December 2019 Edition by Columbus African American News Journal

Columbus & Dayton

December 2019

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reason About The Season

The Power of Perspective and The State of Our Democracy

Unique Partnership Fills Columbus Behavioral Health Void

By William McCoy, MA

By Eric Johnson, PhD

By Charleta B. Tavares

FREE

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 Steve Harrison

Contributing Editors Tim Ahrens, DMin Jasmine Ayers, MA Lisa D. Benton, MD Rodney Q. Blount, Jr., MA Christian Anne Capers Tom Henderson Cecil Jones, MBA Eric Johnson, PhD Ako Kambon Kim Krisberg Jacqueline Lewis-Lyons, PsyD Darren Lundy, MBA William McCoy, MPA Yolanda Owens Fmr. Sen. Charleta B. Tavares C. Dexter Wise, III, DMin

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

The Columbus & Dayton African American 503 S. High Street - Suite 102

First, on behalf of my entire family, I want to sincerely thank each of you who took the time to express your condolences to me on the passing of my sister, Olivia. As many of you know, she was a beautiful and loving person who knew what it meant to be a friend and behave accordingly. Olivia was my mother’s first-born child. The two of them indeed comprised a dynamic duo. My mother worked and Olivia ran the house (like the captain of her own enterprise)! She was my Big Sis--not my older sister. In fact, she urged me on more than one occasion not to call her my older sister. Just call me Oh-Livia, she would say, in a sultry manner, as she emphasized the “O”!! Olivia was born to be a boss. She just enjoyed telling people what to do. She was a brilliant student, an excellent majorette at East High School, a promising musician (baritone sax), and a wonderful host. There was nothing that she enjoyed more than inviting friends and family to her home for a perfectly arranged dining experience......the girl had a subscription to Good Housekeeping and Better Homes and Garden magazines when she was six years old--seriously! Her dining room table was always set (completely) and the food and desserts spoke to you by name! Kimyotta, Olivia’s granddaughter said this to her a little over a week ago--”Nana, you so bourgie!” I couldn’t stop laughing! I said, yes, that’s exactly the right word for her. Mink coat, Cadillac, diamonds, home in Pataskala, Columbus Symphony volunteer, retired Bank manager, prognosticator, and pontificator. But more importantly, she was a good mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, niece, active church member (Vineyard East) and, a child of God. A couple of weeks ago, my wife, Marty, and I had the opportunity to worship with my good friend, Reverend Dr. Tim Ahrens, on the occasion of his 20th Anniversary as Senior Pastor of First Congregational Church. It was a joyous celebration that was made even more special by the presence of Tim’s mother, father, son, and grandsons. The pride and gratitude shown on Tim and Susan’s faces throughout the morning worship service and the Anniversary Celebration was so pleasing to witness. In my remarks, I spoke of a civil rights experience that I had in Forsythe County, Georgia, in the City of Cumming. Although it occurred almost 33 years ago, I can still see the viciousness on the faces of the white counter-protestors in Cumming. As I shared at First Congregational, I marched into this little City with three of my good friends--Ako Kambon was locked on my right arm and Reverend Jesse Wood on my left arm. To Jesse’s left was Dr. Arthur Thomas, President of Central State University. We were surrounded by 1700 Highway Patrol Officers, National Guard, local police and FBI officials. Though we were 20,000 strong, rocks and bottles were being thrown at us and names and insults were shouted at us. In fact, we were called every form of monkey, ape, gorilla, and other animals in an effort to debase us to the level of deprivation that our tormentors were experiencing. There we were, four well educated Black men--eight college degrees between us--a college President, a Pastor, the Columbus City Clerk, and myself, a Member of the Ohio House of Representatives. But to the counter-protesters in Cumming we were nothing more than Nigers. In fact, many of their signs said, “Niger Go Home.” Spelling was not something that they excelled in. What shall always be in my remembrance about that protest march was how the parents pushed their children to the front of the lined roads, holding signs with such vile and hateful messages. The children could not have been more than four or five years old in many instances; yet, they were being taught by their parents that they were better than Black people. They were being taught that no matter how impoverished and uneducated they may have been--they were superior to those Nigers. I shared this story with Dr. Ahrens and his guests because it allowed me to inform them of what a unifier their Pastor is. Always working toward racial healing, advancement, and goodwill. And, I share this story with you today, because like Tim Ahrens, my Big Sis, Olivia Miller Weatherly, was a healer, a unifier, and one who practiced and demonstrated agape-communal love-- between all peoples regardless of race or their station in life. God rest her soul. Finally, I want to, once again, thank my Pastor, Dr. Howard Washington, Senior Pastor of Second Baptist Church for his prayers and counsel throughout this difficult time in my life and that of my family. With Appreciation and Respect,

Columbus, Ohio 43215 Office: 614.826.2254 editor@columbusafricanamerican.com www.CAANJ.com

Ray Miller Founder & Publisher 3

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

In This Issue

Programs Work from

Within to Prevent Black

Maternal Deaths

Unique Partnership Fills

Columbus Behavioral

Health Void

COVER STORY

Substance Use Disorder

Tuition Reimbursement

Ready, Set, Go for 2020!

Our Most Prescious

Resource: An Analysis of

Early Childhood Education

A Word from The Wise

CelebrateOne Awarded

$4.5 Million Grant

Book Bags & E-Readers

Healing for the Holidays

Home Ownership Has Not

Panned Out for Many

African Americans

Pillars of Wisdom

You Were Born to Be Rich

By: Darren Lundy

Focus on the Reason for the

Season: New Bills

Can Make You Ill

Hon. John J. Conyers, Jr.:

Longest Serving African

American in

Congressional History

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

17 32 33 5

Programs Work from Within to Prevent Black Maternal Deaths By: Kim Krisberg

Pillars of Wisdom By: Ako Kambon

Let’s Reason About

Diabetes? You Might Be At

the Season

Risk and Not Know It

Ho-Ho-Hold Up:

Legislative Update

Too Many Adverts?

Ohio Legislative Black

My Favorite Books of 2019

Caucus Foundation and

Perry Tarrant is the Right

University of Akron

Choice for Columbus’

Partnership

Police Chief

Rep. Crawley Introduces

The Power of Perspective:

Legislation to Improve

The State of our Democracy...

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

Maternal Health in Ohio

Community Events

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

LET’S REASON ABOUT THE SEASON By William McCoy, MPA Have you ever heard someone say, “Jesus is the reason for the (Christmas) season?” Really? Others lament the fact that “Christ” seems to be absent from the holiday some refer to as “Xmas.” One year, I placed a present wrapped in birthday paper under our Christmas tree. My present appeared out of place among all the other Christmas gifts. As Christmas approached, family members and visitors made comments about the way my present was wrapped. My kids joked that “Dad didn’t know what he was doing.” They teased me about my “mistake.” When Christmas Day arrived, we eagerly opened our presents. In no time flat, all of the presents were opened, except one- mine. One of my kids asked, “Who’s gift is that?” I asked if anyone knew. No one knew. I finally asked the pastor who was there and he replied, “You’ve got me stumped.” With that, I told them the mystery gift, wrapped in birthday paper, was for the Birthday BoyJesus. I pointed out his only gift was the one I “mistakenly” put under the tree. So, how would you feel if we celebrated your birthday by giving everyone a gift, except you? Or, what if few (if any) people came to visit you on your birthday? When you think about all the time, attention, and money devoted to Christmas and everyone but the Birthday Boy, you have to ask, “What is the REAL “reason for the season?” Experts at the National Retail Federation are projecting consumers will spend over $1,000,000,000- yes, ONE TRILLION dollars- on holiday gifts, travel, and related expenses this year (2019). That is an estimated $920 per person in gifts for every man, woman, and child in America. One trillion dollars in Christmas spending is enough to (almost) pay off the United States government federal debt, provide one year’s income to over 19 million families, and more. One trillion dollars exceeds the Gross Domestic Product of Indonesia, Turkey, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Sweden, Iran, Norway, Poland, Belgium, Argentina, Austria, and about a hundred or so other counties. In short, Americans will spend a lot of money on Christmas this year. It seems Christmas-related decorations, advertising, and sales show up earlier each year. This year, some stores had merchandise and reminders on the shelves in October. In some places, Christmas trees, nativity scenes, and holiday décor were in place before Halloween. Retailers have people “dreaming of a White Christmas” and looking forward to “Black Friday” weeks before Thanksgiving. Like Santa, many of us were making a (gift giving) list long before Christmas. Intellectually curious, open-minded readers may want to look into the origins of Christmas, Santa Claus, and other aspects of the Christmas tradition. This is a fascinating, eye-opening endeavor. If you still cling to a belief in Santa Claus, you may not want

to learn the truth about Christmas, the characters, and traditions associated with it. Indeed, the Holy Bible does not say when Christ was born, mention Christmas, nor command Christians to observe it. In fact, early Christians did not observe Christmas, because it did not exist. Instead, many Europeans celebrated the winter solstice with a festival called the Saturnalia. This mid-winter festival, which began on or around December 21st, pre-dates Christmas by thousands of years. Saturnalia was marked by a month-long upheaval in the social order. Poor people were allowed to beg the rich for gifts, peasants reversed roles with town leaders, and people ate and drank to excess. Around 350 A.D., Pope Julius I designated December 25 as “Christmas,” in part, to “adopt and absorb the traditions of the pagan Saturnalia festival.” In Colonial America, the Puritans hated this mid-winter festival. It was outlawed in New England for about 25 years, during the 1600s. From 1659 to 1681, Christmas was illegal in Boston, where violators were fined for exhibiting the Christmas spirit. Over time, Christmas became more widely celebrated and accepted. Two hundred (200) years later, on June 26, 1870, Christmas was officially designated as a (American) federal holiday. For more about Christmas’ origins, visit https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/ history-of-christmas. How about “Santa?” Some historians trace the legend of Santa Claus to a Turkish monk, born around 280 A.D., who gave away his wealth and helped the sick and poor. Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus first appeared in American culture in late 18th century, when Dutch families in New York honored the death of “Sint Nikolaas” aka “Sinter Klaas.” 5

Most people do not know “Old Nicholas” and “Nick” have much older (and sinister) roots than imagined. Lewis Spence describes “a direct link from Santa to Satan” in his Encyclopedia of Occultism (1920). How can this be? 2 Corinthians 11:14, NIV tells us, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” So, when you strip away all the myth, nostalgia, and sentiment, who is “Santa?” Maybe, the answer can be found in his name: SANTA (move the “N” to the end of the word to reveal one possibility). Could Santa/Satan be the “Christmas spirit” behind the birthday celebration where everyone gets a gift or visit, except Jesus? Just saying. Regardless of what you believe, enjoy the holiday season with friends and family, and remember those less fortunate than you. Do not forget: The best present is your presence. Also, make it a point to spend some of your money with Black business or organizations that employ, help, or advance AfricanAmericans and/or their causes. No matter how, why, and what you celebrate this season, have a Happy Holiday! William McCoy is founder and president of The McCoy Company- a world-class, personal services consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, economic development, and training that helps its clients articulate and achieve their visions, solve problems, and capitalize on their opportunities. He has worked with national think tanks, held two White House appointments, and consulted with every level of government, foundations, and the private sector. Mr. McCoy holds a BA in economics and a MPA in finance, and is profiled in Who’s Who in the World and elsewhere. You can reach William McCoy at (614) 785-8497 or via e-mail wmccoy2@ themccoycompany.com. His website can be found at www.themccoycompany.com.

Columbus & Dayton African American 2019 TheThe Columbus African American News Journal• •December February 2015

HO-HO-HOLD UP: TOO MANY ADVERTS?

By Christian Anne Capers Article: Ads, ads, ads. Everywhere we go, we are bombarded by them. One cannot get through a simple YouTube video without an average of five advertisements (the revenue of which content creators barely see). Television viewership is waning because families do not want to sit through 40% commercial and 60% show. In the beloved A Charlie Brown Christmas, the title character laments the commercialization of the holiday, and the discontent and disillusionment he feels as a result. Aired on CBS in 1965, the sentiment of the special rings true now more than ever. The concentration of Christmas adverts and sponsors increases exponentially year by year. According to Statista, department stores racked up $729.3 billion retail sales in the year 2019 - a number that is climbing every year. With the spread of mass media - TV, phone apps, Internet, newspapers, pop-ups and lest we forget media of the social variety - it is difficult for the average American to not be saturated with modern conveniences and ways to make our lives simpler. While

it is easy for the public to lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas or their holiday or choice, what is more rarely discussed is the mental cost of such commercialization on the average American.

As Americans, we know all too well the beauty of capitalism enshrined by the controlling, uncaring and often oppressive nature of consumeristic ideals. Filling our soul holes demands a little more than purchasing a new toy, appliance or cologne. Yuletide consumerism also has a hand in potentially disillusioning the American public and leading them from the true meaning of Christmas. While atheists may revel in the secular meaning of the holiday, most of the Christian country can forget about the anniversary of Jesus’s birth. Conclusion: So what is the solution to this terrible commercialization epidemic? Go on strike? Stop watching commercials altogether? (Haha, we wish.) Ban gift giving? Uh, no. We could trudge through the preChristmas materialistic consumerism that is part-and-parcel of living a first world country, carrying in mind the true meaning of the holiday. Or we could pace; taking the entire month of December to celebrate, and reducing the candy cane-coated sugar crash and burn on those final days. (I vote for the second one.)

Despite the term “holiday-s,” Christmas is the most widely celebrated and peak season for retailers to sell to consumers using all types of media. The season of jolly and goodwill can quickly turn into a season of jam-packed chaos for those of us who want to make Christmas special for our loved ones. According to Medical News Today, “a lack of time and money, credit card debt, and the pressure of gift giving can often contribute to stress during the holiday season” (1). Research shows that during this time, there is often a spike in stress-related health problems like hypertension and heart disease, which if left unchecked or exacerbated, can result in death. Aggressive holiday marketing campaigns are not the cause of these risks, but simply contributing factors. Methods of busting stress include budgeting, adjusting expectations, staying realistic and reducing Sources: Statista, Medical News Today commercial intake.

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

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2019 By Jacqueline Lewis-Lyons, PsyD Ahhh…the holidays are upon us. That means cleaning, decluttering, and decorating. I was ready to start pulling out the boxes of Christmas ornaments and wrapping supplies when I realized that I had no place to set stuff while I made the switch to “holiday mode” – too much stuff! Well, that is another topic for another time, but I realized that my personal bookcase was rather crowded! Now, this year I had made a commitment to myself to do more reading and clearly I was serious about it – while I did utilize my library card often, there were several books that I decided I needed to buy. Yes, I am one of those types that can read a book over and over. So, with gift-giving season in full swing, I am sharing some of the books which made the top of my list this year. #1 “Your One Word” by Evan Carmichael. The tagline is “the powerful secret to creating a business and life that matter.” That’s what got my attention. I had heard several people refer to this book as a catalyst when building their businesses. While it is written primarily for entrepreneurs, if you have been trying to identify your passion or your “Why”, this could be a beneficial read. The book starts with tips to help you formulate a vision and then design a plan of action. Carmichael divides the book into sections that address “Core” – discovering your greatness, “Campaign” – creating a campaign for your business, and “Company” – examining the different components of building a business. His one word is #Believe and his YouTube channel has a massive following. #2 “The Magic of Thinking Big” by David J. Schwartz, Ph.D. This book follows the premise that success is determined by the size of one’s thinking. I do believe that we do not serve the world well by thinking small, and this book will challenge you to blow the walls off your limited ideas! Dr. Schwartz builds on the Bible verse Proverbs 23:7 where David states “As one thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Practical ideas and techniques are presented to teach you to think BIG and stretch beyond your comfort zone. I appreciated the real-life stories and directions on how to apply the techniques in common situations. #3 “The Miracle Morning” by Hal Elrod. If you are looking for a kick in the pants to help you reach your full potential or make major changes, it might be as simple as starting your day with a different routine. ‘Yo Pal Hal’ (as he is known apparently) asks “Why did you wake up today?” What are you looking forward to and how important is it to you? I love that analogy he makes in saying “Every day should feel like Christmas! You should be excited to wake up and get going!” His plan is based on Life SAVERS:

S = Silence/Meditation; A = Affirmations; V = Visualization; E = Exercise; R = Reading; and S = Scribe (journaling). He breaks each one into doable steps that will get you excited about waking up the next day! And, if you need a little help with the journaling… #4 “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. I love the book so much that I actually bought a second copy when I couldn’t find the first one. I was introduced to this in one of my first writing groups. ‘Morning pages’ is an exercise to help clear your mind of all the clutter so you can get to what’s really important. I often give this as a homework assignment to clients to help them dig through the chatter in their heads. The book is designed to help you tap into to your own creativity and change your mindset. #5 “You Are A BADASS!” by Jen Sincero. I actually gave this book as a gift last year and bought an extra copy just to have around. If you are dealing with self-doubt, low selfesteem, Sincero has a way of providing that necessary kick with humor and an honesty that totally wins you over. While her language can be crude at time, she makes some great points and is focused on the importance of loving yourself.

#6 “Becoming” by Michelle Obama. I have been savoring each page of this book. It feels like I am reading about a friend, finding so many similarities between us. I was blown away by stories of strength, forgiveness, and the importance of never giving up. A must read! #7 “Food, Health, and Happiness” by Oprah Winfrey. Call me weird, but I can sit and just read a cookbook. This book is both cookbook and stories about “O” and what she is most passionate about. It is not just another ‘weight loss/dieting’ book – it is a trip around the world through food and how to make healthy swaps. And, I loved the favorite gadgets section! I do find my ‘happy place’ in my kitchen! I hope that you check out a few of my recommendations – and, please let me know what you think of them. My email is Jacqui@drlewislyons.com. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Dr. Jacqueline Lewis-Lyons’s office is located in north Columbus. Her practice centers on helping clients with depression and anxiety related disorders. In recent years, after discovering a love of running, she expanded her practice to include servces related to Sports Psychology for athletes of all ages and levels.

Columbus & Dayton African American 2019 TheThe Columbus African American News Journal• •December February 2015

PERRY TARRANT IS THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR COLUMBUS’ POLICE CHIEF

Photo from WSYX ABC 6 Columbus

By Rev. Tim Ahrens, D.Min These inspiring words from Howard Thurman have directed my life when making significant decisions. As I was sitting in the Public Forum with the two final candidates for Columbus Division of Police Chief, Dr. Thurman’s words “came alive” for me once again. As I listened to Perry Tarrant and Thomas Quinlan speak about their “vision” of policing, I came alive every time Mr. Tarrant answered questions because he is a person who has “come alive” in more than 30 years of law enforcement service. On November 21 at East High School, Mr. Tarrant brought something alive inside of me called “Hope.” At various times in the evening, the auditorium was electric when he spoke of a better Columbus. I have not felt Hope for the Columbus Division of Police for a long time. And, as the Holy scriptures say, “Hope does not disappoint us.” Mr. Tarrant WILL bring Hope to Columbus. We will not be disappointed. Perry Tarrant is a visionary leader who has led change effecting diversity in the workforce, combatting human trafficking, securing local communities from drug trafficking violence, welcoming immigrants and refugees, designing and delivering a plan for recruiting minorities and women in law enforcement, and addressing how a police force can become a change agent in the community by utilizing 21st Century Policing. He has the confidence and support of NOBLE (The National Organization for Black Law Enforcement) where he has served as president and in a variety of

other leadership roles. He mentors young people in each community in which he has served. For more than three decades he has grown and developed as a key visionary and leader in this nation’s effort to improve law enforcement. He believes he and police are here to work for and with local communities whose citizens need protection and service from the police. Perry Tarrant is inspirational and he is phenomenally gifted. After Michael Brown was murdered by police in Ferguson, Missouri and white supremacists attacked people in Charlottesville, Virginia, Mr. Tarrant was part of the cadre of national law enforcement leaders brought in to help heal two traumatized communities and move policing into a hopeful future. Over the 14 months, as co-facilitator with the Rev Dr. Jeffery P. Kee, Sr. Pastor, New Faith Baptist Church of Christ, a coalition of 70+ pastors and religious leaders of all faiths stepped forward raising seven expectations for change within the Columbus Division of Police. Through our coalition, I have witnessed firsthand major problems of discrimination within the Columbus Police Department which causes pain and division directed against minorities, women, and LGBTQ officers. These struggles within the division of police carry over onto the streets where officers are not united and the citizens feel the effect of the separation within. I have come to see there is no “Blue Line” in Columbus. We have a white male heterosexual line. This causes division and unresolved trauma within the division of police. This has to end. There can be no more discrimination going forward.

and effective policing. As we are faced with a decision about who will lead our city’s police force for the next 5-10 years, there is no real decision. Mr. Perry Tarrant has all the gifts we need to lead the Columbus Division of Police to become a great force – one that reflects the diversity of our community for the 21st Century. When I asked Mr. Tarrant if he has a “life philosophy” he told me, “Individual commitment to service serves all of us.” This philosophy can work for every single person’s life. It is exactly what we need to turn around the Columbus Division of Police. I pray for the search committee, chaired by Dawn Tyler Lee, Safety Director Dr. Ned Pettus, Jr., the executive leadership team, the City Council and especially Mayor Andrew Ginther as they choose the next leader for the Columbus Division of Police. I pray that each one of them “come alive” as I came alive the night I first met Mr. Tarrant. They need to select Mr. Tarrant for all the gifts, talents, intelligence and creativity he will bring to the job of police chief. Perry Tarrant will be a great leader of the CDP but he will also be a great leader for all the citizens of Columbus Ohio. We need people who “have come alive.” We need Perry Tarrant.

Rev. Dr. Tim Ahrens is the Senior Minister of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in downtown Columbus. A church known for its witness to social justice since its birth as an abolitionist congregation in 1852. Rev. Ahrens is the fifth consecutive senior minister from Yale Divinity School and Our city is at a critical juncture. We need to is a lifelong member of the United Church of join the 21st Century in delivering creative Christ.

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

PERRY TARRANT Law Enforcement Executive

POB 21804 Seattle, WA 98111-3804

PERRY TARRANT

 Master of Public Administration Northern Arizona University  Grad. Cert. in Criminal Justice Studies University of Virginia  Bachelor of Arts Political Science The University of Arizona  All Hazards IMT Cmdr. (& Trainer) DHS/FEMA Emer. Mgmt. Institute  National Academy (Law Enf. Leadership) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  Law Enforcement CEO Certificate NOBLE @ Cedarville University  Senior Management Inst. for Policing Police Executive Research Forum

perry.tarrant@gmail.com

•

“Hiring & retaining a diverse workforce in law enforcement.” President’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing

•

“Human smuggling human trafficking for law enforcement.” Arizona Black Law Enforcement (ABLE) 2014 Annual Conference.

•

“Focused police recruiting of minorities and women in law enforcement: A new plan.” City of Tucson

•

“Securing Local Communities from Drug Trafficking Violence.” 3rd Annual Border Security Conference.

•

“Policing in America: Lessons From the Past, Opportunities for the Future.” Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C.

Perry Tarrant has more than three and a half decades of law enforcement experience. He began his career with the Tucson Police Department where he worked assignments in Patrol, Canine, SWAT, and Bomb Squad. He also supervised or commanded these areas as well as Motorcycle Enforcement, Internal Affairs Investigations, Aviation (with a Commercial Pilot Certificate), Homeland Security–Counterterrorism, Emergency Management, and Investigations. He developed strategies to protect communities from transborder drug cartel and gang violence, and shared his knowledge and experience with the City of Yakima, Washington before coming to the Seattle Police Department. Perry presented the future of policing before the NAACP Annual Conference, Washington State Command College, and as the keynote for the 2018 FBI National Academy Associates Annual Conference. Perry Tarrant is certified as a Community Engagement subject matter expert and Collaborative Reform Generalist under the IACP Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center. Perry was certified as an Incident Commander for FEMA through the National Fire Academy and responded to wildfires and other disasters around the country. He provided support for National Special Security Events such as national political party conventions, G-20 summit, and Unified Command for Super Bowl XLVIII. He is certified as an Incident Commander Trainer through FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute. Perry Tarrant went before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee following the shooting of former Arizona Congresswoman Gabriel Giffords and the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He continues to be called upon for his law enforcement experience and community policing knowledge. He has addressed subcommittees and caucuses in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on Homeland Security support for local law enforcement, Community Policing, and Civil Rights. Perry Tarrant provided written testimony to President Obama’s Taskforce on 21st Century Policing. He worked with community leaders, city leadership in Ferguson, Missouri and the U.S. Department of Justice through challenges and toward restructuring. He was asked by the President Obama White House to lead a response into Charlotte, NC following a high profile police shooting. Additionally, he was part of a small law enforcement leadership advisory group assembled by President Obama and Vice President Biden following the shooting of police in Dallas, TX. Perry Tarrant served on the Executive Board of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) before being elected to lead as its President (2016 and 2017). Perry currently chairs the NOBLE Technology Taskforce dealing with community engagement, officer safety, and effective crime reduction innovation. He authored or contributed knowledge and experience to publications on race and policing, a comprehensive model policy for use of force by law enforcement and corrections, and a criminal justice resource for responding to hate crimes. Perry continues to be a resource for several congressional offices and committees. He has been described as a consummate policing and criminal justice reformer for human rights for the most vulnerable in our communities. Asst. Chief Tarrant received his Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a Leadership Emphasis from Northern Arizona University, and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Minor in Counterterrorism & Human Migration) from The University of Arizona. He also has a Criminal Justice Graduate Studies Certificate from the University of Virginia, and a Certificate of Study in Human Trafficking from The Ohio State University. He was Adjunct Faculty at Northern Arizona University, and continues to be invited as a guest lecturer (recently receiving the President’s Award – Morgan State University). Perry cofounded the Greater Seattle Security Council comprised of corporate security and area law enforcement for community safety. In 2017 Perry was awarded the Robert Lamb Humanitarian Jr. Award and was recognized by The University of Arizona Alumni Association as the 2017 Trailblazer. In 2013, Perry was also celebrated for making a difference in his community. He had previously received recognition as a mentor and role model for young men. Locally, he is a member of two organizations focused on youth mentoring and is a board member of a third organization helping youth turn their lives around.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

POLITICS

THE POWER OF PERSPECTIVE: THE STATE OF OUR DEMOCRACY THROUGH THE LENS OF THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AND THE COLIN KAEPERNICK/NFL DEBACLE By Eric Johnson, PhD The principles of Democracy go well beyond the notion of “one person one vote.” Certainly, the sanctity of the vote is required for a healthy democracy but it is not sufficient by itself. Important ideas such as the rule of law, justice, fairness, trust, and even minority rights are essential parts of the cardio-vascular system that work as the heart of any democracy. Not only do African Americans rely on these principles, for more than 200 years they have given their lives to protect and realize them. This despite the fact that few have suffered more in the absence of those principles than people of African descent. Nonetheless, Black folks have sought refuge in the idea one day “a change gone come.” The effort to help this country realize its most fundamental ideals continues, even though one’s perspective of the work significantly contributes to the evaluation of the progress. So powerful is the influence of perspective that people looking at the exact same evidence and factors observe completely different things and as a consequence come to totally divergent conclusions. Impeachment may be the most sobering process spelled out in the U.S. Constitution, but there is no getting around the political nature of the process. Removing a President of The United States from office and nullifying an election should be undertaken with only the deepest appreciation of patriotism, fairness, justice, and the rule of law. It should be reserved for only the most reprehensible Presidential conduct. There are those who believe President Trump’s behavior meets that standard, it would appear that even some in the President’s own administration believe his actions crossed a clear red line. However, there are many congressional members mostly republican but not all, who assert that the President did nothing wrong and any behavior considered to be inappropriate does not satisfactorily meet the standard for impeachment let alone removal from office. It would seem to defy logic that both groups of people could be looking at the same evidence. While the power of perspective would seem to a play here, there are those who would also interject the influence of privilege, power and money. There have been Black and Brown people put to death in the criminal justice system with only a fraction of the evidence brought against President Trump. Even the American public is polarized by the process. While it does seem that a slim majority think the President should be impeached and removed from office 51%, those numbers are largely driven by political party association. It appears nearly 90% of democrats, 40% of independents and only a 34% of republicans support impeachment and removal from office. There is not much doubt that the President did what he is accused of, however, there is a reasonable debate as to whether he should be impeached

and removed from officer for it. The problem is that is not the debate that seems to be driving this impeachment inquiry. The ideas of fairness, justice, trust and the rule of law are indispensable to democratic survival. While the removal of a President should embody the best of all those principles, so to should the process to take someone’s freedom let alone a human life. Someone losing a job should not be equated with someone losing their life, but the point here is to simply bring to bear a well needed perspective on the what is necessary to fulfill the promise of the Constitution to American democracy. If it does not apply to all equally then it fails to meet the standard that it claims. While the presidential Impeachment process tests the promises claimed by the U.S. Constitution, so does the public conflict between the NFL and Colin Kaepernick. While certainly the tree of freedom is watered with the blood of those who struggle to see it survive, there is still an expectation that fairness, justice and rule of law are principles that govern life in a democracy, particularly in The United States. The NFL with little doubt has denied Colin Kaepernick an opportunity because it shaded those principles for its own purposes. Colin in part has been denied the opportunity to realize his full potential as an NFL quarterback because he sought to identify what he perceived to be violations in the principles of fairness and justice. Kaepernick, despite his critics met his constitutional obligation to water the tree of freedom, something that cannot be said about the NFL because it prioritizes obedience over justice, money over fairness, and organizational interest over the rule of law. To be clear, the NFL is under no obligation to employ Colin Kaepernick, particularly in light of the recent events. However, given that the NFL found reasons to employ people accused of murder, rape, assault, and otherwise bad character, but not a man who seeks the fulfill the constitutional promise that is the right of all U.S. citizens is somewhat disheartening. Kaepernick’s

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

recent response to the NFL’s less than ideal opportunity left many of his supporters feeling unsatisfied. Mostly, because many Black and Brown people find themselves in circumstances everyday that are far more disadvantageous than the ones faced by Kaepernick and rarely are they privileged enough to not only walk away, but to antagonize the potential employer in the process. Democracy is not pretty to look at because it often requires a process that is both sluggish and compromised. Moreover, it often has to account for perspectives that are not just in conflict but often one requires the perceived annihilation of another. As a result, the participants in a political, economic or religious dispute often understand the outcome to be threat to their existence. Such is the case with both the Impeachment inquiry and the Kaepernick/NFL debacle. The power of one’s perspective cannot be underestimated, which raises critical questions salient in both of the identified conflicts and many others. When disputing parties have different understandings of justice and fairness, how do you arrive at a compromise? When trust is absent; how do you have faith in the rule of law? If you are in the minority; how do you compromise with an effort that you believe is aimed at your destruction? These are not insignificant questions, and they cannot be answered satisfactorily with just words. One has to perceive the good will of another to have any chance to move forward. There are no easy answers to any of those questions in part because our perceptions are informed by our experiences. Each of us is not only responsible for what we look at, we are also answerable for what we see. State of our democracy relies on each of our ability to first perceive the best of ourselves providing us the ability to see it in others. Dr. Eric L. Johnson currently serves as the Chief Consultant with Strategies to Succeed and is on the faculty at Virginia International University. He is the former Chief of Research Publications for the United States Air Force Academy.

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DIABETES? YOU MIGHT BE AT RISK AND NOT KNOW IT Diabetes symptoms can be so subtle that they often go unnoticed, potentially leading to serious complications like heart disease and vision loss. You may think you’d know if you had such a serious disease, but an alarming 1 million Ohioans have prediabetes and don’t know it. Could you be one of them? Buckeye Health Plan is encouraging all community members to learn the symptoms of diabetes and how to help prevent it. ”Diabetes can impact many areas of the body. It can lead to complications like heart disease, blindness and even diseased extremities, like toes and feet, that might need amputation,” said Dr. Brad Lucas, Buckeye Interim Chief Medical Officer. “At Buckeye, we recommend seeing your primary care doctor annually – even if you’re healthy. If you’re experiencing diabetes symptoms, then you should see your doctor as soon as possible to make sure any early disease is detected.” Learn the signs It’s important to watch for potential signs that you’re at risk. The most common symptoms of diabetes include: ● Increased thirst ● Frequent urination ● Increased hunger ● Weight loss ● Fatigue ● Blurry vision ● Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal ● Tingling, pain or numbness in the hands/ feet Early diagnosis is important and can help people living with diabetes avoid devastating complications. If you are experiencing symptoms or have concerns, talk with your family doctor about getting a simple blood test to check your blood sugar level.

● Lose weight Body fat, especially stored around the stomach area, can increase the body’s resistance to insulin, which can lead to type 2 diabetes. Losing five-to-10 percent of body weight can significantly reduce the risk of diabetes.

how to read food labels and choose healthier food options. She stopped drinking pop and limited her sugar. Since, her blood pressure and blood sugar are down and she feels much better. Anita’s also sharing what she learned with others living with diabetes.

● Stop smoking Smokers are 30 to 40 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than nonsmokers, and the more cigarettes you smoke, the higher your risk.

“Ultimately our goal is to help our members gain control and live their healthiest while empowering them to share their knowledge with family and friends. This creates a domino effect that helps lift others and positively impacts their health as well,” said Gladden.

Get support For those living with a chronic disease like diabetes, support is critical. Research shows that people who commit to healthy activities with help from others are more successful.4 Buckeye Health Plan saw an opportunity to further help members living with diabetes and prediabetes and implemented the national Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP) curriculum.

Know your risks Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-to-95 percent of diabetes cases in the U.S., and is associated with both genetic and lifestyle factors such as obesity, poor diet and lack of physical activity. Even if you have genetic risk factors, it’s important to remember that you can delay or even prevent type 2 “This six-week course helps our diabetes. members understand the disease, prevent Buckeye Health Plan recommends taking complications, improve eating habits and these healthy steps to help reduce your risks: relationships with healthcare providers, and more,” said Monique Gladden, Buckeye ● Eat a healthy, balanced diet Limit processed foods, saturated and trans Health Plan Director of Care Management. fat and eat more fruit, vegetables and high- “Our instructors use a hands-on, interactive approach instead of lecturing. This allows fiber foods. participants to look, feel and experience what the impact of diabetes is on their body ● Exercise regularly Stay active most days of the week to help and learn how to manage their disease and manage weight, reduce blood glucose live their healthiest.” levels and help improve blood pressure and Anita, a Buckeye Health Plan member with cholesterol. prediabetes, said DEEP helped her learn

For more information on DEEP, Buckeye Health Plan members can call Member Services at 1-866-246-4358. About Buckeye Health buckeyehealthplan.com)

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Columbus & Dayton African American 2019 TheThe Columbus African American News Journal• •December February 2015

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

POLITICS

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE By Senator Charleta B. Tavares (Ret.)

discrimination in rental housing based on income and has been referred to the House Commerce and Labor Committee chaired by 2020 Elections - Politics to Rep. Gayle Manning (R-Lorain) and Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan (D-Youngstown), Inform Policy Ranking Minority Member. The March and November 2020 Elections will provide Rep. Tavia Galonski *(D-Akron) an opportunity for the voters throughout the Absentee Ballots - House Bill 395 would 88 counties in Ohio to elect the Presidential, require the Secretary of State to prepay Congressional and County candidates postage for the return of completed absent to represent their parties in the General voter’s ballots. House Bill 395 has been Election. This is your opportunity to review referred to the House State and Local their records in office for those who are Government Committee chaired by Reps. incumbents and in the community for those Scott Wiggam (R-Wooster) and Brigid who have never before been appointed or Kelley (D-Cinc.), Ranking Minority Member elected. The individuals all have a record in how they have spent their time, talent and Reps. Erica Crawley* (D-Cols) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) – Introduce money. House Bill 398 Election Day Leave – Who has or is standing up and taking action The bill would establish the day of each on the issues that are important to you, your general election as a legal holiday for which government employees would receive paid family and community? leave. House Bill 398 has been referred to Who has just occupied the seat – going along the House State and Local Government to get along, talking and not listening to the Committee chaired by Reps. Scott Wiggam (R-Wooster) and Brigid Kelley (D-Cinc.), community? Ranking Minority Member Who has taken on the tough issues affecting the African American community – police “The right to vote is our most fundamental brutality, criminal justice reform, business freedom, one that should be easy and development and equity for African American accessible for every eligible Ohio voter,” businesses, lack of affordable housing, said Representative Erica Crawley. “By making Election Day a state holiday, we health care justice and racial disparities? will increase voter participation and ensure Who has demonstrated their commitment every voter has the opportunity to make their through contracting and employing African voices heard and have their vote counted.” Americans (in their elected office, business Current Ohio law allows for “reasonable” and campaigns)? time off for workers to vote. However, These are just some of the questions you Ohio employers do not have to pay hourly should look at before casting your absentee, employees for voting leave time. Voting is early voting or March 17 (Primary Election) disproportionately difficult for single parents or November 3 (General Election) ballots and those who work multiple jobs. In fact, for those who are asking for your vote. We the number one reason registered voters have will explore the candidates and early voting cited for not voting on Election Day is being dates in the January – March editions of the too busy or having a conflicting schedule at work. Columbus/Dayton African American. Ohio Legislative Black Caucus: Members Reps. Thomas West* (D-Canton) and Sara Carruthers (R-Hamilton) – Priorities Introduce House Concurrent Resolution In our efforts to keep you informed on the 13 (HCR 13) Gender Representation: bills sponsored and passed by the members HCR 13 encourages Ohio companies and of OLBC over the next two years that industries to establish equitable and diverse specifically speak to the needs, opportunities gender representation on their boards and and challenges facing Ohio’s African within senior management. The House Civil American and communities of color, please Justice Committee chaired by Rep. Stephen see the updates below from several OLBC Hambley (R-Brunswick) and Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester), Ranking members. Minority Member held a second hearing on Reps. Janine Boyd* (D-Cleveland) and HCR 13 for proponent testimony. Erica Crawley* (D-Cols.) – Introduce House Bill 221 The bill will allow Rep. Tavia Galonski* (D-Akron) anonymous wage discrimination complaints Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): to be accepted. The bill has been referred to House Concurrent Resolution (HCR 19) the House Civil Justice Committee chaired by -Urges the United States Senate to reauthorize Rep. Stephen Hambley (R-Brunswick) and the Violence Against Women Act. HCR 19 Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester), was introduced in the House and referred to Ranking Minority Member. the House Criminal Justice Committee on Reps. Terrence Upchurch* (D-Cleveland) November 12. The committee leadership are and Adam Miller (D-Cols.) – Introduce Reps. George Lang, chair and David Leland, House Bill 229 The bill will prohibit Ranking Minority Member.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

Rep. Janine Boyd* (D-Cleveland Heights) recently announced legislation that she will sponsor to allow students enrolled in 21st Century Community Learning Centers and other out-of-school time programming to receive class credit. “A child’s education doesn’t just happen during the school day. For many Ohio students, out-of-school time (OST) learning plays a pivotal role in their development,” said Rep. Boyd. “OST programs in my district and around the state provide structured, supervised learning opportunities, including family engagement, peer mentorship, health and wellness, enrichment time, academics and other valuable life skills.” The 21st Century Community Learning Center’s program provides opportunities for children who come from economically disadvantaged families and attend lowperforming schools to receive academic supports. Nearly 285,000 Ohio students are enrolled in 21st CCLC and nearly 850,000 currently on waiting lists. Senators Cecil Thomas* (D-Cinc.) and Hearcel Craig* (D- Cols.) – Introduce Wage Increase for Ohio – Senate Bill 90: The bill would increase the state minimum wage and allow municipalities, townships, and counties to establish higher minimum wage requirements. As initially, introduced S.B 90 would: • Increase the basic minimum wage to $12.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2020; • Increase the basic state hourly wage by $1.00 each year for the following three years, beginning January 1 of the respective year; • Increase the state hourly minimum wage rate for tipped employees to $6.00 per hour beginning January 1, 2020; and • Require that the minimum wage rates be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index, in accordance with Ohio’s constitutional minimum wage requirements. The bill, which was introduced on March 6, 2019, was referred to the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee with Senators William Coley, chair and Hearcel Craig, Ranking Minority Member. If you are interested in receiving information on the bill, to be added to the email notification list or to testify contact Sen. Coley’s office at 614.466.8072 or coley@ohiosenate.gov. Former Sen. Charleta B. Tavares, D-Columbus, is the 1st Democrat and African American woman to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate from Franklin County. She is also the first African American woman to serve in leadership in the history of Ohio and the 1st Democrat woman to serve in leadership in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate (House Minority Whip and Senate Assistant Minority Leader).

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

POLITICS

OHIO LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION AND UNIVERSITY OF AKRON’S BLISS INSTITUTE TO CONDUCT JOINT POLL OF BLACK OHIOANS ON ISSUES COLUMBUS - The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation and the University of Akron’s Bliss Institute are working in partnership to conduct a first-of-its-kind joint poll of Black voters and non-voters in Ohio on a wide range of issues including healthcare, jobs, education, gun safety, the environment and more. The poll will include a random sample of 1,500 Black adults in Ohio that will go into the field in early December with results and analysis expected in February, 2020. “We often hear about the importance of registering and turning out Black voters in Ohio, but we’ve fallen short in reaching out and communicating with Black Ohioans about the issues that matter most to them,” said Barbara Sykes, President of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation. “That’s why we have partnered with the University of Akron to conduct this firstof-its-kind poll. We want to know what the Black community thinks and what they want from their leaders and government? We want elected officials and candidates for office to

This poll is one of many efforts the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation is focusing on, with many more projects in the works. Our foundation is looking forward to an active and impactful future working to amplify the voices of Black Ohioans,” Sykes said. The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation is a 501(c)3 that advances Ohio’s Black community through educational research, developing community leaders, facilitating public policy development, analyzing issues of social and economic importance, and the promotion of diversity and inclusion in the public and private sector. truly understand what Black Ohioans are thinking so they can make informed decisions The Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics when discussing and formulating policies and is a bipartisan research and teaching institute dedicated to increasing understanding of programs, or voting on critical issues.” the political process with special emphasis “The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus on political parties, grassroots activity, and Foundation will be playing a proactive role ethical behavior. across Ohio, talking to Black Ohioans as well as elected leaders and candidates to For more information contact Dr. John Green cultivate constructive, ongoing conversations. at 330-329-7057 or at green@uakron.edu.

REP. CRAWLEY INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH IN OHIO

Says proposals stand in contrast to extremist, anti-choice bills being debated at Statehouse in recent weeks COLUMBUS— Rep. Erica Crawley (D-Columbus) introduced a several bills aimed at improving maternal health outcomes in Ohio, including legislation to improve statewide reporting on maternal mortality as well as a bill to expand training at hospitals

and other birthing facilities across the state Rep. Crawley’s other bill, known as the Save to improve care for certain life-threatening Our Mothers Act, would require hospitals and other birthing facilities to offer employees complications arising from childbirth. training on maternal health and pregnancy“Currently, women are going into a healthcare related complications in order to improve system that doesn’t treat everyone fairly or standards of care and save lives. Additionally, equitably and it’s having devastating results,” this bill will address cultural competency said Rep. Crawley. “These commonsense training to improve birth equity, reduce proposals put families first, and will take us peripartum racial and ethnic disparities, and one step closer ensuring that all mothers and address implicit bias in the healthcare system. babies receive the best possible standards of “Deteriorating maternal health is a public care here in Ohio.” health crisis in Ohio,” Rep. Crawley said. “Instead of passing extreme laws to limit The first bill expands current law to require healthcare for women, we should be working the Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review together to improve health outcomes and save (PAMR) Board to report annually and to lives. The Save Our Mothers Act is the first identify causes and potential risk factors step to keeping our promise of safety and related to pregnancy-associated deaths in security to women and families.” Ohio. A recent PAMR report found that 186 women The U.S. currently has the highest maternal died in Ohio due to pregnancy-related reasons mortality rate in the industrialized world between 2008 and 2016. Black women died and is the only industrialized country with at a rate more than two and a half times that increasing rates. The Centers for Disease of white women. Over half of pregnancy- Control recently recommended states create related deaths between 2012 and 2016 were a robust review process of maternal deaths in order to improve maternal mortality rates. preventable.

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

HEALTH PROGRAMS WORK FROM WITHIN TO PREVENT BLACK MATERNAL DEATHS: WORKERS TARGETING ROOT CAUSE - RACISM By Kim Krisberg Twenty years ago, working at the bedside in a maternity ward, Hakima Tafunzi Payne saw first-hand how poorly black women were often treated. “People didn’t go out with the intention to be racist, but you still saw the impact that racism had,” said Payne, MSN, RN, a labor and delivery nurse. “Black families were always held to a different standard, seen as more suspect. White patients were given leeway that black patients were never given.” Payne tried raising the problem with her colleagues at the time, but no one wanted to listen. So, in between shifts at the Kansas City, Missouri, hospital, Payne began writing has trained hundreds of doulas and served down what she saw and imagining how she hundreds of families. would design a maternity care system that “I created a work-around to protect black treated all women humanely. families until the system changes,” Payne “Uzazi Village was born in those journals said. “This is not an entirely clinical problem on those night shifts,” she told The Nation’s — this problem is rooted in systemic racism.” Health. “I wanted to create models of care that basically circumvented systems that Maternal death rates high for black women weren’t really intended to benefit black folks. In general, the U.S. is doing poorly on Actually, I’d go even further and say they maternal mortality, with a rate that has were designed specifically to exclude blacks steadily risen in the past two decades and resulted in the worst maternal death rate in folks.” the industrialized world. Meanwhile, rates in Now seven years old, Uzazi Village is a other rich nations inch downward. Kansas City-based nonprofit working to narrow disparities in maternal and infant According to the Centers for Disease Control health, particularly in black communities. Its and Prevention, about 700 U.S. women signature program is Sister Doulas, which die every year from pregnancy-related both trains doulas and serves as a community- complications, with nearly 60% of maternal deaths preventable and most happening based doula agency. within 42 days of women giving birth. A growing body of research shows that doulas — nonclinical professionals who The picture, however, is much worse for provide support and guidance to women black women, who experience maternal death during pregnancy, labor, birth and the post- rates at three to four times higher than white partum period — are a promising strategy women. Recent CDC data show that the rate for improving health outcomes, closing of pregnancy-related deaths among black disparities and advancing equity in maternity women is nearly 43 per 100,000 live births, care. In fact, a handful of states are beginning versus 13 such deaths among white women. to extend Medicaid coverage for doula care. Black women’s babies also have a mortality “Just having an African American doula rate more than twice as high as for white accompany an African American mother infants. Other women of color, especially is really the secret sauce,” said Payne, who American Indian and Alaska Native women, is also co-founder and executive director also experience serious maternal death of Uzazi Village. “Having that cultural disparities, but the black-white gap is the companioning and comfort really makes a starkest. difference to our mothers and fathers...When you wrap families in a cocoon of love and Over the last few years, the black maternal death crisis has rightfully received more acceptance, they do better.” media coverage, attention and support. The Sister Doulas training program includes Groups such as the Black Mamas Matter an intensive eight-day curriculum that covers Alliance and its annual Black Maternal a range of reproductive care, from birth to Health Week campaign, now in its second breastfeeding to sexual health in between year, are raising public awareness and pregnancies, and requires all students to mobilizing cross-sector, grassroots action complete a 100-hour community health nationwide. worker course. To date, Uzazi Village Many hospitals and health care systems are The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

adopting new patient safety protocols to reduce the risk of maternal complications. Earlier this year, members of Congress formed the first Black Maternal Health Caucus, and last year lawmakers passed the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, which directs more federal resources to collecting data on maternal death. But closing the maternal death gap is uniquely challenging, as research increasingly shows that the disparity is less an outcome of clinical practices, but of systemic racism and bias. For example, the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, launched in 2006, designed and advanced a set of clinical patient safety protocols that drove the state’s overall maternal death rate down by 55%. But a closer look at the data found that the intervention did little to close the racial gap, with black women continuing to die at higher rates. In response, the group launched the California Birth Equity Collaborative, which is partnering with black women-led community groups to address the persistent inequity. “There are no biological or genetic reasons for this,” said Joia Crear Perry, MD, founder and president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative. “We have to focus on racism and how people are treated. We have to talk about racial inequities first.” Understanding black women’s experiences Across the country, work is underway to intervene on the root causes of black maternal death, with much of it focused on better understanding black women’s experiences and empowering black women in their own care and choices. “We need to start redefining what the lowhanging fruit is,” Perry told The Nation’s Health. “Right now, it’s all about modifying behavior, but to me, it’s actually about listening to black women, supporting Continued on Page 18

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

HEALTH

what they’ve been doing, and investing in community-based and culturally relevant interventions.”

February on implementation of the new federal law, Mendez and co-authors said the “extent to which these voices are currently present in (maternal mortality review committees) is not known, but deserves a razor-sharp focus” during the law’s implementation.

At the collaborative, Perry led work to interview black women across seven states who had experienced the death of an infant, finding similar stories of being mistreated during childbirth and lacking access to key social determinants of health, such as reliable transportation. The interviews were part of the collaborative’s Campaign for Black Babies, which began in 2015 and is working to reduce black maternal and infant death in the 10 U.S. cities with the highest rates. Perry said the stories made it clear that “we needed to have an honest conversation about racism.” In the years since, the collaborative has provided training on birth equity — defined as the “assurance of the conditions of optimal births for all people with a willingness to address racial and social inequities in a sustained effort” — at hospitals, health care systems and health departments across the country. This year, the group began work to create a new metric for patient-reported experiences related to respectful care and trust in childbirth and pregnancy. In June, a study published in Reproductive Health that surveyed more than 2,100 U.S. women found that more than 27% of women of color with low socio-economic status reported mistreatment in childbirth, compared to about 19% of white women. “At the core of our work is talking to women in the community,” Perry said. “It sounds simple, but that’s what’s been transformational.” Centering the needs and experiences of black women is also at the heart of efforts in New Jersey, where a new public health initiative is supporting community models of care that explicitly acknowledge the impacts of structural racism. “New Jersey is one of the riskiest states to have a baby, and that risk is many times higher for black women,” Shereef Elnahal, MD, MBA, commissioner at the New Jersey Department of Health, told The Nation’s Health. Shortly after Elnahal joined the agency in 2018, he ordered a root-cause analysis of the state’s maternal and infant death disparities, including focus groups in disproportionately impacted communities.

“If we’re trying to center the experiences of the most marginalized, then they also need to be at the forefront of research,” Mendez told The Nation’s Health. “We need to be working in tandem.” Ebony Marcelle, MS, CNM, is one of five midwives on the newly established Maternal Mortality Review Committee in Washington, D.C., which has some of the worst maternal death rates in the country and where threequarters of such deaths occur among black The agency also devoted $450,000 to pilot women. a doula program in places with high rates of black infant mortality, partnering with “We know so many of these deaths are Uzazi Village in Kansas City and using its preventable,” she told The Nation’s Health. curriculum to train community-based doulas “And now we can really dig our hands into in New Jersey. the data and figure out why women are dying and create solutions.” As of June, Elnahal reported that 17,000 women had been screened and more than Marcelle is director of midwifery at D.C.’s 9,000 had been referred to health and Community of Hope Family Health and Birth community support services. About 75% Center, one of only five federally qualified of the women were pregnant at the time of health centers in the country that includes a referral, and 30% resided in the eight cities birth center. She said two components have with the highest black infant mortality rates. been key to the clinic’s success in serving More than 60 healthy babies had been born black women — one is accepting Medicaid with help from the doula program. Elnahal insurance, which gives women more control noted that as a direct result of the doula over where to get care and give birth. pilot, the state’s Medicaid program began reimbursing doulas in July. The other is the center’s unique midwifery model, which offers a central point for “Change really moves at the speed of trust, accessing a full continuum of care and and we’re taking that really seriously with this focuses on practices that circumvent systemic initiative,” Elnahal said. “This is evidence- barriers. For example, the clinic does not turn based work, but it’s also an investment in away prenatal patients who are late for an local solution-building. It requires that you appointment. go into the community, respect it, listen to it and work alongside it.” It’s a seemingly simple but impactful strategy for “meeting women where they’re at” and Also at the state level, a 2018 federal law acknowledging the daily social stressors is expected to generate insightful new data many women face, such as finding child care on black maternal death and highlight key or depending on public transit, Marcelle said. opportunities for intervention. The center is also primarily staffed with Currently, every state tracks incidence midwives of color, which she said is key of maternal death in some form, such as for building trust among disenfranchised compiling death certificate data. But as patients. of early 2019, only 38 states had active, CDC-recognized maternal mortality review “Racism training isn’t just a box we check,” committees, which gather data from multiple Marcelle told The Nation’s Health. “Yes, we sources to get a broader picture of the need to have harder conversations about how circumstances surrounding maternal death, systems are inherently racist, but we also oftentimes including factors such as housing, need to change what the system looks like food access and structural racism. and include more providers of color who can create culturally aware care.” The federal Preventing Maternal Deaths Act, signed into law last year, is intended For more on work to reduce black maternal to establish and support such committees in deaths, visit www.nbec.org and https:// state and tribal nations countrywide. blackmamasmatter.org. in high-need areas to implement innovative maternal and infant health interventions, with explicit attention on black women of childbearing age.

Those focus groups, he said, revealed that women of color were experiencing daily social stressors at much higher levels than the general population, and it was negatively impacting their maternal health risks. The law is good news for maternal health, but it is critical that such committees include “It was immediately clear that the problem and work with women most at risk, said extended far beyond the clinic walls,” he said. APHA member Dara Mendez, PhD, MPH, an assistant epidemiology professor at the In response, the agency redirected millions in University of Pittsburgh and a member of existing funds to women at most urgent risk, Pennsylvania’s newly established Maternal announcing the Healthy Women, Healthy Mortality Review Committee, which had its Families initiative in spring 2018. The first meeting in July. initiative funds organizations already working In a Health Affairs article published in The Columbus African & Dayton African American • December 2019 American News Journal • February 2015

Kim Krisberg is a freelance reporter, writer and editor specializing in public health practice, policy and science. She has won numerous awards for her public health writing and has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of MissouriColumbia. Article from www.thenationshealth. aphapublications.org

HEALTH

UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP FILLS COLUMBUS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES VOID By Charleta B. Tavares November 13, 2019 marked the opening of a unique partnership and Open House of a new behavioral healthcare facility on the eastside of Columbus, Ohio. PrimaryOne Health, Southeast Healthcare and the ADAMH Board of Franklin County cut the ribbon on a partnership with two federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) to serve the Near East Side and the patients who lost services with the sudden closing of Columbus Area Integrated Health Services in April 2019. The new health center located at 720 E. Broad Street received wide support and acclimation by community members, patients, family members, other health and human service providers, as well as local and state elected officials. The facility which is centrally located and on a bus line, only needed minor renovation (painting, carpeting/ flooring and equipment) to meet the primary and behavioral health care needs of the patients. PrimaryOne Health’s facilities’ manager, Thomas Luff along with Dee Dee Wade, 720 Site Manager, Jeff McGlade, IT Director, Yolanda Owens, Associate Marketing/Development Director, their team members and volunteers from both Southeast and PrimaryOne Health worked with the contractors to demolish, paint, move equipment and supplies, place signage and send invitations for the Open House. This was an all hands on deck effort to address the needs of the community.

“We believe that this is the first time in the country that two FQHCs/Community Health Centers were brought together to address the needs of a community, stated Charleta B. Tavares, PrimaryOne Health CEO. This partnership enabled PrimaryOne Health to provide behavioral health (including treatment/services for substance use and mental health disorders and MedicationAssisted Treatment) and primary care including pediatrics, OB/GYN, family medicine, nutrition and pharmacy services.” Bill Lee, Southeast Healthcare CEO stated that “this partnership is unique and will enable Southeast to provide services for patients with Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) including psychiatric, ACT and peer support services to assist our patients and community in their recovery and primary care to treat the whole person. Our organizational strength in this area complements PrimaryOne Health’s strengths.”

needs of the community lost with the closing of CAIHS. Charles Richardson, Jr., Principal of East High School shared remarks about his growing up on the Near East Side and the loss of an important healthcare provider in the closing of CAIHS (formally Columbus Area Mental Health Services) which served the predominantly African American community. He also addressed the comprehensive healthcare needs of his students. Local and state elected officials attending and assisting with the ribbon cutting at the Open House included, Councilwoman Priscilla Tyson and state Senator Hearcel Craig who presented resolutions along with a member of Congresswoman Joyce Beatty’s office.

If you are interested in primary care or behavioral health services with PrimaryOne Health, please call 614-859-1850 or www. primaryonehealth.org. Behavioral Health or primary care services and scheduling with Dr. Kevin Dixon, Interim CEO of the Southeast Healthcare can be arranged by ADAMH Board of Franklin County praised calling (614) 360-0122 or www.southeastinc. the commitment, leadership and value of the com. two organizations. “PrimaryOne Health and Southeast Healthcare are two trusted and respected organizations in the community Charleta B. Tavares is the Chief Executive whose leadership have demonstrated their Officer at PrimaryOne Health, a Federally innovation, collaboration and dedication to the Qualified Health Center (FQHC) system Near East Side and broader Franklin County. providing comprehensive primary care, We are proud of this inimitable partnership O B - G Y N , p e d i a t r i c , v i s i o n , d e n t a l , and congratulate them on their unwavering behavioral health and specialty care at 10 commitment to provide behavioral health and locations in Central Ohio. The mission is primary care to residents of our community.” to provide access to services that improve The ADAMH Board of Franklin County has the health status of families including committed funding to support the costs of the people experiencing financial, social, or renovation/lease of the facility and services cultural barriers to health care. www. over the next two-years to address the care primaryonehealth.org.

DeeDee Wade - Site Manager, Dr. Kevin Boyce - Interim Director, ADAMH, Charleta B. Tavares, CEO - PrimaryOne, Charles Richardson - Principal, East High School, Bill Lee - CEO, Southeast, Southeast Staffmember

Bo Chilton - CEO, IMPACT Community Action Agency

Kalitha Williams - Policy Matters Ohio

720 E Broad Street clinicians shared office space

Columbus & Dayton African American TheThe Columbus African American News Journal• •December February 2019 2015

COVER STORY

ADDRESSING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ACHIEVEMENT GAP By Barbara T. Bowman, James P. Comer, and David J. Johns Early childhood education is an increasingly important aspect of American life, predicting not only later school outcomes but also career and work options, economic stability, health, and social opportunities (Sanders-Phillips et al. 2009). School performance constrains the future opportunities of many African Americans. When matched for social class, the gap in educational achievement between African Americans and other groups is substantial. African American children, on average, score lower on tests and are given lower grades than Asian, White, and Latino students. In adolescence, many of them fail courses and drop out of school. Others progress through school but do not excel; they are less often enrolled in honors courses in high school or accepted into competitive four-year colleges (Stanford CEPA, n.d.; Valant & Newark 2017).

programs to address their educational and developmental needs. This article outlines some of the factors that contribute to the achievement gap between African Americans and White Americans and ends with recommendations for educators, administrators, and policy makers to help equalize educational opportunities. Development and learning Like all children, African American children are born with the ability to learn, but require experiences to bring their potential to fruition. Capabilities develop through interactions with people and things that shape the brain circuitry controlling children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. Some aspects of development—like learning language, being sociable, using symbols, and making categories—are propelled by inborn drives to learn. Most children master these tasks at about the same ages and in similar ways.

Other learning is culture specific, such as learning a particular language, creating unique ways to categorize the environment, and interpreting the meanings of events. For example, the vast majority of young children learn language (an inborn drive), but whether they learn Black English or Standard English depends on their experiences in their language communities. So, a child’s language acquisition reflects individual and Past and present economic and social human biological potential, but also it reflects conditions are at the root of the achievement the linguistic characteristics of a particular gap. Societal efforts to overcome the ill cultural community. effects of prejudice and discrimination for African Americans have not been effective Children’s experiences in the social world of enough; there continue to be inequities family and community play a critical role in in almost every aspect of life, including what and how well children learn in school. education (Matthew, Rodrigue, & Reeves The importance of warm interpersonal 2016; W.K. Kellogg Foundation 2014). At relationships cannot be overstated. Adults the same time, scientific and technological are needed to provide consistent physical changes have raised the educational care, social guidance, intellectual stimulation, requirements for successful and fulfilling and emotional support. Children attach careers, placing an even greater burden on to meaningful caregivers and depend on underserved communities and schools. And them for physical and emotional security. because social science research has focused They identify with, imitate, and begin primarily on group deficits rather than factors to internalize their caregivers’ attitudes, that have stymied progress, it has provided values, ways of expressing themselves, and few clues as to how to construct support approaches to solving problems; this sets systems, even where there is a genuine wish the stage for social, emotional, physical, and cognitive characteristics that in turn affect to do so. everything from moral and ethical behavior to Only by understanding these factors can manipulative skills and executive functioning. teachers develop and implement the strategies needed to move from school failure to school Children who begin life in safe relationships success, increasing opportunities for life that are continuously responsive to their success for many more students. Although evolving needs are most likely to reach this article focuses on African American out, explore, and learn. This is particularly learners, children from other communities i m p o r t a n t f o r c h i l d r e n w h o l i v e i n of color are often victims of racism and challenging environments. Further, the most poverty too. Each group has its own unique successful learners are born into families history with and strategies for coping with that have access to a baseline of resources, oppression, yet they share many of the same including physical security, health care, challenges and defenses. By understanding adequate nutrition, attentive caregiving, and the differences and the similarities among opportunities to learn. groups, teachers can learn the strengths of children and families when designing Most African American children have The achievement gap is a problem not only for African American students and their families and communities; it affects the wellbeing of the entire country. Researchers have found that “the persistence of the educational achievement gap imposes on the United States the economic equivalent of a permanent national recession” (McKinsey & Company 2009, 6).

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

positive adult relationships and achieve their basic developmental potential. That is, at the appropriate ages, they master the complexities of language, process sensory information, manage their bodies, and even use symbols (such as a wooden block to represent a piece of toast). However, some do not have a learning environment that includes opportunities to develop schoolrelated language, knowledge, and skills (such as literacy in Standard English, mathematics, or science). Others, given continued racial exclusion, do not think the work of education will pay off for them. And some are growing up in circumstances that are too stressful for healthy development. These students do not get the extra doses of emotional stability and guidance needed to face the adversity they are exposed to, including adapting to the demands of school. Racism and poverty The interface between racism/classism and attendant economic and social disadvantages is the key to understanding the underachievement of African American children. African Americans have been exposed to generations of legal and illegal measures to deny them basic rights. From slavery to Jim Crow and to today’s housing, health care, and voting inequities, the African American community has endured unrelenting racism that begins at an early age (Gilliam 2014; Gershenson & Dee 2017). To believe that these insults have not left a cultural residue—for Whites as well as for African Americans—is to deny what we know about power relationships. The burden of poverty Without question, poverty places a burden on families, and a large number of African Americans live at an economic level that stresses families physically and mentally, with hunger, mental and physical illness, and despair being frequent corollaries (Matthew, Rodrigue, & Reeves 2016). Poverty among African Americans exceeds that of any other group (USDA 2017). While poverty has declined for White, Hispanic, and Asian families in recent years, it has not for African Americans. In 2015, some 38 percent of Black children lived below the poverty line—a percentage four times greater than that of White or Asian children (Alter 2017). Families struggling to make ends meet are more likely to be stressed and to have less time for their children than those from more economically advantaged groups. In addition, children from poor and also lesspoor African American families tend to reside in segregated, underserved neighborhoods, thus concentrating and reinforcing poverty’s effects (W.K. Kellogg Foundation 2014). As a consequence, generations of families and communities have been unable to provide the basic material resources their children require or protect children from the social and emotional stress of racism, poverty, and under-resourced environments. (See “Living with Toxic Stress.”) Poverty drains

COVER STORY

the social and emotional energy of families, making it difficult for adults to respond with constructive guidance to typical childhood behavior, such as aggressiveness or impulsivity. Some families and communities have adapted to the harsh realities they face with aggression. And some children have learned to deal with problems by fighting rather than negotiating or working things out—behavior considered unacceptable in school, especially when teachers and administrators do not understand the roots of the behavior and do not help the children learn new behaviors in a warm, caring, culturally competent way. Living with Toxic Stress Exposure to extremes of violence and neglect, inconsistent and unreliable care, and unloving adults can be so stressful for children that their developmental potential is compromised or distorted. The results of such exposure can range from stunted emotional and intellectual development to death. The longer children live in a toxic environment, the more difficult and expensive it is to help them return to more typical developmental and learning trajectories (Shonkoff et al. 2012). Too many African American children live in toxic environments. Given this, it is a testament to African American families that despite the challenges they face, so many find the resources to help their children avoid the more serious developmental and learning problems. However, early recognition of and support for children being affected by a toxic environment is essential if children are to avoid the pitfalls of failed development and a compromised future; exposure to severe neglect and abuse is increasingly difficult to treat. Timely family counseling and treatment, supportive alternative caregivers (often a grandparent or sitter), understanding teachers, supportive friends and neighbors, and/or therapeutic intervention can play a role in reducing stress and stabilizing children’s development. The role of culture and tradition Culture is what groups create over time to adapt to their environment; it determines to a large extent how adults interact with children. Throughout the world, as parents adapt to different environmental challenges, they develop different child-rearing strategies, many of which are misunderstood by those unfamiliar with a community’s history. For instance, as a result of transatlantic enslavement, Black people mixed the remnants of their home languages with English to create a dialect, or patois, to communicate with one another (since they did not share a common language). The remnants continue today as Black English. The public impression, however, which has been used to justify abuse and injustice, is that this adaptive language, this dialect, is “bad” or broken English. Among those with limited knowledge of Black culture and linguistics, Black English is mistakenly assumed to be a product of ignorance rather than a creative form of verbal communication as complex as Standard English (Labov 1972). Other behaviors that were fashioned to help African Americans cope with the dangers of slavery continue today because life is still perceived as dangerous. For instance, African American children are often criticized for

passivity, limited oral responsiveness, and disengagement (Labov 1972). Yet many Black parents teach this behavior as the best way for children to be safe in a hostile world. Rather than embracing new experiences outside the safety of family, children are encouraged to attenuate their responsiveness with others to avoid trouble (Labov 1972; Calarco 2014). Even though these strategies tend not to be advantageous in the school environment, they have lingered because they keep children emotionally safe in the segregated society in which most of them live. The systemic challenges of poverty and racism continue today for African American parents and children (W.K. Kellogg Foundation 2014), and families respond in different ways (Duncan, Brooks-Gunn, & Klebanov 1994). Some experience selfdoubt and powerlessness, others deny their culture and language to avoid rejection, and still others respond with rage or detachment. While many of these responses may seem nonfunctional, they are designed to protect children from the prejudice and discrimination encountered by most African Americans with appalling frequency. Unaware of the culturally adaptive reasons for behavior, many people—even many African Americans—are unaware of the strengths that have enabled African American communities to survive and thrive despite deep hardships. Teachers who understand the history of slavery, the restrictions of segregation, and the continued injustices encountered by African Americans can better understand African American children’s behavior. In the past, tight-knit family networks and communities of teachers and leaders were better able to support children and buffer the negative messages children received from the larger society. Today, the lack of knowledge about and appreciation for Black culture creates social distance between African Americans and White Americans and is a deterrent to change. The African American culture transmitted from generation to generation needs to be understood as rich and noteworthy, and needs to be used as the entry to new skills and knowledge. By recognizing the meaning and value of children’s home knowledge, teachers can use home culture as a foundation from which to extend children’s thinking rather than considering it an impediment. While culture carries with it the past, it also constantly adapts to new conditions, new challenges. As people adapt, they integrate the old with the new, often using the old to help transition to the new. The traditional African American interest in music has led to innovations, such as jazz and rap, and to newer music forms; the traditional physicality in the African American community has led to high performance in athletics; the interest in language is reflected in the contributions Black people have made to the imaginative use of words (slang, for example). Many of the rules and concepts of school overlap with much of what children already know— but often children need teachers and school system leaders to help them see the overlap. For example, many Black children have strong interests in and knowledge about sports and entertainment. They need supportive teachers to help them see how academics are 21

related to these interests and will enhance what they already know. The capabilities developed in homes and communities can be used as springboards for learning in school if teachers recognize children’s strengths (Adair 2015). Building on strengths, achievement can soar. Exposure to poverty and prejudice are not uniform across the African American population; not all African Americans are poor or failing in school. Yet disproportionately their achievement and life circumstances are constrained by race and class. Almost every aspect of life at every income level is affected—housing, employment, health care, education, and social acceptance—all of which have longand short-term implications for school achievement (Pager & Shepherd 2008; Reardon 2015). The systemic challenges of the Black experience continue today for parents and children (W.K. Kellogg Foundation 2014). Poverty and racism, past and present, compromise the ability of many poor and minority families— especially African American families—to provide the secure base young children need (Grusky, Varner, & Mattingly 2015). The ultimate solution to the education gap is the elimination of race and class prejudice and oppression. In the meantime, creating an ultra-supportive environment appears to be the best—perhaps the only—chance for children from challenging backgrounds to be successful in school and in life (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2016). This means providing supports for families and education for children, and promoting understanding among teachers and administrators. The challenges of school If most African American families typically provide the experiences necessary for healthy growth and development, why do so many African American children have trouble learning in school? One reason is the differing expectations for children between home and school. The skills and knowledge children gain at home and in their communities often do not match schools’ demands. Home cultures do not prevent African American children from learning in school, but some home practices are not similar to or synchronous with school culture. Returning to language, children who learn Black English at home, as opposed to learning Standard English, have a steeper learning curve for school reading and writing (because Standard English is very similar to academic English). For Black children, particularly those from low-income families in highly segregated communities, there is more likely to be a poor fit between their language experiences and what schools require. This misalignment becomes a barrier to school learning unless it is addressed early. Like other children, African American children—even those from low-income families—have information about their immediate environment and learn through their experiences. However, they may not have the same knowledge base as children from other communities, particularly children from more economically advantaged ones. They may not have the academic and social Continued on Page 35

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

HEALTH

SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TUITION REIMBURSEMENT By Yolanda Owens Second only to West Virginia, Ohio is leading the county in opioid involved overdose deaths in the U.S. according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Within that ranking, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that nonHispanic Black/African Americans made up 12 percent of opioid-related fatal overdoses in 2017. This is reflective of the overall African American population in the U.S. as a whole. Understanding the need to address Substance Use Disorders (SUD) with an increase in health service access, earlier in 2019, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) stepped up to launch the National Health Service Corp Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program. Allowing for those working in this space to receive up to $75,000 in loan repayment after three (3) years of full time employment in addressing this epidemic is a small request for such a tall problem in our community. According to the American Addition Centers, drug overdose by race increased among African Americans in urban settings by 41% in 2016, which outpaced any other race or ethnic group. “We are eager to help those with high blood pressure or diabetes, but we judge those with substance use disorders,” said Alhagie Jobarteh, APRN-CNP, MSN, a program

recipient and Certified Nurse Practitioner at PrimaryOne Health, “but if we help to connect these patients to resources to address the social determinants that may have led to their use, then we can work on a true solution.” Jobarteh often refers his patients to PrimaryOne Health’s internal Community Health Outreach Workers, social workers, and SUD Community Support Staff to help connect patients to housing, employment and access to healthy food options through the Mid-Ohio Farmacy program. After the closing of Columbus Area Integrated Medicine in early 2019, ADAMH of Franklin County reached out to PrimaryOne Health and Southeast, to open a first of its kind partnership with two Federally Qualified Health Centers. In this dual practice facility, both organizations are able to offer both primary care and behavioral health services, including Medication Assisted Treatments (MAT) for Substance Use Disorder patients. Spanning from the new site location at 720 E. Broad St. to where he practices at 1500 E. 17th, to 600 N. Pickaway St in Circleville, Ohio, this epidemic has touched the whole of PrimaryOne Health’s Central Ohio footprint. Jobarteh hopes that more practitioners take advantage of the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Program in an effort to help those in the community battle this epidemic that spans racial-ethnic lines and socioeconomic barriers.

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

“You have to do it because you really want to help; the loan repayment is a bonus. You must come into this work with a mindset of change for your patients,” said Jobarteh, “while it can be frustrating, expect that you will have many starts, over and over again, but showing that you care is what helps the patients finally get to that point of recovery.” PrimaryOne Health is a nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving central Ohio through 10 strategically placed clinical sites since 1997. Working to provide access to services to improve the health status of families, PrimaryOne Health offers primary care, vision and dental health services. PrimaryOne Health is a proud member of the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers (OACHC) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). For more information about PrimaryOne Health and its programs, go to www.primaryonehealth.org. Yolanda Owens is the Associate Director of Marketing and Development for PrimaryOne Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) system providing comprehensive primary care, ob-gyn, pediatrics, vision, dental, behavioral health and specialty care at 10 locations. Owens is a graduate of The Ohio State University College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and currently serves as Vice President of the Alumni Society Board. She is also a founding member of Black Lactation Circle of Central Ohio, providing lactation and maternal support for Black Women in Central Ohio.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

HEALTH

READY, SET GO FOR 2020! By Lisa D. Benton, MD, MPH By now you’re contemplating how well, or not, your plans and to do lists went in 2019. You may be celebrating unexpected joys and success or analyzing disappointments and re-charting your course. Whatever your situation, when it comes to your health and wellness, reviewing what’s hot and what’s not, gives you a head start to be feeling better and living your best year yet in 2020. For starters, sitting is the new smoking. Yes, there is really truth to the saying that if you don’t move it, you’ll lose it. When it comes to exercising, it improves you inside and out. Exercise increases the blood circulating around your body and strengthens your beating heart muscle. Increased blood flow gives your muscles, skin and other tissues in your body more oxygen and helps them break down stored fat. In the process your body’s insulin pathway gets a boost to give your body better control of your blood sugar (glucose). When your muscles move more, especially during strengthening exercises, you make your bones stronger too. By exercising you are fighting diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, heart disease, stroke and just plain old aging. You are sharpening your mind and giving your brain’s functions a boost. Exercising calms anxiety. A study showed that exercising just one hour a day fights off depression. For African Americans, research has shown that exercising just 20 minutes every day, can reduce our risk of developing high blood pressure by 24%. It doesn’t take much of a workout either. While committing to a regular exercise program at a gym, playing sports with a team, or my favorite activity, dancing, is great, exercise can be as simple as regular walking or using a stationary bicycle. If none of those options works for you, consider water aerobics, a senior program such as Silver Sneakers, or even one of those steppers that you can uses while you’re sitting down to at least keep your legs in motion. Keep trying different activities until you find the exercise that works for you. One of my mentors, Arnold X.C. Perkins, taught me while working at the Alameda County California Public Health Department how to modify your activities of daily living, work duties and chores around the house, so you’re exercising while getting things done. One of his favorite exercises was doing arm curls with canned food or lifting the milk and juice cartons. Arnold made unloading a grocery bag to put food and other items in the cabinets using bending, twisting, squatting

and stretching a simple and practical cardio workout. There was a study that showed that even just stretching during commercial breaks on TV, marching in place while talking on your phone, or pushing the shopping cart the long way up and down extra aisles before you to got to the checkout makes a difference. Not much time or planning to exercise is required. Consider it just like any other investment. With a serious commitment, you’ll set yourself up to see great results. For example, walking 4 miles a day, 4 times a week will do wonders for your health and your physical body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends walking or doing other exercise 30 minutes each day, 5 days each week. You can break the walking up into parts stretched out over your day, and not do it all at once. As a bonus, one pound of body fat is about 3500 calories. Walking 10,000 steps beyond whatever your daily goal is burns off an extra one pound per week. For example, if you’re starting at 4,000 steps per day increasing that goal gradually to 14,000 steps per day will give you extra and faster weight loss. Getting 30 to 40 minutes a day of walking in, you’ll lose at least ½ pound each week. Your skin will start to clear up, your hair texture and mood will improve. You will age better, enjoy sex more, and you’ll sleep better. A study by the Harvard School of Public Health has shown that 30 minutes of exercise

each day cuts your risk of having a stroke by about 20%. Even better than all of those facts, there is scientific evidence that exercising without losing weight, will still lengthen and strengthen you for life. With all the benefits of moving more, you can’t lose, you’ll love your body more, and your health will enjoy the easy win. Help to Get You Started Arnold Perkins, Community Change Agent in Transition. Oakland Voices, January 9, 2015. Retrieved from: http://oaklandvoices. us/arnold-perkins-community-change-agenttransition/ Exercise May Prevent High Blood Pressure in African Americans by Mark Sampson, April 20, 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.hhs. gov/blog/2017/04/20/exercise-may-preventhigh-blood-pressure-african-americans.html Physical Activity Basics: How much physical activity do you need? By the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 2, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/ physicalactivity/basics/index.htm?CDC_AA_ refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2 Fphysicalactivity%2Fbasics%2Fadults%2F index.htm Should You Really Take 10,000 Steps A Day? By Lara Rosenbaum, September 12, 2019. Retrieved from: https://blog.fitbit.com/ should-you-really-take-10000-steps-a-day/ Lisa D. Benton, MD, MPH (The Doctor is In) breastsurgeonlb@gmail.com, Twitter:@ DctrLisa (415) 746-0627

Columbus & Dayton African American 2019 TheThe Columbus African American News Journal• •December February 2015

EDUCATION OUR MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE: AN ANALYSIS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

By Jasmine Ayres Early education and highquality child care give children the skills they need to succeed in life while supporting working families by providing a safe, nurturing place for their children. Yet many jobs don’t pay enough to afford high-quality child care and many Ohio families who need it don’t qualify for help in paying for child care or early education. I spoke to two Columbus families with young children who are struggling with the child care trap. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have two young daughters. Although they both work, they rely on help from family to pay for high-quality child care. Saving for college is simply not an option right now. They hope that will change when the girls start school and child care expenses drop. Without help from family, the Parks family made a different choice. Mrs. Parks chose to stay home with her young ones. The bill for three children in day care is a larger cost than a paycheck from a full-time job. Our society thrives when women work. Staying home should be a personal decision, not a financial one. The Adams and Parks families are not unique. Six of Ohio’s 10 most common jobs pay so little that a parent must spend over one-third of her income for infant care. By failing to provide enough support for early childhood programs, Ohio policymakers leave too many children behind, particularly black children. Research shows that only 40% of Ohio children and 24% of black children start kindergarten ready to learn. Children who start behind in school often stay behind. Our state priorities must align with our values. Governor DeWine promised significant investments in early childhood education but the budget he signed did not make high-quality child care more affordable and accessible. Only Michigan and Indiana make it more difficult than Ohio for families to get help paying for child care. To truly live up to our values, our leaders should: 1. Increase funding for early education 2. Expand eligibility to include more families 3. Ensure early educators earn a living wage Why high-quality early childhood education matters Research shows the sooner children participate in early education, the better prepared they will be for kindergarten. That

sets them up for success in later grades and beyond. Several studies show that children in high-quality early learning programs do better later in life with higher graduation rates, better health and even higher incomes. In other words, children who benefit from high-quality early learning programs are more likely to thrive and have opportunities in the future. All children in Ohio – no matter how much money their families have - should have the opportunity to participate in high-quality child care and preschool.

walking distance, parents may have to send their children to lower quality or unrated centers.

Ohio’s Step-Up to Quality (SUTQ) program aims to ensure all children are kindergarten ready. The state rates participating preschools and child care providers on a five-star scale. Child care and preschool providers must earn at least one star by July 2020 and three stars by 2025 to receive funding from the state. In the recently passed state budget, state lawmakers allocated an additional $431.7 High-quality child care is unaffordable for million over the next two years to improve many Ohio families the quality of early care and education in In 2009, Ohio families who earned 200% Ohio. of federal poverty level or less (for a family of three, $41,137 or less in 2019 dollars) Quality improvements don’t mean much if qualified for public support to afford child families can’t afford to send their children to care. Since then, lawmakers reduced the highly-rated preschools or child care centers. threshold to 130% ($27,732 for a family This will take significant investment. State of three). By failing to address narrow lawmakers need to find a sustainable source eligibility requirements and excessive costs of state funding to support high-quality of child care in Ohio, state lawmakers leave child care so more families can afford it. behind many hard-working families. Expanding initial eligibility to parents with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty Even if a family can afford it, there is often a level would make child care more affordable waitlist for high-quality child care providers, for tens of thousands of parents, support their some of which charge $100-$200 without participation in the workforce, and set their guaranteeing a spot. Accessing high-quality children up for success in school. child care or pre-k can be difficult for families that rely on public transportation. If Quality early childhood education is a pre-k location is not on a bus line or within connected to the workforce

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

EDUCATION

the reason Ohio’s child care workers are underpaid is because the state underpays providers, compared to the market rate. Some of the federal dollars allocated in the recently-passed state budget will increase reimbursement rates to providers. We hope this translates into better wages for the early care and education workforce.

The people who care for our children should be compensated as professionals charged with doing one of society’s most important jobs. Instead, many barely earn enough to make ends meet. The average Ohio child care worker earns only $9.86 per hour and the average preschool teacher makes $11.80 hour. The average kindergarten teacher in Ohio makes $31.52 an hour and elementary school teacher makes $34.36 an hour, according to Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at the University of California, Berkeley. Women make up over 90% of the early care and education workforce, with a significant proportion of them being women of color. Women of color have a long history of being underpaid and overworked, taking care of

Well paid child care workers with proper training are necessary for the care and safety of children, and provide peace of mind for parents like Mr. Adams. He and his wife are willing to make sacrifices to provide their children with the best possible future. Luckily, they have family members to help them pay for an excellent child care center that nurtures and educates their girls. Not every family is so fortunate. Access to quality child care should not depend on a family member’s generosity or on access to other people’s children while they struggle to provide for their own. Black people wealth. Ohio families deserve better. who work as center-based early childhood educators are more likely to earn less than Jasmine Ayers is is Policy Matters Ohio’s $15 an hour compared to early educators policy liaison. In her role, she connects the of other races, researchers at UC Berkeley group’s research and analysis with state found. Even after controlling for educational policymakers, allies and the general public. attainment, black workers still earn $0.78 less Jasmine was born and raised on Columbus’s per hour than white workers, or $1,622.40 north side. She received a bachelor’s degree in history from Wake Forest University in less per year. North Carolina and a master’s degree from In another study, early educators reported the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public to the Berkeley researchers that low wages Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. cause them high levels of stress. When workers are stressed, it can be difficult to Policy Matters Ohio is a non-profit policy provide a caring, responsive, and nurturing research institute. They create a more vibrant, environment for children. Low wages also equitable, sustainable and inclusive Ohio lead to high turnover rates, which impacts through research, strategic communications, quality and expenses for providers. Part of coalition building and policy advocacy.

WORD FROM THE WISE THE ABC’S OF EFFECTIVE PARENTING “A Word from the Wise” will be a monthly column written by Dr. C. Dexter Wise III published in the African American News Journal. The first series will be excerpts from his book, “The ABC’s of Effective Parenting.” Below are articles for the first 12 months. B is for believe in your child’s possibilities. Each child begins life at a different place, but greatness in life is not determined by where one begins. Instead, it is determined by the relationship between where one begins and where they end up. Where a person ends up depends largely upon how high they believe they can rise. It makes a difference when you, as a parent, believe in your child’s possibilities. Your belief in your own offspring determines what you expect from them and, therefore, what they strive to achieve. It is virtually impossible for a positive parent to create and surround a child with an atmosphere of possibilities without their child being infected with a sense of those possibilities. Besides this, the parent’s belief in the child creates confidence in the child. This confidence becomes the spur to the child’s competence and that competence inevitably leads to great accomplishments. Our children must be taught that the sky is their only limit. For, even when they do not believe in themselves, we believe in their possibilities. We must tell them: “Don’t let your race restrict you; your physical features define you; your financial background bind you; the failures of others defeat you; your doubts deter you; your past proscribe you; or the impossible impede you. Believe in yourself. Believe in God. All things are possible if you only believe.” B is for believe in your child’s possibilities “Being a parent isn’t easy, but it can be as simple as ABC.” Dr. C. Dexter Wise III is the founding pastor of Faith Ministries Church in Columbus, OH, the President of Wise Works, Inc. and an International Best Selling author on Amazon. His books, ABC’s of Effective Parenting, 21 Words to Get Your Child 21, Preaching to Empty Seats and many other publications can be found at www.wiseworksonline.com. (614-898-1997) The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

CELEBRATEONE AWARDED $4.5 MILLION GRANT TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES IN THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE COLUMBUS--The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) and the State’s Managed Care Plans (MCPs) announced a $4.5 million grant to a local coalition of 13 partners, led by CelebrateOne. The grant is part of a 2-year commitment from ODM and the State’s MCPs to address the disparity in successful birth outcomes experienced by African American women in Franklin County. “Addressing the disparity reflected in our local infant mortality rate is a complex issue, and it is critical that we address it,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “The grant from the Ohio Department of Medicaid and the State’s Managed Care Plans will help us improve care and support for all of our residents, regardless of their race, address or family income.” Across Franklin County and in CelebrateOne priority neighborhoods, non-Hispanic Black infants are more than twice as likely to die as non-Hispanic White infants. In partnership with hospitals, clinical providers and community-based agencies, funding from ODM and the State’s MCPs will increase the availability of prenatal care and support for women of childbearing age, with an emphasis on African American women. “Ohio Medicaid covers approximately 52 percent of the births in our state, and our department is deeply committed to investing in local services that will help reduce the infant mortality rate for African American babies in Ohio,” said Maureen Corcoran, state Medicaid Director. “We are holding ourselves, Medicaid’s managed care plan partners, and our new community grantees accountable to make positive changes for Ohio’s babies.” Since 2016, ODM and the State’s MCPs have invested over $6.7 million in the community’s efforts to reduce infant mortality. The 20202021 grant ensures continued support for programs with a history of success while also directing funds towards new or emerging community-based efforts that target the disparity in birth outcomes. “The State’s emphasis on home visiting, CenteringPregnancy prenatal care, community health workers and communitybased programs offering wholistic care, like that of Doulas and through programs such as Moms2B, supports the collective work to reduce infant deaths,” added Erika Clark Jones, Executive Director of CelebrateOne. “This funding will help to sustain and deepen our work across Columbus and Franklin County.” Grant partners include: Evidence-Based Group Prenatal Care – CenteringPregnancy Heart of Ohio Family Health Centers $209,968 Funds will be used to expand group prenatal care to Heart of Ohio’s Capital Park clinic,

during pregnancy to safely spacing the next pregnancy to parenting to safe sleep and infant care. Moms2B employs multidisciplinary team of social workers, nurses, physicians, medical dietitians, patient navigators and community health workers develop positive PrimaryOne Health - $78,772 relationships with the women in group and The grant will be used to expand individual settings. CenteringPregnancy programming to PrimaryOne’s Agler Road clinic, which has Physicians CareConnection - $415,000 shown improvements in patient satisfaction with care, prenatal care attendance and Grant funds will be used to support the community’s centralized intake and referral decreased preterm birth rates. service for pregnant women, StepOne for a Healthy Pregnancy. The goal of this program Community Health Workers is to connect pregnant women with prenatal care and resources, with an aim to get a CelebrateOne - $855,569 woman her first prenatal visit within her first Funding will support CelebrateOne’s trimester. community health workers, known as the Connector Corps. Corps members connect Restoring Our Own Through pregnant and parenting moms to existing Transformation - $357,202 clinical care models to help bridge prenatal and post-partum care. In doing so, Connectors Funding will support ROOTT’s communityuncover barriers to care and problem solve based Full-Spectrum Perinatal Support with families to address challenges related to (Doula) model, which focuses on training and relative interventions that target the social determinants of health. improvement of birthing conditions and outcomes for families disproportionately Men for the Movement – $78,575 impacted by maternal and infant mortality The grant provides support for Men for the and morbidity. Movement’s community health workers. CHWs provide education to residents of the Prenatal and Post-Partum Home Visiting South Side about topics like prenatal care, childbirth, breastfeeding and safe sleep and Columbus Public Health - $707,601 connects women and families with local The grant will support the Moms and health and social service providers. Babies First program, which employs a care coordination model that empowers YMCA of Central Ohio - $242,153 communities to eliminate disparities. Funding will be used to grow the Y’s team Through a range of activities such as of community health workers, which provide outreach, community education, informal outreach, education and wrap-around counseling, social support and advocacy, services to pregnant women or mothers with team members help build individual and an infant under one in the neighborhoods community capacity to ensure successful in and around the Y’s network of branches birth outcomes. throughout Franklin County. Nationwide Children’s Hospital - $561,427 Community-Based Interventions The grant will allow Nationwide Children’s Hospital to expand and strengthen its work Black Lactation Circle - $17,714 under the Nurse Family Partnership model Funding will support this community of Black by establishing a majority African American pregnant and nursing mothers, birth workers, home visiting team. and health professionals to empower Black mothers to meet their breastfeeding goals OhioHealth - $127,713 through evidence-based information and inThe grant will allow OhioHealth to expand person interventions. and adapt its TOPP home visiting program The Center for Healthy Families - $81,964 for adults, which has been shown as effective in reducing rapid repeat pregnancy in teens. This grant will strengthen the Center’s work engaging parenting and pregnant About CelebrateOne teens in opportunities to acquire selfsufficiency capabilities of health and well- In June 2014, the Greater Columbus Infant Task Force released its final report. being, positive networks, education and Mortality In it were eight recommendations to reduce employment through a coordinated network the community’s infant mortality rate by 40 of community-based services. percent and cut the racial health disparity gap in half by 2020. CelebrateOne was Moms2B - $702,635 created in November 2014 to carry out the Task Force’s recommendations and ensure Funding will support evidence-informed Franklin County meets its ambitious goal. programming focused on educating expectant For more information, visit: CelebrateOne. mothers on a range of topics from health com where 53% of the women served are African American. Additionally, the funds will allow Heart of Ohio to maintain support for community health workers.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

By Ray Miller Tough Love - My Story of the Things Worth Fighting For By Susan Rice

The Memory Quilt - A Christmas Story for Our Times By T.D. Jakes Bishop Jakes weaves inspirational life lessons into this tender and touching tale, a thoughtful reflection on our actions throughout the giving season and all year-round. Lela Edwards wants nothing more than to spend the holidays with her family. But her husband of fifty years passed away recently, her daughters live far from their old Chicago neighborhood, and her granddaughter, Darcie, is avoiding her grandmother for fear Lela will judge her decision to get a divorce. Irritated and lonely, Lela concentrates on the lessons of the Virgin Mary with her Bible study group and begins to piece together an unfinished quilt she set aside long ago.

Mother, wife, scholar, diplomat, and fierce champion of American interests and values, Susan Rice powerfully connects the personal and the professional. Taught early, with tough love, how to compete and excel as an African American woman in settings where people of color are few, Susan now shares the wisdom she learned along the way. Laying bare the family struggles that shaped her early life in Washington, DC, she also examines the ancestral legacies that influenced her. Rice’s elders—immigrants on one side and descendants of slaves on the other—had high expectations that each generation would rise. And rise they did, but not without paying it forward—in uniform and in the pulpit, as educators, community leaders, and public servants.

A Terrible Thing to Waste By Harriet A. Washington The 1994 publication of The Bell Curve and its controversial thesis catapulted the topic of genetic racial differences in IQ to the forefront of a renewed and heated debate. Now, in A Terrible Thing to Waste, award-winning science writer Harriet A. Washington adds her incisive analysis to the fray, arguing that IQ is a biased and flawed metric, but that it is useful for tracking cognitive damage. She takes apart the spurious notion of intelligence as an inherited trait, using copious data that instead point to a different cause of the reported African American-white IQ gap: environmental racism - a confluence of racism and other institutional factors that relegate marginalized communities to living and working near sites of toxic waste, pollution, and insufficient sanitation services and why communities of color are disproportionately affected -- and what can be done to remedy this devastating problem.

Rise And Gring - Outperform, Outwork, and Outhustle Your Way to a More Successful and Rewarding Life By Daymond John Daymond John knows what it means to push yourself hard--and he also knows how spectacularly a killer work ethic can pay off. As a young man, he founded a modest line of clothing on a $40 budget by handsewing hats between his shifts at Red Lobster. Today, his brand FUBU has over $6 billion in sales. In the anticipated follow-up to the bestselling The Power of Broke, Daymond takes an up-close look at the hard-charging routines and winning secrets of individuals who have risen to the challenges in their lives and grinded their way to the very tops of their fields. Along the way, he also reveals how grit and persistence both helped him overcome the obstacles he has faced in life and ultimately fueled his success. When They Call You A Terrorist - A Black Lives Matter Memoir By Patrisse Khan-Cullors & Asha Bandele

The Truths We Hold - An American Journey By Kamala Harris

A poetic and powerful memoir about what it means to be a Black woman in America―and the co-founding of a movement that demands justice for all in the land of the free. Raised by a single mother in an impoverished neighborhood in Los Angeles, Patrisse Khan-Cullors experienced firsthand the prejudice and persecution Black Americans endure at the hands of law enforcement. For Patrisse, the most vulnerable people in the country are Black people. Deliberately and ruthlessly targeted by a criminal justice system serving a white privilege agenda, Black people are subjected to unjustifiable racial profiling and police brutality. In 2013, when Trayvon Martin’s killer went free, Patrisse’s outrage led her to co-found Black Lives Matter with Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi.

Senator Kamala Harris’s commitment to speaking truth is informed by her upbringing. The daughter of immigrants, she was raised in an Oakland, California community that cared deeply about social justice; her parents--an esteemed economist from Jamaica and an admired cancer researcher from India--met as activists in the civil rights movement when they were graduate students at Berkeley. Growing up, Harris herself never hid her passion for justice, and when she became a prosecutor out of law school, a deputy district attorney, she quickly established herself as one of the most innovative change agents in American law enforcement. Neither “tough” nor “soft” but smart on crime became her mantra. Being smart means learning the truths that can make us better as a community and supporting those truths with all our might. 29

Columbus & Dayton African American 2019 TheThe Columbus African American News Journal• •December February 2015

HEALING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

DAYTON, OH. – St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church will hold a community celebration focused on renewing the holiday spirit of the city of Dayton through song. Healing for the Holidays, a gospel celebration, will be Sunday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m. The focus of the service is honoring, remembering and renewing the spirit of Dayton. The evening of hope and healing will feature the first-ever live recording of Pastor Renard D. Allen, Jr. and the St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church Mass Choir. During the service, the church will honor the Dayton Police Department for their response to the Oregon District shootings and remember those impacted by the Memorial Day tornadoes and the Oregon District tragedy. “Devastated, disappointed and disillusioned by the storms and tragedies of 2019, St. Luke seeks to renew the spirit of our city through song,” Pastor Allen said. “We simply wish to offer Daytonians across racial, economic and denominational lines some “Healing and Hope for the Holidays.’” In addition to the music, some of Dayton’s leaders will also be speaking. The public is invited to attend. Doors will open at 5 p.m. The church is located at 2262 N. Gettysburg Ave., Dayton. St. Luke is a Ministry for People on the Grow.

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

400 YEAR OF COURAGE, BRAVERY, OWNING REALAESTATE HASHISTORY NOT PANNED OUT FOR MANY AFRICAN AMERICANS LEADERSHIP AND SACRIFICE - OUR MILITARY SERVICE

By Tim Henderson By Tim Anderson Politicians have I am the sonand of advocates a career military long touted parent. Myhomeownership father servedasin the best wayStates to build wealth,for United Airforce saying that over the longthe term, home rank valuesfor thirty years achieving highest go in only one direction: up. Chief Master a noncommissioned officer, Sargent. His father, my But since the dawn of the grandfather, 21st century,James that D. Anderson Sr. (1915-2010) fromfor Ruleville, promise has been an empty one many Mississippi attended Jackson State and African-Americans. later attended the Tuskegee Army Pilot In nearly Center, a fifth of the ZIP codes where Training where he became a pilot most homeowners are black, values as a Tuskegee Airman duringhome WWII. After have since 2000, compared the wardecreased he would resettle in the Los Angeles with onlyfly 2 eleven percentyears of ZIP where area and for codes the California black homeowners are not the majority, Civil Air Patrol. My brothers have served according to a Stateline of federal in the military as well; analysis one serving fifteen data on home prices, race and income. years in the United States Air Force and the other serving in the Ohio Air National Guard. Among the largest losers: some Detroit Finally, my oldest John,Mile served four neighborhoods alongsonEight Road years in the United States Army, where he and parts of Trotwood, Ohio, near Dayton, was stationed in South Korea in the missile where home prices have dropped by a defense deployment unit. Home Four generations third or more since 2000. prices in of black men from myClayton familyand have served majority-black parts of DeKalb during war and Atlanta peace time and counties outside also with have honor declined distinction. since 2000, as have the values in some majority-black suburbs south of Chicago, In our history military such as four-hundred-year Riverdale and Olympia Fields. All service a part of our were hit was hard not wheninitially the Great Recession experience. Although prior to August 1619, arrived in 2007. Africans wereprices among earlier Falling home affect bothexpeditions poor and to North and South America, affluent black neighborhoods,primarily but it’sas laborers on board European vessels. These particularly vexing for policymakers who expeditions were by and large, military have long recommended homeownership as of colonial European monarch aexpansions method of building wealth for low-income nations. Those nations included Spain, black families, said Sandra Newman, a England, France, Portugal and the Dutch professor of public policy at Johns Hopkins empires which University and were authorallofheavily a 2015involved study ofin the slave trade andinthe of North race and changes netcolonization worth before and and South America and the Caribbean. The after the Great Recession. first Africans not of an expedition, who came “There really is a cautionary here,” to colonized north Americannote were from she said. Angola. They were aboard a Portuguese slave ship which was pirated by other traders “Becoming a homeowner, or slave at least a and sold homebuyer, to the British. these first-time may Eventually not be the right enslaved Africans would find themselves approach for all households,” Newman in Jamestown, Virginia in August of 1619. said. “On black first-time buyers vs. Jamestown would become the they epicenter renting: we’re pretty decisive, wouldfor slavery, slave trade along the have donemigrating better hadthe they stayed renters.” eastern seaboard colonies from Georgia At the same time, however, gentrification into Massachusetts. some cities led to huge gains for some black homeowners when upper-income buyers The slave traders, in thetheir European Monarchs became interested neighborhoods. along with their military brought slavery Home prices have more than doubled into in what well-known is commonlyblack referred as the Middle some neighborhoods in Passage. In 1770, the descendant of an coastal cities, including every majorityenslaved African and a former slave, Crispus black ZIP code in the Los Angeles area, Attucks dieHills at thetohands of a British from tonywould Baldwin gritty Compton, soldier at East the Boston Rebellion and, on the Coast, inMassacre Brooklyn’s Crown in Boston Massachusetts. His death would Heights and parts of Miami’s Liberty City. be recognized as the first blood shed for Mike Buttler, a real estate who America’s independence frominvestor England. grew up in Inglewood near Los Angeles, in a majority-black where military prices Both colonial statesZIP andcode the British have more than doubled since 2000, said his offered slaves their freedom if they chose grandparents’ house was worth $800,000 at to serve in their respective military. Slave the peak of the housing bubble just before owners would allow their slaves to enlist in

the recession. It is worth about $400,000 now, but that is still twice what it was worth in 2000. The neighborhood is more desirable than it was in the 1990s, he said, because black investors brought jobs and entertainment options. “When I was growing up, even though it was middle-class there was only War. one the amilitary duringarea, the Revolutionary movie and itthat wasatshowing With theater the promise the end movies of their that were 15 they yearswould old. We had to get on a enlistment, earn their freedom. bus and go this to another town tonot seekept. anything However, was a promised Many else,” Buttler “Now people are looking of these blacksaid. militiamen were killed in battle atand these communities and saying, ‘OK,placed they those who survived were often have amenities. gangs backthe into slavery. The Notdrugs untiland the the American are gone. I could here.’” Civil War and live at the urging of Fredrick would black the military. InDouglas Brooklyn, there areserve four inmajority-black ZIP codes where home values have more than Douglas, pressured andhas persuaded President tripled since 2000. That meant a windfall Lincoln to allow the formation of allfor black homeowners who decide toansell black military regiment. The Emancipation but a diminished sense of community for Proclamation set forth by Lincoln which those who stay, said Leo Goldberg, research abolished in allforstates, manager forslavery the Center New established York City the foundation for the recruitment free Neighborhoods, a nonprofit created to of study blacks and enslaved blacks to become foreclosures. soldiers in the Union Army. The 1st Kansas “It means more equityInfantry [for black homeowners] Colored Volunteer Regiment would but more from speculators,” be the firstharassment all-black regiment, the second Goldberg “If you stay be behind, your all blacksaid. regiment would the Fiftycommunity is changing around you. Your Fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry friends and your kids are probably not going Regiment, known as the Massachusetts to54th be able to made buy and live near you.” (and known in the 1989 film, Glory). Both regimens were2000 commanded Overall, however, since black by white officers, blacks nottobecome homeowners are far morecould likely have commissioned officers, but could obtainthan rank experienced declining home values as noncommissioned officers. Both sons of other homeowners. Fredrick Douglas served in the is Massachusetts One reason for the disparity that many 54th as noncommissioned officers. One black homeowners lost out on the housing of Douglas’ sons was wounded during the boom of the mid-2000s. Between 2005 and failedasassault against home Confederate forces at 2007, skyrocketing values pumped Fort Wagner in Charleston South Carolina. up the wealth of many white homeowners, Lincolnblack would homeowners later credit the recruitment and many lost ground, service of black soldiers as the major turning according to the Johns Hopkins study. On point infirst-time the outcome of the American Civil average, homebuyers with low to moderate incomes gained 50 percent in net War. worth between 2005 and 2007 if they were white, almost 50 percent if theyStates were Afterbut thelost Civil War, the United black. Congress passed legislation that enabled

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

And when the housing bubble burst and the Great Recession began, black homeowners were hit harder than whites, in large part because predatory lenders had steered many of them into sub-prime mortgages. In “House of Debt,” their 2014 book on the housing crisis, Princeton economist Atif Mian and University of Chicago economist Amir Sufi concluded that the crisis started with foreclosures in “highly leveraged, poor and often black homeowning households whose wealth was mostly or entirely tied up in home equity.” Homes in many of those areas lost half their value in the recession and never recovered. Even affluent black homeowners fared much worse than wealthy whites in terms of home values during and after the recession, according to a 2017 study in the journal Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. That result still holds true: A Stateline analysis found that in the upper 40 percent of U.S. ZIP codes, those neighborhoods where most homeowners are black are 14 times more likely to have experienced falling home prices since 2000 than other ZIP codes. For instance, Olympia Fields, once a majoritywhite and innow one of the black community soldiers to serve peacetime in the wealthiest and best-educated majority-black western frontier. Known as the United States municipalities in the country, aboutlater the Colored Troops (USCT) theyhas would same home prices as it did in 1990. Home become known as the Buffalo Soldiers. A values have declined byanalmost 12 percent name given to them by indigenous tribe since 2000. of the western plains, the Cheyenne warriors. But in many neighborhoods, There were amajority-black total of six authorized black the lower values arethe thecommand legacy of restrictive regiments under of white racial covenants and Soldiers, discriminatory lending officers. The Buffalo as a domestic practices that shunted intoparticipate the least peacekeeping military blacks force did desirable many cities. tribes of the in fierce areas battlesofwith indigenous plains. values in the vast majority of Home neighborhoods that the federal government The first black commissioned officerlending of the “redlined” as hazardous for mortgage United States military served in USCT. A 80 years ago are still lower than in areas the former slaverated and more West Point graduate, Henry government highly, according to a O. Flipper became this nation’s first black study released earlier this year by Zillow, the commissioned officer as a Buffalo Soldiers. real estate data company. He would later be court-martialed and Andre a fellow lose hisPerry, commission, onlyat tothe haveBrookings his case Institution who focuses on race and President structural appealed 118 years later, when then inequality, said his research shows thatmartial home Bill Clinton exonerated his prior court values in majority-black neighborhoods conviction and restored his commission. are depressed when income, crime Beyond, even keeping the peace education, in the plains of and other factors are taken into consideration. North America, Buffalo Soldiers have fought When black the respect they outside of neighborhoods United States’get borders. Buffalo deserve, arguedin in 2017 Brookings Soldiers Perry have fought the aSpanish-American paper, they won’t need gentrification by whites War of 1898, The Philippine-American War to(1899–1902) gain value. and World War I. Domestically, fivehard hundred Buffalo Soldiersfor were among “It’s to seek improvement a city when our nation’s first national park rangers; its residents aren’t authentically respected,” patrolling National Perry wrote.Yosemite “If [their] assets Park, aren’tSequoia valued, National Park and the Sierra National Park.a ‘solutions’ will inevitably end up making Their signature cavalry hats with the four city less black.” indented side peaking at the top is still worn Tim covers demographics for and Henderson coveted by the National Park Service Stateline. He has been a reporter at the Miami Rangers of today. The seventy-five year old Herald, Cincinnati Enquirer and The Nationalthe Park Service pitch-bear, Smokey Journal News in suburban New York. Article from www.pewtrust.org

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

PILLARS OF WISDOM By Ako Kambon What Goes In – Will Come Out! Pillars of Wisdom #8: • There’s an old saying: “Garbage In – Garbage Out!” Perhaps it’s time to change the paradigm to “What Goes In - Will come out!” Although this sounds like the same thing, it isn’t. Because, everything that goes in – DOES NOT HAVE TO BE GARBAGE! Could we not put excellence in; could we not put greatness in; could we not put high standards and high expectations in; and then watch all of those things come out? I think the answer is ABSOLUTELY YES! However, in order to control what comes out, we must be willing to monitor and/ or prevent some things from going in. Additionally, we must ‘deliberately insert’ information that will positively guide our children’s lives. In other words, as parents, we must make sure (as best we can) that the sources our children are getting their information from does not lead them toward a destructive path; or we must equip our children to be smart enough or analytical enough to know when they are being ‘played’. For the record, there are three major sources of information from which our children get information: 1. Music 2. Social Media (music CAN ALSO BE a part of social media-but I’ll explain later) 3. Word of Mouth (Are you surprised that ‘reading’ is not in the top three?) I do not believe that parents will be able to totally control, monitor nor prevent ALL of the potentially harmful information that our children might confront. But, we can certainly make every effort to keep them safe. That’s what I call “child protection”! Let me be crystal clear, most of the music our children are constantly exposed to is beyond “questionable”; it’s downright “objectionable!” It’s very difficult to hear a song today without hearing words that are degrading, offensive, or hateful. Many of today’s songs glorify disrespect and marginalize kindness. Remember, music is a stimulus and will always cause an emotional response. Today’s music, almost makes you feel like a wimp if you even care about how others feel. This constant bombardment of negativity warps our children’s thinking and desensitizes them to how painful words can be. (By the way, on another note; did you know that the average reading level of pop music lyrics has steadily declined in recent years to just below a third-grade level? Talk about ‘dumbing down’ our children’s intellect….)

So here are three solutions: 1. Let them know that profanity is UNACCEPTABLE in your house, with their friends or on the playground. 2. Let them know that if they can’t watch the video IN YOUR PRESENCE, that probably means they shouldn’t watch it IN YOUR ABSENCE. 3. Require that Ear Buds must be totally removed in the house. (This allows YOU to hear what they are listening to) Pillars of Wisdom #9: • I seek to become what I see The majority of today’s youth are visual learners. So it should come as no surprise that Social Media has totally captivated their minds. Let me make it clear, social media is not the issue; it’s what youth choose to watch and participate in on social media that’s the problem. The producers of videos on social media have one goal and one goal only -To sell a product. That’s why there are certain brands of cars, beverages and clothing prominently displayed throughout in the video. The video sells their product! And the video suggests to our children that if they do not have these brands, they are not a success! Because this is what success looks like. The reality is – ALMOST (there are a few exceptions) NONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VISUALLY SELLING PRODUCTS TO YOUR CHILD, REALLY CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILD! Their motivation is profit! Therefore, if you love your child you must protect your child from those who pretend to offer your child new ways to express their genius. Here are three suggestions: 1. Have your child identify all of the products shown or mentioned in a popular video. Require them to do research on every product. Ask them to write a letter to the company and let them know that they are a follower of their product. Require your child to ask the company to pay for their

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

college tuition. Sounds crazy, but watch their intellectual growth… 2. Require your child to make a video showing themselves as an academic genius; and ‘post it’ for the world to see. (Make sure that they show you the video BEFORE it’s posted.) 3. Ask your child to view a video WITH YOU and tell you what lifestyle choices are being promoted in the video; especially in terms of tobacco, alcohol use and sexual activity. The intent of each of the above suggestions is to get your child to THINK and SEE how they are being exploited. Once they see it, I guarantee they will alter their behavior. Pillars of Wisdom #10: • Words can CRUSH, or words can BUILD How many lives have been ruined by word of mouth? Or, how many times have people received job promotions simply because of a kind word of mouth? So clearly the “word of mouth” works both ways. But whether ‘word of mouth’ works for your good or your detriment usually depends upon the source. So the idea is to cause your child to THINK AND CHECKOUT the source of the information that they hear. And, to know that everything that’s being said ain’t true! But since the tongue is so powerful, how about speaking life, hope and prosperity over someone. In fact, perhaps YOU as a parent should begin using the power of the tongue to speak over your child. Three Suggestions: • Begin to call your child by the profession you would like them to become. Call them Dr. John, Architect Keisha, Congressperson Michael, Teacher Lois, etc. They may never become a member of that profession, but you are subliminally setting a high level of expectation! (As an aside: hit me back; and let me know the profession you decided to call your child-and why) • Everyday let the last thing you say to your child – as they leave the house – speak a positive (and perhaps prophetic) word into their spirit. In other words: tell them “Nothing but your best today!”, “show everyone what greatness looks like”, “Make us all proud”, “I know you can do it”. SPEAK A WORD OF PRAISE INTO THEIR WOLD. • STOP CUSSING AT YOUR CHILD… (more on this topic next week -smile) Remember, Parenting is a daily journey, not a quick trip… I’m honored to be your tour guide. See you next month…Once again, I would love to hear your thoughts. Ako Kambon is the president of Visionary Leaders Institute and he is sharing his Wisdom information as part of his company’s commitment to community education. All views expressed and information provided are the sole ownership of Mr. Kambon. Should you desire additional information or desire to reprint the information, please contact him at 614-332-5715 or ako@vli123.com.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

BUSINESS YOU WERE BORN TO BE RICH By Darren Lundy, MBA Wealth is an inalienable right, which means it cannot be taken away. You were born with all the equipment necessary to lead a full, happy, and successful life. You have the right to all the riches of the Universe, all the opulence, beauty, prosperity, and abundance this world has to offer. You were born to succeed, to win, and to conquer all difficulties. If there is financial lack in your life it is your responsibility to do something about it. The Universe is governed by divine law and order. There are principles and laws by which all our experiences, conditions and events take place. We are familiar with many of the physical laws. For instance, the earth travelling around the sun, night following day and gravity keeping the ocean from floating off into space. In addition to physical laws, there are spiritual laws which many of us are not as familiar with. For example, the law of cause and effect, the law of belief, and the law of attraction. The science of being rich is based on the law of belief, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23.) These natural laws are being used whether you are aware of them or not and in many cases, they are being used incorrectly. Natural laws never change, they are the same today, tomorrow, and forever.

world between the haves and the have nots. Negative thoughts of lack, limitation, fear, and poverty are all false. They are all lies; there is nothing to back them up. These false beliefs, are what create your current financial situation, circumstance, or condition. If you are in debt or struggling financially to make ends meet, you must figure out what you are thinking to perpetuate this condition. It can generally be linked back to early childhood conditioning, a mis-interpretation of Scriptures, or superstitious beliefs as it relates to money. Abundance is an eternal truth. Nature is lavish, extravagant, and bountiful. If you do not have money constantly circulating in your life, there is something radically wrong. Wealth is merely an expression of abundance. We are witnessing abundance through Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. The money they have amassed is only a symbol; money has taken on many forms as a medium of exchange throughout history, such as salt, beads, trinkets of various kinds. Furthermore, money is a symbol of economic health. When you have all the money you need plus a surplus, you are economically healthy. When money is scarce or lacking in your life, there is economic illness.

Everything in the Universe is made of Energy. All that you see is energy from the house you live in, to the car you drive, and even the chair you are sitting in is energy. To the naked eye things around us appear solid, but in fact it is energy vibrating at different frequencies. Energy occurs in two states, materialized and unmaterialized. The balance of energy in the universe is unmaterialized. So, how does energy become materialized? The answer is simple . . . through the mechanism of thought. Whatever you see around you was once a thought. We create with our thoughts and this puts us in a very Many of us are familiar with the law of powerful position. attraction, but most of us do not understand The financial situation you find yourself in its power. The law of attraction attracts was created by your thinking. Your thoughts things to you according to the nature of your about the abundance or scarcity of wealth has thought life. If you remember, in the bible the played a role in your materialized state. If concept of like attracts like. As previously you feel there is not enough or there is an mentioned, our thoughts are creative forces. abundance, you can take full responsibility. Whether positive or negative your thoughts attract to you the condition, circumstance, or Most adults have free will to make choices. events you predominantly think about. For We can think in terms of abundance or we example, if you are constantly thinking about can think in terms of scarcity. Unfortunately, being broke, you will create situations that in our society, most of us have been taught will keep you broke. If you are constantly limiting beliefs about money. There is a saying you cannot afford something you will 33

not see a way to afford that particular thing. On the other hand, if you begin to think opulence, prosperity, abundance, and wealth, you will begin to see things you desire appear in your life. Embrace adversity. When things are not going according to your plan, when you are facing financial challenges or difficulties, you must realize this is part of your growth and development. You must face those challenges head on with faith and understanding that a viable solution is available. This is a time when prayer for proper guidance is paramount. Always stay focused and determined because help is on the way. Adversity has been described as an ugly Toad with a jewel wrapped around its neck. An adverse situation has a gift within; an opportunity to learn, grow and expand. You were born to be rich. You grow rich by using your God-given abilities. Tune in with your higher power. As your mind becomes more productive and filled with ideas, your labor will become more productive and will bring you material riches. If you do not have all the money you desire, we may be able help. Give us a call for a complimentary consultation. Darren is a Columbus, Ohio native who has earned degrees in Business, Accounting, and an MBA. He has over twenty-five (25) years’ experience in financial services. The Ohio Company, First Union Securities, and Merrill Lynch were instrumental in his career prior to starting his own Wealth Management Firm, Money Consciousness LLC, (614) 776-4311. He holds his Series 65 and Life and Health licenses. Investment advisory services are offered through Foundations Advisors, LLC an SEC registered investment advisor.

Columbus & Dayton African American 2019 TheThe Columbus African American News Journal• •December February 2015

BUSINESS

FOCUS ON THE REASON FOR THE SEASON: NEW BILLS CAN MAKE YOU ILL (SERIOUSLY) As you have seen in the news recently, there are several companies that provide free stock/bond and related financial trading. If you have additional dollars and want to get into the market, take a look at some of the companies that provide free trading. Look at TD Ameritrade, JP Morgan You Invest, Charles Schwab, Fideltiy, Acorns, E-Trade, Trade Station, Interactive Brokers, Robin Hood, Ally Invest, and others. Today is a new day for individuals whom are comfortable investing without paying for advice from financial professionals.

By Cecil Jones, MBA How are you doing financially? Are you looking at Christmas and the New Year, trying to figure out how you will buy a lot of stuff for others? Are you looking at your credit card limits to see how you can pay for presents and gifts? Stop it! The end of the year is a good time to assess how you did financially over 2019 and put financial actions in place for 2020. Focus on a few key areas. Note that we said financial actions, not just plans, for 2020.

As I look at stocks, I am very practical and cheap. I purchase indexes (S&P 500, Dow Jones, Russell 2000, etc.). Any administrative costs tend to be low. I invest in those companies whose products I use and/or know about. For example, one of my first purchases was in a burger restaurant that was somewhat new. When I went to buy a burger there, lines stretched outside of the store. The product was good. I researched the company, then bought the stock.

People are in different places financially, so let’s look at a couple of different financial situations. Before we begin, I have to share that I am not a Certified Financial Planner. I have spent a couple of decades in the financial world in banking and insurance. Most of that experience has been from the information technology view. You REALLY get to see how financial products work when you develop or enhance financial products through software development. My education includes finance courses in a Masters in Business Administration degree program, membership in the Financial Planners Association, taking a couple of Certified Financial Planner examinations and also acquiring a separate ten examinations’ financial/insurance/risk management certification by passing 10 examinations.

you owe. You can imagine they talk regularly with customers with balances they cannot Similarly, I am a technology leader and pay. see the online games growing each month. It takes a computer with a decent graphics When you are really financially challenged, processor chip to play games. There are few look at your best asset, YOU! To dig graphics processor companies out there. As yourself out of the financial hole, there are I walked through computer stores, there was 2 things that need to occur. Add revenue one company whose graphics processor was and/or decrease expenses. Do you have the highly recommended. I bought that stock. availability to pick up a part-time job, even for a short time? Some opportunities include: There are some companies whose products you use that you know are good. Jump People are in different places financially, so - Seasonal jobs, particularly in Retail and online. Do a little research. If you and others let’s look at a couple of different financial Warehousing. In retail, entry level to manager are saying and thinking good things about a situations, really financially challenged and temporary positions are available during and company, that company is a good candidate after the Christmas season to research and purchase their stock. doing alright but need more focus. Really Financially Challenged

- Do you have an advanced degree? If so, consider teaching a couple of courses during the evenings, weekends or online. Central Ohio has several colleges that are looking for your expertise. Some do not require an advanced degree, if you have several years of experience in your field.

Let’s face it. After looking at internet, cable, phone, mortgage/rent and other bills and then realizing that there is not enough money coming in to pay all bills, reality presents itself and an evaluation is needed. There are multiple methods of looking at cash flow and operating expenses. However, if you are You Are Doing OK Financially, but Are really financially challenged, basically for the Not Really Where You Want to Be household, it comes down to ‘Do we have Is Your Net Worth Going Up Each Month? enough money to pay our bills’? How do you know if you are in this situation? There are those that ‘feel’ that they are in this situation but do not know for sure. How do you find out? Write it down! We don’t need to do anything complex. Jus look at what bills you have paid over the last month. Don’t forget any bills that are paid quarterly or with other non-monthly terms. After reviewing and adding the bills, after reviewing how much is coming in, you have your answer. If your bills are indeed more than you make, you have choices. You can call creditors and share your situation. Some of them will provide solutions of which you and I are not always aware (lower the bill, lower credit card rate, get you into a lower cost plan, etc.). Credit card companies often have programs where they lower the amount

By ‘net worth’, we are examining whether you are ‘adding to your pot’ each month, automatically, without a lot of additional processes. Do you have an automatic deposit going from your paycheck (or other account) into a savings, 401k, 403b, IRA or other account? We should ensure that we use an easy, repetitive method to get cash into a savings, investment or retirement account before we have the temptation to spend that money. You want to be in a place where each month your net worth goes up, without your doing a lot of work.

Is Your Tax Liability Where It Should Be? Are You Leaving Money on the Table? This is the time of year to review your taxes. Some tax accountants have their peers review their taxes before they submit them. Some financial planners have financial planners. Why? As good as we all think we are with filing taxes, getting a view/opinion from a tax professional can help. There are organizations that provide free tax help; organization like IMPACT Community Action Agency and others. If you need to pay a tax professional in a tax firm, it is worth doing that during an occasional year, even if you do your own taxes. Other professionals may see and know something that you have missed out upon. Remember: Write it Down! Get Help From Others!

Are you looking for a technology networking group to help you get smarter? What new technology or process have you learned this month? Need advice on how to look for that technology position? Are you considering technology education (courses, certificates or Investing degrees) and need information? Do you have a business, process, project management, Passive income (interest, increase in stock/ personnel or technology question? Please bond holdings, etc.) should be a focus if you let me know. admin@accelerationservices.net are doing alright financially. Cecil Jones MBA, ABD, PMP, CCP, SCPM, FLMI, Lean Professional, 614-726-1925.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • December 2019

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

Continued from Page 21 knowledge that teachers expect. They know the names of things, ideas, people, and places that are meaningful to them, but they may not know letter names or how to hold a book or what a farm is or how to count to 20. Because of this, they are often viewed as developmentally delayed or having limited potential to learn. Thus, even though they have achieved developmental milestones, they may begin to fail in school. African American children who go to school without a sound foundation of school-type information are at a profound disadvantage, making the achievement gap inevitable at school entry—but not insurmountable. For example, children from lower income families hear fewer words and have smaller vocabularies, on average, than children from more financially advantaged families (Hart & Risley 1995). This disadvantages African American children, since a larger proportion of them are poorer than White children. While a smaller vocabulary may not be a linguistic problem (the children have a language, just not Standard English), it does mean a child is likely to have trouble with listening comprehension in the early grades, especially when teachers read aloud complex texts that use Standard and academic English vocabulary. What starts out as simply a disparity in vocabulary escalates over the elementary grades to difficulty with reading comprehension, on which all later learning depends. Struggling with reading may also become a social challenge, leading to misbehavior and a lack of motivation to try (often fueled by embarrassment at being behind one’s peers). Therefore, it is essential to address the vocabulary difference before it morphs into school failure. Another problem for many African American children is the lack of continuity between the preschool years and the primary grades (Takanishi 2016). Research and school experience have shown the importance of long-term consistency in expectations, high-quality instruction, and social supports if children from low-income homes are to master the challenges of school. In the first several years of their lives, many African American children remain at home or are in child care arrangements in which school prerequisites (e.g., formal literacy and numeracy experiences) and social and emotional support (e.g., responsive teachers) are not a part of daily life. For children who do not learn Standard English at home and are enduring the stresses of growing up in isolated and/or underresourced communities, even attending preschool may not be enough. Children may require additional social and academic supports the first four or five years in school if they are to reach their potential. They need meaningful relationships with teachers who believe they can learn, whom they want to please. They need carefully structured curricula that build across grade levels so that children have the prior knowledge necessary to succeed. They also need teachers who coach them in how to get their needs met in school, how to ask for help, and how to accept it. And finally, they need teachers and administrators who communicate well with their families and can help the families be supportive of their children’s academic learning.

Training for educators Essential to narrowing the achievement gap is the education of early childhood educators. Teachers and administrators need preservice preparation and ongoing professional development that enable them to understand that most African American children are not underdeveloped or developmentally delayed. When teachers use effective engagement methods, African American children can achieve the same academic and social development in school as other children. Preparatory institutions and professional development programs must prepare educators to understand the manner in which child development and academic learning are inextricably linked and how they can facilitate learning for children from different backgrounds.

relationships is through local action in which Black families are meaningfully engaged. Schools in particular play an important role in defusing racism, educating staff, providing social networks (activities), and welcoming parents. If the achievement gap is to be closed, schools need to continue their commitment to children from before birth into young adulthood, with regular updates to meet changing social needs.

Reflections and recommendations Acting on research and intervention findings, some of which are presented here, will require embracing new understanding and accepting the discomfort of change. Established economic, political, social, and even structural interests are involved in the status quo. Long-term change will only happen when these systems reflect a culturally appropriate, asset-based understanding of Children with special needs Certainly some children have developmental the children and families they serve. It will issues that may require different teaching require educators, administrators, and policy strategies because of biological differences makers who (such as having Down syndrome) or because of life experiences (such as living with toxic Know that today education is needed for stress) or both. They need teachers with the US economy and the future of American special skills to recognize and meet their democracy needs. Other children—the vast majority— Understand the economic, political, and are typically developing and need a genuine social contexts of families and recognize the opportunity to learn the foundational complex interactions between all of these and skills and knowledge expected by schools. children’s learning in school During the preschool years, children need Appreciate that education begins before birth to be assessed for biological and social and that preschool education is as essential difficulties, with interventions provided as as K–12 for all children at risk for school needed. However, all children—whether they failure have special needs or not—need to be fully Understand that a good education is far more engaged so they become enthusiastic learners than good test scores (although those are important); physical and mental health, the of their schools’ curricula. arts and music, citizenship responsibilities, and empathic relationships are equally Cultural differences Teachers also need a better understanding important and should be planned for and of cultural differences and similarities. Too supported in school often, teachers and administrators view See the importance of facilitating engagement the different expressions of development and learning for children from non-White in African Americans as evidence of backgrounds; of integrating a positive intentionally bad and distasteful behavior racial identity with development; and of and/or low academic potential. When African understanding teaching and learning as American children demonstrate adaptive intellectually stimulating and culturally behaviors (such as passivity or aggression) affirming experiences that have been successful in the past, teachers Plan for the prevention of difficult behavior and administrators usually spend little time and the promotion of responsible and trying to understand the etiology of these effective family support to reduce costly behaviors or the systems that cause them. generation-to-generation transmission of They simply label the children “special unrewarding behavior needs” or delinquent and exclude them from Work to foster authentic, reciprocal partnerships between families, children, grade-level curricula. teachers, and schools, in which the When teachers—often through little fault of achievement of all students is encouraged their own—do not understand the reasons for and supported at home and at school children’s behavior, they are likely to lower Select curricula and use teaching practices their expectations for children of color. The that are developmentally and culturally children internalize their teachers’ evaluations appropriate and thus are based on children’s of their potential, thus lowering their own needs (rather than one size fits all) (and often their parents’) expectations for E n s u r e t h a t a l l c h i l d r e n a r e g i v e n achievement. Underfunded schools that opportunities to develop an identity of provide little support or professional guidance excellence and scholarship that counters for inexperienced teachers and administrators negative stereotypes compound the problem. Recognize cultural differences and set high academic expectations for all children In the past, informal networks of families and neighbors provided the supports many We believe that a program carried out African American children and families by people and organizations with a deep needed. Today, because of increased understanding of the complexities and pressures in homes and neighborhoods, the collaborations needed to support child formal organizations (social, educational, development, who recognize the importance political, economic, philanthropic, and of education—both what is taught and how community) often must step in. To be it is taught—and who focus resources to more effective, these organizations must support family functioning will help close rethink how they deliver their services. Depersonalized, rule-governed relationships the achievement gap, benefiting our children, must give way to intentional connections families, economy, and democracy. and meaningful collaboration. The most effective way to bring about and sustain such Article from www.NAEYC.org 35

Columbus & Dayton African American 2019 TheThe Columbus African American News Journal• •December February 2015

HISTORY

HON. JOHN J. CONYERS, JR.: LONGEST SERVING AFRICAN AMERICAN IN CONGRESSIONAL HISTORY By Rodney Blount, Jr., MA The power and function of the United States House of Representatives has been on full display as the world watches the public impeachment inquiry hearings for the 45th President of the United States. The hearings are supervised by the powerful House Intelligence Committee. The House of the Representatives, along with the United States Senate, make up the legislative branch of the United States of America’s government. Tax bills and spending bills must start in the House, the House decides who will be president if no one wins a majority of votes from the Electoral College, and only the House can impeach certain high-ranking federal officials such as the President or a Supreme Court Justice. Consequently, U.S. Representatives are not only leaders in their communities, but also play a key role in the United States government and with world policy. The late Honorable John Conyers was a key figure in the U.S. House of Representatives. Although he was a proud representative of the Detroit, Michigan area, his legislation and championship of civil rights affected all Americans. John James Conyers, Jr., was born on May 16, 1929, in Highland Park, Michigan, and grew up in Detroit. He was the son of Lucille Janice (Simpson) and John James Conyers. His father, a Georgia native, was laborer who moved to Detroit to work at the Chrysler Auto plant as a painter and eventually rose to a senior position in the United Auto Workers union. John Conyers, Jr., younger brother, Nathan, is the owner of one of the nation’s oldest African American auto dealerships. As an adolescent, Conyers, Jr., was a jazz aficionado and could play the trumpet, bass, piano, tenor sax, and trombone. Conyers kept an acoustic bass in one corner of his congressional office in Washington. He graduated from Northwestern High School and joined the Michigan National Guard from 1948 to 1950. In 1950, he enlisted in the United States Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean War where he supervised repairs of military craft. After completing his service in 1954, he continued his service in the U.S. Army Reserves until 1957 and was awarded several combat and military citations. Conyers continued his studies at Wayne State University in 1954, graduating with B.A. in 1957 and a law degree in 1958. Upon graduation, Conyers cofounded the law firm Conyers, Bell, and Townsend. He also rekindled his interest in politics and worked on the staff of Michigan U.S. Representative John Dingell from 1958 to 1961. Dingell was Congress’ longest serving member and Conyers would end up being the sixth. Conyers was actively involved in the Civil Rights movement and often represented clients in voter rights cases. After serving as a referee in Michigan Workmen’s Compensation Department, Conyers was

elected to the United States Congress in 1964, representing Michigan’s Fourteenth Congressional District. Conyers quickly immersed himself into congressional work. He signed on as a cosponsor of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, and supported the establishment of the Medicare program, championed by President Lyndon Johnson. In 1967, Conyers led resistance against a bill backed by southern conservatives that would have delayed legislative redistricting according to the principle of one person, one vote. Upon the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Conyers introduced a bill that would designate King’s birthday as a national holiday. In 1983, he saw the measure become law. In 1971, Conyers became a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and remained a leading figure in the caucus until his retirement. A member of the House Judiciary Committee since his first year in Congress, he participated in the impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon in 1974 following the Watergate scandal. He also sat on the impeachment hearings for President Bill Clinton in 1998. Conyers’ lengthy list of impressive legislative accomplishments have affected the lives of countless Americans. Some of the bills authored or sponsored by Conyers include the Martin Luther King Holiday Act, the Alcohol Warning Label Act, the National Voter Registration Act and the Hate Crime Statistics Act. Conyers used his influence on key committees to attach vital civil rights measures to the 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill, including the Racial Justice Act and the Police Accountability Act. Conyers was one of the first lawmakers to urge a systematic study of the differing treatment blacks and whites received at the hands of police, police violence, racially motivated violence, sentencing, white-collar crime and other criminal justice matters. The U.S. Department of Justice launched a major national investigation of the issue partly in response to his concerns.

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

Conyers submitted the United States National Health Care Act (Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act) (H.R. 676). He introduced it with 25 cosponsors, in 2003, and reintroduced it each session since then. The act calls for the creation of a universal singlepayer health care system in the United States, in which the government would provide every resident health carefree of charge. In order to eliminate disparate treatment between richer and poorer Americans, the Act would prohibit private insurers from covering any treatment or procedure already covered by the Act. Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said, “Long before it was popular, John Conyers understood that health care is a human right.” Conyers retired from Congress in 2017 after over 50 years of service. Besides the Judiciary committee, which he has served as chair, he also served on the following committees: Government Operations – Chair, Legislation and National Security – Chair, Crime – Chair, Criminal Justice – Chair, and Small Business. He was an active member of the Democratic Party, Detroit’s NAACP exec board (1963-2019), and the American Civil Liberties Union exec board (1964-2019). He was also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi for nearly 70 years, a 33rd degree Prince Hall Mason, and a longtime member of his church. He was the recipient of the Spingarn medal, Laurel Wreath award, and the SCLC leadership award. Hon. John J. Conyers, Jr, passed away on Oct. 27, 2019, at the age of 90. He leaves to mourn his wife, Monica (a school administrator and former Detroit councilwoman), and sons, John III and Carl. His nephew, Ian, served in the Michigan Senate. Conyers did so much for Americans in and out of Congress and this article is just a small selection of his long list of accomplishments. Thousands of people from Detroit and throughout the United States attended his funeral at Greater Grace Temple. His life was on full display for the world to see and I think former President Bill Clinton said it best when he stated, “The most important thing to remember is how different the playing field was when he began and when he ended, how steep the mountain he climbed over and how many real lives were improved by his labors.” Sources https://history.house.gov/ https://www.blackpast.org/ https://www.thehistorymakers.org/ https://apnews.com/ https://www.ducksters.com/history/ https://www.encyclopedia.com/history Rodney Blount is an Educator and Historian. He received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Ball State University and a Masters of Arts degree from The Ohio State University. His work has been featured in several publications. Rodney is a native of Columbus, Ohio and is a member of several organizations.

COMMUNITY EVENTS Columbus, Ohio December 7, 2019 Jazz on The Avenue: Holiday Celebration The holiday Jazz celebration is back! This is the season to enjoy the holiday spirit! Jazz greats and vocalists will bring a vibrant, festive collection of holiday songs infused with cool syncopation, funky riffs, and smooth, stylish tones, ranging from dynamic to nostalgic. We will light up the night in Mayme Moore Park as we begin the holiday season. Location: King Arts Complex Address: 867 Mt. Vernon Ave, 43203 Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Admission: $32.00 Contact: www.KingArtsComplex.com December 10, 2019 The State of Black America What is the true State of Black America? Join ADOS Columbus (American Descendants of Slavery) for an in-depth discussion around issues affecting the Black Community and ways to change course for a better tomorrow. Panelist include Democratic Congressional Candidate Morgan Harper, Community Activist and Founder of ADOS Columbus Mark Stevenson, Community Activity and Podcast Host Haatim Gye-Nyame. Location: Columbus Metropolitan Library Address: 96 S. Grant Ave. 43215 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Admission: Free Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com December 10, 2019 10th Annual Mistletoe Holiday Party 10th annual Mistletoe event, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. We are celebrating 10 years of the best holiday party in the city. Whether you are buying tickets online or in-person this year’s Mistletoe is not to be missed! Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel. Great food and dancing awaits you and your friends. Music by DJ Remedy and Krate Digga. Location: Renaissance Columbus Downtown Address: 50 N 3rd Street, 43215 Time: 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM Admission: $50-$70 Contact: www.EventBrite.com December 11, 2019 MBE/WBE Procurement Fair Please join the City of Columbus, Department of Development for the 2020 Contracting Opportunities, Small Business and Entrepreneurial Services and Procurement Fair - MBE – WBE. City Representatives will provide information on bidding requirements and contracting opportunities in the Department of Development. 2020 contracting opportunities include: Asbestos Assessment & Abatement, Critical Home Repair, Demolition, Electrical, Graffiti Abatement, HVAC, Lead Abatement, Mowing, Other Construction Trades, Painting, Plumbing, Roofing, Property Maintenance, and Solid Waste Removal. Location: 25th Avenue Training Center Address: 1881 E. 25th Ave. 43219 Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Admission: Free Contact: Rory McGuiness at (614) 645-6253 or romcguiness@columbus.gov

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

December 13, 2019 The Wiz A tornado sets Dorothy and Toto down in Oz. The is upbeat version of The Wizard of OZ is hip, funny and upbeat. After celebrating the demise of the Wicked Witch of the East with the Munchkins, Dorothy departs for the Emerald City. She encounters a hip Scarecrow who wants to join her because he has a feeling he isn’t going anywhere; an uptight Tin Man who needs Dorothy’s help to hang loose again, and a mama’s-boy Lion who has lost his courage. Together they will seek help from the Great Man in the flashy city of OZ. Location: The Columbus Performing Arts Center Address: 549 Franklin Ave. 43215 Time: 6:00 PM Admission: $5-$10 Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com December 14, 2019 Women of Color Holiday Market This holiday season, The Women of Color (WoCO) are shining the spotlight on some of the most creative women of color artisans in Columbus! Hosted by Zora’s House, the annual WoCO Holiday Market will feature products created by women of color artists and entrepreneurs from jewelry to candles to clothing and everything in between! In addition to shopping, there will be holiday themed decor, and tasty treats on hand to handle whatever appetite you work up while spending those holiday coins! We got it all! Location: Zora’s Hose Address: 1311 Summit St. 43230 Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Admission: Free Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com December 17, 2019 Breathing While Black More than 1 in 6 Black individuals who are pulled over or stopped on the street had similar interactions with police multiple times over the course of the year. Here is the truth: it’s growing increasingly difficult to catch our breath as Black people. But realities of breathing while Black go far deeper than just law enforcement. Join the Columbus African Council and other community partners for a critical conversation on redefining the Black experience. Together, we can work to address systemic racism and develop strategies to make Black empowerment a priority across the African Diaspora. Location: Columbus Metropolitan Library Address: 96 S. Grant Ave. 43215 Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM Admission: Free Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com December 21, 2019 Black Nativity: Celebrate the King ‘Tis the season to enjoy the “Holiday spirit” with Nia Performing Arts Inc. and the cast of Black Nativity. Come and enjoy the Timeless Langston Hughes Classic about the Birth of Jesus set in Africa and present-day church. It is not about the giving and/or receiving of gifts; it is not about the eating, drinking and making merry; it is not even about the coming together of family and friends. Christmas is about the Babe of Bethlehem, the Prince of Peace, and the King of Kings. It’s all about Jesus! Location: The King Arts Complex Address: 867 Mount Vernon Ave. 43203 Time: Multiple times Admission: $10 - $30 Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com

The Columbus & Dayton African American - December 2019

COMMUNITY EVENTS Dayton, Ohio December 8, 2019 Hair Styling Class Many girls have a challenge with trying to manage and style their own hair. This is the time your princess likes to be independent and take on the task of managing her hair but how... From shampooing to tangles and styling edges this can be a hurdle for her. This class is fun, interactive hands on and very helpful. Class Content: properly shampoo and detangle hair, natural styling, applying products, and how to care for hair and avoid breakage. Everyone goes home with a beauty bag that includes essentials to practice styling. Location: Mount Olive Baptist Church Address: 502 Pontiac Ave. Ste. 133 45417 Time: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM Admission: $20--$25 Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com December 13, 2019 2020 Census Policy Meeting United Way of the Greater Dayton Area 2020 Census Policy Meeting. Join Our Public Policy Committee to learn more about the upcoming 2020 Census from our speaker Carrie L. Schultz, Partnership Specialist UC Census Bureau. Location: Fitz Leadership Center Address: 1401 South Main St. 45479 Time: 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM Admission: Free Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com December 14, 2019 4th Annual Winter Recital Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist church presents its Fourth Annual Winter Recital by the Anointed Dance Company. This is praise dancing at its best! Come experience the award winning, Bible learning, God fearing, Feet that Preach Ministering students of Anointed Dance Academy. This talented dance troupe ministers the Word of God through dance at our 4th Annual Summer Recital. Location: Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church Address: 3375 West Siebenthaler Ave. 45406 Time: 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM Admission: $10 Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com December 17, 2019 Beyond the Basics Interactive Training Beyond the Basics is a premier interactive training series offered by the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The series aims to help providers, Support Coordinators, family members and other interested stakeholders move “beyond the basics” of service provision and into the emerging future of community inclusion. Location: Janet Clemmons Center Address: 282 N. Fair Ave. 45011 Time: 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM Admission: Free Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com

December 21, 2019 Regal Rhythms Poetry Slam & Spoken Word Come enjoy this poetry slam full of dynamic performers followed by an early celebration of new beginnings as we go into the New Year with high drive and expectations. Featured Musical Guest is Natural Onyx, a Neo-soul songstress with an intricate blend of Hip-Hop, Reggae, and RnB. To register to participate in the slam, please register with MoPoetry at $MoneecaPhillips for a fee of $25. The first-place winner receives $400 and the second-place winner receives $100. Slam rules will be emailed once fee is secured. Follow us on Facebook at Ovations Entertainment Group and Regal Rhythm Poetry Slam/Feature Event and on Instagram at Ovations Ent Group. Location: Grace Episcopal Church – The Annex Address: 5501 Hamilton Ave. 45224 Time: 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Admission: $20 Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com January 4, 2020 Queens of Soul with a Tribute to Aretha Soul meets symphony through the music of Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, and Donna Summer. Our tribute to these ladies of soul is a full-on extravaganza of pop and orchestral music, back-up singers and dancers and four headliners vocalists out front doing their thing! Location: The Schuster Performing Arts Center Address: 1 West 2nd Street 45402 Time: 8:00 PM Admission: Call for prices. Contact: Call 937-228-7591 or https://www.daytonlocal.com/ concerts/dpo-queens-of-soul-with-a-tribute-to-aretha-franklin.asp January 13, 2020 Faith, Race & Politics Conference A conference on civic engagement, democratic participation, and faith-based convening. This conference will bring together community leaders, elected officials, congregants, scholars, faith leaders, philanthropists, and other thought partners from Cincinnati and around the country to explore how the intersection of faith, race, and politics has impacted both personal civic engagement and local policy, with a focus on specific programs in the Cincinnati area. Panelists will consider how the Crossroads community has been able to build bridges across racial divides through its Undivided program, which In turn has catalyzed people into action around coalitional initiatives. The Undivided experience provides a springboard to a broader discussion about what people of faith, civic leaders, and community organizations can learn about civic engagement, democratic participation, and faith-based convening as we enter the 2020 election season. Location: National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Address: 50 East Freedom Way, Cincinnati 45202 Time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Admission: $0 - $10 Contact: https://www.eventbrite.com

Please note: Information for this section is gathered from multiple commnuity sources. The Columbus & Dayton African American is not responsible for the accuracy and content of information. Times, dates and locations are subject to change. If you have an event that you would like to feature in this section, please email us at editor@columbusafricanamerican.com. Submissions are due the last Friday of each month. The Columbus African & Dayton African American • December 2019 American News Journal • February 2015

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