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Harvard Law to help stop loan, foreclosure crisis in Mattapan Martin Desmarais

The Boston Astros 18U Team after being presented the 2013 Triple Crown Sports Championship Title in Richmond, Va., on July 22.

Any young man from Roxbury, Dorchester or Mattapan can join the team. (Photo courtesy of the Boston Astros)

Boston Astros win baseball championship in Virginia M.B. Miller The Red Sox are not Boston’s only winning baseball team. The Boston Astros have just won the Triple Crown Sports U.S. Baseball Championship for teams with players up to 18 years old.

This was the second time in four years that the Boston Astros won this national championship.

Seventy-five teams from 21 states competed last month in Richmond, Va. for the coveted title. It took a series of victories during the tournament for the Astros to emerge as the U.S. champions.

The Red Sox have Fenway Park.

The Boston Astros’ home park is Jim Rice Field on Washington Street in Roxbury near Melnea Cass Blvd. The teenage ballplayers come

primarily from Roxbury, Dorchester and Mattapan.

According to Peter Gammons, Baseball Hall of Fame sports writer: “This is, hands down, the best urban baseball team in America.”

Robert Lewis Jr. started the Boston Astros in the South End 34 years ago with the belief that “baseball could be a powerful vehicle to teach young men values and life skills such as the importance of teamwork, motivation, resiliency and respect both on and off the playing field.”

Any young man from the community can join the Astros. “I never wanted dues of fees to become an impediment,” stated Lewis. “Parents of suburban teams are able to pay for their children’s involvement in baseball; but I have raised the

funds from generous beneficiaries to support the program.”

When Lewis says you have to “earn your spot” on the team he means you have to accept team discipline. Players have to show up for practice and maintain their grades in school.

“We play many of our games on college ball fields when we travel,” explained Lewis. “I hope that by being on campus our players will begin to develop an interest in going to college.”

Lewis is proud of the fact that he took the team to play in a high crime area of Chicago and earned the applause of residents who had felt abandoned. “Through my ‘Home Base’ organization, I hope to develop baseball as a tool for resolving many of the problems of urban youth.”

Services Center of Harvard Law School is a community-based Though most think the fore- clinical law program that provides closure crisis and predatory lend- civil legal services to low- and ing scandal have blown over, moderate-income residents of many people in communities that Greater Boston. were specifically targeted — such The Mattapan Initiative is as Mattapan — are still fighting backed by a $415,000 Homedaily to keep or get back their Corps Crisis Response Innovahomes. tion Grant from the MassachuThe Legal Services Center of setts Attorney General’s Office.

Harvard Law School is joining The grant is part of approximately this fight and last week launched $20 million already given in Masa new anti-foreclosure and evic- sachusetts as part of a $25 billion tion-defense program called the settlement that resolved claims Mattapan Initiative. Through this against Bank of America, Citiinitiative, the Center will provide group, JP Morgan Chase, Wells free legal serFargo and Ally vices to homeFinancial for o w n e r s a n d “Our goal is to their unlawrenters in Matful foreclosure make sure everybody practices. tapan.

“People in The Masgets some sort of largely misachusetts Atn o r i t y c o m - assistance and torney Genmunities were eral’s Homehopefully enough really sold bad Corps program m o r t g a g e s , ” assistance required awards grants says Attorto housing orn e y R o g e r to keep them in ganizations and Bertling, who their homes.” s u p p o rt s eroversees the vices groups to — Roger Bertling provide advoMattapan Initiative and is cacy to prevent director of the unnecessary Consumer Protection/Predatory foreclosures, defend post-forecloLending Clinic at the Legal Ser- sure evictions and enhance neighvices Center. borhood stability.

“They were told things that To qualify for legal services were not true — they were sold through the Mattapan Initiative, things that were never going to a borrower or tenant must live, come true,” he says. “They were work or send their children to preyed upon. … It ended up being school in Mattapan, one of the a problem for everybody because local communities hardest hit by they were sold mortgages they predatory lending and the forecould not afford and were never closure crisis. going to be able to afford. Our Bertling said that the center has goal is to make sure everybody gets hired two additional attorneys and some sort of assistance and hope- a new community outreach coorfully enough assistance required to dinator. The goal is to have suffikeep them in their homes.” cient staff to identify tenants and Homes, continued to page 12 Founded in 1979, the Legal

Former Councilor Turner back in Boston, working with activists Yawu Miller Two years after he entered the U.S. Penitentiary in Hazelton, W. Va., former City Councilor Chuck Turner has returned with a burning desire to tackle black America’s most pressing problems.

“The reality is we’re in a worse situation than we were in 1963, the year of the March on Washington and Dr. King’s ‘I have a dream’ speech,” Turner says, sitting in the dining room of his Fort Hill home. “We’re living in the cities by the grace of gov-

What’s Inside

ernment subsidies. Fifty percent of the people I represented in District Seven lived in subsidized housing.”

Turner was convicted in 2011 of accepting a bribe and making false statements to FBI agents in a court case that many observers said never should have gone to trial. The prosecution’s case hinged on grainy footage or a meeting between Turner and a confidential informant, who allegedly handed Turner $1,000, but later told the Boston Globe that the money was not a bribe.

Turner, continued to page 13

A stoic Chuck Turner (left) stands surrounded by vocal supporters at a Nov. 24, 2008 rally at City Hall Plaza that the Boston city councilor called as part of his defense. Turner lost his federal public corruption case and served nearly three years behind bars. He was recently released to a Boston halfway house. (Don West photo) LISTINGS

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2 • Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER

Mayoral Election Campaign Calendar Below is the calendar for upcoming mayoral forums. This list gives you a great opportunity to get out and meet the candidates in person. We will update the calendar as it changes. If you have any questions email news@bannerpub.com 8/6

8/7

8/8

8/12

“Why We Can’t Wait for Housing” Forum Josiah Quincy Elementary School auditorium, 885 Washington St., Chinatown 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Boston Globe Lab Debates Boston Globe Main Office, 135 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester 7 p.m.

Rob Consalvo, Michael Ross and Marty Walsh DotOUT Forum Ledge, 2261 Dorchester Ave., Lower Mills 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

West Roxbury Candidates’ Night St. George Church, 55 Emmonsdale Rd., West Roxbury 7 p.m.

Forum includes City Council candidates.

8/14

Boston Globe Lab Debates Boston Globe Main Office, 135 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester 4 p.m.

John Connolly and Dan Conley

8/14

Boston Globe Lab Debates Boston Globe Main Office, 135 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester 7 p.m.

Felix Arroyo, John Barros, Charles Clemons, Charlotte Golar Richie and Bill Walczak

8/15

Boston Park Advocates’ Parks and Open Space Forum William Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park, 1 Circuit Rd, Dorchester 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Boston Architectural College President Ted Landsmark to moderate.

8/16 “EcoForum” City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Sq., Boston 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

8/19

8/22

Main Street Coalition Forum Strand Theatre, 543 Columbia Rd. Dorchester 6:30 p.m. to 8:30pm WGBH’s Callie Crossley will moderate.

More information: http://www.mymainstreetmyboston.org/#!forum/c21kz Youth Group Forum First Parish Church, Meetinghouse Hill, Dorchester 6 p.m.

Teens from the Cape Verdean Community (CVC) UNIDO’s Youth Leadership Academy are planning the event.

8/27

Ward 10 Mayoral Candidates’ Night Parks Community Building, 2 New Whitney St, Mission Hill 6 p.m.

8/29

South End Business Alliance Forum Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont St., South End 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Boston Courant is sponsoring the forum.

9/5

Ward 19 and Ward 5 Democratic Committees First Baptist Church, 633 Centre St., Jamaica Plain 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

9/10

NAACP Forum Salvation Army KROC Community Center, 650 Dudley St., Dorchester 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

9/10

Coalition for Community Forum Roxbury Community College, Media Arts Center, 1234 Columbus Ave., Roxbury Crossing 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sponsored by NAACP, Urban League of Massachusetts, Commonwealth Compact and KROC

9/11

9/11

9/12

Action for Boston Community Development forum Action for Boston Community Development, Inc., Melnea Cass Room, 178 Tremont St., South End 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Boston Teachers Union Forum Boston Teacher’s Union Local 66, 180 Mt. Vernon St., Dorchester 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Boston University School of Education Forum Boston University, Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

9/16

Back Bay Association Forum Liberty Mutual Conference Center, 175 Berkeley St., Back Bay 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

9/18

Dorchester Board of Trade Freeport Tavern, 780 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester 6:30 p.m.

UMass Boston’s Professor Paul Watanabe to moderate.

9/19

UMass Boston’s McCormack School, The Boston Foundation and WBUR UMass Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd., Dorchester 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

John Barros talking with workers on Dorchester Ave. Barros has been traveling to T stops, barbershops, grocery stores and basketball tournaments asking residents to engage in Stand Up Now, his campaign for better schools, safer communities and a cleaner environment.

Mayoral Candidates Here’s the list of mayoral candidates and their websites.

Find out where they stand on key issues and how they plan on achieving their goals.

City Councilor Felix Arroyo www.forwardwithfelix.com

John Barros

www.barrosforboston.com

Charles Clemons

www.charlesforboston.com

District Attorney Dan Conley

www.danconleyformayor.com

City Councilor John Connolly www.Connollyforboston.com

City Councilor Rob Consalvo www.robconsalvo.com

Charlotte Golar Ritchie

www.charlotteformayor.com

City Councilor Mike Ross www.mikeforboston.com

Bill Walczak

www.billforboston.com

State Rep. Marty Walsh www.martywalsh.org

David James Wyatt www.davidjameswyatt.org

City Councilor Charles Yancy www.charlesyancy.org

For Information on voter registration, where to vote, absentee voting, or any other voting rights or procedure questions visit Charlotte Golar Richie (right) Boston Mayoral Candidate, enjoys the enthusiasm of the crowd as she approaches the podium to speak at a rally that drew hundreds at Hibernian Hall in Roxbury. (Don West photo)

www.massvote.org

Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER • 3

NEIGHBOR | LEADER | MAYOR Vote September 24th John Barros is running for Mayor of Boston because he believes in the potential of building an even better City through greater participation by all residents. Under his leadership, Boston will be a place with fewer barriers to academic, social, economic, and political opportunities. All of Boston’s neighborhoods and economic sectors will be included in the city’s prosperity and take full advantage of an increasingly thriving city.

John has a remarkable record of accomplishments: Quality Education: • As a Boston School Committee member, John fought for eliminating the achievement and opportunity gaps. He was a member of the Boston Public Schools English Language Learners Task Force and Data Working Group to improve the ability for BPS to serve all students and work with partners during and after school time.

Economic Development: • As Executive Director of Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative John, ensured ensured residents benefited from trade jobs and contracts created by construction projects in the neighborhood. In one project alone over $14 million in contracts were awarded to local business.

Environmental Justice: • As a neighbor, John worked to close 17 illegal trash transfer stations, clean vacant lots and increase green space in the neighborhood.

As Mayor John will lead: An Educational System that creates a “Citywide Learning System” to: • Level the playing field across school types • Eliminate the achievement gap • Invest deeply in BPS teachers and school leaders • Create a comprehensive facilities plan for BPS Economic Development that provides equal opportunity for all by: • Connecting Boston residents with job training and employment opportunities • Attracting and retaining working and middle class residents • Creating incentives for small business development • Supporting a robust creative economy A Safer City by: • Creating a Community Response Authority • Decreasing poverty through the creation of more mixed income units • Using cutting-edge technology to engage the community in neighborhood stability • Investing in summer and year round youth jobs

www.barrosforboston.com

4 • Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER

Established 1965

The potential legacy of a new mayor Every time there is an election, citizens are encouraged to accept their civic duty to vote on Election Day. In last November’s election for president, the percentage turnout by blacks was the greatest of any racial or ethnic group.

While African Americans have been assertively accepting this responsibility of late, one wonders whether the large pool of candidates for mayor of Boston will diminish voters’ interest.

The development of civic duty was indeed encouraging but it is still not enough. To be certain that appealing candidates are on the final ballot, it is important for everyone to become involved in the electoral process substantially earlier than on voting day.

On Tuesday, Sept. 24, registered Boston voters will select two of the 12 candidates for mayor to compete in the election on Nov. 5. If the candidate you prefer does not win one of the two spots in the September primary, then the final vote in November will have less allure.

The impending mayoral election is of critical importance because Thomas M. Menino, Boston’s 53rd mayor, has also been the longest serving in the city’s history. For 20 years Menino has determined the direction of public policy for the city. His re-election to five terms indicates his strong popularity with Bostonians.

Whoever is elected as Menino’s successor will undoubtedly have some different ideas about the important issues confronting Boston.

During a mayoral campaign, candidates present their strategies for solving the city’s most pressing problems, such as improving public education, reducing crime and violence, controlling the tax rate, building entrepreneurship and a number of other issues. Each voter will decide which candidate is most likeable

and most likely to perform administratively at an acceptable level.

However, history will have a different assessment. Among more recent mayors, John B. Hynes (1950-1960) will be remembered for restoring probity and dignity to city government after the flamboyant tenure of James Michael Curley. John Collins (1960-1968) will be remembered for continuing and expanding the urban renewal program begun by his predecessor to change the face of Boston.

Kevin White (1968-1984) ran a city administration with style and élan that helped to re-establish Boston as a major world class city.

Unfortunately, the conflict over school desegregation erupted on his watch. Ray Flynn (1984-1993) will be remembered for his efforts to heal the racial wounds.

Menino (1993-present) still serves as mayor so historians have not yet spoken, but one fact is clear. Along with his other achievements, Menino’s advocacy for the neighborhoods at a time when the so-called minority population became the majority was an important policy to establish neighborliness and community spirit during a time of transition.

While it might seem premature to think of the next mayor’s legacy even before the election, that exercise will induce the voter to think of what kind of city he or she wants Boston to become. With the neighborhoods becoming more ethnically diverse, it is time for Bostonians to consider ways to become a truly cosmopolitan city.

It is time for citizens to join with the candidate who they believe shows the greatest ability to lead Boston forward from its past provincialism to become part of the new legacy.

“With so many running, I won’t know what to do if my candidate doesn’t win.”

USPS 045-780

Publisher/Editor Assoc. Publisher/Treasurer Executive Editor

Melvin B. Miller John E. Miller Howard Manly

advertising Marketing-Sales Director Advertising Coordinator

Sandra L. Casagrand Rachel Reardon

NEWS REPORTING Health Editor Staff Writer

Karen Miller Martin Desmarais

Contributing Writers

Gloria J. Browne-Marshall Kenneth J. Cooper Colette Greenstein Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil Sandra Larson Shanice Maxwell Anthony W. Neal Brian Wright O’Connor Tiffany Probasco

Lettersto the Editor Supreme Court weakens worker rights, protection While the headlines have been dominated by the recent Supreme Court rulings on the Voting Rights Act, affirmative action and marriage equality, the court also issued two lesser-covered rulings that are an affront to workers’ rights and their ability to seek justice if they face discrimination on the job.

These two decisions strip away critical protections granted under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and continue to overturn decades of anti-discrimination protections.

When coupled with the court’s evisceration of the Voting Rights Act, these decisions reflect an alarming dismantling of decades of civil rights progress that can only be reversed by a shift in the balance of the court or principled, but difficult, interventions

by Congress.

The decisions in both Vance v.

Ball State University and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v. Nassar harshly narrow the interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. In the Vance case, the court has made it harder for workers to bring a lawsuit for workplace discrimination when a superior creates a

Staff Photographers

hostile working environment.

Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito declared that an employer is only responsible for the discriminatory conduct of an employee who meets a new and more restrictive definition of a “supervisor.” The court narrowed the long-standing Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) definition of a supervisor so that it might now exclude the person who sets your schedule and directs your workflow and apply only to someone with the power to hire, fire, promote or demote.

In the Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center case, the court has made it more difficult for workers to prove retaliation as the reason for their dismissal. A key provision in Title VII prevents an employer from punishing or dismissing an employee for making “a charge, testifying, assisting or participating in any manner

in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing” regarding discrimination.

The Supreme Court ruling now requires employees to show that retaliation was not just a “motivating factor,” but the sole reason for their dismissal — meaning an employer could escape liability by claiming other reasons for firing or demoting a whistleblower.

Justice Ginsburg, who six years ago successfully challenged Congress to correct the court’s dismissal of a Title VII lawsuit by passing the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, said, “The ball again lies in Congress’s court to correct this court’s wayward interpretation of Title VII.” We urge the Congress to again answer the call. arc H. Morial M President and CEO National Urban League

Ernesto Arroyo John Brewer Tony Irving Don West

Arts & ENTERTAINMENT Contributing Writers

Robin Hamilton Susan Saccoccia Lloyd Kam Williams

Production Production Manager Production Assistant Copy Editor

Marissa Giambrone Heather Austin Cady Vishniac Administration

Business Manager

Karen Miller

The Boston Banner is published every Thursday.

Offices are located at 23 Drydock Ave., Boston, MA 02210.

Telephone: 617-261-4600, Fax 617-261-2346 Subscriptions: $48 for one year ($55 out-of-state) Web site: www.baystatebanner.com Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA. All rights reserved. Copyright 2010.

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

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Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER • 5

RovingCamera

Opinion The budget is still the GOP’s signature hit on President Obama Earl Ofari Hutchinson

GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is nothing if not persistent.

And it’s always the same issue with the same motive. The issue is the budget.

And to hear McConnell and the GOP leaders tell it, President Barack Obama’s alleged penchant is for squandering tens of billions on wasteful, non-productive spending programs. McConnell even tossed in the GOP’s favorite slur of Democrats when he lambasted Obama’s budget proposals as “extra goodies for tax-and-spend liberals.”

The added twist this time around is the GOP has stood Obama’s emphasis on middle-class job creation on its head and claims that the Obama’s budget proposals do absolutely nothing to create jobs and economic improvement for the middle class.

The motive is to tar Obama and the Democrats as big-government serial splurgers. The GOP peddles this line again to knock down any talk of a “grand bargain,” a combination of tax increases on the wealthy in exchange for more and deeper spending cuts.

This is more GOP doggerel. Obama in prior budget proposals offered to cut community service block grants that fund an array of community education, health and social service programs in poor, underserved, largely inner-city neighborhoods; cut programs in science, technology, youth mentoring programs and employment and training assistance; and even tweak the GOP’s prime slash and burn targets, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.

The cuts to Medicare and Medicaid would be stretched out over a decade, and there will be no major structural reforms in the program, which is what the GOP demands and which is wildly at odds with what the majority of Americans need, especially those who are dependent for their health coverage on the programs. But Obama still put the Medicare restructure proposals on the budget table and they have remained there.

Obama went even further and downplayed the surge in poverty that has dumped nearly 50 million Americans in or near poverty. Without government subsistence programs most would sink deeply, beneath the poverty line. This was not by choice.

He was under relentless pressure from the GOP budget hawks and a big chunk of the public to make cuts in these vital programs or risk sinking the federal government, so the GOP screamed in a deeper pool of debt and deficit spending.

The topper is that the deficit has fallen further and faster in the last two years than at any point in the past two decades. And Obama has repeatedly agreed and pushed for a drop in the corporate tax and an overhaul of the tax system that if anything would be even more business friendly. But none of this has been enough to keep the GOP from stalling a budget deal.

This is where the GOP’s insidious motive comes again into play, namely naked, crass, go-for-the-jugular politics. By embarrassing Obama at every turn on the budget, the GOP hopes to make him and the Democrats the perennial fall guy for the budget gridlock.

The GOP’s budget sparring match with Obama took an even more absurd turn when a pack of the most rabid House Republicans voted down a handful of spending proposals — most notably on a transportation and housing appropriations bill that cut spending on programs in these areas.

They claimed that even the reduced spending was still too high. This triggered a rarity, Republican infighting, in which one faction accused the other of “unrealistic and ill-conceived discretionary cuts.”

The result is that at present there is no new spending appropriation bill that Congress is likely to pass any time soon.

A year ago when the GOP went after Obama on the budget it gave him little room to maneuver. Much of the public bought into the GOP’s bogus line that Obama’s reckless spending was hopelessly drowning the government in a sea of red ink.

Nervous foreign investors as well as a slew of financial experts and economists endlessly claimed that the budget deficit — projected to soar to nearly $1.6 trillion in the last fiscal year, a post-World War II record — would saddle the nation with higher taxes; deeper cuts in education, health and social services; staggering permanent debt; and possibly even bankruptcy.

That doomsday scenario was part political hyperbole, part financial panic. Even then many economists noted that the claim of financial Armageddon was way overblown. The projected deficit was about 10 percent of gross domestic product. This would only be great enough to threaten economic growth if it were sustained for decades.

Yet even that supposedly doomsday estimate was proportionally far smaller than the deficits that the United States ran during and immediately after World War II. This means little to a GOP that has repeatedly latched onto the budget as its main signature hit against Obama. There’s little reason to think it will change this go round.

The motive is to tar Obama and the Democrats as big-government serial splurgers.

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.

To what extent do you think the U.S. government should be able to conduct surveillance on U.S. citizens?

They shouldn’t be able to violate the fourth Amendment. They shouldn’t be able to conduct searches without a warrant.

They should be able to listen in on phone conversations. They need to be checking on people from other countries, like the brothers who did the bombing. But they aren’t.

The government should be able to listen to conversation only if the people are from another country.

Cedric Daniels

Lennie Mitchell

Deborah Greene

Not unless they suspect someone’s a terrorist. They should respect everyone else’s privacy.

I think they should have full access. If you’re not doing anything wrong, why worry about it?

Only when it’s necessary. They shouldn’t be making up scenarios to justify it.

Magaly Olivares

David Richardson

Phillip Lodge

Youth Outreach Worker Roxbury

Outreach Worker Dorchester

Retired Mason Roxbury

Entrepreneur Mattapan

Teacher’s Assistant Roxbury

Entrepreneur Dorchester

INthe news

Aundrea Kelley

Quincy College recently announced the appointment of Aundrea Kelley as its new vice president for academic affairs Kelley comes to the college from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, where she was deputy commissioner for P-16 Policy and Collaborative Initiatives. The Department of Higher Education serves as staff to the Board of Higher Education, which is the primary coordinating and policy-setting board for the Commonwealth’s public colleges and universities, as well as the licensure agency for independent and out-of-state institutions seeking degree authority in Massachusetts.

As deputy commissioner, Kelley advanced strategic board initiatives through collaborations between public and private higher education, early education and care, elementary and secondary education, gov-

ernment, business and the nonprofit sector.

Kelley is well known within the Massachusetts higher education community, having worked at the Department of Higher Education for more than 17 years, including as acting Commissioner for Higher Education. She will begin as vice president for ac-

ademic affairs at Quincy College on Aug. 26.

Kelley earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts Boston, where she also earned a master’s degree and a doctoral degree in public policy.

6 • Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER

CommunityVoices

Overdraft fees hit 36 million, trigger growing call for reform Charlene Crowell In recent years many banks and credit unions have encouraged new checking account customers to accept two items: a debit card that replaces cash transactions and a “protection” known as overdraft coverage.

Overdraft programs automatically pay for transactions not covered by available funds; the bank then repays itself the overdraft amount along with fees — often hefty ones — from the customer’s next deposit.

What many unsuspecting consumers soon discover is that this so-called protection from banks comes at an extremely high cost.

In only one year, 2011, financial institutions charged consumers $16.7 billion in overdraft fees, affecting over 36 million Americans’ checking accounts.

“High-Cost Overdraft Practices,” the latest installment in the Center for Responsible Lending’s research series, The State of Lending, found that debit cards trigger the most disproportionate fees. On debit card purchases, the median overdraft charge is $35 for a $20 overdraft. Further, debit card and ATM transactions account for at least 35 percent of all overdraft fees charged.

The high share of fees generated by debit cards is ironic, since banks and credit unions can simply decline these transactions at no cost to the consumer — and some institutions do. For banks that continue this pernicious practice, the consequences

icism surrounding overdraft programs, the Federal Reserve Board made a 2010 regulation that required institutions to obtain a customer’s “opt-in” for overdraft coverage on debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals before fees would apply.

“Without substantive reform of the product, the fees overdrafts generate provide financial institutions too powerful an incentive to ensure that customers continue to incur overdraft fees.”

— The State of Lending for their customers can be severe.

The report states, “Abusive overdraft programs drive consumers out of the banking system; indeed they are the leading reason consumers lose their checking accounts.”

Today, three-fourths of the nation’s largest banks and large numbers of smaller banks and credit unions charge fees on debit card purchases, ATM withdrawals or both. Moreover, these overdrafts and associated fees are assessed without regard to a consumer’s ability to repay them.

In response to widespread crit-

Additionally and in the same year, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s guidance advised that more than six overdraft fees within a 12-month period was excessive for any account holder.

But CRL and others have found that many financial institutions aggressively market their overdraft programs, pushing customers most likely to generate the most fees to “opt-in” for coverage. Customers with small and no cushions in their accounts may initially view overdraft coverage as a way to save money. But as overdraft fees are

assessed per transaction, the costs can quickly become burdensome, leaving fewer available dollars for the next month.

“Over time, the repeated fees strip away consumers’ cash assets, leaving them financially worse off than when they first overdrafted and unable to meet obligations they otherwise could have met even with no overdraft coverage at all,” says CRL. Some major banks have heeded consumer concerns and improved their overdraft practices. For example, Bank of America, the nation’s largest debit card issuer, stopped charging overdraft fees on debit card purchases.

HSBC also stopped charging overdraft fees on debit card purchases as well as at ATMs. Citibank has never charged overdraft fees on debit card or ATM transactions, and JP Morgan Chase does not charge them on ATM transactions.

Recent related findings by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) show that the Fed’s opt-in rule has not eliminated the substantial harm inflicted by overdraft fees triggered by debit cards. CFPB determined that involuntary account closures were more than twice as likely for customers that opted in to over-

draft than those who did not.

“Banks and credit unions have long defended overdraft fees by saying they protect customers from bounced checks, which typically trigger insufficient funds (NSF) fees and potentially merchant fees,” states the CRL report. “But the same justification could not be made for debit card purchases, since there is no NSF or merchant fees charge for debit card transactions that are declined at checkout when the customer’s account is short.”

CRL offers a set of policy remedies to halt overdraft’s harmful features. Highlights include banning overdraft fees on debit cards, ATM transactions and on prepaid cards. CRL also advocates banning banks from manipulating the order of consumers’ checking transactions to increase fees.

“Without substantive reform of the product, the fees overdrafts generate provide financial institutions too powerful an incentive to ensure that customers continue to incur overdraft fees — an incentive that will continue to outweigh even the best disclosures,” concluded CRL. Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending.

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Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER • 7

Mayoral candidates face school students at forum Reducing dropouts, increasing job opportunities hot topics

Mayoral candidate Mike Ross entertains questions from students in the African Community Economic Development of New England organization (ACEDONE).

The 2013 mayoral candidates offer a thunderous applause following the end of the forum. Candidates discussed the state of Boston Public Schools and high school dropouts. (Bobby Shakes photos) Shanice Maxwell and Howard Manly During last week’s forum at Roxbury Community College, the 12 candidates running to replace Mayor Thomas Menino were asked how they would reduce the number of high school dropouts and increase the number of jobs for those Boston Public Schools students with high school degrees.

As it is now, about 12,000 youth between 16 and 24 fall into that category, and while the number of dropouts has declined over the last six years, those numbers are starting to creep back up.

The answers from the candidates ranged from former state Rep. Charlotte Golar-Ritchie’s pledge to appoint a cabinet-level position dedicated to youth to City Councilor Mike Ross’ promise to improve school lunch.

Quite naturally, Ross received one of the loudest ovations of the night.

If everything was so simple.

The problems surrounding the issues of high school dropout rates and underemployed youth are complicated and each of the candidates expressed their desire to close the achievement gaps and increase access to job training for the knowledge-based economy now growing in Boston. Partnering with private corporations was an oft-repeated goal, as was streamlining what was characterized as a bloated Boston Public Schools bureaucracy.

City Councilor Charles Yancey said the city needs to build a new high school while radio talk show host Charles Clemons urged all young people to become involved, register to vote and participate in politics.

But leave it to Bill Walczak, the co-founder of both the Codman Square Community Health Center and the Codman Academy Charter Public School, to hit a metaphysical note. “We have to give young people hope,” he said.

“Without hope, young people tend to drop out. We need to create pathways to careers.”

City Councilor Arroyo knows first-hand what happens when

a teenager loses hope. One of his brothers had lost hope and dropped out of high school, Arroyo told the crowd of about 200 people. But within a few years, Arroyo’s brother obtained his GED, went to college and is now a third-year student at Loyola Law School. For some students, Arroyo said, “Traditional schools don’t work. … But it doesn’t mean you can’t succeed if you don’t get a high school diploma.”

State Rep. Marty Walsh told his own story about losing hope.

He said that his high school grades were not where they needed to be. As a result, he said, he attended a community college, improved his grades, and graduated from Boston College in 2009. “I was not a traditional student,” Walsh said.

John Barros grew up in Roxbury, the son of Cape Verdean immigrants. He excelled in school, attended Dartmouth and worked in Manhattan. But he came back to Roxbury in 2000 to run the Dudley Street Initia-

tive Project as its executive director. Three years ago, he became the first Cape Verdean to serve on the Boston School Committee. “Youth leadership is my priority,” Barros said. “We have an antiquated system of public education so we need to change the system. Students need more voice and they should have a vote on the school committee.”

City Councilor Rob Consalvo’s answers were short and to the point. “The reason that I decided to run for mayor is to help people that need it the most,” Consalvo said. “I am about empowering young people.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley also wasted few words. “We must grow the middle class,” he said. “We cannot be a city of the rich and poor. … We must improve instruction in math and sciences in order to create a real pipeline to jobs in the knowledge-based economy.”

The program was sponsored

by Boston Opportunity Youth Collaborative, Multicultural

Dropout Outreach Collaborative, Youth Transitions Task Force, Boston Opportunity Agenda, Freedom House and Boston Private Industry Council.

For young people like Charlestown High School student Ryan Gunter, 18, of Dorchester, this forum gives perspective and insight for a very big decision he and countless others will make come Sept. 24, 2013 — election day.

“I’m voting for the first time

oral candidates had to say and what they thought about youth and my future,” said Hawa Yusuf, 17, of Jamaica Plain. “There are so many things the Boston public school system lacks and they need to make better. I just want change, good change. We’re like a minority — the Somali community — and our voices are not being heard. We have ESL students who fall back in the system and it’s not their fault that they don’t know English.”

“I’m voting for the first time so I want to have a basic understanding of who these people are, what it is they stand for and what they’re trying to do in our city.”

— Ryan Gunter so I want to have a basic understanding of who these people are, what it is they stand for and what they’re trying to do in our city,” Gunter said.

Most interviewed by The Banner after the forum said they found it necessary and enlightening.

“I came to see what the may-

Youth advocate Eleanor Guilford, 26, said she too found the forum informative. “Now I know where the candidates’ heads are pertaining to the youth and what they’re going to do,” she said.

“I’m not sure if everyone will follow through but it was good to hear what they think.”

8 • Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER

CommunityVoices

Texas man faces death due to race-based testimony Charles J. Ogletree Jr. Nearly 50 years after the end of Jim Crow, African Americans are still facing execution because of their race.

Duane Buck could end up being one of them. He was convicted in 1997 of the murders of two people in Harris County, Tex., home to the city of Houston. He does not deny his guilt in these terrible crimes, so there is no question that he must

be punished. But what happened at Buck’s sentencing hearing is appalling, even for Texas, which was once among the handful of states that led the country in the lynching of African American men and which is now the country’s most prolific executioner.

During the presentation of evidence at the penalty phase of Buck’s trial — when the jury was required to decide between the death penalty and a life sentence

Dorchester youngsters Eli Costa, Jacob Roach, Matheo Gomes and Samantha Weathers drew plants and flowers with the Massachusetts’ Horticultural Society’s Plantmobile at last year’s ParkARTS Boston Children’s Festival, hosted by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. The festival returns to Franklin Park on Aug. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Photo courtesy of Boston Parks and Recreation)

— the trial prosecutor elicited testimony from a psychologist for the defense indicating that Buck’s race made him more likely to be violent in the future.

The prosecutor asked, “You have determined that the sex factor, that a male is more violent than a female because that’s just the way it is, and that the race factor, black, increases the future dangerousness for various complicated reasons; is that correct?”

“Yes,” the psychologist, Walter Quijano, answered.

Because a finding of future dangerousness is a prerequisite for a death sentence in Texas, the prosecutor then argued in closing that the jury should rely on that race-based expert testimony to find that Buck would pose a future danger. The jury accepted the prosecutor’s recommendation, and Buck was sentenced to death.

Shockingly, Buck’s was not the only case in which Texas relied on this false and offensive link between race and dangerousness to secure a death sentence. In 2000, John Cornyn, the Texas attorney general at the time and now a United States senator, identified six cases where prosecutors relied on the same expert’s race-based prediction — testifying three times for the prosecution and three times for the defense — to

send African American and Latino men to death row. In an attempt to restore integrity to the state’s criminal justice system, Cornyn, a Republican, acknowledged then that Texas’ exploitation of racial fears and stereotypes was unconstitutional and he promised that all six men — including Buck — would be given new sentencing hearings free of racial discrimination.

Texas kept its promise in five of the six cases, but for no discernible reason it has reversed course and pursued Buck’s execution.

As outrageous as it is, the prosecutor’s appeal to racial prejudice is not the only evidence showing that race played a role in Buck’s death sentence. A recently released

African American community at least, there’s a lot of pain around what happened here, I think it is important to recognize that the African American community is looking at this issue through a set of experiences and a history that — that doesn’t go away,” he said.

No execution date has been set for Buck; meanwhile, efforts continue on his behalf. More than 100 prominent individuals from Texas and around the country — including a former Texas governor, Mark W. White Jr., and other elected officials, former judges and prosecutors, civil rights leaders, members of the clergy, past presidents of the American Bar Association — have called for a

The trial prosecutor elicited testimony from a psychologist for the defense indicating that Buck’s race made him more likely to be violent in the future. study by the University of Maryland statistician Ray Paternoster shows that at the time of Buck’s trial, the Harris County district attorney’s office was over three times more likely to seek the death penalty for African American defendants like Buck than for similarly situated whites, and Harris County juries were twice as likely to impose death sentences on African Americans like Buck. Thus, it is abundantly clear that in Buck’s case, racial fears and prejudices supplanted reliable evidence in the assessment of proper punishment.

Buck’s death sentence powerfully echoes this country’s most lawless and discriminatory past, a past that includes a time when African American men were lynched on suspicion of crimes that sent white men to jail for a year. While lynchings are a relic of the past, the racial discrimination that motivated them retains a stranglehold on today’s criminal justice system.

President Barack Obama spoke about that past recently in remarks addressing George Zimmerman’s acquittal on charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Trayvon Martin. “And when you think about why, in the

new, fair sentencing hearing.

So have the more than 50,000 people who have petitioned the Harris County district attorney.

Even the surviving victim in this case, Phyllis Taylor, and one of Buck’s trial prosecutors, Linda Geffin, agree that Buck is entitled to another sentencing hearing.

This is because no one can credibly argue that Buck — or anyone else — should be capitally prosecuted, sentenced to death or executed because of his race.

There is no question that this country has made enormous progress since the days when lynchings were commonplace.

But Buck’s case reminds us that we still have a long way to go. Buck cannot be executed based on a death sentence that is the product of racial bias and discrimination.

Texas must keep its promise and ensure that Buck receives a new, fair sentencing hearing. Fixing the problem of race in America’s criminal justice system is complicated. Fixing Buck’s case is not.

Charles J. Ogletree Jr. is a professor of law at Harvard University and the executive director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice.

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Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER • 9

CAREER and EDUCATION GUIDE A SPECIAL ADVERTORIAL SECTION

One family, three careers at Partners HealthCare

(L-R) Karen Jones and her sons Kyle and Zachary Cox. (photo courtesy of Partners HealthCare) One email set two brothers on their pathways to career success at Partners HealthCare.

Karen Jones had been working in Information Systems at Partners HealthCare for a few years when she saw a systemwide email about the Partners in Career and Workforce Development Program (PCWD), a free job training and internship program. She immediately thought of her son Zachary Cox and forwarded it to him.

Not only did that email engage Zachary in PCWD, but it eventually hooked his brother Kyle Cox too.

Three years later, the JonesCox trio is keeping Partners in their family: Karen and Zachary work in Partners Information Systems and Kyle is a patient services coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“Before PCWD, I did a lot of soul searching and knew that I wanted to work in a career that

helped people,” Zachary said. “My mother had suggested I look into working at a hospital, so I did, and then it became a matter of how I get to work there.” That’s where PCWD came in and provided Zachary the opportunity to walk away from his job in retail and begin his career in health care.

The PCWD program is a free eight-week program that includes classes about customer service skills, office computer skills, financial literacy, resume writing, interview skills and internships. The program is open to any eligible applicant interested in an entry level position in a Partners hospital.

Not only did PCWD teach Zachary what he needed to know about working in a health care setting, it also taught him a lot about himself. “The best thing I learned about [was] my own strengths and weaknesses. I wasn’t aware of them before and now I have the ability to hear from others what I need to work on to be a good employee. It was a pinnacle growth point in my career and in my life in general,” Zachary said.

That growth has included: a part-time temporary position after finishing PCWD, a fulltime, two-year stint at Massachusetts General Hospital in pre-admission testing and his current

full-time position at Partners Information Systems, as well as plans to enroll in college.

All the while Zachary was participating in PCWD, he kept telling his brother Kyle how great it was and that he should give it a try too.

That was 2011. Kyle had taken a break from school and was living in North Carolina. At first he wasn’t interested in applying to the program, but he soon decided that the job he had wasn’t going to offer him the opportunity he wanted, so he applied to PCWD and was accepted.

“The biggest thing that PCWD did for me was boost my confidence,” Kyle said. “Even though I hadn’t finished school yet, the program showed me I could still get a good job in a good workplace.”

After completing the training and internship program, Kyle soon secured a full-time temporary role at MGH that evolved into the full-time permanent position where he works today.

“With the type of working I’m doing now, I know I am doing something good every day and can go home at night and look myself in the mirror knowing that I helped people,” Kyle said.

Both brothers say they would recommend PCWD to anyone interested in a career in health care, and so does their mom. “What I like about the program is that it truly does offer meaningful employment at a living wage. And once you get a job there are so many opportunities to improve yourself, learn more skills and to become more valuable to the organization,” Karen said.

The Partners in Career and Workforce Development program has three sessions a year. It is a collaboration between Partners Community Health, Partners Human Resources and Human Resources at Partners hospitals.

Visit www.partners.org to learn more about the program.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A

CAREER IN HEALTH CARE? PARTNERS HEALTHCARE

offers an eight-week job readiness training program through Partners in Career and Workforce Development (PCWD). The PCWD program has three sessions a year; it is a collaboration amongst Project Hope (our community-based partner), Partners Community Health, Partners Human Resources, and Human Resources at Partners hospitals. PCWD offers individuals interested in health care careers an opportunity to gain skills through classroom instruction and internships, and to receive support through case management, job placement assistance, and career coaching. PCWD is an unpaid training program and participants must be able to attend the course Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

PCWD is designed for individuals who are interested in entry-level employment within Partners HealthCare, including Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital.

We are currently recruiting for the next eight-week cycle which begins

September 23, 2013.

To learn more about PCWD and register for our next recruitment event on August 14th, 2013, please visit our website:

www.partners.org/jobtraining

You can also find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Partnersjobtraining

10 • Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER

Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER • 11

CAREER and EDUCATION GUIDE A SPECIAL ADVERTORIAL SECTION

Roxbury Community College’s Workforce Development Training Programs Prepare Students for Careers in Industry amples of new workforce development initiatives from the DCE, as reported by Morisset St. Preux, assistant dean of the Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development.

RCC currently preparing Boston Public Schools over-age students to enter the workforce Ted Thomas Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has made workforce development a key part of the mission of Massachusetts state-supported colleges and universities to meet the expanding need of industry for skilled workers.

Roxbury Community College (RCC), through its Workforce Development Training Programs, is equipping students with the training and skills they need to enter the workforce and thrive.

At RCC, workforce development, according to the Division of Continuing Education’s printed material, “is a direct, effective, and immediate response to the urgent demands of the current economy and expanding technology.” The

primary goals of workforce development “include providing you with the academic, employability and the technical skills you need in order to increase your access to employment and economic opportunities.”

To that end, RCC’s Workforce Development Training Programs offer training in a broad range of categories, including solar energy technology, pharmacy technology and property management.

In an effort to keep pace with the ever-growing demands of the workforce, RCC’s Division of Continuing Education (DCE) continues to expand its Workforce Development Training Program offerings as well as create new partnerships and attract funding. Below are ex-

Twenty-five students from the Boston Public Schools (BPS) $50,000 Initiative for Preparing Over-age Youth for Careers were recently recruited and are currently enrolled in workforce training at RCC. This new pilot initiative, offered through the DCE’s Workforce Development Programs, proposes to offer a career pathway to over-aged BPS students who would otherwise not consider a college education or skills training as an option.

The goal in this initiative is to use the skills and experience of the college’s seasoned adjunct faculty to groom these students within the campus setting through computer, language and “soft” skills training and to give many of them an edge and the confidence necessary to ultimately enroll in a degree pro-

gram at RCC. Over 3,000 prospective BPS students will be in line to enroll in the Initiative for Preparing Overage Youth for Careers over the next few years.

The DCE will devote itself to making their college campus experience a non-intimidating and a successful one.

Rapid Response Grant

The Rapid Response Grant proposes to offer advanced training in solar energy technology to employees from a number of Massachusetts-based companies.

Through a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Education, RCC has joined with Clean Edison in New York to work on this initiative to meet the needs of solar companies in Massachusetts.

The RCC-MassGREEN lab in Hyde Park

A lease agreement between the landlord and RCC for the development of the MassGREEN Weatherization Training Lab in Hyde Park was finally signed. As a result, work will soon begin for the development of the training center. In July 2009, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, a state agency with a focus on

clean energy, awarded Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) a three-year $1.87 million contract to coordinate energy-efficiency workforce training programs under the MassGREEN initiative in order to develop an energy efficiency skills initiative within the state community college system.

Six of the 15 community colleges in Massachusetts were were selected as the lead institutions for their respective regions: RCC, as the lead institution in its region, along with Bunker Hill and Massbay Community Colleges as its regional partners, was responsible for developing a training lab for the greater Boston area. The other lead institutions include Berkshire, Bristol, North Shore, Greenfield and Quinsigamond Community Colleges. The goal is to use an off-campus site as an incubator for training and as a center for advanced certification in the energy conservation and renewable energy sectors.

As the Massachusetts economy continues to expand, along with the need for skilled workers to fill its workforce needs, RCC — as evidenced by its successful Workforce Development Training Programs — is answering the call.

12 • Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER

The Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School has started an anti-foreclosure and eviction-defense program, called the Mattapan Initiative, which will provide free legal services. Team members include (L-R) Julia Devanthery, a post-foreclosure eviction-defense attorney; Roger Bertling, overseeing attorney for the Mattapan Initiative; Maureen McDonagh, attorney; Charlie Carriere, a predatory lending/pre-foreclosure attorney; and Brandon German, community outreach coordinator. (Photos courtesy of the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School) they realize that our job here is of anger and shame about their not to prey upon them again and foreclosure problems. “I let them that our job is to help them they know they are the victim and that are really appreciative of that.” they were targeted,” German continued from page 1 Brandon German is the com- says. “I let them know that the distressed homeowners as early as munity outreach coordinator predatory loan they received was possible. Legal assistance includes tasked with hitting the streets. He designed to fail.” review of mortgage documents for has not only knocked on doors But the main objective, acpredatory characteristics, loan mod- but also searched public records cording to German, is to keep ification counteroffers, assistance to find homeowners in Mattapan people in their homes in order with loan modification principal re- that need help. to “strengthen the neighborhood duction offers, and representation His first task is to educate and strengthen the community.” to defend against post-foreclosure homeowners on their legal rights.

Although the Legal Services eviction proceedings.

He then lets them know about Center began working with home“People are really apprecia- Mattapan Initiative and the free owners in Mattapan in March, the tive of the help we can give them legal services it is offering. initiative was officially launched because we can tell them what Building trust is another on July 25 with a luncheon at is really going on and what the matter. He says many home- the Mattapan Branch Library of problem is,” Bertling says. “When owners are dealing with feelings the Boston Public Library. The

Homes

The kick-off meeting for the Mattapan Initiative was held at the Mattapan branch of the Boston Public Library on July 31. event was attended by representa- Services Center. “We want to talk tives from the Attorney General’s to people who are behind and are Office, the Massachusetts Judicial not even getting notices yet,” he System, the City of Boston De- said. “We want people to underpartment of Neighborhood De- stand how to act when they are in velopment and Action for Boston trouble on their mortgage.”

Community Development Inc., as well as community leaders, elected For more information about the officials and clergy.

Mattapan Initiative anti-foreclo“Everybody realizes the extent sure and eviction-defense program of the problem and that it hasn’t or to seek free legal services, call yet been fixed,” Bertling says. 617-390-2592.

“People are really struggling with this and this is not going to go Arrogance is the serpent of death; away for a while.” rout it from your heart.

With the initiative officially Conquer conceit, your enemy, launched, Bertling believes that and cast it from your being.

If you are self-important, O fool, its reach will grow quickly. “We You will suffer injury. are expecting more and more cli- When you are no greater than anyone else, ents as we move along,” he says.

He encourages anyone with why claim superiority?

— Swami Muktananda concerns to reach out to the Legal

Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER • 13

Former Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner was released from prison on July 18 after serving part of a three-year sentence at the U.S. Penitentiary in Hazelton, W.Va. He was released early on good behavior. (Yawu Miller photo)

Turner

continued from page 1

Despite the prosecution’s seemingly weak case, Turner’s prospects turned sour when he

took the stand in his own defense — against the advice of his attorney and many of his supporters — and denied he remembered any specifics of his meeting with the informant.

In January 2011, he began serving a three-year sentence at

Hazelton. In July, Turner was released early on good behavior to a Boston halfway house, but it almost didn’t end up that way.

According to Turner, early in his incarceration, he began having problems with fellow inmates and corrections officers in the work camp where he served time, a 150inmate dormitory housing nonviolent offenders serving sentences of 10 or fewer years. Turner and the other prisoners in the work camp were given freedom of movement, access to a track, pool tables, card games and other recreational activities.

“Even though it was a relaxed atmosphere, you had 150 men living together,” he says. “I went in there with some raw emotions. I found myself reacting strongly to situations. I got into verbal disputes.”

Turner, who turns 72 this year, says he was forced to rely on his faith in a higher power.

“I said to myself, ‘Chuck, this is the testing time,’” he says.

“After three or four months, I realized there was nothing I could do to change the situation I was in. You’re in a situation where there’s nothing you can do to protect yourself. You can’t allow your emotions of anger, bitterness and fear get in the way of your connection to the higher power.”

Turner says he was able to stop reacting out of anger to situations he encountered in prison, including an incident where a corrections officer wrote him up on bogus charges after he complained about the guard’s behavior. The officer’s charges against Turner were dismissed.

A few days before Turner’s early release date, which had been scheduled for July 8, a corrections officer told him the halfway house he was

assigned to had no vacancies.

“If that had happened when I first came in, I would have had some reaction,” Turner said. “I just said ‘okay.’ I knew there was nothing more I could do. Instead of getting angry, I focused on what to do with the rest of my time there.”

As it turned out, Turner had just 10 more days in prison. He was released to the halfway house on July 18.

“What really happened is that as I began to think about the power I had in the situation, I went from thinking I was powerless in the situation to a conviction that I really do have power,” Turner said.

Turner will remain under the supervision of the halfway house until January of next year. In the meantime, he is working out of Imani House, a Grove Hall nonprofit, to plan a convening of activists to strategize a new movement to better the lot of blacks in Boston.

“What I’d like to do is call on the elders — those who are 50 years old and up, those who were born at the time we declared our intent to become citizens of the United States with full legal rights,” he says. “As the first generation that has integrated into American culture, we have to report back on the progress we’ve made in business, economic development and other areas and begin an assessment of our failures and successes.”

Turner’s conversations with activists have sparked reflection on the state of blacks in Boston. He says that while some blacks have made material gains, the black community has abandoned the values that it relied on to make the gains of the Civil Rights Movement.

Turner himself was part of the movements of the ‘70s and ‘80s that paved the way for blacks in Boston to participate more fully in the city’s civic life — the court-ordered desegregation of the city’s public housing and schools and the consent decrees that led to the hiring of black and Latino police officers and firefighters.

But the Civil Rights Movement has had limited success, according to Turner. Many blacks have been unwilling or unable to participate in the expanded opportunities the older generation has fought for, instead becoming enmeshed in the criminal justice system and effectively barred from working or even receiving housing subsidies.

“The reality is that there are a lot of people in their 20s and 30s who have not had the experience of working in an organized environment and have no skills,” he says. “When you look at us, we’re on the margins of the economy.

“For 350 years we’ve experienced what it’s like to be at the bottom of a society that’s based on wealth and power. We’ve been on the outside. Now, some of us are on the inside pushing a strategy for individual advancement.”

Turner says he hopes to expand his conversation with elders to include representatives of the younger generation and talk about creating a new system of values that helps build community.

“I think we have the responsibility as elders to help the younger generation think about a value system that can replace egoism and materialism,” he says. “We’ve been caught up in a struggle for wealth and power, but we’ve lost our values.”

14 • Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER

Diamond Girls Boston to show off beauty products Kassmin Williams

Dudley Square Main Streets WANTS YOU to come shop, eat, and help us grow Dudley Square

A group of young women from Diamond Girls Boston will stand alongside ten local beauty and fashion entrepreneurs at the organization’s first annual showcase Saturday, where they will sell their new beauty products.

The young entrepreneurs, ranging from 10 to 17, have worked for five weeks to produce two products that will introduce the Diamond Girls Beauty brand and kick-off Diamond Girls Boston’s first Epic Entrepreneurship End of Summer Showcase/Fundraiser, which will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club at 115 Warren St. in Roxbury on Aug. 9.

Diamond Girls Boston is a program that works with girls in grades 6 through 12 on identifying self-worth, building self-esteem and developing self-image.

Boston-based entrepreneur and owner of Lip Hop Cosmetics Kaidi Grant founded the summer program in 2009.

During the five weeks, the girls learn the ins and outs of product creation, marketing and sales and have weekly discussions with local entrepreneurs.

Each summer the program ends with a showcase and this year the organization made the decision to hold a showcase that reflects the program, Grant said.

“I’ve done double-dutch,” Grant said, ticking off the different types of showcases. “I’ve done arts and crafts.

We’ve had galleries. We’ve had performances. … [But] since the essence of the program is entrepreneurial we have an event that showcases whichever product the girls had produced

Diamond Girls Boston will showcase their new makeup products at the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club at 115 Warren St. on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 6 p.m. that summer,” Grant said.

Co-sponsored by Ana Foster of WWMI Events, the showcase will feature the group’s products Diamond Dust and Diamond Glitter.

Diamond Dust is a light powder available in four shades and is designed to make skin glow and shine.

Diamond Glitter is a powder available in eight colors designed to give skin a glitzy shimmer.

Grant said the product is something that looks like it could be purchased from popular cosmetic stores. “[The products are] beautiful,” Grant said. “They’re very nice.

I mean just gorgeous colors and

high quality.”

Diamond Girls Boston is hoping to raise $5,000 at the showcase to receive sponsorship for tickets to BET’s award and performance show Black Girls Rock!, taping this year.

A portion of the proceeds will also be donated to local nonprofit My Sister’s Keeper, which supports women in Sudan.

The five-week program and the showcase offers an array of lessons to its participants, according to Grant, who believes the program helps the women become more self-sufficient, financially literate and confident.

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Diamond Glitter, a product designed by Diamond Girls Boston, is a shimmery powder that comes in eight colors.

In Diamond Girls Boston, a group of girls in grades 6-12 spend the summer building self-esteem and entrepreneurial skills. Each year at the end of summer, the girls hold a showcase. (Photos courtesy of Diamond Girls)

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Jay Z – Belafonte feud showcases a

GENERATIONAL DIVIDE Peniel E. Joseph Hip-hop mogul Shawn Carter, aka “Jay Z,” and legendary singer and human-rights activist Harry Belafonte have recently been embroiled in a highly publicized dispute over the responsibilities of black icons to the larger African American community.

Belafonte, who has effortlessly wedded a successful international career as a singer, dancer and actor with vocal and important support for civil rights, anti-apartheid and human activism, chastised Jay Z for “turning his back on social responsibility” and included the rapper’s wife, Beyoncé, in his public indictment.

Jay Z responded by proclaiming that he felt insulted

by Belafonte’s remarks and defended himself by characterizing his “presence” as “charity” ennobling the black community.

Many commentators expressed outrage at Jay Z’s seeming arrogance and proceeded to list the myriad ways that Carter could never — and would never — live up to Belafonte’s high standard of social engagement and civic activism promoting racial and economic justice.

Although inelegantly expressed, Jay Z’s position that his presence, along with that of President Obama, provides resources for the black community deserves

closer examination. Insofar as Obama’s watershed presence in American culture promoted a renaissance of interest in race and African American history in politics, cable news, publishing and universities throughout the nation, Jay Z’s point is well-made.

Similarly, Shawn Carter’s own burgeoning iconography has helped make hip-hop into a global phenomenon and inspired countless black entrepreneurs and artists to follow his example. In many respects, Michael Jordan innovated the model of the apolitical black superstar that subsequent generations in sports and entertainment have adopted.

Belafonte has every right, of course, to criticize such a perspective, especially since it flies in the face of the ethos of collective and group empowerment upon which the Civil Rights and Black Power eras were built.

Jay Z’s acknowledgement that he spent two sleepless nights in the aftermath of the George Zimmerman verdict included an admission that America still has residues of past racial discrimination. Beyond this fleeting recognition however, racism appears as a ghost from the nation’s dark past, a shadowy apparition that is not easily recognizable and is almost impossible to fight.

This narrative views racism as more of an antiquated series of individual prejudices, pernicious ste-

reotypes and ancient wrongs committed lifetimes ago than a systematic and institutional phenomenon that persists in every facet of American life.

When Jay Z points to hip-hop’s multicultural audience as providing not just a balm for past racial discrimination but, in fact, a cure, he means it. The shared experiences of a multicultural hip-hop generation represent the culmination of the Civil Rights Movement’s search for transcendent racial justice.

COM M ENTARY Although this ignores the most important aspect of contemporary racism — unequal outcomes — it’s a comforting myth that has been propagated by our “post-racial” moment.

Jay Z sees his own wealth and status, along with the election of Barack Obama, as examples of racism’s decline. In other words, he mistakes individual achievement for collective advancement.

While Jay Z’s individual entrepreneurial spirit, musical genius and discipline facilitated his escape from Brooklyn, N.Y.’s Marcy Projects, he doesn’t see the value in committing his time, resources and talent in political causes that might help those left behind in America’s

countless urban and rural ghettoes.

Belafonte’s generation grew up believing that the ascendance of black faces in higher places carried less weight and meaning if the entire community could not be uplifted as well.

Jay Z’s characterization of Obama’s global visibility offers a contrasting perspective: “Whether he does anything, the hope that he provides for a nation, and outside of America, is enough.”

What this sentiment ignores is the vital connection between individual achievement and collective action that animated black freedom struggles. As a 43-yearold black New Yorker, this makes Shawn Carter an outlier from his own generation, which came of age amid bruising protests for racial justice in the 1980s, an atmosphere that produced a local activist named Al Sharpton and the national presidential campaigns of Jesse Jackson.

However, much has changed in the post civil rights era. Whereas a generation of famous black athletes (Muhammad Ali, Bill Russell, Jim Brown) and entertainers (Sam Cooke, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye) used their prodigious talents to call attention to racism and Jim Crow, their 21st-century counterparts are loath to risk their current and future earning power on anything that smacks of controversy.

Trayvon Martin’s stunning

death, and the subsequent Zimmerman trial, interrupted this status quo, drawing a diverse range of support from LeBron James, Jay Z and Beyoncé, who rightfully compared Trayvon’s death to Emmett Till’s.

Belafonte is understandably frustrated, disappointed and angry at this current crop of high-profile entertainers’ unwillingness to risk more for the black community. Yet his public criticism of Jay Z, however justified in his mind, brings us no closer to the generational rapprochement that is required to pass the baton from the Civil Rights generation to the iPhone generation.

Young people, whether Jay Z’s generation or millennials, want a dialogue, not a monologue. They enjoy conversation, not being lectured to.

If Belafonte ever does get that sit-down with Jay and Bey, hopefully he can start by praising their enormous collective talent and accomplishments, while noting that, at least in his era, their counterparts achieved even greater heights by joining in a movement for human rights and racial justice that tried nothing less than to redeem America’s soul.

Peniel E. Joseph is founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy and a professor of history at Tufts University.

16 • Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER

intheMix with Colette Greenstein

Screenwriter Danny Strong discusses Lee Daniels’ film ‘The Butler’ Best known for his character “Jonathan Levinson” on the long-running television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and for his recent role as “Danny Siegel,” the first Jewish ad man at the fictional Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce on the hit series Mad Men, Danny Strong is an accomplished, award-winning screenwriter, producer and actor — all before the age of 40.

Strong made the seamless transition from acting to writing in part because his friend Michael McCall (21 Jump Street and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), who he auditioned against for many years, sold a script and Strong said that he “was so jealous that he was taking meetings with executives and I was still auditioning for a Frosty Nut Crunch commercial.”

And so he wrote his first script, called Recount, which took an intimate look at the 2000 U.S. presidential election. The film premiered on HBO in 2008 and starred Kevin Spacey, Laura Dern, Tom Wilkinson and Denis Leary. Strong won

his first Writers Guild Award for Recount and received his first Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or Dramatic Special category.

He also wrote and executive-produced the much-talked-about film Game Change, based on the bestselling book of the same name by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin, which chronicles the historic events of the 2008 U.S. presidential election. The film starred Julianne Moore in the title role of Sarah Palin and Ed Harris as Senator John McCain. The film went on to win five Emmys, including two individual wins for Strong in the categories of Outstanding Miniseries or Movie and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special categories.

Strong’s latest challenge is writing the highly anticipated two-part finale to The Hunger Games trilogy, Mocking Jay Part 1 and Mocking Jay Part 2, due to be released in November of 2014 and 2015. In addition, Strong is also set to make his directorial debut with The Crusaders, a film about Thurgood Marshall and the historical 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, and he’ll also produce the upcoming Sugar Ray Robinson biopic Sweet Thunder starring David Oyelowo.

Before the finale of The Hunger Games gets under way, Strong is on a promotional tour discussing his latest film, Lee Daniels’ The Butler.

with Colette

The drama tells the story of fictional White House butler Cecil Gaines, played by Forest Whitaker, who serves during seven presidential administrations between 1957 and 1986. The film is inspired by Wil Haygood’s 2008 Washington Post article “A Butler Well Served

by This Election,” which chronicled the real life of former White House butler Eugene Allen.

During a recent roundtable interview in Boston to promote Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Danny Strong talked about the making of the film and the person that inspired it.

Are you happy with the film?

I love the movie. I think Lee Daniels did such an amazing job.

The actors are just tremendous and I think these performances are tremendous. I’m really proud of it and I think Lee is proud it. We’re just excited to get it out there.

What struck you about the article that the film is based on and how much did you draw from that article?

It was the concept of a character that is in the White House through the decades. I thought, there could be something really special there.

I have no idea what it is. I have no idea how I’m going to write this or what the story is. But just the concept seemed really great. It was very difficult. It was the most complicated script I’ve ever written.

Danny Strong adapted the screenplay for Lee Daniels’ The Butler. The movie stars Forest Whitaker and tells the story of fictional White House butler Cecil Gaines. (Photo courtesy of Danny Strong) When you see the movie, it’s seems so obvious that it’s going to be a movie about the Civil Rights Movement. And of course, that’s the story. I didn’t know that’s what it was going to be when I started. It could have been anything. The whole movie could have been about one administration. We could have done whatever we wanted. There are so many historical events. So, which ones do you choose from?

What do you cover politically because it does take place in the White House? If you’re not covering history and politics what’s

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the point of the concept of it being about the White House butler? It could be about anything. So figuring out that I was going to make the spine of the movie the Civil Rights Movement was a big breakthrough for me, and then figuring out the father-son dynamic. When I came up with those two things I thought, that’s the story.

Did you have an opportunity to interview Eugene Allen’s son or anyone in the family?

I interviewed Eugene Allen and I spent a lot of time with his son.

And I still talk to his son Charles. I love Charles. A lot of stuff from the movie comes from my conversation with Charles about black history that didn’t necessary relate to Charles himself.

Another element that was very helpful was memoirs of people that worked in the White House. One that was particularly helpful was My 21 Years in the White House by Alonzo Fields.

In the case of Charles, who loves the movie by the way — and what I loved about Charles, was early on after I’d written the scripts, how much he was on board with the fact that it wasn’t going to be his dad’s exact life story, that the character of Cecil Gaines had created this composite character.

But nonetheless, there’s still quite a bit inspired by Eugene Allen. I remember in my interview with him, I asked him about the Civil Rights Movement and he said “I’m too old for that.” To me, that’s the heart of Cecil Gaines.

What would you like people to walk away from in respect to everything going on in America today?

A better understanding of the history of race in America. I don’t think people know our past that well. I said that to Lee Daniels at our first meeting. And he said, “That’s why I’m doing this. But I’m not doing it for white America.

I’m here for black America.” He said, “My daughter who goes to a private school in New York City knows more about the Holocaust than her own history.”

See Lee Daniels’ The Butler when it opens in theaters nationwide on Aug. 16.

If you would like Colette Greenstein to cover or write about your event, email her at inthemixwithcolette@gmail.com.

Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER • 17

Snoop Dogg sets sail as ‘Smoove’ snail in ‘Turbo’ Kam Williams Calvin Cordozar Broadus was born on October 20, 1971, in Long Beach, Calif., where he was nicknamed “Snoopy” by his parents because of a striking resemblance to the Peanuts cartoon character. A promising rapper from an early age, he began performing in the sixth grade but was waylaid by brushes with the law in high school.

After a stint behind bars for drug possession, he took the stage name Snoop Doggy Dogg and launched his recording career with the help of hip-hop producer Dr. Dre. His 1993 debut album, Doggystyle, featuring his trademark laid-back vocal phrasings, was well-received and quickly went quadruple platinum.

Over the course of an enduring showbiz career, Snoop has released a dozen solo CDs and sold more than 30 million records. Last year, he tweaked his alias to Snoop Lion when he recorded a reggae album in Jamaica called Reincarnated.

A talented actor, he’s also acted in a score of movies, most notably, Training Day, Baby Boy, Old School, Starsky & Hutch and, most recently, Scary Movie 5.

Here, he talks about his latest screen outing as “Smoove Move” in Turbo, an animated adventure about

a snail who dreams of entering the Indianapolis 500.

What interested you in Turbo?

Well I’ve wanted to do a family movie for a while now. Being able to watch a movie with my family and some of the kids from my Snoop Youth Football League has always been a goal of mine, so when [director] David Soren reached out to me about Turbo I was all for it. And my character is a smooth little snail. … I thought it was a cool concept.

How would you describe “Smoove Move?”

He’s a slick little guy. He’s calm and cool just like me.

Did you base your approach to the character on anybody?

I based him on myself because the character was written for me.

How would you compare doing voice work for an animated film to appearing onscreen in a live action adventure?

The process for doing voice work goes by much quicker as opposed to shooting a feature. You can pretty much go in and knock it out in a day or two. It feels very natural for me to express myself using only my voice, so it wasn’t too difficult.

What message do you think people will take away from Turbo?

I think they will be inspired and in a good mood. It’s a fun family movie.

Why did you change your name to Snoop Lion?

My name was given to me. I didn’t just decide to change it one day. But I ran with it to reflect a more peaceful and positive attitude for my new Reincarnated project. The Snoop Dogg name is so connected to hip-hop, and I didn’t want to change that. Hip-hop raised me, and I would never turn my back on it.

What inspired you to become a Rastafarian and to release that reggae album, Reincarnated?

I’m a spiritual man and I’ve always felt connected to Rastafari. I’m not a Rastafarian but I’ve got so much respect for the lifestyle and religion, and I’m so thankful I was able to meet some of the most influential Rastafarians during my Jamaica trip. They taught me so much and really helped me evolve into who I am today.

I felt in this stage of my life it was time to make a record that reflected my lifestyle … positive, peaceful and family-oriented. I’ve always had a connection to reggae and it was the right music to fully display my new

lifestyle in a way that was natural for me. Jah Rastafari!

How did you come to collaborate with Miley Cyrus on the song “Ashtrays and Heartbreaks?”

We met at the studio and she told me that she loved my work. I love what she does, too. Miley’s cool and I support her 100 percent.

When was the last time you had a good laugh?

At the Turbo screening!

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Barbecue-flavor twist Fritos.

Definitely, Barbecue-flavor twist Fritos!

Highly successful hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg has a wide and varied career, including renaming himself Snoop Lion for a reggae album, acting in upcoming movie Turbo and performing to support U.S. military forces (above). (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

18 • Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER

Community Calendar Thursday August 8

Roslindale Concert Series The Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s ParkARTS program is pleased to host the Roslindale Thursday Evening Series at Adams Park. Five Thursday night concerts and a movie are scheduled, all free of charge and presented in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Tourism, and Special Events and Roslindale Village Main Streets. At 6pm, acoustic duo Chris Mathison and Nick Leydon on August 8. The series closes August 15 with an 8 p.m. outdoor movie featuring “Madagascar 3.” Adams Park is located at 4225 Washington St. in Roslindale. All ParkARTS neighborhood performances are free and made possible through leadership support from Bank of America. For more information or a full schedule of events, please call please call 617-635-4505 or visit the Parks Department online at www.cityofboston/parks or w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / b o s t o n parksdepartment.

Artists in Residence Craft Workshops The Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s annual ParkARTS program, generously supported by Bank of America, presents children’s arts and crafts workshops giving kids the opportunity to express their creativity while working on fun projects with local artists. Children ages three to ten can enjoy watercolor painting, mask and jewelry making, treasure bottle creations, and more at the Artists in Residence Craft Workshops. The workshops, supported

by Comcast, are from 9am to 12 noon in parks across the city. Participation is free and all materials are provided, but young children must be accompanied by an adult.

Groups of six or more should make prior arrangements by calling the Boston Parks Department at 617635-4505. Remaining dates and locations for the Artist in Residence Craft Workshops are as follows: Tuesday, August 13, Ronan Park, Dorchester, Walker Playground, Mattapan; Wednesday, August 14, Ceylon Park, Roxbury, Mozart Park, Jamaica Plain; Thursdays, August 8, 15, Peters Park, South End, Hobart Street Play Area, Brighton; Fridays, August 9, 16, Moakley Park, South Boston, East Boston Stadium, East Boston.

For information on this and other ParkARTS programs, please call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505, visit www.facebook.com/bostonparks department, or go to www.cityof boston.gov/parks.

Saturday August 10

ImprovBoston THE BEATBOX fuses fastpaced improv and classic HipHop. Scenes are cut, mixed, and transformed by freestyling improv

comedians and a Human Beatbox. 11pm, tickets: $10. NIGHTCAP — Before you call it a night on a Fridays and Saturdays, make plans to stop by ImprovBoston, grab a drink at the bar and catch a FREE set of Boston’s BEST stand-up comics and improv comedy acts. We guarantee you Laugh Out Loud! (And if not, it’s 100% FREE, so you have nothing to lose.) Nightcap shows last until Midnight-ish. Come for the 10pm show and save your seat for Nightcap. 11:30pm, tickets: Free. All shows take place at ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Cambridge, MA. More information on ImprovBoston is available at http://improvboston.com.

Monday August 12

Menino’s Movie Nights Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s Movie Nights, part of the Boston Parks and Recreation Departm e n t ’s P a r k A R T S p r o g r a m sponsored by Bank of America, will give residents and visitors plenty of chances to enjoy popular films under the night skies in city parks. All shows begin at dusk. Free popcorn will be provided by AMC Loews Theatres and Skinny Pop Popcorn. Bring your blankets and chairs and make yourself comfortable. In addition, the Boston’s Children’s Museum’s “The Big Cake Tour” will host fun family activities before each Monday night movie beginning at 7pm. Dates, locations, and films are as follows: Monday, August 12 — Blackstone Square, 1535 Washington St., South End, “ParaNorman”; Thursday, August 15 ​— Adams P a r k , 4 2 2 5 Wa s h i n g t o n S t . , Roslindale, “Madagascar 3”; Monday, August 19 — Billings Field, 369 LaGrange St., West Roxbury, “We Are Marshall”; Monday, August 26 — Iacono Park, 150 Readville St., Hyde Park, “E.T. The Extraterrestrial.”

For more information please call 617-635-4505 or visit the Boston Parks and Recreation Department online on Facebook or at www.cityofboston.gov/parks.

Tuesday August 13

Katelyn Emerson Katelyn Emerson (Oberlin, Ohio) plays the CB Fisk Organ.

Works of Bruhns, JS & CPE Bach, Tariverdiev, Langlais & Vierne. 8pm. Old West Church, 131 Cambridge St., Boston.

MBTA MGH, North Station or Gov’t Center. Handicap accessible. FREE (donations welcome).

617-739-1340 or www.oldwes torgansociety.org.

Wildlife Exploration The Boston Parks and Recre a t i o n D e p a r t m e n t ’s P a r k S C I E N C E p ro g ram p resent s Wildlife Exploration at the Parker Hilltop/McLaughlin Woodlands Urban Wild on Mission Hill from 10-11am. The walk will meet at

the McLaughlin Playground Tot Lot at 239 Parker Hill Avenue.

Led by Mass Audubon, families can take part in a nature adventure, learn about the native species that reside in our urban spaces, and create homemade birdfeeders with all supplies provided. The ParkSCIENCE series continues with one-hour nature walks at 7:30am on September 10 at Millennium Park, West Roxbury, and at 10am on October 8 at Olmsted Park, 217 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain.

This program is made possible in part with funding from a Green Parks – Green Kids Grant resulting from a partnership between the National Recreation and Park Association and the National Recreation Foundation. For more information please call 617-6354505.

Wednesday August 14

LSO’s 28th Annual Free Concert Join the LSO for its 28th annual free concert at the DCR Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. At 7pm, LSO Music Director Ronald Feldman will lead a program of music by Beethoven and Dvoák, including Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 featuring a young soloist from the Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts Summer Music Program. This concert is presented as part of Boston Landmarks Orchestra’s Landmarks Festival at the Shell.

Urbano’s Summer Exhibition Join us for the viewing of a participatory video project created by our youth documentarians, the presentation of a vertical garden installation, and live performance exploring themes of identity, justice, and public space. Learn more about Urbano’s summer session work and our exciting programs for Fall 2013! In The Emancipated City, youth artists and teaching artists explore visions of a new Boston — a home rooted in the principles of collaboration, risk-taking, and border crossing that defines the work of Urbano, as well as honest confrontation of the most critical social justice issues of our time.

When we draw on our city’s history as well as our utopian imaginings, what springs forth is a portrait of a new Boston. It may be beautiful, and it may be dangerous. It may be confounding, and it may be inspiring. Above all, our vision is of a city that shelters freedom at its — an emancipated city. 6-8pm, Urbano’s studio and exhibition space is located at 284 Amory St. (1st floor) in Jamiaca Plain (in the Sam Adams Brewery complex). The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.

Upcoming

on August 21, and the series finale featuring Roberta Flack on August 28. All shows begin at 7pm at City Hall Plaza. For more information, please call the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at 617-635-4505, visit www.facebook.com/boston parksdepartment, or go to www. cityofboston.gov/parks.

Children’s Science Festival Mayor Thomas M. Menino invites the public to free science education events in the parks.

On Tuesday, August 20, from 10am - 2pm a children’s science festival will be held at Franklin Park with exhibits and experiments offered by several groups, including, The Boston Children’s Museum, Mass Horticulture, Science From Scientists, and the Franklin Park Zoo. ParkSCIENCE events are made possible in part with funding from a Green Parks — Green Kids Grant resulting from a partnership between the National Recreation and Park Association and the National Recreation Foundation.

W.E.B. Du Bois Celebration Join us for a celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Du Bois in Great Barrington. Saturday, August 24, 2 & 3:30pm Guided Tour of the W.E.B. Du Bois Homesite, Corner of Church and River Streets, Great Barrington. Meet at W.E.B. Du Bois River Garden, River Walk. Transportation provided, registration required, RSVP Appreciated. Contact Wray Gunn (wraygunn@msn.com) to RSVP or register for a guided tour of the Homesite. Or visit www. duboisnhs.org.

Ongoing Cuba: Printed Stories The Multicultural Arts Center presents Cuba: Printed Stories (translated from Spanish - Cuba: Historias Grabadas) on view until October 18, in the Lower Gallery.

The exhibition is curated by Astrid Martinez-Jones of Latin Art Space and features two contemporary Cuban printmakers, Norberto Marrero and Janette Brossard, telling stories of ordinary and staged life through unique etchings, screen prints, collagraphs, woodcuts and engravings. Artist Reception will be held on Thursday, September

19, 6-8pm. FREE and open to the public. Regular Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 10:30am - 6pm. www.multiculturalartscenter.org/ galleries/.

The Emancipated Century: Readings of August Wilson’s 10-Play Cycle The Performing Arts Department and the Trotter Institute at UMass Boston present The Emancipated Century: Readings of August Wilson’s 10-Play Cycle. August 5-December 16. All performances begin at 7pm. August 19 — Joe Turner’s Come and Gone — The Strand Theatre, 543 Columbia Rd., Dorchester. For more information, please visit our Facebook page: Emancipated Century: August Wilson Readings.

Summer Scene at Roxbury’s Marcella Park Through August 30. Hawthorne Community Center invites 5-21 year olds and adults to Roxbury’s Marcella Park for free evening programs. The lineup includes: Mondays: Tennis (6-12 year olds from 5-6 pm; 13-18 year olds from 6-7pm; adults from 7-8pm). Tuesdays and Thursdays: 5:30-6:30-Jazzy Dance for 6-18 year olds; 6:30-8:00-Soccer/Rox for 5-18 year olds; Wednesdays: 5:30-6:30-Double Dutch for 5-18 year olds; 6:45-7:45-Junior Basketball Fridays: 5:30-6:30-Double Dutch; 6:45-7:45 Teen Basketball for 13-16 year olds. And Hawthorne hosts the ReadBoston Storymobile from 1:15-2pm on Wednesdays (July 10-August 14), a special activity for 3-10 year olds and their caregivers. Roxbury’s Marcella Park (corner of Highland and Marcella Street in Roxbury). Contact: Samantha: hyccroxbury@hotmail.com; 617427-0613.

Concerts in the Courtyard One of Boston’s most beautiful spaces will be filled with music in a free, lunchtime concert series on Fridays in August. The courtyard at the Central Library in Copley Square will feature music that ranges from jazz to classical and from blues to Broadway. All concerts begin at 12:30pm. The complete schedule is available at www.bpl. org/concerts.

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Mayor Menino’s Wednesday Night Concerts Mayor Menino’s Wednesday Night Concerts continue with Strictly Sinatra featuring Charlie Thomas and the Drifters

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Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER • 19

NewsBriefs

Whittier Street Health Center receives $1.9 million federal grant

The grant supports patients from the closed Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recently awarded the Whittier Street Health Center a $1.9 million grant to provide health-care services to patients formerly served by the Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center (RoxComp).

RoxComp, which closed in February 2013, served 8,180 patients from Roxbury, North Dorchester and other parts of Boston. To date, Whittier has already enrolled a significant number of former RoxComp patients to its new state-of-the-art community health center.

The HRSA grant will assist Whittier in developing more programs that connect patients to a full continuum of wellness, primary care and public health services. The programs will include community engagement forums, outreach and education, financial counseling and health insurance enrollment, transportation and support services.

“Whittier takes great pride in providing optimal care to members of the community, especially those in underserved, at-risk, mi-

nority communities,” said Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. “The HRSA grant will allow Whittier to provide the former Roxbury Comprehensive Health Center patients with high-quality, comprehensive and compassionate health care. We enthusiastically look forward to serving them and welcoming them to the Whittier family.”

The HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary federal agency responsible for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable. HRSA grantees provide health care to uninsured people, people living with HIV/ AIDS and pregnant women, mothers and children. HRSA trains health professionals and improves systems of care in rural and urban communities.

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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10 Talbot Ave, Dorchester, MA 02124 Repair, refinish damaged vehicles. Complete interior and exterior recondition/detail 24 Hour Towing • (617) 825-1545, fax: (617) 825-8495 www.hicksautobodyinc.com

CATERING HALEY HOUSE BAKERY CAFÉ

Breakfast Specials, Signature Muffins and Scones, A la Carte Breakfast, Lunch Package Deals, Wrap and Sandwich Platters, Steamin’ Hot Entrees, Soup and Salads, Pizza, Side Dishes, Appetizers, Desserts, Beverages and more.

To place an order call catering line Monday through Friday 8am-4pm at (617) 939-6837

CONSTRUCTION KERRY CONSTRUCTION, INC

22 Sylvester Rd, Dorchester Interior & Exterior Painting Replacement Windows & Doors • Carpentry • Roofing • Gutters • Masonry • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Vinyl Siding Free Estimates • Licensed & Insured Call James O’Sullivan (617) 825-0592

CONSULTING CAROLE COPELAND THOMAS, MBA, CDMP

High Energy Programs • Conventions • Training Workshops Retreats • Speaker • Trainer • Author • Global Diversity Leadership • Multiculturalism • Empowerment (508) 947-5755 • carole@mssconnect.com www.tellcarole.com • www.mssconnect.com

Richard D. Carr - D.D.S. Bahram Ghassemi - D.M.D., Badrieh Edalatpour - D.M.D. Gail Fernando - D.M.D., Diba Dastjerdi - D.M.D 68 New Edgerly Rd, Boston, MA 02115 • (617) 262-5880 • Fax: (617) 859-8804

EYE DOCTORS & GLASSES URBAN EYE MD ASSOCIATES. P.C.

183 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 720 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118 (617) 262-6300 • (617) 638-8119 Web: www.urbaneyemd.com Benjamin Andrè Quamina, M.D. • Lawrence I. Rand, M.D. Clifford Michaelson, M.D. • Sergey Urman, M.D. Lessa Denis Mahamed, O.D. Treating: Glaucoma, Cataracts, Diabetes, Ocular Plastic/ Cosmetic Surgery and other vision threatening conditions and diseases. Offering: Routine Eye and Contact Lens Exams

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS FIRECODE DESIGN,LLC

195 Dudley Street, Roxbury, MAz 02119 (617) 442-CODE (2633) 25 year focuses on fire protection. Cost-effective fire sprinkler system and alarm system design, commission, test and installation. Full Fire Extinguisher service includes Inspections, Sales and Installation. #1 in Roxbury.

HOTEL SUPPLY HOSPITALITY PRODUCTS …

QUALITY … PAY … LESS GO COMFORT ESSENTIALS

provides products such as blankets, Bed Linens, Towels, Bathrobes, Guest Amenities, Table Linens, Soaps and much more to: • Hotels • Motels • Resorts • Spas • Salons • YMCA • Camps • Cruise Ships • other businesses www.gocomfortessentials.com Call now 1800-935-3006 email: sales@gocomfortessentials.com

To have your business listed contact us at 617-261-4600 x 7799

925 Washington Street, Suite 4, Dorchester, MA 02124 Human Resources, Recruitment, Executive Search A full-service HR agency offering cost-effective HR solutions for: ♦Start-ups ♦Nonprofits ♦Small Businesses Free Initial Consultations (617) 942-3566 info@hyatthr.com www.hyatthr.com

INSURANCE MUTUAL OF OMAHA

• Life Insurance • Disability Insurance • Long-Term Care Insurance • Annuities • IRA • 401(k) • Mutual Funds • 529 College Savings Plans • Buy-Sell Funding • Key Person Protection • Executive Bonus Contact: Trevor Farrington Telephone: (617) 407-2684 Email: trevor.farrington@mutualofomaha.com Website: http://www.TrevorFarrington.com Boston Division Office, 400 Crown Colony Drive, Suite 201, Quincy, MA 02169

EMPIRE INSURANCE AGENCY AND REAL ESTATE SERVICES

Home • Car • Life • Business Insurance also Real Estate Services helping Buyers and Sellers 1065 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02120 Call Now 617-445-5555

LAWYERS BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY ANGELINA BRUCE-FLOUNORY, ESQ

High Quality Legal Services at Reasonable Rates!

Other areas incl. Divorce ∙ Criminal ∙ Estate Matters Call (617) 698-0409 or visit Web: www.lawofficeofabf.com

BUSINESS DIRECTORY $250/six months for a 30 word listing in print and online.

LAW OFFICE JAY U. ODUNUKWE & ASSOCIATES

Criminal: Drug Offenses/Probation Surrenders, Drunk Driving/OUI, Vehicle Offenses/Firearm, 209A/ DomesticViolence, Sealing Records/Sex Crimes, Personal Injury/Automobile Accidents Immigration: Deportation/Removal Proceedings, Employment Visas/Citizenship Sports/Entertainment: FIFA Player Agent Creative Solutions Always Delivers The Best!!!

170 Milk Street, 4th floor, Downtown - Boston, MA 02109, Phone: (617) 367-4500; Fax: (617) 275-8000, www.Bostontoplegal.com, Email: Harvcom@prodigy.net

THE LAW OFFICE OF VESPER GIBBS BARNES & ASSOCIATES

Legal Services in areas of Landlord/Tenant, Real Estate, Probate Matters, and Personal Injury.

Call (617)989-8800, or visit our website: www.vespergibbsbarnesesq.com

REMOVAL SERVICES FREE TREE WOOD REMOVAL good hardwood only Call Akee Roofing (781) 483-8291

ROOFING AKEE ROOF REPAIRS

Roof Leaks repaired, Gutters repaired, cleaned, and replaced, Flatroofs replaced. Call Richard (781) 483-8291

SKILLED NURSING FACILITY SKILLED NURSING & REHAB CENTER Proudly serving the Community since 1927

BENJAMIN HEALTHCARE CENTER

120 Fisher Ave, Boston, MA 02120 www.benjaminhealthcare.com Tel: (617) 738-1500 Fax: (617) 738-6560 Short-term, Long-term, Respite, Hospice & Rehabilitation Myrna E. Wynn, President & CEO, Notary Public

TELEPHONE & INTERNET PREPAID HOME PHONE & INTERNET SERVICES

• starting at $39.95 +tax • Unlimited Local Calling • Receive Unlimited International Calls • Free Maintenance & Repair • No ID Required! • Services & Privacy Guaranteed!

1953 Dorchester Ave., at Ashmont Station 1-888-248-6582

20 20 •• Thursday, Thursday, August August 8, 8, 2013 2013 •• BAY BAY STATE STATE BANNER BANNER

Dimock CEO Minter-Jordan driven by passion for patients

Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan took over as the new president and CEO of The Dimock Center on July 1. Minter-Jordan has served as chief medical officer at the Roxbury center since 2007. (Richard Howard photo) Martin Desmarais Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, the new president and CEO of The Dimock Center, is an accomplished doctor and hospital executive.

To say she is passionate about providing health care to everyone is an understatement.

“We are really going full throttle to make sure the community

has access to the services we provide,” said Minter-Jordan, who first came to The Dimock Center in Roxbury as chief medical officer in 2007 and officially took over her role as president and chief executive officer on July 1.

The 41-year-old Minter-Jordan is also dedicated to improving the community health-care model. And she wants to make

sure The Dimock Center, already a recognized leader in community health care, will continue to lead the way.

“I relish the opportunity to talk … about issues that impact the Latino and black community,” she said. “I think it is important to me to bring the voice of community health centers to that discussion.

“We can’t stop there. We have to keep moving until it is recognized by all that community health centers are really the model … to create a place for patients and family where all their needs are met,” she added.

Originally founded in 1862 as the New England Hospital for Women and Children, The Dimock Center serves Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Jamaica Plain. It is the second largest health center in Boston.

The center covers adult and child medicine, eye and dental care, HIV/AIDS services, and behavioral health such as inpatient and outpatient detox and recovery programs.

The center also offers education programs such as Head Start.

Minter-Jordan sees child education services as a doorway into a bigger influence. About 350 kids are on the Dimock Center nineacre campus every day. She wants to make sure that all those families are taking advantage of all the center has to offer.

“We want to show families that not only is your education important but your health and mental wellbeing is important,” said Minter-Jordan.

A native of Long Island, N.Y., Minter-Jordan studied at Brown University in Rhode Island, where she received a bachelor’s degree in arts, health and society in 1994 and a medical degree in 1998.

From there, she went to Johns

Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. as an instructor of medicine at Johns Hopkins Medical Center.

Later, she became director of medical consultation services at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

During her time at Johns Hopkins she also received an M.B.A. in health services.

Blending her business knowledge and interest in medicine is what led Minter-Jordan to the administrative side of health care and ultimately led her to taking a job as chief medical officer at The Dimock Center.

She explained that her medical knowledge helps her understand what patients need while her business knowledge helps her determine the best way to organize and fund a program to provide the

She also helped the center begin using an electronic medical record system and established its first institutional review board.

Recently, she led the efforts to secure a $4.9 million federal grant to expand the capacity of Dimock’s health center facility.

But, Minter-Jordan takes little credit for what she has done so far. Instead, she credits those that work with her.

“The one thing I will mention is so critical to all of this is our employees,” she said. “Without them there is no way I could even dream the dream I have for Dimock.”

And Minter-Jordan says she lets her employees know how impressed she is with them at every opportunity. “My goal is to be the best employer in Boston in terms of

“We want to show families that not only is your education important but your health and mental wellbeing is important.”

— Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan needed services.

“As I looked more deeply into the system you see there are so many improvements you can make system-wide that have a deeper lasting effect on patients and their families,” she said. “But I am not so far removed from the work we do. I am really, really close to that. … When we make changes here I can really see that impact.

“Although I miss clinical care on many levels I also recognize that all the work I am doing now is going to impact all the systems we have at Dimock,” she added.

In her time at The Dimock Center, Minter-Jordan is credited with establishing partnerships with The Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Partners HealthCare.

encouraging employees,” she said.

Minter-Jordan is also fully invested in the community on a family level. She lives in West Roxbury with her husband and two young daughters.

The search for a new head for the Dimock Center ran far and wide, but ultimately the Dimock Community Foundation Board concluded that the best candidate was right at home.

“Among the group of highly qualified and experienced contenders, Myechia was the clear standout,” said Community Foundation Board Vice Chair Robert Rivers, the head of the search committee that hired Minter-Jordan.

“I am certain that our organization, patients, clients, employees and the community we serve will be in the best possible hands.”

thinking quality child care? think crispus attucks children’s center Green Playground with agility course and fitness track • Affordable • Convenient- Ten minutes from Downtown Boston, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain • Nurturing Environment • Emphasis on developing early literacy skills • Strong age- based academic curriculum • Nutritious breakfast, lunches & snacks • Computers in all Pre-School classrooms

Vouchers strongly encouraged

For more information please contact denise gaskins or shelene nesmith at 617-445-1420 www.crispus-attucks.org Licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education & Care

Legal Notice The Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is circulating for a 30-day public review and comment period a proposed draft Amendment Six to the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2013 element of the FFYs 2013–16 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The TIP is an annual document that lists the highway and transit projects that will receive funding during a four-year period. This proposed amendment would make changes to the Highway and Transit programs. The amendment would remove one regional target project and add funding to another. It would update some project costs in the non-target program and make other adjustments.

This comment period will begin on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, and end at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, September 4, 2013. The MPO is planning to take action on draft Amendment Six at a meeting in September, yet to be scheduled.

President Barack Obama meets with former Negro League baseball players in the Cross Hall of the White House on Aug. 5.

(Photo courtesy of the White House)

MPO meetings begin at 10:00 AM in conference rooms 2 and 3 of the State Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, in Boston. Members of the public are invited to attend. Comments on draft Amendment Six should be submitted to the attention of David Mohler, Chair, Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization, by any of the means listed below before the close of the comment period. Comments will also be accepted at the meeting.

For details, including information on the meeting date and copies of the proposed amendment, please refer to the MPO’s website, www.bostonmpo. org, beginning at 10 AM on August 6, 2013. Also on its website are the MPO’s nondiscrimination statement and related information.

Copies of the document may also be obtained by contacting MPO staff: by mail at 10 Park Plaza, Suite 2150, Boston, MA 02116-3968; by voice at (617) 973-7100; by TTY at (617) 973-7089; by fax at (617) 973-8855;

or by email at publicinformation@ctps.org. Copies are free of charge and, upon request, will be made available in CD, print, and accessible formats.

Upon request, in advance of the meeting, through any of the means listed above, every effort will be made to prepare materials in other formats and in languages other than English, and to provide interpreters of American Sign Language and other languages. Assistive listening devices and large-print materials will also be available upon request.

The MBTA, which is the FTA Section 5307(c) applicant, has consulted with the MPO and concurs that the public involvement process adopted by the MPO for the development of the TIP satisfies the public hearing requirements that pertain to the development of the Program of Projects for regular Section 5307, Urbanized Area Formula Program, grant applications, including the provision for public notice and the time established for public review and comment.

Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER • 21

INVITATION TO BID The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is seeking bids for the following: BID NO.

DESCRIPTION

DATE

TIME

WRA-3671

Safety Shoes through a Mobile Shoe Store Program

08/21/13

11:30 a.m.

WRA-3672

Supply and Delivery of Hydrofluorosilicic Acid to John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant

08/21/13

11:30 a.m.

WRA-3674

Oracle Specialist with Experience 08/21/13 Consolidated Projects

11:30 a.m.

S522 Overhead Door Maintenance

Services Deer Island Treatment Plant

09/12/13

2:30 p.m.

Please contact the MWRA’s Document Distribution Office at MWRADocumentdistribution@mwra.com for bid documents and bid submittal information.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Probate Court SUFFOLK Division

Docket No. SU12P0502

To all persons interested in the guardianship of Alan Martinez of Boston in the County of Suffolk, a minor child.

A petition has been presented to said Court by Melida Sanchez of Boston in the County of Suffolk, and is the grandmother and also the guardian of said minor child. Praying that this Honorable Court grant her full custody of her grandson and also to allow her to leave with her grandson out of the Commonwealth of Masssachusetts and the United States, and for such further relief as this Honorable Court may deem just and proper for the reasons more fully described in said petition.

If you desire to object thereto you or your attorney should file a written

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appearance in said Court at Boston before ten o’clock in the forenoon on the 15th day of August, 2013 the return day of this citation.

Witness, Joan P. Armstrong, Esquire, First Judge of said Court, this 16th day of July, 2013

Patricia M. Campatelli, Register.

SUFFOLK Division

Senior Living At It’s Best

A senior/disabled/ handicapped community 0 BR units = $1,027/mo 1 BR units = $1,101/mo All utilities included.

Call Sandy Miller, Property Manager

#888-691-4301

Program Restrictions Apply.

In the interests of Brain Leon Jordan of Roxbury, MA Minor NOTICE AND ORDER: Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor

Docket No. SU13D1145DR

Divorce Summons by Publication and Mailing Edward M Williams, Jr.

vs.

The Plaintiff has filed a Complaint for Divorce requesting that the Court grant a divorce for irretrievable breakdown of the marriage pursuant to G.L. c. 208, Section 1 B. The Complaint is on file at the Court.

An Automatic Restraining Order has been entered in this matter preventing you from taking any action which would negatively impact the current financial status of either party. SEE Supplemental Probate Court Rule 411.

You are hereby summoned and required to serve upon: Edward M Williams, Jr., 398 Columbus Ave #257, Boston, MA 02116 your answer, if any, on or before 08/29/2013. If you fail to do so, the court will proceed to the hearing and adjudication of this action. You are also required to file a copy of your answer, if any, in the office of the Register of this Court.

Witness, Hon. Joan P. Armstrong, First Justice of this Court.

Date: June 21, 2013 Patricia M. Campatelli Register of Probate

(617) 298-2500

2.

Response to Petition: You may respond by filing a written response to the Petition or by appearing in person at the hearing. If you choose to file a written response, you need to:

File the original with the Court; and Mail a copy to all interested parties at least five (5) business days before the hearing.

3.

Counsel for the Minor: The minor (or an adult on behalf of the minor) has the right to request that counsel be appointed for the minor.

4.

Presence of the Minor at Hearing: A minor over age 14 has the right to be present at any hearing, unless the Court finds that it is not in the minor’s best interests.

THIS IS A LEGAL NOTICE: An important court proceeding that may affect your rights has been scheduled. If you do not understand this notice or other court papers, please contact an attorney for legal advice.

Date: May 30, 2013

Patricia M. Campatelli Register of Probate

CHELSEA APARTMENT

mattapan square

CALL JAKUB AT

NOTICE TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES Hearing Date/Time: A hearing on a Petition for Appointment of Guardian of a Minor filed on 08/27/2012 by Charles L. Johnson of Roxbury, MA and Anna H. Johnson of Roxbury, MA will be held 08/19/2013 09:00 AM Review Hearing Located at 24 New Chardon Street, 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02114 — Family Service Office.

1.

Candida Barros

To the Defendant:

25 car space parking lot, private, close to all public transporation and local businesses.

Docket No. SU12P1628GD

SUFFOLK Division

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department

Wollaston Manor FOR LEASE 91 Clay Street Quincy, MA 02170

Commonwealth of Massachusetts The Trial Court Probate and Family Court Department

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4+ bdrms Newly renovated, 2000+ sq ft apt in 3 fam, no smkng/pets, hrdwd flrs, eat-in kit, pantry, lg master bedroom, din and lv rm, laundry rm, enclosed frnt/bck prchs, off street prkng, T access, min to Bost.

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617-283-2081

The Cooper House 419 Walnut Ave, Boston, MA 02119

Affordable Housing Opportunities for the Elderly adjacent to Franklin Park near Egleston Square

(7) Studios & (30) One-Bedroom Apts.

Head of household (or spouse) must be at least 62 years of age at time of occupancy.

Household Size

30%

50%

1

19,850

33,050

2

22,650

37,800

All households will pay no more than 30% of their qualifying household income for rent.

Applications are available at adjacent Spencer House building rental office at 2053R Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA 02119 (T-accessible, Bus #22) on the following dates and times:

Fri, Aug. 16 Sat, Aug 17 Mon, Aug 19 - Fri., Aug 23

from 12 PM to 7 PM from 10 AM – 2 PM from 10 AM to 4 PM

Applications may be requested to be sent by mail during the application period listed above by calling 617-427-5500.

Informational meetings: on Friday, Aug 16, at 12:00 p.m. at 2053R Columbus Ave. Roxbury and Monday, Aug 19, at 10:00 a.m. at Roslindale House, 120 Poplar St. Roslindale, MA Deadline Completed applications must be received by 4:00 p.m., Friday, Aug. 30, 2013 or mailed and postmarked by that date.

Selection by lottery if needed.

2 units, including one barrier-free unit, have a preference for CBH-eligible households. Preference for 1 barrier-free one-bedroom to households who require wheelchair access.

Preference for 4 units for homeless households referred by Homestart, Inc., or other agencies serving the homeless.

70% City of Boston resident preference For reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, call (617) 469-5800

For more info or TDD, call (617) 469-5800

Developed and Managed by Rogerson Communities One Florence Street, Roslindale, MA 02131 (617) 469-5800 www.rogerson.org

22 • Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER

advertise your classifieds (617) 261-4600 x 7799 • ads@bannerpub.com • Find rate information at www.baystatebanner.com/advertise AFFORDABLE RENTAL OPPORTUNITY

Gatehouse 75 75 West School Street, Boston, MA 02129 www.Gatehouse75Lottery.com 13 Affordable Units # of Units

Type

Rent

% Income

1

Studio

$1,024

70%

4*

1 Bed

$1,194

70%

8**

2 Bed

$1,365

70%

*1 Handicap accessible unit available, **1Handicap Accessible unit available & 1 Hearing Impaired unit available

Maximum Income Per Household Size

ROCKPORT HIGH SCHOOL APTS. 4 Broadway, Rockport, MA 01966 Telephone (978) 546-7482 TDD (800) 545-1833 Ext. 132

THIS INSTITUTION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER

RHS APTS is a federally subsidized one bedroom complex for the elderly, 62 years of age or older; handicapped/disabled persons, regardless of age.

Accepting applications for our waiting list. The income limits are up to $41,100.00 for one person and $46,980.00 for 2 persons. Call for an application. The office is open 1pm-5pm weekdays. EEO Leave a message anytime

Affordable Housing Lottery Alta Stone Place

HH size

70%

1000 Stone Place, Melrose, MA

1

$46,250

2

$52,850

Three 1BRs @ $1,259, Two 2BRs @ $1,402, One 3BRs @ $1,546 Utilities not included

3

$59,450

4

$66,100

5

$71,350

6

$76,650

Households may request an application be sent by email or mail from August 22nd – September 4th through the following methods: Website: www.Gatehouse75Lottery.com Phone: 617-209-5407 – US Relay 711 Applications will also be available in person on the following dates and times: Location: Lobby – 75 West School Street, Charlestown, MA 02129 Date Thursday, August 22

nd

Saturday, August 24

th

Tuesday, August 27th

Alta Stone Place is a 212 unit rental apartment community located at 1000 Stone Place in Melrose. The first six affordable apartments will be made available through this application process and rented to households with incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income. Thirteen more affordable units will be made available through a second lottery process later in 2014.

These six affordable units feature 9-foot ceilings, faux wood flooring in kitchens and baths, carpet in living and bedroom areas, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, walk-in closets, oversized tubs and side-by-side washers and dryers. Please see www.AltaStone Place.com for more details on the development and the units.

Household Size

80% AMI (Area Median Income)

Time

1

$47,150

10:00AM - 2:00PM

2

$53,900

10:00AM - 2:00PM

3

$60,650

3:00PM - 7:00PM

4

$67,350

5

$72,750

6

$78,150

Return completed applications by mail only, postmarked no later than September 11th, 2013 Maloney Properties, Inc. Attention: Gatehouse 75 27 Mica Lane, Wellesley MA 02481 Selection by lottery.

Asset, Use & Occupancy Restrictions apply.

Preference for households displaced by Charlestown Urban Renewal for up to 50% of the units.

Preference for disabled household for 2 ADA units.

Preference for hearing impaired household for 1 hearing impaired unit.

Preference for Boston Residents.

Preference for Households with at least one person per bedroom.

An Open Occupancy Development.

For more information or reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, call Maloney Properties, Inc. 781-943-0200 - US Relay 711 or Gatehouse75@MaloneyProperties.com. www.MaloneyRealEstate.com Equal Housing Opportunity

A Public Information Session will be held at 6 pm on August 15th, 2013 in the Aldermanic Chamber of Melrose City Hall, 562 Main Street, Melrose, MA. Completed Applications and Required Income Documentation must be delivered, not postmarked, by 2:00 PM on September 18th, 2013.

The Lottery will be held on October 1st, 2013 at 6 PM in same location as the info session above.

For Details on Applications, the Lottery, and the Apartments or for reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, call 617.782.6900 or go to: www.s-e-b.com/lottery Applications and Information also available at the Melrose Public Library on 69 West Emerson Street (Hours: M-Th 10-9, F-Sa 10-5, Su 2-5).

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT BOSTON

Busy Management Office seeks full time administrative assistant with excellent communication and organizational skills; clerical and computer skills and ability to multi –task are required. Duties include answering telephone, greeting clients, collecting rents, data entry, filing. Applicant shall be energetic and display a strong desire to succeed. Must have HS Diploma/GED- bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.

Send resumes no later than August 9, 2013 United Housing Management LLC, 530 Warren Street, Dorchester, MA 02121 – Fax: 617-442-7231. No phone calls please!

United Housing Management LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Sociedad Latina is currently seeking individuals to fill the following positions:

• Family Engagement Coordinator • Mission Possible College Access & Career Coordinator • Civic Engagement Coordinator • Workforce Development Coordinator • Video Production Instruction (Part-time) • Grants Manager • Music Clubhouse Coordinator (Part-time) For full job descriptions visit us at www.sociedadlatina.org.

Project Hope

Workforce Development Case Manager/Instructor Project Hope seeks an accomplished case manager to recruit and support workforce development program participants from the community. S/he will establish and cultivate relationships with referring organizations, create and implement informational events, conduct assessments, intakes, and referrals, maintain records, and provide support to participants as they prepare for and enter employment. In addition, s/he spends 6-12 hours per week in the classroom during a training cycle delivering basic computer and related job search skills.

Requirements: B.A. in Human Services or related field; Signif-

icant knowledge of and experience in workforce development with a focus on low income community members and/or homeless families; Experience teaching hard and soft skills to a wide range of adult learners; Case management and team facilitation experience; Ability to travel regionally; Experience in the healthcare field or customer service a plus; proficiency in Spanish, Creole or Portuguese a plus.

Send cover letters and resumes to: jgrogan@prohope.org

Thursday, August 8, 2013 • BAY STATE BANNER • 23

ASSISTANT PROPERTY MANAGER

PROPERTY MANAGER

Must be computer literate and proficient in all aspects of property management; COS certification and Tax Credit experience is a plus; must have the ability to establish and maintain effective communication both oral and written with employees and clients - bilingual English/Spanish is a plus. Transportation is a must.

Must be proficient in all aspects of resident certification process with three years of experience as a Property Manager – Tax Credit and COS certifications are required. Must have the ability to establish and maintain effective communication both oral and written with employees and clients – bilingual English/Spanish is a plus. Transportation is a must.

Send resumes no later than August 9, 2013 United Housing Management LLC, 530 Warren Street, Dorchester, MA 02121 – Fax: 617-442-7231.

No phone calls please!

Send resumes no later than August 9, 2013 United Housing Management LLC, 530 Warren Street, Dorchester, MA 02121 – Fax: 617-442-7231.

No phone calls please!

United Housing Management LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

United Housing Management LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

BOSTON

Are you interested in a CAREER? Project Hope, in partnership with Partners HealthCare and Brigham & Women’s Hospital, is currently accepting applications for FREE entry level health care employment training programs.

Program eligibility includes:

BOSTON

Need Skills & Experience?

• Pass assessments in reading, language, and computer skills

Operation ABLE has helped over 30,000 unemployed workers update their skills and learn the techniques needed to attract employers and have successful interviews.

• Attend an Open House to begin the eligibility & application process

Learn MS Office and on-line job search techniques

• Have a high school diploma or equivalent • Have a verifiable reference of 1 year from a former employer

• Be legally authorized to work in the United States

For more information and to register for the next Open House held the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month please visit our website at www.prohope.org/openhouse.htm

Benefit from on-the-job internships Register today for a briefing that will outline all of Operation ABLE’s training programs, and to answer all of your questions.

617-542-4180 Tuition funding may be available Operation A.B.L.E. of Greater Boston

Executive Director or Management Agent

Bilingual Outreach Case Manager (Full Time)

Engage with and assess homeless elders in the areas of housing barriers, mental health, substance abuse, cognitive skills, and physical health problems. Provide case management and housing advocacy; assist in making the transition to appropriate community residences and resources. Assist with connection to mainstream benefits, services, and intervention. Provide counseling and stabilization services to those obtaining housing and those at risk of homelessness, including home visits. Provide outreach in Boston area shelters weekly. Collaborate regularly with a network of homeless services providers. Weekly clinical individual and team supervision provided. Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Prior social service experience working with the homeless, elders, and/ or underserved populations. Fluency in Spanish and English required.

Competitive salary and benefits

Respond: Hearth, Inc. 1640 Washington Street Boston, MA 02118 Fax: 617/369-1566 or Email: pjones@hearth-home.org

Hearth is an equal opportunity employer.

The Brewster Housing Authority seeks qualified applicants or local housing authorities (LHAs) to provide management and operating functions beginning November 1, 2013. The Director or Agent is responsible for the administration of 56 units of stateaided housing (32 elderly/disabled and 24 family) and 2 MRVP vouchers. Minimum qualifications are two years’ experience in housing, community development, public administration, or a closely related field. Must have knowledge of the principles and practices of housing management, finances and maintenance systems in public or private housing. Good written and verbal communication skills are required as is a willingness to work with people from various socio-economic backgrounds. Must be bondable. Professional certification as a PHM from a HUD approved organization is desired. Certification as a property manager or similar classification by a nationally recognized housing or real estate organization, or certification as an MPHA may be substituted. Experience with federal housing programs and affordable housing development is a plus. Two years of postsecondary education in a related field may be substituted for one year of experience. Minimum of 20 hours per week. Salary or fee is commensurate with experience and Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development guidelines with a starting range of $29,562 to $30,609.

Applicants should submit cover letter, resume or organizational profile and references to Executive Director Search Committee, Brewster Housing Authority, 11 Frederick Ct., Brewster, MA 02631 on or before August 30, 2013.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

Madison Park Development Corporation

SENIOR ASSET MANAGER

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER

Madison Park Development Corporation seeks a Senior Asset Manager to ensure the effective and efficient management of its properties and to assist with the full range of transactions associated with the continuing growth of MPDC’s commercial and residential real estate portfolio. The Senior Asset Manager will develop, track and analyze operating and capital improvement budgets, conduct inspections, consult with investors, and monitor performance of third party management companies. In addition, s/he will oversee the full range of transactions associated with acquisition of new properties and on-going refinancing and development projects.

MPDC seeks an experienced Project Manager to oversee new housing and mixed-use development projects in various stages of planning and development, including commercial and residential properties in and around Roxbury using LIHTC and New Markets tax credits, private debt and equity investment, and historic preservation. Duties include tasks related to final permitting, leading marketing efforts, coordinating community outreach, negotiating contracts and managing a variety of services, coordinating development teams and managing construction and investor and lender relationships.

Requirements: • A minimum of 7 years of experience in affordable housing asset management; • Experience with site level operations in an inner city environment; • Experience analyzing site based operations of affordable housing; • Ability to independently interpret and analyze the business terms included in legal documents and financial projections.

• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to work with inner city communities to effect change; • Working knowledge of real estate, partnership taxation, LIHTC, New Market Credits, and other affordable housing programs; • Expertise in financial analysis and in the use of MS Office, especially Excel, Yardi, and One Site; • Demonstrated commitment to community-based ownership and management of high-quality housing in low income communities; • Strong communication and organizational skills.

Requirements: • 7+ yrs real estate development experience in low income or disadvantaged communities; • Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in relevant field; • Demonstrated skills in preparing and analyzing financial pro formas; • Experience completing financing applications such as One Stop; • Sufficient knowledge of construction process to manage construction on behalf of Owner; • Experience reviewing legal documents, managing attorneys and the closing process; • Well-developed verbal and written communication skills; • Experience and skill in team building and motivation; • Ability to relate effectively with people of various backgrounds; • Proficiency in a second language (Spanish, creole, Portuguese) a plus.

Submit resume and cover letter to Janet Grogan at jgrogan@madison-park.org.

MPDC values diversity in its workforce and a wide variety of candidates are encouraged to apply.