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Black Dollar Project aims to make it worthwhile to buy Black Page 3
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Editorial
Massive voter registration key to blunting voter suppression
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e proved it 50 years ago during Freedom Summer. We proved it again in Florida in 2012, when NAACP activists registered 115,000 people in a year when legislature effectively made traditional voter registration strategies illegal. We have proven over time that we have the antidote to voter suppression: massive voter registration. It’s time to prove it again this summer. As we prepare for November’s midterm elections our focus should be on the stretch of heavily Black-populated states and counties below the MasonDixon Line that make up the “Black Belt.” A new report from the Southern Elections Foundation and the Center for American Progress shows that a massive wave of voter registration could upset the balance of power in many Black Belt states. For instance, registering 30 percent of unregistered Black voters would create enough “new Black voters” to swing a governor’s race in Virginia or North Carolina, even after accounting for turnout rates. Meanwhile, registering 60 percent of unregistered Black, Hispanic, and Asian voters could upset the balance of power in Florida, Georgia, Maryland,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Conventional wisdom would say that this is impossible for candidates who represent the views of communities of color and progressive Whites to have a chance of winning statewide office in these southern states. This conventional wisdom is wrong for two reasons. First, it ignores the changing demographic and political trends in the Black Belt. Black re-migration and Latino and Asian immigration are reshaping the demographics of the region. Meanwhile, the extremism of the ruling far-right wing is pushing away White women and young voters of all races. Second, it takes a pessimistic view of progress. Many people look at the Black Belt and say that nothing has changed for years, and ask why we should invest in the region. This is a backwards way of thinking. If we invest, then things will change. The summer of 2014 can be a season of revival. In the coming months, as Black political conventions convene across the country to discuss political strategies for the coming year, we should remember the mistakes of 2010, when low turnout rates led to a wave of extreme right wing candidates winning office across the country. We have the power to make sure that does not happen again.
In some states, it may ultimately be too late to marshal funds for the 2014 election, but there is no reason we cannot start focusing on 2016. We have the power in Georgia, where the New Georgia Project is working methodically to register 120,000 Black, Hispanic and Asian American voters in the state - the biggest voter registration drive in 20 years. We have the power in Mississippi, where the Mississippi Freedom Summer 50th Anniversary Conference will meet to reflect on the past five decades of political organizing and put a plan into action for the next five. We have the power through all of the Black civic organizations, which can collectively reach hundreds of thousands of people of color below the Mason Dixon Line, and through the growing number of unions and other progressive organizations sprouting in the South. During Freedom Summer and the turbulent 1960s, civil rights activists used to ask new recruits, “Are you willing to die for freedom?” Today we need to ask each other, “Are you willing to live for freedom?” Doing the work to register voters in the South will take our collective time, treasure and dedication. But it is crucial, and it can make the future come faster than many people think.
Finance
Black Dollar Project: Changing the game $ 1 at a time Special to the NNPA from the Houston Forward-Times
T
Black dollar and the way we spend it.” In attendance was civil rights activist Virgil Wood who has committed much of his life’s work to the struggle for economic and spiritual development among the nation’s disadvantaged. He also worked closely with the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Five weeks before Dr. King was assassinated, we had a conversation about creating a more solid movement focused on economic development amongst the AfricanAmerican community,” said Wood. “I am pleased tonight to know that nearly 50 years after his assassination, The Black Dollar Project is being launched and this is the type of initiative we have needed to truly fulfill the dream that Martin shared with us. I am signing up to be a part tonight.” Irvin Ashford, Jr., Comerica Bank senior vice president encouraged attendees to support the initiative while sharing a powerful story about the lessons he learned from his grandmother and how they apply to an initiative such as this. “My grandmother taught me to be smart, be wise, be sensible and use the tools that are available to
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here was a strong spirit of unity earlier this month, when business owners, clergy, media outlets and community leaders gathered at Texas Southern University’s Jesse H. Jones School of Business Auditorium for the historic launch of The Black Dollar Project, a new economic movement, originating from Houston, Texas. The Black Dollar Project is a oneof-a-kind business initiative created to activate economic empowerment between businesses and consumers within the African-American community in order to promote financial security, wealth building and positive growth. The initiative was the brainchild of Karen Carter Richards (Houston Forward Times), Kehlin Farooq (Farooq Holdings, LLC) and Jeffrey L. Boney (Texas Business Alliance), who joined forces on this unique and dynamic new business initiative that has been in the works since 2008. “When African Americans become informed and economically empowered, then we can build within our community and start
negotiating from a position of strength,” said Richards. Founders discussed the rich history of early 20th century Black Wall Street and shared how the spirit of those innovative leaders were the driving force behind their overall vision to see the Black community return to the same position of economic strength and unity they displayed in the midst of tumultuous times. “Black Wall Street businesses and consumers gave African Americans a successful blueprint that can be followed today,” said Boney. “Although we are living in a different time, we can recreate that culture by connecting Black businesses with Black consumers one dollar at a time.” The founders emphasized that Black consumers must rid themselves of the “one-chance” and “only chance” mentality when it comes to supporting Black businesses and encouraged attendees to sign up and get engaged. “If the perception of the Black dollar has no value, then our purchases will have no benefit,” said Farooq. “The Black Dollar Project addresses the immediate need for us to change the way we view the
From left to right: Business owners and ‘The Black Dollar Project’ founders Jeffrey L. Boney, Karen Carter Richards and Kehlin Farooq
me,” said Ashford. “She also taught me to go after the low hanging fruit because it was often the best. Black businesses oftentimes get overlooked but are the best, and being a part of an initiative like this will help identify those good businesses that are prepared and ready to grow.” Black businesses participating in this initiative can join in the network at the cost of only $1 per week ($52 per year) and will have a business listing for one full calendar year. Being a part of this branded network gives Black businesses the ability to advertise and selectively target Black consumers in the same way major Fortune 500 companies
and other businesses do. The project has also created a marketing component that allows Black business owners to become a part of a branded network that advertises on their behalf via print, T.V., radio, Internet, email marketing, social media, networking events, educational forums, and gives them increased exposure and an opportunity to reach consumers, primarily African-American consumers, on a far greater scale. Member will receive The Black Dollar Project decals that will be displayed at their place of business to identify them as a member and supporter. For more information go to www.blackdollarproject.com.
District Chronicles | Jun. 26 - Jul. 2, 2014 | 3
Metro Briefs: Notable news in and around Washington
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he Montgomery College Foundation received a $15,000 grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation to support workforce development efforts. The grant will enable the College’s Workforce Development & Continuing Education division to continue offering the certificate for apartment maintenance technician (CAMT) training to Montgomery County low-income workers and connect them with employment opportunities. The funding is one of 20 grants the Bank of America Charitable Foundation awarded to nonprofits in Greater Washington. The nonprofits awarded the grants are dedicated to shaping the lives of those in need in the Greater Washington area through workforce develop-
ment, job training, employment opportunities and youth programming and education. Since 2010, Montgomery College has offered the CAMT training, an industry-driven and recognized credential developed by the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI). NAAEI developed the training to address a critical national shortage of skilled apartment maintenance technicians and to provide a well-paying career with strong benefits and ample advancement opportunities. Montgomery College has been applying the nationally-recognized Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training model (I-BEST) to the apartment maintenance technician course since 2012. I-BEST is an innovative educational approach that combines English language and basic skills instruction with vocational content to accelerate college and career success. Job seeking skills and supports are a key component of I-BEST. “A total of 65 students have
taken the Maryland I-BEST version of the certificate for apartment maintenance technician course over the past two years and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s grant will support the College’s efforts to train an additional 32 students,” said DeRionne Pollard, Montgomery College president. “We are so grateful for the foundation’s support and commitment to low-income residents in Montgomery County.” The college works with area nonprofits to recruit students and with more than 10 employer partners who enhance the classroom training with guest lectures, field trips, and career fairs. “Montgomery College’s workforce development initiative is helping low-income individuals seeking good-paying jobs and economic security for their families,” said Jeff Wood, Greater Washington market president, Bank of America. “We are proud to support the College in helping these students succeed.”
Divine Intervention Presbyterians vote to allow gay marriage
wikipedia.org
The U.S. Presbyterian Church General Assembly voted to allow pastors to perform gay marriages in states where they are legal.
By Lauren Markoe Religion News Service
T
he Presbyterian Church (USA) voted last week to allow gay and lesbian weddings within the church, making it among the largest Christian denominations to take an embracing step toward same-sex marriage. By a 76-24 percent vote, the General Assembly of the 1.8 million-member PCUSA voted to allow pastors to perform gay marriages in states where they are legal. Delegates, meeting in Detroit last week, also approved new language about marriage in the church’s Book of Order, or constitution, altering references to “a man and woman” to “two persons.” This change will not become church law until a majority of the 172 regional presbyteries vote to ratify the new language. But given the lopsided 3-1 ratio of the vote, approval is expected. Gay rights activists within the church rejoiced at their victory, which was remarkable for its margin of victory after multiple years of razor-thin defeats. “This vote is an answer to many prayers for the church to recognize love between committed same-sex couples,” said Alex McNeill, executive director of More Light Presbyterians, a group that has led the fight for gay marriage within the church. The vote came after an emotional but polite debate in which opponents of the motion said it conflicted with scripture and would cause Presbyterian churches
abroad to break relations with the PCUSA. The Presbyterian Lay Committee, which opposes gay marriage, urged congregations to launch a financial boycott out of protest. “The Presbyterian Lay Committee mourns these actions and calls on all Presbyterians to resist and protest them,” the group said in a statement. “ … You should refuse to fund the General Assembly, your synod, your presbytery and even your local church if those bodies have not explicitly and publicly repudiated these unbiblical actions.” “God will not be mocked,” the statement continued, “and those who substitute their own felt desires for God’s unchangeable Truth will not be found guiltless before a holy God.” Under the new rules, pastors who do not want to preside over gay weddings are not obligated to, and the change applies only in the 19 states and the District of Columbia where same-sex civil marriage is legal. The church has long grappled with the issue, which came to a head at the last General Assembly, in 2012, when a similar resolution allowing for gay marriage lost 338-308. Since then, the church’s decades-long decline in membership – it has lost 37 percent of its membership since 1992 – has continued. These losses have been led by conservative-leaning congregations that defected over what they lamented as the church’s embrace of more liberal values. Those defections – many to smaller and more conservative
Presbyterian denominations – made it more likely that the General Assembly would approve a gay marriage resolution this year. Some who voted in favor of the gay marriage resolution said they hoped it would draw people to the church. “I fear that our church brand is in jeopardy,” said church member and public relations professional Margaret Blankers to the General Assembly. “Some question the relevance of a church they see is not living up to its reputation for fairness. Do we really want to be known for not accepting and embracing our LGBT brothers and sisters?” The General Assembly’s vote reflects change in the nation, where in rapid succession during the past year, judges have struck down laws prohibiting same-sex marriage. And a steady stream of opinion polls shows Americans’ approval of gay marriage has risen dramatically in the past few years, to around 55 percent today. But even against this backdrop, the General Assembly’s vote stands out as a church adapting its policy to fit a rapidly shifting culture even as most other Christian denominations have resisted. The nation’s largest churches – Roman Catholic, Southern Baptist, Mormon, United Methodist and most evangelical churches – recognize marriage only as between a man and a woman, though many Methodists are pushing for a change. The Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ all allow same-sex marriage.
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Cover
A young man’s struggle against life’s challenges
By Rachel Sudduth Contributing writer
I
of the river. McDowney described the neighborhood he grew up in as “rough.” “It was like any other neighborhood with dope boys and drug addicts,” he said. McDowney struggled with delinquency, multiple suspensions from school, life in various group homes and the loss of his mother to lung cancer. Even with the trouble that dogged him, McDowney said he always felt the need to move forward. That is the hallmark of DC Met students – resilience. Downey focused on academics as a mental getaway from trouble. His spirit caught the attention of a life-long mentor, Willie C. Anderson Jr. of DC Metropolitan High School. McDowney credits DC Met with turning his life around. Teachers and staff at DC Met dedicate themselves to changing the direction of Washington’s youth in the midst of the storms they are experiencing. From the 2011-12 school year to the 2012-13 school year, its four-year graduation rate increased by 15 percent, according to the school’s web site.
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t was a quiet Tuesday evening in the Southeast Congress Heights neighborhood of Washington, DC. Six-foot-five Rufus McDowney sat on his living room couch, bouncing a battered basketball telling his story of struggle and ultimate success. On the coffee table was a Black Enterprise magazine featuring an article and picture of McDowney at New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria. McDowney’s journey from Southeast D.C. To Waldorf-Astoria was an improbable one. It started with the National Black Programming Consortium wanting to shine a spotlight on the nation’s educational crisis. It produced a documentary for PBS entitled “180 Days: A Year Inside an American High School,” featuring the struggles of McDowney and four other students at Washington Metropolitan High School, also known as DC Met. The documentary won this year’s coveted Peabody Award and McDowney was invited by the Consortium to accept the award in New York City on their behalf.
Earlier this month, McDowney savored yet another momentous occasion – this time at Howard University’s Cramton Auditorium where Ballou Senior High School held its graduation program. After transferring from D.C. Met, he completed his high school studies at Ballou. “It doesn’t matter where you start, it’s where you finish!” said graduation speaker, retired Marine Lt. Gen. Ronald S. Coleman. He addressed the 138 members of Ballou’s class of 2014, including McDowney, whose personal journey holds true to Coleman’s statement. Against all odds, McDowney will enter the University of District of Columbia this fall to major in social work. But it was a long and tortuous journey in and out of the juvenile justice system since the age of 13. He flunked the majority of his classes at Cardozo High School until 10th grade when he transferred to DC Met located at 300 Bryant Street NW, and ended up finishing his high school studies at Ballou Senior High school located on the other side of the District, east
McDowney accepts the Peabody Award on behalf of the National Black Programning Consortium at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City.
“The first time we met, we just clicked,” Anderson said recalling his initial interaction with McDowney. “He approached me and introduced himself, that was rare. From then I said let’s work with him.” Anderson characterized Downey as an inquisitive young man with a lot of potential. Another mentor, Rodney Weaver, is also a DC Met youth development worker. He worked with McDowney on class attendance, an issue that plagues DC Met stu-
dents. In 2010, for example, nearly 50 percent of students at DC Met missed 15 or more days of school, according to school records. Through a system of roleplaying, Weaver worked with Downey to teach him coping methods and problem-solving techniques. “Some students are coming from a background where emotion cannot be expressed; it’s about who can fight better,” said Weaver. “I’m teaching them who can problem solve better.”
Group expresses ‘outrage,’ proclaims week of nonviolence By Hazel Trice Edney
6 | Jun. 26 - Jul. 2, 2014 | District Chronicles
said Stephanie E. Myers, national co-chair of BW4PC. “We are outraged because every day you turn on the news, the first thing you hear is about another beautiful young person with potential and promise being shot or mowed down.” Despite community uprising and outrage over homicide rates for decades, Myers said, there can never be enough until the violence ends. Standing alongside police officers and representatives of the Jewish and Islamic communities, she said the goal of the national week of nonviolence will be to start changing “the culture of violence in America” which she said has largely become accepted and played out through television programs watched by children as well as in video games, movies and the entertainment industries. “We want every American, every mom every dad every aunt, every grandmother to get real and realize our 6-year-old boys and girls deserve to be able to go on a playground and not get shot,” she said. “We are outraged … Hip hoppers,
Roy Lewis
(TriceEdneyWire.com) – The total is 12,765. That was the number of murder victims across the U. S. in the year 2012, the most recent official count from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That number for one year is nearly twice the total number of American troops who have died in the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan put together – approximately 7,000. Of those 12,765 murder victims, approximately 1,100 were children under the age of 18. Sixty-five of the victims were between 9 and 12 years old. Ninety-six of the victims were between 5 and 8 years old. About 260 were between 1 and 4 and about 144 were just infants under the age of 1. African Americans, at only 13 percent of America’s population, made up more than 50 percent of the 2012 homicide victims. But, one little girl who was struck by a bullet May 20, and is still recovering has sparked a movement by asking why she was shot. The story of 6-year-old Khalia, who
fled despite being shot in the left leg while playing on a playground among 20 other children in the North West area of the nation’s capital, caused Rev. Barbara Reynolds to convince Black Women for Positive Change (BW4PC), to take action by calling for a “National Week of Non-violence” August 16-23. “We cannot turn our eyes away. We cannot act like this question has not been raised. We have to say that we are here and that we will be here standing strong and standing long until we get some answers,” said Reynolds, a renowned journalist and BW4PC chaplain at a press conference last week. Standing in sweltering midmorning heat on another Northwest D.C. playground with dozens of children playing only yards away, Reynolds and other BW4PC members and associates, vowed to do everything possible to make a difference in the nation’s homicide rate. “We are really outraged. I think that sums up how we feel and why we’re standing here in the heat,”
Flanked by community leaders, Myers, President of Black Women for Positive Change, announces National Week of non-violence
rappers, bloggers, we’re talking to you too. Gang members, people out here who are returning from prison, we’re talking to you too. If you have been incarcerated, your child is at risk.” Between August 16-23, the organization is asking individuals and organizations to host an antiviolence event to help teach young people the power of nonviolence. Myers said it could be just a dinner party, back yard, or playground conversation. The point is to educate. She added that she also wants legislation on gun control, mental health issues as well as opportuni-
ties for training in conflict resolution. She issued a statement listing about three dozen elected officials across the nation who have issued proclamations for a “National Day of Non-violence” August 22. They include Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland, and Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. The list also includes mayors Vincent Gray of D.C., Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans, and Michael Nutter of Philadelphia. For more information, go to www.blackwomenforpositivechange.org.
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The letter signed by prominent women of color, including Alice Walker, call for a minority-focused initiative on women and girls.
Black women are three times more likely to wind up behind bars than White women; The four-year graduation rate for Latinas is the lowest among all girls; The median wealth for Latinas is $120 and for Black women it is $100 dollars. This means that just about half of Black women and Latinas are forced to walk an economic high wire without any net whatsoever and
Native American girls are victims of rape or sexual assault at more than double the rate of other racial groups, while Black girls have the highest rates of interpersonal victimization from assault and are more likely to know their assailant than all other groups;
Considering that the majority of all households depend on women’s wages and wealth, the economic future of female youth is vital to the community as a whole, including the sons and daughters that are dependent on their mothers’ well-being.
The homicide rate among Black girls and women ages 10-24 is higher than for any other group of females, and higher than White and Asian men as well;
When more than 200 men sent their original letter to President Obama recommending that he broaden his male initiative to include females of color, administration officials said they were addressing some of the issues facing women and girls through the White House Council on Women and Girls, which was created in 2009 and chaired by presidential adviser Valerie Jarrett. Earlier this month, she told re-
Black girls are more than three times more likely to be suspended from school than White girls, and are disproportionately funneled through the juvenile justice systems;
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WASHINGTON – More than 1,000 women of color – including Mary Frances Berry, former chair of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights; Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Alice Walker; actress Rosie Perez; political activist Angela Davis; economist Julianne Malveaux; and Anita Hill, a law professor best known for testifying that she had been sexually harassed by future Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas – released a letter to President Obama last week asking him to expand his White House initiative aimed at Black and Latino males to include women and girls of color. “While we applaud the efforts on the part of the White House, private philanthropy, social justice organizations and others to move beyond colorblind approaches to race-specific problems, we are profoundly troubled about the exclusion of women and girls of color from this critical undertaking,” the letter said. “The need to acknowledge the crisis facing boys should not come at the expense of addressing the stunted opportunities for girls who live in the same households, suffer in the same schools, and struggle to overcome a common history of limited opportunities caused by various forms of discrimination.” The letter pointed out:
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Women of color urge Obama to ‘re-align’ My Brother’s Keeper
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porters, “We have been working over the last five and a half years on issues that are important to women and girls in all of our programs, all of our policies and all the legislation that we support.” However, the authors of the letter don’t feel that is enough. “To those who would urge us to take up our concerns with the White House Council on Women and Girls, we note that the Council, like many gender-focused initiatives on women, lacks an intersectional frame that would address the race-based challenges faced by young women of color in a racially-stratified society.” In a press release accompanying the letter, UCLA Law Professor Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, one of the key organizers of the letter writing effort, said: “We cannot pass the burden of invisibility to yet another generation of our girls of color. When we see the challenges they face and actually listen to what they say, how can anyone who loves our daughters as much as our sons say, ‘No, you must wait.’ Our girls need to know they are supported and loved, and that we are working to remove the obstacles that undermine their wellbeing as much as the boys. How can we in good conscience do anything less?”
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Arts and Entertainment
New service streams popular shows in Africa online
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(NEW YORK) —Africa Magic, Africa’s largest provider of original film and television content, launched a Hulu-like service for Africans living in the U.S. Africa Magic Go (AMGO) offers viewers the ability to tune into Africa’s best original productions online for just $8 per month. The service offers hundreds of films and television programs, and no fewer than 250 original feature films have been commissioned for 2014. Designed for African culture lovers, the latest films and series are available to stream 24/7 on computers with broadband connections. The easy-to-use service is commercial-free, and has a oneweek free trial for new subscribers. “With so many Africans living in the U.S., there is a great demand for programming for Africans by Africans, one that is now filled by Africa Magic GO,” said Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, regional director at Africa Magic. “Africa
Magic is committed to promoting African talent and creating global platforms that make content accessible to Africans, and those following African culture, across the world.” AMGO includes live streaming and pay-per-view of special events and reality shows. Plans are underway for new mobile apps that will make AMGO available on Apple and Android devices, as well as other devices such as ROKU and Smart TVs. Viewers can choose from hundreds of episodes of the most popular film and TV shows in Africa, including Nigeria’s most successful soap opera, “Tinsel”, a series set in the glittering world of film production filled with intrigue, romance and deception. Another popular option is “53 Extra,” a weekly West African entertainment show named in honor of the number of countries in the African Union. Brand-new, never-before-seen movies are also available. From
The service allows viewers to tune into African films, T.V. shows for $8/month.
Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry, comes “Spinsters,” a racy story about three single friends with a great reality TV concept for finding Mr. Right. “Blue Flames,” another Nollywood offering, is the story of three families in a desperate quest for wealth and fulfillment. For movie lovers of Ghallywood, the Ghanaian film industry, there’s “Moving On,” the story of a woman who finds out her true love is cheating on her with her best friend, the same night she informs him she is carrying his baby. For more information, go to www.africamagicgo.com.
Silver Spring Black Box Theatre under new management The Theatre Consortium of Silver Spring (TCSS) has been selected by Montgomery County to assume management for the Black Box Theatre in Silver Spring. After 10 years of successful management and operation of the Black Box, the Round House Theatre has decided to move on to other ventures and did not renew its lease on the performance space located at 8641 Colesville Road. Round House classroom space remains in Silver Spring. Over the years, the TCSS have partnered with Round House to present performances. They signed a five-year lease for managing the theatre. “I look forward to great things from the Theatre Consortium of Silver Spring,” said County Executive Isiah “Ike” Leggett. “Montgomery County’s cultural arts scene is second to none, and
this newly-formed theatre group made up of four successful and diverse theatre companies will add another dimension to live theatre options in the county.” “For over 10 years, the Black Box Theater, along with AFI, have made downtown Silver Spring one of the premier arts destinations in Montgomery County,” said Council Member George Leventhal. “As we welcome the Theatre Consortium of Silver Spring, the County recognizes the need for more theater space down county to serve the growing and increasingly diverse community.” The TCSS is made up of four theatre groups: Art Stream, Inc, which puts on original musicals featuring adult actors with disabilities; the Forum Theatre, a group of professional, local theatre artists that produce adventurous and challenging plays; the
Live Garra Theatre, which produces bold theatre, readings, and other educational opportunities focused through the lense of African-American heritage and Black Theatre; and the Lumina Studio Theatre, which provides new interpretations of Shakespeare and other classical theatre, performed by teens. “We are pleased that management of the Black Box Theatre was awarded to this consortium of award-winning theatre groups,” said Suzan Jenkins, chief executive officer of the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County. “This is great news for culture in our community, and we look forward to working with the Theatre Consortium of Silver Spring as they transform the Black Box Theatre into an exciting and preeminent space for theatre in Montgomery County.”
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In the Neighborhood
Metro Briefs: Notable news in and around Washington Montgomery County Montgomery College receives nearly $300K for STEM career training
T
he Association of American Colleges and Universities award Montgomery College $299,980 for a three-year program to support curriculum and faculty development that will improve the success of women and under-represented minority students in its computer science degree program. The college was one of 20 educational institutions nationwide – and the only community college – to be selected for the AAC&U Teaching to Increase Diversity and Equity (TIDES) in STEM. Projects at these campuses will focus on the development of models for broader institutional change for the advancement of evidence-based and culturally competent teaching in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), particularly in the computer and information science domains. “The TIDES initiative is an exciting opportunity for Montgomery College to expand on its longstanding commitments to researchbased teaching strategies, meeting the needs of diverse students, and building a strong workforce for the region’s research labs and science and technology companies,” said
Prince George’s County Council to host public safety Town Hall The Prince George’s County Council will host “Building On Our Successes: Making Prince George’s County an Even Safer Community,” a Town Hall Meeting on public safety in Prince George’s County on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Council Hearing Room, First Floor, County Administration Building located at 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, in Upper Marlboro. Residents will also have an opportunity to participate in a question
DeRionne Pollard, Montgomery College president. The TIDES initiative is funded with a $4.9 million grant to AAC&U from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. Montgomery College is a leader in STEM education, experiencing significant enrollment growth in STEM programs over the past several years due to the growing industry demand in the region, strong faculty expertise in STEM disciplines and state-of-the-art science centers. The following criteria were used for selection of the 20 TIDES schools:
The grant will enable Montgomery College’s computer science program to accomplish three primary activities: pair an introductory computer science course (Introduction to Programming) into learning communities with a math course and a course for English Language Learners to enhance student success; involve computer science stu-
dents in undergraduate research with a Montgomery College faculty member; and evaluate and redesign classroom activities so they better meet the learning styles of women and students from groups that are under-represented in the computer science field. Currently, the college’s computer science majors are approximately 35 percent female and 55 percent from under-represented minority groups. The project plans to increase the representation of women and under-represented minority students in this program by at least five percent during the next three years. This project will involve student learning assistants in the classroom; matching computer science students to faculty mentors for academic and career advising; and participation in STEM Xpress orientation, information and internship workshops. AAC&U is the leading national association concerned with the quality, vitality, and public standing of undergraduate liberal education. Its members are committed to extending the advantages of a liberal education to all students, regardless of academic specialization or intended career. Founded in 1915, AAC&U now comprises more than 1,300 member institutions – including accredited public and private colleges, community colleges, research universities, and comprehensive universities of every type and size.
and answer session, and share their thoughts on issues of community concern with the county’s top public safety officials. Council Chairman Mel Franklin (D – District 9), encourages residents to join this important discussion on safer communities. “Public safety, a shared priority, is an issue that directly impacts every Prince Georgian,” he said. “We want to update residents on our historic progress in public safety and discuss ways we can continue to work collaboratively to keep our communities even safer. This is an important opportunity to review our successes, identify our challenges, and develop strategies for our future, and I would
encourage all of our residents to lend their voice to the conversation. “ Featured presenters include State’s Attorney Angela Alsobrooks; Prince George’s County Office of Homeland Security Director Brian R. Moe; Prince George’s County Police Chief Mark Magaw; Prince George’s County Fire Chief Mark S. Bashoor; Prince George’s County Sheriff Melvin High; and Prince George’s County Department of Corrections Director Mary Lou McDonough. The event is free and open to the public. Live streaming will also be available July 1, at 7 p.m. by logging on to http://townhallmypgc.us. Questions and concerns can be live tweeted @PGCCouncilMedia.
< High level of institutional readiness; < Demonstrated commitment to sustaining project activities; < Targeted focus on increasing the number of women and underrepresented minorities in the undergraduate computer/information science disciplines; and < Innovation in linking computer/ information sciences with other STEM and non-STEM courses.
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In the Neighborhood Metro Briefs: Notable news in and around Washington Montgomery County Preparedness for summer storm season
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he Atlantic hurricane and summer storm season officially begins this month. Just two years ago, on the evening of June 29, 2012, Montgomery County was hit by a severe thunderstorm with heavy straight-line winds that categorized it as a “derecho”. While a storm of that magnitude is uncommon in the County, our area does experience several severe thunderstorms every summer that cause property damage, personal injury and sometimes loss of life. Community members are encouraged to take severe storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service seriously and take the appropriate precautions to stay safe. The effects of a hurricane or tropical storm can be far-reaching. Areas
impacted directly by a hurricane or tropical storm, and even fringe areas of these storms, can be adversely affected by its high winds and heavy rains. Property along waterways and in low-lying areas is particularly vulnerable to flooding. A hurricane watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of winds of tropical storm force. A hurricane warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of winds of tropical storm force. Hurricane conditions include winds of 74 miles per hour (64 knots) or greater, and/or dangerously high tides and waves. Actions to protect life and property should begin immediately after the warning is issued. Residents are urged to sign up for Alert Montgomery to receive up-to-date information on hurricane watches, warnings and other storms. Alert Montgomery sign-up information is also available on-line at the County’s Call Center MC311,
or by calling 3-1-1 or 240-777-0311, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.
Storm Prep Tips < Keep flashlights, battery-powered radios and extra batteries on hand, along with a basic first aid kit, medicines and emergency non-perishable food (with non-electric can opener) and water to last each member of your family approximately 72 hours. < Follow radio, television or on-line weather reports. If emergency officials tell you to evacuate, do so without delay. < Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys and garden tools; or anchor objects that cannot be brought inside but could be tossed about by high winds. < Clean out gutters. < Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting in anticipation of a power outage. Open the refrigerator or freezer door only when necessary and close quickly. Frozen food in a half-full freezer will remain safe up to 24 hours,
to 7 p.m. Alerts can be sent to one or more electronic devices including:
cell phones, pagers, smart phones and home and work email accounts.
and in a full freezer, up to 48 hours. < Refrain from putting out trash cans the night before the regular pickup. During Power Outages < Use flashlights and battery-powered lanterns for light and battery-operated radios and computers for storm progress and information. < Avoid using candles to prevent the risk of a fire. Flooding < In anticipation of possible flooding, residents are encouraged to store valuables and personal papers in a waterproof container. < Avoid areas subject to flooding, including low spots, canals and streams. < Do not attempt to drive over a flooded road – you can be stranded or trapped. The depth of the water and the condition of the road is not always obvious. Night Time Safety Use extra caution at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers,
downed wires and other hazards. High Winds < To report downed trees on public property, Montgomery County residents should call 3-1-1 (or 240-777-0311 from outside the county or from a cell phone), or file a report. If live wires are involved, a tree is blocking a roadway, a tree is on a structure or if anyone is trapped under a fallen tree, call 9-1-1. < Trees that have fallen on private property are the responsibility of the property owner. The County’s Office of Consumer Protection advises homeowners to deal with established businesses only, and to call Consumer Protection first to check for a business complaint record. The Office of Consumer Protection can be reached at 240-777-3636. More information about preparing for emergencies is available on the web pages for the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security on the County’s website.
Robert Eubanks/DistrictChronicles
Robert Eubanks/District Chronicles
12 | Jun. 26 - Jul. 2, 2014 | District Chronicles
Robert Eubanks/District Chronicles
Robert Eubanks/DistrictChronicles
D.C. Residents flock to Housing Expo
Local residents attended the D.C. Housing Expo and Home Show at the Convention Center on June 21st. Some came for the free credit report and counseling while some considered home improvement consultations from the vendors. And then some got a massage (Photo credit: Robert Eubanks/District Chronicles).