Weekly Report 2-52

DNC: Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Will Revitalize Black Communities Across America

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior

The House sent the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to President Biden’s desk, legislation that will address economic disparities and the consequences of decades of disinvestment in America’s infrastructure that have fallen most heavily on communities of color. In response, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison released the following statement:

“For years, Black Americans heard talk but didn’t see any action from Trump and Republicans who were unable to address critical community problems like lead leaching pipes, crumbling roads and bridges, and flooding streets.

“But now, thanks to President Biden, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will address these monumental concerns while also advancing racial justice and equity through invest-

How

and Why

to Volunteer as a Family

By d-mars.com

News Provider

Last month celebrated Family Volunteer Day, a global day of service that empowers families to work together in support of their communities. Now more than ever, as we experience a global pandemic, and have a renewed focus on social justice and environmental challenges, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and advance causes your family cares about. Here are a few of the extraordinary things that happen when families choose to volunteer together:

1. Children learn your family’s values. It’s always important to talk to children about what values your family holds. But one of the best ways to reinforce these conversations is to demonstrate your val-

ments in communities of color.

“Because of Democrats, neighborhoods across the country will be safer, healthier, better connected, and Black Americans will experience an enhanced quality of life for generations to come.”

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Black communities by:

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will deliver for Black communities by:

• Ensuring every American household has access to reliable high-speed internet, helping lower costs and improving internet access for Black Americans who are 9% less likely than their white peers to have highspeed internet

• Eliminating lead pipes and providing the largest investment in clean drinking water in American history. Families of color, especially in communities like Chicago, Milwaukee, and Newark are at the highest risk for lead exposure at home and in schools.

• Investing in public transit, reducing commute times, and addressing the backlog of repairs. In New York City, Black residents on average spend an additional 110 minutes per week commuting to work compared to white residents.

• Reconnecting communities divided by inequitable transportation infrastructure. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will create the first-ever program aimed at reconnecting communities divided by trans-

ues in action. Volunteering shows your kids that you’re dedicated, as a family, to promoting, supporting or furthering a certain issue -- and that you’re willing to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

2. You spend quality time together. Volunteering is a way to bring together family members of all ages -- parents, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and more -- around a common mission.

3. It builds empathy. Learning emotional intelligence is a crucial part of child development, and civic engagement can accelerate this process. When volunteering, you’ll interact with those who share commonalities, like passion about an issue, and those who may be different from you, like people from communities outside your own. Understanding where people are coming from and hearing about their lived experiences helps children flex their empathy muscles now and later in life.

4. You become lifelong learners. If kids always associate learning with school, they may see their educational journey come to an end when they graduate. Instead, show them that the world is full of learning opportunities. Through volunteering, they’ll interact with new peo -

portation infrastructure that was built through Black neighborhoods, destroying homes, schools, churches and parks.

• The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will invest roughly $65 billion — the single largest investment in clean energy transmission in American history — to upgrade our power infrastructure and reduce pollution. Black people are almost 3 times more likely to die from asthma-related causes than our white counterparts.

Remediating brownfields and Superfund sites. 26% of Black Americans live within 3 miles of Superfund sites that can lead to elevated lead levels in our children’s blood. By providing $21 billion to cleanup efforts, the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will help protect our children while providing good-paying union jobs to our communities.

Source: National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

ple from various walks of life, adopt new skills needed for the task at hand and discover how they can make an impact through their time, talent and efforts.

5. You develop important skills. Everyone can gain valuable skills through volunteering. There are the hard skills often needed for volunteer roles, like carpentry, computer programming, translation and other services, and the soft skills that come with volunteer positions, like social and communication skills.

many forms. Get inspired by considering “Points of Light’s Civic Circle.” The Civic Circle is a framework developed by Points of Light, a nonpartisan, global nonprofit, and it represents your power to lead, lend support and take action for causes you care about and to lead a civic life. The nine activities outlined by the Civic Circle are: listening and learning, using one’s voice, social entrepreneurship, volunteering, public, national or military service, using one’s purchasing power to express their values, working, voting and donating.

For specific ideas for celebrating Family Volunteer Day, search the Points of Light Engage platform, the world’s largest digital hub for volunteering and community engagement opportunities, at engage.pointsoflight.org or visit the Points of Light website for DIY volunteer projects.

Getting Inspired

From volunteering directly with an organization to fundraising to learning about meaningful causes, doing good comes in

The need for civic engagement is greater than ever before. And though volunteering may look different right now, there are many ways to be civically engaged. Take time out with your family this season to help others and make a positive mark on the world.

Source: StatePoint

Using CREDIT Wisely

By d-mars.com News Provider

Credit is an essential part of any strategic financial plan, particularly when individuals are planning to make a major life change or reorganize their affairs. Whether you're seeking to cover unexpected expenses, fund a major purchase like a new home, or make a long-term investment, leveraging debt can often be an essential tool for achieving your goals. Here are some of the ways different types of credit can be used wisely across different aspects of your financial life.

Choose a credit card that gives you a financial leg up

With so many modern card programs offering incentives and rewards, credit card users can find a card to boost their finances with savings on balances and more cash back on their biggest expenses. To earn cash back on everyday essentials, the AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays card earns 3% cash back on gas station and drug store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®), 2% cash back on medical expenses like healthcare provider visits and eyeglasses, and 1% cash back on all other purchases

For those interested in travel, the AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays earns 3% cash back on airfare, hotel stays and car rentals, 2% cash back on restaurant purchases and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Both cards have:

• No annual fee

• 0% introductory APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that, a variable APR will apply (16.74%, 20.74% or 25.74% based on your creditworthiness).

• A $100 cash back bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening

Terms apply.

The AARP® Essential Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays and AARP® Travel Rewards Mastercard® from Barclays are issued by Barclays Bank Delaware (Barclays) pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard, World Mastercard and World Elite Mastercard are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard Incorporated.

Use personal loans to support your financial goals

Secure your dream home through real estate benefits

Sometimes it makes more sense to obtain a personal loan to fund objectives such as home renovation and debt consolidation. Whatever the need, individuals need to understand the terms of the loan when researching options and ensure that they are a good match. Personal Loans from Marcus by Goldman Sachs offer no-fee personal loans ranging from $3,500 - $40,000 and have special pricing available for AARP members, ensuring that the loan supports users' financial goals rather than detracting from them.

Secure your dream home through real estate benefits

Use personal loans to support your financial goals

Borrowing is often an essential step for funding the purchase of a new home, whether you're a first-time buyer, looking for a vacation property, or settling into a new home for retirement. To help secure your dream home, real estate benefits are a great way to balance out a mortgage and the costs that come along with it. These costs can be offset by AARP Real Estate Benefits by Realogy, which offers members assistance and a benefit of between $300 - $5,500 based on the purchase price of a home. The program provides access to Realogy's trusted real estate brands, there's no fee to sign up, and depending on the home location members receive benefits such as cash, a gift card or a commission reduction.

Debt plays an important role in any strategic financial plan, especially when it's fully understood and managed effectively. Make sure you tick everything off on your checklist by evaluating your short- and longterm financial goals and capitalizing on the best possible options available - then, kick back and enjoy the rewards that come with using credit wisely.

Source: BPT

Choose a credit card that gives you a financial leg up

DEATHS.

Harris County is ground zero for DWI

We want you to get home and be able to celebrate with your loved ones this season.

Don’t become a statistic. DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE.