Urban Voice May Edition

The National Urban League Releases Its 2017 Report On The State Of Black

UrbanVoice Culture News Politics

CHATTANOOGA + KNOXVILLE + ATLANTA

Be Empowered!

MAY 2017

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Prostate Cancer

1 in 6 African American Men Will Get Prostate Cancer.

‘AllEyezonMe’ TheUntoldStoryof TupacShakur

Power of Information.

The Last Word PUBLISHER Urban impact, inc.

A Season to Enjoy Life & Have Fun! It’s so nice to see All the folks you love together Sittin’ and talkin’ ‘bout All the things that’s been goin’ down It’s been a long, long time Since we had a chance to get together Nobody knows the next time we see each other Maybe years and years from now Family reunion (Got to have) A family reunion Family reunion (It’s so nice to come together) To come together (To get together) I wish grandma could see The whole family I sure miss her face And her warm and tender embrace And if grandpa was here I know he’d be smiling for me a tear To see what he has done All the offsprings from his daughters and sons A family reunion (Gonna have) A family reunion (Ooh, ooh) Family reunion (It’s so nice to come together) To come together - “Family Reunion”, The O’Jays, 1975 For this month’s issue of the Urban Voice feature the upcoming bipoc about the life of slain rap artist Tu Pac Shakur.

We also wanted to invite our readers to explore the great city of Chattanooga for your next family reunion.

Since 1975, this O’Jays’ platinum hit produced for Philadelphia International Records by Gamble and Leon Huff, has been played at Black Family Reunions, large and small, all across the country.

The song’s lyrics embody the spirt

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and tradition of Black Family Reunions and reminds us, especially during this season, that getting together with extended family is a good time waiting to happen.

We know all too well that grilling, laughing, eating, sharing stories and catching up with one another’s lives will be a big part of the fun. Can I get a witness that family reunions are good for the soul? In fact, I’m just going to go on ahead and say that Black Family Reunions have been the cornerstone of the survival, health, and endurance of our families.

Tracing as far back as emancipation, when reunions were first organized as a way for former slaves to re-connect and find each other, the tradition of the Black Family Reunion connects the past and the future. For Black families, reunions link history, culture, identity and celebration. They also represent an opportunity to “go home”.

Family reunions are also a cultural staple. It is during these times when the best spades and bid whiz games are played, the best recipes are tried and handed down, and sage advice from our elders is passed on. We look forward to our family reunions, and many reports suggest that the majority of family reunions in the United States are held

by African Americans. In fact, according to the United States Travel Association, African Americans spend an average of $48 billion on travel in the U. S. each year, with the majority of that money reserved for a family reunion.

If this summer is a reunion year, and more importantly if you are part of the planning crew, here are some important things to consider when hosting a family reunion - besides knowing which pan of mac-n-cheese NOT to touch.

Number One: Plan in advance.

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Planning a family reunion is a huge task, and planning experts recommend getting at least an 18 – 24 month head start.

Number Two: Make it Affordable.

You don’t want family members to miss out because of money. Providing payment plan options will be helpful, especially for relatives traveling from other cities.

Number Three: Weave family history into the activities. Sharing the history, stories and lineage of the family is the perfect way to connect generations.

Number Four: Pick a location and be sure to include some time to give family members a chance to explore the city.

Number Five: Choose Chattanooga.

There’s a world of outdoor adventure, really cool restaurants, live entertainment, cultural connections, art and world-class attractions waiting for your family. Chattanooga is centrally located, offers top-notch service to support your next reunion. Moreover, Chattanooga is just the right size city to host your reunion: none of the big city hassles, yet plenty of things to do, places to stay and options for great eateries.

Next month we will publish our family reunion edition and give you even more reasons why Chattanooga shoule the the home of your next family reunion.

Stay tuned. Be encouraged. And #StayWoke.

Until Next month,

JD Harper

EDITOR in chief jd harper jd.urbanvoice@gmail.com market manager chattanooga chuck beard ADVERTISING ads.urbanvoice@gmail.com account executive/ contributor Samantha Rajapakse Market manager los angeles brian archie legal consultant sharetta t. smith chief photographer b. archie photography Digital director Jonathan Gray contributor Alexandra Anderson

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Rules may vary from one event to the next, but whether your favorite team kicks it, runs it or dunks it, sports fans and food always provide a winning combo. Gather your friends for the next big game with a menu that gets everyone revved up for a win.

A lineup filled with starters is just the ticket for a game day watch party or tailgate. Offering a series of finger foods and lighter fare lets your fellow fans grab a quick bite before the game or during a commercial break and continue snacking through the game.

Make no mistake, serving up a lighter menu doesn’t mean you need to skimp on quality – just the opposite, in fact. Make every bite count by using exceptional ingredients and introducing unexpected flavors such as the distinctive taste of Jarlsberg Brand Cheese, which has a rich, 60-year Norwegian heritage. Best known as a classic wedge, this mild, mellow and nutty cheese can also be served sliced, shredded and cubed.

Quesadillas are always a hit, and this version combines the best of gooey, melted cheese with bacon and a deliciously tangy salsa for a lively burst of fresh flavor. Then keep the

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www.example.com

mouthwatering cheese and bacon combos coming with a whole new take on grilled kebabs.

No game day is complete without pizza, and this one scores big with its unexpected blend of flavors for a pie that is smoky and tangy, sweet and savory, and briny and creamy all at once. Then round out your menu with these easy sliders that are big on flavor and small on prep time.

Find more ideas to liven up your game day menu at jarlsberg.com.

Hawaiian Sliders with Cheese, Ham and Pork Servings: 3

3 Hawaiian bread slider buns

1 cup pulled pork

3 slices ham

3slices Jarlsberg cheese

sliced pickles Dijon mustard, to taste Heat oven to 350 F. Separate buns and layer pulled pork, sliced ham and cheese. Place sliders on oven-safe tray and bake about 10 minutes, or until cheese melts. Remove from oven and gently remove top bun.

Add pickles and mustard before serving.

Cheese and Bacon Kebabs

Servings: 4

18 slices bacon

2 1/2 cups Jarlsberg cheese, cubed

18 pearl onions

12 long skewers Relish:

1/4 cup roasted bell peppers

1 1/3 tablespoons capers

2 2/3 tablespoons olives

1/4 cup cucumber

3 1/3 ounces olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice and grated zest

salt & pepper Cut bacon slices in half and wrap around cheese cubes. Place cheese cubes and pearl onions on each skewer, alternating ingredients. Roast in pan or on grill 2-3 minutes on each side.

To make relish, chop peppers, capers, olives and cucumber, and mix with olive oil, lemon juice and zest. Season with salt and pepper.

In Fair Housing Act Case, Supreme Court Backs ‘Disparate Impact’ Claims

ll Civil rights groups won a victory Thursday, as the Supreme Court ruled that claims of racial discrimination in housing cases shouldn’t be limited by questions of intent.

The court affirmed a Court of Appeals decision in a case in which a nonprofit group, the Inclusive Communities Project, said that the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs had contributed to “segregated housing patterns by allocating too many tax credits to housing in predominantly black inner-city areas and too few in predominantly white suburban neighborhoods.”

The 5-4 ruling endorses the notion of citing disparate impact in housing cases, meaning that statistics and other evidence can be used to show decisions and practices have discriminatory effects

— without proving that they’re the result of discriminatory intentions.

“Justice Anthony Kennedy surprised many legal experts by siding with the court’s four liberals,” NPR’s Carrie Johnson reports.

“Business groups had long sought to limit lawsuits over the 1968 Fair Housing Act.” Reacting to the ruling, Attorney General Loretta Lynch says, “While our nation has made tremendous progress since the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968, disparate impact claims remain an all-too-necessary mechanism for rooting out discrimination in housing and lending.”

The majority wrote, “Recognition of disparate-impact claims is consistent with the FHA’s central purpose” of ending discriminatory practices in housing.

The justices wrote, “These unlawful practices include zoning laws and other housing restrictions that function unfairly to exclude minorities from certain neighborhoods without any sufficient justification.”

But the dissenting justices say that Thursday’s ruling creates a legal liability that wasn’t intended in the original 1968 law.

The ruling brings clarity to an issue that had lingered in doubt: Are plaintiffs in housing discrimination cases required to prove an intent to discriminate? Or is it enough for them to show that some practices have an outsized negative effect on minorities?

Two previous high-profile cases had been settled, as neither side was willing to

risk a defeat in the Supreme Court.

The court decided the case 5-4; Justice Clarence Thomas wrote a dissenting opinion, as did Justice Samuel Alito, whose opinion was joined by Thomas, Chief John Roberts and Justice Antonin Scalia.

“By any measure, the Court today makes a serious mistake,” Alito wrote in his dissent, in which he said the majority opinion went too far in applying the Fair Housing law. Alito said Congress intended to cover disparate treatment — not claims of disparate impact.

Adopted in 1968, the Fair Housing Act says that it is illegal to “refuse to sell or rent... or to refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race.”

He wrote, “The Court acknowledges the risk that disparate impact may be used to ‘perpetuate race-based considerations rather than move beyond them.’”

In a shorter dissent, Thomas said the foundation of the majority’s ruling “is made of sand.”

Thomas said that the court’s 1971 ruling in the Griggs v. Duke Power Co. case, which had authorized disparate impact claims, represented “the triumph of an agency’s preferences over Congress’ enactment and of assumption over fact.”

The Fair Housing Act — and the deep correlations between housing and poverty in America — was put under new focus back in 2013, when journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones

dove into the issue for ProPublica, as part of a series titled Segregation Now. Hannah-Jones’ work was the focus of an episode of This American Life — and when she spoke to NPR’s Gene Demby about the Fair Housing Act shortly afterward, she said: “I knew housing discrimination was illegal, but that’s about it. So, many things surprised me along the way, but two facts surprised me most. One, it was kind of unbelievable how egregiously little the governments — federal on down — have done to enforce this landmark civil rights law. I discovered governments have largely spent the last 45 years going about their business as if this law didn’t exist, and in fact, were often taking actions that came out on the wrong side of the law. Two, I was literally taken aback by the fact that this law not only called for an end to housing discrimination, but that it mandated that the federal government wield its considerable powers to take affirmative steps to break down that housing segregation it created.”

1 in 6 African American Men Will Get Prostate Cancer

BENICIA, Calif., April 20, 2017 / PRNewswire/ -- According to You Are Enough Now, 1 in 6 black men will develop prostate cancer. Close to 30,000 men die from the disease every year. It is the fourth

most common cause of death in black men.

In 2015, Harold Leffall became the 1 in 6 to be diagnosed, after taking a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test

that was prompted when he mistakenly told his doctor that his dad had been diagnosed years prior with the disease.

Harold later discovered that his father never had prostate cancer but had been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate. This error possibly saved Harold’s life, because men with no family history of prostate cancer typically are not given a PSA test until age 50. Harold was 47 when he was diagnosed. Harold, a self-proclaimed health enthusiast, was completely surprised by the diagnosis. He was in great shape, exercised regularly (5 to 7 days a week), juiced regularly and drank wheatgrass. Harold says, “I never thought I would hear the words: You have cancer.”

Because the cancer was caught

early, Harold opted for seed implantation, where over a 100 radioactive seeds were implanted into his prostate. The radioactive seeds give off low-dosage of radiation to kill the cancer in the prostate. Two years later, although he still has some of the side effects from the radiation, he is cancer-free. Harold has used this life-altering experience to start what he calls the “You Are Enough” movement to remind individuals who are going through life challenges that they can get through whatever they are going through.

The movement includes workshops and empowerment apparels.

Visit www.youareenoughnow.com to find out more.

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REGIONAL

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Get Schooled, DJ Khaled, and Viacom’s Major Keys Selected as Winner in the 9th Annual Shorty Awards for Best Social Good Campaign

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-National, non-profit organization Get Schooled has been named the winner of the 2017 Shorty Awards in the Social Good category for its Major Keys Campaign, beating out 48 entries.

Through an innovative digital campaign, Major Keys has reached and millions of young people and engaged tens of thousands, arming with them the skills they need to succeed in college and beyond. The program was formed in partnership with Viacom, using creative produced by Viacom Velocity, the company’s in-house creative content agency, and stars motivational speaker, social media guru, and Get Schooled’s national spokesperson, DJ Khaled.

The Shorty’s Best Social Good Campaign Award honors a brand or non-profit’s excellence in running a social good campaign. Objectives may include increasing awareness for a cause, inspiring action for a cause, crowd funding for a social good project and promoting philanthropic work.

“DJ Khaled, Get Schooled and Viacom have come together to create a campaign that integrates the best of media and entertainment to capture the attention of young people,” said Alexandra Jannello Tuck, Viacom’s Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility. “We are honored for the recognition and even more excited about the impact we have had.”

The Major Keys Campaign aims to

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help students who want to go to college, but have little access to information or support to get them to and through a postsecondary education. Research suggests that first generation college students face a range of barriers upon enrolling in college including: academic unpreparedness, low academic selfesteem, familial support, and little financial stability. The campaign aims to address these challenges by giving students access to support, tools and information in an engaging and compelling ways, including leveraging social media, digital badging and gamification.

“Young people know that a postsecondary education is an important step in securing the future they want, but many students enter college unprepared,” said Marie Groark, Executive Director of Get Schooled. “Through our partnership with DJ Khaled and Viacom, we have been able to expose students to the information and inspiration they need to succeed.”

Students have completed more than 20,000 digital badges since the campaign launched in the Fall of 2017.

Of those students who have completed the badges, more than 2/3 are from low-income families and 75% are African American, Native American or Latino.

The campaign has had an impact on the students who need it most: 86% of Get Schooled users who have completed one or more Khaled badge say that Get Schooled helped them realize they could actually go to college; 76% say it helped them figure out how to pay for college; 86% said it presented opportunities they didn’t even know were possible For more information or to access the “keys” visit GetSchooled.com.

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Sundresses at SunsetMAY 20TH Sundresses At Sunset is an elegant Annual outdoor musical and social experience held at the Breathtaking Hunter Museum of Art on the downtown Chattanooga River Front, and hosted by The Pearl Group Foundation Inc., in conjunction with the Kappa Iota Graduate Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Along with the stunning views of the river and surrounding Mountains, Sundresses at Sunset offers multiple entertainment stages showcasing the region’s best talents, complimentary wine, beer, spirit sampling and Hors’devours.

DATE AND TIME Sat, May 20, 2017 7:30 PM – 11:30 PM EDT Hunter Museum of American Art 10 Bluff View Avenue Chattanooga, TN 37403 General Admission: $45 https://www.sundressesatsunset. com/

5th Annual Chattabrewga Is May 13 The fifth annual Chattabrewga returns May 13, from noon to 5 p.m. at the First Tennessee Pavilion.

Chattabrewga is Chattanooga’s premier special-release and rarebeer festival. General Admission tickets are $50 and include unlimited craft beer samples, no tokens required. 50 VIP tickets are available for $80 and include access to the Terminal Brewhouse VIP Food Pairing Lounge.

Chattabrewga (formerly the Chattanooga Craft Beer Festival) is presented by Terminal Brewhouse and Rhizome Productions. A portion of net proceeds supports the Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition.

Gates open at noon and the festival ends at 5 p.m. nd guests must present a valid ID to enter.

Study: TVA lakes have nearly $12 billion economic impact to region

ll CHATTANOOGA, TN — The Tennessee Valley Authority was created in 1933 to harness the power of the Tennessee River with hydroelectric dams, flood control and river navigation.

But a new study suggests the 49 reservoirs built by TVA through its network on dams on the Tennessee River have also proven to be an economic powerhouse from lake visitors and property owners using the TVA lakes for pleasure boating, fishing, water skiing and other recreational and entertainment investments.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture estimates the combination of aquatic recreation and waterfront property along the Tennessee Valley Authority’s managed river system last year created $11.9 billion in annual economic impact in the Tennessee Valley — the equivalent of more than $1 million per shoreline mile. Those investments supported an estimated 130,000 jobs.

Knox County Commissioner Evelyn Gill to Receive the Susan B. Anthony Award ll First District Commissioner Evelyn Gill has been selected to receive the 2017 Susan B. Anthony Award for leadership in women’s issues. Recipients are chosen by the Tennessee Education Association’s Status of Women in Education Committee, and must meet certain eligibility requirements. According to the TEA website, the Susan B. Anthony Award “is presented to a person who has been active in the field of women’s rights and/or has furthered the achievement of equal opportunity for women and girls.”

Susan B. “Brownell” Anthony was a staunch advocate of women’s rights. Best known for her leading role in the women’s suffrage movement, Anthony also promoted pay equality, estate and child custody rights, the temperance movement, and abolition. As such, the Tennessee Education Association’s Status of Women in Education Committee “is proud to have as a role model this well-known advocate of women’s issues.”

Commissioner Gill stated, “I am honored and look forward to accepting this year’s Susan B. Anthony Award.”

Commissioner Evelyn Gill will accept the Susan B. Anthony Award at the Tennessee Education Association’s Representative Assembly, which begins Friday, May 5, 2017 at 5: 15 p.m. at the Embassy Suites, Murfreesboro, located at 1200 Conference Center Blvd, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

For more information about the Tennessee Education Association and the Susan B. Anthony Award, visit: http://www.teateachers.org/

Virginia College In Chattanooga Hosts Career Fair May 17 ll Virginia College in Chattanooga will host a Career Fair Wednesday, May 17, from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the campus at 721 Eastgate Loop. The event is free and open to the public, featuring career development opportunities, refreshments, giveaways, mock interviews and career workshops.

Community members planning to attend must call 893-2000 to register with the campus prior to the event.

The event is part of Virginia College parent company Education Corporation of America’s national Career Fair events being held at 64 other Brightwood College, Brightwood Career Institute and Virginia College locations throughout 17 states.

“Hosting a Career Fair presents such a valuable opportunity for students, local employers and community members

alike,” says Campus President Dominick DeLorenzo. “Especially in today’s job market, networking is becoming increasingly valuable, and we are eager to help facilitate these professional connections. We are grateful for the opportunity to invest in our community and in the Chattanooga job market with this career development event.”

The event will also allow attendees to explore the programs offered through Virginia College, including: Business Administration, Cosmetology, Culinary Arts, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding, Pastry Arts and Pharmacy Technician programs.

For more information about Virginia College in Chattanooga, visit https:// vc.edu/chattanooga.

Black Life Coaches Network Awards Dr. D Ivan Young 2017 Life Coach of the Year

ll HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-Black Life Coaches Network (BLCN), one of the most respected life-coaching bodies for urban America, Canada, The United Kingdom, Caribbean and Africa, has named Houston-based Dr. D Ivan Young, PhD as its choice for Life Coach of the Year. The award recognizes Young’s commitment to helping black people lead extraordinary lives with life coaching.

“Dr. Young came to the Black Life Coaches Network in 2014 as a bestselling author, exceptional relationship expert and entertaining motivational speaker,” says BLCN President Dr. Towanna Burroughs.

“Today, Dr. Young is known as the Reality Check Doctor and you will find him on TV One’s Fatal Attraction, hosting his own syndicated radio show on KYND 1520 AM and touring nationally as America’s number

one relationship expert. The Black Life Coaches Network is proud to call him the 2017 Coach of the Year.”

Young explains why African-Americans historically do not seek professional counseling or help, it’s because of the perceived stigma attached. His goal is to eliminate this stigma, offering coaching and counseling to this often overlooked group.

Dr. Young was born in Chicago and grew up in Ft. Worth, TX. He’s a mentor to many, especially at risk youth, and young African American men who grew up without strong male role models. Over the years he’s coached thousands, ranging from single moms, celebrities in entertainment and sports and executives from every discipline imaginable. But he specializes in urban professionals who are often the only, or one of few in their professional peer group. The Black Life Coaches Network is the leading coaching association for credentialed life coaches of color.

“For years, people of color, especially African-Americans, have resisted seeking coaching and counseling when challenged with life issues,” says Young. “Because of organizations like BLCN, global standards now exist that differentiates non-qualified coaches through certification and credentialed programs, and I am honored to both participate in this innovative network and receive this award.”

Chattanooga Area AME Churches Partner With Kidney Foundation In Health Event CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Chattanooga Area AME Churches in partnership with the Kidney Foundation PEEDproviding education early detection program and Nephrology Associates present “Prevention is the key to a Healthier You”, a free health event.

Screening exams such as blood pressure, height, weight and urine testing followed by a consultation with a kidney specialist with the testing results provided.

The event will be on Saturday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Warren Chapel AME Church gym.

The gym is located behind the church at 501 N. Market Street.

The area churches are: Allen Temple, Bethel, Joseph Chapel, Quinn Chapel, St.James, St.Paul, and Warren Chapel.

Candidates Scheduled For Superintendent Of Hamilton County Schools down to 9 First Preference Kevin Gafney Stewart Greenberg Arthur Wayne Johnson Bryan Johnson Andre Wright School Board District 2: Kathy Lennon First Preference Clifford Davis Jack Elsey Timothy Gadson Kirk Kelly Andre Wright ll Nine candidates have been scheduled for Skype interviews for superintendent of Hamilton County Department of Education.

The following candidates are listed in alphabetical order: Natasha Baker Alan Coverstone Clifford Davis Jack Elsey Timothy Gadson Stewart Greenberg Arthur Wayne Johnson Bryan Johnson Kirk Kelly Each of the school board members listed their preferences: School Board District 1: Rhonda Thurman

School Board District 4: Tiffanie Robinson First Preference Alan Coverston Timothy Gadson Stewart Greenberg School Board District 5: Karitsa Jones First Preference Natasha Baker Clifford Davis Natalie Elder Nakia Towns Edwards Kirk Kelly School Board District 6: Joe Galloway First Preference Alan Coverstone Kevin Gaffney Stewart Greenberg

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2017 SUMMER music festivalS MAY

Beale Street Music Festival

5/05/17-5/07/17; Memphis, TN

Sweet Auburn Springfest

5/12/17-5/14/17; Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Jazz Festival

5/26/17-5/28/17; Atlanta, GA

World Barbecue Cooking Contest 5/17/17-5/20/17; Memphis, TN Palm Springs Summer Splash

5/11/17-5/14/17; Palm Springs, CA

Gullah Festival Celebration

5/26/17-5/28/17; Beaufort, SC

Spoleto Festival

5/26/17-6/11/17; Charleston, SC

JUNE Capital Jazz Fest

6/02/17-6/04/17; Columbia, MD

Carnival Houston

6/10/17; Houston, TX

Healdsburg Jazz Festival

6/02/17-6/11/17; Healdsburg, CA

Chicago Blues Festival

6/9/17-6/11/17; Chicago, IL

American Black Film Festival 6/14/17-6/18/17; Miami Beach, FL Chicago Gospel Music Festival Essence Music Festival

6/02/17-6/03/17; Chicago, IL 6/29/17-7/2/17; New Orleans, LA

JULY Taste of Chicago

7/5/17-7/9/17; Chicago, IL

Indiana Black Expo

7/06/17-7/16/17; Indianapolis, IN

Norfolk Jazz Festival

7/14/17-7/15/17; Norfolk, VA

Macy’s Music Festival

7/28/17-7/29/17; Cincinnati, OH

NaT. Black Theatre Fest.

7/31/17-8/05/17; Winston-Salem, NC

AUGUST Caribana

8/3/17-8/7/17; Toronto, Canadacenter

Satchmo Summerfest

8/3/17-8/6/17; New Orleans, LA

Houston International Jazz Festival 8/4/17-8/6/17; Houston, TX Art & Soul Festival 8/19/17-8/20/17; Oakland, CA; Long Beach Jazz Festival

8/11/17-8/13/17; Long Beach, CA;

Virginia Beach Funkfest 8/25/17-8/27/17; Viginia Beach, VA;

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ABFF 2017: 2Pac Biopic

‘All Eyez On Me’ To Screen At the American Black Film Festival 10

WORDS: Leslie Brown Jones PHOTO: Steven Tyler

T

he American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is the “nations most prominent film festival,” and attracts audiences from across the globe. This year’s festival will run from June 14-18 in Miami, Florida.

In addition to the best of black film and TV, the five-day festival will offer several master classes led by top tier entertainment professionals offering advice based on their own experiences in the film and television industry.

The classes will include a session from actress Tasha Smith (Why Did I Get Married, Empire) where the focus be on the craft and career of an actor. NBC senior executive Karen Horne will lead the master class on packaging your TV show idea, and will also will provide a valuable introduction into what it takes to become a television writer. Veteran producer Stephanie Allain will break down the nuts and bolts of producing a movie, from script development to distribution.

Horne is Senior Vice President, Programming Talent Development and Inclusion for NBC Entertainment and Universal Television Studios where she is responsible for overseeing in-front-of and behind-the-camera primetime diversity efforts for NBC and Universal Television.

NBC’s Writers on the Verge Program, the Emerging Directors Program, StandUp NBC, a nationwide talent search, NBC’s Late Night Writers Workshop and the NBCUniversal Short Film Festival are among the many programs she heads while also overseeing NBC’s Diversity Staffing Initiative and working with the creative programming team to identify diverse development. Horne also worked at HBO in Los Angeles as a co-producer for the Emmy Award-winning animated series Spawn.

Allain is a seasoned producer who has been working in Hollywood for over two decades. She was the studio executive behind classic films in the 90’s such as Boyz in the Hood and Poetic Justice. She then went on to produce films such as Hustle & Flow, Something New starring Sanaa Lathan, Dear White People, and most recently produced Beyond the Lights directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. This spring Allain wrapped production on the Hulu digital pilot Crushed, a series revolving around a black family as they find success in the winemaking business in Napa, California, and is currently the executive producer of Justin Simen’s upcoming Netflix series Dear White People. Allain is also producing Juanita starring Alfre Woodard through her

production company Homegrown Pictures, and is attached to the upcoming Misty Copeland biopic Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina.

Smith has starred in several classic films over the past two decades. She has played roles in multiple Tyler Perry projects, Daddy’s Little Girls, Why Did I Get Married?, and its sequel Why Did I Get Married Too? She also starred in the comedy series, Tyler Perry’s For Better or Worse. Smith appeared in the comedydrama film Jumping the Broom, and in 2014, she was cast in a recurring role in the Fox drama series Empire.

The highly anticipated Tupac Shakur biopic All Eyez On Me is set to premiere in theaters on June 16. One day later the feature film will close out the American Black Film Festival in Miami.

The heavily-anticipated Tupac biopic, All Eyez On Me, is scheduled to close out the festival on June 17. The date also marks, one day after the later rapper’s birthday.

All Eyez on Me, the Tupac Shakur biopic directed by Benny Boom, will close the 2017 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) on June 17. Opening theatrically the day before on June 16 -- Shakur’s 46th birthday -- the film will be presented at ABFF by Lionsgate, Codeblack Films and Morgan Creek Productions.

Demetrius Shipp Jr. (#unlock’d) stars as the late rapper/poet, joined by a cast that includes Kat Graham (Vampire Diaries), Hill Harper (CSI: NY), Lauren Cohan (Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice), Cory Hardrict (America Sniper), Jamal Woolard (Notorious), Danai Gurira (Black Panther) and Jamie Hector (The Wire). The film’s producers are LT Hutton, Wayne Morris, David Robinson and James G. Robinson.

“Jeff Clanagan, president of Codeblack Films, has been a longtime supporter of the festival,” said ABFF Ventures CEO Jeff Friday in a statement. “It’s an honor to screen the highly anticipated story of iconic rapper Tupac Shakur and to support its director and ABFF alum Benny Boom.”

Meanwhile, Tupac Shakur was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday (April 7) at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Friend and veteran rapper Snoop Dogg (and possible Dr. Dre) assisted in ushering 2Pac into the Rock Hall and present a special musical performance.

All Eyez on Me hit theaters everywhere on June 16.

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Education, Health Up, Social Justice Down: The Urban League Releases Its 2017 Report On The State Of Black America Renters in black and Hispanic communities spend a larger share of their income on rent than renters in predominantly white communities

The National Urban League has released its annual report on the State of Black America for the 41st time, a report which has become one of the most highlyanticipated benchmarks around racial equality in America.

It measures the progress

of minorities compared to Caucasians in the U.S. Its equality index is valued at an even 100 percent for whites, and the quality of life in categories such as economics, employment, education, health, housing, and criminal justice for African Americans, and now Hispanic Americans, is measured against that.

The 20-page report entitled, ‘Protect Our Progress’ is surely a reference to what many see as the rollback—or anticipated rollback—of progress made under the eight-year Obama administration.

Marc Morial, president of the NUL, said as much in his letter at the beginning of the 2017 report, saying the progress under President Barack Obama, “is threatened.”

“Recent proposals before Congress would shift desperately needed resources away from underfunded public schools toward our heavily-invested-in military. The federal budget currently under consideration would slash the budget of the Departments of Health, Education, Housing, and Labor—a blueprint for a sick, uneducated, homeless and unemployed America. Suggested double-digit cuts, or the outright elimination of funding for vital programs and services, would devastate already vulnerable citizens and working families,” he wrote.

Here are the takeaways in the major categories: • The overall equality index for African Americans is 72.3%, up from 72.2% the year before,

no significant change here.

• The equality index for black Americans when it comes to education grew from 77.4% to 78.2% (due to a large decline in the share of African-American students who have teachers with less than three years of experience; a higher percentage of African Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 earning associate’s degrees; and increased home literacy activities for African-Americans.)

• The health index for black Americans grew from 79.4% in 2016 to 80% in the 2017 report, partly due to greater access to healthcare because of the Affordable Care Act and a decrease in the number of overweight children.

• The social justice index for black Americans dipped from

60.9% to 57.4% mostly due to how the Bureau of Justice Statistics reports data on traffic stops, but also an increase in the incarceration of African Americans following an arrest.

• In the category of civic engagement, African Americans actually surpass whites, according to the Urban League, with the number between 2015 and 2016 remaining at 100.6 percent.

New to the 2017 State of Black America is the “Solutions Circle,” a special feature that shines a spotlight on the innovative, solutions-oriented programming offered by select National Urban League affiliates.

For more detailed information, visit www.stateofblackamerica. org to access the 2017 State of Black America.

Your Summer Slim-Down Checklist Looking for simple ways to slim down in time for the summer? This list is everything you need to tweak your diet and workout routine just enough to get noticeable results in a short amount of time before summer is here. You can build these into your normal routine to keep the healthier you going strong through summer and beyond.

1. Eat Real Food Put down that packaged dinner, and back out of the drive thru. To see the numbers on the scale go down, you’ll have to pick up some whole foods. Eating real food helps you ditch the added sugars and ingredients that never fill you up and only make you crave more. Whole foods like fruits, veggies, and whole grains are full of nutrients and filling fiber to keep your mind on something other than food.

2. Keep Sugar On the Low Sugar is the #1 culprit to weight gain, and it is hiding inside of pretty much everything we

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consume. Pay close attention to food and drink labels for sugar content and try to keep your sugar intake to around 40 grams a day. If you’re a fan of juices and smoothies, drink them in moderation or use less sugary fruits, dark berries and avocados and load up on more veggies.

3. Nix the Alcohol Depending on your social calendar, cutting back on alcohol can save you more than 1,000 calories a week (that’s about 2 margaritas)! But if skipping the bar is a challenge, there are healthier drinks out there as well.

A simple tequila with club soda and a squeeze of lime is low in sugar and calories. Same goes for wine or sangria made with fresh fruit juice. When choosing drinks that won’t set you back, keep it simple and avoid the premixed variety.

4. Burn 500 Calories a Day With your nutrition in check, you can really melt the fat with some serious calorie burn every

day. If you do one activity that makes you break a sweat for 60 minutes, you’ll easily reach the 500 calorie mark. If an hour at a time is too intense, you can break up your sweat sessions throughout the day. Stick to this daily plan to burn a pound of fat in just one week.

5. Healthy Meal Replacement You can quickly cut back on calories by replacing a meal with a protein shake, smoothie or juice.

The key is to choose ingredients that are low in sugar and calories, but high in protein and nutrients to keep you satisfied. Swapping out our breakfast for a healthy smoothie is a, easy change to make during the summer. Not to mention, you can save time and money in the process.

6. Hit the Weights Even though it sounds backwards, building muscle is a major key to slimming down.

If you can do at least 2 days of strength training each week, you’ll build the lean muscle you need to

burn more calories when you’re doing absolutely nothing. You will probably start to look slimmer too because muscle takes up less space than fat. Be sure to use weights for all your muscles, especially larger muscle groups like your legs and back for an extra metabolism boost.

7. Buddy Up If you’re going to stick to your summer slim-down goals, you’ll be more successful with someone in your corner. Try finding a friend with the same goals as you and come up with a plan. It’s much more difficult to skip out on the gym when you know someone is expecting you to show up.

You and your buddy you can swap recipes, keep each other motivated and nudge one another if someone falls off the wagon.

8. Stay Hydrated Amidst all your summertime fun, don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated helps your body to better digest food, curb hunger and flush out waste.

Heat can also cause more inflammation, but putting more water into your body can help you flush out excess water weight as well.

9. Travel the Healthy Way When you book your next vacation, don’t plan to let everything fall to the wayside.

You can stay active on location with just a little bit of planning.

Schedule some walking tours, spend time playing in the water, or rent a bike to explore your new destination while being active at the same time. You could come back from vacation looking better than ever!

10. Do a Daily Detox Even with perfect nutrition and exercise habits, your body can still find ways to hold on to extra weight. Some of the foods you eat can cause your body to hang on to water, which can make you look and feel heavier. Knock out the excess water weight by mixing 20 oz of water with freshly grated ginger, sliced cucumber and mint

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MEETING NOTICE The FORM-BASED CODE COMMITTEE FOR MAJOR MODIFICATIONS meeting will be held on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in the Development Resource Center at 1250 Market Street, Conference Room 1-A. The following is the case to be heard at that time: 17-FB00008 - 13 W. Kent Street (District 1) - John Wise requests the following variances: -- Sign Setback from 18’ to 0’ 17-FB-00009 - 513 W. Manning Street (District 1) - John & Lauren Hollingsworth requests the following variances: -- Parking from 30’ to 0’ -- Primary Street Frontage from 60% to 46% -- Alley Access not permissible due to grade 17-FB-00010 - 1823 Rossville Avenue (District 7) - 1823 Partners LLC requests the following variances:Side Street setback from 15 to 155’ -- Minimum frontage from 80% to 28% -- Parking Island every 5 spaces to no interior islands -- Island width from 13.5’ to 9’ -- Property perimeter from 6’ to 2’ (2 locations) -- Two story to one storyIf you have any questions concerning this meeting, please call Angela Wallace at (423) 643-5878 or Dallas Rucker at (423) 643-5802.

INVITATION TO BID Sealed Bids in Duplicate will be received by the City of Chattanooga Purchasing Department, 101 East 11th Street, Suite G-13, Chattanooga, Tennessee until May 15, 2017. Time__2:00 P. M. Req: #152263At that time Bids will be publicly opened and read for: Stump Grinding Services Twelve (12) Month Blanket Contract For Stump Grinding Services With The Option To Renew Two (2) Additional Years. Bid forms and additional specifications may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing Department.The City of Chattanooga, at its discretion, may not open a single bid. The City of Chattanooga reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids received, waive any informalities in the bids received, and to accept any bid that, in its opinion may be for the best interest of the city.The City of Chattanooga will be non-discriminatory in the purchase of all goods and services on the basis of race, color, or natural origin.City of ChattanoogaDedra PartridgeBuyer20170503

INVITATION TO BID

Wednesday, May 10, 2017, 9:30 AM, Recessed Meeting.

Wednesday, May 10, 2017 9:30 AM, Agenda Preparation Session.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017, 9:30 AM, Regular Meeting.

Committee Meetings Board of Commissioners Committees may meet prior to said meetings at 8:30 AM and/or immediately following said meetings.

Meeting Locations: Regular and Agenda meetings, Courthouse, Room 402, 625 Georgia Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee Committees, 8:30 AM meetings, County Commission Office, Room 401, County Courthouse. Committees, after Regular meetings, Commission Conference room adjacent to Room 402, County Courthouse.

To discuss auxiliary aids or services needed to facilitate participation, those with disabilities may contact the ADA Coordinator, Equal Employment Opportunity Officer Ken Jordan, 317 Oak Street, Suite 220, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37403, (423) 209-6146.

Hearing impaired callers may use the Tennessee Relay Service, (800) 848-0298 or (423) 209-6131.

W.F. (Bill) Knowles

Bids will be received by the City of Chattanooga Purchasing Department, 101 East 11th Street, Suite G13, City Hall, Chattanooga, Tennessee untilDate: May 16, 2017Time: 2:00 P. M.Req: # R150776At that time Bids will be received for:Baby Diapers and WipesBid documents may be obtained by contacting the Purchasing Department. Call 423-643-7230.The City of Chattanooga, at its discretion, may not open a single bid. The City of Chattanooga reserves the right to reject any and/or all bids received, waive any informalities in the bids received, and to accept any proposal that, in its opinion, may be for the best interest of the City.The City of Chattanooga will be non-discriminatory in the purchase of all goods and services on the basis of race, color, or national origin.City of ChattanoogaWilliam Tucker, Buyer20170501

The regular monthly meeting of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission will be held on Monday, May 8, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. in The County Commission Room of the Courthouse, Fourth Floor, Room 402, located at 625 Georgia Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37402

Public Notice of Meetings Public Notice of Meetings

Apr. 28, 2017 Mmr18035

County Clerk Public Notice:

John Bridger Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission

Committee Meetings and Regular Meetings Hamilton County Board of Commissioners Hamilton County, Tennessee Pursuant to TCA 8-44-103, public meetings of the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners and Commission Committees will be held, and will transact such business as may lawfully come before them.

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