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INNER-CITYNEWS Volume 29 . No. 2438 Volume 21 No. 2194

“DMC” Elm City Montessori Students

Malloy Malloy To To Dems: Dems:

Ignore Ignore“Tough “ToughOn OnCrime” Crime”

Protest Police Brutality

Color Struck?

Snow in July? Black History of Health:

USRock ON Ribbon Cut FOLLOW On New Trail In West Woods 1

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

Elm City Montessori Students Protest Police Brutality by EMILY HAYS

New Haven I ndependent

Jada Tucker, age 11, wants African Americans to be seen as brave, not dangerous. Yanalyse Rivas, age 11, wants Brown and Black people to have the same rights as white people. Their messages, delivered in downtown Westville Thursday, echoed those of Black Lives Matter protests across the country. This time, those protesting were fourth through sixth graders, and they had the backing of their school, Elm City Montessori. “I don’t want people to think that the teachers told us what to say. These are our original ideas. Any child would be appalled if they knew what was going on,” said sixth-grader Mary WinterSzarabajka. The protest took place on Thursday midday at the intersection of West Rock and Whalley avenues to protest the deaths of 13-year-old Adam Toledo, 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant and others who have lost their lives at the hands of police officers. About 40 Elm City Montessori School (ECMS) students filled the center of the street, which was blocked off to traffic. Another dozen parents, teachers and assistant teachers stood around the edges of the student protesters. Elm City Montessori is a charter school within New Haven Public Schools. Parents and teachers present mostly listened and watched. The students were the ones at the microphone, reading poetry and speaking about why the protest mattered to them. Many students were emotional as they described the injustice of racial inequality and police brutality. “Without Black people, we are nothing. Without Brown people, we are nothing. They should not be killed. They should have the full lives they wanted,” one student said. (The student’s mother requested anonymity for her daughter.) The student teared up at the end of her statement. Her words and tears prompted Jada Tucker to start crying too. ECMS Anti-Bias, Anti-Racism Director Amelia Sherwood hugged Jada and whispered to her, “Your life matters, right? Your life matters.” Jada took the microphone later, despite her tears. “I wanted to prove my point. I wanted to show that Black people aren’t always harmful. We are brave and strong,” Jada said.

EMILY HAYS PHOTOS Elm City Montessori fifth grader Jada Tucker (second from left): We are not dangerous.

Sixth graders Yanalyse Rivas (left) and Abigail Richards.

Anti-Bias, Anti-Racism Director Amelia Sherwood.

Students cheered on those who spoke, and teachers stood ready to give hugs to those who were too scared. Fifth grader Haviland Hawthorne ended up reading both her own statement and the statement of her fourth-grade sister, Hayden Hawthorne. Hayden’s hands were trembling and she felt like she was going to throw up—from both nerves and being moved by others’ speeches. “I was disappointed in myself that I didn’t read it. I was too afraid that no one would like it,” Hayden said afterwards. “It was a good one,” her friend Aurora Irizarry Cardone chimed in. Aurora knows New Haven’s Black Lives Matter leaders from attending protests with her father since she was little. “Thanks. I wish I had been brave enough to read it,” Hayden said. “You have marches for the rest of your life,” said ECMS Magnet Resource Teacher David Weinreb. Longtime protest organizer Kerry Ellington took the microphone to call out names of those killed by police in Connecticut. The students repeated the names after her. New Haven Black Lives Matter cofounder Ala Ochumare lauded the ECMS students. “I will do whatever I can, so when you are ready to take over, you can hit the ground running,” Ochumare said. “Y’all are the dopest people.” Sherwood and teacher Ramya Subra-

manian led chants and songs while in the center of Whalley Avenue and on the way back to their school building on Blake Street. Subramanian said the ECMS teachers had been planning to organize a youth protest at some point modeled after the Children’s Crusade of 1963. When police fatally shot Daunte Wright, ECMS was on spring break. The death weighed heavily on the teachers, who unpacked how they were feeling with one another before talking about the subject with their students. The teachers decided to organize a protest with their students, to respond to the killings and to practice for the later event. Sherwood has led ECMS through a wide range of anti-racism activities and trainings. Part of the process is that adults work through their feelings and information first before processing it with students. Left to right: Haviland Hawthorne, 10, Hayden Hawthorne, 9, Mary Winter-Szarabajka, 11, and Aurora Irizarry Cardone, 11. While teachers organized the protest, the energy came from the students. “I think people my age should know about this, so they can protest,” Hayden said. Hayden said the police who killed Toledo, Bryant and others should be imprisoned. She said she wants to build a society that is safer, where police brutality does not happen. Hayden’s belief in the youth right to knowledge is why father Larry Laconi was excited to bring his children, 8-year-old Elizabeth and 11-year-old James, to the protest. “I want the kids to have this discussion be part of their lives. I didn’t have that. I knew about it but didn’t know how to name it at 11,” Laconi said. After the protest, students chatted happily with one another and sipped warm cider. Sixth graders Yanalyse Rivas and Abigail Richards spoke seriously about how unfair it is that Black and Brown people don’t have the same rights as white people, that the police don’t treat them the same, and that any errors police make (like mistaking a gun for a taser) have irreparable consequences. At the same time, they were joyful about spending class time on the topic. “Preparing for this was so much fun,” Yanalyse said. “We could have left school early. It felt nice to stay,” Abigail said.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

"Let's Talk" Provides A Peer-To-Peer Framework For Healing by Lucy Gellman, Editor,

The Arts Paper www.newhavenarts.org

Rev. Odell Montgomery Cooper turned to the stage when she wanted to share the story of her grief. Now, she’s training city residents to open their ears—and their minds—to a community reeling from Covid-19, police brutality, gun violence, and an inequitable public health system. Cooper is the mind behind “Let’s Talk,” a new peer-to-peer mentorship program that teaches community members to identify, address, discuss and seek treatment for depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma. The program, which is currently in its pilot stages, is presented in collaboration with Clifford Beers, Dixwell United Church of Christ, and the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund among others. It comes out of Cooper’s own grief after losing her son Jonathan to gun violence on April 23, 2016. “I wanted to do something for everyday conversation for people who looked like me,” she said in a recent episode of “Arts Respond” on WNHH Community Radio. “It didn’t matter what your zip code was, your education—mental health had found us and was knocking on our door. We were deteriorating, and we needed to do something.” The program is a direct product of Cooper’s lived experience. Five years ago this Friday, her 25-year-old son Jonathan was shot and killed on Dixwell Avenue while coming home from his cousin’s birthday party. As Cooper moved through a thick, unspeakably heavy grief, her colleagues started asking her when she was going to return to work. Friends encouraged her to pray more. Cooper, who has been in ministry for years herself, felt paralyzed. For months, she was unable to speak openly about her grief. The pain of its silence was unbearable, she said; she could feel its heavy weight in her body. On what would have been Jonathan’s 26th birthday, she had a brain aneurysm that almost killed her. It was only when she began seeing a counselor did she learn there was a name for what she was going through—post-traumatic stress disorder—and a need to talk about it. Cooper has since launched Interruptions: Disrupting The Silence, a live performance and podcast series that went virtual last year in the midst of Covid-19. As she prepared to move the series online, she watched the twin pandemics of Covid-19 and white supremacy tear through her community and communities that looked like hers. She saw a rise in gun violence, police brutality, domestic assault and abuse, and substance use disorder that persists a year later. She felt like there was no one to talk to about it. “It actually became another layer of trauma to me that I did not realize,” she said. “And I began getting depressed, and anxiety, and started feeling certain ways that I wasn’t used to feeling. So, like everybody else, you get a Zoom license and you start

talking to people.” The more people she talked to, the more she realized how much stigma there was around Black mental health and the expectation “that I would be the strong Black woman,” she said. After presenting Interruptions via YouTube last summer, she began thinking about how to use the skills she had learned as a script writer, podcast host and speaker to break through silence on a wider level. “Let’s Talk,” which trains community members to identify mental health triggers and discuss the symptoms of depression, anxiety, grief, and trauma, was the result. She said it is specifically designed for people of color. The program is currently spread across nine weekly sessions, in which “we talk about faith as the common thread,” said Cooper. For her, that pillar was central—

she and people she knows have been turning to their faith leaders for years, and sometimes not getting the support that they need. In addition to faith, mentors talk about social justice and advocacy, generational trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief, and what Cooper refers to as “post-traumatic slave syndrome.” She sees the last as tied to a white supremacist culture that predated and enabled enslavement, and still exists today. “We were taught to keep this to yourselves,” Cooper said. “We were taught to go back to work. We were taught this, and it’s a slave syndrome mentality. Here I am, lying in the ER getting ready to have brain surgery, and I told my daughter, ‘Don’t forget to go to work and pay my bills.’ And that was something that she and I later had to talk about … it’s what we pass on, generation to generational

trauma.” During the sessions, participants break down each component of the program, and then discuss how to spot, talk about, and provide comfort for those experiencing mental health “interruptions” in their own lives. Cooper, who is writing a book based on the approach, is testing the model with a group of 10 interfaith religious leaders and community members. An advisor on the project, the Rev. Frederick J. Streets said that he sees the peer leadership model as opening new avenues to treatment. As senior pastor at Dixwell Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ, he leads weekly wellness meetings over Zoom. He said he often references Monica Coleman’s book Bipolar Faith, in which she recalls living with undiagnosed bipolar disorder while she was an honors student at Harvard University. She began to uncover her own diagnosis after someone asked her how she was feeling, rather than how she was doing. “We can do stuff and make the world think we’re doing fine,” Streets said. “What Odell’s program, peer-to-peer, is doing is getting at that question. How are you feeling, and how did you get there, and how are those feelings either helping you or hindering you from living your best life?” Cooper is quick to say she is not creating the program alone. After her aneurysm, she had to relearn how to read, write, and speak. Peer mentors are a vital part of the program, she said, because her capacity is finite. When she began to think about how she wanted to structure “Let’s Talk,” she reached out to Alice Forrester, chief executive officer of Clifford Beers. She spoke to David Addams, executive director of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund and a longtime friend and mentor of hers. She worked with Streets. She wrote, rewrote, and edited some more. Streets said that the program addresses a need in the community that both clinicians and faith leaders have not been responsive to for decades. In 1984, Streets

and a Yale psychologist found that a number of Black clergy members in New Haven were referring their parishioners to the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC). CMHC, in return, did not involve Black clergy members in its practice, outreach, or treatment plans. “There was a disconnect,” he said. “That still exists to this day in a general way. There needs to be a greater partnership between the established mental health community of treatment and the religious community. Because they both have something to offer.” Addams praised the program for its focus on Black mental health, particularly in the midst of not one but two pandemics. In the past year, he has limited the amount of news that he consumes. For a while he switched to sports, but said that the pandemic is sometimes as present on the playing field as it is in the evening dispatches. “The community and the society has been traumatized and needs healing,” he said. “Our school systems. Our criminal justice systems. Our healthcare systems have all been traumatized—primarily by capitalism and white supremacy. And there has been very little opportunity to figure out: How do we come from a whole, healing space to fix these problems?” He added that the peer-to-peer model also feels personal to him, because he’s seen the systemic roadblocks to talking about Black mental health in his own life. As a young kid on the South Side of Chicago, “gun violence was an issue, gang violence was an issue,” he said. His mother was just a teenager when her father, his grandfather, was killed by gun violence. Her mother had died when she was a child. She didn’t talk about it for years, until she found a path to therapy. “One of the things that has to be addressed is how much the stigma has inhibited men, and especially Black men, from taking advantage of mental health resources,” he said. “I think we have to normalize it and we have to say it out loud. I, over the years, have become much more comfortable normalizing that I’ve been in therapy, that I am in therapy, I’ve dealt with mental health issues and continue to do so.” Going forward, Cooper said she is hopeful that the program becomes a lifeline in a time that it may be needed most. Recently, she spoke to a minister who told her that they didn’t feel equipped to talk about mental health, because they hadn’t learned how to do trauma-informed pastoral care. She’s trying to change that with this program. “We have to find the time to pause, or we’ll die,” she said. “If we don’t take time to pause, we will continue to carry the stress, continue to move forward, and it becomes detrimental. Covid has put another layer of stress on us ... we have to pause. And we have to talk about what it is that we’re going through, or we’re never, ever going to be able to heal.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

Happy Birthday Mrs. Hildred Hawkins 103 Years Young! by EMILY HAYS

Hayden’s hands were trembling and she felt like she was going to throw up— from both nerves and being moved by others’ speeches. “I was disappointed in myself that I didn’t read it. I was too afraid that no one would like it,” Hayden said afterwards. “It was a good one,” her friend Aurora Irizarry Cardone chimed in. Aurora knows New Haven’s Black Lives Matter leaders from attending protests with her father since she was little.

“Thanks. I wish I had been brave enough to read it,” Hayden said. “You have marches for the rest of your life,” said ECMS Magnet Resource Teacher David Weinreb. Longtime protest organizer Kerry Ellington took the microphone to call out names of those killed by police in Connecticut. The students repeated the names after her. New Haven Black Lives Matter cofounder Ala Ochumare lauded the

ECMS students. “I will do whatever I can, so when you are ready to take over, you can hit the ground running,” Ochumare said. “Y’all are the dopest people.” Sherwood and teacher Ramya Subramanian led chants and songs while in the center of Whalley Avenue and on the way back to their school building on Blake Street. Subramanian said the ECMS teachers had been planning to organize a youth protest at some point modeled after the Children’s Crusade of 1963. When police fatally shot Daunte Wright, ECMS was on spring break. The death weighed heavily on the teachers, who unpacked how they were feeling with one another before talking about the subject with their students. The teachers decided to organize a protest with their students, to respond to the killings and to practice for the later event. Sherwood has led ECMS through a wide range of anti-racism activities and trainings. Part of the process is that adults work through their feelings and information first before processing it with students. Left to right: Haviland Hawthorne, 10, Hayden Hawthorne, 9, Mary WinterSzarabajka, 11, and Aurora Irizarry Cardone, 11. While teachers organized the protest, the energy came from the students. “I think people my age should know about this, so they can protest,” Hayden said. Hayden said the police who killed Toledo, Bryant and others should be imprisoned. She said she wants to build a society that is safer, where police brutality does not happen. Hayden’s belief in the youth right to knowledge is why father Larry Laconi was excited to bring his children, 8-yearold Elizabeth and 11-year-old James, to the protest. “I want the kids to have this discussion be part of their lives. I didn’t have that. I knew about it but didn’t know how to name it at 11,” Laconi said. After the protest, students chatted happily with one another and sipped warm cider. Sixth graders Yanalyse Rivas and Abigail Richards spoke seriously about how unfair it is that Black and Brown people don’t have the same rights as white people, that the police don’t treat them the same, and that any errors police make (like mistaking a gun for a taser) have irreparable consequences. At the same time, they were joyful about spending class time on the topic. “Preparing for this was so much fun,” Yanalyse said. “We could have left school early. It felt nice to stay,” Abigail said.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

Hair's Kay Survives, Thrives One Year Into Pandemic by Lucy Gellman, Editor, The Arts Paper www.newhavenarts.org

On Ashmun Street, Karaine Smith-Holness has been cultivating a sanctuary for years. Ceramic sinks glint in the sunlight. On one wall, a chalkboard announces cut and color, silk press, twist outs and hydration in bright, floral greens and yellows. Beside the window, a red hibiscus has exploded into bloom. Just above the front door, a framed sign reminds customers to live well, laugh often even in the midst of a long year. Smith-Holness is the owner of Hair’s Kay Beauty Salon, an Ashmun Street oasis that has lived in its current home for almost five years, and in New Haven for almost 30. A full year into the pandemic, she is focused on the future of her business—and the wellbeing of the Black women who build her community of care. She is not just a hairdresser: she is an alchemist, therapist, best friend, and witty confidant. When she laughs, her voice becomes music. “Everybody, we’re so heavy,” she said in a recent interview at the salon. “The year has been heavy. Last year at this time, we were closed, and not knowing what to do. The customers understood. We were basically all in the same boat. So we learned how to row together.” Smith-Holness has built her business over 27 years, first with a spot at Fitch and Blake Streets, and now in the city’s Dixwell neighborhood. She was inspired to start a salon while working as a receptionist at one in her native Jamaica, where “I used to love how the women looked lighter and so confident when they left.” She started Hair’s Kay after moving to New Haven and realizing that she wanted to work for herself. Since, it has become much more than a salon: it is an affinity space and bloomstudded jewel box that holds sweetscented secrets, laugh lines, and stories women file away in their chests until the right moment comes to let them loose. She estimated that she has a faithful customer base of around 100 women, including customers who drive from New York and Washington, D.C. once a month to see her. Because New Haven is a rotating door, new clients also find their way to her frequently. Her livelihood was thrown into question when the pandemic hit. On March 11 of last year, Smith-Holness shut down her salon in an early effort to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. She was one of the first businesses in the state to close, in what became a long list of schools, bars, restaurants, gyms, and performing arts venues. When she traces the chronology of the past year, she is quick to point out that small businesses have long run on razor-thin margins—Covid-19 pushed many of them to a breaking point. “We are all living a nightmare while we’re still living,” she said. “Weddings

have to be cancelled. Funerals. And it’s like, you just lose so much. And then the bills never stop coming. It’s a lot. It’s still a lot. You just find a reason or a way to smile.” Early on in the pandemic, Smith-Holness combed through the alphabet soup of federal relief funding with little success. Like many of the city’s small business owners—and Black small business owners across the country—she was shut out of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding despite the fact that her books were in order and she had run a business for almost three decades. She was able to secure a loan through HEDCO (the Hartford Economic Development Corporation), which allowed her to buy extra equipment that she needed for reopening. She spent the time updating her salon, which is a tidy 550 square feet with brown-and-white tile floors and swivel chairs with leather seats and shiny black handles. Before the pandemic, she owned one air filter; she bought another before they disappeared. She set up sanitizing stations. A client gifted her a stainless

steel wipe dispenser (“she said I’m extra,” she laughed). Unable to go home to Jamaica, she painted her cabinets a brilliant turquoise that shines when the sunlight comes through her street-facing windows. She added yellow and pink accents, for a look that she described as “bringing the sea and sun” to her corner of the world. “This saved me,” she said. “I was able to come here daily, and I would be here for hours. You clean up. You sort through. Things that you never get an opportunity to do, because you were busy working.” She tended to her plants, a small, bright garden of hibiscus, peace lilies and flowering crotons that she keeps on a windowsill facing Ashmun Street. She also tended to her client base, with bi-weekly Zoom check-ins that went over both hair care and self care. Many of them checked in on her too. Several sent her payments for hair appointments that would have taken place, with a little note of encouragement. In a year of loss—both she and her clients have lost multiple friends in the past 12 months—she said they held her up. “I think people made really and truly

... they made choices,” she said. “Even when they could have cooked, they knew they had to order at least two meals from a restaurant. The community rallied behind small businesses. The big businesses like WalMart, and Target, and Amazon, they made a killing. But the small mom and pop businesses, they depended on their community for support. So I’m thankful for my community. “ “Everybody was losing people, left, right, and center,” she later added. “The only thing to do was to remain strong and know when you are at the breaking point. I have been blessed with some amazing girlfriends, so you can call somebody and say, ‘I’m there.’ And they will allow you to talk and cry and release.” Meanwhile, she became a voice of authority in the state’s business ecosystem: she joined New Haven and Hamden State Rep. Robyn Porter in talking to fellow small business owners about how to reopen safely. Because Smith-Holness works alone, she was able to start bringing customers back into the salon as soon as Lamont gave her the green light. On

her days off, she also picked up part-time work at JoAnn Fabrics in Hamden. Months later, it has changed the way she does business. Prior to the pandemic, she was able to double book, meaning she could see up to 40 people per week. Now, due to capacity limits, that number is scaled down “dramatically,” she said. While the state allows up to 75 percent capacity, she typically has one person in the salon at a time, unless her clients are podded up, such as two sisters or a mother and daughter. She estimated that she sees four to five clients per day, Wednesday through Saturday. Instead of buying hair-care products for an entire month, she now buys them on a weekly scale. A neat, silver-tinted pyramid of products sits shelved by the front door: she said clients are grateful for it, particularly since lockdown left women stranded without the right treatments last year. She’s also asked her customers to try to know what they need beforehand, because it lets her figure out how many people she can reasonably book in a week. A relaxer with a retouch and blow dry might be a two or two and a half hour service. If someone wants thermal silkening, that may be another two to three hours depending on the length and texture of their hair. A wash alone may be as brief as 45 minutes, but any treatment immediately adds time to that. “It’s a lot of work,” she said. “It’s just a little bit more cleaning, a little bit more wiping, a little bit more laundering.” And yet, she said, she tries to find silver linings in a year upended by the pandemic. Covid-19 forced her to slow down for the first time in decades and “really reevaluate what is important,” including boundary-setting and taking care of herself as she takes care of those around her. Even as pandemic restrictions are lifted, she plans to keep the cap on the number of clients she sees in a given week, because of the wear and tear of the profession on her body. She holds onto a phrase she and friends repeated on a trip to Jamaica in 2017: “guard your peace by any means necessary.” She also sees a tide turning on a statewide and national scale, she said, describing 2021 as “a Black woman’s year.” In November and again in January, she celebrated as Stacey Abrams flipped Georgia blue for the first time sine 1992. This month, she watched Connecticut’s passage of the CROWN Act after a yearslong fight from State Rep. Robyn Porter. Both are close to her heart: for years, she’s watched customers come in with natural hair and ask for a relaxer because they don’t want their hair to become a topic of discussion or debate in a job interview or new workplace. “Look at what she did with her coils and her kinks,” she said of Abrams. “Some people are still going to see her as a Black Con’t from page 13

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

Ribbon Cut On New Trail In West Rock Woods by MAYA MCFADDEN

Solar Youth’s Trailblazers celebrated Earth Day by cutting the official opening ribbon on a new trail that connects West Rock’s Westville Manor and Rockview developments. A group of seven youth hired by the nonprofit Solar Youth for its Trailblazers Program have spent the past several months picking up trash and clearing a walking and biking path for the trail. The group, led by Trailblazer Program Coordinator Harry Jones, hasn’t yet picked a name for the trail. The young volunteers led community members and supporters on a walk-through of the trail Thursday to mark Earth Day. Each talked about what it was like doing the work. About a year ago Jones proposed the idea to give the neighborhood a safe trail in the woods to the West Rock Nature Center. “At first it was nothing but trash and potential,” he said. The trail connects both Westville Manor and Rockview to the West Rock Nature Center by foot and bike. The team’s next tasks are to build mountain bike ramps for bikers to use the trails safely and additional

stairs. “Exploratory” mayoral candidate and housing authority President Karen DuBoisWalton joined the gathering as a longtime supporter of Solar Youth. “There’s so much energy about getting young people off of the streets on their bikes and motorbikes, and this is a place that they can be on their bikes or their feet coming through,” she said. On the walk-through, the Trailblazers stopped at a hefty pile of trash bags collected during the cleaning process of the woods. “This is only part of our work,” said Jones. “There was so much trash out here.” The team added a picnic table and quotations throughout the trail for visitors to hang out and gain inspiration while exploring. “When you read them we want it to feel like you’re not alone,” said Sa’hein Thomas, 19. Next the youth led the group to the trail’s five tire challenges, where visitors must follow a set of rules to recreate a tire tower. The activity is the first of many to be created along the trail for visitors to build creative thinking, problem solving, and communication skills, “without real-life

MAYA MCFADDEN PHOTO Trailbazer Team uses hedge shears to officially open trail.

consequences” Jones said. The trailblazers are working with the city parks department to obtain benches and tables for the trail. A boardwalk beside the water, a second bridge, and a wishing well are also being planned. The Trailblazers worked during all types

of weather to get the project completed and open to the public for an earth day celebration. During the process they learned to be prepared for anything, the importance of contributing to their community, and establishing good work connections for their futures.

The team of young adults and teens includes Deamonte Godley, 19, Tewayne “TJ” Warbrough, 14, Sa’hein Thomas, 19, Zairquis Sanders, 20, twins Jordan and Jeffery Davis, 20, and Samuel Lopez-Perez, 14. Jones hopes to expand the program into a group of about 20 youth in the future and to get involved with community spaces like the Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence. While working, the team developed a family-like bond. The youth agreed working together was the easiest part, as they all knew each other from the neighborhood. Jeffery joined the program after being handed a flyer one day while he was sitting on his porch. “It was something to do, and my friends were doing it,” he said. The youth said they each learned skills for their future careers as athletes, movie directors, business owners, and activists. “Working in the woods, I learned to be stronger physically and mentally,” said Jordan. “Being out here kept me out of trouble, and once I found the spot, I started being able to coming here on my own to clear my mind.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

New Haven County High School Democrats

Despite the fact that the whole world had to live a “new normal” due to the pandemic, one of the most important presidential elections took place in America, and members of the New Haven County High School Democrats (HSDems) chapter proudly did our part! Of course, we all know how everything turned out and we can all probably agree that things will never be the same. Members of HSDems were civically engaged in numerous political and direct-action community activities. We participated in phone banking, texting, canvassing, and writing postcards with When We All Vote, Grassroot Democrats HQ, and Yale College Democrats. We recruited members from our chapter and people from the City of New Haven to be poll workers for both the Primary and General elections. We also campaigned for state and national Democratic candidates. We invited numerous guest speakers such as Connecticut State Senators and members of local non-profit organizations to talk about the work they do in our communities. We also supported local non-profit organizations such as New Haven Black Lives Matter, Citywide Youth Coalition, New Haven Climate Movement, and Students for Educational Justice in peaceful protests, rallies, and marches in the City of New Haven. The new members of the HSDems Executive Board are Luke Izzo,

may 4- 5 , 2021

Chair; Tristan Ward, Vice-Chair; Jonas Ward, Programs Director. All the current members of the HSDems’ Executive Board are students from New Haven Public Schools. However, there are a few vacant leadership positions that will be filled before the end of this academic year, and new members from New Haven County High Schools: public, charter, private, parochial, or home school are welcome to join HSDems and are encouraged to apply for a leadership position on the Executive Board if interested You may sign up here (Chapter Membership Form). HSDems will be conducting Open House events for new high school members on Wednesday, April 21st and April 28th, 2021 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and an Open House on Wednesday, May 19th, 2021, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. specifically for New Haven County rising 9thgrade students. You may register here (Open House Form) to attend the HSDems Open House and you may visit the HSDems website (https://newhavenhsda.carrd.co/ ) for more information. The HSDems are planning to collaborate with When We All Vote - Greater New Haven Chapter (https://www.whenweallvote. org/ ) to conduct a youth Voters Registration Drive in June 2021. HSDems is a registered chapter of High School Democrats of America (HSDA) https://hsdems.org/. Stay tuned!

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Covid-19 Claims A Vibrant Local Voice THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

by Lucy Gellman, Editor, The arts Paper www.newhavenarts.org

Cynthia Watson Johnson always had the right words at the right time. Sometimes, they were for a family member who didn’t know who else to turn to, and found Johnson waiting with open arms. Sometimes they were for a parishioner who entered her group ROAR (Reach Out And Restore) and discovered a home in the company of other women. Often, they were for readers who opened her book, and dove into a story of New Haven that seemed instantly familiar. A lifelong resident of the city’s Newhallville neighborhood, Johnson was one of New Haven’s writers, whose interest in poetry and prose was matched by her commitment to ministry and her kindness for the people around her. When she died of Covid-19 earlier this month, she left a family and a church community reeling. She was 64 years old and passed away on April 7, after a long battle with the virus. At a homegoing service on Monday, her family remembered her texting from the hospital before she was put on a ventilator. “I’m reminded of how vibrant her smile and her laughter was,” said her son, Clifton Watson. “And it’s those two things, I think, in this moment—her words and her joy for life—where I find comfort. In celebrating her life and legacy and her memory, we have to lift up the way that she lived.” Johnson was born and raised in New Haven’s Newhallville neighborhood, the oldest child of Essie and Herbert Watson. As the first of four kids, she fell in love with writing at an early age, folding herself in the poetry of Langston Hughes and Maya

Angelou. When she was 10, her dad gave her a typewriter on which she wrote her first poems, including limericks in which she delighted. Years later, that childhood wonderment gave birth to two books of poetry that she shared with family and friends. Her house was full of laughter, she recalled in a 2019 interview at Koffee? on Audubon Street. There was always extended family coming to visit, with weekends doubling as day-long cookouts. From Hughes and Angelou, she dug into the Harlem Renaissance and later, Ernest Hemingway. Johnson dreamed about pursuing a career in writing, but also “didn’t

know that I could pursue it,” she said during that same interview. When she was a teenager, she became pregnant with her son Clifton, now a professor of history at Wesleyan University. Writing got put on the back burner. But when she returned home, made dinner and put a then-toddling Clifton to bed, she found time to put down poems before she drifted off to sleep. “I would write and write and write,” she said in 2019. At the time, she didn’t know how large her footprint on the community would ultimately become. While she was raising Clifton, Johnson became the glue between family members, and a pillar in the

Newhallville community. In her home, there was always room for one more person at the table—including her beloved husband Harold, who she married at 32, and a host of extended family members that multiplied over the years. As her mother’s siblings aged, she did her best to care for them. Her love for her aunt Grace, who died after a battle with Parkinson’s disease in 2011, ultimately became the backbone of her first book, Echoes Of Love: Loving The Unlovely. She released the book at Krikko Obbott’s Hill Museum in June 2019. “Every family and community has these folks that are working behind the scenes to keep people together, to keep family and community together,” Clifton said at her service. “They’re offering advice. They’re sharing recipes. They’re taking calls. They’re reminding people of soand-so’s birthday.” Johnson was also a storyteller, with a deep love for service that was driven by her faith. Over the years, she served as a board member at Neighborhood Housing Services and the Hill Museum, as well as a minister with a specific focus on women’s mental and emotional health. Dara Goodman, a longtime friend and fellow parishioner at Promise Land Church, recalled stories that Johnson liked to tell about her father, who was “her first love … no offense, Harold,” she said to laughter. Goodman imagined a chorus of angels greeting Johnson in heaven, as she smiled “from ear to ear.” Whether it was at home or at church, she was a force. At her homegoing service Monday, her granddaughter Michelle recalled driving to see Johnson in February, after losing her nephew. At the time, “I felt like a piece of me was gone,”

she said. She went to see Johnson, who encouraged her to let it out. The same woman who had fed her unsweetened tea and cookies as a child now held her as she sobbed. “I popped up, like I normally do, and I just cried to my grandmother, poured out to my grandmother,” she said, tears streaming down her face. “She held me. She knew how I felt without saying anything. I poured out to my grandmother. I came to realize that what we’re feeling, and what we’re going through, is for somebody else. I feel like this is where we get our strength at.” A friend, who referred to Johnson as “Auntie Cindy,” recalled losing her own mother several years ago. Johnson spoke at the funeral, and then stayed in her life. She was often on emotional standby, where she “became whatever I needed her to be,” she said. She added that she will not forget the image of Johnson speaking, full of poise and conviction, behind a podium at her mother’s funeral. It was not the words themselves, so much as the feeling that her presence conjured. “I honestly don’t remember what she said,” she said. “But what I do remember is her hug, a gentle rub on my back, and her whispering in my ear that she was there for me. You see, it didn’t matter to her that I wasn’t her blood relative. We were family, and that meant everything to her and to me.” “There’s nothing authentic about saying goodbye to a woman so great and mighty,” she added. “Instead, I choose to say ‘see you soon, and thank you for a lifetime of wonderful advice, delicious recipes, and lots of laughter.’ The memories that I hold and now cherish will be my peace through it all.”

A&E Network’s Reality Series “Hustle and Tow” to Feature a Black-Owned Towing Company By BlackNews.com

On April 27th, the network will air backto-back episodes putting a spotlight on the life and career of Early Walker, owner of W&W Towing in Chicago, and will also focus on his undying crusade against violence and poverty. Chicago, IL — Early Walker, owner of W&W Towing, will be featured in an allnew Reality series called Hustle and Tow which is set to debut on April 20th, 2021, with back-to-back episodes. Episodes featuring Walker and his staff will be aired on April 27th @ 9pm central time. Over a year ago the network contacted Walker after reviewing his impressive media profile within the Chicagoland area. Most notably was not only his extremely successful towing company but also his well-known philanthropy work through Cook County. Walker views his team of drivers as essential workers and first responders. Often, he and his drivers are alone rescuing people

who have veered off the highway or who have been involved in dangerous road accidents. W&W Towing is one of 8 companies throughout the United States that are featured. The series will give its viewers a close and in-depth look at the hard-core realities that tow drivers face daily. “I am grateful, honored, and blessed to have been selected as one of eight towing companies to be highlighted in this series. It speaks to the incredible work that my staff performs every day. I hope that the public will have a greater appreciation for the tremendous sacrifices that tow drivers across the world are faced with,” says Walker. Each episode of Hustle and Tow will focus on the hard-working men and women of W&W Towing and how they respond to the high volume of calls from recovering stolen cars, to handling contentious impounds, clearing big rig wrecks, rescuing families who have veered off the highway, and much more. There is also an episode dedicated to

Walker’s generosity and heartfelt compassion for women and children. His contributions have helped distraught families to have better holidays, improved housing, an abundance of groceries and transportation. Walker has been lauded and honored by many elected officials, civic leaders, and community organizations. “The Chicago Metropolitan area is a better place to live because of Mr. Walker. His steadfast concern for people of color and poverty is second to none. There has never been a time that community leaders reached out to Early, and he did not respond. He has been our rock in these most challenging times. The A&E Network chose the right Towing Company to feature in this series,” says Bishop Larry D. Trotter of the Sweet Holy Spirit Church of Chicago. Learn more about the show at www.aetv. com/shows/hustle-and-tow Learn more about Early Walker and W&W Towing at WWTowing.com

Photo credit: Taylor Glascock/for A+E

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

The Majority of all U.S. Children are Those of Color By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

In 2019, there were more than 73 million children in the United States – making up 22 percent of the nation’s population. Children of color made up 49.8 percent of all children, and more than half of the 19.6 million children under five in America were individuals of color. The statistics are part of the nonprofit Children’s Defense Fund’s “The State of America’s Children 2021 report.” It dovetails with the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest report that changing the United States’ racial makeup is most visible among children. The Census Bureau found that most children are projected to be of a race other than non-Hispanic white. “These changes mirror a broader transition in the United States to a more pluralistic population,” Census Bureau officials reported. The Children’s Defense Fund’s comprehensive report also noted that most children under 18 were children of color in 14 states, including Alaska, California, Georgia, Maryland, New York, Texas, and the District of Columbia. In 2019 – the latest statistics available,

36.7 million children were white (50.2 percent); 18.7 million were Hispanic (25.6 percent); 10 million were Black (13.7 percent). Approximately 3.7 million were Asian (5.0 percent), 615,950 were American Indian/Alaska Native (<1 percent), and 147,057 were Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (<1 percent). Previous estimates suggest that most U.S. children are children of color as of 2020, and the U.S. population will continue to become more racially and ethnically diverse. “The U.S. – and especially our youngest generation – is reaching a critical moment in racial and ethnic diversity,” Dr. Starsky Wilson, president, and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund, told the Black Press in a live interview. “We need policies and programs that recognize and celebrate this growing diversity.” The State of America’s Children 2021 summarizes the status of America’s children in 12 areas – child population, child poverty, income and wealth inequality, housing and homelessness, child hunger and nutrition, child health, early childhood, education, child welfare, youth justice, gun violence, and immigration.

Dr. Wilson remarked that America needs to better look after its children. “Our children have lost the health coverage they need to survive and thrive at an alarming rate,” he stated. Dr. Wilson noted that the Children’s Defense Fund’s new report revealed that an estimated 4.4 million children under age 19 were uninsured—an increase of 320,000 more children without health in-

surance since 2018. “The rates of uninsured children are especially high among Hispanic children, undocumented children, children living in the South, and children in families with lower incomes,” Dr. Wilson added from the report. Medicaid and CHIP are the foundation of the nation’s health insurance system for children. In 2019, nearly 36 million children under

19 received comprehensive, pediatric-appropriate, and affordable health coverage through Medicaid and CHIP. “While more than 3 million children and youth have contracted the novel coronavirus in the United States, all 73 million are impacted by the sense of uncertainty and disruption of routine it has caused,” Dr. Wilson insisted. “Even the improvements in the second school year of online learning have not resolved concerns of social isolation and the loss of important life milestones, like graduation and the high school prom. This loss of certainty, consistent routine, and the connection is leading to increased levels of depression and despair among our children and youth.” The fight for social justice and criminal justice reform could not be accomplished without considering children, Dr. Wilson insisted. “The protracted struggle for democracy led to a change in partisan control of the federal government and a first in executive leadership for women, Black, and South Asian Americans,” Dr. Wilson exclaimed. “But it can’t be that we forget about the future generation, where now children of color make up the majority.”

Don’t Lose Your Covid-19 Vaccination Card…You’re Going To Need It by Althea Ward-Curtis, BlackDoctor.org

You thought your ID and passport were your most precious travel documents. This summer add a small white piece of paper, better known as your COVID Card, to the list. Some destinations, cruise lines, and major sports venues are already requiring travelers to provide proof that they have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Other businesses, like Krispy Kreme, are offering free items and other perks to people who can prove they’ve been inoculated. 48 million Americans have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and the only proof the COVID vaccine was received is typically the paper vaccination record card with the CDC logo in the upper corner. The vaccination card tells what Covid-19 vaccine was received, the date and location where it was received. However, that information is not being stored in any centralized, easily searchable database. Possibly because of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – health privacy) laws. Should the card become lost, return to the vaccination site and ask for a replacement. “If you do not receive a Covid-19 vaccination card at your appointment, contact the vaccination provider site where you got vaccinated or your state health department to find out how you can get a card,” says the CDC website.

This can be easy if the vaccine was administered at a pharmacy chain but more difficult if it was received from traveling cross-state or inter-state and received at a drive-through or pop-up event. All Covid-19 vaccination providers are required to report data within 72 hours into their state’s immunization system, so there should be a back-up record of vaccine issuance status there. The CDC has a list of the Immunization Information System (IIS) in each state, which is where to start should a replacement card be obtained or there is difficulty recalling the location or contact information of the facility. Digital vaccine passports may become a reality in the future, but currently, a paper

vaccination record card is an extremely valuable possession. Here are five easy ways to protect it for safekeeping. Make a photocopy of the vaccination card. First and foremost, make a duplicate of the card. Keep a hard copy on file in a safe place. Laminate the CDC vaccination record card. Laminating the vaccination card will make it more durable and protect it from wear and tear. Laminate the with self-adhesive laminating sheets available at most office supply stores or have a professional laminate the vaccination card. Staples is providing free lamination of vaccination cards to cus-

tomers who use the coupon code 81450. The promotion currently has no end date. Office Depot, which also owns Office Max, will laminate vaccination cards for free for all fully-vaccinated people through July 25. Take a photo of the CDC vaccination record card. “Keep your vaccination card in case you need it for future use,” says the CDC website. “Consider taking a picture of your vaccination card as a backup copy.” Store an image of your Covid-19 vaccination record card in your photo library or a digital wallet on your smartphone, where it can be easily retrieved. As further backup, email a copy of the image and download it to your computer or laptop. This will come in handy if you plan to book travel or other activities that require attaching documents that prove you have been vaccinated. Ask for a digital backup of your vaccination card. If you were vaccinated at a pharmacy chain, ask for a digital copy of your vaccination record. “Walgreens maintains digital copies of patient vaccination records and can verify vaccination status on behalf of patients in the event that a dose card is lost or damaged,” said Erin Loverher, a Walgreens spokesperson. “We are also exploring a number of ways to enhance the customer vaccine experience, including a digital dose card and tracker.”

Soon customers who get vaccinated at Walmart will also be able to verify their status with a branded smartphone app. “Our goal is to give customers vaccinated at Walmart free and secure digital access to their vaccine record and enable them to share that information with third parties seeking to confirm their vaccination status,” said John Furner, CEO, and president, Walmart U.S., in a statement. Store your vaccination card on an app. Many digital-identification apps allow storage of digital versions of health records, including a vaccination record card, on your phone, but choosing one with tight privacy controls is paramount. One reputable option is Airside’s Digital Identity & Health Passport App, which stores data only on the user’s encrypted device and allows users to control not only with whom they want to share their information but for how long. Your state may soon have its own vaccine pass. New York State just launched the Excelsior Pass to fast-track the reopening of sports arenas, music venues, restaurants, and other businesses — and the platform could be rolled out to other states. You can choose best how to protect your vaccination record. Just be sure to keep several copies — the paper copy and a digital copy — so that you have access to it in various situations and from multiple devices.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

Ex-Alder Prez Appointment

For City Plan Advances by THOMAS BREEN

The mayor has tapped former Board of Alders President Carl Goldfield to return to City Hall — this time as a volunteer landuse commissioner. Mayor Justin Elicker has appointed Goldfield—a 19-year former Beaver Hills alder who spent six years as alders president—to serve as an alternate member on the City Plan Commission. On Monday night, the Aldermanic Affairs Committee alders unanimously endorsed Goldfield’s appointment. They also unanimously backed the mayor’s appointment of another new City Plan Commission alternate, Edwin Martinez, who is a Fair Haven resident, engineer, and adjunct professor at Gateway Community College. Both new City Plan Commission appointments now go back to the full Board of Alders for consideration and a final vote later this spring. If approved, Goldfield would replace outgoing alternate Elias Estabrook on the local land-use board. Martinez would replace outgoing alternate Kevin DiAdamo, but only if he changes his political party registration from his current affiliation as a Democrat, in order to meet the board’s minority party representation requirement. The City Plan Commission has emerged in recent years as one of the most consequential public bodies in city government. As landlords, developers, and their attorneys continue to rush to build primarily new market-rate apartments across the city, they must first win site plan approval from the commission. That building boom has led to City Plan Commission meetings that have lasted six hours a piece, with commissioners reviewing plans for dozens, sometimes hundreds, of new apartments in a single night. With the City Plan director promising to prioritize an overhaul of the city’s zoning code, the commission is slated to be a critical venue for public workshops and debates about housing, parking, and the shape of the city’s built environment in the years and decades to come. If approved by the Board of Alders, Goldfield and Martinez would be the first new members of the City Plan Commission since Ernest Pagan joined the board more than three years ago. In a phone interview with the Independent Tuesday afternoon, Goldfield said the mayor called and asked him if he’d be willing to serve on the board. After spending a decade away from City Hall following his 19-year tenure as an alder, Goldfield said, he’s ready to jump back into public service. “I really don’t have an agenda,” he said when asked for why he wanted to serve on the City Plan Commission in particular. “I think I’m a fair-minded person who’s reasonably intelligent, and I really like New Haven.” A lawyer who focuses on contracts and estate planning, Goldfield said he has no background in land use law.

THOMAS MACMILLAN FILE PHOTO Carl Goldfield: Suiting back up for volunteer government service.

Nevertheless, he has kept up with city, state, and national debates about zoning reform and the dearth of affordable housing. He said he’s encouraged by the nascent city plans to make it easier to build accessory dwelling units, and is open to hearing any arguments that residents or experts may have for or against. After he lost his Beaver Hills seat on the Board of Alders in 2011 to current Ward 29 Alder Brian Wingate, Goldfield said, “I was burned out. I just wanted to be able to go him after work, eat dinner, sit around, read a book,” and not have to stay at City Hall until 11 p.m. on weeknights before going to work the following day. “I got a good rest,” he said. And is now ready to return to government service. “Not An Expert, But I’m Willing To Learn” During his committee interview on Monday night, Martinez told the alders that he too is interested in serving on the local land use commission not because of any expertise in the area, but because of his commitment to the city he grew up in and still calls home. “I am not an expert on city planning. There’s a lot of learning I would be subject to. And I’m willing to take on the role,” he said Monday night. “I want to make sure people on this commission—that we have normal residents who are able to have a voice and have a say in our government. To me, I think this is a way to do that.” A lifelong city resident and “proud resident of Fair Haven,” Martinez said he sits on a number of local nonprofit boards, and previously served as the vice-chair of the city’s Youth Commission. “I’m always looking for ways to get involved in the city,” he said. He currently works as an engineer and as an adjunct engineering professor at Gateway Community College. “I wanted to get an opportunity to serve at another level throughout the city,” Martinez told the alders Monday night. “I’m not an expert, but I’m willing to learn.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

Black History of Health: Hershel Walker by Jasmine Browley, BlackDoctor.org

Many people think they know who Herschel Walker is. The 1982 Heisman Trophy winner, pro football star, and Olympian has been an American athletic hero for most of his life. Little did we know there are multiple sides to him that even he didn’t know about. Not until he sat down to write his autobiography did Walker say he truly understood who he was, someone with a dissociative identity disorder. What is dissociative identity disorder (DID)? Per Psychiatry.org, dissociative identity disorder is associated with overwhelming experiences, traumatic events, and/ or abuse that occurred in childhood. Dissociative identity disorder was previously referred to as multiple personality disorder. Symptoms of dissociative identity disorder (criteria for diagnosis) include: The existence of two or more distinct identities (or “personality states”). The distinct identities are accompanied by changes in behavior, memory, and thinking. The signs and symptoms may be ob-

served by others or reported by the individual. Ongoing gaps in memory about everyday events, personal information, and/or past traumatic events. The symptoms cause significant distress or problems in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning. In addition, the disturbance must not be a normal part of a broadly accepted cultural or religious practice. As noted in the DSM-51, in many cultures around the world, experiences of being possessed are a normal part of spiritual practice and are not dissociative disorders. The attitude and personal preferences (for example, about food, activities, clothes) of a person with dissociative identity disorder may suddenly shift and then shift back. The identities happen involuntarily and are unwanted and cause distress. People with dissociative identity disorder may feel that they have suddenly become observers of their own speech and actions, or their bodies may feel different (e.g., like a small child, like the opposite gender, huge and muscular). The Sidran Institute notes that a person with dissociative identity disorder “feels as if she has within her two or more entities, each with its own way of thinking

and remembering about herself and her life. It is important to keep in mind that although these alternate states may feel or

appear to be very different, they are all manifestations of a single, whole person.” Other names used to describe these alternate states including “alternate personali-

ties,” “alters,” “states of consciousness” and “identities.” What are the treatments of dissociative identity disorder? With appropriate treatment, DID is manageable and patients can live a balanced, well-rounded life. One of the most important forms of treatment typically involves psychotherapy. Therapy can help people gain control over the dissociative process and symptoms. The goal of therapy is to help integrate the different elements of identity. Therapy may be intense and difficult as it involves remembering and coping with past traumatic experiences. Cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy are two commonly used types of therapy. Hypnosis has also been found to be helpful in treatment of dissociative identity disorder. There are no medications to directly treat the symptoms of dissociative identity disorder. However, medication may be helpful in treating related conditions or symptoms, such as the use of antidepressants to treat symptoms of depression. For more information please visit www. isst-d.org/.

“Getting vaccinated protects you, your family, and your community.” Dr. Reginald J. Eadie, President and CEO Trinity Health Of New England

ct.gov/covidvaccine 12

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

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Hair's Kay

woman. But most people are going to see her as the phenomenal woman who she is. And that’s what people have always wanted. See me for who I am.” Now that her doors are again open for business, she has a steady stream of both longtime and new customers to fill her days. In February, 25-year-old Yvette Afriyie-Agyemang decided to try Hair’s Kay for the first time after months of experimenting at home with her natural hair. Born and raised in London, Afriyie-Agyemang said she has always struggled with her hair. As a kid, she used chemical relaxers until she was 11. Then “box braids were basically my whole life,” she said. By February, “I was looking for some sort of self-care that didn’t entail me looking at my walls,” she laughed in a phone call Friday morning. After months of trying out different products, she decided to go for the big chop. She remembered feeling jittery and excited the night before her appointment. “And so I went there, and it was just amazing,” she said. “Not only did she give me an amazing haircut, but she’s also very warm, very welcoming. She asked me what kind of cut I wanted. I just gave her my hair history, and it enabled me not only to have a fresh start, but also to look fierce and cute and confident. ” What set Smith-Holness apart, she continued, was her constant focus on everything Afriyie-Agyemang had done to care for her hair during lockdown and isolation. After chopping it off, Smith-Holness gave her a new hair care regimen. She said she is happier with her hair now than she has ever been in her life. It is the first time her classmates have been able to see her with her natural hair. “I never imagined that I could have healthy hair, and you showed me that that’s a lie,” she said in a video to SmithHolness. “Honestly, when you told me that my hair was healthy and there was nothing wrong with it, I didn’t believe you. I honestly didn’t. And one month later, I absolutely do … I have the confidence to rock my natural hair now without having to hide behind anything.” For Smith-Holness, that is the kind of relationship she hopes to grow with every client. Kids who started at her salon as babies are now in middle and high school. She has celebrated job interviews and promotions, new babies, homegrown businesses, and now newly vaccinated clients (she is set to become eligible for vaccination on Monday). When a 13-year-old client announced she was selling scarves, Smith-Holness was one of the first to support her. That circle of care has got to continue, she said. “There’s no way we can repeat this,” she said of the pandemic. “In everything that we do. In how we look at our businesses, in how we care for our customers, the way we care for our neighbors and our friends, we have to check in with each other.”

The New Face Of Depression:

The “Strong” Black Woman attempts

by Dr. P. Gould, BlackDoctor.org

Here’s What Research Reveals About the Strong Black Woman

There are countless myths and stigmas that surround depression in the Black community, particularly the strong black woman. The Myths Impacting the Strong Black Woman Myths surrounding the “strong Black women” can create needless pain and confusion. It can ultimately keep people from getting proper treatment. Have their own Not depend on anyone else for anything, but still ‘let a man be a man’ Be sexy, but not too sexy or thirsty for a man Be able to do for others and for themselves without showing weakness …and so much more Common Misconceptions Around the Strong Black Woman The following statements reflect some common misconceptions about African Americans and depression: “If our people could make it through slavery, we can make it through anything.” “When a black woman suffers from a mental disorder, the opinion is that she is weak. And weakness in black women is intolerable.” “You should take your troubles to Jesus, not some stranger/psychiatrist.” “You’re too strong of a Black woman to be feeling this way. Ge over yourself.” “Do you know how many people are depending on you? Pull it together.” The truth is, people with depression can’t just “snap out of it.” Strong Black Woman and Depression Professor and blogger writer Monica Coleman, Ph.D writes: “In many ways, I do think that there is a greater stigma among African American culture than among white cultures. I live in southern California, and many white people will freely reference “seeing a therapist” in normal conversation. Black people don’t do that. Seeing a therapist is generally seen as a sign of weakness or a lack of faith. There is still an active mythos of ‘the strong black woman,’ who is supposed to be strong and present and capable for everyone in her family – and neglects her own needs. In the midst of a depressive episode, I had a friend say to me, ‘We are the descendants of those who survived the Middle Passage and slavery. Whatever

you’re going through cannot be that bad.’ I was so hurt and angry by that statement. No, depression isn’t human trafficking, genocide or slavery, but it is real deaththreatening pain to me. And of course, there are those who did not survive those travesties. But that comment just made me feel small and selfish and far worse than before. It made me wish I had never said anything at all.” Watch for Signs of Clinical Depression Symptoms of clinical depression can happen at any time to any woman. Due to cultural backgrounds, depression may be exhibited differently among African Americans. If you suspect yourself— or someone you care about—needs could have clinical depression, take a look at the following list of symptoms. If you experience five or more for longer than two weeks, if you feel suicidal, or if

the symptoms interfere with your daily routine, see your doctor: A persistent sad, anxious or “empty” mood, or excessive crying Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased appetite and weight gain Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain Irritability, restlessness Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling “slowed down” Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism Sleeping too much or too little, earlymorning waking Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide

A study that examined the effects of the “superwoman schema” found that this stereotype made black women more susceptible to chronic stress, which can negatively impact health. Amani Allen, the Executive Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Community Health Sciences and Epidemiology in the School of Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, was the primary researcher of the study. “What [black women] were really describing was this idea of being strong black women and feeling the need to prepare for the racial discrimination they expect on a daily basis, and that preparation and anticipation adds to their overall stress burden,” Allen told Greater Good Magazine. What is happening in the relationship between the strong black woman stereotype and racial discrimination is creating a vicious cycle. Racial and gender-based discrimination directed toward black women has been linked to various long-term physical and mental health challenges such as high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. The strong black woman stereotype worsens existing stress because of the expectation that black women need to look strong and not discuss their challenges. This can also impact help-seeking behaviors. Experiences with discrimination and the pressure to not express pain can impact how quickly a black woman might seek medical care, despite the need. This can have a further impact on health disparities such as maternal death and breast cancer, both of which have a higher prevalence among young black women compared to white women. So What Can We do? Remember, there’s no shame in seeking help. No man–or woman–is an island. Ask for help. Talk to someone and don’t be afraid of baby steps. Nothing was solved overnight, so give yourself the kind of grace you feel like you need to give to others. And remember the “S” on your chest does not stand for superwoman, it means “self-care.” Self-care can be your superpower. By pouring into yourself, you can then pour out to others so much more.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

MLB Pulls All-Star Game from Atlanta Because of New Voter Suppression Law By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Elections and the actions of lawmakers do have consequences. And because of a new voter suppression bill signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp, Major League Baseball has announced it would move its potentially lucrative 2021 All-Star game from Atlanta. “Just as elections have consequences, so do the actions of those who are elected,” Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms wrote on Twitter. “Unfortunately, the removal of the @ MLB All-Star game from GA is likely the 1st of many dominoes to fall until the unnecessary barriers put in place to restrict access to the ballot box are removed,” the mayor stated. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred decided on Friday, April 2, after Major League Baseball Players Association executive director Tony Clark and some prominent players and managers expressed doubts about attending the game.

Last month, Kemp signed Republicanled legislation that disenfranchises voters of color. As reported recently at BlackPressUSA. com, moving the game from Atlanta could cost the city and local counties as much as $200 million in revenue. The host Atlanta Braves were expected to operate their stadium at total capacity for the game. Events surrounding the mid-summer classic would have meant a windfall for the local economy. “Over the last week, we have engaged in thoughtful conversations with Clubs, former and current players, the Players Association, and The Players Alliance, among others, to listen to their views,” Manfred said. “I have decided that the best way to demonstrate our values as a sport is by relocating this year’s All-Star Game and MLB Draft.” U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia) expressed hope that MLB would reconsider moving the game because of the

economic impact it could have, mainly because the pandemic has crippled most businesses. “Businesses and organizations have great power in their voices and ability to push for change. I respect the decision of the players to speak out against this unjust law,” Sen. Warnock stated. “It is not the people of Georgia or the

workers of Georgia who crafted this law. It is politicians seeking to retain power at the expense of Georgians’ voices. And today’s decision by MLB is the unfortunate consequence of these politicians’ actions.” Sen. Warnock continued: “It is my hope that businesses, athletes, and entertainers can protest this law not by leaving Georgia but by coming here and fighting voter suppression head-on, and

hand-in-hand with the community. Additionally, the urgency to pass federal voter protection laws grows every day, and I will continue to be a leader in that fight.” As first noted by CNBC, Georgia’s new law adds guidelines around mail-in ballots, voter registration and provides state officials more authority around how elections are operated. “Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions to the ballot box,” Manfred said. “In 2020, MLB became the first professional sports league to join the non-partisan Civic Alliance to help build a future in which everyone participates in shaping the United States. “We proudly used our platform to encourage baseball fans and communities throughout our country to perform their civic duty and actively participate in the voting process. Fair access to voting continues to have our game’s unwavering support.”

Birmingham Mayor to Pardon 1,000’s of African Americans With Marijuana Convictions

ByBlackNews.com On April 27th, the network will air backto-back episodes putting a spotlight on the life and career of Early Walker, owner of W&W Towing in Chicago, and will also focus on his undying crusade against violence and poverty. Chicago, IL — Early Walker, owner of W&W Towing, will be featured in an allnew Reality series called Hustle and Tow which is set to debut on April 20th, 2021, with back-to-back episodes. Episodes featuring Walker and his staff will be aired on April 27th @ 9pm central time. Over a year ago the network contacted Walker after reviewing his impressive media profile within the Chicagoland area. Most notably was not only his extremely

successful towing company but also his well-known philanthropy work through Cook County. Walker views his team of drivers as essential workers and first responders. Often, he and his drivers are alone rescuing people who have veered off the highway or who have been involved in dangerous road accidents. W&W Towing is one of 8 companies throughout the United States that are featured. The series will give its viewers a close and in-depth look at the hard-core realities that tow drivers face daily. “I am grateful, honored, and blessed to have been selected as one of eight towing companies to be highlighted in this series. It speaks to the incredible work that my staff performs every day. I hope that the

Photo credit: Taylor Glascock/for A+E

public will have a greater appreciation for the tremendous sacrifices that tow drivers across the world are faced with,” says Walker. Each episode of Hustle and Tow will focus on the hard-working men and women of W&W Towing and how they respond to the high volume of calls from recovering stolen cars, to handling contentious impounds, clearing big rig wrecks, rescuing families who have veered off the highway, and much more. There is also an episode dedicated to Walker’s generosity and heartfelt compassion for women and children. His contributions have helped distraught families to have better holidays, improved housing, an abundance of groceries and transporta-

tion. Walker has been lauded and honored by many elected officials, civic leaders, and community organizations. “The Chicago Metropolitan area is a better place to live because of Mr. Walker. His steadfast concern for people of color and poverty is second to none. There has never been a time that community leaders reached out to Early, and he did not respond. He has been our rock in these most challenging times. The A&E Network chose the right Towing Company to feature in this series,” says Bishop Larry D. Trotter of the Sweet Holy Spirit Church of Chicago. Learn more about the show at www.aetv. com/shows/hustle-and-tow Learn more about Early Walker and W&W Towing at WWTowing.com

Lawmakers Seek to Stop DOJ use of Algorithms and ‘Dirty Policing’ By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia

A New York University Law Review recently found that law enforcement agencies “are increasingly using predictive policing systems to forecast criminal activity and allocate police resources.” Yet in numerous jurisdictions, these systems are built on data produced during documented periods of flawed, racially-biased, and sometimes unlawful practices and policies – or dirty policing, noted the report, titled, “Dirty Data, Bad Predictions: How Civil Rights Violations Impact Police Data, Predictive Policing Systems, and Justice.” Eight Democratic lawmakers have taken exception to the use of algorithms that automate policing decisions, raising their concerns with the U.S. Department of Justice this week.

U.S. Reps. Yvette D. Clarke, D-N.Y., and Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, and Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Edward Markey, D-Mass., Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., Alex Padilla, D-Calif., and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., wrote a letter asking the DOJ to help ensure that any predictive policing algorithms in use are fully documented. They asked the agency also to ensure that algorithms are subjected to ongoing, independent audits by experts and made to provide a system of due process for those affected. “If the DOJ cannot ensure this, DOJ should halt any funding it is providing to develop and deploy these unproven tools,” the lawmakers wrote. According to www.nextgov.com, predictive policing involves law enforcement officials implementing mathematical and predictive analytics and other technology-

based techniques to pinpoint potential crimes. In their letter, the lawmakers said two primary ways such methods are used are to predict locations where crimes could occur in a particular window or predict which individuals might be involved in future illegal acts. “Algorithms draw from historical crime data, and at times other data elements like weather patterns or gunfire detection, to produce the forecasts,” they noted. “But, when predictive policing systems have been exposed to scrutiny, auditors have found major problems with their effectiveness and reliability,” the letter continued. Nextgov.com reported that the lawmakers pointed to specific reviews that sparked worry and a police department’s 2020 strategic plan that mentioned implementing such technologies with Justice Department

funds. They also referenced the New York University Law Review study that found nine out of 13 assessed law enforcement departments used what’s deemed “dirty data” – or information collected from illegal policing practices – to inform their algorithms leveraged in this sort of work. “When datasets filled with inaccuracies influenced by historical and systemic biases are used without corrections, these algorithms end up perpetuating such biases and facilitate discriminatory policing against marginalized groups, especially Black Americans,” the lawmakers wrote. They requested a range of detailed information from the federal department. The information includes whether officials have analyzed if this tech’s use complies with relevant civil rights laws. They demanded to know the names of each jurisdiction that has operated pre-

dictive policing algorithms funded by the agency and the actual software used. The lawmakers also asked for a detailed annual accounting of all federal funding DOJ distributed related to developing and implementing predictive policing algorithms at federal, state, and local levels for fiscal years 2010 to 2020; and more. “Deploying predictive policing systems in jurisdictions with extensive histories of unlawful police practices presents elevated risks that dirty data will lead to flawed or unlawful predictions, which in turn risk perpetuating additional harm via feedback loops throughout the criminal justice system,” New York University Law Review researchers wrote. “The use of predictive policing must be treated with high levels of caution and mechanisms for the public to know, assess, and reject such systems are imperative.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

Misty Copeland: Accepting Her Body And Breaking Barriers by Aria Ellise, BDO Special Contributor

Beautiful ballerina, Misty Copeland made history with the American Ballet Theatre as their first Black principal dancer. The American Ballet Theatre has been around for 75 years and this is the company’s highest honor. Before this well-deserved promotion, the 38-year-old ballerina was only the third African-American woman to ever achieve the rank of soloist in the American Ballet Theater company’s history. She is also the first-ever ballerina to be endorsed by the fitness clothing company Under Armour, has danced for the likes of Prince and other music royalty, and now, with the release of her memoir, Life in Motion, she’s also an author. Misty Copeland Faced Rejection on Her Journey But it wasn’t always glitz and glamour for the ballerina. There were so many who told her “no” or tried to derail her from her passion. Some even said that her attributes, being “curvy AND Black” would go against her in the world of ballet. That led to being unsure about herself and her body. Copeland is not built like a ‘typical’

ballerina. She is shorter, more busty and — like her counterparts Serena Williams in tennis and Simone Biles in gymnastics — visibly muscular. “As an adult, I was told that I didn’t have the right skin color… I was too muscular. I was too curvy. My breasts were too big. I was too short.” — Misty Copeland Copeland is a true departure from the traditional image of a ballet dancer as fair-skinned, tall and lithe, so she carved her own path. “Being a woman in general it’s hard to be completely comfortable and confident with how you look,” explained Copeland. “Especially in an art form like this when it is about your physicality and what you look like. It’s difficult being critiqued and judged on that basis.” How Misty Copeland Accepted Who She Was But it wasn’t until she accepted who she was as a woman, a Black woman, that allowed her to go to new heights. “I had a breakthrough with accepting my body,” confessed Copeland. “I surrounded myself with other women who looked like me and who were successful – other successful black women. Even though they weren’t in my field, having that motivation helped me to come to terms and

accept myself.”

Misty Copeland Talks About the Power of Staying Focused In a recent interview with the LA Times, Misty described how she stayed focused no matter what the distraction is: “Just the way ballet is so beautifully structured it ingrains this commitment into you. There’s so much happening and so much you’re trying to understand, and something that’s so beautiful about a dance class is that you don’t feel like you’re just doing repetitive movements, but you’re enjoying it and you’re listening to music and it doesn’t seem like work. When you’re really dancing or exercising, the way you feel, your body starts to crave it. The more consistent I am about going, the easier it becomes to go because I need that feeling again.” “I mentor a lot of young dancers, and something I’ve learned from being a mentor and being mentored is that it’s so powerful and important to surround yourself with people who act as your support system. So many of us think, “I can do this on my own. I’m strong. I’ll be fine.” But we’re human beings, and we have those moments of being fearful and having doubts, and that’s the time you need to be surrounded by people who are going to reassure you that you have a purpose and a mission.”

(Photo by Jason Carter Rinaldi/Getty Images) (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)

at home

artists in conver sation

Grace Wales Bonner A conversation between British fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner and Dr. Christine Checinska, Curator of African and African Diaspora Fashion at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Live at noon May 14, 2021

THE INNER-CITYNEWS NEWS July - April , 2021 - May 04,2016 2021 INNER-CITY 27, 28 2016 - August 02,

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

Listing: Commercial Driver

Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory Immediate opening for a Class A part time driver for a petroleum training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT and asphalt company for deliveries for nights and weekends. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Previous experience required. Competitive wage, 401(k). Send VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Contact: Tom Dunay resume to: Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437. Phone: 243-2300 HOME INC, on behalf of860Columbus House and the New Haven HousingHR Authority,

NOTICE

is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develEmail: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com ********An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer********** opment& located at 108 Frank Street, Haven. Maximum Women Minority Applicants are New encouraged to apply income limitations apply.Afﬁ Pre-applications willEqual be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y rmative Action/ Opportunity Employer

Listing: Dispatcher

25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preGarrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Incoffices seeks: applications must be returned to HOME INC’s at 171 Orange Street,fast Third Extremely paced petroleum company needs a full time Reclaimer Operators Floor, New Haven,and CTMilling 06510.Operators with current licensing (which includes on call and weekend coverage) detail orientand clean driving record, be willing to travel throughout the Northed experienced Dispatcher. A strong logistics background east & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

NOTICIA

Graphics Designer/Visual Communicator FHI Studio is seeking a Graphic Designer/Visual Communicator to support project managers and marketing staff in producing graphics, marketing materials, and visually engaging documents and digital content. The successful candidate should have mastery of Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop). This early career position brings potential for growth; both with respect to creative graphics development and leadership. The position will also include writing and review of marketing material for clarity, consistency, and brand messaging. The candidate should have a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, marketing, or communication. The candidate should demonstrate the capability of developing a strong visual identity for materials that are not already branded, as well as support creative, visual storytelling. Proficiency in Adobe After Effects and Premiere for video creation/editing and familiarity with HTML/CSS for editing/updating websites are preferred. Salary commensurate with level of experience. Send resume to graphicdesigner@fhistudio.com, FHI Studio, 416 Asylum Street, Hartford, CT 06103. FHI Studio is an EEO/AA /VEV/Disabled employer.

and a minimum of one year previous petroleum experience

required. Send resume to: Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300 VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES Email: rick.touHR Manager, P.O. Box 388, Guilford, CT. 06437

signant@garrityasphalt.com HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply ********An Afﬁrmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer********** aceptando pre-solicitudes estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo Afﬁrmative Action/ para Equal Opportunity Employer

ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en lasTrailer oficinasDriver de HOME INC. & Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas correo Materials a petición LLC, a quarry and paving contractor, has posiTractor for Heavy Highway Construction Equip- por Galasso llamando HOME INCLicense, al 203-562-4663 duranterecord, esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán ment. Must ahave a CDL clean driving capable of tions openremitirse for the upcoming construction season. We are seeking a las oficinas de equipment; HOME INCbe enwilling 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, , CT 06510 operating heavy to travel throughout theNew Haven candidates for 1) .Quality Control (experienced preferred), 2) Office Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent beneﬁts Clerks, 3) Truck/Scalehouse Dispatcher (experience and computer knowledge preferred) and 4) Equipment Operators and Laborers and a Grading Foreman. NO PHONE CALLS. Please mail resume and cover letter to “Hiring Manager”, Galasso Materials LLC, PO Box 1776, East Granby, 06026.

HELP WANTED:

Union Company seeks:

Contact Dana at 860-243-2300

Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer 242-258 Fairmont Ave

NEW HAVEN

ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR EMPLOYMENT WITHOUT ATTENTION TO RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENnd DER IDENTITY, NATIONAL ORIGIN, VETERAN OR DISABILITY STATUS.

2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

We all have

DREAMS.

CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster St. New Haven, CT

Let Job Corps SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY help you Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2,achieve 2016 at its office atyours. 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Now enrolling! Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. Tuition-free career training High school diploma programs A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith College credit opportunities Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Housing, meals and medical care provided

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority OfFor more information, visit jobcorps.gov or call (800) 733-JOBS [5627] fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. New Haven County - Jesselica Rodriguez – Rodriguez.Jesselica@JobCorps.org !"#$%&'(")*+,$*-+#".&/$*0(1,)2*3*4&//2*0(,,&"*5*Conner.Kelly@JobCorps.org Waterbury and Surrounding Areas – Abdul Shabazz – Shabazz.Abdul@JobCorps.org

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to CAREERS HERE reduce theBEGIN scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the Housing Authority. Job Corps is a U.S. Department of Labor Equal Opportunity Employer Program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. TDD/TTY telephone number is (877) 889-5627.

Invitation to Bid: 2 Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Town of Bloomfield

Old Saybrook, CT

Maintainer II - Driver (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

Exemptted & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project Full-time,Tax beneﬁ $27.94 hourly

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, CastPre-employment drug testing. For details and how to apply go to Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, in-place Concrete, www.bloomfi eldct.org Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, AA/EOE Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

Town of Bloomfield

Town of East Haven

Assessment Clerk/Computer Operator Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 Zoning Enforcement Officer The Town of East Haven seeks a qualified candidate to fill the poAnticipated Full-time, benefi ted Start: August 15, 2016 sition of Assessment Clerk/Computer Operator in the Assessor's OfProject documents available via ftp link below: $38.03 hourly http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage fice. The annual salary for this position is $27,301, 19 ½ hours per Pre-employment drug testing. week. Applications are available at https://www.townofeasthavenct. For details and how to apply go to www. Faxbloomfi or Email eldct.org Questions &AA/EOE Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com org/civil-service-commission/pages/job-notices-and-tests and must be

QSR

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses returned along CT with Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, 06483resume and cover letter to: Michelle Benivegna, STEEL CORPORATION Assistant Director of Administration & Management, 250 Main Street, AA/EEO EMPLOYER

APPLY NOW!

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

East Haven, CT 06512, email mbenivegna@townofeasthavenct. org<mailto:mbenivegna@townofeasthavenct.org> or fax # 203-4683372. The deadline to apply for this position is April 30, 2021. The Town of East Haven is committed to building a work force of diverse individuals. Minorities, females, handicapped and veterans are encouraged to apply. The Town of East Haven is an equal opportunity employer.

INNER-CITY 27,28 2016 - August 02,04, 2016 THE INNER-CITYNEWS NEWS July - April , 2021 - May 2021

Black & Boucher, LLC

has an immediate opening for experienced asphalt milling machine operators for our Wirtgen W220’s and W50 machines. Positions are full time seasonal work. Union wages along with Union Benefits (Health, Pension, Annuity, Supplemental Unemployment). Must be willing to work nights some HOUSING weekends.PREWorkAPPLICATIONS is in the New York/New VALENTINA MACRIand RENTAL AVAILABLEEngland area. Black & Boucher, LLC is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity HOME Employer. qualified applicantsHouse will receive for employment INC,All on behalf of Columbus and the consideration New Haven Housing Authority, without regardpre-applications to race, color,forreligion, sex, sexual orientation, gender is accepting studio and one-bedroom apartments at thisidentity, develnational protected veteranNew status. opmentorigin, locatedand at 108 Frank Street, Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have Class A Fullat the time driver a petroleum andbepool water been received offices of HOMEfor INC. Applications will mailied uponcomrequestfor by calling HOMEfor INCday at 203-562-4663 during those hours.experience Completed prepany deliveries and weekends. Previous reapplications must be returned HOME INC’s at 171 Street, ThirdP. quired. Competitive wage,to401(k). Sendoffices resume to: Orange HR Manager, CT 06510. O.Floor, BoxNew 388,Haven, Guilford, CT 06437.

NOTICE

NOTICIA

********An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer**********

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES NOTICE OF INVITATION FOR BID DISPONIBLES

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DANBURY

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo Electrical Services ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se IFB No. B21002 aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) The Housing Authority the City of Danbury hereby por issues thisa petición en las oficinas de HOME INC. Lasofpre-solicitudes serán enviadas correo for Bid todurante provide Electrical Services deberán remitirse llamando a HOMEInvitation INC al 203-562-4663 esas horas.Pre-solicitudes a las oficinas de HOME INC 171 Orange Street,RETURN: tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 . BIDenSUBMITTAL

SCOPE:

Housing Authority of the City of Danbury, 2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Envelope Must be Marked: IFB No.B21002, Electrical Services

SUBMITTAL DEADLINE

May 20, 2021 10:00am (EST) NEWatHAVEN CONTACT PERSON FOR IFB DOCUMENT:

Ms. Devin Marra, Director of Procurement,Telephone: 242-258 Fairmont Ave 203-744-2500 x1410 E-Mail: dmarra@hacdct.org

2BR[MinorityTownhouse, 1.5businesses BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA and/or women-owned are encouraged to respond]

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 LEGAL NOTICE highways, near bus stop & shopping center TOWN OF PORTLAND Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

RFP# 2021-08 SHELTER DIVERSION PROGRAM SERVICES CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s OFisPORTLAND SMALL CDBG PROGRAM CertificateTOWN Program. This a 10 month program designed CITIES to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates The Town of Portland accepting for a Shelter Diversion Program Services in response to the Church’sisMinistry needs.proposals The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. Provider, #2021-08 until 11:00 am ET on May 11, 2021, to be received by the Finance (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster Dept., located in Room 204, Portland Town Hall, 33 East Main St., P.O. Box 71, Portland, New Haven, CT CTSt.06480. The specifications for the Request for Proposals to secure a qualified entity to provide services for Shelter Diversion for the Middlesex County/Meriden/Wallingford Coordinated Access Network may be requested by e-mailing trobinson@portlandct.org Proposals received after the time and date set forth above shall be rejected. All proposals should include one paper copy and one electronic copy, and be sealed and clearly Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour marked – until pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 PROVIDER. Smith Street, RFP 3:00 #2021-08 SHELTER DIVERSION PROGRAM SERVICES Any questions theConcrete specifications may beRepairs directed,and in Replacement writing only, to atSusan Seymour, CTregarding 06483 for Sidewalk the Bransfield at sbransfield@portlandct.org Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. Each bidder shall honor the bid price for ninety (90) business days from the date of the bid opening, without modification. Upon award of the bid, the winning bidder shall be bound byAthe bid proposal price the contract period. Authority Office 28 Smith pre-bid conferencethroughout will be held at the Housing The Town of Portland reserves the right to reject any or all bids; or to waive defects in Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. same, if it deems such to be in the best interest of the Town. The Town of Portland is an affirmative action, equal opportunity provider and employer. Townfrom of Portland Bidding documents are available the Seymour Housing Authority OfSubmitted by: Susan S. Bransfield, First Selectwoman fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. Dated: April 23, 2021

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any

DELIVERY PERSON

NEEDED

Part Time Delivery Needed One/Two Day a Week,

Must Have your Own Vehicle If Interested call

(203) 387-0354

Town of Bloomfield

Assistant Director of Information Systems & Technology

Full Time - Benefited $75,909 to $117,166

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

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

APPLY NOW!

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE FIREFIGHTER

City of Bristol (4 Buildings, 17 Units) Old Saybrook, CT

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

$53,964/yr.

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, CastRequires valid CPATConcrete, Cert in-place Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, issued on or after June 1, 2020, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, written & oral tests. Registration Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. information & apply online: This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. www.bristolct.gov

DEADLINE: May 2021 Due Date: August 5, 2016 Bid 1, Extended, EOE

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 Project documents available via ftp link below: Town of Bloomfield http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Request for Qualifications

Maintainer II - Driver Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

The South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG) seeks

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses the services of one or more consultants for transportation planning studies Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 during the 2022 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2021- June 30, 2022). Disadvantaged AA/EEO EMPLOYER

Full-time, benefited $27.94 hourly Pre-employment drug testing. For details and how to apply go to www. bloomfieldct.org AA/EOE

Business Enterprise firms are strongly encouraged to respond as prime contractor or to play a significant role within a consultant team. Responses are due by June 4, 2021, (12 noon local time). The full RFQ document can be viewed at the Council’s website: www.scrcog.org or can be made available upon request. Contact Stephen Dudley at 203-466-8624 with any questions.

THE INNER-CITYNEWS NEWS July - April 28, 2021 - May 2021 INNER-CITY 27, 2016 - August 02,04, 2016

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

Essex Townhouse Fencing Improvements and Basement Abatement

Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay.

NOTICE

Invitation for Bids

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Elm City Communities is currently seeking bids for Essex Townhouse fencing improveHOME on behalf of Columbus Housecopy and the New Haven Housing Authority, ments andINC, basement abatement. A complete of the requirement may be obtained is accepting for studio and one-bedroom at this develfrom Elm Citypre-applications Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal apartments https://newhavenhousing. opment located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apcobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have Monday, March 29, 2021 at 3:00PM. been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Invitation for Bids NOTICIA

Landscaping Services at McConaughy Terrace MACRI VIVIENDAS ALQUILER DISPONIBLES Elm VALENTINA City Communities is currentlyDE seeking bidsPRE-SOLICITUDES for landscaping services at McConaughy Terrace. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City HOME INC, en nombreCollaboration de la ColumbusPortal Househttps://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesysy de la New Haven Housing Authority, está Communities’ Vendor aceptando pre-solicitudes paraon estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo tems.com/gateway beginning ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 Monday, March 29, 2021 at 3:00PM. julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 .

360 MANAGEMENT GROUP COMPANY Request for Proposals

Legal Services for Nonpayment Summary Process 360 Management Group is currently seeking proposals for legal services for nonpayment summary process. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from 360 Management’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

NEW HAVEN

242-258 Fairmont Ave 2BR Townhouse, 1.529, BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA Monday, March 2021 at 3:00PM.

All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 highways, near bus stop & shopping center Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Invitation for Bids

Robert T. Wolfe Building Upgrade

CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. Elm Communities is currently seeking bids forChapel Robert T. Church Wolfe64Building (203)City 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts U.F.W.B. Brewster

Upgrade. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City St. New Haven, CT Communities’ Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY Monday, March 29, 2021 at 3:00PM.

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Coventry Housing Authority is accepting applications for low inSeymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the come State Elderly/Disabled housing. Annual income limit is $54,950 Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. (one person) & 62,800 (two people). Interested parties may pick up an application at the Coventry Housing Authority, 1630 Main St., CovA pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith entry, CT, or have one mailed. Completed applications must be postStreet Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. marked or hand delivered no later than April 30th. For more information call 860-742-5518. Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any

APPLY NOW!

Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

DELIVERY PERSON

NEEDED

Part Time Delivery Needed One/Two Day a Week,

Must Have your Own Vehicle If Interested call

(203) 387-0354

Town of Bloomfield

POLICE OFFICER Competitive examinations will be held for the position of Police Officer in the Guilford, Orange, and Wallingford Police Departments. Candidates may register for the testing process at www.policeapp.com/southcentral.

Application deadline is Thursday, May 6, 2021. The written and oral board exams will be administered by the South Central Criminal Justice Administration. All candidates must possess a valid CHIP card dated after November 10, 2020. THE DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATING IN THIS RECRUITMENT DRIVE ARE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERS.

CT Certified Police Officer Town of Greenwich The Greenwich Police Department, acting without fear or favor, strives to provide superior law enforcement and public services in cooperation with its community. The Greenwich Police Department will actively promote an environment that encourages independent judgment and allows its employees to attain the highest levels of professional achievement.

Candidates must fulfill several requirements, including:

* Possess at least 2 years of experience as a Connecticut POST Certiﬁ ed Police Ofﬁ cer or Connecticut State Trooper $23.40/hourly (benefited) * Be a U.S. Citizen Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE. Invitation to Bid: For Details go to www.bloomfieldct.gov * Be at least 21 years of age 2nd Notice To view detailed information and apply online visit

Custodian

www.governmentjobs.com/careers/greenwichct

CITY OF MILFORD Old Saybrook, CT Salary Range: $69,701 - $86,427, plus benefits, including generous Defined Current SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Seeking qualified condidates to fill 17 Contribution Retirement Plan. The Town of Greenwich is dedicated to Diversity & (4 Buildings, Units) Equal Opportunity Employment; Town of Greenwich, HR Dept., 101 Field Point Rd, numerous vacancies to include, Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project Greenwich, CT 06830. Close Date 4:00 PM 5/10/21. Deputy Assessor, Mechanic Sewer Line, Public Health Nurse and New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castmore. For information and detailed TheVinyl Housing in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Siding, Authority of the City of Norwalk, application instructions, visit www. CT is requesting proposals for Development Partner for Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Colonial Village Phase II construction. ci.milford.ct.us Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. Request for Proposal documents can be viewed and printed at www.norwalkha.org Click on SERVICES, JOBS and This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. under the Business section RFP’s/RFQ’s Norwalk Housing JOB TITLE. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 Adam Bovilsky, Executive Director. FIREFIGHTER Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 documents available via ftp link below: City ofProject Bristol http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

$53,964/yr.

Chief of Police

The Town of Wallingford, CT is seeking highly qualified candidates for the posiRequires valid CPAT Cert Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com tion of Chief of Police. Salary: $117,933 to $150,898 annually plus an excellent issued on or after June 1, 2020, HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses fringe benefi t package. For a complete announcement, please go to the webpage written & oral tests. Registration Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 for the Town of Wallingford, Department of Human Resources at https://www. information & apply online: AA/EEO EMPLOYER wallingford.ct.us/government/departments/human-resources/ www.bristolct.gov Application materials must be received by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 23, 2021 at: South Central Criminal Justice Administration, Director Charles Sherwood, DEADLINE: May 1, 2021 Sc.D., 675 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Email: charles.sherwood@neEOE whavenct.gov. Telephone: (203) 946-6072. EOE

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - April 28, 2021 - May 04, 2021

Jumping the Broom (PG-13) !"!#$!%$&'()'*+')#,-'.,/&!0'!11

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23,(0!,#4'1!-0&),5'!)6 1!1&/$&55'%#$$#)7'/&83#/&6 Equipment, taxes, and other charges extra, and subject to change. See below for details.

Go to !"#$%&'()*+, call ,-.//-!"#$%&', or visit an 0"#$%&'#1&*23 today. Offer requires enrollment in both automatic payments and paperless billing. Must enroll within 30 days of placing the order. Without enrollment, the monthly service charge automatically increases by $10. The automatic payment and paperless billing discount is for a period of 24 months and will appear on the bill within 30 days of enrolling. If either automatic payments or paperless billing are subsequently canceled during the 24-month term, or if services are reduced to Limited Basic only, the $10 monthly discount will be removed automatically. Offer ends 5/4/21. Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. New residential customers only. Limited to Performance Pro Internet. Equipment, installation, taxes and fees extra, and subject to change. After promo. period, regular rates apply. Comcast’s current monthly charge for Performance Pro Internet is $95.95/mo. (subject to change). Service limited to a single outlet. May not be combined with other offers. Internet: Actual speeds vary and are not guaranteed. Flex: Not available in all areas or to current Xfinity Video customers. Requires post-paid subscription to Xfinity Internet, excluding Internet Essentials. Pricing subject to change. Taxes, fees and other applicable charges extra, and subject to change. Limited to 3 devices. 1 device included, additional devices $5/mo. per device. All devices must be returned when service ends. Separate charges apply to On Demand and certain streaming services. Viewing will count against any Xfinity data plan. © 2021 Comcast. All rights reserved. Lakeview Terrace © 2008 Screen Gems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Death at a Funeral © 2010 Screen Gems, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Jumping the Broom © 2011 Stage 6 Films, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Watch these titles and more on Xfinity On Demand. Celebrity endorsement not implied. NPA234634-0003 NED AAQ2 BE 34.99 V10

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