rates, you’ll see they’ve also succeeded in diminishing low birth weight—defined as less than 2500 grams.

As soon as you decrease the low birth weight rate, you have an impact on infant and under-5 mortality. If a mother goes to term and the child is born with a healthy birth weight, without infections or anemia, the prognosis is very good for that baby. Our low birth weight rate is now 5%—lower than the USA. Can we lower it further? Probably.

We are continuously evolving the program to try to improve our low birth weight rate. One area where there is still work to do is with women under the age of 20—teen pregnancy is classified as high risk in Cuba and these mothers are more likely to have low birth weight babies. So if we can decrease teen births, we may be able to have an impact on the low birth weight rate. Nevertheless, teen mothers who decide to have their babies are given all the support and services they need for a healthy birth, including specialized attention at maternity homes.

MEDICC Review: Speaking of maternity homes—these are facilities for high-risk pregnancies, correct? Are women obliged to move into one once their pregnancy is classified as high risk?

Fernando Domínguez: Living in a maternity home for a period of time is completely voluntary, a decision made by the mother in Continued on Page 16

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

HEALTH Continued from Page 15

consultation with her medical team. Here, we also see the benefits of universal education: in Cuba, women have at least a ninth grade education and understand how maternity homes protect and promote their health and that of their fetus. I’ll tell you a story: when I was serving in Guantánamo Province after medical school, I had a patient pregnant with her fifth child. Her home was separated from the neighboring town by a river. She was geographically isolated, which put her at risk.

Her husband said: she can’t go to a maternity home. Who will take care of the other four children? And I explained that she’d be going to the maternity home for a couple of months and if she didn’t, both she and the child could be at risk. If she were to die, I explained, then she wouldn’t be gone for a couple of months, she’d be gone for good. Who would take care of the other children then? Cuban parents understand the how and why of maternity homes and when we explain the percentage of high-risk pregnancies that present complications, and how those complications can be prevented, they weigh the logic of the argument. As a result, most agree to live in a maternity home for the time indicated by their doctors. Maternity homes offer several important benefits: women receive a diet tailored to their nutritional needs, their stress levels are lowered, and they learn how to be better mothers. As soon as they meet other mothers-to-be in the maternity home, they’re learning how to hold a baby, how to maintain proper hygiene, how to feed the baby, breast-feed, etc. Plus we hold classes and workshops. Maternity homes aren’t ‘mommy warehouses.’ Pregnant women aren’t just parked there—if that were the case, these facilities wouldn’t be fulfilling their goal: to lower infant and maternal mortality rates.

MEDICC Review: Can you give our readers some specifics about Cuba’s infant mortality prevention program? What steps have been taken to improve newborn health and survival rates?

Fernando Domínguez: Our emphasis is always on prevention first and we’ve seen good results using this approach. Our primary care system provides at least 13 antenatal checkups for every pregnant woman, plus we have meticulously designed protocols.

This is achieved through national programs implemented decades ago, such as the Maternal–Child Health Program, coupled with prenatal and pediatric intensive care units. Our programs are also adaptable; they evolve with changing circumstances— economic, environmental, or whatever contextual change affecting health.

In the Special Period [economic crash in the 1990s when Cuba lost 85% of its aid and trade—Eds.] for example, we had to ensure proper nutrition for pregnant women. But we were finding if we just gave them extra food, they would share it with their other children or elders, they wouldn’t eat it themselves.

So we amended the nutrition program so that they were given fortified meals at their workplaces, in schools, in maternity homes.

How we maintained health during the Special Period is interesting and is also relevant to

infant mortality: our doctors embody the principle to serve, they sense a calling.

They’re not doing it for the money; they’re doctors because they want to help people. So we fought tooth and nail for the health of our patients during the Special Period and that’s reflected in the indicators, most of which held steady during the economic crisis.

Another thing: you can’t look at factors in isolation. Our system is universal and guarantees access; we take a preventive approach; and Cuba is illiteracy-free. This is a very important element that can’t be underestimated: if someone can’t read, how are they going to understand the treatment prescribed by their doctor? All of these actions have contributed to improving both maternal and infant health. But we’ve also taken steps to specifically address the causes of infant mortality in Cuba. The primary care team works together to prevent premature births; each high-risk birth is attended by a neonatologist—not a resident, but a specialist; we standardized the use of progesterone for all pregnant women with premature birth risk; and we follow strict protocols in pre-delivery wards. Babies are not released from the hospital until they weigh 2500 grams. This is because lower-weight babies are at greater risk for infection. If the baby weighs 2450 grams, she won’t be discharged even if the family has a wonderful, spacious home, with all the necessary conditions, plenty of food and air conditioning. Because if that child gets sick—even if she gets a cold—there are consequences. If protocols aren’t followed, there are sanctions.

There are communities across the country that are looking to our brothers and sisters in other countries around the world to identify promising and best practices to address our abysmal infant death rate among African/ Black babies in the United States and Ohio specifically. Some neighborhoods on Chicago’s south side, such as Englewood not unlike the predominately African/Black neighborhoods of Dayton and Columbus have an alarmingly high infant mortality rate.

These neighborhoods and communities may lack resources, have food insecurity, lack of healthcare providers and health care however; they are thinking creatively, which has led them to look to an unlikely role model: Cuba.

The Caribbean country boasts an infant mortality rate of 4.3 per 1,000 — lower than the United States’ 5.7 per 1,000, according to World Health Organization data, and lower than the rate in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, on the city’s south side, where 14.5 babies per 1,000 do not reach their first birthday.

In an effort to tackle the high rate, medical professionals in Chicago are now working with their counterparts in Cuba to learn about new approaches, including seeking out women of childbearing age in the Englewood neighborhood to ask them about everything.

It is unfortunate to note that some of the highest rates of African/Black infant deaths are in the Mid-Western region of the U.S. with Wisconsin now topping the country with the highest rates. The studies have indicated that race and systemic racism among health

The Columbus African & Dayton African American • June 2019 American News Journal • February 2015

16

providers and institutions does play a major factor in how our pregnant mothers are treated during the pre and post-partum stages of their pregnancy along with their babies.

There are advocacy efforts to raise awareness, provide education and policy recommendations at the local, state and federal levels to address both infant and maternal mortality. In the state of Ohio, the women of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus have formed the Ohio Black Maternal Health Caucus. The purpose of the Caucus is to improve Black Maternal health outcomes including the death of African/Black babies across the state and expand access to healthcare. Ohio’s rate of 20.3 maternal deaths per 100,000 births was slightly lower than the 20.7 national average. However, Black maternal mortality rates in Ohio were 46 per 100,000, roughly three times the 15.6 rate for White women. These statistics are unconscionable and have to be addressed if we are going to save our mothers and babies.

PrimaryOne Health will be working with the Ohio Black Maternal Health Caucus to provide information, trends, promising practices and clinical experts including Dr. Jeffrey Marable, OB/GYN and Director of Women’s Health who has worked with the CEO on reducing infant mortality rates. For additional information on the Ohio Black Maternal Health Caucus, contact Rep. Boyd’s office at 614.644.5079 or Rep. Stephanie Howse’s office at 614.466.1414.

Footnotes: 1 MEDICC Review, January 2015, Vol 17, No 1 – Interview with Fernando Domínguez, MD PhD, Neonatologist Ramón González Coro University Maternity Hospital, Havana 2 MEDICC Review, January 2015, Vol 17, No 1 – Partial interview with Fernando Domínguez MD PhD Neonatologist, Ramón González Coro University Maternity Hospital, Havana and Conner Gorry MA (MEDICC Review) ©MEDICC, 2019 PrimaryOne Health Community Health Forum The next Quarterly Community Health Forum will be held on August 18, 2019 from 9:30 – 11:30am at the Dr. Martin Luther King Branch, Columbus Metropolitan Library, 1467 E. Long Street, Columbus, OH 43203.

“Our goal is to inform, educate and empower our residents to advocate for the healthcare needs of our community,” stated Charleta B. Tavares, CEO, PrimaryOne Health. For more information visit www.primaryonehealth.org , Facebook @primaryonehealth or Twitter @ primary1health.

Charleta B. Tavares is the Chief Executive Officer at PrimaryOne Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) system providing comprehensive primary care, OB-GYN, pediatric, vision, dental, behavioral health and specialty care at 10 locations in Central Ohio. The mission is to provide access to services that improve the health status of families including people experiencing financial, social, or cultural barriers to health care. www. primaryonehealth.org.

HEALTH

SUMMER SAFETY IS AN EASY INVESTMENT

By Lisa Benton, MD, MPH As we send our prayers and aid to the readers of the Dayton area and other parts of Ohio ravaged by the tornados trying to rebuild, we are reminded of do’s and don’ts to have a safer summer.

One of the simplest and obvious safety tips is to have an emergency communication plan for your family and people you’re travelling with.

I recall how my dad was in a Los Angeles hotel during an earthquake years ago and had to evacuate down flights and flights of stairs.

When he got out, he only had to call my sister who then spread the word to our family east to west coast that he was ok.

It helps to have a key contact or back-up person out of the area, depending on what the danger or crisis is. Nowadays, using a Facebook and other apps works if your WiFi is working.

An easy but must have item to pack is a first aid kit. Try to choose a kit that is waterproof.

In addition to the bandages and scissors, it’s important to have a list of your medication as well as pack a couple of extra days’ worth of your medicine.

With apps, it’s easy to store that information in your phone or in the cloud along with your doctor’s office, pharmacy number and other emergency contacts. Many pharmacies will give you an emergency 3-day supply of a lot of medication when you away from home and can’t get you’re regular refills, or your provider can give you an emergency prescription if you let them know in advance you’re going away.

Don’t forget to make safety plans for your pets too. I witnessed firsthand that your pet’s erratic behavior can alert you to an impending earthquake or storms seconds in advance, giving you the time you need to get to safety.

When I lived in California, I supplemented my first aid kit with items that were handy in

a disaster such as an earthquake, flash flood if you’re driving with kids and pets in the hot car. Keep water handy. Invest in a special car or being stranded in really cold weather. alarm or sensor to remind you that you’re not We often joked about carrying toilet paper, riding alone. Remember your car is hotter sanitary napkins, a can opener and matches or than the outside temperature and hold the a lighter in our cars in addition to a blanket, heat longer. rain poncho, flares and cables. We even had bottled water and canned or boxed foods, but My wish is to celebrate one summer without we would often forget to check the expiration hearing the tragic stories about a child or pet dates. A good idea is to check and update dying from the heat or drowning. your emergency kits when the time changes Below are a few websites with tips to help for daylight savings time happen. you have a safer summer and to stay safe And don’t forget to have some cash in your year-round. As you relax and change to your emergency kit. If you’re in an incident where summer routine, stay alert so you can stay the power is lost, the ATMs and payment apps safe and really enjoy your summer. like Square won’t necessarily work. Also, an extra charger and cable for your phone is a Eight Great Summer Safety Tips Retrieved must. Believe it or not, the old school pagers, from: beepers and flip phones often work better and have a longer response range in disasters https://www.dolmanlaw.com/wp-content/ uploads/2014/07/Eight-Great-Summerwhen the power is lost.

Safety-Tips.jpg If you’re staying local and hanging around your yard, you should be just as vigilant Summer Safety Retrieved from: to keep safe. Being safe around swimming https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cks0rRpools is just as important as being safe while W0AELmMP.jpg:large fishing, swimming and boating in lakes and Pool Safety Tips Retrieved from: large bodies of water. https://s3.amazonaws.com/files.usmre.

Pay attention to the posted signs about com/5699/blog/Pool%20Safety%20(2).png water depths and undertows. Note where the lifeguards are posted. Keep your eyes on your Ten Tips for Staying Safe in Summer and All kids since they’ve shown that the lifeguards Year Long Retrieved from: are not able to watch every swimmer at once https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f2/e9/5b/f2e95bd4 even when the pools or recreation areas aren’t bc02367c350baaf33f806afb.jpg crowded. An infant or child can drown in a bathtub, sink, hot tub or wading pool when Six Tips for Senior Sun Fun Retrieved from: someone turns away from him or her for just https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6a/2e/9c/6a2e 9c1741a7cff2d91baa93e6cf9578.jpg a few moments.

If possible, take an American Red Cross Summer Travel Safety Tips Retrieved from: class and learn CPR. You can never be too h t t p : / / w w w. c c h d m t . o rg / w p - c o n t e n t / uploads/2015/06/summer-driving-tips.jpg prepared.

Fire safety is a must for all the grill masters.

Follow instructions and allow enough clearance around your grills to avoid flash fires and know what to do immediately if one happens.

Keeping Kids Safe from the Summer Heat Retrieved from: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/66/a8/53/66a8 5363880a27998f8c97958f3cc040.png

Lisa D. Benton, MD, MPH (The Doctor is In) breastsurgeonlb@gmail.com, Twitter:@ Please do not let your guard down in the heat DctrLisa (415) 746-0627

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

HEALTH

THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN, TEENS KILLED BY GUNS ANNUALLY IN US

By Kim Krisberg Gun deaths among America’s school-age children are reaching alarming levels, a new study finds.

Published in March in the American Journal of Medicine, the study found that between 1999 and 2017, nearly 39,000 gun-related deaths occurred among children and young people ages 5 to 18, including nearly 6,500 deaths among children ages 5 to 14 and nearly 32,500 deaths among those ages 15 to 18.

Among the causes of death, 61% were due to assault, 32% due to suicide, 5% were considered unintentional and 2% were undetermined. Significant increases in gunrelated deaths began in 2009, with the first wave among ages 5 to 14, followed by a second wave that began in 2014 among ages 15 to 18.

Black children accounted for 41% of the gun-related deaths, with 86% of those among boys. Between 2013 and 2017, according to researchers, racial inequalities in gun

deaths between blacks and whites increased significantly. The study is based on data from the National Center for Health Statistics’ Multiple Causes of Death Files from 1999 to 2017.

agenda that offers practical tools for medical and public health professionals, parents, schools and community stakeholders.

Also in April, Guns Down America, an advocacy group, released “Is Your Bank Loaded,” a scorecard sharing connections between financial institutions and the gun industry. The bank BB&T, for example, arranged $147 million in loans to gun companies from 2012 and 2016, while Wells Fargo has extended $471 million in loans and credit since 2012.

“It is sobering that in 2017, there were 144 police officers who died in the line of duty and about 1,000 active-duty military throughout the world who died, whereas 2,462 schoolage children were killed by firearms,” said study co-author Charles Hennekens, MD, a professor in Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine, in a news release.

For more on the scorecard, visit www. gunsdownamerica.org. For more on To reduce gun-related injuries among preventing gun violence, visit www.apha.org/ children, the de Beaumont Foundation in gun-violence.

April announced a new partnership with the American Academy of Pediatrics. With gun Article from www.thenationshealth.org. violence a leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens, the new Gun Safety Kim Krisberg is a freelance reporter, writer and Injury Prevention Initiative is a 3-year, and editor specializing in public health $500,000 effort to support the creation and practice, policy and science. She has won implementation of gun violence programs numerous awards for her public health that facilitate cross-sector engagement and writing and has a bachelor’s degree in advance prevention. journalism from the University of MissouriThe ultimate goal is to create an action Columbia.

*

The Columbus African & Dayton African American • June 2019 American News Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2019 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

COMMUNITY

TRIBUTE TO STATE SENATOR CHARLETA B. TAVARES On May 16, 2019 a special ceremony was held in Columbus, Ohio to celebrate the legacy of former State Senator Charleta B. Tavares -- who was the first African American Woman Democrat -- to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate from Franklin County. Below are photos from the event.

The Columbus African & Dayton African American • June 2019 American News Journal • February 2015

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COMMUNITY

TRIBUTE TO FORMER STATE SENATOR CHARLETA B. TAVARES I am honored to speak from the perspective of a friend. Charleta and I met at Johnson Park Junior High School and matriculated together to Eastmoor High School.We tried out together for the Warriorettes drill team and made it!We took our driver’s license tests together accompanied by our Dads. We waited forever for her brother Eddie to pick us up from games or parties. There were no cell phones back then.When I saw a “cute guy” while we had lunch in the cafeteria, she found out about him from Eddie. Five years later, I married him!She was my Maid of Honor, I was her Matron of Honor and she is the Godmother of my daughter Jayme.We both have been through good times and challenging times over the years, but she has remained a true and supportive friend to me and others.She has accomplished many great things for the betterment of our community and the state of Ohio.I know this is a tribute to acknowledge her outstanding service to date, but look out, because I believe she is not done yet!

Sue E Moore, MS RN CNS

The distinguished gentlelady Sue Moore has graciously yielded the balance of her time to me!!! I have three points to make and I will quickly take my seat.

First--Our honoree tonight has a mantra. And her mantra is-- “Out of my pain, I found my passion, and through my passion, I found my purpose.” Life for this woman, in the words of Langston, “Ain’t Been No Crystal Stair.”

I’ve often said, “If you know something, about an issue, about a circumstance, about someone’s pain and suffering--then you have a responsibility to do something about it. Charleta Tavares came to the Ohio General Assembly as a staff person, knowing something about Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, Physical Disabilities, Mental Health, and Inequality. And as a result of her knowledge, s he had an agenda. She had a burning desire and a brilliant mind which enabled her to get results.

Second--Charleta Tavares is a public servant, not a politician. How do I know--Because she told me, and no doubt countless others that she is not a politician. The word has a negative connotation for her, and she was not about to let the public perception of that word-politician--define who she is as a leader. She wholeheartedly believes in service, accountability, courage, candor, honesty, loyalty, and justice. That is what distinguishes her as a public servant.

And lastly, she is guided by Truth.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said it this way: “Cowardice asks the question, ‘Is it safe?’ Expediency asks the question, ‘Is it politic?’

Vanity asks the question, ‘Is it popular?’ But, conscience asks the question, ‘Is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because one’s conscience tells one that it is right.”

Ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, stand to your feet and let’s salute this warrior for justice, for equality, and dignity for all humanity who has represented us not in a cowardly way, not in an expedient fashion, not in a vain manner-- But she has stood and fought for us because it was right.

It is my distinct pleasure to present to you this evening, The Honorable Charleta B. Tavares.

Senator Ray Miller (Ret.)

Charleta Tavares is one of Ohio’s most principled and accomplished public servants and she has been a loyal and dependable friend of mine for thirty-five years. Her distinguished record of legislative achievements includes: -Establishing the Minority Business Bond Program -Passed jobs bill to create tax incentives -Created Ohio trade office in South Africa -Sponsored Columbus Clean Indoor Air ordinance (which served as the catalyst for the successful statewide initiative) -Created and implemented the Housing Preservation Fund -Created the Emergency Human Services Capital Fund -Sponsored Columbus Living Donor Paid Leave Program Senator Tavares is a policy expert who was our “Go-To-Person” on all things healthcare. She championed some of the most significant legislation in the country to reduce infant mortality, and improve health outcomes for African American babies. She passed legislation to create the Family Stability Commission, and secured provisions that require mental health and drug coverage parity in prescription drugs for cancer patients.

Most recently, she passed legislation that updated Ohio’s criminal code by expanding “community control” alternatives, increasing judicial discretion, and modernizes expungements to give more individuals a chance to move on after low-level offenses. Senator Tavares also sponsored legislation reforming Ohio’s step therapy laws to increase patient options, create transparency standards for insurance companies, and improve overall health outcomes for patients.

All these notable accomplishments point to why she was selected “Legislator of the Year” by the National Black Caucus of State legislators in 2018.

State Senator Vernon Sykes

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The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2019 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

COMMUNITY

TRIBUTE TO FORMER STATE SENATOR CHARLETA B. TAVARES I’m honored to share how much I appreciate Charleta Tavares and her longstanding record of public service. I learned a lot from her and I’m lucky to be able to call her a friend.

I served with Charleta in the Ohio General Assembly and know her to be a passionate, patient and practical advocate.

Charleta was a PASSIONATE advocate for her community and the issues that mattered to her. I learned this first-hand as we worked together to fix Ohio’s abysmal infant mortality rate.

While this may come as a surprise to many of her friends and family, I always appreciated Charleta’s PATIENCE in problem solving. She always met people where they were rather than where she wished they were – a skill essential to building support for change.

Charleta was PRACTICAL and knew how to compromise. She looked for the win-win rather than the winner-take-all solution, making real change possible.

Ohio is a better state because of Charleta’s service and I am a better person because I was able to serve with her.

Shannon Jones, Former Republican Member of Ohio House and Senate Where a women rules, streams move uphill. (An Ethiopian proverb) Charleta has been an awesome leader and an incredible change-agent. She has consistently worked to make a difference in lives of people in our community. However tonight, I want you to know she has been someone who has been friend and a supporter both professionally and personally. Despite all her accomplishments, she has always taken the time to make a difference in my life as well.

I have known her through many stages of my life from my tenure as the Ex. Director at Columbus Area Mental Health through my time as the acting director of Multiethnic Advocates for Cultural Competence (MACC) and personally through the death of many family members (mother, father, and husband). While she was supportive of me, much of her motivation stemmed from her commitment to ensure there were quality and cultural competent mental health service available to the individuals in near east side community. While I worked with the state, she continued her support and pushed me to ensure there were culturally competent behavioral health services throughout the state of Ohio. I watched her excel where she served as ex director of the MACC. Her leadership in this statewide organization was a first of its kind charged to infuse cultural competency throughout the Ohio behavioral healthcare system.

Currently I am working in prevention and as I think about Charleta, she symbolize the definition of prevention, which is to prevent or reduce the impact of something negative. Prevention is evidence-based and I tell you Charleta is also “evidence-based” as demonstrated by her advocacy. That is why the proverb that I shared is so reflective of her work. She has relentlessly works upstream.

Finally, without ever seeking the spotlight, she has been an authentic, caring, and visionary leader, who consistently immerses herself in the issues that have negatively affected others and who was never afraid to take action even when it may not have been popular to do so.

Bottom-line, I am both grateful and blessed to have known and worked with her. As she closes one chapter of her career, I wish her the best in her next chapter of life.

Deborah Nixon-Hughes, Former Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services

Thank you Charleta for giving me my first exposure to politics and allowing me to listen and learn from you. Your guidance and advice has helped shape me and my perspective into the elected official I am today. Thank you for helping to make a space for me in the political realm.

You are a pillar of our community, a one of a kind leader, Central Ohio is better for having you at the helm policy and practice. Your life’s work has been to uplift the vulnerable and provide a voice to the voiceless, you are truly the people’s champion.

Your dedication to the advancement and growth of your staff is evidenced by the outpouring of tributes and praises from employees past and present.

We are ever grateful for your presence in our lives and thank you for your unyielding support and mentorship.

Kevin Boyce, Franklin County Commissioner

Senator Charleta Tavares is well-known for her excellent work in the Ohio state legislature and Columbus City Council, but it is not as well known that she first made a statewide impact on the lives of vulnerable Ohioans before she was elected to any public office.

When I served as Ohio Attorney General (1991-1995), we created a Children’s’ Protection Section, the first of its kind in the nation. I had met Charleta Tavares through her legislative work with my friend and colleague, Senator Ray Miller, and I knew that she was the right person for this critically important new position.

I appointed Charleta as the first Director of the new Ohio Attorney General’s Children’s’ Protection Section. Under her outstanding leadership, our work on behalf of children attracted national attention, and soon other state attorneys general formed similar child protection units in their offices. Ohio was the first, and Charleta was the first.

Under Charleta’s leadership, we created a Missing Children’s Clearinghouse to help track and find missing children. We also created a Child Protection Rapid Response Team to help local authorities investigate and prosecute those who commit crimes against children.

Cases involved sexual abuse, child pornography, human trafficking, shaken baby/abusive head trauma, and other offenses against children.

The Rapid Response team was available around the clock to jump-start investigations and assist victims.

It is a tribute to Charleta’s pioneering leadership that both the Missing Children’s Clearinghouse and the Rapid Response Team continue to this day - decades later- in the office of the Ohio Attorney General.

Charleta was and is, first and foremost, a tireless advocate who fights for those less fortunate and serves as a voice for the voiceless. She protected our children.

Lee Fisher, Former Lt. Governor

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

COMMUNITY

TRIBUTE TO FORMER STATE SENATOR CHARLETA B. TAVARES May the Work I’ve Done Speak for Me When you lead with a focus on serving others and meeting their needs before you own, your work will speak for you.

Senator Tavares your work speaks for you, because of your outstanding leadership in the development of policy strategies that meet the needs of underserved and disenfranchised.

I have often referred to you as “Johnetta the Baptist” because you were continually crying out in a weary land.

You have a keen understanding of partnerships and alliances that has resulted in the creation of historic infant mortality legislation that is foundational to ensuring significant improvements in birth outcomes within our communities.

I am so appreciative of the opportunity of your policy efforts to: demand for a diverse workforce, cultural and linguistic competent services, increased allocations for infant mortality, disaggregated data by race and ethnicity and evidence-based programs that are tailored to our populations.

Thank you for your long-term commitment to the elimination of health disparities among racial and ethnic populations and the achievement of health equity.

May the work I’ve done speak for me.

Angela Cornelius Dawson, Executive Director - Ohio Commission on Minority Health

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

BLACK TENNIS IN COLUMBUS, OHIO - THE RESISTANCE CONTINUES

By Stephanie Bridges The Beatty Park Tennis Club began in 1949 at Beatty Park Recreation Center and served as a haven for African Americans to learn and excel in the game of tennis. Beatty Park held inter-club competitions between cities and hosted tournaments, where elite talent came to play and hone their skills. Black Tennis was a self-contained social and athletic association that had and continues to have its own circuits, tournaments, and champions.

The American Tennis Association (ATA) was founded in 1916 and remains the national African American parent organization with sections throughout the United States. The Midwestern Tennis Association Tournament (Midtac), a section of the ATA, was one of the main circuit tournaments and was frequently held at Beatty Park. Althea Gibson played in the tournament at Beatty Park, only weeks prior to breaking the color barrier at Forest Hills, which is now known as the US Open. Midtac still continues and is held annually in Indianapolis, IN. Former Beatty Park Tennis President, and Living Legend as bestowed by Midtac, Richard (Dickey) James, began working with the Wolfe Park Tennis Association in 2003 to help continue the legacy of Black Tennis in Columbus, OH. The Wolfe Park Tennis Association (WPTA) was founded in 1976 by a group of Black tennis enthusiasts who played at Wolfe Park, and it quickly became the premiere tennis and social club for African Americans in Columbus, OH. WPTA has hosted Midtac and other tournaments, competitions and year-round tennis programs in its now more

Beatty Tennis Club 1957 than forty-year history. WPTA’s early years were primarily dominated by adult activities with only a small concentration on its development of juniors. In 1995 WPTA’s Junior Development Director, Ed Amos, established the ACE with Love (AWL) junior development program. AWL quickly outpaced the adult component in interest and participation with an outdoor, summer session servicing 80-100 children annually.

The Beatty Park Tennis Club (1949-1982), the Wolfe Park Tennis Association and the Ace with Love Junior Development Program have introduced and coached tennis to multiple generations of adult and junior players. These three organizations,

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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all originating in Columbus, OH, have had a major impact on promoting the game and positively influencing the lives of thousands.

AWL’s focus is youth development on and off the court. Every year, they host an Honor Roll Award Ceremony that celebrates the students and the parent’s accomplishments.

In 2018, twenty-eight youth achieved this recognition. The WPTA has been an important part of advancing educational and athletic opportunities at the collegiate level, as well. Its alumni boast multiple scholarship offers for athletic and academic full rides to respected institutions around the nation.

Mr. Amos is a huge proponent of education being the 1st priority above all else, and that

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

COMMUNITY

Wolfe Park Tennis Club 2018 passion drives the program and influences the participants to take their edification seriously.

Tennis is cost prohibitive for many, especially in the African American Community.

WPTA is a non-profit, completely volunteer institution, and they provide summer opportunities for those who have a desire to learn the game at virtually no cost. The only requirement is that each child provide two cans of tennis balls. This is a life changing opportunity for youth who need mentorship and guidance from positive role models who look like them. Representation is key in changing attitudes from believing goals are unattainable to realizing there are no limits to the success one can achieve when it’s manifested before us. WPTA’s community based mission is to elevate the game of tennis into a primary sport among Columbus, OH, area youth; increase tennis participation at all age levels; promote an interest in tennis for everyone regardless of their financial status; and teach life lessons through tennis within all age groups through clinics, workshops, lectures and competitive play. The program is run by an all African American, all unpaid volunteer, yet professional staff. The instructors have years of tennis experience and are certified professionals with the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR). Each coach takes the game of tennis serious and has high expectations for the youth who matriculate through the program.

The rich history of Black tennis in Columbus, OH, isn’t being told nor is it being honored.

Ed Amos and Richard James are actively advocating for official recognition of the contributions of Black Tennis. They are specifically working towards securing a historic marker at the site of The Beatty Park Tennis Club; having memorabilia showcased at the renovated Beatty Recreation Center, and for their permit to be ratified by the City of Columbus to continue use of Wolfe Park to hold their annual Saturday Summer Program.

Erasure from the historical landscape is something that African Americans continue to endure. Our contributions to technology, education, innovation and culture are oftentimes stolen, destroyed or ignored. The Ohio History Connection that administers the Ohio Historical Program denied the application for a Historical Marker due to their inability to locate information about the institution of Black Tennis in Columbus, OH. The Ohio History Connection stated that in order to move forward with a marker, they

would have to believe what they were being told by the WPTA. Despite newspaper articles written in Black periodicals, photographs, the site being the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks, Beatty Center, which has record of programming, and the fact that many of the club members are still living and can provide a verbal and/or written account, WPTA is still being told that is not enough verification to erect the marker. Please contact Laura Russell at 614-297-2360 or lrussell@ohiohistory.org to raise concerns regarding the denial of a Beatty Park Tennis Club Marker.

WPTA met with Columbus Recreation and Parks and agreed upon a three-phase project to honor the work of the Beatty Park Tennis Club.

• Phase I - renovate the two remaining Beatty Park Tennis Courts, which was completed in 2018.

• Phase II - collect memorabilia, pictures, and historical documents on the Beatty Park Tennis Club. In order to make the showcase as comprehensive as possible, please consider donating memorabilia that highlights this prolific organization and pivotal time in the history of Black tennis. You may contact Ed Amos at 614-371-2667 or Richard James at 614-316-8812 to make arrangements.

• Phase III - provide input on the remodeling of the entrance of Beatty Park to display said commemorative keepsakes. However, despite the agreement, Columbus Recreation and Parks did not include WPTA in the planning nor did they provide space to honor the contributions of the Beatty Park Tennis Club.

African descendants living in America understand that in order to be afforded the basic dignities of the majority population, we must push through baseless denials, ambiguous barriers and promises broken.

WPTA is still planning to move forward with Phase III, despite current roadblocks.

Most recently, WPTA in conjunction with AWL, has had its access to utilize Wolfe Park tennis courts challenged. WPTA met with city officials to petition for the necessary permit, and they were not provided with a definitive answer. The City of Columbus finalized the meeting by stating that they would hear from them. Of course, the reasoning behind the 2019 objection was not made clear. The use of Wolfe Park Tennis Courts doesn’t seem to meet the city’s requirements for a permit as follows:

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

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The event takes place in a City of Columbus park, on a public street, trail or waterway and has the capacity to impact the general public, inhibit general public use of an area, contains planned activities that may potentially damage or alter the requested area, will potentially generate trash that exceeds area container limits, or requires coordination with the permitting authority.

There is also a permit exception made for sport events at designated sport parks.

Another point that was brought up during the discussions was city budget constraints.

Perhaps, it is the city’s desire to charge WPTA permit or facility rental fees that has raised the questions. WPTA needs the community’s assistance to assure that this non-profit, all volunteer organization that provides access to youth from marginalized communities at virtually no charge is not discontinued due to a last-minute money grab by local officials. Please contact the following departments, as a constituent concerned about the WPTA’s viability - Jason Nicholson, Events 614-645-3335 jtnicholson@columbus. gov, Ron Keller, Events 614-645-3332 rekeller@columbus.gov, Stanley Bulejski, Rentals 614-645-3340 srbulejski@columbus. gov, and Sports Division 614-645-3366.

African Americans excel in every arena; athletic, intellectual and otherwise, where there is access. Historically, the US Governments has created and enforced legislation, written and unwritten codes to limit that access. The only thing that has changed is our level of complacency. By withholding the historic importance of Black tennis in Columbus, OH, it increases the likelihood that Black tennis in Columbus, OH, can be thwarted altogether. Relationship and resources are the cornerstone of any legacy that desires to thrive infinitum. We know you understand relationship; if you would like to contribute resources to WPTA, please contact Ed Amos at 614-371-2667 to learn more about giving a tax-deductible donation. Permit or not, WPTA will be at Wolfe every Saturday starting on June 15th.

The resistance continues.

Stephanie R. Bridges is a spoken word artist, author and publisher. She has published four children’s books. and is the founder of The Bridges Book Club. For more information visit her website at www.bridgesbookclub. com.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

By Ray Miller Lower Ed - The Troubling Rise of For-Profit Colleges in the New Economy

By Tressie McMillan Cottom

White Fragility - Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism

By Robin Diangelo In this “vital, necessary, and beautiful book” (Michael Eric Dyson), antiracist educator Robin DiAngelo deftly illuminates the phenomenon of white fragility and “allows us to understand racism as a practice not restricted to ‘bad people’ (Claudia Rankine).

Referring to the defensive moves that white people make when challenged racially, white fragility is characterized by emotions such as anger, fear, and guilt, and by behaviors including argumentation and silence. These behaviors, in turn, function to reinstate white racial equilibrium and prevent any meaningful cross-racial dialogue. In this in-depth exploration, DiAngelo examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.

Lower Ed is quickly becoming the definitive book on the fastestgrowing sector of higher education at the turn of the twenty-first century: for-profit colleges. With sharp insight and deliberate acumen, Tressie McMillan Cottom—a sociologist who was once a recruiter at two for-profit colleges—expertly parses the fraught dynamics of this bigmoney industry. Drawing on more than one hundred interviews with students, employees, executives, and activists, Lower Ed details the benefits, pitfalls, and real costs of the expansion of for-profit colleges.

Grace Will Lead Us Home: The Charleston Church Massacre and the Hard, Inspiring Journey to Forgiveness

By Jennifer Berry Hawes

The Decision Book: Fifty Models for Strategic Thinking

By Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschoppeler Every day, we face the same questions: How do I make the right decision? How can I work more efficiently? And, on a more personal level, what do I want?

This international bestseller distills into a single volume the fifty best decision-making models used in MBA courses, and elsewhere, that will help you tackle these important questions.

Stylish and compact, this little book is a powerful asset. Whether you need to plan a presentation, assess someone’s business idea, or get to know yourself better, this unique guide―bursting with useful visual tools―will help you simplify any problem and make the best decision.

On June 17, 2015, twelve members of the historically black Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina welcomed a young white man to their evening Bible study. He arrived with a pistol, 88 bullets, and hopes of starting a race war. Dylann Roof’s massacre of nine innocents during their closing prayer horrified the nation. Two days later, some relatives of the dead stood at Roof’s hearing and said, “I forgive you.” That grace offered the country a hopeful ending to an awful story. But for the survivors and victims’ families, the journey had just begun. In Grace Will Lead Us Home, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jennifer Berry Hawes provides a definitive account of the tragedy’s aftermath. With unprecedented access to the grieving families and other key figures, Hawes offers a nuanced and moving portrait of the events and emotions that emerged in the massacre’s wake.

Biased - Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think and Do

By Jennifer L. Eberhardt, PhD

Police Brutality Matters

By Joseph J. Ested With the issue of police brutality at the forefront of American consciousness, it seems like just about everyone has an opinion. But few can provide the unique perspective of Joseph Ested, an African American law-enforcement officer.

As a child growing up in a low-income urban area, Ested experienced police brutality and racist law enforcement techniques firsthand. Later, as a law enforcement professional himself, he gained an inside perspective on how the culture of police departments encourages—in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways—the culture of violence and racism infecting the institution of American policing. For the first time, we get the truth about police violence from an insider.

Ested explains how this violence springs from institutionalized racism and a criminal justice system that targets minorities while it profits from crime.

You don’t have to be racist to be biased. Unconscious bias can be at work without our realizing it, and even when we genuinely wish to treat all people equally, ingrained stereotypes can infect our visual perception, attention, memory, and behavior. This has an impact on education, employment, housing, and criminal justice. In Biased, with a perspective that is at once scientific, investigative, and informed by personal experience, Jennifer Eberhardt offers us insights into the dilemma and a path forward. Unblinking about the tragic consequences of prejudice, Eberhardt addresses how racial bias is not the fault of nor restricted to a few “bad apples” but is present at all levels of society in media, education, and business. The good news is that we are not hopelessly doomed by our innate prejudices.

In Biased, Eberhardt reminds us that racial bias is a human problem--one all people can play a role in solving.

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The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2019 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

COMMUNITY

RELAX, BREATHE DEEPLY AND GROW FOOD DISCOVER A NEW GLOBAL MOVEMENT IN VEGETABLE GROWING I can only wonder, if John Singleton were a gardener would he be with us today, still making social conscious raising films. Or in addition to singing great ballads, if Luther Vandross were a gardener would he still be gardening and singing great love ballads today.

By Tim Anderson I am a gardener. I discovered my passion for growing food about thirteen years ago. But my introduction to vegetable gardening began in the late sixties on Argyle Drive in Columbus, Ohio. Ruby and Frank Hamm and their four children had a backyard garden. Their oldest son, Frankie (my brother from another mother) and I would eat tomatoes from the garden with a dash of pepper and salt. I still remember the taste of that tomato and it brings back wonderful memories of my childhood. We would free range our Saturday afternoons into the woods along Sunbury Road before the Brittany Hills develop. What a childhood and what a life back then. I would later visit Nana in the post-civil unrest and riots era Detroit. Nana lived with my aunt and she had a garden too.

In visits to Gary, Indiana, my grandmother and great grandmother lived next door to each other and there was a tidy and small vegetable garden in their backyard as well.

Their backyard garden was a mere 1.5 miles from the iconic home of the Jackson family.

So, it was inevitable that one day vegetable gardening would come knocking and wake my consciousness from a dormant gardener state.

In vegetable gardening I have discovered my ability to take a seed, germinate it, place the seedling in a small pot, transplant it into a bale of straw, grow it, harvest the vegetables and enjoy the nutrient rich flavorful food not sold in a supermarket. My gardening technique is quite different from what I was exposed to as an adolescent. Where most gardeners grow vegetables in soil, I grow vegetables in bales of straw. I am a Straw Bale Gardener.

So, what is straw bale gardening (sbg) and why do I use a technique that very few have heard of; yet remains the world’s most popular form of raise bed vegetable gardening. SBG is a simple technique of using bales of straw instead of soil. But first the bales must be “conditioned” in order to support vegetation. Conditioning involves putting nitrogen fertilizer (organic or non organic) into each bale of straw and watering the bale for a period of eleven days. Alternating the infusion of nitrogen on odd days (1,3,5,7 and day 9) but watering every day. The amount of nitrogen added depends on the source and its’ concentration.

Generally, one to three cups per bale during the conditioning period. On day ten, add one cup of fertilizer with a NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) ratio mixture of 10-10-10. On day eleven do nothing to the bale and on day twelve begin planting in the bales.

The reasons why I choose to garden using bales of straw are numerous, but here are a few: no weeding, no garden tools other than a garden hand trowel, no more back breaking tilling of soil and a low-cost effect way of

Being a gardener does not mean only a gardener, it just gives me a healthier perspective on my life and those I love and those who love me. I am thankful to Frank and Ruby Hamm, Nana, my greatgrandmother Gip and my grandmother Doll who expose me to growing food. I trust that I represent your gardens well. I have taken their ways and found my way and now teach members of the community how to grow raise bed gardening. One more major benefit food. Like growing up on Argyle Drive to sbg is the growing season is extended. The and exploring the woods along Sunbury season begins in April and ends in November. Road, back then and now, what a life that gardening-growing food has given to me.

This is due to the bales maintaining an average temperature of 80 to 100 degrees, If you are interested in learning more about making it possible to plant early and harvest straw bale gardening, the book I would later. For the past four years I have held encourage you to read is titled, Straw Bale sbg clinics on the conditioning process and Garden Complete, by Joel Karsten. It is planting. The other important question, why a step by step approach to gardening and do I garden? I have other activities/hobbies; gardening in bales of straw. As a certified playing the guitar for nearly fifty years, I have straw bale garden instructor of the Karsten a motorhome and take it on trips, I write, I method, I conduct classes for private groups visit Ohio wineries a few times a year, but on sbg: background information, instructions, gardening is that very special place for me. demonstrations and Q&A sessions. On I have discovered that I am a gardener, Facebook I have a page titled, The Central that discovery gives me a very different Ohio Straw Bale Gardening Cooperative perspective on my life and those around me. Circle. You will find information about sbg, I see our environment differently, I have with photos and videos. Currently, we are become more aware of the food that I put working on a video project, titled 100 days of into my body, how it is prepared and where it Straw Bale Gardening. The series will start comes from. I read about what our ancestors with the planning steps in sbg, germination, knew about food and how they passed that transplanting, growing, harvesting, preserving knowledge on from generation to generation. and composting. It will be a beginner’s guide However, the last fifty years that knowledge approach to sbg. is no longer prevalent within our community.

When I garden, my blood pressure is reduced. As the photo shows, my garden is my outdoor I play music while gardening, from Mozart office and have had several meetings in my to Motown and everything else. While backyard and in the garden. While writing gardening, my thoughts become clearer and this article I sat at a table in the garden. On my mind less clutter while in the garden. The the table a pot of lettuce and my laptop; plants also seem to respond to the vibration and while writing this great article I was of the music. Stevie Wonder’s 1979 album interrupted by sprinkles of rain. I finished the Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants article at the dining room table and the rain was used in a documentary about plants. took care of the garden.

Not the typical Stevie style of rhythm, If you have yet to experience the pleasures but the tracks are definitely a “chillaxing” of gardening, try the straw bale gardening experience. method; and awaken the gardener within. In the vernacular and wisdom of the old folks, With all the stress factors that affect our well- “Git to plantin’ o git to dyin’.” I dedicate this being; physically, mentally and spiritually, article to my gardening and life helpmate, gardening may not be The answer, but it is Ms. Patty. Praying for your complete and certainly a big step towards living well. I am speedy recovery. told that gardeners live longer. I don’t doubt that, considering that gardening requires Tim Anderson is a contributing columnist to us to move and the environment where we CAANJ with a focus on health, wellness and grow has fresh air and sunshine. My mother social justice affecting the black community tells the stories about her family visits to her and other communities of color. He is the grandfather home in Chillicothe, Ohio. There founder of In My Backyard Health and along the railroad tracks stood his house with Wellness and is the recipient of numerous a backyard vegetable garden. Her memories honors and awards, including The Ohio of grandpa Ed Tyree was of a short statured Governor’s MLK, Jr. award for Health Equity man, who smoked a fat cigar and made and Awareness. Tim can be contacted via the best chicken and dumplings. My great email. His email address is timanderson@ grandfather gardened well into his nineties. inmybackyardhope.com.

The Columbus African & Dayton African American • June 2019 American News Journal • February 2015

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POLITICS BROWN JOINS COLLEAGUES IN INTRODUCING COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATION TO ADDRESS BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS Senator’s Bill Invests in Implicit Bias Training and Resources to Address the Black Maternal Mortality Crisis In May, Brown Introduced Legislation to Ensure Pregnant Mothers Can Access Affordable Health Care During and After Pregnancy WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has joined his colleagues in introducing the Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies (Maternal CARE) Act, legislation to address persistent biases and shortcomings in our nation’s health care system that have contributed to the ongoing crisis in Black maternal mortality.

The United States is one of only thirteen countries in the world where the rate of maternal mortality is now worse than it was 25 years ago. The CDC estimates that about 700 women die each year in the United States as a result of pregnancy or delivery complications. The disparity in maternal mortality also continues to grow – as the risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes is three to four times higher for Black women than that of white women. Further, Black women are twice as likely to suffer from lifethreatening pregnancy complications.

“Too many black mothers are dying in Ohio and across the country, and it’s past time to correct the injustices that have contributed to this crisis. This is one important step we can take toward ensuring black mothers and babies are getting the care they need and deserve,” said Brown.

Specifically, Brown’s Maternal CARE Act would: Invest $25 million in program to address racial bias in maternal health care. The new grant program will be directed to medical schools, nursing schools, and other health professional training programs to support

evidence-based implicit bias training that will improve care for Black women by reducing bias in judgment or behavior resulting from implicit attitudes or stereotypes.

Allocate $125 million to identify high-risk pregnancies, and provide mothers with the culturally competent care and resources they need. The new grant program will help states develop and carry out pregnancy medical home programs. These programs improve care by incentivizing maternal health care providers to deliver integrated health care services to pregnant women and new mothers and reduce adverse maternal health outcomes, maternal deaths, and racial health disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity.

Help medical schools incorporate bias recognition in clinical skills testing by directing the National Academy of Medicine to study and make recommendations.

The legislation was led by Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) and is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (DIL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Doug Jones (DAL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (DMA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Alma Adams (DNC).

Brown’s legislation is supported by a number of organizations, including: the American College of Nurse-Midwives, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Black Women Birthing Justice, Black Women’s Health Imperative,

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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Center for Reproductive Rights, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Commonsense Childbirth - National Perinatal Task Force, Every Mother Counts, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, March of Dimes, National Association to Advance Black Birth, National Birth Equity Collaborative, National Black Midwives Alliance, National Health Law Program, National Partnership for Women & Families, National WIC Association, National Women’s Law Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, WomenHeart, and 1,000 Days.

In March, Brown introduced the Healthy Maternal and Obstetric Medicine (Healthy MOM) Act, legislation to ensure that all women eligible for coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance marketplaces, as well as women eligible for other individual or group health plan coverage, can access affordable health coverage throughout their pregnancies.

The bill would do this by establishing a special enrollment period (SEP) for expectant mothers. Right now, marriage, divorce, having a baby, adoption and changing jobs are considered qualifying life events that trigger a special enrollment period. However, becoming pregnant is not considered a qualifying event. The bill would also guarantee 12 months of continuous Medicaid eligibility for postpartum women, thus removing key barriers that often prevent mothers from getting the care they need after birth.

Brown’s Healthy MOM Act will work to improve outcomes by expanding quality access to care, which research demonstrates could help prevent pregnancy related deaths.

For more information about these bills, contact Senator Sherrod Brown’s office at 614-469-2083.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

POLITICS

THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VOTE IS UNDER ATTACK

By Marc H. Morial The right of African Americans to vote—our right to participate in the civic processes of this nation—quite simply is under attack.

Our rights are under attack by forces that are clever, sinister, diabolical, and intentional; and their allies run from the Supreme Court of the United States, to state legislatures all across the nation and around the globe, to allies inside the Russian Federation.

According to some estimates, the Black voting rate matched or exceeded the white rate for the first time in American history in 2008, the first time a major party Black Presidential candidate was on the ballot. Not coincidentally, a wave of racially-motivated voter suppression legislation swept the nation the year of the next federal election in 2010.

According to the Brennan Center, our partners in this report, state lawmakers in 2010 began introducing hundreds of voter suppression measures, from strict photo I.D. requirements to slashing early voting and throwing up roadblocks to registration.

The 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby v. Holder gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act which required federal approval for states with a history of discrimination to make any changes to voting laws. Because preclearance had achieved its goal of eliminating racial disparity in voting rates, Chief Justice John Roberts reasoned that it was no longer needed.

“Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet,” Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote in her dissent.

Shelby was just one of several blows against democracy the Supreme Court has struck in recent years. When it struck down campaign finance reform laws in Citizens United v. FCC in 2010, it unleashed the power of these Super PACs, where wealthy individuals could pour unlimited money into the American political process. And most recently, in Husted v. A. Philip Randolph Institute, the Court upheld the right of states to use aggressive purges to remove voters from registration rolls, a process that disproportionately affects communities of color.

Racism also was a powerful tool used by Russian and other hostile foreign hackers and troll farms to manipulate the 2016 presidential and 2018 midterm elections. A Russian-linked social media campaign called “Blacktivist” used Facebook and Twitter in an apparent attempt to amplify racial tensions during the U.S. presidential election. It used the integrity of the Black Lives Matter hashtag (#BlackLivesMatter) to carry out an insidious campaign of voter suppression.

Efforts to suppress the Black vote have coincided with a rapid diversification of the

voting public. The projected 2020 electorate is 66.7 percent white, down from 76.4 percent in 2000. The sad fact is, as the Black vote becomes more critical, efforts to suppress it grow stronger.

In December 2017, Doug Jones became Alabama’s first U.S. Senator elected by a multiracial coalition—in other words, without a majority of white voters. In an election plagued with allegations of voter suppression, Stacy Abrams came within a percentage point and a half of becoming Georgia’s governor while winning only 25 percent of the white vote. Beto O’Rourke came within 2.5 points of becoming the U.S. Senator from Texas, while winning only 31 percent of the white vote.

We must recognize that there is an entrenched political establishment that views these results with alarm and are directly motivated by them to enact restrictive voting laws. The fig leaf of voter fraud has been thoroughly debunked, and even a fraudulent commission established in 2018 to promote the myth imploded less than a year later due to a lack of credible evidence.

Many politicians don’t even bother hiding their true motive.

“The cutting out of the Sunday before Election Day was one of their targets only because that’s a big day when the black churches organize themselves,” a political advisor to Florida legislators told the Palm Beach Post in 2012.

Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett told a group of supporters during his 2010 campaign, “We want to make sure that they don’t get 50 percent [turnout in majorityminority Philadelphia]. Keep that down.”

North Carolina, in defending its “monster” voter suppression law, admitted in court, “counties with Sunday voting in 2014 were disproportionately black” and, as a result, did away with Sunday voting. The federal court that struck down the law said it targeted African Americans “with almost surgical precision.”

In Wisconsin, a former state legislative aide explained why he quit in a 2016 post

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2019

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on Facebook, saying he was in a meeting of legislators when Voter I.D. bills were being discussed. “A handful of the Senators were giddy about the ramifications and literally singled out the prospects of suppressing minority and college voters.”

Our message to the enemies of democracy is this: We see you. We know what you’re doing, and we won’t let you get away with it. We will shine a light on these evil deeds.

These attacks on our rights have not gone unchallenged. A sweeping reform bill, H.R. 1, was the first legislation introduced in the 116th Congress. Among its provisions: creation of a new national automatic voter registration that asks voters to opt out, rather than opt in; promotion of early voting, sameday voter registration, and online voter registration; making Election Day a holiday; ending partisan gerrymandering in federal elections and prohibiting voter roll purging.

H.R. 4, the Voting Rights Advancement Act, essentially would restore the preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act, creating a new coverage formula to determine which states and localities with repeated voting rights violations must preclear election changes with the Department of Justice.

In the courts, at least 15 states have ongoing litigation against voter suppression laws. Six cases are pending in Georgia alone, five of them related to the most recent election cycle.

Organizations like the NAACP, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Advancement Project, ACLU, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, the League of Women Voters, and Common Cause are fighting back; and we are proud to stand with them.

This year’s State of Black America® explores the effect of voter suppression laws and the evolving role the Black vote plays in our nation’s democratic institutions. The goals of the National Urban League—equal access to jobs, education, housing, health care, and justice—are, simply, not achievable without full and direct access to the ballot box.

To paraphrase Justice Ginsberg, it’s raining; and the National Urban League is determined to hand out umbrellas.

Marc H. Morial is the President and CEO of the National Urban League

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

POLITICS

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

By Senator Charleta B. Tavares (Ret.) State of Ohio’s 2-year Operating Budget House Bill 166 – the State Operating Budget was unveiled by the Governor on March 15, 2019 to the public was passed by the Ohio House on May 17 with strong bi-partisan support (85-9). Amended Substitute H.B. 166 is now being deliberated in the Ohio Senate.

Key provisions of the bill include: • Meaningful personal income tax relief for all Ohioans. The House plan completely eliminates the personal income tax for those who earn less than $22,250 and reduces personal income tax rates by 6.6 percent for everyone else. Overall, the House budget provides an annual net tax cut of $108 million.

•Record funding for Ohio’s schools. The legislation adds $125 million more over the next two years, with more being provided to areas with higher poverty.

•Major investments in foster care, which has been a priority of many lawmakers.

The House package doubles funding for foster care above what had been proposed by the governor. In addition to supporting local Jobs and Family Services operations, funding in House Bill 166 would be used to help at-risk youth and support recruiting additional foster care parents.

•Medicaid reform, which includes increasing pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) transparency and accountability within the Medicaid program.

The Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to meet the week of June 4, 2019. To receive the updated schedule of the Finance Committee hearings, contact Senator Matt Dolan’s office at (614) 466-8056 or dolan@ ohiosenate.gov. The two-year state budget must be signed into law by June 30.

House Bill 6 – Bailout of Nuclear Energy speak to the needs, opportunities and Companies (First Energy) challenges facing Ohio’s African American and communities of color.

House Bill 6 will raise the price of energy supplied to all residents throughout Ohio, * There are currently nineteen (19) not just those with nuclear power plants in members including one Asian American their portfolio. That means regardless of member participating in OLBC. For if your energy company let’s say AEP in additional information on the Ohio Central Ohio does not have a nuclear power Legislative Black Caucus, contact Chris plant in Ohio you will pay this “tax or fee” in Scott, Executive Director OLBC at cscott@ perpetuity (forever). In addition, the bill as ohiolegislativeblackcaucus.org passed by the House of Representatives will roll back Ohio’s renewable energy standards, If you are interested in testifying on any eliminate efforts to reduce climate change, of the bills introduced in either the House reduce the wind, solar and compressed or Senate, please contact the chair of the energy businesses and jobs in Ohio. committee who can be found at www. ohiosenate.gov or www.ohr.gov.

Since 2009, Ohioans have saved over $5.1 billion on their energy bills; for every $1 that Additional Contacts Ohio’s utilities invest in efficiency efforts; their customers get $2.65 in savings. A UPDATE: The Ohio General Assembly decade of investment and forward policies sessions and the House and Senate Finance decisions are now being dismantled by Committees are televised live on WOSU/ H.B.6.

WPBO and replays can be viewed at www. ohiochannel.org (specific House and Senate Unfortunately, Democrats gave the nuclear sessions and committee hearings can be industry the votes necessary to pass this searched in the video archives). onerous bill (53-43). They are giving the energy companies profits at the expense of If you would like to receive updated their constituents in perpetuity (forever) information on the Ohio General Assembly Democrat Representatives Brown, Cera, and policy initiatives introduced, call or Galonski*, Ingram*, Joe Miller, Patterson, email your state Representative or Senator.

Rogers, Sobecki, Upchurch* and West*voted The committee schedules, full membership in favor of the bill. rosters and contact information for the Ohio House and Senate can be found at The bill is now in the Ohio Senate. Contact www.ohiohouse.gov and www.ohiosenate. your state Senator and the governor’s office gov respectively. Former Senator Charleta to oppose this consumer unfriendly bill.

B. Tavares will continue to send out the Tavares Times News monthly newsletter and *OLBC members voting for H.B. 6 provide information on educational forums.

To receive information or events, email Ohio Legislative Black Caucus: Members tavarescrossfire2015@gmail.com Priorities Former Sen. Charleta B. Tavares, In an effort to bring the Ohio Legislative D-Columbus, is the 1st Democrat and Black Caucus’ priorities and legislative African American woman to serve in the agenda to the Columbus/Dayton African Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio American news journals’ readers, we will Senate from Franklin County. She is also continue in the next month’s edition to the first African American woman to serve in highlight the remaining members*. We will leadership in the history of Ohio and the 1st keep you informed on the progress of these Democrat woman to serve in leadership in and other bills sponsored and passed by the both the Ohio House of Representatives and members of OLBC over the next two years of the Ohio Senate (House Minority Whip and the 133rd General Assembly that specifically Senate Assistant Minority Leader).

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The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2019 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

POLITICS

REMEMBERING UNITA BLACKWELL

By Marian Wright Edelman I was deeply sorry to hear of the passing of my friend Mayor Unita Blackwell. She was one of a kind.

She was always laughing and making other people laugh and she never stopped growing, learning, rolling with the punches, and punching back when she had to. As a civil rights activist, a member of the executive committee of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party along with Fannie Lou Hamer, and the first Black woman mayor in Mississippi, Unita achieved many “firsts.”

She was elected mayor of Mayersville, Mississippi in 1976 and served for more than 20 years. She also became President of the National Conference of Black Mayors, was an adviser to six presidents, and received many honors, including a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant”—but she earned all of those honors the hard way. She spoke movingly of experiencing “emotional violence every day” for her movement work in Mississippi.

She once said she filed a lawsuit against almost every agency and operation of White people in the state of Mississippi and I was fortunate to serve as her lawyer for some of those lawsuits. During one period Unita said she got arrested every day for 30 straight days. She was jailed about 75 times for trying to organize people to register to vote. After 1964, when she joined the movement, she said she never slept uninterrupted for years because she and her family and friends would take turns sleeping and mounting guard against the Ku Klux Klan. She shared with my son Jonah how it felt when a cross was burned in front of her house and showed him the exact spot. But none of this stopped her.

Years ago I persuaded Unita to tell some of her stories for an oral history video in front of an audience of college students at the Children’s Defense Fund’s Haley Farm outside Knoxville, Tennessee. She described how she first got involved in the movement during Freedom Summer 1964 when Stokely Carmichael and Charlie Cobb visited her Mississippi church to recruit volunteers to attempt to register to vote. She said: “I thought that was a good idea. I’ve been asked what made me get into the movement. It was the needs: the needs to be met for education, for us to live and eat and be decent and have the necessities of things in life. I stood up when they asked who would try to register.

My husband pulled my dress to make me sit down and said, ‘Don’t get up ’til I get up.’ I sat down and waited, and he didn’t get up, so I poked him until he did stand, and then when he got up, I stood up, and I’ve been up ever since.”

She never stopped standing up. She described what happened when she tried to register to vote for the first time and found herself and the rest of her group surrounded by the sheriff

1

3

2

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1 - Unita Blackwell and Fannie Lou Hamer testifying before the U.S. Senate in 1967, 2 - Unita (left) speaking at a Women’s Voting Rally in 1970, 3 - Unita sitting at her desk in Mayersville, Mississippi, 4 - Unita receives award from the National Conference of Black Mayors 1984.

and a group of men in trucks: “It was awful to see the hate in the eyes of the White men who had come with guns. That’s the day I got angry . . . [I thought] nothing from nothing leaves nothing and we have nothing, and we’re going to have to stand for something.

I was afraid, but that was the day I decided I was going to die for my freedom.” She added: “You die anyway, so you might as well die for something. It was worth it! It was nothing in vain.”

Nothing about Unita Blackwell’s life of leadership and service was in vain. She was a long haul partner for the Children’s Defense Fund’s Southern Regional Office, especially the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative (SRBWI), which organizes, trains, and nurtures women in 77 impoverished rural counties in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia to incubate businesses, build networks of leaders, and advocate for public policies that help families and communities.

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Today Unita Blackwell is the mother and namesake of SRBWI’s Young Women’s Leadership Program, which brings young women and their mentors to a five-day leadership training and career development institute each summer on the campus of Tougaloo College. She remains an inspiration and role model and we will be honored to continue to amplify her voice and mission.

Unita Blackwell was a brilliant, courageous, and original warrior for justice and will be deeply missed.

Marian Wright Edelman is President of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

For more information go to www. childrensdefense.org.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

BUSINESS ARE YOUR MONEY BELIEFS HOLDING YOU BACK? 2. Money Worship: Money worshippers believe that money is the route to true happiness, and one can never have enough.

They feel that they will never be able to afford everything they want. These people may shop compulsively, hoard their belongings, and put work ahead of relationships in the ongoing quest for wealth.

By Darren Lundy, MBA Let’s talk about the Law of Attraction and what it takes to become the magnet that activates this Law. Many of us have been unconsciously magnetizing what we do not want to come to us.

3. Money Status: Similar to money worshippers, these people equate net worth with self-worth, believing that money is the key to both happiness and power. They may live lavishly in an attempt to keep up with or even beat the Joneses, incurring heavy debt in the process. They are also more likely than those in other categories to be compulsive gamblers or to lie to their spouses about money.

I think this is particularly apparent when it comes to money or the lack thereof.

WHY AREN’T YOU WEALTHY? Wealth and prosperity apply to all areas of your life: relationships, occupations, health, etc. However, today the focus will be on MONEY. Money is power, a fool and his money will soon part, a penny saved is a penny earned, and one of my favorites, money is the root of all evil are very familiar phrases. Many of us heard them growing up. As it turns out, the money beliefs our families espoused may have a profound effect on how we behave financially as adults and may even influence our financial success. When working with clients to improve their financial wellness, it is important that they are aware of the role their financial attitudes and beliefs play in shaping their financial future. Financial beliefs can help explain key differences between savers, spenders, and people who try to avoid money matters all together.

Financial beliefs can run deep and can offer valuable insight into our self-image and value perceptions. Most of our money beliefs are inherited. Even though many people claim their parents never taught them how to manage money, we typically mirror our parent’s money beliefs because we learn through observation. We watched how our parents acted and/or reacted to money matters. It’s no wonder that when you look closely at the relationship you have with money, you will find that you begin asking questions about what you value, who you value and how you value yourself. Beliefs live inside your mind but are often not who you really are. They are simply stories you tell yourself that you decide to believe are true. Beliefs can be extremely stubborn and are difficult to change since they can become a part of our ongoing life story that influence our financial behaviors.

While working with clients to build wealth, it is extremely important to help them identify negative money beliefs that may be sabotaging their efforts. In addition to researching the effects of parental influence, we must also look at our socioeconomic status, religion, history, and culture. Once many of these money beliefs are identified, we often find them to be a myth.

4. Money Vigilance: Money vigilant are cautious and sometimes overly anxious about money, but they also live within their means, pay off their credit cards every month, and save for the future. However, they risk carrying a level of anxiety so high that they cannot enjoy the fruits of their labor or ever feel a sense of financial security.

FOUR TYPES OF MONEY BELIEFS According to research performed by Dr. Brad Klontz and Dr. Sonya Britt, professors at Kansas State University, four primary money beliefs have been identified (money avoidance, money status, money worship, and money vigilance). Three out of four beliefs (money avoidance, money status, and money worship) are linked to potentially destructive financial behaviors. For example, these patterns of money beliefs have been associated with having lower levels of net worth, lower income, and higher amounts of revolving credit. The other money belief, money vigilance, was not linked to problematic financial behaviors.

Take a moment to answer these simple questions: What are some of your earliest moneyrelated memories and experiences?

Was money a frequent source of arguments or was the topic often avoided?

What are your current “money scripts” or financial belief patterns?

Awareness is always the first step to overcoming limiting money beliefs. If you feel you may fit into one of the selflimiting money script categories, consider how experiences in your childhood or the beliefs of your parents or grandparents may have influenced this thinking. Then open your awareness to positive ways to build and manage wealth. As in other areas of behavioral finance and psychology in general, awareness is often the first step toward addressing the problem.

Dr. Klontz used the term “money scripts” to describe financial beliefs and no matter where you are on the journey to reach your financial life goals, it is always helpful to be aware of your past experiences with money whether they were positive or negative.

Klontz described these scripts as “typically G i v e u s a c a l l f o r a c o m p l i m e n t a r y unconscious, trans-generational beliefs about consultation. money” that are “developed in childhood and drive adult financial behaviors.

Darren is a Columbus, Ohio native who has earned degrees in Business, Accounting, 1. Money Avoidance: People who fall into and an MBA. He has over twenty-five (25) this category believe that money is bad and is years’ experience in financial services. The often a source of anxiety or disgust. This may Ohio Company, First Union Securities, and result in a hostile attitude toward the wealthy. Merrill Lynch were instrumental in his career Paradoxically, these people might also feel prior to starting his own Wealth Management that all their problems would be solved if Firm, Money Consciousness LLC, (614) they only had more money. For this reason, 776-4311. He holds his Series 65 and Life and Health licenses. Investment advisory they may unconsciously sabotage their own services are offered through Foundations financial efforts while working extra hours Advisors, LLC an SEC registered investment just to make ends meet. advisor.

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The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2019 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

HISTORY

CALVIN LAWSHE: UNIVERSITY OF TOLEDO ADMINISTRATOR AND TOLEDO CITY DIRECTOR

By Rodney Blount, Jr., MA The history of Ohio is long and rich. Ohioans from all corners of the state have made an impact not only in Ohio, but around the world. Boasting several large metropolitan areas (e.g. Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, and Akron) and numerous smaller, but vital communities, there is a lot to uncover in the Buckeye state. Toledo, “The Glass City,” is a historic city in Ohio that was founded in 1833. The community exploded in growth after the Civil War due to its railroads and industries. African Americans have been a part of the fabric of Toledo since after the city’s founding, but began to see major growth at the turn of the twentieth century.

History makers like Ella Stewart, Art Tatum and Jack Ford are among the many African Americans who have paved the way for so many in Toledo and beyond. A less well known official who deserves more attention is Calvin Lawshe, a retired city official and University of Toledo professor and administrator, who first won public notice as a star high school athlete Calvin Joseph Lawshe was the first born to Calvin and Josephine (Smith) Lawshe on Friday, January 24, 1947 at Mercy Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. Calvin was educated in the Toledo Unified School System. He first entered Washington Elementary and then transferred to Sherman Elementary. Calvin loved playing street basketball with his fellow Northside Boys. He was a graduate of the 1965 class Macomber Vocational High School where he was an all-star basketball player becoming one of the top scoring players as well as one of the best high jumpers in the region. Calvin decided to pursue his education locally at the University of Toledo (UT) on an athletic scholarship.

He became the first basketball player signed by then-new UT head coach Bob Nichols.

Calvin Lawshe was a part of the 196667 MAC Championship Toledo Rockets basketball team. He received a Bachelor’s Degree and two Masters Degrees in Business Administration.

Calvin Lawshe sustained his commitment to the University of Toledo by serving as a professor of Business Technologies and closed his tenure as Assistant to the President for Community Relations and Interim Vice President for Student Services. In his role as Vice President of Student Services, he was responsible for the conduct, counseling and advocacy of University of Toledo students. He also had oversight of student life activities--including UT’s residence halls and more than 250 student organizations-and the Thompson Student Union on Main Campus. He retired in 2002 from UT after serving nearly 30 years. He served on the search committee that selected as a finalist current UT President Sharon Gaber.

Mr. Lawshe served as director of the ToledoLucas County Plan Commissions from

2007-2012, under the administrations of Mayors Carleton Finkbeiner and Micheal Bell. He became a vital part of Toledo and Lucas County’s development process helping to bring together the functions of zoning, planning, and land use so that the incongruent elements in the community who work in development could start working on one accord. He also revived the concept of area conferences. As plan director in 2008, Mr. Lawshe supported then-Mayor Carty Finkbeiner’s challenge to the U.S. Census Bureau for underestimating the city’s population. In advance of the 2010 tally, he served as a co-chairman of Mr. Finkbeiner’s Everyone Counts Committee. “He did not ever short change the truth,” Mr. Finkbeiner said. “Calvin was a leader, and he cared about other people.’’

Mayor Mike Bell hired Mr. Lawshe in 2013 to be an economic development official.

“Calvin had the ability to be a diplomat,” Mr. Bell said. “People met him and liked him, and in order to do economic development or any sort of business, they have to like you first. Working with Calvin was almost like working with someone in your family He would be the person who would bring about a mature point of view, but have humor. He was positive and didn’t have much time for negative stuff.”

Mr. Lawshe was economic development director in the administration of Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson. “[He was] truly a public servant who cared about this city,” said Ms. Hicks-Hudson, who was mayor through 2017. She said Mr. Lawshe in recent years started or finished many of Toledo’s major projects, including the Cleveland-Cliffs plant in development at the port and the move downtown of ProMedica headquarters. In addition, Mr. Lawshe was a co-operator of a market research firm, Lawshe and Usher Associates.

Bernard “Pete” Culp, a director of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority and friend since the 1960s, said: “He was one of the most influential guys I witnessed in

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this community in the last 50 years. We were so proud he was never for himself. It was always about helping somebody else,” said Mr. Culp, citing Mr. Lawshe’s roles at UT and his coaching youth basketball alongside Mr. Culp and Ed Scrutchins, the longtime City League commissioner.

Mr. Scrutchins said: “He was a great communicator. His friends varied from administrators to players and coaches. He cared about everybody.”

Calvin had a deep love for sports. He dearly loved basketball, football and track. When he could no longer play he coached. Calvin was one of three who coached several intercity basketball teams under the Amateur Athletic Union. In 2008, Calvin was inducted into the Toledo City Athletic League Hall of Fame for basketball as was Jim Jackson, the former Macomber, Ohio State, and NBA player who as a youth played on Mr. Lawshe’s AAU team.

He was a dedicated member of Perfecting Church Toledo under the pastoral leadership of Bishop Marvin L. Winans, Calvin was also a member of, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Alpha Phi Boule) and Amazon Masonic Lodge, #4, Prince Hall Affiliate. He served on various boards and was a member of several organizations in the City of Toledo and Lucas County.

Calvin Lawshe passed away on September 5, 2018. He was preceded in death by both parents: Calvin Lawshe and Josephine C. Moore; a sister, Lynette Lawshe and a brother, Demory Lawshe. Surviving are his wife, Vicki, whom he married May 20, 1989; daughters, Kamaria Boatman and Kara Lawshe-Fullen; son, Lance; sisters, Emma Wardlaw and Carol Cole; brothers, Charles Cole and David and Larry Lawshe, and five grandchildren. There are many like Mr. Lawshe that are unsung heroes in their communities. It is of the utmost importance for me and the readers of this article to do their best to bring light to dark places, informing the world about the great accomplishments of lesser known great individuals, communities, and organizations.

Works Cited https://houseofday.com/ https://www.toledoblade.com/ Black Toledo: A Documentary History of the African American Experience in Toledo, Ohio Building Blocks: Buckeye Cable System’s Communications Revolution, From Printer’s Ink to Cable to Fiber 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.

DAYTON TO COLUMBUS, THE I-70 SUMMER ENTERTAINMENT EXPRESSWAY

By Cecil Jones, MBA Dayton is a major birthplace of music, particularly ‘the Funk’!

Columbus is growing each year, with more free/inexpensive concerts and outdoor events than ever. Do you know about the festivals along I-70 between Dayton and Columbus, Ohio?. Do you want to have some fun on the I-70 Summer Entertainment Expressway? Keep reading…

Columbus Columbus has a great lineup of free and inexpensive concerts and outdoor events this year. There are dozens upon dozens of them.

You know many of them. I will mention just a few.

Have you listened to any of the outdoor music at the Heritage Festival? (http://kingartscomplex.com/heritage-musicfestival). The widely attended festival (mostly R&B) is free with vendors that sell food from trucks. This musical event is each Thursday evening at 6pm, from July 11 through August 15. Bring your lawn chairs!

In London, the Madison County Fair at 205 Springs, Ohio, home of Antioch College, Elm St. London, Ohio July 5th, 6th and 7th alma mater of Coretta Scott King occurs each this year.

June.

After visiting London, one can drive 20 more minutes west on I-70 and arrive in Springfield Ohio. I enjoyed the praise through singing of Cece Weyans in Springfield, just a few weeks ago at the Clark State Performing The Jazz Arts Groups is dedicated to bringing Auditorium. She is singing better than ever! jazz to all, including families and children.

See https://www.jazzartsgroup.org/events/ Springfield, Ohio category/pbj-jazz/ .

One of their events includes Bobby Floyd The Springfield Summer Arts Festival on Saturday July 13th at noon at the Topiary is known around the state. The festival Park at the rear of the Columbus Public l a s t s 5 w e e k s ! S e e h t t p : / / w w w .

Library at 96 S. Grant St. See their website springfieldartscouncil.org/series/summerfor more dates and events. arts-festival/ .

The Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest is Friday July 20th through Sunday July 22. Downtown Columbus (Genoa Park and Bicentennial Park stages hold the nationally known artists like Norman Brown).

The Columbus Arts Festival has great art for sale and free music each year. See http://www.columbusartsfestival.org// application/performances June 7 - 9 .

Dayton There are 50 free, yes 50, free concerts at Levitt Park in Dayton this summer! This includes the Sunday July 14th Dayton Blues Festival and the Sunday August 11 Dayton Funk Festival. Everyone knows Dayton is one of the homes of the ‘Funk’. The Dayton Reggae Festivsl is during the Labor Day weekend. The Reggae festival is on Sunday September 1 at the Levitt Pavillion.

Try the R&B Hot Summer Music Festival at Riverscape. Riverscape Metro Park at 237 E. Monument Avenue, downtown Dayton. Great From June 13th to July 20th, the Springfield festival. Great music!

Summer Arts Festival Events 2019 FREE! is held at Veterans Park in Springfield. Did I Dayton Jazz Festival – We just missed the mention that this was FREE! Sunday June 9th Dayton Jazz Festival. It is an annual event. Definitely attend next year.

Friday June 14, the former Motown group, It is held at the 134 S. Main St. Levitt Park Touch (who is from Dayton), will perform near the Dayton Convention Center. at the festival at 8pm. Yes, John Legend is one of the sponsors of this 5 week summer For a listing of summer festivals around Ohio, festival. see https://ohiofestivals.net/ohio-festivals/ .

Do you like to browse and look at antiques? Have a GREAT summer!

As you leave Columbus heading west toward Stop by Springfield Antique Center – I-70 at Dayton, there are MANY festivals and places State Route 41. They do not mind browsers. on interest all along I-70 Are you looking for a technology networking Everyone should adopt a historically black group to help you get smarter? What new London, Ohio college or university. In Wilberforce, Ohio, technology or process have you learned this the Central State University Marauders month? Need advice on how to look for that London Ohio has held a rib and jazz festival Homecoming is October 12th. They are technology position? Are you considering the last couple of years. I hope they continue playing Fort Valley State University at technology education (courses, certificates or it. (http://www.londonribandjazzfest.com/) It McPherson Stadium in Wilberforce. See degrees) and need information? Do you have has been in the first weekend in August. https://maraudersports.com/schedule. a business, process, project management, aspx?path=football for more information. personnel or technology question? Please There is the annual London Strawberry let me know. admin@accelerationservices.net Festival – Thurs June 20 through Saturday Yellow Springs, Ohio has ‘Jazz in the Cecil Jones MBA, ABD, PMP, CCP, SCPM, June 22 this year. Who does not love Springs’, the annual free jazz event in Yellow FLMI, Lean Professional, 614-726-1925. strawberries?

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The Columbus & Dayton African American - June 2019

MY SUMMER BUCKET LIST

By Jacqueline Lewis-Lyons, Psy.d

Summer time…and the living is easy…. well, at least warmer! The unofficial start of summer was Memorial Day and it certainly felt like it. Temps were higher than we have had for a while and there was the usual threat of stormy weather, but we have come to expect that here in central Ohio. Anyway, I am totally ready for the relaxed pace of summer! Some of you may ask – “What relaxed pace? We have this to do and places to go and family coming in…” I get that.

Summer is typically only a break for our children from the routine of school and homework. But, I challenge you to allow yourself to turn back the clock and recall some of your favorite summer activities – and then find a way to enjoy a few of them this year!

Last year I made a “Summer Bucket List” which included nearly twenty different activities. Needless to say, I only managed to make time for a few things, and they were not even on the list! So, this year I am focusing on what I really want to do and leaving space for a few unexpected activities which could trump something on my list. Here are some of the things I am looking forward to this summer – if you have questions about any of them, just reach out! The more the merrier!

1. Going to New Orleans – this will be a

business trip for a convention but I have never been there before and am looking forward to beignets and chicory coffee!

2. Our family has been doing 5ks together around thanksgiving and Christmas for the past two years so we decided to try the Great Inflatable 5K race in June. Who doesn’t want to jump in a bouncy house or try a giant slide on a Saturday morning with your super competitive adult children and adorable granddaughter? They had me at “blow up castle.”

3. I love gardens but, alas, do not possess the gene for a green thumb. So, I search out a variety of farmer’s markets for fresh produce and all kinds of local honey. Last year I bought some ginger honey at the Lavender Festival and really want more! You can get great deals at the markets and it can be interesting to chat with the farmers about what they do.

4. Explore my city. A few years ago I bought a Groupon for my husband and I to take a walking tour of Columbus. While I have misplaced the Groupon, the plan is still there.

You can do many walks on your own around German Village, the Short North, and the Chadwick Arboretum and Learning Gardens.

Another idea is to use the app GPSmyCity for a variety of tours you can take on your own.

For guided tours, check out the Dynamic History Walking Tours and Columbus Art Walks.

5. We are a family of sports fans, and while we may cheer for different teams during

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football season, we can all agree that an evening watching the Clippers is a good time.

And, they offer Dime-A-Dog night several times during the season – hey, no judgement, everything in moderation, right?

6. We also like to be downright silly – why else would I have gigantic water bazookas and kites in my basement!? So, as those temps continue to climb, I see several people getting quite wet…

7. And, for those days when the weather is most uncooperative (ie: stormy), we keep a box of wind up flashlights, large piece puzzles, and plan for a night of storytelling and indoor picnic treats such as PBJ, chips and dip, fruit and sparkling water. Sometimes those evenings are the most fun!

Not every activity has to involve spending money – think about planning to get up extra early to watch the sun rise or find a great spot to enjoy the sunset. Download those photos from all your activities and make a summer scrapbook. Clintonville has a free summer movie series in the park that includes face painting and free popcorn. Just have fun – that’s what summer is all about. Enjoy!

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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KEVIN L. BOYCE

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

Are you at risk online?

Join AARP in Grove City for an honest look at how to avoid frauds and scams With online scammers growing more savvy and new reports of data breaches popping up all the time, there are more risks to your personal information every year. We’re fighting back in Central Ohio with the AARP Fraud Watch Network.

We will be joined by Ohio Department of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau to provide resources so you can spot and avoid theft, frauds and scams.

It's free of charge for everyone, of all ages, members and non-members.

June 25 from 1pm to 3pm

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Mid-Ohio Foodbank 3960 Brookham Drive Grove City, OH 43123

To RSVP, call 1-877-926-8300 to save your space.

In support of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, you are invited to bring one of the following non-food items for their deserving clients: •Shampoo • Conditioner • Bar Soap • Toothpaste • Body Wash • Toothbrushes(all ages) • Deodorant(any) After the event, a tour of the Mid-Ohio Food bank facility will be provided.

Watchdog Alerts Tips & Resources Free for Everyone aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015