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“Bowing Down Is Not An Option” THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

by BETSY KIM

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

A moral response to the 2016 elections and Trump era could catalyze the formation of new coalitions, and a new vision — a political, social pentecost — the Rev. Dr. WIlliam Barber told a gathering of New Haveners. Marquand Chapel at Yale Divinity School was filled to capacity on Friday night for the visit by Barber, the president of the North Carolina NAACP. He asked the audience to stand together and hold hands. More than 250 people in unison repeated the preacher’s urging: “Neighbor, you know why you are alive? Because God wants to use you in this moment to stand up to modern day Herods and Caesars, and to challenge hate with love, to challenge lies with truth, to challenge injustice with justice.” The audience responded with Barber’s reference to the biblical tale of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and a tower-building, gold-laying, narcissistic egomaniac. They followed his call, affirming they would not bow down in this season when it came to justice, love, mercy and truth. Led by Barber, voices filled the air in an enthusiastic choir: “Neighbor, let me look in your eyes and tell you, bowing down is not an option, not now, not ever—not now, not ever! One day, we will bow down when the rough patches are made smooth, and the crooked places are made straight, and the heels are brought low, but until then … until then … until then … bowing down is not an option!” The message was loud and clear: Reject despair. Instead, thank God for being alive at this time in history, and for having the opportunity to stand up with your community for your beliefs, and to do the right thing. During the evening, Willie Jennings, associate professor at Yale Divinity School, posed questions to Barber. The event was part of the school’s new Transformational Leadership for Church and Society program. The pastor at Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, N.C., Barber also founded the Moral Mondays movement. Through organized civil disobedience, starting in 2013, thousands of North Carolina residents protested against state actions that hurt the economically disadvantaged. This included reducing funding for public education and unemployment

BETSY KIM PHOTO

Barber greets visitor.

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Yara Allen leads a call and response.

benefits, restricting abortion access and prohibiting state insurance coverage, and increasing voting restrictions. Barber also received national attention for his speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. The year 2016 was not about Donald Trump, but resulted from a normalization of oppression, said Barber. He noted that across the country, for years politicians including U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan successfully ran on platforms overtly saying they would make things better by taking away people’s healthcare, denying people a living wage, cutting public education, attacking LGBTQ and Latino communities, scapegoating Muslims, suppressing voting rights and giving the NRA an “unholy control” over government. It is not about Democrat versus Republican, Barber argued. “The fact that people can run on that kind of agenda, to me says we have a moral deficit. Something is off-

center, constitutionally and morally. Some things are just about what’s right and what’s wrong.” He pointed out how members of Congress are eligible to receive healthcare for their entire lives. However immediately following the elections, certain politicians prioritized efforts to eliminate the Affordable Care Act. Without an alternative, this would then deny healthcare to many of the people who just elected these same politicians. “That’s just wrong. That’s just sinful,” said Barber. Barber emphasized that historically Trump’s ideas are not new: “This ain’t the first time America elected a racist president. This is not the first time a white man has used division to secure votes in the South and in the Rust Belt.” He referred to historian Nell Painter’s description of the American call and response. There is a call to justice for people who suffer from systemic disadvantages, often minorities. Progress is made but then America responds with a backlash. “What we’re seeing is not

an anomaly,” Barber said, “This is as American as apple pie.” Barber recapped the following flash points in America’s historical struggle with racial justice: In 1865 slavery was abolished. With the Reconstruction period, within four years, there were voting rights for blacks and whites, public education, and legislatures with people of both races working together. America responded with a backlash. The Ku Klux Klan formed initially to intimidate whites who were working with blacks. Aggressive maneuvers against civil rights started at the state level, with voting rights restrictions and Jim Crow laws. [In 1875] the Mississippi Plan was devised to reverse the progress of the Reconstruction. Barber underscored how in 1877 Rutherford B. Hayes lost the presidential popular vote but promised the Electoral College that if elected, he would change the Supreme Court to roll back the gains of Reconstruction to “make America again.” After the Civil Rights movement, racial progress occurred, and in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Brown v. the Board of Education that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. Years later, segregation persisted. In 1963, in an inauguration speech, Alabama Governor George Wallace proclaimed “Segregation today … segregation tomorrow … segregation forever.” This normalized and gave permission for a certain type of language from elected officials, according to Barber. Later that year, four little girls were killed in the Birmingham Church bombing. Medgar Evers was shot dead by a white supremacist and before the end of the year President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Barber continued to trace the history of race in American politics through Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Both avoided overtly racist language but instead used terms such as tax cuts, entitlement reform, forced busing and infringement of states’ rights, said Barber. He noted that the white southern strategy designed 50 years ago to cause people in the South to vote against their own self-interests still lives on today. Barber and other activists in North Carolina noticed that the same state legislators who blocked funding for protecting the environment, also opposed living wages, education

assistance, and a cluster of other issues. “If these people are cynical enough to be together, why aren’t we smart enough to come together?” Barber asked. He advocated for a coalition or fusion of people working together to understand the intersectionality of their issues. As history has shown, Barber described the U.S. legacy of racial progress as one that takes two steps forward, one step back, two steps forward and two steps back. To effectively move forward, Barber set forth three points. First, the country needs to have a moral values examination. It cannot allow any longer the “so-called white evangelicalism” to publicly dominate the moral discussion. He urged the audience to get out of the church sanctuary and into the public square. Second, there needs to be an understanding of both race and class. He cited statistics that there are eight million more poor white people than poor black people, and five million more poor white people than poor Latinos. Yet, in the 12 poorest states,10 of which are in the South, the majority of white voters consistently support candidates who pass policies that hurt the poor. Finally, there is genuine fear and the country needs to figure out the income and economic justice problems. This is not just about Trump but about building a government by the people, for the people and to serve the people, said Barber. He promised to fight for this democracy and for the soul of the church. Yara Allen, the artistic voice for the Moral Mondays movement, provided musical inspiration, leading the audience in a call and response song. She sang the phrases, “Somebody’s hurting my brother/sister,” to which the audience would respond, “And it’s gone on far too long.” With Barber, Allen modified the call of the song with current events, singing: “Somebody’s hurting the children. Somebody’s poisoning the water. Somebody’s stealing our healthcare. Somebody’s banning the Muslims. Somebody’s closing our borders. Somebody’s suppressing our votes.” The audience responded, “And it’s gone on far too long,” singing periodically, “We’ve been just a little too quiet and we won’t be silent anymore.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

Dean’s Dem Rx: Boomers, Step Aside by PAUL BASS

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

The Democratic Party’s hope for revival in the Age of Trump depends on aging baby boomers giving up their power so millennials can take over. Make that “first globalists.” Not “millennials.” Howard Dean, a doctor and a politician by trade, offered that prescription Wednesday night during two gatherings with Yale student Democrats. “I don’t think the struggle is a left versus right struggle anymore. It’s a young versus old struggle,” he told 10 undergraduate members of the Yale College Democrats who won a lottery to pick his strategic brain in a private session before he spoke publicly before three dozen students in WIlliam Harkness Hall. Dean, who’s 68, recently followed his own advice. He entered, then dropped out of, the race for Democratic National Committee chairman, the post he previously held. “After I thought about it,” he said in an interview, “I thought to myself, ‘If you want these young people to believe in the party again, then you’ve got to have somebody their age, not my age.’” He urged Yale students to run for alder or state representative or other public offices, especially in red or purple states. Democrats need to run for office everywhere, not just where they have a majority of voters, he argued. Dean, a former Vermont governor, pursued a similar strategy when he presided over the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2005 to 2009. He called it the

PAUL BASS PHOTO

Dean at Yale Wednesday night.

“50-state strategy.” He groomed candidates and supported them with party dollars in all 50 states. That strategy laid the groundwork for Democrat Barack Obama to win the 2008 presidential election with majorities in states that often vote Republican. In 2004, Dean was the first major presidential candidate to use the internet to excite the “netroots,” web-savvy idealistic young people otherwise disconnected from political institutions. Though he didn’t win the party’s nomination, his strategy endured, and was mastered by the Obama campaign. So Dean had bonafides on which to preach Wednesday night. “It’s time that our generation went to the sidelines and coached younger people to get into the institutions,”

he argued. “Young people don’t care about institutions. They don’t like them. “Now they’ve realized because of the election of Trump they have to to get involved in institutional politics. We should learn from them as well as they learn from us. There are too many of us who are in our sixties and seventies. If you want a party that works, your leadership has to look like the people they need.” During a question and answer period, one student plugged the DNC chair bid of South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who’s 34. Dean didn’t say he’s necessarily backing Buttigieg. (Before the talk he did say Buttigieg is one of his two final choices.) But Dean used the student’s support as an example of how young people can harness their

potential power: He suggested they bombard DNC members with emails promoting Buttigieg’s candidacy. Dean noted that the millennials or as he dubbed them, “first globalists,” 20-somethings who embrace diversity, tolerance, women’s rights, global interaction, economic justice, evidence-based decisionmaking have supported the past three Democratic presidential candidates in bigger numbers than any other age group. But because the generation tends to avoid established institutions, he said, its members have hesitated to join the Democratic Party itself and assume leadership. The two major-party presidential candidates in the 2016 campaign were 69 and 70 years old; the favorite of Democratic millennials was in his mid-70s. In Connecticut, several

leading Democrats in their 60s are considering gubernatorial runs. If the Democratic Party hopes to thrive and survive, the 20 and 30 somethings need to start filling those and other top spots, Dean argued (without, when specifically asked, taking a stand on the Connecticut governor’s race). He spent much of the evening telling students about their generation, then urging them to step up. “Your generation is much less ideological,” Dean informed them. “Your generation is more respectful than we were. You care about the facts…. You care about metrics…. You don’t like institutions….. You are very committed social activists…. You are incredibly polite with others.” Which is great — but it’s also important to “have to be willing to challenge others. You don’t have to be mean,” Dean told the lotterywinning small group of students in the initial roundtable discussion. He urged them to make a point of discussing “white privilege” and other difficult topics with people who disagree with them. In response to a student question, he agreed Connecticut should join the emerging compact of states pledging their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote in presidential elections. He called the electoral college outdated. He endorsed “ranked choice voting” which communities in Maine and his home state of Vermont have adopted as a way to make campaigns more civil and convince people that their vote makes a difference. Dean also argued against confirming Trump’s nominee for the vacant U.S. Supreme Court seat, Neil Gorsuch.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

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Fair Haven To Traffic Calmers: Not So Fast! by ALLAN APPEL

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Fair Haveners heard some “new urbanist” ideas for slowing down traffic, and suggested the planners should slow down, instead. They showed interest but also wary skepticism at a roll-out of a draft plan called tje Fair Haven Mobility Study. Deputy Director of Traffic and Parking Michael Pinto brought the initial recommendations to a gathering of 25 at the regular meeting of the Fair Haven Management Team at the Blatchley Avenue substation this past Thursday night. Funded by a $60,000 grant from the South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCROGG), the study addressed how local streets in two non-downtown areas of the city Newhallville/Dixwell and Fair Haven might be calmed through conversion to two-way and the addition of trafficcalming measures to make them safer, slower, and “friendlier” for cyclists and pedestrians. The centerpiece of the Fair Haven recommendations:the conversion of Pine, Exchange, and parts of Peck and other streets to two-way. Two-ways are slower and safer, said David Sousa, a senior planner and landscape architect with CDM Smith, the East Hartford based firm whom the city hired to do the study. The year-long study also calls for creation of “slow streets” that do not alter direction but rather discourage cut-through traffic, reduce speeds, green the streets and render them safer for bicycling and walking. A third recommendation was to further calm some of those “slow streets” so they become “neighborhood greenways,” thoroughfares designed

ALLAN APPEL PHOTO

Consultant Sousa with one of his displays.

so cars would move no faster than bicycles. “If you turn one-way into two-way, people without driveways, still need to park,” objected Fair Haven Alder Ernie Santiago. He then pointed to one of the maps full of yellow-marked streets, such as Fillmore, which he interpreted as indicating a recommendation for conversion. “Fillmore, Poplar, Clay,” he said, pointing to them on the map, with alarm. Sousa reminded him that only the large, orange-marked streets on the provided map were to be slowed through conversion; the many narrowone ways were marked with ovals or diamonds, indicators of recommended traffic calming measures—such as bump-outs at the corners or neckdowns, which narrow and thereby slow passage. “We’re not proposing to change [lose] any parking” capacity in Fair Haven,

Sousa responded. Sousa reminded his listeners that the draft study consists of recommendations and community response for the purpose of further refinement. Santiago remained wary, and he was not alone. Longtime Fair Haven activist Fran Goekler-Morneau said that while she approves of the study’s thrust and of the “growing, wonderful excitement about” a coming bike-share program , “I think in some ways it’s unfair to the residents who want to use the city.” “If I’m in upper Westville in order to get home [to Fair Haven], it now takes me forever,” she said. Coming to defense of the study, Pinto replied: “If you move through the city at a slightly slower pace, you’ll get where you’re going quicker. If you race through Whalley at 40, you’ll hit every light.” “Calming is not the [sole] answer,”

said Goekler-Morneau. Several members of the audience, such as activist Kenneth Reveiz, who lives on Grafton Street, expressed concern that residents of the streets being discussed had not been sufficiently consulted. Referencing a “combative” atmosphere in the room, Reveiz said that the “economic analysis is morally tricky,” meaning that if the plan were adopted and became successful, gentrification might follow. “I feel it could push people of color out.” “The objective is to save lives. That benefits everyone,” Sousa replied. Then there was the question of cost. Alder Santiago, keenly aware of the tightness of city budgets, asked who will pay for these measures. “This is where tactical urbanism comes in,” Pinto replied. You can use planters, hay bales, paint.” “The idea is how can you slow streets down without investing in a lot of granite,” said Fair Haven activist Lee Cruz. “Instead of spending $100,000, let’s [for example] start with people putting up planters, and the city putting up sticks, and then as money comes in, we’ll know” what works and deserves more investment. Santiago remained skeptical: “It sounds good, but they have to talk to the people affected. I don’t believe they’re [that is, the streets recommended for conversion] wide enough to be converted without losing parking, although I could be wrong. I’m going to talk to the people in my ward.” Pinto and the consultants distributed sheets soliciting listeners’ responses. They promised to come back at a future meeting of the management team with more refined plans reflecting the public suggestions.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

From New Haven To Turkey, With Layers by PAUL BASS

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

As she mourned her adopted country’s turn away from a world humanitarian crisis, Vietnamese refugee Trinh Truony found a reason to maintain hope — with the help of eight stuffed suitcases from New Haven. She and her classmate Hacibey Catalbasoglu delivered 200 winter coats, plus sweaters and boots, to Syrians living in a Turkish refugee camp after fleeing their country’s civil war. Now they’re back studying at Yale — and just getting started harnessing citizen power to counteract new efforts by the U.S. government — and others around the world — to close doors and hearts to millions fleeing mass slaughter. Truony, whose grandfather spent nine years in a Vietnamese reeducation camp for having provided intelligence to the U.S. during the war there, came to this country at 3 years old with her family. She dedicated much of her adolescence to helping other families looking to escape similar circumstances for a new life. She was outraged at last week’s order by President Donald Trump indefinitely barring Syrians from entering the country and temporarily suspending travel here from seven Muslim nations. The world declares “never again” in response to humanitarian crises, she observed after they stand by and watch them occur. “When,” she asked, “are we going to say that actually mean it?” Volunteers United The humanitarian trip to Turkey grew out of the efforts of two young people with foreign roots to “actually mean it.” It began with a conversation Catalbasoglu had with a friend he met last summer at Maison Mathis restaurant on Elm Street. Catalbasoglu grew up in New Haven, the son of a Turkish immigrant, Kadir Catalbasoglu, who owns Brick Oven Pizza on Elm Street. A woman from Turkey named Fatmanur Aydin got to know Kadir when she was studying in a summer Yale program and visiting the restaurant. Hacibey, who attends Yale, was in D.C. for the summer interning for U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy. During a visit back home,

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Catalbasoglu sibs and Truony with Syrian refugee children in Turkey.

Kadir put his son in touch with Fatmanur; the two met at Maison Mathis and became friends. “Obviously I am Turkish. I haven’t been to connected to my culture. I wanted to learn more about what is happening in Turkey,” he said.

He also thought about his fortune, having grown up here. “You feel responsible in a way” for those less fortunate abroad, he said. “Why am lucky enough not to be in their situation? How can I help to change this?”

Fatmanur told Hacibey about a program she runs in Turkey called Volunteers United. It teaches the Turkish language to Syrian refugee women. Hacibey asked how people at Yale could help. She told him the organization has enough money. But

it could use warm winter clothing. Hacibey knew whom to ask to help him organize a drive: Truong, who is active in refugee-assistance organizations on campus. Truong came to New Haven in part to do that work. She grew up in Utica, N.Y., which, like New Haven, has a reputation for welcoming newcomers. The city has resettled 16,000 refugees in recent years, she said. Her friends in school came from Burma, South Sudan, Bosnia. She knew why refugees come here, what they fled. Her grandfather “was starved, tortured, beaten” in his years in the reeducation camp, she said. Her mother’s education ended after elementary school. They made a new life here. Truong felt a calling to give back, to work with the resettlement groups in her town. Meanwhile, she did well enough in school that she got to choose among colleges like Princeton, Columbia, and Dartmouth. She said “a main reason” she chose Yale over the others was the work being done here by groups like Integrated Refugee & Immigration Services (IRIS) to welcome refugees. At Yale, Truong said, “people have Con’t on page 23

Judge Extends Halt To Refugee Deportations

Yale law students Thursday claimed another victory in the fight against the Trump administration’s ban on Muslim refugees. A federal judge in the Eastern District of New York extended an order Thursday that will continue to protect immigrants facing deportation because of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. Trump’s executive order effectively barred Muslim refugees from entering the country. But last Saturday a judge ordered a stop to the deportations. The latest ruling keeps the original order in effect through at least Feb. 21, 2017. A lawsuit was filed successfully Saturday by the Worker & Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic (WIRAC) at Yale Law School and other civil rights groups to stop the deportations. “The law is the law, and the court confirmed today that no one is above it – not even the president himself,” Susanna Evarts, law student intern at the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services

JOSEPH MEYERS PHOTO

work Saturday night.

Willem Bloom, Richard Zacharias, Zachary Manfredi, & Susanna Evarts, and Professor Muneer Ahmad at

Organization (LSO) at Yale Law School, said in a press release. “We are pleased that the order remains in place until February 21 and expect full compliance from the government.” The Office of the New York State Attorney General joined the case Thursday, agreeing that the ban violated constitutional and statutory

rights, according to the press release. “We are heartened by the show of support from the State of New York and those who are following this case around the country,” Natalia Nazarewicz, law student intern at LSO, said in the release. “The people are speaking loud and clear in demanding that this discriminatory ban end.”

The case is co-counseled by the Worker & Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic of the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale Law School, the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Immigration Law Center, the International Refugee Assistance Project, and Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

Harp: City Points Way In Troubled Times by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Alluding to clashes on race, class, gender, sexuality, religion and nationality that currently roil the country, Mayor Toni Harp singled out New Haven as an American “beacon” in an annual “State of the City” address. Harp delivered her address Monday evening in the aldermanic chamber at City Hall. She didn’t focus on challenges the city could face in the future by butting heads with the new presidential administration or looming budget cuts from Hartford. She instead focused on successes that her administration along with the Board of Alders have achieved in the last year to move the city forward. “New Haven has emerged as an American microcosm – we’re making it work for all those who want to be here,” she said. “There is a beacon of stability emerging from the city we call home, providing sanctuary, not just for people, but for a time-honored sense of respect, acceptance, and dignity,” Harp said. “In New Haven, a collective determination has emerged to continue providing for one another equal protection, and equal opportunity under the law.” Harp said New Haven is marching forward on how it treats its residents, models economic growth and stability for the region and leads the nation on policing and interventions for at-risk youth. “As the economic, educational, cultural, and population center of this region, New Haven has literally emerged as the picture of America,” she said, pointing to U.S. Census data that shows that the demographics of greater New Haven most closely mirrors America today by age, educational attainment, race, and ethnicity. “The symmetry is not lost on me: how fitting that the place to emerge as a demographic postcard for this nation has also emerged as a portrait for what it means – for what it is – to be American.” “Would that more of America would mirror more of the many

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO

Harp: “New Haven has emerged as a pillar of hope.”

The fire department got a shoutout for reducing overtime.

The recent razing of the old Q House in Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison’s ward got a mention.

good things to emerge from New Haven this past year,” she added. Other positives Harp chose to highlight include: • A reduction in the number of lead poisonings in the city from a high of nearly 500 cases 15 years ago to 92 reported cases last year. • Three consecutive balanced budgets with the past two featuring no change in the mill rate, and a modest rainy day fund. • A Grand List with a nearly 8.5 percent growth in aggregate property value, and a 3.3 percent growth in the Personal Property Grand List. • A continued decline in violent crime. • Shrinking overtime expenses and a continue reduction in the number of sick days used by the fire department.. Harp also praised the work of the New Haven Public Schools in increasing school attendance and reducing the suspensions, expulsions and school-based arrests. “I am proud of New Haven Public Schools,” said Harp, who until recently served as the president of the board of ed. “We are not a prison school to prison pipeline.” The mayor also doubled down on her stance that New Haven will remain an immigrant-embracing “sanctuary city” as long as she is at the helm. “For as long as I’m mayor, New Haven will be a welcoming, accepting place for new residents – for those moving into town from nearby, and for dispirited foreign refugees fleeing unspeakable heartache,” she said. “It is my hope New Haven remains a sanctuary and refuge for them, and for the robust dialogue, disagreements, collaboration, cooperation, innovation, and civic pride that makes this city so attractive to them and to so many others.” “As I look around Connecticut, as I look around New England, and frankly, as I look across America, there isn’t a city I prefer; there isn’t a city where I’d rather be mayor, and there isn’t a group of people I’d rather serve as a public official,” she concluded. “There’s no question in my mind but that

New Haven has emerged as a model American city, not because it’s perfect, and not because there are no challenges ahead, but because of its determination to continue working together to overcome those challenges and make this a better, and better, and better place to be.” Hill Alder Dave Reyes praised Harp’s recognition of what the executive office and the legislative branch of city government can accomplish when they both have the same goal. “Wanting to make New Haven better we both have that in common,” he said. “We’re working together to make this the best city in the United States, and I’m proud to serve in this great city because of that.” He also praised the city for standing firm as a sanctuary city. He called current timesa test of whether people are willing to protect the dream of equality that slain civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. proffered. East Rock Alder Anna Festa expressed skepticism on the positive spin she felt Harp put on the growth of the grand list and a lack of focus on state budget woes Hartford. She said she’s waiting on the city’s proposed budget, which Harp will deliver this month to see if taxes rise. “There are things that come off the grand list and things that come on,” she said. “I have to see the grand list for myself and see the budget for myself to be reassured as to what’s going on and what the future really holds.” Festa said she hopes that the Harp administration is looking for ways to keep lifelong New Haveners in the city. “We have to think about those lifelong residents. We have to think about our elderly,” she said. “We have to think about our youth the well rounded child, not just the straight A student. I’ve got kids in New Haven Public Schools, and improvements are only a blessing. I’ll do anything to help schools succeed.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

Laundromats: New Haven’s Next Museums? by LUCY GELLMAN NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Artist Titus Kaphar has an idea for New Haven’s next artistic venture: laundromats. No really, laundromats. With art on the walls, engaging patrons as they cue up for another spin cycle. Inspired partly by The Laundromat Project and partly by his own experience on the periphery of art museums, the New Haven based artist presented that idea Tuesday afternoon at the New Haven Free Public Library (NHFPL). He and around 20 others met there for a Connecticut “Office of the Arts Roundtable Discussion” hosted by the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). Focused specifically on the department’s READI (relevance, equity, accessibility, diversity and inclusion) initiative, the roundtable marked the first of three sessions exploring diversity, workplace development, and trauma and healing in the arts. All three, which will take place across the state this year, are funded by the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA). Huddling together as the snow fell outside, attendees focused on where they saw inequity playing out in their workplaces, attempting to provide realistic and timely solutions. Facilitator Linda Yancey pushed the

LUCY GELLMAN PHOTO

Kaphar at Tuesday’s conclave.

group for implementable ideas for making the arts more accessible. Enter laundromats. Kaphar’s suggestion met with a smattering of laughter, and then unanimous approval and enthusiasm at the end of the day — provided a glimpse into the few low-cost, concrete, and readily/READIly implementable solutions that the afternoon produced. Urging fellow attendees to look into The Laundromat

Project, which places community artists and educators in laundromats in New York, Kaphar explained how he envisions the program evolving in Connecticut. “I’m thinking about all of the places that art could be,” he said. “We really need to think about the places that exist in our community that we don’t think of as artistic spaces, as for the arts.” Laundromats were some of the

The Greater New Haven OIC will celebrate its 50th Anniversary on September 21, 2017.

Since 1967 (TGNHOIC) has provided employment training and employment placement services to residents of the Greater New Haven Area. Many of its clients over the years have benefited from programs provided by (TGNHOIC) and now are leaders in education, health-related businesses, and have started their own successful businesses. (TGNHOIC) is asking that all graduates who have thus benefitted remember and get involved on the 50th Anniversary Committee or purchase a ticket to “give back to our community” in some meaningful way. Many community residents are unaware of the proud history of the OIC’s in the United States and therefore do not appreciate the significance of the achievements. In 1964, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, the Rev. Leon Sullivan and 400 concerned

ministers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania started the first Opportunities Industrialization Center. The purpose of the organization was and is today to provide employment training and placement services for the underserved in our community. OIC programs have engendered hope and self- confidence for hundreds of thousands of people seeking opportunity to “help themselves” rather than seek a handout. There are today 60 OIC affiliates in the United States and 5 OIC affiliates in Connecticut. Please contact our office to see how you may get involved to ensure the continued and future success of (TGNHOIC). We are open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM (203) – 3893321 tgnhoic@gmail.com

first among them. For him, it’s a nod to both his approach — heavy on community engagement — and upbringing. Growing up, Kaphar’s mom had three jobs, and little time to ferry him to art museums and cultural venues in his native Michigan. The family also didn’t have a washer or dryer in its home. So as a boy, he ended up spending a lot of time in laundromats. They were, he discovered, pretty boring

places. If they had been teeming with art and art made by people in his community especially the experience could have been transformative and magical, he said. Attendees jumped on the idea, citing examples that could work in Connecticut. Smith floated a community-oriented ArtMobile similar to Boston’s “Studio on Wheels,” filled with making materials, artists’ tools, and a resident artist to give lessons and demonstrations. Taking a page from controversial Metropolitan Opera Director Peter Geld, Adams asked what it would take for arts institutions—and churches, and schools—to partner with the Met and screen performances for free. Office of the Arts Director of Culture Kristina Newman-Scott suggested that artists partner with barbershops and nail salons in their neighborhood, much like New York’s Barbershop Books initiative already has. Others tried to envision accessibility on a more civic level. Arts in Public Spaces Program Specialist Tamara Dimitri suggested a program placing artists in water treatment plants. Brian Cyr, director of instrumental music for the Meridan Public Schools, went a step further. “What about the DMV?” tossed out Cyr. “Nobody wants to go there.”

The Late Late Late Show

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy wasn’t in bed at 4:20 a.m. Tuesday—he was on the floor of the U.S. Senate invoking the specter of school vouchers to argue against voting to approve Betsy DeVos to become the next secretary of education. The Senate is scheduled to vote on DeVos’s nomination Tuesday afternoon. Democrats like Murphy spoke ont he floor all through the ngiht into the morning trying to convince one more Republican to vote in opposition the one vote needed to stop DeVos’s nomination. DeVos has been a national advocate and funder of proposals to use public dollars to pay the tuitions of students attending private and parochial schools. In his floor remarks, Murphy argued against the idea that the free

market works in public education. “Vouchers will never equal the amount of money that it costs to send a student to most private schools,” Murphy argued. “It may cover the costs of the cheapest private schools, but families of means take those vouchers, supplement it with money that they already have and send their kids to private schools. So vouchers end up just taking wealthier families and moving those kids into private schools, while leaving behind kids who don’t have parents who can supplement the amount of money in the voucher to allow their students to go to private schools. And so vouchers bcome a means of both economic and racial segregation.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

LEAP Dives Into Swim Lessons by STAFF

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

LEAP is diving once again into swim lessons at the Elm City YMCA. Elvert Eden, the organization‘s director of Youth Development and Aquatics, sent the following press release to the Independent for those interested in participating: “LEAP provides swim lessons for a fee for children and adults who want to learn to swim or who already know the basics but want to improve their skills. Currently LEAP provides class for children ages 5 to 15, and adults 18 and up. All participants may take swim classes whether they are in LEAP’s regular programs or not. Swim classes are provided at our pool at 31 Jefferson Street in New Haven. You can sign up for either Mondays & Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Children classes run for 45 minutes starting at 6 pm or 7 pm, and adults swim every Monday &

Wednesday at 8 pm. The full five week program (10 total classes) costs $100 per child and $120 per adult, and must be paid in advance. Discounts are not given if you miss a class. You can pay at the front desk at LEAP via check or with cash. Checks can be made payable to “LEAP”.

You can sign up for swim classes by stopping by the LEAP office, and filling out an application and waiver form for your child. To make things easier, print out and fill out the form (online here) beforehand. You can also give us a call to see what times and spaces are still available: (203) 773-0770.”

Looking for a New Educational Opportunity for Your Child? ACES Open Choice Can Help ACES Open Choice Program

203-498-6843 or go to www.aces.org

Thomas Edison Middle School |

GRADES 6-8

203-639-8403 or go to www.aces.org/tems

Wintergreen Interdistrict Magnet School |

GRADES K-8

203-281-9668 or go to www.aces.org/wims

Open Choice application will be available in March, 2017 at: aceschoicelottery.org Please contact Lynn Bailey at lbailey@aces.org or (203) 498-6843 for further information.

www.aces.org 9

203-599-3091

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

Looney, Lemar: Fix A DREAM Loophole by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Hartford—New Haven legislators and advocates joined a crowd at an hours-long legislative hearing to support the idea of making more financial aid available to undocumented students aid from a fund those students already pay into. The Higher Education Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly heard from advocates Tuesday on two bills, House Bill 7000: An Act Equalizing Access to Student Generated Financial Aid and Senate Bill 17: An Act Assisting Students Without Legal Immigration Status with the Cost of College. The proposals would allow undocumented students matriculating at state colleges and universities popularly called “DREAMers” to have access to funds to help pay for school that they currently can’t access because of their immigration status. State colleges and universities have sought guidance from legislators in the form of a law that explicitly allows them to offer equal access to the money. Connecticut state colleges and universities set aside a percentage of the tuition that all students, regardless of immigration status, pay to attend school. That money goes into a fund to provide meritbased academic scholarships as well to help needier students afford college. The money is known as “institutional aid.” State colleges and universities have to set aside at least 15 percent, but some set aside even more, testified Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) President Mark E. Ojakian. But only documented U.S. citizens are currently allowed to access those funds. The two bills up for consideration, one of which is sponsored by New Haven State Sen. Martin Looney, would change that. Looney Tuesday pointed out to his fellow lawmakers that the state already has a track record of passing “compassionate, fair and pragmatic” legislation to ease the burden of college going for undocumented students. In 2011, the General Assembly eased restrictions that allowed undocumented students who attended all four years of high school in the state to qualify for instate tuition. In 2015, it expanded the law to allow undocumented

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO

Looney testifying Tuesday.

“Morally indefensible,” Lemar said of denying access.

students who have attended high school for just two years to qualify for in-state tuition. Looney said passing legislation to allow undocumented students access to institutional aid is a logical next step, and would be good for the state’s economic future. “Many of these students have lived in our state virtually their entire lives,” Looney said. “They are our neighbors and our children’s friends and classmates and have no memory of life anywhere else besides Connecticut. They also are a significant part of our future. Students who get their degrees from public universities and colleges in Connecticut are more likely to build careers in Connecticut and make a life time commitment to remaining and working in Connecticut.” New Haven State Rep. Roland Lemar said that it is “morally indefensible” to continue to keep undocumented students from tapping into funds that their tuition dollars help support. “This is not taxpayer money,” he said. “They contribute their dollars to this pool and they should have access to it. It is morally

indefensible to deny them access.” Julie Kushner, Region 9A director for the UAW, had a different word to describe lawmakers not voting to support legislation in previous years that would allow students access to institutional aid: “cruel.” She told lawmakers she was shocked when the bill made it out of the Senate only to die before going to a vote in the House of Representatives last year. But she was even more shocked by why lawmakers said they couldn’t support the bill. “Too many members of the general assembly believed that if DREAMers were eligible for institutional aid it would take money away from ‘our kids,’” she said. “Well, they’re all ‘our kids’ if they’re in this state. But if you flip the argument on it’s head, we’re asking the DREAMers to subsidize our kids.” College students from around the state, including Yale University, where 1,725 signatures in favor of the bills were submitted, came out universally to testify Tuesday in favor of allowing their fellow students access to institutional aid. “We don’t think that it’s fair,” that there are students who have part of their tuition set aside for institutional aid, but can’t access it, when they likely need it. “That’s theft.” “We must make the next step forward,” Lemar said. “We must treat these students like every other student. It’s good public policy to expand access. The public benefit only increases when do so.” Many speakers remained to be heard two hours into the hearing, none yet in opposition to the bill. The committee did not plan to take a vote on the legislation, but it might do so as early as Thursday.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

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*Preliminary, subject to change and availability. **Before purchasing Bonds, you should consult with your tax advisor concerning your particular tax situation. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, the Bonds. The Bonds may be offered for sale only by means of an Official Statement of the University of Connecticut, which may be obtained as stated in this announcement. In no event shall there be an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Bonds, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of such jurisdiction. The Bonds are general obligations of the University of Connecticut and are payable only as and from the sources described in the Official Statement.

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Murphy Gets 13,000 Calls Vs. DeVos THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

Tuesday,” he said. “It’s uncertain what that vote’s going to be. Right now, there are 50 votes against DeVos, and it looks as if the Republicans are lining up 50 votes for her. It’s not certain, but it’s possible that there are 50 votes for her.” In a evenly split vote, Vice President Mike Pence would break the tie, presumably in DeVos’s favor. Murphy said the reality is that DeVos, if confirmed, would likely need a vote from Congress to make any policy change that would send public dollars to private education coffers. And given that Congress has just rewritten elementary and secondary education laws, Murphy doesn’t seem to think there is an appetite to do that again. But he said never say never. He told the teachers to be ready to tell public school stories of success, but also stories of what the needs are. And to also be ready to push back against “this totally

Murphy Gets 13,000 Calls Vs. DeVos

by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Sen. Chris Murphy hadn’t intended to ask Betsy DeVos about guns. He had 30 seconds left, in what would be the only five minutes he had to question the Trump administration’s pick to lead the nation’s public schools during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Education Committee. “I really wasn’t going to ask her that last question,” Murphy told about 100 teachers from New Haven and neighboring towns teachers’ unions Friday at the Greater New Haven Labor Council headquarters at 267 Chapel St. “It wasn’t on my list of questions to ask, and I had 30 seconds and I asked her what I thought was a softball: Do you think guns should have any role in schools?” DeVos answered Murphy’s question by citing the example of a school in Wyoming that has a fence to keep out grizzly bears. “I think probably there, I would imagine that there’s probably a gun in the school to protect from potential grizzlies,” DeVos said. Murphy said the answer stunned him. “She knows I’m on that committee,” Murphy, a staunch advocate for gun control, particularly in school zones, said, still incredulous. “How she couldn’t have gotten prepared for a question about guns in schools from me, and expressed at the outset some real understanding about what we went through— what we are still going through in Newtown [since the 2012 school massacre] is beyond me.” He wasn’t the only one stunned by DeVos’ responses to many of the questions that were asked of her during her confirmation hearing. As the Senate prepares to vote on her confirmation next Tuesday, Murphy said his office has received more than 13,000 phone calls opposing DeVos’ confirmation. “I have never ever seen anything like it with respect to any appointee since I’ve been in the United States Congress,” he said. “It’s organic.

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO Murphy

in New Haven Friday.

He meting with teachers unions Friday.

Certainly it’s organizations, but these calls are from parents freaked out that there is going to be someone in charge who called the nation’s public schools a dead end for kids.” He said the opposition is about more than charter schools, of which DeVos is a leading proponent. To him, it’s the fundamental idea that someone who wants to be in charge of the nation’s public schools should be a fan of public schools and enthusiastic about making them better, not possibly dismantling them. “Public education wasn’t a dead end for me,” he said. “The idea that you would have someone there who wants to funnel public dollars away from public schools and not just to non-public schools but to private charter schools run by for-profit corporations. That’s what really worries me. The idea that we would start pushing money not just out of our public schools, but into the hands of billionaire

investors who are running public schools not always because they care about kids, but because they want to make money. “We’ve seen this play out already on the college side, you’ve got the big hedge funds and private equity firms that own colleges now and let’s just be honest, they’re not in it to educate kids,” he added. “Now, the people running the schools are in it to educate kids, but the people that are telling the people running the schools what to do are in it to make money. And I don’t want profit motivation to have anything to do with how my kids or how any of your kids are being educated.” The Way Forward Murphy laid out two strategies for teachers Friday. The first: Continue to oppose DeVos with hopes that more Republicans will withhold their support. The second? Be ready in case she is confirmed. “We’re going to take this vote on

misguided belief that capitalism works for kids’ education.” “We know market principles don’t apply to education the same way they do for automobiles,” Murphy said. “But that’s what some Republicans believe. Some Republicans are ideologically unable to break away from a belief that market economics can solve any problem in the world. “So we need your continued mobilization around this nomination and if we don’t end up winning it—I hope we do, but if we don’t —we need you and your colleagues to double down on political action,” Murphy said. Before Murphy had to hop a commuter bus to West Haven, which he likes to do when he’s back in Connecticut, he recorded a video with teachers on how they feel senators should vote on DeVos. Their advice on how to vote? A resounding no.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

Thousands Run, March, Rally For Refugees by LUCY GELLMAN

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Thousands of New Haveners poured onto the streets to show their support of refugees Sunday first with a run, and then with a march and a rally on the Green. An annual five-kilometer “Run for Refugees” hosted by Integrated Immigrant and Refugee Services (IRIS) brought out nearly 2,600 runners and walkers from across the state, raising over $150,000. Two hours after that run, a march and rally organized by doctoral student Heba Gowayed and a group of grassroots activists filled the streets, traveling from Wilbur Cross School in East Rock to the New Haven Green downtown. Before the march, there was the run. A little before 10 a.m. Sunday, IRIS Executive Director Chris George welcomed a group of over 2,500 runners that’s more than twice last year’s registration of 1,100 to the starting line. He said several resettled refugee families would be running alongside those who had considered themselves “American” for years. It was time to get behind them, he said, for the long haul. “It’s been a rough ten days,” George said, referring to President Donald Trump’s executive order barring entry to the U.S. from seven Muslim nations. “Refugee resettlement needs strong support from all branches of Connecticut.” “Thank you for running for refugees, but thank you for running for America,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who remained at the start line for hours to march with protesters after the race. “You are running today for the heart and soul of America. You are showing the world that America’s heart is bigger than some people in Washington think it is ... that America welcomes refugees because they have helped to make America great. We can make it greater if we open our arms to the refugees who are fleeing violence and persecution.” Then runners were off, pounding the pavement as they passed Wilbur Cross, up the gentle slope of East Rock towards the summit, and back down again in a loop. Many came in partial or full costume as the statue of liberty; others proudly raised signs in English and Arabic that voiced support for refugees. One of those runners was Joseph (who asked that his full name not be used). He arrived in New Haven with his wife and three children three months ago, fleeing violence in Congo.

LUCY GELLMAN PHOTO

Rawan, after speaking.

Muslim Student Association member Sana Mojarradi: “There is strength in numbers.”

“Today, we are here, we stand on the constitution, with America, because the future of the nation, of the world, is in danger.” he said. “You have to start here from the ground up to start your life over again. But we feel safe, and we love this country.” “You cannot divide us up by country,” he added, referring to the travel ban on majority-Muslim countries that President Donald Trump has put into place. “Refugees are refugees.” The race concentrated on that fact. Signposts announced how to say “welcome” in Arabic, Pashto, and Farsi dotting the upward climb. Statistics that 6 in 10 Syrian refugees have encountered extreme violence at home; that refugees are the most likely to open small businesses marked the way down. A drum circle played on festively at the two mile mark, urging runners on. A small smorgasbord and trophy ceremony for winners—New Haven’s Raphael Sarfati in first and Jacob Zonderman of Orange in second in Wilbur Cross’ gymnasium lent a celebratory feel to the morning’s activities, for which several people had turned out feeling somber. “This was really important to us,” said Valery Horsely, whose team for Action Together CT led the run’s fundraising charge, clocking in at over $12,000. At noon, runners, organizers and activists close to the park had another task before them: march the mile and a half from Wilbur Cross to the New Haven Green, where there would be an hour-long rally. Chaperoned by New Haven cops, thousands of marchers filled the streets of East Rock, spanning the length of almost four blocks as they made their way downtown. The front of the line—a group comprising George, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, U.S. Sen. Blumenthal, and a clump of protesters holding a banner that read “Refugees Welcome”—offered up a cheer. The rest of the crowd picked it up, waves of “Show Me What America Looks Like/This Is What America Looks Like!” and “No Hate/No Fear/Refugees are welcome here!” echoing through the crowd. Turning down Trumbull Street and again down Temple, the group made its way to the Green, where over 3,500 had gathered to hear three refugees tell their stories, in their own words. Three women took the stage to speak in Arabic, with Gowayed translating into English. Each, surrounded by family and friends, said they were telling their stories for a specific

reason: to show the American government how little there was to fear from refugees, who left their countries of origin when there was truly no hope. One woman, Azhar Ahmed, told the crowd that she had arrived in New Haven a year ago from South Sudan, where she and her family were forced to flee persecution in the Nuba Mountains, subject to attack from rebels fighting the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF). It was, she said, “a land of mines, planes, wild animals.” They had made the trek to Khartoum, where she “died a million times a day,” stigmatized by her place of birth. She fled to Egypt, where she was persecuted by the government of Mustafa Mahmoud. When she received note that she and her children could make safe passage as refugees to the U.S., she said she felt like she was dreaming. “I thought it was the last journey I would make in search of peace,” she said. “Until Jan. 20 2017, I realized my search was not over yet. My hopes and dreams had evaporated ... and now I must wake up from my dream, and look for security once again.” Another, Rawan (who asked that only her first name be used), began her speech with “As-SalaamAlaikum,” the Arabic greeting for peace. She said she wished to show politicians, legislators, and even the president that she carries with her only compassion for fellow Americans. A refugee from Syria, she has been in New Haven for almost two years. Her son, a special-needs student in the West Haven schools, has gotten the help that he desperately needed back home. Her older daughter was lucky enough to get a scholarship to a boarding school in Vermont, and is now learning more than she could have in Syria, Rawan said. Her friend’s young daughter got a cochlear implant. Another colleague, a father of four who has cancer, has been able to get lifesaving treatment. Then Trump issued his executive order, and she watched her children become afraid again. Her friend Afifa, whose daughter was at a refugee camp in Jordan, didn’t know if she would ever make it over to see her mother again. “People were settling into their lives until President Trump issued his decision against refugees,” she said. “This has returned us to a state of fear and anxiety for the future ... fear that families who are affected will not Con’t on page 29

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

Celebrating Black History Month and Mr. Cornell Scott For His Contributions in Shaping Quality Healthcare For All.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

Dixwell Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ Announces kick-off of Three-year Celebration Leading to its 200th Anniversary in 2020 THREE YEAR CELEBRATION BEGINS Sunday, February 19th, 11 AM guest preacher, Reverend Michelle Hughes

New Haven’s Dixwell Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2020. It will kick off a three-year celebration on February 19th with a special church service including guest preacher, the Rev. Michelle Hughes. She is Associate Conference Minister/ Transition Ministries for Connecticut’s United Church of Christ congregations. A native of Chicago, Illinois, Rev. Hughes has served as an interim pastor, a college chaplain, and a community organizer. The mother of two young adults, she is the author of NiNi’s Awesome Tales. The Senior Pastor of Dixwell Church, Rev. Dr. Frederick ‘Jerry’ Streets, said that on this occasion “We’ll remember our glorious past, but more importantly, we’re asking ourselves, ‘what will be our mission for the next 200 years?’

2020 Anniversary Program Co-ChairsThomas Lovia-Brown (203) 402-4565 thombrowm@aol.com Tracey Philpot tphilpot@sbcglobal.net

We’re delighted to have Rev. Hughes as our guest preacher to kick-off our celebration and share her insights on this important question.” The anniversary service will also include guest soloist, Arzula Maxine Gardner. Ms. Gardner has thrilled audiences with singing that deeply touches the soul for nearly three decades. She began classical voice training at the early age of nine and is equally adept singing R&B, Gospel and Jazz. Dixwell Church was the first African American Congregational church founded in the world. Its members were important advocates for freeing the imprisoned Africans captured when the slaver Amistad, which they had taken over, veered into Long Island Sound. Throughout Dixwell’s history, its congregation has remained committed to

the causes of civil rights, empowerment through education, and community service. The Rev. Dr. Edwin R. Edmonds, Dixwell’s Senior Pastor from 1959-1995, was a national civil rights leader. He’s credited with playing a powerful role in ushering the growth of New Haven’s black middle class. Donations in honor of this very special occasion can be made payable to Dixwell Avenue Congregational/UCC (memo: 2020). Mail donations to Treasurer, DAUCC, 217 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511. CONTACTS: 2020 Anniversary Program CoChairsThomas Lovia-Brown (203) 402-4565 thombrowm@ aol.com Tracey Philpot tphilpot@ sbcglobal.net

9th Annual Harlem Fine Arts Show Salutes Noted African American Health Care Practitioners Reverend. Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III to also be feted during February 16 opening

HARLEM, NY—When the Harlem Fine Arts Show (HFAS) returns to the historic Riverside Church, Feb. 16-19, 2017, they will be celebrating “the health and healing power of art”. The Opening Reception on Thursday, February 16, will be a salute to medical practitioners across New York’s tristate area. The goal of this year’s event is to showcase and celebrate African Americans in the medical field, and raise awareness about medicine as a career choice for young people. The physicians attending represent diverse disciplines and institutions. Additionally, a “Special Achievement Award” will be presented to Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church. This year’s honorees are: Edwin Williams, M.D, Carter Hospital & Nursing Facility; Dr. Lisa Ross, Harlem Hospital Center; Dr. Michael Parks, Hospital for Special Surgery; Dr. Wendy Wilcox, Kings County Hospital; Dr. Rawle F. Philbert, Chair, Lincoln Hospital; Dr. Camille Clare, Metropolitan Hospital Center; Dr. Gary Butts, Mount Sinai-System;

Dr. Lynne Holden, Montefiore Medical Center; Dr. L. Jeannine Bookhardt-Murray, Morris Heights Medical Center; Dr. Bernadith Russell, NY Presbyterian Hospital; Dr. Chinyere Anaogu, New York City Health and Hospitals/North Central Bronx Hospital; Dr. Reba Williams, Renaissance Healthcare Network; Dr. Pascale Kersaint, Interfaith Medical Center; and Dr. Donna Mendes, St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital. Joining HFAS in this “Salute to African Americans in Medicine (AAIM)” are the Opening Reception partner BlackDoctor. org, National Medical Association,

Empire State Medical Association, the Susan Smith McKinney Steward Medical Society, and the Lincoln and Harlem Schools of Nursing. As part of the recognition the HFAS will fund scholarships for AfricanAmerican students pursuing careers in medicine. “This year’s recognition of the ‘health and healing power of art’ is a reminder of how art permeates, and enhances all aspects of our lives,” explains Dion Clarke, founder of the HFAS. “Additionally, we are excited to recognize the community building work of Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church.

Reverend Dr. Butts also serves as the president of the State University of New York at Old Westbury, and chairman and founder of the Abyssinian Development Corporation. Under Dr. Butts’ leadership, The Abyssinian Baptist Church is committed to the expansion and maintenance of the Christian mission. His sincere commitment to enhancing the Kingdom of God on Earth is evidenced in a loyal attention to the daily activities and services of the congregation, as well as the pervasive impact of the church on community development initiatives: homelessness, senior citizen and youth empowerment, cultural awareness, and ecumenical outreach. The four-day traveling exhibition and sale of contemporary paintings, sculpture and photography is the largest of its kind featuring art from the African Diaspora. The exhibition is open to collectors, art enthusiasts, educators, and professionals. Opening Night is a fundraiser for the Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the Riverside Community Services Corporation. A portion

of the proceeds from the opening night event will benefit both organizations. The Harlem Fine Arts Show is a celebration of African-American artistic history. Works by masters like Palmer C. Hayden, Augusta Savage, Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Jacob Lawrence, and Ernie Barnes are available alongside those by today’s premier artists. This year’s HFAS will showcase over 50 national and international artists and galleries offering investment-level art at multiple price points. Among the artists in this year’s show are: K.A. Williams and Leroy Campbell of Atlanta, Michael Escoffery and Barry Mason. Participating galleries include Louisville’s E&S Gallery and Water Kolours Fine Art in Memphis. A special exhibition of Miles Davis’ Art Collection will also be featured. For additional information visit www.hfas.org/newyork or call 914450-4269. General admission is $25, with varying prices for special events. Follow the Harlem Fine Arts Show on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtags #HFASNYC #africanamericansinmedicine #thehealingpowerofart #talkingbeauty. professionals.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

The Wilson Academy: Shadow Warriors a school of 70 students, everyone knows each other and bonds were strong. The protest didn’t go on without controversy. Many family members were highly supportive. Others objected strenuously. It likely took more courage to face a father, mother, cousin or sibling than a crowd of strangers. Every member of the team continued throughout the season in their silent protest, silent at least on the part of the Wilson Academy Warriors. Wilson Academy was in their third year as a member of the Georgia Independent Christian Athletics Association (GICAA). Most of the member schools were Christian schools, many were Military Prep Schools. Wilson Academy has students of many faiths including Muslim students. In the Division Wilson Academy played in, there were but two predominantly black institutions. The Association includes schools from all over Georgia and a few in nearby Alabama. When games were played outside the Atlanta area it was often like a different world. For the most part the fellow competitors weren’t a problem. They just wanted to play ball. Other students, parents and adult fans were sometimes hostile. The basketball team and cheerleaders heard the things they were called. Disrespectful… despicable… niggers. Wilson Academy handled the situation with composure and grace. They never yelled back, never fought. Perhaps a little satisfaction came from winning almost all their games. Apparently, some school administrators felt especially offended. When the opportunity came for retribution, it was taken. After the season ended, playoff games were scheduled as part of the State Championships. Wilson Academy was the #2 Seed in their Region and scheduled to play their first game at Westwood Christian Academy. Westwood informed the GICAA that they would deny Wilson Academy the right to play on their court, causing them to forfeit unless they were willing to stand for the National Anthem. The Warriors volunteered they would stay in their locker room during the Anthem to avoid controversy. That wasn’t sufficient for Westwood. They needed more. They required submission! The Association informed the team

by William Spivey, Writer, Noted Blogger and ICN Correspondent

Wilson Academy is a small accredited private school in Lithonia, Georgia just outside Atlanta. While this story centers around a sports team. It’s important to note that the focus of the school is centered around academics. The Headmaster, Byron Wilson played college basketball at North Carolina A&T and Ohio State but never emphasized athletics over academics. The school with 70 students grades six through twelve, sponsors sports teams in basketball, cross country, track and tennis. The focus isn’t on winning but development and challenge. Most of the athletes aren’t harboring dreams of a career in athletics but are focused on the next academic level. At a recent Black College Expo in Atlanta; one basketball player was offered immediate acceptance at 9 different institutions. Their students including the athletes participate in robotics competitions. In April, many will be taking a school trip to South Africa. Their athletes and cheerleaders participate in sports... they are not defined by them. Their saga started during Cross Country Season in the fall. The team members decided to take a knee during the playing of the National Anthem. Many have tried to define this protest on their terms. Making it about disrespecting veterans and the military. The Wilson Academy students respect the military greatly. Many have family members who have served or still serve. The protest which began organically with a single student was about police shootings, inequity and the constant of never any justice. During the season, several veterans they encountered expressed that not only do they not feel disrespected. They were grateful that because of their actions, we live in a society where injustice can be protested. At the initial event where the kneeling began. The Headmaster/ Coach first became aware when an adult was harassing the student. He intervened on behalf of the team member. No adult has a right to verbally abuse and threaten a child. When Cross Country season ended, basketball season began. The same student was a member of the basketball team where he invited the rest of the team to join him. They did. The cheerleaders also. In

Photos by Tiffany Wilson

after their last regular season game. They followed up with an E-mail indicating they had changed the manual to prohibit public protests at GICAA events as they were creating a “divisive atmosphere.” The President, Todd Hannon went on to say that Wilson was an “At Will” member of the GICAA and “has the right to leave if they feel they cannot comply with the new stipulations put into the manual. The Headmaster discussed the matter with the team who were unanimous in their decision that they would not stand for the National Anthem. If nothing changed, their season would simply be over. Something changed. With two days left before the scheduled Playoff game. The Wilson Academy family sprang into action. The word was spread. People called and sent E-mails to the Association President. The Headmaster sent E-mails to Westwood Christian Academy but got no response. He reflected that in their last game there, they prayed together in the locker room. Apparently, the Christian love had subsided. He placed calls to the Association President, they weren’t returned. Todd Hannon responded to one E-mail from a family member indicating he was “traveling” and would “talk to concerned parties on Monday.” Two days after the scheduled playoff game. The pressure continued, more calls, additional E-mails. Sponsors of the Association were made aware of the situation with the suggestion they monitor it. On the Friday morning of the game, Todd Hannon called Headmaster Wilson and they reached an agreement which would allow the Warriors to participate in the playoffs. Perhaps not a perfect solution, they did not play at Westwood Christian Academy but they will play. One parent in their letter to the Association wrote, “The one thing that the Warriors have always understood-the greater the trial, the greater the blessing. They will go through the challenge because on the other side of the racism, hatred and discord there will be a reward.” A grandfather wrote, “Your Email to Wilson Academy spoke of your desire for a “positive atmosphere” and blaming Wilson Academy for a “divisive” one. Wilson Academy did not change the atmosphere at

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

Black History Matters!

Celebrate Black History With a Reflection on the 100 Years Leading Up to Barack Obama Winning the Presidency Nationwide — At the end of the historic tenure of a black president and the recent resurgence of “white supremacy,” there is no better time to reflect and remember the journey of black people in America over the last century. It has become evident that a large part of the United States wants to go back to the “good old days” and reverse the progress that has been made in this country. This heightens the importance of knowing the history to combat those who seek to rewrite it. George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Dr. Karen Sloan-Brown’s book, A Reflection: What a Difference a Day Makes, What About 100 Years? is a contemporary black history book which presents a decade by decade examination of the course of Black Americans from living with Jim Crow in 1909 to Barack Obama in 2009. Her book is an intelligent but easy read, informative as well as entertaining while covering a broadly based range of subject matter. Every reader will find a decade in which they can identify or relate to. Her goal was to look back over 100 years and take note of the progress and changes that have taken place in the aspects of black life in the United States: leadership, business and personal finances, thinking and aspirations, culture, values, attitudes, and how they have affected the quality of life and personal growth for African Americans today, as well as the catalysts for change. Sloan-Brown’s book highlights the trials and the triumphs, along with the

I Am Not Your Negro

Oscar-Nominated Documentary Inspired by James Baldwin’s Unfinished Manuscript

Film Review by Kam Williams

missteps, of how black people have evolved economically, socially, educationally, politically, and artistically? Who were the leaders, who was a hero, what was the role of the church, how were black people living, where were they living, what books were they reading, and who were the black athletes, artists, and the entertainers. The book focuses on Black life in the United States before and after the Civil Rights Movement sensing the mood of the people in those eras and how they affected the fight for racial equality and overall progress for African Americans today.

Dr. Karen Sloan-Brown, is the author of several books, the non-fiction PSST: Please Somebody Speak the Truth, Educating the Nation on a Shrinking Budget, and six novels, including The Fortunes of Blues and Blessing, Searching for Everland, and A New Season: The Fortunes of Blues and Blessings Book Two. She is currently the Research Lab Coordinator of the Molecular Biology Core Facility at Meharry Medical College. She lives with her husband and daughters in Nashville, Tennessee. Learn more at www.karensloanbrown.com 21

When novelist/social critic James Baldwin passed away in 1987, he left behind an unfinished opus entitled “Remember This House.” The 30-page manuscript assessed the plight of African-Americans in the United States while specifically reflecting upon the assassinations of three civil rights icons: Malcolm X, Medgar Evers and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. With I Am Not Your Negro, director Raoul Peck (Lumumba) fleshes out Baldwin’s musings, cinematically, into a searing indictment of the United States as an unapologetically-racist nation. Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson, the movie has been nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Documentary category. The focus of the film never strays far from Baldwin, nimbly alternating between archival footage of the fiery figure challenging the status quo and Jackson’s readings from “Remember This House” and his other writings. Again and again, we hear him question the depth of the country’s commitment to reverse the damage inflicted

upon the black community by generations of slavery, lynchings and Jim Crow segregation. For example, he asserts that most Caucasians are perfectly comfortable relegating AfricanAmericans to a second-class status. He even goes so far as to refer to them as morally-blind monsters for seeing blacks as sub-human. Until that attitude is eradicated, whites will never recognize that “I am flesh of their flesh.” Baldwin concludes that “The story of the Negro in America is the story of America.” Therefore, with black and white fates inextricably linked, “It’s not a question of what happens to the Negro. The real question is what is going to happen to this country.” Given the precarious state of race relations, the late visionary’s prescient insights perhaps prove more timely, posthumously, than in their own day. Excellent (4 stars) Rated PG-13 for profanity, mature themes, violent images and brief nudity` Running time: 95 minutes Distributor: Magnolia Pictures

ya l e i n s t i t u t e o f sa c r e d m u s i c joins the

inner city news in celebrating the accomplishments of African Americans to the cultural and spiritual life of New Haven and the world.

E v e n t l i s t i n g s at www.yale.edu/ism

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

#DestinationGreatness] Engineer Raye Montague: The Navy’s ‘Hidden Figure

’ by T. R. Causay, BlackDoctor.org.

In the award-winning film, Hidden Figures, we learned the real-life story of three young Black women were instrumental in changing the course of space travel in the United States. But as we dig deeper, there are more “hidden figures” everywhere. Just look at retired engineer, Raye Montague, who single-handedly changed the way U.S. Navy ships are made and used. Montague is credited with the rough draft of the first U.S. Naval ship design using a computer (FFG7 Class: 1971) which revolutionized

naval ship design. She became the first female Program Manager of Ships in the United Sates Navy. Montague was also the first female professional engineer to receive the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Achievement Award (1978) and the National Computer Graphics Association Award for the Advancement of Computer Graphics (1988). She has also received a host of other honors from military branches, industry, and academia. Montague worked on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN69) and the Navy’s first landing craft helicopter-assault ship (LHA#1).

Her story begins when she was a 7-year-old girl. America captured a German submarine off the coast of South Carolina. Soon after it was captured the submarine was put on tour across the country. That’s when Montague saw it in Little Rock with her grandfather. She visited the submarine and became fascinated with the vessel and asked what kind of profession a person needed to have to work in maritime vessels. “And I looked through the periscope and saw all these dials and mechanisms and I said to the guy, ‘What do you have to know to do

this,’” Montague recalled. “He said, ‘Oh, you’d have to be an engineer, but you don’t have to worry about that.’” While that may have been an insult, Montague took that as a challenge. Growing up, Montague was constantly ridiculed for saying she wanted to be an engineer. Classmates would laugh and heckle her, but her 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Irma Holiday, took a liking to her and became her mentor. “She said, ‘Don’t let them tease you. Aim for the stars and the very worst you’ll land on the moon,’” Montague said of her long-time mentor.

Even with a college degree, Montague had to start at the bottom. Her first job was with the U.S. Navy in Washington D.C. While working for the Navy, Montague sat next to a 1950’s UNIVAC I computer. Day in and day out, she would watch and learn how Ivy League graduate engineers ran the computer. One day when the engineers all got sick, Montague jumped up and ran the UNIVAC all by herself. “Because ‘we’ weren’t supposed to touch that computer right? And because I was from Arkansas,” said Montague of her haters. Over the next 14 years, Montague would become so competent with computers she was transferred in 1970 to design and construct ships. It was there she was given the challenge that would change her life. In an effort to prove that she couldn’t do the job (you know how “they do”), her boss gave her a job that was nearly impossible to do–but they didn’t know Montague. “The admirals came to me and said, ‘Young lady, we understand you’ve got a system to design ships,’” she recalled. “And they said, ‘The President has given us two months, we can give you a month, can you do it?” She did it in 18 hour and 56 minutes. Montague revolutionized the design process for all naval ships and submarines. With each year that passed,… … she grew in knowledge and her skills were sought after frequently with speaking engagements and awards. She received award after award from both the Navy and U.S. government. One of those awards was the U.S. Navy’s Meritorious Civilian Service Award in 1972, the Navy’s third-highest civilian award. After being nominated for an award by the secretary of the Navy, Montague said someone threatened to kill her. “My life was threatened. Death threats were real,” Montague said. “A white man asked me not to accept the award because a white woman had not received the award. I told him I am accepting this award.” The young woman that was denied entry into the University of Arkansas found herself in places she never dreamed of. “God sends you what you need,” she said. “People put obstacles in your way. You find a way to achieve despite the system not because of the system.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017 Con’t from page 6

From

New Haven

extra clothing. You accumulate stuff you don’t want anymore.” She and Hacibey led a drive to collect all those coats and sweaters and boots. Then, along with Hacibey’s sister Beyza Toslu, a student at Hamden Hall, hauled them all to Istanbul over winter break. “We Are Failing In Our Obligation” Once they arrived, they weren’t allowed near the refugee camp. They delivered the bounty to Volunteers United. And they visited the classrooms of children from the refugee camp. The experience moved them. They cried at the children’s plight. They also felt inspired “empowered” by their ability to offer them help. They said they’re convinced that people in the U.S. drawn to Trump’s rhetoric about Syrian refugees would change their minds if they could meet those children. “The refugee students just want to learn and play with their friends. They are not terrorists,” Truong said. “Their families are fleeing persecuting. They just want to put their roots down in a country where they are legally protected.” She called the closing of international borders to the refugees “a huge failure of harmony.” Of the world’s 60 million displaced people, only 1 percent get permanently resettled, Truong said. The rest remain stateless. “The country you are born in is based on luck,” she said. “As a global society, we are failing in our obligation to protect the most vulnerable.” During their December visit to Turkey, she and Catalbasoglu noticed that the library that served the children had few books. Now they’re starting a driving to collect books to fill it. Truong, who plans to become a civil rights lawyer, is working with a group called Jusoor to help displaced refugee students get into college. She was involved in organizing Sunday’s march for refugees in New Haven, where she spoke form the stage of a rally on the Green. Both she and Catalbasoglu said their coat drive is just the beginning of the work they plan to do. They realized how many “tangible things” refugees need — and therefore the tangible ways that people who don’t want to shun them can help instead.

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Robert Smalls:

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

Runaway Slave To The House Of Representatives by BlackDoctor.org Staff

In less than four hours, Robert Smalls had done something unimaginable: In the middle of the Civil War, this black male slave had taken over a heavily armed Confederate ship and delivered it, himself, along with 16 other black passengers (eight men, five women and three children) from slavery to freedom. Robert Smalls was a 22-year-old mulatto slave born on April 5, 1839, behind his owner’s city house at 511 Prince Street in Beaufort, S.C. His mother, Lydia, served in the house but grew up in the fields, where, at the age of nine, she was taken from her own family on the Sea Islands. It is not clear who Smalls’ father was. The McKee family, who owned Robert and her mother, seem to favor Robert Smalls over the other slave children, so much so that his mother worried he would reach manhood without fully understanding how horrid slavery really was. To educate him, she arranged for him to be sent into the fields to work and watch slaves at “the whipping post.” The result of this lesson led Robert to be defiant and he frequently found himself in the Beaufort jail. Smalls mother then asked the slave master to allow him to go to Charleston to be “rented out to work.” And again her wish was granted. By the time Smalls turned 19, he had tried his hand at a number of city jobs and was allowed to keep one dollar of his wages a week (his owner took the rest). That was where he earned his job on a ship called, the Planter. It’s also where he met his wife, Hannah, a slave of the Kingman family working at a Charleston hotel. With their owners’ permission, the two moved into an apartment together and had two children: Elizabeth and Robert Jr. Being in love and longing for a permanent union, Smalls asked his wife’s owner if he could purchase his family outright; they agreed but at a steep price: $800. While Smalls couldn’t afford to buy his family on shore, he knew he could win their freedom by sea — and so he told his wife to be ready for whenever opportunity presented itself. That opportunity didn’t take long

to come and on the night of May 12, Smalls took advantage. Once the white officers are on shore, Smalls confides his plan to the other slaves on board. At 2:00 a.m. on May 13, Smalls put on Capt. Rylea’s straw hat and orders the Planter’s skeleton crew to hoist the South Carolina and Confederate flags as decoys. Easing out of the dock, in view of Gen. Ripley’s headquarters, they pause at the West Atlantic Wharf to pick up Smalls’ wife and children, along with four other women, three men and another child. According to NPR, at 3:25 a.m., the Planter accelerates. From the pilot house, Smalls blows the ship’s whistle while passing Confederate Forts Johnson and Fort Sumter. Smalls not only knows all the right Navy signals to flash; he even folds his arms like Capt. Rylea, so that in the shadows of dawn, he passes convincingly for white. Upon approaching a Union blockade, Smalls orders his crew to replace the Palmetto and Rebel flags with a white bed sheet his wife brought on board. Not seeing it, Acting Volunteer Lt. J. Frederick Nickels of the U.S.S. Onward orders his sailors to “open her ports.”

In The Negro’s Civil War, the dean of Civil War studies James McPherson quotes the following eyewitness account: “Just as No. 3 port gun was being elevated, someone cried out, ‘I see something that looks like a white flag’; and true enough there was something flying on the steamer that would have been white by application of soap and water. As she neared us, we looked in vain for the face of a white man. When they discovered that we would not fire on them, there was a rush of contrabands out on her deck, some dancing, some singing, whistling, jumping; and others stood looking towards Fort Sumter, and muttering all sorts of maledictions against it, and ‘de heart of de Souf,’ generally. As the steamer came near, and under the stern of the Onward, one of the Colored men stepped forward, and taking off his hat, shouted, ‘Good morning, sir! I’ve brought you some of the old United States guns, sir!’ ” That man is Robert Smalls, and he and his family and the entire slave crew of the Planter are now free. Officer Samuel Francis Du Pont, at Port Royal, Hilton Heads Island, described Smalls as “very intelligent contraband.” Du Pont writes a letter to the Navy secretary in Washington,

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

stating, “Robert, the intelligent slave and pilot of the boat, who performed this bold feet so skillfully, informed me of [the capture of the Sumter gun], presuming it would be a matter of interest.” He “is superior to any who have come into our lines — intelligent as many of them have been.” `Smalls may not have had the $700 he needed to purchase his family’s freedom before the war; now, because of his bravery and his inability to purchase his wife, the U.S. Congress on May 30, 1862, passed a private bill authorizing the Navy to appraise the Planter and award Smalls and his crew half the proceeds for “rescuing her from the enemies of the Government.” Smalls received $1,500 personally, enough to purchase his former owner’s house in Beaufort off the tax rolls following the war, though according to the later Naval Affairs Committee report, his pay should have been substantially higher. The Confederates didn’t like anything they heard about Smalls and issued a $4,000 bounty on his head. But that didn’t stop him. In the North, Smalls was seen as a hero and personally lobbied the Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to begin enlisting black soldiers. After President Lincoln acted a few months later, Smalls was said to have recruited 5,000 soldiers by himself. In October 1862, he returned to the Planter as pilot as part of Admiral Du Pont’s South Atlantic Blockading Squadron. According to the 1883 Naval Affairs Committee report, Smalls was engaged in approximately 17 military actions, including the April 7, 1863, assault on Fort Sumter and the attack at Folly Island Creek, S.C. For all his efforts, Smalls was promoted to the rank of captain himself, and from December 1863 on, earned $150 a month, making him one of the highest paid black soldiers of the war. Following the war, Smalls continued to push the boundaries of freedom as a first-generation black politician, serving in the South Carolina state assembly and senate, and for five nonconsecutive terms in the U.S. House of Representatives (18741886) before watching his state roll back Reconstruction in a revised 1895 constitution that stripped blacks of their voting rights. He died in Beaufort on February 22, 1915, in the same house behind which he had been born a slave and is buried behind a bust at the Tabernacle Baptist Church. In the face of the rise of Jim Crow, Smalls stood firm as an

unyielding advocate for the political rights of African Americans: “My race needs no special defense for the past history of them and this country. It proves them to be equal of any people anywhere. All they need is an equal chance in the battle of life.” Con’t from page 14

The Wilson Academy: Shadow Warriors

your schools... it revealed it.” Carter Wilson is the 15th cheerleader. She isn’t a student at Wilson Academy but has spent much of her life inside its classrooms and hallways. She’s now in Kindergarten at another school but has always accompanied one parent or another to Wilson where her father is the Headmaster and both work. She can often be found photobombing pictures of Wilson Academy activities. She learned all the cheers and was finally was given a uniform and officially made part of the team. Carter took a knee along with the other cheerleaders at the games. She also received the abuse. One could ask, how soon is too soon to be exposed to racism and taunts? When do you tell your children, there is no Santa Claus? Carter, like all the Warriors has gained more than she lost from this experience. Yes, she discovered that people are not perfect and they will go to great lengths to keep from having to address uncomfortable truths. The lesson that will stay with them all is that sometimes you do win! Stay true to your values, know your rights, surround yourself with a strong community, don’t give up. When next they face a situation that seems unfair and beyond their control. They’ll handle it because they’ve been there before. The Wilson Academy Warriors are aptly named. Despite their youth, maybe because of it they stood their ground and stayed true to themselves and their beliefs. They are recognized as “Shadow Warriors” for their contribution to the struggle and the example they have provided to us all. William Spivey is a writer and noted blogger happily living in Orlando, Florida. He is a regular contributing correspondent to The Inner-City News in CT. He can be read daily at his blog www. EnigmaInBlack.wordpress.com and on his Facebook page Average Citizen Forum. He can be reached at spiveywilliamf@gmail.com follow on twitter @wspiv001

XL CENTER

Con’t from page 14

MonsterJam.com

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

Town of Bloomfield Assistant Assessor $37.01 hourly

For details and how to apply, go to www.bloomfieldct.org. Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE

New Haven Section 3, DAS certified MBE & WBE subcontractors wanted Encore Fire Protection is looking for Section 3, DAS certified MBE & WBE subcontractors to install a fire sprinkler/suppression system. All interested bidders, companies and employees are to be licensed in the State of Connecticut, Bonded and Insured. Work duties will include all tasks required for proper fire sprinkler system installation per approved plans. Construction experience is a must. All F2 licensed mechanics are responsible to arrive to the job site on time, have a minimum of OSHA 10 training and possess approved personal protection equipment. You will also participate in daily, weekly and monthly progress reports. If interested, please contact encorefire110@gmail.com. Construction oriented company seeking full-time Accounting/Administrative Assistant to answer phones, schedule sales appts, filing, typing & other general office duties. Will also have accounting responsibilities-data entry, sales order billing, and processing A/P transactions, supporting our over-the-counter sales person, the controller & CFO. Min 5 yrs. Related experience, excellent written & verbal skills, ability to multitask, knowledge of basic accounting principles, excellent computer skills (5+ yrs. Experience) with Excel & Word, accounting software knowledge a plus. $31,200 annual salary-negotiable based on experience & qualifications. AA/EOE Email resume to mmunzner@atlasoutdoor.com

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Invitation for Bids

West Rock Community Center Underground Storage Tank Removal and Soil Excavation The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Bids for West Rock Community Center Underground Storage Tank Removal and Soil Excavation. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Monday, January 30, 2017 at 3:00PM.

KMK Insulation Inc. 1907 Hartford Turnpike North Haven, CT 06473

Mechanical Insulator

Insulation Company offering good pay and benefits. Please forward resume via REGULAR MAIL only. This company is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer Bridge Repair Crew – must have reliable transportation and be willing to travel statewide, Operator, Driver, Laborer, M/F, 5-15 years Heavy Highway Exp, OSHA 10, Immediate Opening 860-664-8042, Fax 860-664-9175michelle@occllc.com EOE, AA, Females and Minorities encouraged to apply

Special Projects Manager Immediate opening in a fast-paced petroleum environment For a degreed manager with a BA Degree required, MBA Preferred with 5+ years of oil industry experience. Proficient in oil, logistics software and solutions, IT Knowledge needed with assistance managing network and System projects. Strong Excel and analytical skills a must. Candidate must possess a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. Petroleum and energy industry knowledge experience a plus. Send resume to: Human Resource Dept., P O Box 388, Guilford CT 06437. **An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer**

Construction oriented company seeking fulltime Accounting/Administrative Assistant to answer phones, schedule sales appts, filing, typing & other general office duties. Will also have accounting responsibilities-data entry, sales order billing, and processing A/P transactions, supporting our overthe-counter sales person, the controller & CFO. Min 5 yrs. Related experience, excellent written & verbal skills, ability to multitask, knowledge of basic accounting principles, excellent computer skills (5+ yrs. Experience) with Excel & Word, accounting software knowledge a plus. $31,200 annual salary-negotiable based on experience & qualifications. AA/EOE Email resume to mmunzner@atlasoutdoor.com

ELECTRIC UTILITY ELECTRICIAN Electric utility is seeking a highly skilled maintenance electrician with extensive substation experience to maintain and repair transmission and distribution class switchgear, bus-work, lightning arrestors, protective relays, insulators, switches power transformers, data circuits, controls and other related components. Must be a high school/trade school graduate and have 4 years’ experience in the maintenance and operation of electric utility substations and/or utility grade protection and control systems. Completion of a recognized four (4) year maintenance electrician apprenticeship program may substitute for the experience requirement. Two (2) years of college-level education or advanced training in related field may substitute for two (2) years of the experience requirement. Must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license issued by the State of Connecticut and be able to obtain with 6 months of hire a valid Protective Switching and Tagging Procedure certification from CONVEX or other approved agency. Wage rate: $35.43 to $39.08 hourly plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Closing date will be February 17, 2017. Apply: Personnel Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. (203) 294-2080 / Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Request for Proposals (RFP) State Marshal and/or City Sheriff Services Solicitation Number: 074-LD-17-S The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport d/b/a Park City Communities (PCC) is currently soliciting proposals from State Marshal and/or City Sheriff to provide service of process for the HACB. Solicitation package will be available on January 30, 2017. To obtain a copy of the solicitation you must send your request to bids@parkcitycommunities.org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. A pre-bid conference will be held at 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604 on February 14, 2017 @ 2:00 p.m. Although attendance is not mandatory, submitting a bid for the project without attending conference is not in the best interest of the Offeror. Additional questions should be emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities.org no later than February 17, 2017 @ 3:00 p.m. Answers to all the questions will be posted on PCC’s Website: www. parkcitycommunities.org. Proposals shall be mailed or hand delivered by February 24, 2017 @ 3:00 PM, to Ms. Caroline Sanchez, Contract Specialist, 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604. Late proposals will not be accepted.

SHOP EQUIPMENT MANAGER HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Immediate opening for Highly Organized, Self Motivated, Multitask Shop Manager Skills & Duties required: • Five Years Experience in Overseeing Shop Maintenance • Strong Mechanical Knowledge of Heavy & Highway Equipment • Manage, Plan, Direct & Motivate Mechanics Day to Day Activities • Implement All Aspects of Equipment Repair Including: Managing Vendors, Procurement of Parts & Supplies , • Develop Reports to Forecast, Track & Budget All Equipment Expenses • Ensure Equipment Compliance with All Federal & State Regulations • Assist Field Operators w Trouble Shooting & Emergency Repairs • Competent w Microsoft Word, EXCEL, MANAGER PLUS and Timberline Software Equal Opportunity Employer Minority and female candidates are highly encouraged to apply Apply: Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming 22 Peters Rd Bloomfield, CT 06002 Phone: 860-243-2300 Fax 860-243-3100

\Send resumes & salary requirements to:

Request for Proposals Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) ProjectBased Assistance Program to Support the Development of Affordable Housing Housing Authority City of New Haven d/b/a Elm city Communities is currently seeking Proposals for Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Project- Based Assistance Program to Support the Development of Affordable Housing. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing. cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 3:00PM.

INVITATION TO BID

Northeast Building Group is accepting bids from qualified Minority/Female Business Enterprises for an upcoming project “REVITALIZATION OF THE OAK TERRACE HOUSING COMPLEX” located at 53 Conrad Street, Naugatuck, CT. Bids will be accepted by mail, fax, or email until 5:00PM on January 31, 2017, after which the bids will be privately opened. The project entails renovation of 188 housing units in 39 buildings. Trades include: site work, paving, utilities, abatement, rough carpentry, architectural woodwork, doors, frames and hardware, drywall, tiling, resilient flooring and base, painting, toilet accessories, appliances, window treatments, residential casework, plumbing, HVAC and electrical. Interested Connecticut DAScertified MBEs, DBEs, and WBEs are encouraged to submit bids and may contact Tim Burke by phone at 203-678-4030 or email at tburke@truebluecos.com to obtain plans and specifications. Bids received after 5:00PM on January 31, 2017 will be disqualified. Northeast Building Group is an is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer, 98 S. Turnpike Road, Suite F, Wallingford, CT 06492. Tel: 203-6784030 Fax: 203-678-4136.

The Housing Authority of the City of Bristol Request for Proposals Interior Painting Services The Housing Authority City of Bristol (BHA) is seeking proposals for Vacant / Occupied Apartment Painting Services from qualified vendors for work throughout the Agency. Bidder Information packets can be obtained by contacting Carl Johnson, Director of Capital Funds at 860-585-2028 or cjohnson@bristolhousing.org beginning Wednesday, December 28, 2016 through Friday, January 13, 2017. A nonmandatory pre-bid meeting will be held Friday, January 13, 2017, 2:00pm at 164 Jerome Avenue, Bristol Connecticut.

All proposals should be clearly marked “RFP- Interior Painting”, submitted to Mitzy Rowe, CEO, The Housing Authority City of Bristol, 164 Jerome Avenue, Bristol, CT 06010, no later than 4:00 p.m., Friday January 20, 2017 at the office of the Bristol Housing Authority in a sealed envelope with one original and 3 copies, each clearly identified as Proposal for Interior Painting Services. An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Contractor

Bridge Repair Crew –

must have reliable transportation and be willing to travel statewide, Operator, Driver, Laborer, M/F, 5-15 years Heavy Highway Exp, OSHA 10, Immediate Opening 860-664-8042, Fax 860-664-9175michelle@ occllc.com EOE, AA, Females and Minorities encouraged to apply Public Safety Dispatcher: The Town of East Haven seeks to fill 2 permanent part-time positions.

The hourly rate of pay is $24/hour. The work schedule is Saturday and Sunday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm or Sunday and Monday, 4:00 pm -12:00 am. Candidates must possess a High School diploma or GED, State of Connecticut Telecommunication Certification, Priority Dispatch EMD Certification, Priority Dispatch EPD and EFD Certification is preferred, Nexgen LEAS Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) experience is preferred, prior COLLECT/NCIC certification is preferred, and Next Generation 911 System is preferred. Candidate must successfully pass a background investigation, fingerprinting, and a Medical exam including a drug screening as well as have the ability to distinguish and identify different colors and pass a hearing test and NCIC Training. Only qualified applicants should apply at www.PoliceApp.com/EastHavenCT. The fee to apply is $40 and the deadline is December 16, 2016. The Town of East Haven is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities, Females, Veterans and Handicapped are encouraged

Elm City Communities

to apply.

Account Clerk-Payables: The Town of East Haven is currently accepting applications to participate in the examination for Account Clerk-Payables. The current vacancy is in the Finance Department of the Board of Education but this list may be used to fill other Account Clerk positions within the Town of East Haven. The starting hourly rate is $18.78/hour, 37.5 hours per week. Candidate must possess a High School Diploma or equivalent and an Associate’s Degree in Accounting or equivalent experience, and a minimum of 3 years’ experience in accounts payable and a thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel. Applications are available from The Civil Service Office, 250 Main Street, East Haven, CT or at http://www. townofeasthavenct.org/civiltest.shtml and must be returned by January 24, 2017. The Town of East Haven is committed to building a workforce of diverse individuals. Minorities, Females, Handicapped and Veterans are encouraged to apply. 27

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

LEGAL NOTICE The Bristol Housing Authority is developing its 2017-2021 Agency Plans in compliance with the HUD Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998. It is available for review at the Authority’s office located at 164 Jerome Ave., Bristol, CT. The Authority’s hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Thursday 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. In addition, a Public Hearing will be held on February 16, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at Gaylord Towers Community Hall located at 55 Gaylord Street, Bristol, CT. Public comments will be received no later than February 27, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. EOE

Grants Administration

Program Planning Administrator-Seeking a highly qualified professional to administer, manages, and oversees the Town’s Grants and Economic Development Programs. Serves as a representative on various intergovernmental and interagency organizations. The minimum qualifications: Bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university in government or public administration plus three years (3) of progressively responsible public administration and at least two years (2) of grant writing experience or an equivalent combination of education and qualifying experience substituting on a year-for-year basis. $77,695-$99,410 plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply to: Personnel Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Closing date will be December 15, 2016. EOE.

ELECTRICIANS

Semac Electric is seeking Electricians (CT Licensed Journeymen & Foremen, E1 and E2) to join our team for medium & large commercial construction projects thru out the State of CT: Hartford, Fairfield & New Haven Counties. We have excellent wages and benefits. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications available at our main oﬃce at 45 Peter Court, New Britain, CT or send resume to P.O. Box 638, New Britain, CT 06050 or via fax to 860-229-0406 or email: careers@ semacelectric.com

Mechanical Insulator

Insulation Company offering good pay and benefits. Please forward resume to P.O. Box 475, North Haven, CT 06473 This company is an APPRENTICE

Telecommunications Company looking for apprentice to learn indoor and outdoor low voltage cable installation, aerial bucket work, messenger and lashing; manhole and underground installation. Good salary with benefits. Fax resume to 860-6432124 or mail to Fibre Optic Plus, 302 Adams Street, Manchester, CT 06042. Attn: Greg Brown AA/EEO Employer AFFIRMATIVE ACTION / EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk, CT is seeking bids for Janitorial Services. Bidding documents can be viewed and printed at www. norwalkha.org under the business tab, RFPs/ RFQs. Norwalk Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Curtis O. Law, Executive Director ELECTRICIANS

Semac Electric is seeking Electricians (CT Licensed Journeymen & Foremen, E1 and E2) to join our team for medium & large commercial construction projects thru out the State of CT: Hartford, Fairfield & New Haven Counties. We have excellent wages and benefits. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications available at our main office at 45 Peter Court, New Britain, CT or send resume to

Town of Bloomfield Assistant Assessor (REPOSTED) $37.01 hourly

For details and how to apply, go to www.bloomfieldct.org. Previous applicants need not apply. Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE

Facilities Manager – Portland, CT:

Responsible for leadership, management & maintenance of plant infrastructure and all related/associated equipment. 5 plus years supervisory experience. Email: Info@redtechllc.com, Fax: 860-218-2433, RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

SALES POSITION Energetic, team-oriented Sales Professional needed for busy Company. 20 years experience in same or like field required. Forward resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, Fax 860.218.2433; or Email to Info@redtechllc. com RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

Con’t from page 14

Run, March, Rally For Refugees

make it. A am a Syrian, a Muslim, and I wear the hijab—but I am also a human.” A third woman, an Iraqi refugee named Bushra Mahdi, said she had been physically ill since the election, ending up in the emergency room last week with anxiety over Trump’s executive order. Several elected officials including DeLauro, Blumenthal, New Haven Mayor Toni Harp, and State Sen. Gary Winfield, also gave short speeches of encouragement and support as they took the stage. Picking up on Sen. Blumenthal’s statement that “We are a nation of immigrants, and we will win this fight,” and DeLauro’s that “we will not cower in fear” in the face of an unconstitutional ban, Harp told the crowd that New Haven will remain a sanctuary city, welcoming immigrants and refugees. “We know that what it takes to make this country what it says it is—a place of freedom—that you must stand up and you must fight,” she said. “We demand that this country be what it says that it is. That it is tolerant. That it believes in religious freedom. That it supports the people who come here with a dream.” “I will tell you that we, in my background, did not come as immigrants willingly,” she added. “But we helped build this country ... I stand with you because I stand for the America that we all believe in. And I think what we’ll have to do for the next four years is to stand up. And don’t get tired, because this is not over yet.” Vietnamese refugee Trinh Truony (pictured), a Yale undergraduate who became an American citizen four years ago and is now working towards becoming a civil rights lawyer, echoed that sentiment. “We need to stop defining by race, class, religion, immigration status and country of origin,” she said. “We need to tell our politicians: don’t be afraid of refugees. Be afraid of the people who made them refugees.” As the crowd launched into another cheer of “Show me what New Haven looks like! This is what New Haven looks like!” many attendees shivering in the cold, George took the stage for a final hurrah, and call to action. “The race this morning was a 5k,” he said. “The fight for social justice is a marathon. I’m honored to be running it with all of you.” The New Haven Independent was live on Facebook for most of the rally.

Tears We Cannot Stop A Sermon to White America by Michael Eric Dyson St. Martin’s Press

Book Review by Kam Williams “America is in trouble, and a lot of that trouble--perhaps most of it--has to do with race. Everywhere we turn, there is discord, division, death and destruction. When we survey the land, we see a country full of suffering that it cannot fully understand, and a history that it can no longer deny. Slavery casts a long shadow across our lives... Black and white people... seem to occupy different universes with worldviews that are fatally opposed to one another... What, then, can we do? What I need to say can only be said as a sermon... I offer this sermon to you, my dear white friends... I do so in the interest of healing our our nation through honest, often blunt, talk... Without white America wrestling with these truths and confronting these realities, we may not survive. To paraphrase the Bible, to whom

much is given, much is expected. And, you my friends, have been given so much. And the Lord knows, what wasn’t given, you simply took, took, and took, and took. But the time is here for reckoning with the past... and moving together to redeem the nation for the future.” -- Excerpted from the Chapter 1, “Call to Worship” (pages 3-7)

Michael Eric Dyson teaches Sociology at Georgetown University, and is the prolific author of 20 bestsellers and a popular face on the TV talk show circuit. Many might forget that Professor Dyson got his doctorate in Religion from Princeton University. In his new book, Tears We Cannot Stop, he reminds us that, “Although I am a scholar, a cultural and political critic, and a social activist, I am, before, and above anything else, an ordained Baptist minister.” That helps explain the profusion of captivating, flowery rhetoric whenever the brother’s been handed a microphone. While his previous works were aimed at a black audience, this is his first intended to be read by whites. It is also written in a unique literary style, namely, as a sermon designed to keep Caucasians standing on their feet like an inspired congregation of holy rollers. The chapters are even laid out like a church service, starting with the “Call to Worship,” followed by “Hymns of Praise,” an “Invocation,”

and the “Scripture Reading” leading to the “Sermon,” and concluding with the “Benediction.” The meat of the message can be found in the Sermon section which opens with the iconoclastic suggestion that there is no such thing as a white race. Professor Dyson’s point there is that whiteness is an arbitrary (as opposed to a scientific) construct which affords one group advantages and privileges at the expense of others. He argues that “whiteness is made up, and that white history disguised as American history is a fantasy, as much a fantasy as white superiority and white purity.” If I were Dyson, I wouldn’t be holding my breath for a positive reception from his intended audience, given the ascension of Donald Trump and the celebration of rednecks in the runaway best seller, Hillbilly Elegy. He might be better off redirecting his sermon to the African-American community and changing his incendiary opus’ subtitle to “Preaching to the Choir!” Can I get an “Amen!”

Shonda Rhimes Picks Up Rights to Develop Luvvie Ajayi’s Book ‘I’m Judging You’ as a Cable TV Series

Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers’ Shondaland, along with ABC Signature Studios, have acquired rights to Luvvie Ajayi’s debut book titled “I’m Judging You: The Do Better Manual,” with plans to develop it into a cable TV comedy series. Here’s an official summary of “I’m Judging You”: With over 500,000 readers a month at her enormously popular blog, AwesomelyLuvvie. com, Luvvie Ajayi is a go-to source for smart takes on pop culture. ‘I’m Judging You’ is her debut book of humorous essays that dissects our cultural obsessions and calls out bad behavior in our increasingly digital, connected lives. It passes on lessons and side-eyes on life, social media,

culture, and fame, from addressing those terrible friends we all have to serious discussions of race and media representation to what to do about your fool cousin sharing casket pictures from Grandma’s wake on Facebook. With a lighthearted, razor sharp wit and a unique perspective, I’m Judging You is the handbook the world needs, doling out the hard truths and a road map for bringing some “act right” into our lives, social media, and popular culture. It is the Do-Better Manual.” We follow Ms. Ajayi on Twitter, by the way, as I’m sure many of you do as well! So you should be familiar with her incredible hustle, attitude, aptitude and hard work that continues to pay off. So kudos

Luvvie! We will most certainly be watching for what comes next! If greenlit to series — and any Rhimes project has strong odds — the comedy would mark Shondaland’s sixth (potentially 7th) series on the air: “Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “The Catch,” and an upcoming “Still Star-Crossed,” and the recently ordered (to pilot) untitled legal drama, all at ABC. This new potential series based on Ajayi’s book will go to cable however. Ajayi is represented by ICM Partners, Diamond Brand Amplification and Frankfurt Kurnit. Deadline was first to report the news of the acquisition of “I’m Judging You.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14, 2017

In Celebration of Black History Month

CELEBRATION WHEN:

You are Cordially Invited!

LOCATION: RSVP:

Wednesday, February 15, 2017 The Tip O’Neill Federal Building

10 Causeway Street, 1st Floor Auditorium Boston, MA 02222

http://bit.ly/2k4MWMf

SCHEDULE: 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

Registration & Networking 9:15 a.m.

SBA Welcome: Robert H. Nelson, District Director 9:30 a.m.

All Small Mentor Protégé Program: Contracting 10:00 a.m.

Keynote Speaker:

Ayanna Pressley, Boston City Councilor At-Large 11:00 a.m.

Debra Britt, Founder & Curator

Ayanna Pressley’s career has been marked by history-making campaigns and a relentless determination to advance a policy agenda focused on girls and women, breaking cycles of poverty and all forms of violence, and reducing trauma in our communities.

11:30 a.m.

Access to Capital Finance Panel: Citizens Bank, Massachusetts Growth Capital Corp, and Eastern Bank

Massachusetts SBA District Office 10 Causeway Street, RM265, Boston, MA, 02222 Telephone: 617-565-5560 I Fax: 617-565-6373 I Web: www.sba.gov/ma

All SBA programs and services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis. The SBA does not endorse the organizations, views they express or the products/services they offer. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance.

Norman.Eng@sba.gov / 617-565-8510

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

Toddler Special Mon-Thurs 10-12 • 1 Parent 1 Toddler • Only $15 1 hr $20 2 hr

$60

off

frequent jumper

10 1-hour jump/play passes reg. $150 now $90 Complete coupon must be presented at time of purchase. One coupon per person. These coupons are only valid in park, in person, and not valid for online purchases. Cannot be combined with any other offers. Exp: 9/30/16

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buy 1 hour, get second hour free buy 1 hour and jump/play for two hours Mon-Thurs only. Not to be combined with any other offer or promotion. Not valid online. Does not include required jump socks. Exp: 9/30/16

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any Birthday Party booked Monday - Friday Coupon MUST be mentioned when booking. Coupon must be redeemed at time of party to receive discount. Exp: 9/30/16

203-989-3357 • jumpoffct.com 27

THE INNER-CITY NEWS February 08, 2017 - February 14 , 2017

M A C Y â&#x20AC;&#x2122; S I S P R O U D T O C E L E B R AT E

JOIN US IN HONORING BLACK ART AND EXPRESSION THROUGH THE W O R K O F E M I N E N T P O E T, A C T O R , AND MUSICIAN, SAUL WILLIAMS M A C Y S . C O M / C E L E B R AT E