Community Weekly Report 16 by d-mars.com

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COMMUNITY WEEKLY REPORT

Volume 2, Edition 16

Inspire, Inform & Educate

April 22 - April 28, 2021

Page 3

Twelve Additional HISD Middle Schools Join the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Program

Page 2

George Floyd Family Receives Historic Civil Rights Wrongful Death Settlement

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2 | April 22 - April 28, 2021

Community Weekly Report COMMUNITY

Caption for image: George’s legacy for those who loved him will always be his spirit of optimism that things can get better, and we hope this agreement does just that – that it makes things a little better in Minneapolis and holds up a light for communities around the country.

George Floyd Family

Receives Historic Civil Rights Wrongful Death Settlement By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior

ivil rights attorneys Ben Crump, Antonio Romanucci, L. Chris Stewart, Jeff Storms and other co-counsel on behalf of the family of George Floyd and officials from the City of Minneapolis have announced the settlement of a civil lawsuit against the City of Minneapolis and the four officers involved in Mr. Floyd’s death. The $27 million settlement is the largest pre-trial settlement in a civil rights’ wrongful death case in U.S. history. It includes $500,000 to be directed to enhance the 38th St. & Chicago Ave. business district where George Floyd died. The legal team praised police reforms adopted by the city after Floyd’s death and pledged support for further reforms. “George Floyd’s horrific death, witnessed by millions of people around the world, unleashed a deep longing and undeniable demand for justice and change,” Crump said in a news release. “That the largest pre-trial settlement in a wrongful death case ever would be for the life of a Black man sends a powerful message that Black lives do matter and police brutality against people of color must end.” After Floyd’s death, the City of Minneapolis adopted sweeping police reforms, including comprehensive use-offorce reporting, a requirement to keep body-worn cameras on all the time, a policy for officers to de-escalate nonthreatening encounters with citizens by disengaging or walking away, and recruitment of officers based on a holistic evaluation that favors those who live in the areas they would police and who have social service experience.

“We are encouraged both by the progressive police reforms already adopted and the ambitious changes city of Minneapolis leaders still hope to create,” added Romanucci. “After being identified with George Floyd for tragic reasons, Minneapolis will be remembered for progressive changes that can lead the nation in how to reform and reframe the relationship between police and communities of color.” Even as the trial against former officer Derek Chauvin moves forward and the family waits for justice in the criminal courts, the settlement imparts a measure of justice that is meaningful, important and necessary, attorney L. Chris Stewart stated. “It provides a path forward for our clients and ensures that George Floyd’s death will result in substantive, positive change.” The federal lawsuit was filed July 15, 2020, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota on behalf of Minnesota plaintiff attorney Kaarin Nelson Schaffer, who was named trustee for the Floyd family. The complaint named the city as the responsible party for the Minneapolis Police Department, which the city uses to fulfill its policing functions. The defendants also included Minneapolis police officers Derek Chauvin, Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, and J. Alexander Kueng. According to the news release, the lawsuit stated they were acting in their individual capacities and/or under color

of state law, and within the scope of their employment. Floyd died May 25, 2020, at approximately 8:00 p.m., at the 3700 block of South Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis. “He died face down in the street, handcuffed and compliant, having committed no violent crime and posing no threat to anyone. He died slowly under the weight of Minneapolis police officers Chauvin, Lane, and Kueng,” the attorneys noted. While Floyd was unlawfully maintained in this dangerous prone position with Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck, Thao not only idly stood by and did nothing to help Floyd, but actively prevented bystanders from intervening in the unlawful death occurring before their eyes, the lawyers argued. They said Floyd died begging for help, saying that he could not breathe, pleading for his life, and asking for his mother. The complaint stated Mr. Floyd was deprived, under color of state law, of his clearly established rights as secured by the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. “Our family is grateful for all those who care so deeply about George’s life and our loss, and this agreement is a necessary step for all of us to begin to get some closure,” Floyd’s brother, Rodney Floyd, stated. “George’s legacy for those who loved him will always be his spirit of optimism that things can get better, and we hope this agreement does just that – that it makes things a little better in Minneapolis and holds up a light for communities around the country.”

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Source: NNPA

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April 22 - April 26, 2021 | 3

EDUCATION & CAREER

Twelve Additional HISD Middle Schools Join the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Program By d-mars.com News Provider

welve Houston Independent School District middle schools are among the latest campuses to be selected for participation in the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program, which addresses barriers to digital inclusion. In addition to free mobile devices and accompanying 30GB 4G LTE data plans, participating schools will be assigned a full-time coach to train teachers in effectively integrating technology into their lessons. Verizon’s education initiative is in partnership with Digital Promise, a national nonprofit organization that seeks to spur innovation in education. “Verizon’s program is a wonderful parallel provision to the district having supplied our students with devices and hotspots to facilitate virtual and in-person learning since the pandemic began,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “Our students must remain digitally connected long after the pandemic is over in order to maximize their 21st century learning experience.” HISD schools that are joining the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program for the 2021-2022 school year are:

• Clifton Middle School • Fondren Middle School • Fonville Middle School • Forest Brook Middle School • Hamilton Middle School • Key Middle School • Lawson Middle School • Marshall Middle School • Meyerland Performing & Visual Arts Middle School • Navarro Middle School • Ortiz Middle School • Revere Middle School

Six HISD middle schools previously were accepted into the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program in spring 2020. They were Edison, Fleming, Hartman, Henry, Holland and Tanglewood middle schools. “As we are all aware, so many students across the nation are in need of access to technology and the skills needed to be successful in our digital world,” said Darlene Brugnoli, director of Verizon government affairs. “On behalf of Verizon, we are excited that more students in the Houston ISD will have the resources they need to thrive in today's digital world for a more promising future.” After a rigorous competitive process, HISD was identified by Digital Promise, the Verizon Foundation’s nonprofit partner, as meeting all criteria for participation in the cohorts. Each VILS partner school receives an in-kind award

To date, Verizon has invested more than $535 million in market value toward science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education efforts, impacting more than 480,000 students across the nation.

About Verizon Innovative Learning of Chromebooks for all students, teachers, and administrators, professional development, and digital instructional resources. Each Chromebook is equipped with a data plan that provides “always-available” access outside of the classroom. Funds are provided for a full-time campus instructional technologist dedicated to providing teachers with support to effectively leverage technology in the classroom. The VILS program lasts two years, with the possibility of a two-year extension after the second year. Verizon’s education initiative addresses barriers to digital inclusion and is a key program under Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental and social advancement. Verizon Innovative Learning, which launched in 2012, has reached more than 212,000 students and 14,000 teachers nationwide across 264 middle and high schools.

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Verizon Innovative Learning, Verizon's education initiative targeting Title 1 schools in partnership with Digital Promise, addresses barriers to digital inclusion. It’s a key program under Citizen Verizon, the company’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental and social advancement. The program provides free 1:1 devices, free internet access and a technology-driven curriculum with the goal to transform the learning experience. Through exposure to cutting-edge technology, the program enables students to develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to build an innovative workforce of the future. Since 2012, Verizon Innovative Learning has committed a total of $535 million in STEM education efforts in support of digital inclusion. In 2019, Verizon launched its first 5G-enabled Verizon Innovative Learning classroom, with the goal of 100 in the coming years. The company is committed to providing 10 million youths with digital skills training by 2030. Learn more at CitizenVerizon.com.

4 | April 22 - April 28, 2021

Community Weekly Report

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