Bay State Banner 1-27-2011

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Obama popular, but doubts remain Liz Sidoti

Former Boston City Councilor and longtime community activist Chuck Turner addresses a crowd at a party held in his honor at encuentro 5 in Chinatown last weekend. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock sentenced Turner to three years in prison for bribery. (Ernesto Arroyo photo)

Federal judge sentences Chuck Turner to three years Denise Lavoie Former Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner has been sentenced to three years in prison for taking a $1,000 bribe and then lying about it to FBI agents.

During his trial last fall, prosecutors said Turner accepted a wad of cash in 2007 during a handshake with a businessman who was seeking help in getting a liquor license and was cooperating with the FBI. Turner testified in his own defense and insisted he did not take a bribe.

Prosecutors asked U.S District Judge Douglas Woodlock to sentence Turner on Tuesday to 33 to 41 months, arguing that Turner not only committed the offenses he was charged

with, but also committed perjury during his trial.

His lawyers asked for probation and supervised release, citing his public service and advocacy for poor and working people.

“Mr. Turner was sentenced to prison today because of the choices he made and the actions he took during the course of this case,” said U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz. “In 2008, Mr. Turner had the chance to assist the FBI in an ongoing public corruption investigation.

Instead of telling the truth, he lied. He then went on to testify falsely under oath. It is the obligation of every elected official to be ethical and honest, and in this case, Mr. Turner was neither. Public corruption is more

than a violation of the law, it erodes the public’s trust in the very system that was designed to protect us.”

After the sentencing, Turner, 70, left the courthouse to supporters chants of “We stand with Chuck!”

“This has been a horrendous situation for my wife and family,” Turner told reporters.

“What happened today is as much a miscarriage of justice as the conviction. I’m innocent.”

Turner vowed to use his time behind bars productively.

“We are in a struggle for future generations,” Turner said. “If some of us fall along the way, the others have to keep up the struggle. Hopefully I’ll get out of jail and rejoin the Turner, continued to page 16

WASHINGTON — An overwhelming majority of Americans like Obama, but most say he hasn’t accomplished much on two top goals — fixing the sluggish economy and changing how Washington works, according to a new Associated PressGfK poll midway through the first term of his presidency.

Half of those surveyed say he deserves a second term, and independents, whose support will be critical in 2012, are evenly divided on that question. Obama is getting the benefit of the doubt despite concerns about his policies, a reflection based in large part on his likability.

“He’s doing a pretty good job,” says Alan Bliven, 54, of Tucson, Ariz.

“I’m not all sold on him,” but the president’s performance is good enough that he should be re-elected.

J o a n n e Abbott, 46, of Sebring, Fla., disagrees.

“I don’t dislike Obama. I like him as a person,” she says, but adds, “I don’t think he’s accomplished much. ... I wish the economy would come back.”

The AP-GfK poll is a snapshot in time, and plenty could happen between now and November 2012, including an economic upturn that could cut the 9.4 percent unemployment rate. But, in a polarized nation, the findings portend a competitive presidential race no matter who the Republican candidate is.

Although beating an incum-

bent is tough, Republicans sense an opening, given the sluggish economic recovery and Obama’s acknowledged failure to fulfill his promise of doing business differently in a partisan Washington.

Overall, 53 percent of Americans approve of how Obama is governing, putting him roughly in the middle when compared with his modern-day successors halfway through their first terms.

Almost as many people rate Obama’s presidency below average (34 percent) as call it above average (38 percent). Forty-one percent overall — and 30 percent among independents — say he understands the important issues the nation will face in the next two years. Only 26 percent say he’s kept most of his campaign promises.

A m e r i cans diverge over whether Obama’s prescriptions are best. “ H e ’s t o o much of a socialist, he wants too big of a government, and he shouldn’t get re-elected,” said 72year-old Tom Wilkinson of Sparland, Ill. Art Winstanley, 58, of Key West, Fla., says Obama deserves more time. “Some things he’s done are taking time to kick in with the public. He’s got two years before people go ‘Holy smoke, this guy did a lot of good stuff!’ ” Despite his lukewarm policy marks, Obama has an enormous advantage because of how people see him personally; a whopping 83 percent call him likable, and 59

“I’m not all sold on him,” but the president’s performance is good enough that he should be re-elected.

— Alan Bliven

Obama, continued to page 10

MLK’s daughter exits, SCLC future in doubt Errin Haines ATLANTA — The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), founded by the giants of the American civil rights movement, has spent years in decline and power struggles. Now the once-proud organization faces what might be a final blow with the refusal of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s daughter to take the helm.

By Friday, following the recent indictment of a former national chairman on theft charges, King’s

Whatʼs INSIDE

one-time lieutenants and his daughter had come to the conclusion that the group — which led the movement to end segregation in public facilities and open access to the ballot box for millions of black Americans — might have run its course.

“We should’ve closed it down years ago,” former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young, one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s closest advisers, said Friday after the Rev. Bernice King’s announcement. “I saw this as a lost cause a long time ago.”

SCLC, continued to page 19

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT . . . . 11-13

Omer Suliman, 5, works on a shirt that reads “Each one, Teach one” during a community tee-shirt screening event hosted

by Spontaneous Celebration in Jamaica Plain. Hundreds participated and designed shirts that included pictures of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and messages of justice and peace. (Ernesto Arroyo photo)

LISTINGS

PERSPECTIVE

CLASSIFIEDS

BUSINESS DIRECTORY . . . . 19

EDITORIAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

HELP WANTED . . . . . . . . . . 23

CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

LEGALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21-22

CHURCH GUIDE. . . . . . . . . 20

ROVING CAMERA . . . . . . . . 5

REAL ESTATE . . . . . . . . . 22-23

2 • Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER

Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER • 3

COMMUNITYVoices

‘No House Left Behind,’ say volunteers in Grove Hall ‘Barnraising’

Last Friday’s snowstorm didn’t stop the work at Betty Maguire’s house in Grove Hall. Here she welcomes Rich Rogers of the Greater Boston Labor Council, Mark Erlich of the Carpenters’ Union, Darlene Lombos of Community Labor United and Carpenters’ apprentices to her home. (Photo courtesy of Community Labor United) Mike Prokosch Betty Maguire has a problem. As a grandmother living on a fixed income, she can hardly afford her winter heating bills.

Help was found in a new city program, Renew Boston, that promised to plug the cracks and insulate the walls in her drafty old three-family home — for free. But when she applied for Renew Boston’s home weatherization

program, they rejected her for “preexisting conditions” — repairs that needed to be done before an insulation crew could come in.

But Maguire is used to solving problems. She’s been a neighborhood activist for 20 years. Over those years she’s built up a lot of friends. Over the past couple of weeks, dozens of those friends have been making her house “weatherization-ready.”

Friends from New England United

for Justice cut up her old oil tanks and filled a dumpster with debris from her basement. Apprentices from the Carpenters’ Union poured new concrete, installed sheetrock and doors.

“This is part of our Helping Hammers program,” New England Carpenters chief Mark Erlich told a crowd on Ms. Maguire’s porch Jan. 21. “We figure we contributed $5,000 worth of labor and we’re glad to do it.”

Meanwhile, Boston Workers’ Alli-

ance members knocked on neighbors’ doors to tell how they too could save money and energy. “Renters and homeowners need to know how to access the funds to weatherize their homes,” said BWA organizer Hakim Cunningham. “They need education — education creates demand in a community that’s underserved.”

Cunningham said she thinks the utility companies should be investing in the kind of community outreach BWA is doing. “It shows people they’re being helped, not being put through a cookie-cutter marketing strategy. We want to make sure weatherization work reaches individuals who are now underserved.”

And many of those individuals are in the same bind as Maguire, said Loie Hayes of Boston Climate Action Network. According to Hayes, of the first 100 homes Renew Boston audited, 50 percent needed repairs — like Ms. Maguire’s — before they could be weatherized. “Boston is trying to cut its greenhouse gas emissions 80

percent by 2030 to deal with global warming,” said Hayes. “But they can’t do that if they don’t reach 50 percent of our homes.”

The Green Justice Coalition organized and financed the work project at Ms. Maguire’s. Now, say Coalition leaders, the city and state need to pick up the ball. “Betty Maguire isn’t alone,” said Mimi Ramos, executive director of New England United for Justice.

“There are thousands of old homes in our neighborhoods that need to be brought up to 21st century building code standards. These repairs can cost them thousands of dollars, money they don’t have. Unless we come together and solve this problem, the people who need weatherization most will be excluded from city and state programs that they are paying for every month.

And the city and state won’t meet their climate change goals.”

Mike Prokosch works in the communications department of Community Labor United.

The Renew Boston Residential Retrofit Program is currently offering federal Recovery Act funds to help qualified Boston homeowners and landlords make energy improvements to their properties. The City and its partners provide eligible Bostonians with low-hassle, no-cost home energy assessments and free efficiency upgrades including insulation, air sealing, water saving devices and high-efficiency light bulbs. To find out more, contact Boston Workers’ Alliance at 617-606-3580 or green@bostonworker salliance.org.

4 • Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER

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A question of judgment In order to be effective, justice must have good judgment. The decision of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to file additional charges of lying to the FBI against Chuck Turner shows a lack of that judgment. The former Boston city councilor has already been convicted and removed from office. It is unlikely that such a vapid new charge will influence the judge’s sentence.

Turner appeared on the Boston scene almost 50 years ago, a young Harvard graduate full of fight for the interests of those who had long been ignored. With the passage of time, the fight relied more on rhetoric. And with the advent of

old age and the inaccuracy of memory, even the rhetoric became sometimes unreliable.

Turner’s testimony at his trial did not help his cause. Those who know him know that it would be uncharacteristic after decades of commitment for Turner to demand payment for a public service. His testimony sounded more like the onset of clinical confusion than merely the awkward avoidance of criminal liability.

It is a shame that Turner has already suffered so severely for little more than the frailties of aging which all of us who live long enough will one day come to experience.

Some surprising findings Health disparities for African Americans have become a matter of national concern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has just released its first CDC Health Disparities and Inequalities Report — United States, 2011 to analyze the impact of race and other social characteristics. While many of the conclusions are predictable, some others are surprising.

Since whites control the nation’s wealth and hold the reins of power, many blacks assume that whites are immune from the anxiety and disappointment that plague the lives of African Americans struggling to survive. However, the report found that according to the most recent data, 83.5 percent of suicides were by non-Hispanic whites. Only 5.5 percent were committed by blacks who constitute 13.5 percent of the nation’s population. The highest rate for suicides was by American Indian and Alaska Native adolescents and young adults.

The highest rate for drug induced deaths was also among whites. Prescription drugs now cause more deaths than illicit drugs. Nonetheless, the use of illicit drugs is still substantial and the report recommends the continuation

of methadone maintenance programs.

Another surprise was the high incidence of infant deaths among blacks. The U.S. infant mortality rate in 2006 was 6.68 deaths per 1,000 live births. Black women had the highest infant mortality which was 2.4 times that for non-Hispanic white women. One of the causes of these deaths has been determined to be the high rate of preterm births. One of every five black infants born in 2007 was preterm compared to one in every eight or nine white births.

The adolescent birth rate in 2008 was highest for Hispanics. Their rate was three times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic whites, which was similar to the rate for blacks.

African Americans have special health problems with asthma, HIV infection, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Solutions for all of these problems are aggravated by low income and inadequate education that places jobs with greater revenue out of reach.

Nothing is more important than health. The Bay State Banner publishes its “Be Healthy” supplement regularly to keep readers informed of common diseases and conditions and their remedies.

“Looks like the U.S. Attorney is setting up more punishment for Chuck Turner.”

USPS 045-780

Publisher/Editor Assoc. Publisher/Treasurer Executive Editor

Melvin B. Miller John E. Miller Howard Manly

ADVERTISING Vice President/ Marketing-Sales Director Sandra L. Casagrand Advertising Coordinator Rachel Edwards Advertising/Communications Associate Christine McCall NEWS REPORTING Senior Editor Health Editor

Yawu Miller Karen Miller

Contributing Writers

Kenneth Cooper Reynolds Douglass Graves Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil Sandra Larson Brian Wright O’Connor Shelly Runyon Michelle Sedaca Tyler Thurston

LETTERSto the Editor Shout out to George Greenidge Congratulations Chip! You’re an inspiration to us all. My brothers, many of our friends and I look up to you. You know how to get the job done. Hopefully this is just one of many giant steps you will continue to make. The torch has been passed to you! Keep it lit!

Prodigal Son Via e-mail

Grassroots campaign to free two Mississippi sisters This very strong willed sister (Nancy Lockhart) is proof that if you are doing what is right and good, you will always be rewarded for your efforts. Kuddos to Ms. Nancy Lockhart.

Blanch Green Via e-mail

Staff Photographers

ties, with U.S. House legislative boundaries splitting neighborhoods, and our power diluted (and destroyed) at the state Senate level.

At the City Council level, a nearly successful attempt was made to cripple both black districts. Grove Hall almost became a part of a South Boston-based district, and most of Mattapan was split from black Dorchester neighborhoods. Only the combined efforts of Councillors Chuck Turner and Charles Yancey prevented the destruction of our political base.

The problem was that the last time around those redistricting activists working for the community weren’t from the community. In the absence of community input, our interests were ignored and our concerns were dismissed.

The proposed redistricting from the

2010 Census will be even more important to black Boston.

This time, in addition to redrawing political districts, there will be an attempt on the part of the City of Boston to equalize (by defining a specific number of residents per precinct), renumber and redraw its precincts prior to crafting new political boundaries.

This won’t necessarily operate detrimentally to our interests if the community is engaged in the process. We will, however, have to operate proactively and learn from history.

If the community doesn’t collectively work in its own interests, based on open access to the new population numbers, no one will do it for us.

Paul Simmons Via e-mail

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Contributing Writers

Jules Becker Robin Hamilton Susan Saccoccia Lloyd Kam Williams

PRODUCTION Executive Creative Director Webmaster/Graphic Designer

Walter Waller Joshua Falkenburg

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager

Karen Miller

The Boston Banner is published every Thursday.

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Quotes from Swami Muktananda reprinted with permission from SYDA Foundation. © SYDA Foundation

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Thursday, Thursday, January January 27, 3, 2011 2008 • BAY • BOSTON STATE BANNER • 5

OPINION Cheney’s Obama-one-term-presidency delusion Earl Ofari Hutchinson Former Vice President Dick Cheney sounded more like a man trying to convince himself than anybody else when he told NBC News that President Barack Obama will be a one-term president. To convince himself this very unconvincing bit of GOP orthodoxy will hold water, Cheney ticked off the by now familiar checklist of Obama’s supposed weaknesses. They include his health care reform package, big government spending and stifling of the private sector. A month ago, Cheney’s list of alleged Obama’s failings might have had some public ring to them. They have been repeated long and loud enough

by GOP leaders, and polls showed that a big percent of Americans had the same criticisms of Obama.

That has changed. Obama moved quickly to shore up ties with business with a series of well-timed and publicized meetings and assurances that stirring private sector job growth and budget deficit reducing initiatives was the administration’s number one priority. He agreed to a corporate friendly tax cut, and watched as polls showed that a majority of Americans do not want the health care bill repealed.

Cheney got the message that Obama’s popularity and approval has jumped, and in the wake of his handling of the Tucson massacre, this has made for the moment even some in the GOP — including Cheney — grudgingly give Obama high marks. But that’s not enough to kill Cheney’s delusion that Obama is as good as toast when it comes to winning another term.

Cheney and other GOP leaders have little choice but to paint Obama as a liberal, big spending, expansive government Democrat. This is the tag on Democrats that has worked political miracles for GOP presidential contenders and presidents for the better part of the past three decades.

President Ronald Reagan masterfully crafted the “get government off your back” line into a solid Republican selling point. He targeted the remnants of the Great Society programs. He crippled funding and further eroded public enthusiasm for social spending. Conservatives took the cue and painted the government as prohigher taxes, pro-bureaucracy, proimmigrant and especially pro-wel- Cheney and other fare and pro-rights of criminals.

GOP leaders have The pack of right-wing talk show hosts, ultra conservative bloggers and little choice but websites, and Tea Party leaders and to paint Obama activists will hammer away on the as a liberal, big theme that Obama may make nice with business, talk about cutting the spending, expansive deficit and compromise on tax cuts, government but this is just a ploy to placate and Democrat. even deceive Obama critics and opponents into thinking that he has somehow seen the conservative light and has abandoned his liberal, anti-corporate, expand the welfare state goal. Cheney essentially played on that theme in his politically laced one-term presidency prediction.

But Cheney and other GOP leaders would have continued to harp on that no matter how many GOP friendly compromises Obama made or will make.

The one-term presidency line would be repeatedly bandied about no matter what Democrat sat in the Oval Office. Obama was deemed especially ripe for the GOP pickings because he was African American, and at least in the early going of his administration, the GOP prayer was that he would say and do something that would fan the racial fires, and give the GOP the chance to fully play the race card, and paint him as a closet racial panderer. The next best thing to that was the tag of closet Marxist and communist. This ploy has largely petered out. But the one-term line will stay because it has to.

Cheney’s war on Obama is about the GOP regaining power, control, political dominance, protecting its corporate and financial interests, its strict construction definition and enforcement of the laws, and more broadly the imposing of its philosophical view of how government should be run. The presidency is the grand prize that pulls the political, economic and philosophical threads on how government and power will be exercised together for the GOP. It’s not enough for the GOP to win big in the House and gain valuable ground in the Senate as the party did during the November mid-terms. Senate Democrats will still largely march to the president’s tune and will stymie any of the wilder, way out initiatives and pieces of legislation that the Tea Party influenced House will pass to thumb its nose at, embarrass and weaken the Obama administration.

President Obama also has two more big weapons to bolster his administration and re-election chances. That’s the power of the veto which presidents use strategically and effectively against the other party. The other big weapon is the power of the bully pulpit to shape and mold public opinion, and even turn a crisis into a triumph. Obama’s deft use of that to drive home the message of tolerance, unity and civility was on full display in his Tucson speech and appearance.

As other presidents before him, Obama will continue to hear the politically charged three words, “one-term president” said about him by the GOP attack machine in the run-up to the 2012 presidential elections. It comes with the political turf. Cheney knows that, but that doesn’t make it happening any less of a delusion.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst.

The Banner welcomes your opinion. Email Op-Ed submissions to:

hmanly@bannerpub.com Letters must be signed. Names may be withheld upon request.

ROVINGCamera In the wake of recent resignations of the state Parole Board, what degree of responsibility does the Department of Correction hold in the effective release of prisoners?

The word “correction” implies a significant responsibility to provide certain services to those held under their custody. When they changed the classification from “prison” to “correctional facility” they implied responsibility to make good referrals to the Parole Department.

The Department of Correction has the responsibility to confine, rehabilitate and make an assessment toward an individual’s readiness for eventual transition back into the community. However, they’ve been traditionally selective against people of color; thus the recent firings will only continue to disproportionately impact people of color.

They have 100 percent responsibility for ensuring that inmates are prepared to be released. And that should begin at the intake process, i.e. educational level, substance abuse, personal health, prior living conditions and from that develop a rehabilitation plan in preparation for release.

Abu Hanif Abdal-Khallaq

Gregory Davis

Natalie Carithers

Educator Dorchester

Executive Director, Metro Boston Alive Boston

Boston City Council Candidate Roxbury

Our entire community is responsible. As long as we continue to use the criminal justice system to address egregious social problems like addiction, mental illness and poverty, there is no safety.

They hold the key to changing a person’s thinking by effective and comprehensive treatment approaches that impact a person’s ability to value themselves and the community of which they came.

The Department of Correction needs to do more on rehabilitation, increasing educational and job training for inmates. This would make for an easier transition back into society and reduce the high rate of recidivism.

Lyn Levy

Haywood Fennell Sr.

Cornell Mills

Founder/Executive Director, SPAN, Inc. Boston

Executive Director, Stanley Jones Clean Slate Project Roxbury

Boston City Council Candidate Roxbury

INthe news

Christina Sieber

John J. Drew, president/CEO of Action for Boston Community Development, Inc. (ABCD), recently announced the appointment of Christina Sieber as ABCD vice president of institutional advancement.

Sieber has served as ABCD director of planning, program development & evaluation since 1995. She is charged with continuing and advancing development of resources for the antipoverty agency.

D r e w a p p l a u d e d S i e b e r ’s appointment and noted that it underscores current, innovative ABCD initiatives to meet the increasingly complex challenges of combating poverty in the 21st century.

“Chris has a sterling resume and vast on-the-ground experience in tapping important re-

sources, articulating ABCD’s unique capability, collaborating with key partners and building creative programs that make a difference in the lives of the tens of thousands who turn to ABCD for assistance in moving their lives forward,” said Drew.

Sieber said she is energized by the challenges ahead. “I feel strongly that economic progress for poor families and communities depends on ideas, on people, on a commitment to make things happen,” she said.

Prior to joining ABCD in 1987, she headed a variety of planning, fundraising and project development initiatives for the City of Cambridge, SomervilleCambridge Elder Services, Cambridge Council on Aging, Morgan Memorial/Goodwill Industries and others.

6 • Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER

COMMUNITYVoices Call for a paradigm shift in public safety Mel King and Nancy W. Ahmadifar In the aftermath of Domenic Cinelli’s killing of a Woburn police officer we find ourselves in a moral quagmire. Nothing short of a tectonic paradigm shift in how we create public safety will put us on steady ground.

Since the Dec. 26, 2010 tragedy, fingers of blame have pointed everywhere, but mostly at the Massachusetts Parole Board for its 2008 decision to grant Cinelli parole after nearly 30 years behind bars for multiple crimes.

What has been overlooked is the kind of “correction” Cinelli received while he did time and his preparation for returning to the community. So often what happens in the cell block comes back to haunt us on the city block.

Make no mistake. Cinelli bears the responsibility for picking up a gun and killing an officer. But beside him and the Parole Board there are others who bear responsibility as well.

While this is a painful admission, we, the public, must taken some of the blame, too. How so?

For one, we have allowed ourselves to measure public safety in terms of number of law enforcement personnel and prisons. The Massachusetts Department of Correction, for example, has a ratio of one staff person for every two prisoners. The average annual cost for incarcerating a person is $47,000. Meanwhile, we have slashed funding for public education and community mental health programs, services that can help to keep people out of prison in the first place. Our priorities are out of whack.

Secondly, we may give lip service to the concept of rehabilitation for those who harm the community. But do we deeply believe and acknowledge that people, ourselves included, can learn from our transgressions and change for the better? Most people with criminal histories return to the community and silently struggle to be productive, law abiding citizens. Do we give them a true second chance to succeed on the outside? Do they get the supports and opportunities they need to transition from

prison to the community?

Thirdly, when we or our community are harmed, we rightly call for justice. However, that call often takes the form of retribution. After all, those who commit anti-social acts must be held accountable for their behaviors. To look the other way is a disservice to both the perpetrator and the larger community. Like parents, a society has a duty to exact justice and provide correction. But how effective are retributive practices? Do they make transgressors into better people? Do they remove the harm done to us and our community? As Martin Luther King Jr. observed, “that old law about ‘an eye for an eye’ makes everybody blind.”

So what kind of paradigm shift can we be part of that will put us on steadier moral ground? What have we learned and how can we change? To achieve a justice that goes beyond retribution, let’s consider transformative justice — a form of justice that brings true healing of the wounded as well as the perpetrators, many of whom are wounded themselves, and transforms society in the process. Tragic histories, like the death of Woburn’s Officer Maguire, cannot be rewritten.

However, we can set priorities and create policies that increase our chances for real public safety.

We call upon Gov. Deval Patrick and our legislators to reconsider their propensity for more emphasis on law enforcement to affect public safety. Instead, we ask that they turn to education, health and human services to establish a firm foundation for safer and healthier communities.

Having lost two corrections commissioners in addition to the resignation of the Parole Board leadership, they can begin that process by moving the Department of Correction back under the umbrella of the Office of Health and Human Services.

Like the governor who got a second chance, let’s make sure it is possible for others.

Continue to meditate.

Through meditation, keep climbing higher.

O courageous soul, have no fear.

O dear one, complete your sadhana with a brave heart.

— Swami Muktananda

Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER • 7

‘Sweet Life’ for young singer and songwriter Whitlock

Winter Festival Review:

were clearly stronger than their first-act counterparts. “Regina Eliot Ramsey’s “A Matter of Belief’ is a timely call for tolerance, in which a student with a lesbian mother befriends and protects a female Muslim student. Unfortunately, the latter rejects her friendship because of her mother’s sexual orientation.

Jessica Corey is affecting as understanding student Charlie.

Cassie M. Seinuk’s “The Muse” finds a young man named George posing in the nude for an artist named Archie. What is the nature of their relationship? To what extent is it physical? There is a striking degree of ambiguity here. Still, the play would be stronger still if George’s friend Finn, who procured the posing, were to admit an attraction to his friend that seems suggested here. Douglas J. Cochrane has the right vulnerability as George.

Here as in some of the other plays in the festival, there is subject matter that is appropriate for adults and mature teenagers.

Maggie Bandur’s “Tea and Sorcery” does well capturing a fantasy tea shared by three young girls waiting for their mothers. The play ends too abruptly, but Madeline Rocklin, Rosa Stern Palt and Elizabeth Wu are charming as the trio.

Janine DeSouza, the composer of the original songs performed on Saturday, has provided such snappy original songs as “Just a Kid,” “The Truth Will Prevail” and “No More.”

The edginess of “No More” calls to mind Alanis Morissette and Melissa Etheridge. Jackie Theoharis does strain on some high notes, but her renditions demonstrate good spirit and tone.

This critic was not able to see the Friday line-up. As for the Saturday one, the second half plays

Young Actors’ Winter Festival, Turtle Lane Playhouse, Newton, January 28-29. 617-244-0169.

tory in order to develop her talent.

The common denominator for Whitlock in all of her efforts is the music. “I just feel that music is my calling,” she offered. “I feel it’s what I can do for the rest of my life. So I’m going to stick with that right now.”

“Watch out for my name,” Whit-

Jules Becker Maggie Whitlock may have started and stopped learning a number of musical instruments.

What she has never given up on are singing and songwriting.

The Concord born and bred 17year-old has been pursuing both of these loves over the years. Lately, Whitlock is developing her talents in a good place — namely the Cambridge School of Weston, where she has found “a strong music program.”

Now she is making her theater production debut playing guitar and singing original songs in between short plays during Turtle Lane Playhouse’s second annual Young Actors’ Winter Festival.

Whitlock has been finding her way musically since her pre-teen days. With complete candor, she admitted that she took “piano lessons at 8 and stopped” and “studied guitar (at age 12) and stopped.”

Still she continues playing the guitar and began writing her own songs about two years ago. Her teacher parents — a father she is “fairly sure has ancestors of Ethiopian descent” and a mother of Italian and Czech descent — are supportive. Her sister Tricia has already worked at the North Shore Music Theatre and now continues her involvement in musical theater performance at the University of New Hampshire.

While Whitlock’s experience is as yet modest — “I’ve done a couple of open mics and a benefit for Haiti” — she does possess the kind of passion for singing and songwriting that a young musical artist needs.

Now Whitlock also has a special opportunity to demonstrate her ability as a singer and songwriter — namely being a part of the second annual Young Actors’ Winter Festival. That opportunity came from festival co-conceiver (along with Regina Eliot-Ramsey) James Tallach, a two-time Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) nominee. Whitlock first met Tallach at Concord’s Alexander Children’s Theatre School, where he frequently served as director. “We’re good friends,” she declared.

Tallach has given Whitlock a chance to demonstrate her abilities and promise at the festival, where she sang and played guitar last Friday and will do the same this coming Friday.

Whitlock plays two songs be-

Maggie Whitlock is making her theater production debut during Turtle Lane Playhouse’s second annual Young Actors’ Winter Festival. (Martin Gordon photo) tween the first two plays of the Friday program — “Into the Woods” and “Family Archive.” She opens with “I Found You,” an original song she described as “preppy” and “a simple, happy, upbeat song. “ Her second number, the only one not her own, is “an Irish folk kind of song” called “Gold” from the romantic independent film “Once.” After intermission, following a play entitled “League of the Unexpected,” Whitlock performs her ballad “Star-Crossed” a composition inspired by Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” but “not necessarily sad.” Between the second play “Time Bomb” and the closer “Double Date,” she sings an original as yet unrecorded number called “Cover It Up.” The title, she explained, refers to an impulse: “Let’s rewind and pretend that we can stay in that moment.”

“It’s definitely ironic,” she added.

Although Whitlock’s range stretches from alto to soprano, she sings most of these numbers in mezzo-soprano voice. Two — “I Found You” and “Star-Crossed” — will appear on a CD entitled “Sweet Love, Sweet Life” that she began working on last summer.

Whitlock has a variety of plans

for the future. Going forward, she said, “I’m gonna try performing at more open mics.”

She plans to complete the CD soon as well. She will soon be applying to schools like Berklee, New England Conservatory and Boston Conserva-

lock predicted.

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8 • Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER

Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER • 9

On JFK 50th anniversary, family gathers in Washington Brett Zongker WASHINGTON (AP) — Fifty years ago last Thursday, President John F. Kennedy told the world that “the torch had been passed to a new generation of Americans” whom he challenged to “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

Caroline Kennedy told The Associated Press that she has been thinking over her father’s oft-quoted inaugural speech on Jan. 20, 1961, when he proclaimed that Americans “shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and the success of liberty.”

“I think he really expanded and redefined our idea of what it means to be a citizen — that everybody has something to contribute and everybody has something to give back to this country that’s given us so much,” Caroline Kennedy said. “It’s not just an obligation, but it’s really a rewarding experience and really a belief in government and politics as a noble profession.”

Kennedy joined members of her father’s administration, civil rights activists, astronaut Buzz Aldrin and members of the first class of the Peace Corps — which JFK established — to mark the 35th president’s legacy at the Capitol last Thursday.

About 100 members of the Kennedy family gathered at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The center on the bank of the Potomac River stands as a living tribute to Kennedy, whose White House embraced the arts.

It opened three weeks of performances that will recreate moments from those “Camelot” days.

President Barack Obama in opening the concert last Thursday night paid tribute to the “unfinished life” of JFK and said his inauguration and his accompanying call for Americans to serve their country still “inspires us and lights our way.”

Obama, who wasn’t born until later in 1961, hailed Kennedy for leading a “volatile America in this tinderbox of a world,” with a steady hand, “defusing the most perilous crisis since the Cold War without firing a single shot.” He also noted Kennedy’s work to help blacks attend their choice of college, launch the Peace Corps of goodwill ambassadors around the world and set America’s sights on landing on the moon.

Though the country faces different challenges today, Obama said, “we cannot forget we are the heirs of this president who showed us what was possible. Because of that vision, I can stand here today as president of the United States.”

Earlier, speaking at a ceremony in the Capitol’s rotunda, Vice President Joe Biden said Kennedy’s cause was to bring America back “to what it should be.”

“His call to service literally, not figuratively, still resounds from generation to generation,” Biden said.

The celebrations come as the Kennedy power in Washington has faded. For the first time in 63 years no one with the Kennedy name is serving in elected office. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island left the U.S. House this month.

Caroline Kennedy said she wouldn’t be surprised if someone in her family returned to national politics — but that it probably wouldn’t

be her. She flirted with a 2008 Senate bid in New York but bowed out.

Instead, she is announcing a new “Ask Not” public service campaign with Jimmy Fallon aimed at youth as part of a series of events to reconnect the Kennedy legacy with a new generation. The spots featuring Fallon will air on Viacom, Comcast and CBS television channels to promote the new website JFK50.org.

Caroline Kennedy hasn’t given up on politics, though. While many young people place a high value on volunteering and community ser-

vice, she said politics has somehow become less attractive to them. And she wants to change that.

“We hope they’ll see that it’s a continuum and you need the political process to solve these problems that they are already working on so hard,” she said.

She also echoed President Barack Obama’s call in a much lauded speech last week to set an example for young people with the nation’s political discourse that has turned vicious at times. In his inauguration speech, JFK reminded people that

even as the Cold War raged, “that civility is not a sign of weakness.”

The anniversary will mark the opening of special exhibits at the Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston, featuring a handwritten draft of Kennedy’s inaugural address and the family Bible on which he was sworn in. Such items also can now be found online as the library has digitized many historical records and artifacts.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed last Thursday night, along with Paul Simon, the American Ballet Theatre and others.

The National Symphony Orchestra played a new composition, “Remembering JFK (An American Elegy),” by Peter Lieberson. As part of it, Morgan Freeman read from Kennedy’s famous speeches, including his inaugural address and his call for world peace at American University.

JFK’s three grandchildren, Rose, Jack and Tatiana Schlossberg, read Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road not Taken,” from the inauguration, and Simon sang “Sounds of Silence,” which was written in the aftermath of Kennedy’s assassination.

The Kennedys believed the American culture had come of age and could lead the world, Caroline Kennedy said.

Caroline said she can remember as a young girl seeing dress rehearsals for ballet and musicals staged in the White House, though she can’t recall the famous performance by cellist Pablo Casals. Yo-Yo Ma will recreate that performance Jan. 25.

“I think I was probably already put to bed when he started to play,” she said of Casals.

Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

10 • Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER

Obama

continued from page 1

percent view him favorably. Majorities also consider him empathetic (63 percent), a strong leader (62 percent), and in-touch with ordinary Americans (61 percent).

The numbers are similar to the ones President Ronald Reagan faced before winning a second term in 1984.

Still, the AP-GfK poll shows areas of vulnerability as Obama governs and campaigns: More than half disapprove of how he’s handled the economy. Just 35 percent say it’s improved on his watch; 40 percent said that a year ago. It’s driven largely by lowerincome people as well as those in the Northeast and the West who are losing faith in Obama’s ability to orchestrate a turnaround.

Three-quarters do say it’s unrealistic to expect noticeable improvements after two years; they say it will take longer.

Roughly a third — 34 percent — say Obama hasn’t lived up to his promise of change, an increase from 27 percent last January. More Democrats argue he’s kept that pledge, while more Republicans say he’s broken it. Overall, 42 percent say it’s too soon to tell. People are split over his pace of change: 36 percent say too much, too quickly, 32 percent say it’s about right, 31 percent say he’s not moving fast enough. More independents want to see Obama move quicker than not.

Fifty-one percent of independents approve of his job perfor-

mance, an uptick since November as Obama reached out to Republicans — and compromised with them on taxes — in a new era of divided government. But just 30 percent score his presidency above average or better, a slippage from 37 percent a year ago. And independents divide about evenly on whether he deserves to be reelected: 46 percent say yes, 43 percent no. He still has trouble with support among men and whites; they are more apt than women and nonwhites to want him fired.

Despite vocal complaints from the left, the poll shows evidence that Obama’s base isn’t nearly as fractured as it has seemed. Democrats overwhelmingly give him high marks. Liberal Democrats are more likely to call Obama’s presidency outstanding or above average than even moderate Democrats. And there’s no difference between the two groups over whether Obama should face a primary challenge; majorities of both groups say no. It’s largely a moot point as no serious challenger has emerged.

The AP-GfK Poll was conducted Jan. 5-10 by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cell phone interviews with 1,001 adults nationwide, and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

Associated Press Deputy Polling Director Jennifer Agiesta, News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius and Associated Press writer Philip Elliott contributed to this report.

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Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER • 11

‘Super Rich’ values Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons expounds on his transition from materialism to meditation (Gerald Janssen photo)

Kam Williams Russell Wendell Simmons was born in Queens, N.Y. on Oct. 4, 1957, the middle of three sons to bless the marriage of Daniel and Evelyn Simmons, a public school administrator and NYC parks administrator, respectively. Russell and Rick Rubin co-founded Def Jam Records, the legendary hip hop label, in 1984.

Russell parlayed his success in music into several fashion lines, most notably, Phat Farm and Baby Phat. Meanwhile, as chairman and CEO of his umbrella organization, Rush Communications, he also ran an ad agency, produced movies and TV shows and published a magazine.

“Forbes” recently named Simmons one of “Hollywood’s Most Influential Celebrities” And USA Today dubbed him one of the “Top 25 Most Influential People of the Past 25 Years,” calling him a “hip hop pioneer” for his groundbreaking vision that has influenced music, fashion, jewelry, finance, television and film, as well as the face of modern philanthropy.

From creating his seminal Def Jam Recordings to writing his New York Times best-seller “Do You! 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success,” Russell is recognized globally for his influence and entrepreneurial approach to both business and philanthropy. Since giving back is of primary importance to him, he has consistently leveraged his influence in the recording industry, fashion, television, financial services and jewelry sectors to advance the interests of a host of charitable causes.

A devoted yogi, Russell also leads the nonprofit division of his empire, Rush Community Affairs, and its ongoing commitment to empowering at-risk youth through education, the arts, and social engagement. Furthermore, he serves as UN Goodwill Ambassador for The Permanent Memorial to Honor the Victims of Slavery and the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

Here, he talks about his new book, “Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All,” a how-to tome which champions meditation over materialism as the path to true wealth.

What gave you the idea to write the book?

Well, the last time I wrote a book “Do You!,” I got a chance to pull together all these teachings and frame them in such a way that I could share them with other people. But honestly, I can look back on it, and admit that my motivation was a little bit selfish, because I needed to do this for my own evolution. It was a sort of a cleansing

process. I expected that I could get the stuff out of me, and frame it, so I could understand it.

But I didn’t appreciate the book’s potential to touch the lives of others until Oprah praised it. She was my first interview after it came out, and made it go to the top of the best-seller list. After that, people would come up to me and say that the book changed their lives. What could be more gratifying? So, that inspired me to write this book, with a little more selfless intention. This book is about remembering to remember, and the mantra to be a good giver. Good givers are great getters, and I just wanted to share that with people in a way that they could really digest it.

We all want to operate in order. Sometimes we have to go through struggle to realize that. Your birth in the physical form is to teach you to operate in order. I think that’s the experience.

Struggle is your great teacher. I’m an older person. I was a drug dealer. I was a gang member and a lot of other things. My evolution has been gradual. When I first started practicing yoga, I remember feeling really free of anxiety momentarily. So, my journey began when I found the easing of anxiety through the physical practice of yoga. Then, the yogi scripture taught me things that I knew in my heart were true, because the study of the scripture is really the study of the self. Then I saw that what’s in the yogi scripture is also in the Bible, the Koran and the Torah, and that these practices do bring us to a more easy place. Yoga is defined as a state of needing nothing. And union with God happens when the noise is gone.

Many people are so busy working they do not have time to breathe deeply or be present on a daily basis. How, from a practical perspective, can people with worries “This book is about remembering to and everyday jobs remember, and the mantra to be a good still seek a higher path? giver. Good givers are great getters …”

The whole book is about being conscious, and is filled with practices to bring you to presence. The book is dedicated to that mantra, that state of consciousness. We wish we could live in a state of nirvana, or a state of Christ consciousness, or a state of yoga or Samadhi. All of them are one and the same: to be awake, to be present. That idea of Heaven on Earth is what I mean by “Super Rich,” and the ease that comes with needing nothing. Yoga can be defined as a state of needing nothing, and that’s what we’re looking for. So, this book is about moving toward that enlightenment.

When you were growing up what did you want to do?

I didn’t know what I wanted to be. Remember The Message

by Grandmaster Flash?

[Sings] “You see the drug dealers counting twenties and tens, and you want to grow up to be just like them.” I saw people hanging on the corner. I didn’t know any better. I was lucky enough to go to college and start to feel differently. There, I developed the courage to do something original that I was passionate about, which was music and hip hop.

I started throwing parties, and became an entrepreneur of sorts. It just kinda evolved. I didn’t have a drive to be anything in particular until I found a passion, which is what this book is about. Finding a dharma, a way to really give. But I wasn’t fortunate enough to have something I wanted to be all my life, until I started to achieve it.

— Russell Simmons

I learned a long time ago that happiness doesn’t come from the accumulation of material things.

You can only sit your ass in one seat at a time.

What experience prompted the transformation of your personal ideas about wealth and got you on a spiritual path?

Jerry Lewis used to sing a song that said, “Money isn’t everything ... unless you’re very poor.” How “easy” is it to give this kind of spiritual advice when you’re rolling in dough?

Simmons, continued to page 13

12 • Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER

(Photo courtesy of World Music/CRASHarts)

Celebrating song and dance of Brazilian Diaspora Susan Saccoccia Before they even reached the stage on Saturday night at the Opera House in Boston, the Balé Folclórico da Bahia held the audience in thrall. The lights went down, plunging the ornately gilded theater into darkness, and the sound of ocean waves and birdsong rose accompanied by human voices in a slow, rhythmic chant. As if lit by candles, men and women in white turbans and robes appeared in the center aisles, including a priestly figure in a headdress holding a long staff. They immersed

the audience in their mesmerizing voices, before processing onto the stage for a suite of dances entitled “Sacred Heritage.”

The majestic half-hour work, which has its United States premier with this tour, was the first of seven acts in the program, co-presented

by Celebrity Series of Boston and World Music/CRASHarts. The company’s repertory draws from the folkloric dances, music and songs of the northern Brazilian state of Bahia, rich in traditions transported from Africa by slaves and mingled with a gumbo of influences, including the cultures of

Brazil’s Amerindian natives and Portuguese colonizers.

A distillation of rhythm-driven songs and rites from the Candomblé religion, which transplanted from Africa a pantheon of deities rooted in nature, “Sacred Heritage” was choreographed

by Walson Botelho, the troupe’s general director and co-founder, and its artistic director José Carlos Arandiba, in 2008 to honor the 20th anniversary of the Balé Folclórico da Bahia.

What Alvin Ailey’s iconic suite of dances “Revelations” is to the African American Diaspora — a

celebration of a people’s journey from slavery to freedom set to spirituals and blues, “Sacred Heritage” is to the African Diaspora in Brazil, which has the second-largest population of African descent in the western hemisphere.

Both works celebrate the transformative artistic and spiritual legacies of a people whose music, dance and faith sustained them and at the same time regenerated the art and culture of their adopted countries.

“Sacred Heritage” brought to the stage 25 performers — 17 dancers, five instrumentalists and three singers.

This taut work of art interwove the rhythmic complexity of the drumming and chanting with the formal simplicity of ensemble dances — lines, circles and whirling shapes accented by the traditional costumes, the women’s enormous hoop skirts and the draping robes of the tall, lean men, who resembled a choir of Ethiopian priests.

Sensuous and solemn at the same time, the repetitive dancing and music subtly varied in pattern and speed, gaining incantatory power. The women in their wide skirts spun like tops while the men did capoeira pinwheels of astonishing fluidity and grace, their hands and feet barely touching the floor.

The human voice too was a spellbinding percussive instrument, particularly the meaty contralto of Dora Santana.

Against the white and beige pageantry of the ensemble, masterfully lit by Marcos Souza, an array of singular, quirky gods made its debut, each a fantasti-

JAZZ!

cally costumed creature.

The mischievous trickster spirit Exú sprang to life, a nimble satyr in body paint. In a metallic costume, the god of iron and war evoked the Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz.” Another figure entirely covered in straw suggested the Scarecrow. In a choreographic interplay of order and abandon, the whirling ensemble was a backdrop for solos by the deities, who then exited in a meandering line, as if to follow their own Yellow Brick Road.

Without an intermission, the company continued with six other works, staples from the troupe’s repertoire of Afro-Brazilian musical and dance traditions. Lacking the artistic clarity and power of the “Sacred Heritage” suite, the remaining acts had a choreographic sameness that was enlivened by individual displays of stunstmanship and bravura.

A soloist on the berimbau, a gourd affixed with a long wooden bow, drew from its single string a riff of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” evoking Jimi Hendrix. During a gravity-defying capoeira sequence, men spun across the stage in nonstop cartwheels. In a sensational duo, two men daringly interlocked their fast, high-kicking legs, which moved like buzz saws without ever touching one other’s limbs.

Wearing a tropical panorama of costumes, the ensemble performed in a high-spirited samba circle and in the finale, mingled samba with reggae in an all-out party. The verve, warmth and energy of the singers, dancers and musicians continued undiminished until the curtain fell.

Roxbury Center for Arts

January 27

Michelle Cruz February 3 Tribute to Abbey Lincoln February 10 Ralph Peterson Unity Project

Café Tatant

Thursday Night Supper Club Catered by Ethnica Gourmet Drinks at 6:30 • Dinner served at 7:00 • Show starts at 7:30 visit www.madison-park.org for information and reservations

Roxbury Center for Arts at Hibernian Hall 184 Dudley Street in Dudley Square

This week at ArT iS LIFE ItSeLf! January 27

Fulani Haynes and the Jazz Collaborative Wednesday February 2

History Speaker Series: Barry Gaither Co-sponsored by Discover Roxbury

Join E. Barry Gaither, Director of the NCAAA (National Center of Afro-American Artists), as he interviews artist and poet Gary Rickson about the Black Arts Movement.

This event is free, with dinner available for purchase beginning at 5pm.

Seating is on a first come, first served basis. Program begins at 7pm.

Haley House Bakery Café 12 Dade Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 617-445-0900 www.haleyhouse.org/cafe

Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13

Simmons

continued from page 11

Well, there’s a story in the book about a guy who lives in a shanty house.

He knows he’s got to find some bread and water each day, yet his mind’s at ease. God always provides, and he lived to be 100. Then, by contrast, there’s the anxiety-prone billionaire who’s always worried about the stock market and ends up dying in his fifties. So, you have to ask yourself, “What do we want money for? What does it do for us?” If you say money makes us happy, then examine that. Is it the toys? Is it the simplicity, the ease that money can provide? That’s not the ease that we’re seeking. It has to be to calm the mind. I say this because, when you need nothing, you can operate from abundance.

Jesus taught two sermons. One for the masses, which said, if you act in accordance with these laws, then God will take care of you. The second one said, “Operate from abundance if you can.”

So, the anxiety-filled followers were able to pay their taxes by listening to Jesus. But His disciples only needed to put their all into service. I have so many illustrative stories I could relate, like Puffy’s, who on the way up wanted to make sure he was doing everybody’s job. He enjoyed the work, but not because he was going to get this or that.

That’s the real rap.

Do you have any advice for an aspiring filmmaker living on Ramen?

Larry, stay on your hustle. You ain’t gonna starve no matter what happens. Living on Ramen! My guess is

he’s most likely overweight. We suffer from neediness, when in fact we already have everything. If he’s focused on being a filmmaker, and not anxiety-filled and worried about living on ramen, he will make headway. And in no case will he starve. What is he looking for?

What is the most effective way to raise money for indie movie projects in 2011? What does someone look for before investing?

Big buzz. Shoot a good little pilot to get it off the ground. Everything requires that you do the work. And if you do good enough work that people start to be inspired by it, then they join on. No one signs on just because you have an idea.

You have to keep building any business, to make it attractive. If you throw a record out the window and it don’t stick, you gotta keep pushing it. Then, one day, it’s on the radio, listeners start requesting it, and people come looking for you. You can’t chase people down with your idea; you have to turn it into equity first.

a void, a white space. Fill that. Don’t carry the burden. A lot of time black people only speak to each other instead of to the whole room. We gotta get out of that habit.

What was your most fatal business decision? And what is the biggest business lesson you’ve learned?

I learn from every bad decision, so none of them are my worst. When I lost the Beastie Boys, I learned that you have to have patience when you’re developing artists.

How does your spirituality and belief in Buddhism conflict with the opulent lifestyle of selfindulgence and materialism associated with rap music?

I think rappers are truth-tellers. I don’t think mainstream American culture is any closer to the simplicity that I’m advocating. I’m not a Buddhist, by the way. Long before there was a Buddhist faith, there were the Yoga Sutras. Those teachings are more prescriptions for happiness, than religious dogma. As you know, I’m not a religious man, although I do work promoting dialogue among all religions as chairman of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding.

What are some ways a person can start up a business with little available capital? What are some of the biggest obstacles facing minorities looking to In the past, we saw more rap enter the business arena? songs about socially-conscious I can tell you that there’s something themes, such as MC Lyte’s about black culture that’s infectious, “Eyes Are the Soul,” Tupac’s that crosses all boundaries, that gives “Brenda’s Got a Baby” and you an edge. If he’s open to integrate, then give him a job. No company that Queen Latifah’s “Ladies First.” markets any product can operate with- What needs to be done to bring out input from black people. There’s back this type of hip hop?

Well, I think the climate changes in society. Themes come and go, and rappers are only reflections of that.

Right now, we’re very fearful, because the economy is very bad … People are struggling … and that’s fertile ground for some of the negativity that you’re hearing on some of the records.

Isn’t there a contradiction between the messages in your book and the messages in rap music?

Why does she think I’m an ambassador for rap? Jesus hung out with the wine bibbers, but his message wasn’t advocating getting drunk. I have one foot in pop culture and one foot in the real world, which is spiritual. I know what’s real, and I know that pop culture can be frivolous. But I think American culture, in general, is frivolous. And I certainly don’t think that rap culture is any more frivolous than mainstream American culture. I don’t think hip hop is as unconscious either. Rappers may say things that shock you, but I think they are poets who hold a higher moral ground than the rest of American society. That’s my opinion. Just because Kanye West said, “George Bush doesn’t like black people,” doesn’t mean it’s true, but it does mean that a lot of people shared that thought.

Are you happy?

Yeah, I can say I’m mostly happy.

Compared to what? Am I eternally blissful? No. But do I find moments when I’m ecstatic about being alive?

Yes! And I have those moments more and more often the more I meditate, practice yoga and live by these principles.

When was the last time you had a good laugh?

A few minutes ago being interviewed by Sean Hannity. He says such things. You have to learn to laugh all the time. It’s a practice of life. It’s a practice of happiness.

In yoga, you smile and breathe in every pose.

What are you listening to on your iPod? Krishna Das’ Greatest Hits.

And I’ve been listening to a lot of Public Enemy.

Who is your favorite clothes designer?

It still is Tommy Hilfiger, even though he’s not hot right now. He still inspires me the most.

If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

World peace in spirit.

How do you get through the tough times?

I don’t miss my prayers and I don’t miss my yoga. Those things are important to me.

What advice do you have for anyone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

Keep your head down and put one foot in front of the other. That’s how I got where I got.

The Tavis Smiley question: How do you want to be remembered?

As a philanthropist, as a giver.

14 • Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER

COMMUNITY Calendar Thursday

Saturday

January 27

January 29

JP Concerts presents Folk Music Journeys The first in the DIALOGUE chamber music series including J.S. Bach, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Bela Bartok, Maurice Ravel and Astor Piazzolla.

Tickets are $10 at the door. For more information and directions please see: www.jpconcerts.org.

Starting at 7pm, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jamaica Plain.

Family-Friendly Matinees: Bread and Puppet Theater: Decapitalization Circus The family-friendly “Decapitalization Circus” demonstrates in numerous death-defying stunts the fantastic effects of the capitalization of life in the U.S. and citizens’ courageous efforts of decapitalization. The performers represent the whole scale of the social spectrum from benign billionairism to despicable homeless anti-social-elementarianism. The Possibilitarians, a multi-instrumental variety ensemble, provide the appropriate-inappropriate sounds for the Circus. Performed

by Peter Schumann and the Bread & Puppet Company, along with a large number of local volunteer puppeteers and musicians. Take note that some of the circus acts are politically puzzling to adults, but accompanying kids can usually explain them. The audience is welcome to examine all the masks and puppets after the performance. $10 general admission $5 students, seniors, and pre-school children (2 & under free) Jan. 29Jan. 30, 4pm.

Friday January 28 Unhealthy People, Unequal Communities and Unwell Environment Examining Olmsted’s Practicality to Improve Society’s Woes a one man play by Gerry Wright followed by Q&A. 7pm, First Church in Jamaica Plain, Unitarian Universalist, Eliot and Centre St., Jamaica Plain (Wheel Chair Accessible).

Free. Information: Gerry Wright 617524-7070 FrederickLawOlmsted@ yahoo.com.

Wellesley Greenhouses at Night Exotic habitats like a tropical cloud forest will come to life during a greenhouse light show at the Wellesley College Botanical Gardens. “Experience the magic of the greenhouses at night, as theatrical lighting illuminates fascinating and beautiful plant adaptations in ways you just can’t see in ordinary light,” said Kristina Jones, director of the botanical gardens. “This year the spotlight shines on outrageous plant architecture - see how plants literally are shaped by their individual histories.” From 5:30 - 8pm.

Greenhouse Visitor Center on the Wellesley College campus. View a campus map at www.wellesley. edu/Admission/pdf/campusmap. pdf. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 781-283-3027. Since 1875, Wellesley College has been a leader in providing an excellent liberal arts education for women who will make a difference in the world. Its 500acre campus near Boston is home to 2,300 undergraduate students from all 50 states and 68 countries.

Community Dialogue series The YWCA Boston will be hosting a Community Dialogue series at the Egleston Square Branch Library, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 from 10am - 12pm. The community dialogues are a 5 week facilitated series of discussion about race and ethnicity.

Each dialogue is comprised of a diverse group of Boston residents and encourages community building. Learn more: dialogues@ywca boston.org, Register online: www. ywcaboston.org/enroll.

Wednesday February 2 Cambridge Forum Program Schedule Winter 2011 Wednesdays at 7pm. (unless otherwise noted), First Parish in Cambridge, 3 Church St., Harvard Square, Cambridge, FREE and Open to the Public. www. cambridgeforum.org.

Banner Billboard listings can be found at

www.baystatebanner.com/billboard St. Paul’s Cathedral February Music Schedule The Cathedral Church of St. Paul (138 Tremont St., Boston, 617-4825800) continues their Wednesday Noontime Concert Series with a lineup of varied musical performances. Each Wednesday’s concert begins at 12:15 pm and there is a suggested donation of $5 at the door.

The Cathedral’s Wednesday Noontime Concert Series features local, national and international artists presenting diverse programs in an array of styles including classical, jazz, folk, world, and the avant-garde. “The variety of programs is sure to please our regular audiences and delight newcomers. We try to offer something for everyone,” says Cathedral Music Director Ed Broms.

Upcoming Simmons College presents “Self and the Everywoman: Mixed Media Works In her first Boston solo show spanning three decades, New York artist Claudia DeMonte employs photography, acrylic on canvas, pewter and wood, velvet paper cut-outs, painted gator board, and cast bronze to examine the role of women in contemporary society. Simmons College Trustman Art Gallery, fourth floor, Main College Building, 300 The Fenway, in Boston.

Contact 617-521-2268, Marcia Lomedico. Free and open to the public.

Feb. 7 - Mar. 18.

Grieving the Loss of a Spouse or Partner Sessions begin on Tuesday, Feb. 8 for six consecutive Tuesdays from 5-6:30pm. All sessions will be held at the Circle of Caring at Hospice of the Good Shepherd office, 2042 Beacon St., Newton. The group will be facilitated by Colleen Kinney, LICSW, Hospice Social Worker. As space is limited, participants must pre-register by calling the Hospice office, 617-969-6130.

Allyssa Jones & Boston Academy of Arts Jazz

Standing on the Standards February 3 • 7pm In their debut solo concert, Boston Arts Academy (BAA) jazz vocalists will share their favorite tunes from the Great American Songbook in classic style. Joining the students on stage is an all-pro rhythm section made up of some of Boston’s top players. After a brief intermission, starting 8:30 pm, jazz vocalist Allyssa Jones and her trio will take you on a soulful “Jazz Journey”: eclectic, joyful and unplugged. Setting timeless jazz standards alongside infectious originals and contemporary favorites, this intimate concert is sure to please music lovers of all ages. Tickets are $10 at the door for each concert. At St. John’s Episcopal Church, Revere

St. and Roanoke Ave., Jamaica Plain.

For more information and directions please see www.jpconcerts.org

Maxine Hong Kingston and Gish Jen: A Dialogue on Immigration The 2011 Civic Discourse series, “Immigrants in America,” kicks off with a conversation between two distinguished award-winning ChineseAmerican authors, Maxine Hong Kingston and Gish Jen, moderated

by Suffolk University Scholar-in-Residence James Carroll. The discussion will touch upon the unique problems and challenges of being second-generation immigrants — and how family and school life, language, identity and self-esteem, generational differences, and experiences of discrimination may have influenced their outlook as writers in the cultural melting pot that is America. What hurdles have to be overcome or compromises made in order to develop an authentic literary voice and to be a successful American author today?

This event is free and open to the public. 5pm, C. Walsh Theatre at Suffolk University. Reserve your seat at www.brownpapertickets.com and search “Athenaeum.” Feb. 9.

Meet Joanne Chang of Flour Bakery Meet Joanne Chang, author of the book Flour and chef-owner of Flour Bakery and Myers + Chang Restaurant in Boston. Joanne Chang will speak about her new book as well as her incredible journey from Harvard applied mathematics student to renowned pastry chef and restaurateur. Free and open to the public. RSVP at rsvp@aarw.org or 617-426-5313. Snow date March 26. Sponsored by BCNC and Asian American Resource Workshop.

Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, 38 Ash St., 5th Floor, Boston.

Saturday, Feb. 19, 1pm.

The Importance of Being Earnest The Tufts Balch Arena Theater is proud to announce its second production of the 2010-2011 season, The Importance of Being Earnest,

by Oscar Wilde. The show begins at 8pm. Tickets are $1 for this performance only! For more information and to purchase tickets over the phone with a credit card, please call the Balch Arena Theater Box Office at 617-627-3493 from 9am – 5pm. Feb. 24.

Ongoing Types We Can Make A Selection of Contemporary Swiss Type Design Curated by ECAL/ University of Art and Design Lausanne. Organized by the MIT Museum.

MIT Museum Compton Gallery, 77 Mass Ave, Rm 10 - 150, Cambridge.

Hours: 10am - 5pm daily. Information: 617-258-9106, http://web. mit.edu/museum/exhibitions/comp ton.html. Through Feb. 25. Admission to our satellite galleries on MIT’s main campus (Compton and Hart Nautical) is free.

WORK: Nicholas Naughton Inspired by his observations and interactions with various workers, Nicholas Naughton reflects upon industry, agriculture, physical and mental exertion in his newest exhibit WORK. More information www.vil lavictoriaarts.org. Free. Through March 2.

Saturday Open Gym This family play event takes p l a c e s e v e r y S a t u rd a y, 1 0 11:30am, with obstacle courses, jump ropes, basketball, music and special guests. Get up, out and moving in a fun, family environment. Cost: Free. Ages: Open to all families with children ages 3-8 years. For more information contact: 617-373-7615 or email healthykids@neu.edu.

Curve Appeal Style and Elegance in Automobile Design, is the latest exhibit to open at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum, in Brookline.

Oh, sure you can expect to see amazing collector cars at America’s Oldest Auto Museum, but how about the red hot cocktail dress worn by Joan Collins, or a von Huene 5 x 10 foot sculpture?

The Curve Appeal exhibit encompasses the overall essence of a design era popular in the 1930s and 1940s called “streamlining” characterized by its curvaceous flowing lines, by incorporating art and fashion as integral components of the automotive exhibit.

All of this for the admission price of $10 for adults, $5.00 children 6-12, seniors and active military.

The exhibit runs through April 2011. For a full schedule of all the Larz Anderson Auto Museum events visit: www.larzanderson.org, or call 617-522-6547.

Wheelchair accessible, and the exhibit is housed in the incredible 18th century castle venue, so rain or shine, it’s a great way to spend the day.

The Wellness Program The Wellness Program offers a w e e k l y s u p p o r t g ro u p o n Wednesday from noon - 3pm for individuals who have cancer or are in remission. The weekly groups are sponsored by the The Dimock Center and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital. The Program also offers Yoga and Expressive writing for more information contact The Dimock Center at 617-4428800 x1790.

The Community Calendar has been established to list community events at no cost. The admission cost of events must not exceed $10. Church services and recruitment requests will not be published. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF PUBLICATION. To guarantee publication with a paid advertisement please call advertising at (617) 261-4600 ext. 111 or email sandra@bannerpub.com. NO LISTINGS ARE ACCEPTED BY TELEPHONE, FAX OR MAIL. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. Deadline for all listings is Friday at noon for publication the following week. E-MAIL your information to: calendar@bannerpub.com. To list your event online please go to www.baystatebanner.com/events and list your event directly. Events listed in print are not added to the online events page by Banner staff members.

There are no ticket cost restrictions for the online postings.

B

Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER • 15

NewsDIGEST Democrat urges Obama to target minority hardships WASHINGTON — The top-ranking African American in Congress called on President Barack Obama Friday to sharpen his focus on hard-hit minority communities in his plans for bolstering the economy.

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., said the recession has devastated communities of color, leaving them with extraordinarily high unemployment rates. He said previous government recovery programs have left minorities behind and called on Obama to broadly incorporate a so-called “10-20-30” policy directing at least 10 percent of any recovery efforts into communities with 20 percent poverty rates for 30 years.

“I believe that something of this order needs to be done across the board as we go forward,” Clyburn said in a conference call with reporters accompanying the release of a minority economic report from the Center for American Progress, a liberal advocacy group.

Clyburn’s comments came just days before Obama delivered his annual State of the Union address and as the president unveiled a restructured presidential advisory board — with corporate leadership — to focus on creating jobs. Obama named GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt as the head of a new Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.

“It seems today that already a recovery is taking place. It is showing up in the investor community but it is not showing up in communities of color,” said Clyburn, the third-ranking House Democrat.

The Center for American Progress report released Friday emphasized that minorities have struggled through the recession far more than whites.

It noted that black unemployment stands at nearly 16 percent versus about 9 percent for whites and 13 percent for Latinos. Nearly 75 percent of whites own homes, versus 45 percent of blacks and 47 percent of Latinos.

Obama has supported the 10-20-30 formula in the past, after lawmakers added it to the rural development section of the stimulus package that Congress passed in 2009.

Lawyer accuses new Baltimore prosecutor of bias BALTIMORE — Baltimore’s new state’s attorney says his decision to drop a felony assault charge against a member of an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood watch group accused of attacking a black teenager was based on the evidence.

The teenager’s attorney said after the decision that State’s Attorney Gregg Bernstein was being soft on Jewish hate crime because he is Jewish.

Bernstein said his decision was based only on the evidence in the case.

Attorney J. Wyndal Gordon claims his client was targeted because he is black.

The felony charge was dropped last Thursday against 23-year-old Eliyahu Werdesheim, a former Israeli special-forces soldier, who still faces misdemeanor charges. Werdesheim’s brother, 20-year-old Avi Werdesheim, also faces misdemeanor charges in the case.

Emory officials express regret over slavery ATLANTA — Emory University officials are expressing regret for the campus’ role in slavery in Georgia.

The Atlanta university’s Board of Trustees has adopted a formal statement acknowledging the campus’ involvement with slavery after its founding in 1836. Officials say Emory founders used slaves to build and support the college in its early days.

Emory’s founders also were influential in driving the North-South schism in the Methodist Episcopal Church leading up the Civil War. Emory President Jim Wagner said it was important to recognize the university’s “painful’’ history.”

Emory will hold a national conference next month focusing on slavery’s role in American colleges, featuring Brown University President Ruth Simmons.

Woman who helped integrate Memphis State dies KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A classmate of Sammie Burnett Johnson, one of the eight black students who marched onto the Memphis State campus in 1959 to integrate the school, is lamenting that there is now a “missing link” in their group.

Johnson, whose funeral was Saturday in Kansas City, enrolled at Memphis State after spending a semester at the historically black LeMoyne College, now LeMoyne-Owen College.

“She really wanted an integrated atmosphere, not just at the school but in the community,” Marvis Kneeland Jones of Memphis, another in the group known as the Memphis State Eight, told The Kansas City Star.

Though the students felt they had a right to attend because the university received state funding and their parents paid taxes, administrators at what is now the University of Memphis had strict rules for Johnson and her black classmates.

Among them were that the students were barred from attending sporting events or joining Greek organizations, and they had to leave campus by noon each day.

“It was tough, but the community would not let us let up,” Jones recalled.

“The people at church always asked us to keep the faith and keep going.”

Now Jones is mourning the loss of her friend. Johnson was 71 when she died Jan. 15 at her home in the Kansas City suburb of Grandview, said the Lawrence A. Jones Funeral Chapels.

Associated Press

16 • Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER

Turner

continued from page 1

struggle… If I die in prison, all I want is an autopsy. As far as I’m concerned, we’re at war.”

During the sentencing, Woodlock called Turner’s tes-

timony during the trial “ludicrous and surreal.”

“The defendant perjured himself at trial,” he said. “He stated things he knew were not true ... No one forced him to testify.”

Woodlock said $1,000 may seem like short money ... but

it’s real money. You’d remember it. Anyone would remember it. The right thing to do is give it back — immediately.

That’s not what Mr. Turner did.”

Ortiz was equally blunt and blasted Turner for likening himself to civil rights icons.

“Mr. Turner is no Rosa Rarks; he’s a convicted felon,’ ” Ortiz said outside the courtroom.

Material from published reports contributed to this story.

Until the battle is won, ceaselessly practice yoga.

Keep fighting until you are fearless. Trust your own inner Self; be content. Have faith in the Guru and the scriptures; be victorious. You are free, the embodiment of wisdom.

— Swami Muktananda

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Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER • 17

Project MEMA touches lives in Tanzanian nursery school

(Photos courtesy of Amy Wendel) Jennifer Jasmine When asked why she started the nonprofit organization Project MEMA, Amy Wendel takes a serious tone and describes the conditions at Magereza Nursery School in Moshi, Tanzania. “I just couldn’t get them out of my head, it’s that simple,” she says Wendel was a volunteer in October of 2009, when she first visited the city of Moshi, Tanzania. The children’s struggles there changed her life.

She recalls the children’s daily routine in a three-room school of 80 students ranging in age from 2 ½ to 7. They began each morning by erasing the previous day’s math assignments from the only sheet of paper they had in order to reuse it.

They also had just one pencil, sharpened on both ends, to share, or “fight over,” as Wendel puts it.

Wendel, whose own mother is a preschool teacher in New Jersey, remembers how ver vision of what a pre-school should look like crashed with modern-day reality in Tanzania.

“They walked to school, sometimes for over an hour, by themselves, and in shoes 2-3 sizes too big for them,” she remembers. Soon after returning to Boston, Wendel decided that she had the power to make a difference in the lives of the students that she had met. She founded Project MEMA, a nonprofit organization whose name describes its mission, Making Education in Moshi Accessible.

Mema also means ‘good’ in Kiswahili, the local language of Moshi, and that is what Wendel has set out to do.

In September of last year, Wendel returned to Magereza with suitcases full of supplies — and a mission.

She vowed to use funds raised for her nonprofit to provide a reliable source of useful and essential school supplies, to make one significant change to the nursery school each time she visited and to visit at least once a year.

Before her last visit, she organized local volunteers to help build a Learning Landscape from locally sourced recycled tires. She used plans from The Learning Landscape Network to build the educational playground. The area serves as a much-needed recreational space

and has also been used for reading and math lessons.

She also purchased local materials and hired women to make 80 new uniforms for the students. The uniforms cost approximately $5 each to make.

Wendel said she realizes that what seems like a very small expense to many Americans can make a dramatic difference in the lives of the children she is striving to help. She is operating her organization based on what she describes as “modest but very meaningful goals.”

Wendel plans to return to Moshi in August of this year and has worked with the school’s teacher to set up a schedule of things that need to be done. With this coming trip she will buy local lumber and again seek volunteers to build much

Wendel needs to buy lumber for the porridge house furniture.

Among her future goals, Wendel says, is a plan to off set the tuition of as many students as possible. It costs only $12 a year to send a child to Magereza, but this is an expense that many families in the community simply cannot afford. Parents often have to pay the tuition in installments of 25 cents at a time and when they are unable to make those payments, many children simply have to stop coming to school. She has visited another nursery school in Moshi that she hopes to help, “It is smaller,” she says, “but they need so much.”

In Tanzania only 20 percent of children are able to go through primary and onto secondary school.

Wendel said she realizes that what seems like a very small expense to many Americans can make a dramatic difference in the lives of the children she is striving to help. She is operating her organization based on what she describes as “modest but very meaningful goals.”

needed benches and tables for the schools porridge house. Porridge is made at the school from flour, sugar, and milk, and is often the only meal many of the children eat in a day. Currently the children have no choice but to eat standing up or sitting on the damp ground.

Wendel says that during the rainy season this is particularly problematic.

She describes what a difference this simple addition to the school can make to build the children’s confidence.

Wendel has found support for Project MEMA in family, friends and colleagues, and has begun to branch out into larger fundraising efforts.

Over the holidays she sold calendars made with photos of Magereza and the children, and on March 7 J. Lohr winery is sponsoring a wine dinner for Project MEMA at Bistro 5 in Medford. The proceeds from the dinner will help to provide the funds

Wendel lists in her future goals the possibility of setting up a scholarship to sponsor one child per year graduating from Magereza nursery school, based on academic achievement and need.

She would like to be able to send them through primary and secondary school, and give them a shot at an education many American children take for granted. She estimates that this support of a child through age 18 will cost approximately $1,500 per child and has already brainstormed the details of how she could begin to set up trusts to ensure the honest execution of her plans.

She also said that she has a wish list. “And I would love to buy them all shoes!”

More information about Project MEMA can be found at www.projectmema.org

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18 • Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER

Debut film set during Black Power movement Bridgit Brown

Has it been a challenge to get this film screened?

“Night Catches Us” is the debut feature film by writer and director Tanya Hamilton.

Set in the late 1970s amidst the backdrop of a struggling Black Power movement, this film stars Kerry Washington and Anthony Mackie. Marcus, played by Mackie, is the main character and a former member of Philly’s Black Power movement. When he returns home after being away for several years, he finds himself caught up in a hornet’s nest of unresolved issues that include his former Black Power cronies and Patricia, his former lover, played by Washington.

The challenge for Marcus is to figure out a way to navigate through the world that he has returned by either laying to rest the issues of the past or taking off again. Which way does he go?

In a conversation with the Bay State Banner, Hamilton said that the characters in the film were metaphors for the Black Power movement. She also discussed the contemporary significance of some of themes presented in the “Night Catch Us,” which will screen on Thursday, Jan. 27 at the Stuart Street Playhouse.

Magnolia Films picked up the film a couple of months after Sundance last year, where we debuted. It’s an interesting movie and I think it’s done extremely well, critically. We’ve gotten amazing reviews from every important place, and that’s been very good. I think that we — as a people and movie consumers — have a specific language that we eat up and I think that what all of us are trying to do is to try to make films that are commercially viable and that speak a different language. I think that to embark on that you have to change

minds and you have to entice people to eat something different. I don’t think it’s been a massive box office success, but we are half way through it and we will see what happens.

There aren’t many feature films about the Black Power movement. Does this film come out of a need to have the language that you are speaking on the big screen?

I can only speak from being a person of color living in the world, and I have a child, and what I want for my child going forward. It’s not necessarily stuff that I thought all

that much about until I had a child, but I care what she watches, and I care about how she is going to grow up thinking about herself. I can clearly remember my entrance to this country when I was eight and what I thought prior to coming here versus what I thought when I was living here. I have a sense of what the world is like when you leave this country; especially when you go to a country that is all black versus what it’s like here. So all of those things really inspired me to think about what my responsibilities are and interests. I’ve traveled through Europe as a black person, and have traveled pretty far and wide and I have a sense of how people of color are perceived across the world. I think it’s weird, quite frankly, given how vast our presence and our language is here.

Do you have a specific purpose as a director?

I respect art and commerce

equally, so I don’t want to make movies that no one will ever see. I want to find a way to make movies that are in the middle. My mandate is: How can I make movies that have a social or political relevance in the world that I live in? And how can these films reflect people of color, regardless of how brown you are?

Are you working on any other projects?

I’m working on my second film.

I’m interested in modern Native American movement and culture, and so I’m trying to take pieces of that world to craft a story and see how it goes.

Tickets to”Night Catches Us” can be purchased online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/148065 or visit the Stuart Street Playhouse box office, open seven days a week from 2 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Not Sew Square The Quilted Works of Celeste Janey, Brenda Jones and Valarie Pratt-Poitier

Was this inspired by any particular story?

Not at all. It is completely fictional and kind of like a tapestry of things taken from different places.

What is the significance of this story today?

I think it’s a continuation of a discussion that I don’t think has ended in any way. I think we are still living with a lot of the same issues of the past, and in many ways those issues are coming from beyond race. I think that they deal with class, poverty and communities sustaining themselves, and health care.

Opening Reception Saturday, January 15th, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Haley House Bakery Café 12 Dade Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 617-445-0900 (exhibit runs through March 3rd)

Why was it important for you to make this film?

I think we really were blessed to be able to make a movie that looks at the African American in a different way. It breaks apart what we see as a consistent stereotype of what we are as people and what our lives are like.

I think we are trying to reshape for ourselves how these films are made and how we represent ourselves to the rest of the world.

How did you get into filmmaking?

This is my first feature film and I made a short that was my thesis at Columbia University where I went to graduate school. It was shot in Jamaica, where I am from. I went to undergrad as a painter in New York and then went to school for screenwriting and directing. I spent a lot of time as a writer, and that was free and easier to do than making movies.

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Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER • 19

SCLC

continued from page 1

The Rev. Joseph Lowery, the SCLC’s longest-serving president and 2010 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work during the civil rights movement, said he spoke with Bernice King on Friday.

“She and the board couldn’t find common ground, so I think she did the wise thing, rather than enter into a relationship with built-in turbulence,” Lowery said, adding that he was saddened by what has happened to the organization.

When King became the first woman elected SCLC president in 2009, she vowed to reinvigorate the organization by expanding the group’s reach to more women and a younger generation.

Soon after, the SCLC’s chairman and treasurer were accused of financial mismanagement, and squabbling among the group’s leaders landed the splintered factions in a courtroom.

She put off taking her oath as president of the landmark civil rights group co-founded by her father, remaining largely silent as the group’s troubles escalated over the past 16 months.

King told The Associated Press that in the end, she and the group’s leaders didn’t agree on how to move forward.

“In light of that, and attempts on several occasions to try to reach out and dialogue, this is where I’ve landed,” she said. “Essentially, I knew that I was not going to be merely a figurehead, so I had to make a

critical decision. I look forward to continuing the legacies of my parents and establishing my own legacy.”

Although she called the SCLC’s recent troubles unfortunate, King stopped short of saying the SCLC should disband.

“They have chapters around the nation who hold the name SCLC and they are doing different kinds of work in their communities,” King said. “They have an opportunity ... to decide and redefine how they want to be projected in the public.”

King said she notified board leaders of her decision last Thursday. Now, she said she is focusing on other endeavors.

This week, King launched a 100 Days of Nonviolence campaign at the Coretta Scott King Academy, named for her mother.

The initiative is in response to the shootings in Tucson, Ariz., which claimed six lives and left U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords recovering from a gunshot wound to the head.

King also plans to republish her mother’s book, “My Life with Martin Luther King Jr.,’’ and release the King matriarch’s neverbefore published autobiography.

Andrew Young, also a former Atlanta mayor, said Bernice King’s departure from the organization was “wonderful.”

“I tried to get Bernice to see when she wanted to revive it that it wasn’t worth wasting her talents on, that we needed to let it go,” Young said. “That doesn’t mean that there’s not work to be done.”

Founded by African American ministers in Atlanta in 1957 following the successful Mont-

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gomery Bus Boycott, the SCLC under Martin Luther King Jr. advocated non-violent protest as it worked to bring equality to blacks, particularly in the South.

The group played a major role in the March on Washington, as well as civil rights campaigns in Birmingham and Selma, Ala. The group’s efforts helped lead to the end of segregation and the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The SCLC also spoke out against

Tucker said she was not sure when a new president might be elected.

As its president from 1957 until his assassination in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was the face of the SCLC for the major battles of the civil rights era. He was succeeded by the late Rev. Ralph Abernathy, who served from 1968 until 1977, and then Lowery from 1977 until 1997.

Lowery then turned the organization over to Martin Luther King III, who headed it from

“She and the board couldn’t find common ground, so I think she did the wise thing, rather than enter into a relationship with built-in turbulence.”

— Rev. Joseph Lowery poverty, racism and war.

“It did its work well,” Young said. “But it was never any law that said we all had to stay together for the rest of our lives. I don’t believe in keeping organizations alive just for the sake of the name.”

SCLC Chairwoman Sylvia Tucker said she was stunned by King’s decision.

“We have to continue to move forward, because there’s such a need out there,” Tucker said.

“Having a president doesn’t determine what our mission is, to really take care of the least of these.”

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1998 to 2003.

“It has so many problems,” said Lowery, the president emeritus of SCLC. “Fighting without, fighting within ... Unless they find a grip on reality soon, I think outside forces will determine their fate and the organization won’t have to do anything about it at all.”

At a press conference after her election, Bernice King said she was eager to rejuvenate the group.

But the news weeks later that the SCLC was looking into allegations that its chairman and treasurer had mismanaged funds

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threw its board of directors into chaos as members chose sides.

By the spring, the dispute over who controlled the SCLC was headed to court. The group had split into two factions, both claiming to be in charge and making decisions on behalf of the entire organization.

Bernice King led a prayer for unity within the group in August, calling for an end to the hard feelings. In September, a judge ruled that the directors siding with King were the group’s legitimate leaders.

The former chairman, the Rev. Raleigh Trammell — the subject of the federal and internal probe — was indicted last week on charges including grand theft involving a meal program for low-income seniors in southwest Ohio.

The Rev. Markel Hutchins, who at one time claimed the presidency of the SCLC during the period of infighting, said Friday that the ongoing strife among the group has been about “the soul, future and integrity of the SCLC.” “We will fight like hell to reclaim the organization that has, at this moment, been stolen by those who have not been longtime participants in the struggle for human dignity,” Hutchins said.

Associated Press Restrain the mind.

Withdraw the senses; master them.

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Focus all the diverse tendencies of your mind.

Fill your organs of action, your senses of perception, and your mind with the awareness of oneness.

— Swami Muktananda

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20 • Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER

‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier: I came to take part in reconstruction Jonathan M. Katz PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier ended his silence, telling Haitians he returned after 25 years in exile because he wanted to participate in the reconstruction of the earthquake-shattered country.

The 59-year-old ex-strongman, speaking in a faint voice in his first public comments since arriving in Haiti on Sunday, told Haitians and reporters that he was ready to face “persecution” and had timed his return to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake.

“When I made the decision to come back to Haiti to commemorate this sad anniversary with you, in our country, I was ready for any kind of persecution,” Duvalier said Friday. “But I believe that the desire to participate by your side in this collaboration for the national reconstruction far outweighs any harassment I could face.”

Since his stunning return to Haiti, the man known as “Baby Doc” had largely remained holed up in a luxury hotel and in a private residence, his isolation feeding speculation as to exactly why he had come home.

He did not field any questions during Friday’s address, leaving that to three American consultants — including former U.S. congressman and presidential candidate Bob Barr — and one of his Haitian lawyers.

The former leader, who ruled Haiti from 1971 to 1986 through terror and the regime he inherited from his father, returned to the shattered nation. He soon found

himself facing an investigation by a Haitian court for corruption, embezzlement, torture, arbitrary imprisonment, crimes against humanity and other allegations.

His motives for returning have been a source of debate and confusion. Some believe he had a desire

sional words of Haitian Creole.

He referred to his arrival Sunday at “Francois Duvalier International Airport” — which carried his father’s name until his fall from power. It is now Touissant L’Overture International Airport, named for the leader of Haiti’s late

“My profound sadness toward my countrymen who consider themselves, rightly, to have been victims of my government.”

— Jean-Claude Duvalier to unlock Swiss bank accounts that contain the last remnants of his squandered fortune. Others speculate that he is gravely ill, or that he is a pawn in someone else’s game — Haiti’s current president, the United States or France — to influence Haiti’s current electoral crisis.

Duvalier did not address any of those topics, other than to say it was his choice to return. He appeared to be in imperfect health, slurring his speech at times in a near-whisper, apparently unable to move his neck and walking with a shuffle.

Much of the speech was a throwback to earlier times. He spoke in French, the colonial language used by presidents until after his ouster, dropping in only occa-

18th Century revolution.

About Haiti’s past, Duvalier expressed sympathy primarily for his partisans “killed, burned, grilled, tortured by ‘Pe Lebrun’ ” — the Haitian slang term for placing a tire around someone’s neck and setting it on fire — or who lost

their property in revenge against his regime following his ouster.

“And all under the glare of cameras around the world,” he added.

As for those tortured, imprisoned, killed and exiled under his rule he offered “my profound sadness toward my countrymen who consider themselves, rightly, to have been victims of my government.”

He ended with a declaration “imitating Martin Luther King” in which he envisioned a day when “all Haiti’s children, men and women, old and young, rich and poor, from the interior and from the Diaspora, can march hand in hand without exclusion to participate together in Haiti’s rebirth.”

As he shuffled off, the Americans Barr, longtime Duvalier family adviser and attorney Ed Marger and Snellville, Ga., attorney Mike Puglise — arrived with Haitian lawyer Reynold Georges to take questions while a band waving Duvalier’s red-and-black party flag played outside.

Barr called Duvalier’s speech “profoundly moving.”

Marger, who handled most of the queries, said they were there to help Duvalier collect undelivered reconstruction funds promised by the United States and other countries at the March 31, 2010, U.N. donors’ conference. He said Duvalier could manage them more effectively than former U.S. President Bill Clinton and distribute them more justly than current Haitian President Rene Preval.

The men said they would be

paid if Duvalier is able to collect those funds.

On the ex-dictator’s health, Marger said he appeared to be suffering from a “stiff neck.”

As for the accusations about the abuses under his regime, Marger said: “Are there atrocities in Haiti?

You bet your life. Is (Duvalier) responsible for them? I don’t know.”

Amnesty International reiterated Friday that Duvalier should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of Haitian law.

“There is no statute of limitations for crimes against humanity. Jean-Claude Duvalier therefore must be brought to justice for these acts,” said researcher Gerardo Ducos. “He must remain in the country as long as the investigation is taking place.”

But many Haitians, too young to remember his time in power, reacted more favorably to the exdictator’s speech.

“He came to do good things for us. This country doesn’t function anymore,” said Kevins Felicie, a motorcycle driver born four months after Duvalier boarded a U.S. plane for exile. “It wasn’t me that was hurt by him, or even my dad — but my grandfather. He didn’t do anything to me.”

Associated Press writer Jacob Kushner contributed to this report.

Continue to meditate.

Through meditation, keep climbing higher.

O courageous soul, have no fear.

O dear one, complete your sadhana with a brave heart.

— Swami Muktananda

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Goddard House Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Jamaica Plain and its sister community, Goddard House in Brookline, recently honored Sheereen Hossen Montrose (l) and Jocelyn Calixte (c) with The Phyllis Vineyard Award for Exemplary Staff Service. The women are pictured with Vineyard, who served on the Goddard House Board of Trustees for over two decades.

(Photo courtesy of Goddard House)

Religious Worship Guide New Hope Baptist Church “The Church That Cares and Shares” Reverend Willie Dubose Jr., Pastor

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Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER • 21

Mass. AG: Tougher laws needed to target pimps Steve LeBlanc Attorney General Martha Coakley is joining with lawmakers and police to push a bill to toughen criminal penalties against pimps and others profiting from human trafficking.

The bill creates the state crime of trafficking of individuals for sexual servitude, with a maximum penalty of 20 years in state prison. The bill also establishes a separate crime of trafficking persons for forced labor, to be punished by 15 years in prison.

The bill would impose higher penalties for those who exploit children under the age of 18 and allow judges to order those convicted of human trafficking to forfeit any funds to their victims.

“This is a public safety issue and it is a human rights issue,” Coakley said last week. “This bill sends the message that human trafficking is unacceptable.”

Coakley said that all too often

in the past the focus has been on arresting the young people pressured into prostitution and not the individuals profiting from the sex trade.

She said human trafficking is the fastest growing type of criminal enterprise, in part because existing state penalties are relatively light and the young people pressed into prostitution, often teenage girls, can be forced to engage in sex for money repeatedly.

Coakley also said that the Internet has made it much easier for girls to be sold for sex with less risk of arrest.

Massachusetts is one of just five states without a human trafficking law. A human trafficking bill passed in the Senate last session, but died in the House.

Sen. Mark Montigny said he hopes the bill will have better luck in the new two-year legislative session. He said that while there are federal human trafficking laws, the state needs to adopt

LEGALS Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department

its own statutes to give local police and investigators the legal tools they need.

He said human trafficking doesn’t just involve sexual servi-

slavery, nothing less,” said Montigny, D-New Bedford. “The folks that are doing this are the worst criminals.”

Audrey Porter worked for years in the commercial sex trade in Boston’s notorious Combat Zone before eventually finding a way out of a life of prostitution and abuse.

Porter, who now works as associate director of the advocacy My Life My Choice Project counseling young women, said

“There’s nothing glamorous about children having to sell their bodies over and over again to these strange men.”

— Audrey Porter tude, but can include the hiring of nannies in wealthier areas kept against their will and subject to abuse.

“It is absolutely, modern day

the focus of law enforcement has to be on the demand side of sex trafficking.

“I keep thinking if it weren’t for the pimps and the johns,

Bid documents will be made available beginning WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011

Bid documents will be made available beginning JANUARY 26, 2011.

Bid Documents in electronic format may be obtained free of charge at the Authority's Capital Programs Department Office, together with any addenda or amendments, which the Authority may issue and a printed copy of the Proposal form.

NOTICE OF PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, a petition has been presented requesting that a document purporting to be the last copy of the will of said decedent be proved and allowed, and that Shelia A. Goldsmith of Dorchester, MA be appointed executrix, named in the will to serve Without Surety.

IF YOU DESIRE TO OBJECT THERETO, YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY MUST FILE A WRITTEN APPEARANCE IN SAID COURT AT BOSTON ON OR BEFORE TEN O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING (10:00 AM) ON: 02/10/11 In addition, you must file a written affidavit of objections to the petition, stating specific facts and grounds upon which the objection is based, within thirty (30) days after the return day (or such other time as the court, on motion with notice to the petitioner, may allow) in accordance with Probate Rule 16.

WITNESS, Hon. John M. Smoot, First Justice of this Court.

Date: January 10, 2011 Richard Iannella Register of Probate

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU10P1888EA In the Estate of: Leroy Jacobs Late of: Boston, MA 02121 Date of Death: 07/23/2007

NOTICE OF PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR To all persons interested in the above captioned estate, a petition has been presented requesting that Irene Jacobs of Boston, MA or some other suitable person be appointed administratrix of said estate to serve With Corporate Surety.

IF YOU DESIRE TO OBJECT THERETO, YOU OR YOUR ATTORNEY MUST FILE A WRITTEN APPEARANCE IN SAID COURT AT BOSTON ON OR BEFORE TEN O'CLOCK IN THE FORENOON (10:00 AM) ON: 02/10/2011 WITNESS, Hon. John M. Smoot, First Justice of this Court.

Date: January 10, 2011 Richard Iannella Register of Probate

A proposal guaranty shall be submitted with each General Bid consisting of a bid deposit for five (5) percent of the value of the bid; when sub bids are required, each must be accompanied by a deposit equal to five (5) percent of the sub bid amount, in the form of a bid bond, or cash, or a certified check, or a treasurer's or a cashier's check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, payable to the Massachusetts Port Authority in the name of which the Contract for the work is to be executed. The bid deposit shall be (a) in a form satisfactory to the Authority, (b) with a surety company qualified to do business in the Commonwealth and satisfactory to the Authority, and (c) conditioned upon the faithful performance by the principal of the agreements contained in the bid.

The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond, each in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract price. The surety shall be a surety company or securities satisfactory to the Authority. Attention is called to the minimum rate of wages to be paid on the work as determined under the provisions of Chapter 149, Massachusetts General Laws, Section 26 to 27G, inclusive, as amended. The Contractor will be required to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedules listed in Division II, Special Provisions of the Specifications, which wage rates have been predetermined by the U. S. Secretary of Labor and /or the Commissioner of Labor and Industries of Massachusetts, whichever is greater.

The successful Bidder will be required to purchase and maintain Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and Property Damage Liability Insurance for a combined single limit of $1,000,000.00. Said policy shall be on an occurrence basis and the Authority shall be included as an Additional Insured. See the insurance sections of Division I, General Requirements and Division II, Special Provisions for complete details.

This Contract is also subject to Affirmative Action requirements of the Massachusetts Port Authority contained in the Non Discrimination and Affirmative Action article of Division I, General Requirements and Covenants, and to the Secretary of Labor's Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Opportunity and the Standard Federal Equal Opportunity Construction Contract Specifications (Executive Order 11246).

The General Contractor is required to submit a Certification of Non Segregated Facilities prior to award of the Contract, and to notify prospective subcontractors of the requirement for such certification where the subcontract exceeds $10,000.

Complete information and authorization to view the site may be obtained from the Capital Programs Department Office at the Massachusetts Port Authority. The right is reserved to waive any informality in or reject any or all proposals.

MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS J. KINTON, JR. CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed General Bids for MPA Contract No. AP1111-C1, FY 2011 – 2014 TERM CONTRACT FOR ABATEMENT, REMEDIATION AND REPLACEMENT MATERIALS, ALL MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY FACILITIES, will be received by the Massachusetts Port Authority at the Capital Programs Department Office, Suite 209S, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 02128, until 11:00 A.M. local time on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2011 immediately after which, in a designated room, the bids will be opened and read publicly.

Sealed General Bids for MPA Contract No. L963-C1 IN-LINE BOILER STACK UPGRADE – HEATING PLANT, LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, EAST BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, will be received by the Massachusetts Port Authority at the Capital Programs Department Office, Suite 209S, Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, Massachusetts 02116, until 11:00 A.M. local time on FEBRUARY 23, 2011 immediately after which, in a designated room, the bids will be opened and read publicly.

NOTE: PRE BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE CAPITAL PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT (ABOVE ADDRESS) AT 1:00 P.M. LOCAL TIME ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2011 The work includes ABATEMENT/REMEDIATION OF ASBESTOS AND ASBESTOS CONTAMINATED MATERIALS, MICROBIALLY-IMPACTED/WATER-DAMAGED MATERIALS, LEAD-BASED PAINT COATED/CONTAMINATED SURFACES AND GUANO-COVERED/CONTAMINATED SURFACES; REINSULATION, REPLACEMENT, REPAIR AND REFINISHING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS WORK.

With all your mind, with all your vital force, meditate.

Without conflict, continue your yogic practice.

This world is no bed of flowers; it is covered with thorns and stones.

— Swami Muktananda

LEGALS

Docket No. SU11P0053EA In the Estate of: Marjorie Anne Jones Late of: Boston, MA 02121 Date of Death: 04/12/2008

Associated Press

LEGALS

The estimated contract cost is $400,000.00.

SUFFOLK Division

how easy it would be to get rid of this,” Porter said. “There’s nothing glamorous about children having to sell their bodies over and over again to these strange men.”

Coakley also announced last Thursday the creation of a human trafficking strike force within the Attorney General’s office to work with other state agencies to increase prosecutions, educate the public, and help train police and other law enforcement agencies.

Last Thursday’s bill filing follows an October hearing by Coakley’s office on public safety concerns about the role of websites in aiding human trafficking and the illegal sex trade.

An estimated 27 million people are trafficked internationally and domestically, bringing in $32 billion annually.

NOTE: PRE BID CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD AT THE CAPITAL PROGRAMS DEPARTMENT (ABOVE ADDRESS) AT 10:00 A.M. LOCAL TIME ON FEBRUARY 9, 2011 The work includes: FURNISHING ALL LABOR, MATERIALS, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT NECCESSARY TO COMPLETE THE SURFACE PREPARATION, AND PAINTING OF THREE (3) NINETY FOOT (90’) HIGH BOILER STACKS, ASSOCIATED STRUCTURAL SUPPORT SYSTEM AND CATWALK SYSTEM AT THE HEATING PLANT. WORK ALSO INCLUDES INSTALLING AND DISMANTLING THE NECESSARY STAGING SYSTEM AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

In order to be eligible and responsible to bid on this contract General Bidders must submit with their bid a current Certificate of Eligibility issued by the Division of Capital Asset Management and an Update Statement.

The General Bidder must be certified in the category of PAINTING. The estimated contract cost is FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ($480,000.00).

Bid Documents in electronic format may be obtained free of charge at the Authority's Capital Programs Department Office, together with any addenda or amendments, which the Authority may issue and a printed copy of the Proposal form.

Bidding procedures and award of the contract and sub contracts shall be in accordance with the provisions of Sections 44A through 44H inclusive, Chapter 149 of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

A proposal guaranty shall be submitted with each General Bid consisting of a bid deposit for five (5) percent of the value of the bid; when sub bids are required, each must be accompanied by a deposit equal to five (5) percent of the sub bid amount, in the form of a bid bond, or cash, or a certified check, or a treasurer's or a cashier's check issued by a responsible bank or trust company, payable to the Massachusetts Port Authority in the name of which the Contract for the work is to be executed. The bid deposit shall be (a) in a form satisfactory to the Authority, (b) with a surety company qualified to do business in the Commonwealth and satisfactory to the Authority, and (c) conditioned upon the faithful performance by the principal of the agreements contained in the bid.

The successful Bidder will be required to furnish a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond, each in an amount equal to 100% of the Contract price. The surety shall be a surety company or securities satisfactory to the Authority. Attention is called to the minimum rate of wages to be paid on the work as determined under the provisions of Chapter 149, Massachusetts General Laws, Section 26 to 27G, inclusive, as amended. The Contractor will be required to pay minimum wages in accordance with the schedules listed in Division II, Special Provisions of the Specifications, which wage rates have been predetermined by the U. S. Secretary of Labor and/or the Commissioner of Labor and Industries of Massachusetts, whichever is greater.

The successful Bidder will be required to purchase and maintain Bodily Injury Liability Insurance, Auto Liability Insurance, and Property Damage Liability Insurance for a combined single limit of ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000.00). Said policy shall be on an occurrence basis and the Authority shall be included as an Additional Insured. See the insurance sections of Division I, General Requirements and Division II, Special Provisions for complete details.

No filed sub bids will be required for this contract.

This contract is subject to a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise participation provision requiring that not less than TWELVE PERCENT (12%) of the Contract be performed by disadvantaged business enterprise contractors.

With respect to this provision, bidders are urged to familiarize themselves thoroughly with the Bidding Documents. Strict compliance with the pertinent procedures will be required for a bidder to be deemed responsive and eligible.

This Contract is also subject to Affirmative Action requirements of the Massachusetts Port Authority contained in Article 84 of the General Requirements and Covenants, and to the Secretary of Labor's Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Opportunity and the Standard Federal Equal Opportunity Construction Contract Specifications (Executive Order 11246).

The General Contractor is required to submit a Certification of Non Segregated Facilities prior to award of the Contract, and to notify prospective subcontractors of the requirement for such certification where the subcontract exceeds $10,000.

Complete information and authorization to view the site may be obtained from the Capital Programs Department Office at the Massachusetts Port Authority. The right is reserved to waive any informality in or reject any or all proposals.

MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY THOMAS J. KINTON, JR. CEO AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

22 • Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER

LEGALS COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE DIVISION OF CAPITAL ASSET MANGEMENT & MAINTENANCE (DCAM) Request for Qualifications for Construction Management at Risk Services Massachusetts State Project No. MCA0602 DC1 Center for Design & Media, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through its Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM), requests that qualified and experienced firms submit a Statement of Qualifications and required information to the DCAM Bid Room no later than 2:00 PM eastern standard time, Thursday, February 17, 2011.

Firms interested in providing Public Construction Manager at Risk Services (“CM” or “CM at Risk”) for the University of Massachusetts New Academic and Classroom Building (“Project”) are invited to submit a Statement of Qualifications (“SOQ”) to the Division of Capital Asset Management (“DCAM”).

This CM at Risk procurement is conducted pursuant to M.G.L. 149A, contained in Chapter 193 of the Acts of 2004. This Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) is the first phase of a two-phase procurement process as set forth in M.G.L. 149A. DCAM is prequalifying firms interested in providing public CM at Risk services for the project through the RFQ process. DCAM will evaluate submitted SOQs based upon the identified evaluation criteria as set forth in the RFQ and will select those respondents it deems qualified. Only those respondents deemed qualified will be invited to submit a proposal in response to a detailed Request for Proposals (“RFP”), which will be issued in the second phase of the procurement process. The project delivery method for construction will be public CM at Risk with a Guaranteed Maximum Price (“GMP”) under M.G.L. 149A. Firms interested in being prequalified must demonstrate that they have had prior experience as a General Contractor or Construction Manager on at least three prior projects of a similar size, complexity and type as this project as it is described further below and in the RFQ. At the time a CM firm submits the Qualification Statements, it must have a DCAM Certification in the Contractor Category, “General Building Construction” with a single limit greater than the Estimated Total Project cost of $21,795,000.00.

LEGALS the category of Bridge Construction for projects estimated to cost at least $7.5 million and that a key member of the team is prequalified by the MBTA in the category of Class 1 – General Transit with a Single Project Rating of $5 million.

There will be a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goal of twenty percent (20%) and Minority Manpower Utilization and Female Construction Workforce utilization goals of five percent (5%) and six and nine-tenths percent (6.9%), respectively, for the Project. Teams shall affirmatively ensure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant this solicitation, minority and female construction contractors will be afforded full opportunity to submit proposals and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, age or national origin in consideration for award. Teams will also be required to comply with Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Regulations and any amendments or supplements thereto as well as the MBTA’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Participation Provisions.

Teams will also be required to certify as part of their proposals that they are able to furnish labor that can work in harmony with all other elements of labor employed or to be employed on the work. The contract will be subject to Buy America provisions and to minimum wage rates in accordance with the Davis-Bacon Act, as well as all other applicable labor laws and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) contract requirements.

Each Team that is chosen to submit a proposal will be required to provide a Bid Guarantee in the amount of five (5%) of the value of the bid, in the form of a bid bond.

The successful proposer will also be required to furnish a performance bond and a labor and materials payment bond, each for the full amount of the contract price.

Complete instructions for the submission of Statements of Qualifications shall be set forth in the RFQ. The MBTA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive informalities, to advertise for new proposals or proceed to do the work otherwise, as may be deemed in the best interests of the Authority.

See www.mass.gov/dcam/certification for certification forms and the required Update Form.

The project captures underutilized space within the Gym and Tower buildings to create flexible instructional and collaborative learning spaces where a new interdisciplinary Design and Media curriculum can evolve. The project will provide a dynamic new formal main entrance to the cluster of academic buildings for the MassArt-Design campus that occupies an entire urban block. The new main entrance will connect to the campus-wide system of internal pedestrian thoroughfares. Total Gross Building Area is 67,516 GSF, the amount of Total Gross Building Area attributed to new program is 53,897 GSF, and the amount of Total Gross Building Area attributed to interior upgrade for existing-to-remain program is: 13,619 GSF.

BOSTON Effective February 1, 2011.

Brandywyne Village in East Boston will close the Section 8 Wait List for 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apts. Applications that are received after January 31, 2011 will not be accepted unless post marked by January 31, 2011.

Contact info: 617-569-2255, 88 Brandywyne Drive, East Boston, TTY/TRS Relay: #711.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management David B. Perini, Commissioner

LEGAL NOTICE MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY 10 PARK PLAZA BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02116 Request for Letters of Interest and Notice of Availability of a Request for Qualifications for the Design-Build Contract for the Revere Transit Facility and Streetscape Project The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (the “MBTA”) hereby solicits Letters of Interest from contractor teams (“Teams”) interested in completing the design and constructing the Revere Transit Facility and Streetscape Project (the “Project”) at Wonderland Station in Revere on a fixed price/fixed term basis. The Project is being procured in accordance with a two-part, best value Design-Build procurement process authorized under M.G. L. c.

149A, s. 17, et seq.

The Project includes the design and construction of a cable-stayed pedestrian bridge over Ocean Avenue and an elevated plaza deck connecting the pedestrian bridge with Wonderland Station and with a parking garage that is currently under construction by others, and related improvements. Project completion must be achieved by June 30, 2012.

The Project is being funded with Federal transportation funds authorized under the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (“TIGER”) program and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (“ARRA”) of 2009. Contractor teams are advised to carefully review all TIGER, ARRA and contract requirements and to keep complete and accurate records of all spending in the event of contract award. The successful Team and any of its subcontractors shall be responsible for complying with the applicable provisions of ARRA which are incorporated herein by reference and all federal and state laws applicable to ARRA funded projects. The Project’s cost is estimated at $16,000,000.00 and will include the obligation to provide a five-year warranty for certain elements of the completed work.

Richard A. Davey General Manager and Rail and Transit Administrator

Stony Brook

Village Affordable Housing Currently accepting

applications for the one & two bedroom wait list

Public Announcement Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Solicitation for Engineering Consulting Services Federally Funded Projects The MBTA is soliciting professional engineering services for Owner’s Representative Services for the Green Line Extension Project.

The primary goal of this procurement is to assist the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority to comply with Chapter 30: Section 39M ½ of the General Laws of Massachusetts.

This solicitation calls for submittals that present a comprehensive scope of work to satisfy the Section 39M ½ requirements. Interested firms will outline an approach for the Owner’s Representative for the Green Line Extension Project. The Authority requests that the Owner’s Representative team will possess the expertise in key disciplines anticipated for the project. Services include but are not limited to monthly project reports, annual project reports, one peer review of engineering elements, one value engineering study during design and a cost recovery study, if applicable.

This project is Federally Funded.

Firms having capabilities for this work are invited to submit ten (10) copies of a Letter of Interest to Mary R. Ainsley, Director of Design and Construction; 500 Arborway; Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. Joint Venture participation will be considered.

Firms responding to this invitation not later than 2:00 P.M. on February 22, 2011 will be considered for selection, providing their responses include 10 copies each of a current Standard Form 330 - Architect/Engineer Qualifications Questionnaire, and the firms’ Affirmative Action Plan and employee profile.

Consideration for selection shall be based on: Proposed Team and Organization; Resumes of Key Personnel; Work by firm or joint venture members that best illustrates current qualifications relevant to this project; Additional information or description of resources supporting Firms’ qualifications for the project; Personnel by Discipline; Affirmative Action Plan/ Employee Profile/DBE Certification Letters; and a General Evaluation (prior association with firm; overall assessment, proposed staffing, organization, design ability, and specific task related experience).

Additionally, the Prime Consultant must submit concurrently two (2) separately sealed copies of the MBTA Pre-Qualification Form P-09-002 Rev. 09/2009, which is available on the MBTA website Business Center – Contract Administration page.

Also, to be considered for selection each firm must submit, with the Statement of Qualifications, an Affirmative Action Plan, Employee Profile, and most current Supplier Diversity Office (SDO – formerly SOMWBA) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Certification Letters, as well as its commitment to the utilization of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE’s) in joint venture or as subconsultants so that the Authority’s goal of 3% DBE participation is achieved. Any firm submitting a Letter of Interest must identify and attach a current SF-330 as part of their submittal for all proposed (as well as DBE) subconsultants.

Letters of Interest from teams interested in receiving a Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) for the Project will be received by the MBTA until two o’clock (2:00 p.m.) on February 3, 2011. Letters of Interest should be addressed to Francis A. DePaola, P.E., Assistant General Manager for Design and Construction, Room 6720, 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116.

Upon delivery of the Letter of Interest, one written copy of the RFQ may be obtained from the MBTA between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., beginning on January 21, 2011, Monday through Friday. Please note that teams must submit Letters of Interest in order to become part of the procurement process for the Project. Statements of Qualifications (“SOQs”) will NOT be accepted from any party not submitting a Letter of Interest by the specified date. Letters of Interest must provide a mailing address, telephone number, email address and fax number for each Team’s designated contact in order to ensure that any addenda that may be issued to the RFQ will be received by the interested Team. RFQ Addenda will only be issued electronically.

The RFQ will be used to identify qualified Design-Build entities to submit a proposal pursuant to Section 19 of the M.G.L. c. 149A. SOQs will be evaluated by a selection committee established by the MBTA, using the following general criteria:

It is the practice of the Authority to encourage the economic growth of professional services firms through broad solicitation and award of contracts.

All capable firms are invited to submit Letters of Interest in accordance with the instructions presented in this solicitation.

• Demonstrated experience in complex projects, including experience in design-build and experience in design and construction of cable-stayed bridges, and history of claims and changes and record of safety; • Understanding of the work, including approach to integration of design and construction, quality assurance and maintenance of schedule; • Experience and availability of key personnel to be assigned the project ; • Experience of other personnel; and • General quality of the SOQ submission.

BID NO.

DESCRIPTION

*WRA-3239

Supply and Deliver Three 02/14/11 Laboratory Glassware Washing Systems to the Central Laboratory Deer Island Treatment Plant

Teams will be required to demonstrate combined design and construction (Design-Build) qualifications to be considered for this procurement. As a result, each Team shall be required to include members that are prequalified for relevant categories of construction work by both the MBTA and the Department of Conservation and Recreation. In addition, each Team must provide evidence that a key member of the Team is prequalified by DCR in

Call: 617-261-4600 or visit www.baystate banner.com

Equal Housing Opportunity.

1 BR $850.00, 2 BR $1,196, heat, hot water & gas included. Free parking & onsite laundry facility. $500 security deposit, no fee.

Income limits apply.

Section 8 OK. Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5 & Sat 10-3:30

617-361-7200 The Request for Qualifications may be downloaded from http://www.commpass.com or copies may be obtained by contacting the DCAM Bid Room, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108 617-727-4003 on or after Wednesday, January 26, 2011.

Subscribe to the Banner

2500ft² Non-Profit Space

Hyde Park

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Jeffrey B. Mullan MassDOT Secretary and Chief Executive Officer

EAST

(South End/Lower Roxbury) Office and meeting space available in church building for non-profit. Currently a daycare with outdoor playground. Handicap accessible. Kitchen use can be included. Location: Lenox St. at Washington St. Inquiries: Rev. Thayer evanovich40@aol.com (617) 653-0106.

Parker Hill Apartments The Style, Comfort and Convenience you Deserve!

Heat and Hot Water Always Included Modern Laundry Facilities Private Balconies / Some with City Views Plush wall to wall carpet Adjacent to New England Baptist Hospital Secured Entry Elevator Convenience Private Parking Near Public Transportation and much more ...

1 bedroom only $966 - $1275 2 Bedroom only $1143 - $1550 Call Today for more details and to schedule a visit...

You can buy a share in the Magnolia Cooperative Housing for less than your yearly income Come to hear more about it On Friday, January 21st 2011 Friday, February 4th 2011 Friday, February 11th 2011 All sessions begin 7:00pm at 550 Dudley Street Dorchester, MA 02125

888-842-7945

House is handicap accessible

Furnished Rooms for Rent MEDFORD SQUARE Brand New furnished rooms.

Steps from bus stop. $130/wk and up.

Includes utils and free w/d. on-site mgr.

Must have minimum income of $325/wk.

Call 781-843-1606 See us at www.caritascommunities.org Owned and managed by Caritas Communities

Following an initial evaluation of the qualifications and performance data, three or more firms considered to be highly qualified to provide the required services will be invited to prepare for oral interviews.

This is not a request for proposals.

Jeffery B. Mullan MassDOT Secretary & CEO

Richard A. Davey General Manager and Rail & Transit Administrator

Your Real Estate Ad should be INVITATION TO BID The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is seeking bids for the following: DATE

TIME 11:30 a.m.

Sealed bids will be received at the offices of the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, Charlestown Navy Yard, Document Distribution Office, 100 First Avenue, First Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02129, up to the time and date listed above at which time they will be publicly opened and read. *Bid Documents available on the Comm-PASS Website (www.comm-pass. com).

HERE HERE Call 617-261-4600 x119 to Advertise with The Banner

Thursday, January 27, 2011 • BAY STATE BANNER • 23

Affordable Assisted Living

Subscribe to the Banner Call: 617-261-4600 or visit www.baystatebanner.com

OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATOR Private Studios With Baths • Medication Reminders • 24 Hour Staffing Enjoy all the amenities and support of a market-rate Assisted Living Facility, but at an affordable cost. Applicants must be age 55 or older, Medicaideligible, and have a documented need for assistance with at least one of the following: bathing, walking, dressing, grooming.

Contact Dawn Matchett at (617) 369-1578.

Ruggles Affordable Assisted Living Community 25 Ruggles Street, Roxbury, MA 02119 Equal Opportunity Housing/Handicapped Accessible

(BOSTON, MA) Assist in evaluating the work of staff and volunteers to ensure that YWCA programs are of appropriate quality and resources used effectively.

Recruit, interview, and hire or sign up volunteers and staff. Support management reporting, information flow, and organizational planning. Ensure adherence to administrative YWCA procedures and objectives outlined by senior management. Participate in setting organizational policies regarding participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits. Prepare and maintain records and reports, such as personnel files, or training manuals. Requirements: Master’s degree in Administration, Administrative Services, Human Resources or closely related and one year of experience working with culturally diverse population in a administrative or human resource management capacity.

To apply, please send a resume to jobs@ywcaboston.org YWCA Boston, 140 Clarendon Street, Suite 403, Boston, MA 02116

Want to Own a Home in Natick, Newton, Waltham or Watertown?

The Towns of Natick, Newton, Waltham and Watertown are currently establishing a list of “Ready Buyers” who would be interested and income-eligible to purchase deed-restricted affordable homes in the participating towns.

Income Limits: 1 person $45,100 2 person $51,550 3 person $58,000 4 person $64,400

Sample Sales Prices: 1 bedroom $141,000 2 bedroom $162,000 3 bedroom $185,000

ACCOUNTANT (Temporary)

Third Sector New England (TSNE) seeks an accountant on a temporary basis through September to cover for two staff going on leave. You can be a part of a team that provides financial and HR services to small and medium size nonprofits. Provide basic accounting tasks and then shift to customer services coordination and financial mgmt functions. Job function includes; A/P, A/R, invoices and purchase orders, grants management including assisting with budgets and proposals and financial management including monthly reports and monitoring balances, etc.

Requirements include: 2+ yrs. Nonprofit acct. exp, acct. degree or 5+ exp, knowledge of accounting software and familiarity with spreadsheets and must be able to commit to work of social justice.

GRANT/ PROJECT ACCOUNTANT Boston area regional planning agency seeks candidates for the position of Grant/Project Accountant. The candidate will be responsible for general accounting duties within the Accounting Department as well as specific grant administration duties in our Municipal Governance Division’s Homeland Security and Public Health Departments. Responsibilities include: monitor budgeting, reporting and closeout of grants and contracts; provide backup support to AP and Payroll staff; Assist in all aspects of accounting operations.

Experience in fund/govt accounting with project accounting experience in a grant funded environment; payroll processing, AP, and Audit preparation. Must have BA in Accounting, Finance or equivalent and two (2) years experience, and extensive software skills. Salary range $45,000 to $52,000. Excellent state employee benefit package.

PLEASE SEE COMPLETE JOB AD AT WEB SITE www.mapc.org.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume and three professional references to THauenstein@mapc.org.

MAPC is an EOE/ AA employer. Posted 1/20/11.

Applicants will be notified of available units as they come up for sale.

Studio, 1, 2 and 3-bedroom units are expected.

For a full job description and to apply online, visit our website www.tsne.org. We also accept applications by mail (89 South St, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02111) or fax (617) 523-2070.

General Info. Sessions: Thursday Feb 3rd at 7:00 pm and Saturday March 12th at 11:00 am. Call for details.

For a pre-application and additional information contact Robyn at Watertown Community Housing 617-923-3505 x 5 or visit this website: www.watertowncommunityhousing.org

Affordable Rental Opportunity

Oliver Lofts 166 Terrace Street, Boston, MA 02120 38 Units, Including 4 HP Accessible Units # of Units

Type

Max Rent

Income Limit

6

1 brs

$990

60%

29

2 brs

$1,183

60%

3*

Loft

$1,285

100%

Maximum Income Per Household Size

.Net Developer COMPUTER-Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Corporation, a market leader in software for mechanical design, analysis, and product data management is seeking a .Net Developer at our Concord, Massachusetts facility. Applicant will develop and support integration, licensing applications and HP PPM Modules – Demand Management. Understanding the functionality of CRM, licensing, billing systems, web application, IT Control process and other back end applications to which interfaces are required. Communicate within MIS, development and business owners to support and deliver quality services. Some light travel may be required for some projects. Bachelor’s in Computer Science/Information Systems plus two years of experience in the position offered or two years of experience as a Programmer Analyst or Software Engineer. Demonstrated experience with .Net, C#, C++, HTML, XML, Winforms, Java Script and SQL, PL/SQL, T-SQL,SMTP, DTS, SSIS, Oracle Databases, PPM modules - Demand Management.

Interested applicants should e-mail their resumes to jobs@solidworks. com EOE. Please refer to Job ID: SW2011-0002 when applying.

Live-in Nanny

Household Size

60%

100%

for Two Children

1 person

$38,580

$64,250

2 persons

$44,100

$73,450

3 persons

$49,620

$82,600

4 persons

$55,080

$91,800

Good Home Safe Clean

Applications must be picked up and submitted in person or

by US Mail at Oliver Lofts c/o Winn Residential, 39 Smith Street (2nd Floor), Boston, MA 02120.

Applications may be picked up and returned (weekdays only unless otherwise noted): Monday, February 14th, 2011 to Friday, March 4th, 2011 9am to 5pm Thursday, February 17th, 2011; 9am to 8pm Saturday, February 19th, 2011; 9am to 2pm Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011; 9am to 8pm Deadline for completed applications at the above address: In person by 5:00pm on or postmarked by Friday, March 18th, 2011.

Section 8 Voucher Holders Welcome.

Selection by lottery. Use and occupancy restrictions apply.

4 units have preference for households requiring accessible units.

8 additional units not included above have preference for homeless households; applicants must complete BHA application and be processed by the BHA, 52 Chauncy Street, Boston, MA. *3 units have preference for BRA-certified artists.

An informational session will be held on Wednesday, February 16th, 2011 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the New Mass Pike Towers Community Room, 324 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116 For more info or reasonable accommodations, call Winn Residential 617-879-1620 Equal Housing Opportunity

Duties: Light House Keeping Cooking Care for Children Background Check Cori Call 857-225-0643

For more Help Wanted ads visit www.baystate banner.com

Siebel Database Engineer COMPUTER-Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Corporation, a market leader in software for mechanical design, analysis, and product data management is seeking a Siebel Database Engineer at our Concord, Massachusetts facility. Applicant will develop and support data management processes. Understand the functionality of CRM, licensing, billing systems, and other back end applications through which data is exchanged. Provide Siebel Complex Product configuration and Complex Asset configuration with Order Management skills. Execute scripts for data conversions, data modifications, schema changes, and data model changes. Process testing, documentation and deployment planning.

Communicate within MIS, development and business owners to support and deliver quality services. Bachelor’s in CS, Comp Eng or Information Systems plus five years of experience in the position offered or five years of experience as a Systems Analyst, Consultant, Software Engineer, or Project Lead/Architect/Manager. Demonstrated experience with Siebel EAI/EIM, Siebel Data Model, Siebel Complex Product configuration, Asset Management, Siebel Order Management, Siebel Tools, SQL Server, Oracle 9i/10g programming, PL/SQL,T-Sql, PERL, C#, VB .Net, Windows 00/NT/XP, UNIX, DOS, Siebel, ASP.Net, JCL, Java, HTML, JavaScript and XML, ASP, CoreJava.

Interested applicants should e-mail their resumes to jobs@solidworks. com EOE. Please refer to Job ID: SW2011-0003 when applying.

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Guaranteed rate applies to recurring monthly service charge and excludes equipment, installation, taxes, franchise and telephone fees. May not be combined with other offers. TV: Basic service subscription required to receive other levels of service. On Demand selections subject to charge indicated at time of purchase. Internet: Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. Voice: $29.95 activation fee applies. EMTA required ($5–$7/month, depending on area). Service (including 911/emergency services) may not function after an extended power outage. Money-Back Guarantee applies to monthly recurring charges and standard installation up to $500. Minimum-term contract required with Prepaid Card offers. Call for DIV52AP-111V4-A1-1 restrictions and complete details. © 2011 Comcast. All rights reserved. HBO® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc.