INNER-CITY NEWS

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017 INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016

New “Freddy” Mission Financial Justice aAssumes Key Focus at Clean-Up 2016 NAACP Convention New Haven, Bridgeport

INNER-CITYNEWS Volume 27 . No. 2233

Volume 21 No. 2194

Panel Gives Three

Takes on Margery Ball Mills

“DMC” 1936 - 2017

Color Struck?

Malloy Malloy To To Dems: Dems:

Ignore “Tough On Crime” Ignore “Tough On Crime” Race And Education Rawls-Ivy moderates.

Imam:

SnowDon’tinBlame July?

Islam

Hillhouse Champs For Terrorism FOLLOW USHonored ON 1

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

Paca Contemplates “Clean Money” Run

by PAUL BASS

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Mayor Toni Harp said she is opting out of New Haven’s public-financing system for her reelection campaign, while opponent Marcus Paca is exploring jumping in.

New Haven has the state’s only municipal public financing system, administered by the Democracy Fund.

It distributed a total of $111,250 to three mayoral candidates in 2013, the last time any campaigns participated.

Advocates tout the fund as a way to limit the influence of big specialinterest money in elections and to enable more candidates to field competitive campaigns.

Harp did not participate in the system in her 2013 mayoral quest. She said Thursday she has decided not to participate this year as she seeks a third two-year term.

Harp said the city’s system requires too many “steps” from candidates.

“They’ve got to get it fixed before I participate,” she said. “They should really model it after the state Citizens’ Election Program.”

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO

Harp, Paca last week at their first campaign events.

Candidates qualify for the city’s system once they collect individual donations of at least $10 from at least 200 registered New Haven vot-

ers and a total of at least $5,000 (including donations from outside the city). But the candidates must agree to limit contributions to $370, rath-

er than the $1,000 allowed by state law; to limit spending to $368,000 in the primary election and another $368,000 in the general election (and

personal spending on the company to $19,000 in each case); and to forswear contributions from “business entities” and political action committees.

Once they qualify, the fund gives them a $19,000 grant and then doubles the first $30 they receive from each individual donation from a New Haven registered voter, up to $125,000.

The only real difference between the state and city programs is that the city program allows candidates to keep fundraising once they receive their matching grant, said Democracy Fund Administrator Alyson Heimer.

After studying Harp’s reelection campaign filings to date, Heimer calculated that Harp would have come out $9,000 ahead so far if she had signed up to participate in the Democracy Fund. She would have had to focus more on raising money from New Haven rather than out-of-town donors to meet the threshold of local donors (a threshold she may have now reached since the April 10 filing). And she

Panel Gives Three Takes on Race And Education

by THOMAS BREEN

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

How does racial disparity make itself felt in in the New Haven public school system today? And what is the best way to address that disparity so that all New Haven students are sufficiently prepared, supported, and empowered to become productive, self-sustaining citizens by the time they graduate high school?

Three local educational and policy experts offered three different takes on these questions during an hour-and-ahalf panel discussion held on Tuesday night at the New Haven offices of Educators For Excellence at 153 East St. Before an audience of several dozen educators, parents, and community activists, Karen Dubois-Walton, Genevieve Walker, and Billy Johnson argued for the relative importance of poverty, job preparedness, and curriculum reform in understanding the current state of racial inequality in New Haven schools. All the while, they challenged the local school system to recognize its failings and to prioritize providing sufficient, equitable education to the city’s black and brown populations. Inner City News Editor and WNHH radio host Babz Rawls-Ivy

Johnson, Walter, and DuBois-Walton at a panel on race and education on Tuesday night.

moderated the conversation.

“A Country That Creates Poverty” DuBois-Walton, the executive director of Elm City Communities (also known as the Housing Authority of New Haven), made the strongest pitch for the outsized influence that poverty has in maintaining racial disparity in the city’s schools. Racialized poverty is not a matter of historical happenstance in this country, she argued.

Rather, it is a collective decision that American society makes on a daily basis to support the affluent and punish

the poor.

“We can’t move away from the fact that home ownership is the greatest wealth creator in this country,” she said, building off of Rawls-Ivy’s question about Connecticut’s overreliance on property taxes to fund public education. “And by systematically depriving that opportunity to entire segments of the population, we advantaged some and disadvantaged others. Wealth gets passed from one generation to the other, and if you start behind, that gap just grows with each generation.”

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Drawing a connection between this country’s history of redlining, white flight, and federally sanctioned racial segregation, DuBois-Walton singled out the Mortgage Interest Deduction (MID) as the single largest housing subsidy offered by the government today, and therefore one of the bigger contributors to racial, economic, and educational inequality. By supporting homeowners based on the size of their mortgage, MID ensures that public funding and property tax dollars that could go toward affordable housing or public education are instead directed toward those least in need of government support.

“The question we have to ask ourselves is: Do we want to continue to be a country that creates poverty as opposed to ending poverty?” she asked the room.

“Because our federal policies right now very much advantage the wealthy and the affluent.”

Change Within The Classroom As the educators and educational administrators on the panel, Genevieve Walker and Billy Johnson shifted the conversation from economic justice to concerns about what happens in school classrooms, arguing that racial disparity manifests itself as much in the “doing” of education as in its funding.

Walker, the Director of Programs at

Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT) and a former 5th grade teacher at New Haven’s John Martinez School and Hamden’s Church Street School, lamented the low confidence and lower educational ability exhibited by many of the high school applicants to ConnCAT’s tuition-free medical and culinary programs. She described how students coming from the New Haven public school system are imbued with low expectations for themselves and their peers, and subsequently emerge underprepared to pursue subsequent educational or professional ambitions.

“The culture [in many of the city’s public schools] is one of defeat, from teachers, administrators, and students,” she said. With such low collective expectations, ConnCAT has to work twice as hard to retrain students after they graduate from high school so that they can gain meaningful employment and, if they choose, post-secondary education.

Johnson, a Director of Instruction at New Haven Public Schools who supervises 10 different magnet schools, neighborhood schools, adult Con’t on page 20

Margery Ball Mills 1936 - 2017 THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

Margery Ball Mills 80, of East Haven, passed away on May 11, 2017. Margery was born in Hartford on September 24, 1936, to the late Norman C. and Harriett (Thompson) Ball. Prior to joining Faith Congregational Church in Hartford, the Ball Family belonged to Metropolitan AME Zion Church, where Margery’s grandfather, Rev. Dr. Richard R. Ball, had been the pastor. Norman C. Ball was the first black person to own a printing business in Hartford.

Margery grew up in a four-room, cold-water flat in Hartford. She attended Hartford public schools and was a 1958 graduate of the University of Connecticut (UConn), earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. In 1970 with her husband, John Henry Mills (predeceased), and a young and growing family, Margery moved to East Haven. In 1982, Margery, always intellectually curious, graduated from Albertus Magnus College with an Associate in Arts degree in Communications.

In 1959 Margery worked for Hartford Public Library in the reference, circulation, and catalog departments. In 1963 Margery focused on being a homemaker and held various temporary jobs until accepting a position as an administrative assistant for Yale University in 1975. Over the course of 17 years Margery worked for the School of Organization and Management, Institution for Social and Policy Studies, and the Psychology Department before retiring in 1992. For many years she worked at The APT Foundation and The Mother’s Project as a research assistant and finally retired from administrative work in 2004.

Margery contributed many articles as a correspondent and columnist to the New Haven Register from 1988-1998. She began to write articles for the Inner-City News covering community events, award banquets, and ceremonies from 2001 until retiring as staff writer in 2012.

Margery’s writing skills were also put to good use as a member of the Greater New Haven African American Historical Society. Al-

though most recently serving as corresponding secretary, for many years she contributed articles published in the Society’s newsletters.

She was a member of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. since 1975 and held various offices that included corresponding secretary, recording secretary, historian, and president. Her most recent office was first vice president. While

there she chaired the committee for the Founders Day Luncheon Journal, overseeing its compilation and publishing for more than three decades. In 1998 she received the Appreciation Award for her contributions and faithful dedication on both the local and national levels.

Margery was part of the founding and a longtime member of the African American Women’s Summit,

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begun by the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Greater New Haven Section.

An active member of the Dixwell-Newhallville Senior Center, Margery participated in the Pool/ Billiards Club, the performing arts Theatre Ensemble, and at the time of her passing was Senior Center Club Secretary. She also wrote numerous skits and plays and even performed in some of them.

Margery was a member of the Stetson Book Club from the time of its inception over twenty years ago. She enjoyed reading books in many genres and often presented thought- provoking ideas on how to examine unpopular subjects.

She was an avid reader of stories advocating for social justice cultural diversity, and the redemption of the human spirit.

Her memberships also included the New Haven NAACP, East Haven Historical Society, the non-profit organization Read To Grow, and the New Haven Elderly Services, to whose newsletter she contributed.

Margery enjoyed planning day trips with her sister friends to retreats, museums, live theatre, book fairs, poetry readings, and festivals, especially those with an historical theme, throughout Connecticut and surrounding areas. She traveled many times to visit her family, either in Florida or California, but also with friends, to

see the world near and far - China, Alaska, Ghana, Washington DC. An avid cat lover, Margery was a friend to many a feline, taking in more than one stray and providing a much needed home.

Though soft-spoken, Margery was passionate about justice for the mistreated, and the forgotten.

She was a reporter, a playwright, and a poet, leaving behind a collection of writings that spoke to her passions and interests. Left to celebrate her life are decades of those who shared her life as a loving mentor, mediator, instructor, tutor, learner, sage, and friend.

Margery will be sadly missed by son, Franklin David Mills of Florida; daughter, Elizabeth S. Amendolagine (James) of California; grandchildren, Martin, Benjamin, and Amelia, daughter-in-law Josie Mills in North Carolina; nieces Michele Clerkley (Charles) and Joanne Artis (Alfred) both in California, Elizia Artis in Michigan; Denise Chancey in Meriden, Marsha Davis (Raymond) in Middletown; Yolanda Ball in Washington DC; and nephews Mark Ball in Vermont; Nolan Ball in West Hartford, Evan Davis in Middletown, Alfred John Artis in Washington DC; and many caring friends and neighbors. She was predeceased by her son Allen R. Mills; brothers Donald R. Ball, Norman C. Ball Jr., Erle Thompson Ball; sister Gertrude Marie Ball; and cousins Alice Cram, and Aldena Bright.

A memorial service will take place Friday, June 2, 2017 at 5:00 PM at Bethel AME Church, 255 Goffe ST, New Haven, CT 06511.

Friends may call Friday at the church from 4:30 – 5:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Friends of the New Haven Animal Shelter (designate new cat wing), 81 Fournier Street, New Haven, CT 06511 or the New Haven Free Public Library Foundation, Campaign for the New Stetson Library, 133 Elm Street, New Haven, CT 06510. Services by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06511. To leave a message of comfort for the Mills family, please visit, www. hkhfuneralservices.com

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

City Makes A $5.5M Innovation Pitch

by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

On the eighth floor of a tower that symbolizes New Haven’s bustling new tech economy — as well as its potential precariousness — civic leaders pitched a visiting delegation of grantmakers on a multi-million boost to take New Haven to the next level as an innovation “hub.”

A team comprised of city officials, tech-start up gurus and Yale University officials made the pitch Thursday to visiting board members of a quasi-public state agency called CT Next on designating New Haven an “innovation place” and handing over a piece of a $30 million pot that board has to award over the next five years.

They made the pitch at 100 College St. headquarters of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, the rare-disease orphandrug developer that lost three top execs this week amid a continuing scandal over alleged shady business practices (as captured in this Bloomberg Business Week story).

No one talked about that during Thursday’s visit. (Asked by a reporter about the Alexion news later Thursday, Mayor Toni Harp expressed confidence that the company will recover from what she characterized as the customary “ebbs and tides” of businesses.”)

Instead, they looked out at the landscape of biomedical and other tech businesses that have sprung

The innovation tour hit 300 George St.

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO The

up throughout town to depict a city on the move, ready, with some help from CT Next, to help Connecticut compete with other states to hatch the businesses of the future.

The city was one of 12 applicants, and now one of seven finalists, for the organization’s “Innovation Place” program, which focuses on developing communities in the state through public-private partnerships to attract people who want to start

innovation tour departs from Alexion.

Cop Dies In Motorcyle Crash Down South

by STAFF

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

A “great emptiness” swept New Haven’s police force Saturday after the reported death of Edward Douglas, a respected member of the force, in a motorcycle crash in South Carolina.

So reported police spokesman Officer David Hartman.

The crash occurred at 4:19 a.m. in Myrtle Beach; no other vehicles were involved. He died later that morning, around 9:25.

Douglas joined the force in 2013.“The news of Officer Douglas’ death has shaken New Haven’s 497 member department, of which he was a valuable and highly respected member. There is a great emptiness left by Edward’s passing. Edward’s family must know that the outpouring of love they have and will continue to receive

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innovative businesses, create highskill jobs and build community.

In making a pitch to visiting CT Next board members Thursday, New Haven pointed out that the city government and private-sector entrepreneurs are already creating incubator and maker spaces for people looking to develop new products and start new companies.

They pitched the board on a $5.5 million grant proposal to build on that work through an “Elm City Innovation Collaborative.” The collaborative would aim to raise the city’s profile as a place where people want to come for innovation because the space for development and expansion, the capital, and the talent can all be found here. It would seek to launch arts and trade events, workshops, hubs, “vivarium services” (laboratories for animal trials) to eight biopharma companies in Science Park, and a “tech training umbrella” to build New Haveners’ digital skills.

The leaders made a presentation — including the above video — inside Alexion. Then they pitched the walkability of New Haven, taking the visitors through downtown streets, to a lab inside the 300 George

will serve as a reminder to them of how much he was loved by all who knew him,” Hartman wrote in a release.

NHPD

Officer Douglas.

Federal Judge Framed THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

John P. Thomas Publisher / CEO

Babz Rawls Ivy

Editor-in-Chief Liaison, Corporate Affairs Babz@penfieldcomm.com

Advertising/Sales Team Trenda Lucky Keith Jackson Delores Alleyne John Thomas, III

Editorial Team Staff Writers

Christian Lewis/Current Affairs Anthony Scott/Sports Arlene Davis-Rudd/Politics

Contributing Writers David Asbery Tanisha Asbery Jerry Craft/Cartoons Barbara Fair

Dr. Tamiko Jackson-McArthur Michelle Turner Smita Shrestha William Spivey Kam Williams Rev. Samuel T. Ross-Lee

_______________________

Contributors At-Large

Christine Stuart www.CTNewsJunkie.com Paul Bass New Haven Independent www.newhavenindependent.org

Memberships

National Association of Black Journalist National Newspapers Publishers Association Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce Greater New Haven Business & Professional Association Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc.

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by ALISON LEIGH COWAN NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Ten judges, draped in black, jostled for views from the front of a federal courtroom, while a dozen more spilled into the jury box.

Tipped off that U.S. District Court Judge Janet Bond Arterton was finally getting her due, the visiting VIPs did not want to miss seeing their longtime colleague framed and, maybe, even hung.

There to do the honors among all those answering to “your honor” at a ceremony inside New Haven’s Church Street federal courthouse this past Friday was Steve Brennan, a Connecticut-based portrait artist. Judge Arterton’s law clerks had commissioned him nine months ago at their own expense to create an oil portrait of their boss, which they hoped to donate to the federal government for display.

Perched on an easel pointed out to face the spectators in Courtroom One, the 54-inch by 38-inch canvas was veiled but otherwise, ready to be viewed and installed in Judge Arterton’s courtroom next door. Arterton had made sure to call Friday’s ceremony a “presentation,’’ she said, after several people mentioned how much they were looking forward to her, ahem, “unveiling.’’

Now it fell to the court to decide whether to accept the gift, and several attendees wanted a chance to weigh in.

“What a joyous occasion this is, Your Honor,’’ exclaimed one supporter, Robert A. Katzmann, chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Manhattan. His comments were directed at Chief Judge for the District of Connecticut Janet C. Hall, as she presided over the ceremonial session. But he was fretting that his messages might misfire. People who answer to the words “Your Honor” were “all over the place,’’ he observed.

In the 22 years since President Clinton plucked Janet Bond Arterton, an employment lawyer who helped build up Garrison & Arterton in New Haven, for the bench, she estimates that she has taken 29 law clerks under her wing. Eleven were there for last Friday’s ceremony in support, as were former proteges from the law firm.

So was Herbert J. Stern, a retired federal judge from New Jersey whom she clerked for in 1977 after

ZACHARY RIEGELMANN PHOTO

Crowd at the courthouse unveiling.

earning her law degree from Northeastern University, with an infant in tow. In 1995, when she herself ascended to the federal bench, Judge Stern presented her with his gavel.

It “stands ever at the ready on my bench,’’ she assured him, glancing at the jury box.

Wielding that storied gavel, Judge Arterton has put her own mark on many complex, closely-watched cases, and verdicts have stuck.

There was the 2003 corruption trial of Bridgeport’s back-again mayor, Joseph P. Ganim, and the 2014 corruption trial of former Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland, his second. She dispatched both offenders to prison.

She credits her legion of clerks for helping prepare the “more than

13,500 opinions and counting” that she has issued in total. Jennifer Willcox, a former clerk who is now a top lawyer for Yale New-Haven Health System, recalled, however, that the judge prepped for some sentencings without any staff input, signaling that the burden in those difficult cases “was hers alone.’’

On Thursdays, the public is treated to a softer side of the 73-year-old judge when she leads what is known as Support Court. There, she counsels dozens of addicts whose lives need reimagining. Paul Thomas, a former federal defender who has seen her in action, told the courtroom, “she never gives up on them.”

Andrew D. O’Toole, a former law clerk who now plies his trade at O’Toole & O’Toole in Katonah,

N.Y., touched on the judge’s boundless moxie. “In eighth grade,’’ he said, “she was elected vice-president” of the Valley Road Student Council in Princeton, N.J., coming in behind the male classmate, who was elected president. When the boy moved away, she spent the summer of 1957 studying Robert’s Rules of Order with her father “for when she assumed her rightful position,’’ according to Mr. O’Toole.

“Sadly,” he continued, when school resumed, the faculty adviser “informed her that ‘Girls could not be president.’‘’ Far from being stymied, she went on to major in political science at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts and ran a write-in campaign for county coroner in Mercer County, N.J. in 1965, while still a senior.

“She ran on a platform that once elected, she’d abolish the office,” according to Mr. O’Toole. He noted Life Magazine soon hailed her as “an example of the new generation of young women in America who are shunning convention to lead interesting lives.”

Diane Daskal Ruben, a fellow lawyer and friend to the judge, also spoke in support. She said she first met Judge Arterton back when they were both “baby lawyers, juggling mothers, and activists” and a friend suggested they meet, because, “that’s what rare creatures we were.”

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Hillhouse Champs Honored THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

by PAUL BASS

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Before the mayor handed trophies to Nyimah Ambrose and her fellow Hillhouse High champs Thursday afternoon, the schools superintendent handed them some advice.

Members of Hillhouse’s boys basketball, girls track, and boys track teams were invited to City Hall for a ceremony to celebrate the championships their teams won this year.

“Keep up the good work,” the superintendent, Reggie Mayo (pictured), told the students. “Remember the things you learned form your coaches.”

Then each player was invited up to receive a trophy and to pose with Mayo, Mayor Toni Harp, and school system Athletic Director Erik Patchkofsky.

After picking up her trophy (above), Ambrose was asked what advice she has received from Coach Gary

Moore. “‘No matter how bad you start out, you can always do better if you want the progress. If you want to do it, you’re going to do it,’” replied Ambrose, a sophomore who runs the 200-meter four-in-one relay and the 100-meter dash for the Hillhouse team.

She applied that advice this year in her first season in track and field. In the past she has played soccer and softball. people told her she should try track because she runs fast. She ended up placing fourth inthe state in the 4 x 200-meter relay and first in her class in the 100-meter dash.

The boys basketball team (pictured), under the direction of Coach Renard Sutton, captured its 24th state championship this year, more than any other team has won. The boys track team won its third straight state championship. The girls track team won the Southern Connecticut Conference championship.

PAUL BASS PHOTOThe

girls’ track team at Thursday’s ceremony.

New “Freddy” Assumes Clean-Up Mission

by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Sultan Stallings had been in New Haven only a few weeks when he heard about the historical Freddy Fixer Parade and the fictional character who has inspired the black community to clean up since 1962.

Stallings, who’s in the process of opening a series of Dixwell Avenue businesses, had an epiphany: “I’m Freddy Fixer reincarnated.”

He said his modern-day Freddy mission starts with keeping the outside of the restaurant that he manages, Supreme Eatery Carryout at 300 Dixwell Ave., swept clean every day. It continues with reaching out to neighboring businesses and offering to help to fix up their storefronts.

“I want to know what they need to beautify their establishment,” Stallings said, after dropping some fish in hot grease to fry. “Whether it’s labor, resources to help paint or fix a roof, and then take that all the way down the street. That’s how it should be in this community.”

Stallings came to New Haven recently from Raleigh, N.C., to man-

age the carryout. He takes over from outgoing manager Jock Hargraves, who will head to Chicago to help get a carryout, bakery, and grocery store in that city.

The Supreme Eatery Carryout, which specializes in high-quality fish and chicken-based dishes, has been operating out of a brightly

painted yellow and orange storefront for about a year. It was a popular spot on Wednesday as teachers from nearby Amistad High School popped over to pick up lunch.

Stallings said soon other Supreme businesses will open down the street, including a bakery at 899 Dixwell Ave. and a breakfast

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parlor at 1351 Dixwell, part of a social mission to promote self-determination and pride in the black community.

The businesses will join a growing chain of such businesses that have opened in Virginia, Maryland, and Atlanta in predominately black neighborhoods that have been slow to recover from the ravages of crime, drugs, and disinvestment.

Stallings said the businesses are the brainchild of The Value Creators, an arm of the United Nation of Islam that focuses on entrepreneurship.

“Our goal is to restore life and the planet back to its original design,” he said. “That means we must clean up the water, clean up the air and the food.”

Jock Hargraves, Alonya Muhammad, Ronchelle Welcome and Sultan Stallings The hallmark of the business is cooperative work. Stallings said everyone who works for one of the Supreme businesses is an unpaid volunteer.

“The business takes care of us,” he said. “We’re a group of like-

minded folks who understand that either you’re going to do it or allow it to be done.”

Instead of waiting for outside corporate interests to come in and take from the community, he said, The Value Creators see an opportunity to give back. And people have got to eat.

“You need three things to sustain life,” Stallings, a California native and former truck driver, said.

“That’s food, clothing, and shelter.”

Part of the mission of the Supreme food chain is to raise the quality of the food that comes into communities that often lack places to obtain fresh meats and vegetables.

“When we start eating right — according to how our body is designed, it will align and allow us to experience life the way it is designed to be,” Stallings said. “Your body will be feeling better, your thoughts will be clearer. There will be no mood swings.”

Former manager Hargraves, a transplant from Baltimore, said that on occasion people balk at Supreme’s prices because nearby

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017 Con’t from page 5

Federal Judge Framed

Her brainy pal mastered the intricacies of double hull construction when a case required it and deliberated exhaustively “whether to tell her future employer” she was pregnant with a second child once she learned the news. “Should she tell them and risk the opportunity, or show up for work and risk their wrath?” Ms. Ruben recounted. She claimed not to recall how that one shook out, just that her friend examined all possible options thoroughly.

“And mind you,’’ Ms. Ruben said, “she was going to work at an employment firm.”

The afternoon’s sole note of caution, and it was a mild one, came from Mr. Thomas, the former federal defender. He stipulated that he was a great admirer of Judge Arterton for her “painstaking attention to detail,” and “open mind.”

But, he added, “it is the heart beneath the robe,” that may be her most impressive feature. He cited her “deep understanding of the human condition and the merit she finds in defendants others might consider lost causes. Even the best portrait probably cannot capture that.”

Hearing no further objections, Judge Hall rendered judgment. “I have the privilege,’’ she proclaimed, “as Chief Judge of this court to accept as a gift the portrait of our colleague.’’

“This event,’’ she stated, “will serve as a reminder of and to honor what is now 22 years of service rendered by Judge Arterton.”

She disclosed that she, too, had benefitted from her colleague’s acumen, citing countless compliments she receives from well-wishers for court decisions that require her to tell them, “Oh, that’s the other Judge Janet.”

She also noted for the record that she was approving the acquisition even though she had an obstructed view of the canvas and could not see the painting. “But as you know, circumstantial evidence” has its place in courtrooms. Ergo, she explained, “I’ll take the oohs and aahs as evidence” that the portrait is, in fact, “stunning.”

At 2:45 p.m., it was the honoree’s turn to rise. Unlike her peers, she had eschewed her robe in favor of a simple black dress, topped off with a scarf and pearls.

“You have touched me deeply,’ she said to all the clerks who had participated in the tribute. She thanked them, too, for the myriad ways they

made her “smarter and slightly less uncool” over the years.

Turning to the portrait, she made sure to commend her “portrait-unveilers,” the four grandchildren who minutes earlier had responded giddily to a summons from the bench to step forward and remove the veil.

Their grandmother then went on to explain the significance of visual elements in the painting meant as symbols of “what’s important to me.”

On the left was a sliver of New Haven’s historic downtown green. As one of the lifetime Proprietors of New Haven Green, Judge Arterton helps oversee that local treasure.

Two tiny figures that she described as crossing the green were there to signal the judge’s daughters heading to their mother’s office for a visit.

And while the judge’s beloved boxer, Jezebel, is no longer visible in the frame, the artist tucked a good-sized image of Professor Christopher Arterton among the law books. He was the up-and-coming political science student she had met in college and married after he helped manage her successful campaign for county coroner.

They wear the years since that joint adventure well, without shame.

Thus, when she noticed that her husband looked unusually young in the painting because the artist was relying on an old photo for guidance, she asked for a redo. She hinted to much amusement that the long-married septuagenarians did not want to give anyone the false impression that they had breached some generational divide. Or as Judge Arterton cracked, “we did not yet have Macron,” the new French President whose wife is a quarter-century older than he is.

Once court was dismissed, many of the parties opted to continue their conversations upstairs at a reception.

Mr. Brennan lingered. Unlike sketch artists who cover trials, Mr. Brennan had never before drawn inspiration from the inside of a courthouse. He brightened, however, once he noticed that the artist who had signed Judge Peter C. Dorsey’s portrait on the wall was Joseph Funaro, a former mentor at Paier College of Art in Hamden, who had taught his portrait painting class.

In fact,” Mr. Brennan said, the more he thought about it, the more he suspected that “more people could come here than a museum.’’ With that, he floated out of the courtroom towards

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7

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

Food Stamp Fight Launched For Survival

by ANA RADELAT AND KYLE CONSTABLE NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Washington — Kimberly Hart of New Haven is among more than 400,000 Connecticut residents who depend on food stamps — and among the activists fighting to save the program from being cut as envisioned in President Donald Trump’s proposed new budget.

Hart, 55, is a member of New Haven’s Food Policy Council and participates in several advocacy groups for social and economic issues.

She said she has been unemployed since 2013, and relies on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the official name for food stamps to put food on the table for herself and her 15-year-old son. Her husband died in 2011.

President Trump’s budget would cut about 25 percent from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over the next 10 years, largely by shrinking eligibility for the program.

Food stamp benefits are now paid entirely by the federal government, but the president’s budget would gradually shift up to 25 percent of that cost to the states.

“If you think about how strapped state budgets are, many states are going to have to say ‘no,’ “said Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District. “It would be an enormous hit to Connecticut, which is struggling with its budget already.”

If Connecticut were unable to pick

KYLE CONSTABLE PHOTO

Kimberly Hart.

up its share of the tab, benefits could shrink for everyone, including people like Hart, even though she is caring for a child.

The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, an advocate for social welfare programs, estimated the cost shift would cost Connecticut’s government nearly $2 billion over 10 years.

Stacy Dean, the center’s vice president for food assistance policy, said that estimate might be too low because the federal government’s costshift formula is likely to strip more money from high-income states like Connecticut and less money from poor states like Mississippi.

While many of the Trump budget cuts face a pushback from Congress, Republican members of Congress, especially those in the U.S. House of

Representatives, have pushed to cut SNAP for years.

Their arguments echo the one made last week by Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, who noted that, while the recession is long over, about 42 million people still receive SNAP benefits, far more than when the recession began. In 2008, there were 28 million recipients.

Mulvaney sees that as evidence many Americans are getting food assistance when they should be working.

“Isn’t it reasonable for you to at least ask the question, ‘Are there people on that program who shouldn’t be on there?’” he asked.

Advocates for the food stamp program say the reason the number of recipients has not dropped since the

recession officially ended in 2009 is that many did not know they were eligible for the aid before the recession, which prompted aggressive outreach by many states. The second reason, they say, is that the recovery has been uneven, and many people still are having trouble putting food on the table.

“We want to work,” said Hart. “I want to become self-sufficient.”

Dean said House GOP-proposed budgets sought deep cuts in the SNAP program during the years President Barack Obama was in office, but the Senate and the White House rejected them.

But with Trump in the White House, Dean said, “there’s good reason for concern now.”

More than 400,000 Connecticut residents receive food stamps. If the SNAP eligibility changes become law, thousands would lose their benefits, entirely or in part.

Besides cutting food stamps, and other social welfare programs like Medicaid, Trump’s budget also would eliminate the Low Income Heating Assistance Program that helps many in Connecticut pay their energy bills.

Under current food stamp regulations, those who receive LIHEAP also are eligible for additional food stamp benefits that average $110 a month.

The end of LIHEAP would end the additional SNAP benefits for about 7,100 people in the state, said Lucy Nolan, executive director of End

Hunger, Connecticut!

The Trump budget also would cap SNAP benefits, which are determined by income level and the number of people in a household to households of no more than six.

That means larger families would receive a maximum monthly benefit of $925, no matter how many people need to be fed.

The Trump budget also would eliminate thousands of “able-bodied” adults without children from SNAP unless they work at least 20 hours a week or are in a monitored job training or job search program.

Currently, those individuals are eligible for benefits – whether they have a job or not — if they live in a community with an unemployment rate that’s higher than the national average. Nolen said there are about 58,000 “abled-bodied adults without dependents” who qualify for SNAP in 124 Connecticut towns.

We need people to go to work… If you’re on food stamps, and you’re able-bodied, we need you to go to work,” Mulvaney said.

But to Nolan, those unemployed recipients can’t find jobs. “(SNAP) is the one program they can get to help them,” she said.

‘Do right and feed everyone’ Esty, who will hold a roundtable in Waterbury Wednesday to discuss the future of SNAP, said GOP efforts to cut food stamps and other social programs are based on a flawed ideology.

Con’t on page 9

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8

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

Con’t from page 8

Food Stamp Fight “They see this as a dependency that’s sapping the independent spirit of America,” she said.

Conservative groups like the Cato Institute say there’s enormous “fraud and abuse” in the system, and that recipients are more obese than other Americans because they use their benefits to buy “sugary soft drinks” and cookies. To Cato, there’s not a hunger problem, but an excess calorie problem.

“The way to reform the food stamp program is to end federal involvement and transfer the full funding and administration to the states,” a recent Cato policy paper said. “Each state could decide to provide benefits either more or less generous than current benefits, and each state could decide whether or not taxpayers should subsidize soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers, and ice cream.”

Hart said many people receiving food stamps tend to buy less healthy food and beverages because they do not have any other choice.

“We all know that fresh is best,” Hart said. “ But she said she sometimes buys unhealthy food “because of the disparity of the prices and because of the little bit I’m getting.”

“Two and a half gallons of 100 percent apple juice is maybe going to cost me like $2.39 a bottle, so that’s $5. I could buy five gallons of fruitflavored, fruit punch mix and get that for $1,” she said.

Nolan said the Trump budget has put food stamp advocates on “high alert.” She also said it would be foolhardy for the federal government to shrink a program that helps people during tough times – the average length of time a participant stays on SNAP is nine months, Nolan said – and brings federal dollars into a local community.

“It is a flexible program, and it works,” she said.

Under questioning last week by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue split with the White House over the changes needed to the food stamp program. Farm groups have joined anti-hunger groups in opposing the Trump budget changes in the program.

At a hearing of the House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture, Perdue assured DeLauro, a champion of the program, that SNAP is not broken and doesn’t need to be fixed .

“The new motto of USDA is ‘do right and feed everyone,’” Perdue said.

Later in the hearing, however, Perdue said he favored stricter work requirements for SNAP recipients.

Rapper Cardi B Multi-Markets A Fan Base

by SAMUEL HADELMAN NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Some fans found out about Cardi B through her Instagram (7.2 million followers) or Twitter (535,00 followers) feeds, others through the VH-1 show Love & Hip-Hop, on which she famously threw a shoe at another contestant. Some love her comedy, others the actual rap compositions that she had come to Toad’s Place to perform.

Whatever the medium, the crowd at Toad’s cited similar reasons for turning out to see her this past Thursday night: The stripperturned-recording artist and reality TV star’s honest personality. She speaks “facts.” She’s true to herself.

She seems to have built a fan base through a multi-platform strategy built on a single currency: authenticity.

“She was blunt. She was still proud of how she came up,” Daisy, one of the night’s opening performers, said of Cardi B, who grew up in tough circumstances in the Bronx in a family of Dominican/Trinidadian origin.

SAMUEL HADELMAN PHOTO

Cardi B with her fans at Toad’s.

If the Toad’s crowd — the loudest I’ve ever heard at the club — was any indication, that fan base skews female. I saw maybe 10 males total all night. Backed by two dancers and a deejay, Cardi B and her “Gangsta Bitch” a capella freestyle connected with the women who spent the evening twerking away. She waded multiple times into the fan section and took selfies with the crowd. The crowd,

many dressed in elaborate outfits that would fit into a Cardi B video, hit fever pitch when she performed her hit “Foreva.”

“She cuts deep,” said another fan named Rachel, citing a lyric to one of Cardi B’s songs: “I’ll sleep with your man on your birthday.”

“I think it’s cool,” said fan Alayna.

“I like how she promoted herself well. She is a good businesswoman and did something on top of be-

ing a stripper.”

Cardi B’s sexual openness, the basis of much of her storytelling, has contributed to her developing a semi-cult-like following; she uses her past of being an exotic dancer not as a crutch, but as ammo in her arsenal. It’s the basis for most of her storytelling. If you don’t like her past, too bad.

Her fans see her as a face of sexual empowerment. One of her fans, Ashley, said that even with Cardi B’s newfound fame, she doesn’t use it as a “way to push other women down.”

With her new single, “Lick,” with her rumored boyfriend Offset, Cardi is seeking to add more of a mainstream audience to her fan base.

“She is carefree, honest, and blunt.

Point blank, she is real,” said one fan named Alec. A local rapper, Big Mach, talked about how he likes her “based on her attitude towards everything” and the idea that she no longer needs to strip to pay the bills.

“I’m happy people are paying for her thoughts more than her body,” he said.

PUBLIC INVITED TO

“HOW WE GOT OVER: SONGS OF OUR PEOPLE”

SOUL and R&B in the SANCTUARY A CONCERT CELEBRATING OUR 197TH ANNIVERSARY SUNDAY, JUNE 11TH, 2017, 4:00 PM NEW HAVEN, CT; May 24, 2017-New Haven. Dixwell Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ invites the public to a concert celebrating its 197thanniversary. The concert titled, “How We Got Over: Songs of Our People,” will be held Sunday, June 11th at 4 p.m. at Dixwell Church located at 217 Dixwell Avenue in New Haven, Connecticut.

Event Chair Charles Warner Jr., comments, “Over the past 400 years, we transformed our pain and yearning into an art form. We combined the instrument most sacred in Africa— the drum—with European melodies. But, we added our unique gift to those melodies—blue notes—the musical intonations that make the blues the blues.”

Warner goes on to say, “R&B and Soul Music, like ‘sacred’ music, serves to communicate the varied, complicated experiences of living.

Whether to inspire, to resist oppression, or to soothe a painful experience, soul music shares the most intimate contents of one’s heart and reaches out to make a connection. In worship, we seek and strive to do the same—to share our experiences, to heal, and to say “Thank You!!!” to the Creator. The sacred surroundings of the Sanctuary remain the most appropriate place for the intimate and varied dimensions of the human soul to be revealed, proclaimed, and celebrated.”

Concert tickets cost $20 and may be purchased at the door. You can call (203) 787-5839 for information.

Dixwell Church is the first Congregational church in the world founded by people of African descent. Dixwell is planning several events during the next three years leading to its 200th anniversary in 2020.

9

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

She’s Home

LUCY GELLMAN PHOTO Handy in the basement: 28 Newhallville rehabs down, 12 to go.

by LUCY GELLMAN The bedroom isn’t in the basement anymore. A dining room is still missing a table and chairs. Only the ghosts of her parents live on the first floor. But for Robyn Handy, 944 Sherman Ave. is home twice over — and now it’s hers.

With the help of Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS), Handy is the new owner of the single-family house at the corner of Sherman Avenue and Elizabeth Street, close to the Hamden border.

The recipient of a $150,000 “priority markets” grant from Wells Fargo, the property is one of 40 in Newhallville that NHS is trying to recoup and move new, largely first-time homebuyers into by December 2018. Among 28 that are already finished, this is one of the first on Sherman, placed to show “a neighborhood that’s on its way up,” NHS Director Jim Paley said at a Wednesday ribbon cutting at the house.

Last sold for $140,000 in 2005, the home was foreclosed upon at some point in the last three years, and then donated to NHS by Wells Fargo. Because it was built in 1956, it didn’t qualify for grants designated for historic properties, like many of Newhallville’s turn-of-the-century homes. Instead, NHS turned to other sources to rehabilitate the house: funds from the Capital for Change, city’s lead paint abatement program, Wells Fargo LIFT down payment assistance program, tax credit subsidy from the state. When the house was ready to go on the market: NHS got a surprise: the prospective homebuyer had seen the house before. Many, many times before.

Handy first moved into 944 Sherman 42 years ago, as a freshman in high school.

It was her family’s “movin’ on up” house, she said — the first place her parents could afford as they left Brookside Avenue projects for a multi-bedroom home, with a dining room table sandwiched in the front of the house where extended family members came to eat, drink and tell stories, and family dinners went late into the night. It was the house where she was accepted into Mt. Ida college, tearing the acceptance letter open so pieces of the envelope curled on the hard wood floors. And the place where her parents told her, before she set off for college, that she was going to do great things with the education she earned there.

“We were so happy as a family here,” she recalled.

Except Handy’s father seemed fatigued as she went off to college, three years into the family’s ownership of the house. Unbeknown to her, he had been diagnosed with colon cancer, and was losing the battle with his treatment. She suspected something was going on: She would call home, and no one would pick up. When she returned home for Thanksgiving, he was thin, and quiet. He urged her to return and finish classes for the semester. Instead, after just a few days back, she returned home, and started taking shifts with her mother in the hospital.

On the night of Dec. 5, she sat beside him as he took his final breath. Then she returned to 944 Sherman and got more bad news. Her mother couldn’t afford to have a child in college and a mortgage. She was choosing the former.

“I begged her, ‘No, mommy, no, don’t sell the house,’” she recalled, tears rolling down her cheeks as she stood in the basement corner where her bedroom once stood. “I loved this house. We spent our last days as a family here.”

Handy moved on, finishing college and ultimately becoming a behavioral technician at ACES, where she scored the job in education that she had long wanted.

18 years after her father died, her mother joined him, and Handy thought about the house once more. She moved into a fixer-upper on Ellsworth Avenue with her young daughters Darian and Rojonna. But about eight years ago, she started praying for a new house, that didn’t require so much maintenance. A chance encounter with Stephen Cremin-Endes, NHS director of community building and organizing, led to some late-night scrolling through NHS’s listings.

31 Pass Lieutenant Exam

by MARKESHIA RICKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

All but one of the New Haven police sergeants who took the civil service exam to become lieutenants passed it.

Now it will be up to the chief to determine who actually gets to pin on the new rank.

Robyn Handy and her daughters cut ribbon on the house. The test results were announced Tuesday as the Civil Service Commission approved an eligible roster for the rank of police lieutenant at its regular monthly meeting, with several policing officers on that list watching and waiting anxiously for the results.

Sergeants Wayne E. Bullock, Renee E. Dominguez and Rose J. Dell, were the top three scorers earning passing scores of 85.30, 85.08, and 84.03 out of 100 respectively. The department has been looking for a while to promote more lieutenants to fill supervisory roles and free sergeants up for other duty on the street.

Assistant Chief Otoniel Reyes said the department right now has 10 lieutenant vacancies; those spots will be filled by sergeants promoted from the list that commissioners unanimously certified Tuesday. He said there could be room for more promotions as retirements and other shifts in the department occur.

Past chiefs have filled the ranks by going straight down the list. It will be up to newly appointed Chief Anthony Campbell’s discretion whether to fill positions that way. Currently, several police districts are managed by sergeants, who passed the lieutenant exam, but not with top scores.

“We will be looking at the overall command structure,” Reyes said. “This will have an impact on our goal of making sure that we have the proper structure in the department. It’s too early to tell what the exact changes will be.”

No promotion date has been set, but Reyes said he anticipated that it would be soon so that the new lieutenants could head off to command college.

City Personnel Director Noelia Marcano said that 34 officers applied to sit for the lieutenant exam. The initial applicant pool consisted of 13 white males, 7 white females, 6 black males, 1 black female, 3 Hispanic males, 1 Hispanic female, 1 Asian female, 1 American Indian male and 1 male who identified as multi-racial. Ultimately, only 32 of those 34 sat for the exam.

She said the following feedback was provided by applicants after the testing process was completed: • 28 said the testing process was fair, 1 reported not fair, and 3 did not indicate a response.

10

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO

Rahgue Tennant congratulates top tester Wayne Bullock.

Union President Craig Miller tries to get a peek at the list in Commission Chair James Williams’ hands.

Sgt. Stephan Torquati gets a congratulatory hug from Assistant Chief Tony Reyes.

• 31 said the test related to the position and 1 said it was not related.

• 31 found the test instructions to be clear while 1 did not.

• 31 said the assessment process was well run while 1 said it was not.

• 30 reported the process was free of bias while 1 said the process was biased, and 1 did not record a response.

Thirty-one of the 32 candidates for lieutenant passed with a score of 70 percent or higher, Marcano said.

The passing group includes 13 white males, 6 white females, 4 black males, 1 black female, 3 Hispanic males, 1 Hispanic female, an Asian female, an American Indian male, and 1 male who identifies as multiracial. The fail-

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

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Cops Say Thanks THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

by SAMUEL HADELMAN NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

City cops and firefighters lifted their voices to the tune of $6,000 to serve as pals for breast cancer research — and to help make summer “PAL” camp a success.

The $6,000 was raised at a recent “City Lights” charity talent show at which Officers Dana Martin and Steven Teague, firefighters Erika Bogan and Reggie Blakey, and local storeowners Willie Moore (of Forever Fitness) and William Gibbs (Custom Tees) performed to raise money for the police department’s Police Athletic League (PAL) camp and the New Haven Firebird Scholarship.

Some of the performers held a press conference at police headquarters Tuesday afternoon to thank supporters of the event and to present a $1,000 check from the proceeds to the New Haven Cancer Society to support breast cancer research. Thanked donors included Archie Moores, New Haven Job Corp., Vandome, Oriental Lodge #5, Dr. Pina Violano, New Haven County Silver Shields, New Haven Guardians, and the Fire and Police Insurance Association.

The PAL camp — which has grown from 50 to 300 kids — features weekly field trips, educational activities. and fishing trips It runs this year fromJuly 5 to Aug.

Con’t from page

Paca Contemplates “Clean Money” Run

would have had to give back around $10,000 in the portions of donations exceeding $370, but she would have received the $19,000 grant. Then she would have continued to have received $60 matches on every New Haven donation of $30 or higher through the election.

“I would love the mayor to use the fund,” Heimer said. “It would be an amazing example for the other mayors in the state.”

New Haven got state permission to launch its public-financing program as a pilot. That enabling legislation allowed for three municipalities to launch programs, but so far no other municipality has followed suit.

Marcus Paca, who’s challenging Harp for the Democratic Party nomination, met with Heimer this week about the program.

“Right now I’m keeping all options on the table. I think public financing is a wonderful opportunity for candidates to participate on an equal playing field,” Paca said Thursday.

“We understand that we’re going against a career politician with deep out-of-town pockets. So it’s no surprise to me that she’s not considering the Democracy Fund. However, for candidates that believe in clean elections like myself, it will definitely be an option.”

Paca would have to return two contributions reported so far in order

to participate in the program: $500 donations from Board of Education member Ed Joyner and retired educator Shirley Joyner.

The campaigns’ most recent campaign finance reports were filed on April 10. Paca reported raising $3,200 to date, with $3,200 on hand.

The Harp campaign reported raising $14,860 between Jan. 11 and April 10, and $35,960 in total to date, with $10,821.80 on hand. It listed three fundraising events in the most recent period, including one held by housing authority Executive Director Karen DuBois-Walton. Both campaigns have continued raising money since April 10.

Following are the names, hometowns and (where available) employers and professions of donors of at least $200, along with the amounts they contributed, listed in the most recent report. (An apparent tear in the corner of one page of the Harp report left out the last name of one contributor; listed here as “John H”; asked for his first name, campaign Treasurer J. Peter Wilson wrote in an email message: “I will be able to answer your question when I am able to touch base with our accountant, probably after the holiday weekend.”) Harp also received donations of under $200 from city contractors from Giordano Construction and Bank of America.

SAMUEL HADELMAN PHOTO Officer Dana Martin, Sgt Elisa Tuozzoli, Sgt. Albert McFadden, Officer Nancy Jordan, and Assistant Chief Archie Generoso at Tuesday’s press conference.

Imam: Don’t Blame Islam For Terrorism

by SAMUEL HADELMAN NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

As Muslims prepare for their annual month-long celebration of Ramadan, Iman Saifuddin Hassan is preaching a message of peace and acceptance.

“The way we should express our faith is communication,” Hassan said Wednesday during an appearance on WNHH radio’s “Mornings With Mubarakah.” Hassan went on to say that the Muslim community is embedded in America’s culture, noting that “30 percent of the slaves brought here were Muslim” and “Muslims even predate Columbus.”

Hassan appeared on the show days before Ramadan, which begins Saturday, and two days after a terrorist attack in Manchester, England, revived some public hostility toward Muslims.

“We’ve been turning blue in the face condemning terrorism,” said Hassan, who is currently serving as acting imam at George Street’s Masjid Islam while the regular imam faces possible deportation after being taken into custody by federal agents.

Hassan stated that the people com-

12

SAMUEL HADELMAN PHOTO

Saifuddin Hassan at WNHH.

mitting terrorism cannot be doing it in the name of true Islam, because the religion itself condemns violence ferociously. When a Muslim terrorist commits an act people use it to condemn the whole religion, while when an act is carried out by a white Christian, like the Oklahoma City bombing, no one uses it to condemn Christianity. He noted as well that Muslims come from all racial backgrounds, including Caucasian, African-American and Hispanic.

“Muslims are under siege,” he said. “We are the victims of terror-

ism more than anyone else.” Hassan said he thinks that this array of attacks by ISIS may be a result of the oppressive forces that are in power in some Muslim nations in the Middle East.

Hassan called for the local Islamic community to become more open about expressing its faith and deal head on with problems like drugs and troubled youth. “We should not feel ashamed of who we are,” he said. “We have to come together and be the forefront to try and bring upon a better world.”

Everything, Everything THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

Prince Charming Courts Sickly Next-Door Neighbor in Bittersweet Coming-of-Age Tale

Film Review by Kam Williams It’s Maddy Whittier’s (Amandla Stenburg) 18th birthday, but she won’t be celebrating the occasion at a party or restaurant. In fact, she won’t be leaving the house or even having friends over anytime soon.

That’s because she has SCID, a

rare genetic disorder that basically makes her allergic to everything.

Consequently, she’s been stuck inside a hermetically-sealed house since being diagnosed with the disease at the age of 3, shortly after her father and brother’s untimely deaths in a terrible car crash.

Lucky for Maddy, her mom, Pau-

line (Anika Noni Rose), is a physician who could afford to raise her in a luxurious, if sterile, environment free of the germs that could compromise her immune system in an instant. Although Maddy grew up curious about the outside world, she’s gotten used to exploring it over the internet with the

help of online courses and a support group for kids with her sickness.

Then, Maddy receives the best birthday gift she could ever imagine when new neighbors move in right next-door. For, one member of the family, Olly (Nick Robinson), is a boy about her own age.

And all it takes is a glance through the glass window for the handsome hunk to fall head-over-heels in love with her.

The ardent admirer uses sign language to ask Maddy for her phone number, before typing “U R beautiful” in his very first text. Olly’s zeal only increases upon learning about her crippling affliction, and he asks if there’s any way he could be decontaminated to come over for a visit.

But that’s against doctor’s orders, especially mom’s, which forces the lovebirds to admire each other from afar. Hormones raging, Maddy is suddenly discontent with her

sheltered existence in an antiseptic gilded cage.

Will she recklessly abandon the protective bubble to rush into the arms of a perfect Prince Charming she barely knows? That is the burning question at the heart of Everything, Everything, a bittersweet, bildungsroman based on the young adult novel by Nicola Yoon.

The picture was directed by Stella Meghie who successfully adapted the book into a syrupy soap opera certain to satisfy fans of the source material.

A tender enough tearjerker to dehydrate even this crabby curmudgeon!

Excellent (4 stars) Rated PG-13 for mature themes and brief sensuality Running time: 96 minutes Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures

Fidget Spinners: Treatment Tool Or Just A Toy?

by Dr. P. Gould, BlackDoctor.org

Have you ever heard of fidget spinners? Apparently, they have become this year’s leading toy fad.

The spinners, which cost only a few dollars, started out as tools to help students with attention deficit disorders focus.

“Just like relaxes me. If I feel like doing something else with my hands, I have something to do,” a 12-year-old middle school student said.

A fidget spinner has two or three paddle-shaped blades attached to a central core. Squeeze the core, give the blades a flick and they spin.

That’s it. With a price between US$3 and $4 and available in all sorts of colors and style patterns, many children can carry around a pocketful.

They were being marketed as a “concentration tool” to help students who have trouble staying focused, such as ADD or ADHD

students. But are they more of a distraction than a homeroom helper?

Some research indicating that playing with fidget toys — little gadgets, cubes, putties and spinners — can be effective in improving concentration and focus in students with ADHD. “If we see students are unfocused, getting up to use the washroom, sharpening their pencil frequently or causing a disturbance, they

might need a sensory tool to help them focus,” says Mrs. Ferry, a special-education teacher at Ganiard Elementary School in Mount Pleasant, Mich., who also writes for The Friendship Circle, a blog geared toward the special-education community. “There are lots of adaptive learning tools; just like some kids need glasses, others need fidgets.”

She maintains a wide selection for her students to choose from, and

13

she also helps them make stress balls filled with sand, oatmeal or flour.

Ferry points to one case study involving a sixth-grade classroom in Georgia, in which students who were given stress balls increased their average scores on a writing assessment from 73 percent to 83 percent; those with a medical diagnosis of ADHD improved their results by 27 percent.

Others argue they are doing too much distracting and not enough concentrating on what’s needed.

Opposing research finds that unfortunately the spinners can also take children’s attention away from what they… … are seeing and hearing. Plus, the spinning and movement serves as a distraction to other students in the room.

Teachers complain that kids will pull out a fidget spinner in class and are easily distracted by it, also distracting other students around

them.

Critics argue that it’s just a fad as any other toy through the ages.

Toy fads are important because they represent something novel, different. An important part of childhood is gradually separating yourself from your family and becoming your own person. We can see this when middle-school children announce a taste for music that diverges from what their parents enjoy.

Do you remember one of your favorite toys growing up? I remember when I was younger, “research” identified that playing video games increased your eye-hand coordination with was supposed to be crucial before growing up. This research was coincidentally accompanied by a number of new video game systems bursting into the marketplace.

So with this new fad, only time will tell.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

The “Voting Rights Project ” Interview with Kam Williams

Lawyer on a Mission to Preserve the Hard-Fought Right to Vote Dee Hunter is the Executive Director of The Civil Rights Center, a Washington, DC-based public advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the public interest in the areas of criminal justice reform and voting rights. The Civil Rights Center is a national leader in the fight to end the Crosscheck Program, a discriminatory, GOP project ostensibly-designed to purge masses of minority voters from the polls.

Dee has a long history of political advocacy and organizing. He has worked on numerous political campaigns and for several nonprofit political organizations including Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, Ralph Nader’s Appleseed Foundation, Americans for Democratic Action, The American Nurses Association and SEIU. And he is currently a Palast Foundation Fellow.

Dee studied political science at American University and is a graduate of Howard University School of Law. He is currently a Masters of Divinity candidate at Wesley Theological Seminary. here, he talks about launching the Voting Rights Project.

Kam Williams: Hi Dee, thanks for the interview.

Dee Hunter: Thank you, Kam, for covering this important issue.

KW: Why are you launching the Voting Rights Project in Georgia?

DH: The Voting Rights Project is a campaign to combat the GOP mass voter purge scheme called the Crosscheck Program. It is fundamentally flawed, racially and politically discriminatory.

The Crosscheck Program is a list of people who have purportedly registered to vote in two different states. The list contains approxi-

mately seven million names and is terribly flawed. It has resulted in the mass purging of millions of minority voters. Kansas Secretary of State, Kris Kobach, a pioneer of racial and partisan voter suppression, started Crosscheck.

We demand that Georgia end these illegal mass purges. We want to bring attention to Crosscheck, and the widespread voter suppression and persecution of voting rights activists that is going on throughout Georgia. We want to be sure they don’t use Crosscheck to steal the 6th Congressional District like Trump stole the Presidential election. We are starting with Georgia and targeting the 20 most competitive Congressional Districts in states currently using the Crosscheck Program.

KW: What sort of voter suppression has transpired in the state?

DH: The systemic voter suppression and illegal persecution of voting rights activists in Georgia is more reminiscent of 1917 rather than 2017. Georgia officials have

engaged in hostile racially and partisan motivated persecution of voting rights activists throughout the state. Its runs from the Governor and Secretary of State offices down to local, county voter registration boards. They first gerrymander the election districts illegally diluting our vote, then pass restrictive ID and registration laws. Next, they reduce the number of places where and the hours during which we can vote, and purge us by the hundreds of thousands using the Crosscheck Program. They also engage in a pattern of harassment and intimidation of voting rights activists. If you register people to vote in certain parts of Georgia you face the possibility of going to jail. People are afraid of retaliation for helping to register people to vote.

KW: How have they been getting away with this?

DH: Georgia has been a pioneer in voter suppression. Gerrymandering of state legislative districts in 2000 was the beginning of the modern onslaught. In 2008,

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Georgia adopted the Crosscheck Program while other states were dis-enrolling because of its unreliability. But Georgia adopted one of the most stringent Voter ID laws and felony disenfranchisement laws in the country. Elected officials throughout the state have engaged various suppression tactics.

Secretary of State Brian Kemp has led the efforts. Kemp’s tenure has been plagued with multiple illegal mass purges. He has unlawfully refused to accept tens of thousands of voter registration applications because of small technical errors.

He has also shortened the period for early voting, reduced the polling places in minority neighborhoods. He has generally engaged in a pattern and practice of harassment and intimidation of voting and civil rights activists.

KW: How do you hope to prevent further violations in Georgia?

DH: I The strategy is threefold. It involves litigation, legislation, and mobilization. We are bringing together some of the most successful voting rights activists and organizations in the state to discuss tactics and strategies to combat Crosscheck, voter suppression and persecution. We are developing a Georgia Voting Rights Act that would stop the Crosscheck Program and other illegal mass purges. It would also liberalize voter registration and make it easier for people to register and to vote.

Considering the extent that the GOP controls the legislature and state government, we are in for a long battle. Civil rights and voting rights groups have been quick to turn to the courts to combat voter suppression in Georgia. The results have been mixed. Recent legal victories in redistricting are encouraging. Even when courts have ruled in favor of voting rights activists the state has refused to follow court orders. Activists are begging to bring lawsuits against

election officials and other state officials in their personal capacity when they persecute activists and abuse their power. We must increase awareness and engagement. The same passion shown in the fight to save healthcare must be applied to voting rights. Trump won the state by 200,000 votes.

If we increase minority turnout by three percent, candidates that would support expanding voting rights would win statewide. It is literally going to take hand-tohand combat, door-to-door grassroots organizing at the neighborhood level.

KW: What do you think of Trump’s Election Integrity Commission?

DH: It should be more appropriately called the Voter Suppression Commission. It is a very dangerous development. Kobach is the chair of this commission and will use it to make it more difficult to register to vote and to vote. Trump is delusional. His claim that millions of people committed voter fraud costing him the popular vote is just as valid as his assertion that the Russian interference in the election is “fake news.” Any Secretary of State involved with this commission is assisting the enemies of voting rights.

KW: What is the next stop for The Voting Rights Project?

DH: We are organizing in Virginia in June and in North Carolina in July. We are targeting the most competitive Congressional Districts in every state participating in Crosscheck. They stole the 2016 presidential election. We are going to fight to make sure they don’t steal another.

KW: Thanks again for the time, Dee, and best of luck with the Voting Rights Project.

DH: Thank you for taking the time to cover this important issue, Kam.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

Flint Residents Still Suffering, Exposed to Contaminated Water

By D. Kevin McNeir, The Washington Informer

Residents of Flint, Michigan have very little to celebrate, three years after the water crisis in the city made national headlines.

On April 25, as citizens of the bluecollar city, located about one hour from Detroit, marked the third anniversary of the announcement that over 100,000 men, women and children had potentially been exposed to high levels of lead in the drinking water, the suffering continues.

The health crisis arose shortly after officials decided to switch drinking water sources to the Flint River. Before long, thousands began to suffer from illnesses linked to the contaminated water, including an estimated 12,000 children who have been exposed to dangerously-high levels of lead. And while an estimated 15,000 children in the city will soon receive extra money for nutritional foods that can limit the effects of the lead exposure, that assistance will not be extended to families who left the city—even though their children may suffer from health problems related to the lead-contaminated water.

That decision, made by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, has not been well received. For now, qualifying families will receive a one-time payment of $420 for each eligible child —funds

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that come from $7 million in additional food assistance from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant.

But for those like one former Flint resident and mother who moved barely a stone’s throw away for the sake of her young child’s health, the dollars won’t be made available.

“If I had moved to another state, I could understand being treated differently. But moving just 15 minutes away, I feel like it’s unfair,” said Ariana Hawk in an interview with the Detroit Free Press.

Meanwhile, a fundraising campaign has been launched by California-based Green for All—a climate and economic justice organization that focuses on poverty and pollution to create an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty.

Vien Truong, the director of Green for All said that the #FixThePipes campaign has raised $10,000 to fix Flint homes. With several celebrities signing on and asking their followers to give their support, including Van Jones, Common, Russell Simmons and most recently hip-hop artist Big Sean, she expects to see the level of donations increase.

“Every dollar we collect brings Flint families one step closer to clean bathing and drinking water,” said Truong, who estimates that the bill for removing lead-contaminated pipes is $10,000 per home. “Many don’t know that over 8,000 city resi-

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dents now have tax liens [on their homes] for refusing to pay for poisonous water,” Truong said. “It’s outrageous that three years later, families living in Flint still don’t have clean drinking water. Lead has poisoned over 300,000 people.

Meanwhile, companies have left, restaurants have closed, property values have declined and investors have gone elsewhere. We have to make people remember and help.”

Truong continued: “With President Trump promising to cut the EPA budget by one-third, Americans need to understand that what’s happened here in Flint will one day become the norm. One can intellectualize this all they want but studies show the disproportionate number of landfills, toxic facilities and dumps are more often located near the dwellings of low-income families or near places where people of color reside. No one speaks for them. Race remains a prevalent factor.”

One young activist who has served as the face of the Flint water crisis, nine-year-old Amariyanna Copeny, also known as “Little Miss Flint, joined other protesters during the “Stand Up to Trump” rally outside the White House last month, criticizing President Trump for breaking his promise to address the problem.

“On the campaign trail, he promised he would fix Flint. Unfortunately, this was one promise that he failed to keep—just like his promise to

‘Make America Great Again,’” Truong said.

“Little Miss Flint” first made headlines last year after she sent a letter to President Obama inviting him to come see the damage caused by the lead poisoning. Obama replied and visited the city, even meeting with the youthful activist.

In many cases, the stories of suffering from Flint residents seem to be unbelievable in a country like America, given its level of resources. One senior citizen who has lived in Flint since 1963 says she feels abandoned and confused particularly after receiving a water bill for $1099.09 which officials from the water department alleged was issued to her because she had been “undercharged.”

“I’ve written letters, I’ve gone to the city’s Board of Review, I’ve called on my city councilmember—I’ve gotten nowhere,” said Mary Huddleston, a 76 year-old widow who lives alone and says she barely uses any water at all.

Huddleston continued: “I keep making payments each month— just enough to keep the water on so I can flush my toilet, but I don’t wash much and only shower once a week. My hair began coming out from using the shower so I have to do it with bottled water that the city gave us. One day my water bill was $151. Then, after new meters were installed, it jumped to over $1,000.”

Huddleston has been diagnosed with several respiratory illnesses and said that she believes the illnesses are a result of drinking and using the contaminated water.

“I feel like I’m being forced to pay other folks’ bills—and for water that’s still contaminated,” said Huddleston.

Since a federal state of emergency was declared in January 2016, Flint residents have been instructed to use only bottled or filtered water for drinking, cooking, cleaning and bathing. Earlier this year, officials said the water quality had returned to acceptable levels.

However, residents continued to be told that they should use bottled or filtered water until all the lead pipes have been replaced—something that won’t be completed any sooner than 2020— in another three years.

“Flint will soon become a ghost town,” Huddleston said. “But I can’t go anywhere. I have nowhere to go.

They talk about all this money be-

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

Black AIDS Institute Launches “30 Days of HIV” Campaign

By Black AIDS Institute Staffers

The Black AIDS Institute, the nation’s only think tank focused on the impact of HIV upon Black communities, has announced a national, digital-community campaign, “30 Days of HIV.” Launching on May 27, 2017, and ending on National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) on June 27, the campaign consists of three core elements: an online community calendar to promote HIV and healthrelated events serving Black comWhen 944 Sherman appeared on the page, she gasped. Handy is a devout Christian; this felt like divine intervention, she said. And then she started making calls.

It was, at that point, “still a hot mess,” she said. The house had been abandoned and then completely gutted, and nothing was quite as she remembered. She wasn’t sure that she would be able to afford it, and started taking courses in financial literacy from NHS. She studied up on renovations. Working with Bridgette Russell, director of NHS’s homeownership program, she realized that she could do it.

“I know that God has directed me to neighborhood housing services,” she said. “This is where God wanted me to be—I thank him for his favor, his grace, and his mercy. This is the last place where my parents were alive and happy.”

Now she is just days away from moving in, as the sales closes and she finishes renovations on the basement. She’s turning it back into the home she remembers: a light-soaked dining room will look out onto the street, where the sounds of the neighborhood float through four windows and she envisions lots of new family dinners. Her parents’ old bedroom will become hers; she said she still feels their presence and gets teary-eyed walking in there, recalling nights that she would curl up beside her father when he was sick, and try to reassure him. An adjacent room, once her mother’s office, will become her prayer room and storage space. In the basement, where a lock her mother still installed still sits on the wall, she plans to build a bedroom for Darian, an honors student at Co-Op High School.

That, she said, feels like coming full circle: Darian is a freshman, the same age she was when she moved in.

From changing toilet paper rolls to planning meals in the new kitchen, Handy said every action grounds her. As Donald Morris, an NHS board member and Handy’s pastor at Life Kingdom Outreach Ministry, blessed the house and streetcorner, she struggled to hold back tears, and then smiled wide, lifting her face towards the bright blue sky.

“I know my mom and dad are looking down right now and having a holy ghost party in heaven,” she said. Then she cut a taut red ribbon ted across the front porch, and walked inside.

munities, an Instagram storytelling series titled “In The Life” featuring images of the life experiences of Black, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (GBTQ) and same-genderloving (SGL) men, and daily actions to mobilize Black communities and those who serve them.

“Even though it is not in the news to the extent it was a few years ago, HIV/AIDS is an ongoing, and among some sectors, tragically growing crisis in Black communities,” says Phill Wilson, the Institute’s President and CEO. “Black gay and bisexual men in the United States have a 50 percent life time HIV-infection rate. Black women still represent 61 percent of the new HIV infections among women. Our house is still on

fire and we don’t seem to notice. 30 Days of HIV is designed to shine a spotlight not just on the problem, but more importantly on who we are and what we can do, if we focus on this problem.”

The “30 Days of HIV” campaign will create awareness, fight stigma and create solutions to curb HIV among Black Americans, who bear the heaviest burden of the epidemic.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), in 2015, Black Americans accounted for 45 percent of HIV diagnoses, though they comprise just 12 percent of the population. Young, Black gay men are at greatest risk and stand a 50 percent risk of acquiring HIV during their lifetime.

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The online community calendar will feature HIV and health-related activities in Black communities during the 30 days leading into NHTD. Organizations that have planned health fairs, HIV-testing or other outreach activities during this timeframe are invited to submit the events to pavniatwork@gmail.com for inclusion on the calendar.

Also beginning on May 27, as we turn the corner into June, when we mark Men’s Health and Gay Pride months, the Institute will highlight the contributions of Black GBTQ and same-gender-loving (SGL) men through the “In The Life” campaign.

Each day, the Institute will publish on its Instagram feed photos and videos featuring the life experiences of Black GBTQ/SGL men, particularly visual narratives challenging stereotypes, portraying healthy lifestyle choices, and filling in the gaps in the visual imagery of the men’s lived experiences.

“It is an opportunity for everyone to see all the facets of what it is to be a Black and male in America,” says Gerald Garth, the Institute’s Manager of Prevention and Care. “While HIV care, prevention, and education are a major part of the Black gay experience, there is so much more.

Many of us are artists, thinkers, fathers, husbands and have transitioned and evolved in many ways well beyond the scope of HIV.” Black GBTQ/SGL men ages 21 or older who live in the United States are invited to submit two photos or videos less than 60 seconds long, along with a 100-word descrip-

tion of the images, whether a story, poem, narrative or rhyme, similar to Instagram photographer Ruddy Roye or Humans of New York. Images should reflect the everyday life and contributions of Black GBTQ/ SGL men to society—from work life, to parenting, to healthy lifestyle choices, to taking HIV-fighting medications, to experiencing #BlackBoyJoy. “Many of us will tell stories of how HIV has impacted our lives, but I’m so excited that we will see the full spectrum of what it is to be a Black man in America,” says Garth.

Photos, videos, descriptions and the contributor’s Instagram handle should be submitted to pavniatwork@gmail.com.

Participants don’t have to be living with HIV, and those living with HIV/AIDS can decide whether they mention their HIV status. The Black AIDS Institute reserves the right to edit to make sure all language is appropriate for our audiences.

Finally, during the “30 Days of HIV,” the Institute will publish daily actions via social media to mobilize Black communities to take care of their health and fight HIV/AIDS. “From #SoulfulSunday, to #WellnessWednesday, to #ThrowbackThursday, when we will highlight those who have passed away, each weekday will provide a designated call to action that explores what it means to be a whole person and an advocate,” Garth says. “We’ll also encourage people to show what a relationship looks like—all types. The actions are a chance for us to stretch and redefine what it means to be an advocate.”

All aspects of the campaign will be housed on BAI’s website, www. blackaids.org and promoted daily via multiple social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Founded in May of 1999, the Black AIDS Institute (BAI) is the only national HIV/AIDS think tank in the United States focused exclusively on Black people. BAI’s Mission is to end the AIDS pandemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing institutions, leaders, and individuals in efforts to confront HIV/ AIDS. BAI disseminates information, conducts trainings, offers technical assistance and capacity building, interprets and influences public and private sector HIV/AIDS policies, delivers prevention and linkage to care services, and provides advocacy mobilization from a uniquely and unapologetically Black point of view.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

Graça Machel to be Honored with “Diamonds Do Good” Award

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Contributor Graça Machel, one of the world’s leading advocates for women’s and children’s rights who, for decades, has fought for social and economic justice on the continent of Africa and beyond, will receive a “Diamonds Do Good” Award from the Diamond Empowerment Fund on June 4.

After establishing the Graça Machel Trust in 2010 as a Pan-African advocacy organization that focuses on child health and nutrition, education, women’s economic empowerment, leadership and good governance, Machel began a campaign to ensure that the voices of women would be heard in the media. Machel’s “Women in Media Network” (WIMN) is comprised of 34 experienced journalists from 15 Con’t from page 2

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education, and alternative programs throughout the city, recognized that the current school system suffers from low expectations and economic disadvantages. But to him, the root cause of the racial disparity that defines public education in this city and throughout the country comes from the material being taught in the classrooms themselves.

“Everyone likes to talk about expectations,” he said, “but no one likes to talk about race. There’s clearly a different expectation for students of color. Poverty is the excuse that so many of my colleagues lean on, but just because you’re impoverished does not mean you can’t learn. When we say changing how we ‘do’ education, we’re actually talking about empowering students and giving them the skills and understanding of where they exist in the world.”

Johnson spoke about how too much of the current curriculum focuses on what happened to people of color in this country, as opposed to any active role that they played in the creation and development of national and world history. He referenced how his threeyear-old daughter who sported a little afro came home one day and asked her mom to redo her hair, because she had learned at school that she simply could not wear her hair naturally.

“The majority of our students don’t understand where they exist in history,” he told the room. “So they don’t understand where they exist in present times.”

For Johnson, any efforts to ameliorate economic disadvantage, low expectations, a broken jobs pipeline, and racial disparity in education had to start with the curriculum itself. “The content has to change in the way we do education,” he said.

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countries across Africa who focus on challenging the current misperceptions about Africa’s women and children and how they’re portrayed in the press.

Machel plans to use WIMN to drive coordinated messaging and build awareness on issues related to women and children.

“The National Newspaper Publishers Association recognizes and salutes the transformative effectiveness of the Graça Machel Trust across the entire continent of Africa,” said NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. Machel also served as the first lady to two African nations; in Mozambique as the wife of President Samora Machel from November 1975 to October 1986 and in South Africa as President Nelson Mandela’s wife from July 1998 to June 1999, when Mandela left office.

During a visit with Mandela and Machel at their home in Mozambique in 2006, Chavis and music mogul Russell Simmons came up with the idea of establishing a global nonprofit to focus on the good that the diamond industry does throughout the world, particularly in Africa. The Diamond Empowerment Fund (DEF) was established in 2007.

Chavis and Simmons plan to be on hand at the Four Seasons Ballroom in Las Vegas, Nev., to present the award to Machel in front of a crowd of leaders from the international jewelry industry, government officials, and celebrities.

“My longstanding colleague and business associate Russell Simmons and I will be honored to present Graça Machel the Diamonds Do Good Global Humanitarian Award,” Chavis said.

“More than any other freedom fighting leader in Africa today, Graça Machel, the widow of Nelson Mandela, is performing a tremendous task of empowering the women of Africa to take their rightful place as accomplished leaders in business, economics and government.”

Machel is also the co-founder of The

Elders, an organization she developed alongside Mandela that includes Kofi Annan, former President Jimmy Carter, Desmond Tutu and other independent global leaders who are working toward peace and human rights.

Now, through her Graça Machel Trust, the South African heroine has worked to transform the narrative of African women and children.

“The Graça Machel Trust’s women’s rights program is based on our aim to multiply the faces and amplify the voices of women, especially in areas where they are underrepresented,” said Machel in an earlier interview with the NNPA Newswire. “Through our women’s networks in agribusiness, finance and ‘Women Creating Wealth,’ we foster links and build a critical mass of highly-qualified and active women across sectors and professions, who can work collectively to influence, shape and drive the socioeconomic policies to ensure that they achieve economic prosperity and social change.”

Machel is also the founder of the Foundation for Community Development in Mozambique and an independent expert on the impact of armed conflict on children for the United Nation.

Machel, Simmons and Chavis have each been vocal about the movement to transform Africa, supporting those who work for freedom and equality on the continent.

Acclaimed actor David Oyelowo will also receive one of the Diamonds Do Good Awards. Oyelowo, who portrayed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the movie, “Selma,” currently has the leading role in the movie, “A United Kingdom.” He will receive the International Vanguard Award for his visionary advocacy and leadership in the arts to support education and empowerment.

In a statement about the awards ceremony, Diamond Empowerment Fund President Anna Martin said that the group was, “pleased to pay tribute to these esteemed honorees and to show that doing good is good business.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

Dixwell Avenue Congregational United Church of Christ 200th Anniversary Program Committee presents

“HOW WE GOT OVER”

Songs of our People: Soul and R&B in the Sanctuary Sunday, June 11th, 2017 4:00 PM Music is the tie that binds the African Diaspora.

Through Soul and Rhythm & Blues, we transformed our pain and yearning into an art form.

Each drumbeat connects us to the Mother Land.

Each blue note reveals our unique gifts.

Each lyric proclaims our humanity.

Performing Artists: Harriet Alfred Nancy Greene Battle Hank Bolden Trina Greene Bostic Erik Brown Vaughn Collins Lisa Fluker William Fluker & The Sanctuary Ensemble

Markel Greene Curtis Harmon Ronald Pollard Aleta Staton Earl Whitaker Dixwell Church Choirs

Purchase Tickets at Dixwell Avenue Congregational UCC or call (203) 787-5839

The Reverend Dr. Frederick J. Streets, Senior Pastor Mr. Ronald Pollard, Music Director Dixwell Avenue Congregational UCC We’re located at 217 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF BRIDGEPORT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) PROJECT-BASED VOCUHER FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION FOR MARINA VILLAGE REPLACEMENT UNITS Solicitation Number: 086-S8-17-S

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport (HACB) d/b/a Park City Communities (PCC) is seeking proposals from developers and owners of New Construction Units that desire to enter into an Agreement for a Housing Assistance Payment (AHAP) Contract for Project Base Vouchers (PBVs) for Contract Units under PCC’s Project Based Voucher Program. Under this Request for Proposals, PCC will make available PBVs for units that will house extremely low and very low income households. A complete set of RFP documents can be obtained on June 5, 2017 by emailing your request to bids@parkcitycommunities.org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held at PCC’s Administrative Offices at 150 Highland Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604 on June 21, 2017 at 11 a.m.

Although not mandatory, all applicants are encouraged to attend to better understand the PCC’s requirements under this RFP. Additional questions should be emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities.org. Proposals shall be mailed or hand delivered to 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604. This RFP will remain Open until Completion of PBV Units.

Westbrook Housing Authority Request for Proposal

Notice is hereby given that the Housing Authority of Westbrook in Westbrook, CT is requesting proposals from qualified fire protection firms or individuals to obtain bids for a service and inspection contract at a housing complex for the elderly and disabled in Westbrook, CT. The Housing Authority of the Town of Westbrook strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women owned business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.

Parties or individuals interested in responding may contact Robert Piscitelli, Project Manager by June 15, 2017 at (203) 415-5055 for details.

Aviso por este medio es que la autoridad de vivienda de Westbrook en Westbrook, CT está solicitando propuestas de las empresas de protección de fuego calificado o individuos para obtener las ofertas para un servicio y la inspección de contrato en un complejo de viviendas para los ancianos y discapacitados en Westbrook, CT. La autoridad de vivienda de la ciudad de Westbrook recomienda empresas certificadas minoría y mujeres negocios empresas para responder a esta solicitud.

Las partes o personas interesadas en la respuesta pueden comunicarse con Roberto Piscitelli, Gerente de proyecto por 15 de junio de 2017 en (203) 415-5055 para más detalles.

The Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk, CT is requesting qualifications from

experienced firms for Internet, Internet Voice Bundle and Hosted Voice service. RFQ documents can be viewed and printed at www.norwalkha.org under the business tab, RFPs/ RFQs. Norwalk Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Curtis O. Law, Executive Director The GUILFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY

is currently accepting applications for COUPLES ONLY for its one bedroom apartments At Guilford Court and Boston Terrace in Guilford CT. Applicants must be age 62 and over or on 100% social security or Federal Disability and over the age of 18. Applications may be obtained by calling the application line at 203-453-6262, ext. 107. An information packet will also be provided with the application. Applications will be accepted until June 30th , 2017. Credit, Police and Landlord checks are procured by the authority. Smoke Free Housing.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HOUSING

VNA Community Healthcare is searching for Certified Home Health Aides (HHA). Must have 6 months – one year of experience as a HHA. Several opportunities for full and parttime flexible schedules. Submit resume and cover letter to jobs@vna-commh.org. Visit our website www.connecticuthomecare.org for other opportunities. EOE/M/F

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Invitation for Bids

McConaughy Terrace Furnace and Hot Water Heaters Replacement The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Bids for McConaughy Terrace Furnace and Hot Water Heaters Replacement. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/ gateway beginning on Monday, May 8, 2017 at 3:00PM. TRANSFER STATION LABORER Off load trailers, reload for trans/disp. Lift 50 lbs., operate industrial powered trucks and forklift. Asbestos Worker Handler Training a +.

Resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 173 Pickering St., Portland, CT 06480; Fax 860-342-1022; or Email to lkelly@redtransfer.com RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

Class A Driver Class A CDL Driver with 3 years min. exp. HAZMAT Endorsed.

(Tractor/Triaxle/Roll-off ) Some overnights may be required. FAX resumes to RED Technologies, at 860.342-1042; Email: HR@redtechllc.com Mail or in person: 173 Pickering Street, Portland, CT 06480.

Apartment Living in Fairfield

Brand New Affordable Apartments Available

The City of Norwalk Housing Authority

Trademark Fairfield 777 Commerce Drive Suite 220, Fairfield, CT 06825 Trademark Fairfield offers brand new studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments in Fairfield, CT. The apartment community features an outdoor pool, bocce court, state of the art fitness center, raised garden beds, clubroom with billiards, shuffleboard and more!

Our apartment homes are thoughtfully appointed with sleek quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, full-size washers and dryers, oversized windows with solar shades, 9 foot ceilings, gas cooking, ceramic tiled bathrooms and central air conditioning. Heat, hot and cold water included.

Open Enrollment Period Begins: June 1, 2017 at 9:00am Applications must be received by: June 30, 2017 at 6:00 pm For application forms please contact: 203.255.4000 or Trademark@greystar.com Applications may be submitted via mail or in person to: Trademark Fairfield 777 Commerce Drive Suite 220 Fairfield, CT 06825

Monthly Rents: Studio One Bedroom Two Bedroom

$954 $1,131 $1,424

Maximum Income Limits (Per Household) 1 Person $47,600 2 Person $54,400 3 Person $61,200 4 Person $68,000

Rent and income limits are based on Bridgeport, CT HUD Metro FMR Area. Other monthly charges not listed may apply. Minimum monthly income required is equal to three times the monthly rent.

is seeking qualifications from photographers, videographers, journalists and graphic production professionals to create documentary materials related to a major urban redevelopment project. The Washington Village / South Norwalk Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) is a $150 milliondollar housing and neighborhood revitalization strategy being implemented with federal, state, municipal and private investments. The transformative nature of this collaboration provides a unique and extraordinary opportunity to tell a story and share the lessons learned over a 4 to 5-year period. It is also an opportunity to engage local residents including children in documenting this transformation. This Request for Qualifications is directed to firms, collaborations, partnerships or individuals with the pre-requisite skills to produce professional quality video productions, photo journals, graphic illustrations and journalistic copy to document this historical transformation. A complete copy of the Request for Qualifications can be viewed and printed at www.norwalkha.org under the Business tab, RFPs/RFQs or the project website: www.norwalkcni.org Norwalk Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Curtis O. Law, Executive Director

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT - Portland Administrative Assistant for reception, phones, filing, and corporate staff support. Working knowledge of Haz. Waste Regs., Manifests, AP & billing. OSHA certification a +. Forward resumes to RED Technologies, LLC Fax 860-218-2433; or Email to HR@redtechllc.com RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

23

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

Help Wanted:

Immediate opening for construction laborer for Heavy and Highway Construction. Please call PJF Construction Corp.@ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F Help Wanted: Immediate opening for Dump Truck Driver for Heavy and Highway Construction. CDL A license and clean driving record required.

Please call PJF Construction Corp. @ 860-888-9998. We are an equal opportunity employer M/F.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT - Portland Administrative Assistant for reception, phones, filing, and corporate staff support. Working knowledge of Haz. Waste Regs., Manifests, AP & billing. OSHA certification a +. Forward resumes to RED Technologies, LLC Fax 860-218-2433; or Email to HR@redtechllc. com RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

The Town of East Haven is currently accepting applications for the following positions: Firefighter D/Paramedic-Lateral Transfer: Salary- $48,972/year Firefighter/Paramedic-New Recruit: $48,972/year

Requirements for both positions and the application is available online at www.FirefighterApp.com/EastHavenFD. East Haven is committed to building a workforce of diverse individuals. Minorities, Females, Handicapped and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

The Town of East Haven is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Assistant Building Official – Town of Manchester $62,434.71 - $75,071.06 CLOSING DATE: Friday, May 26, 2017 Call HR Recruitment Line at (860) 647-3170 for info or view website: www.townofmanchester.org.

OFFICE ACCOUNTING HEAVY AND HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Immediate opening for organized, self motivated, multitask person.

Skills & Duties required: Microsoft Word, EXCEL a must/ Timberline Software a plus Classify-Scan documents to Timberline files Manage Subcontractor Service Agreements, Certificates of Insurance & W-9 requests Assist with: Certified Payroll reports & Lien Wavers Bond Filings on delinquent AR accounts Municipal Bids Contract documents Monthly, quarterly federal/ various state tax reporting Other duties as required Equal Opportunity Employer Minority and female candidates encouraged to apply

2BR Bristol, CT $950-$990 Zbikowski Park Neighborhood now taking applications for newly rehabbed 2BR apartment.

Available immediately. Income restrictions apply. Equal Housing Opportunity. Contact Beatrice Nieves at (860) 585-2042 or at bnieves@bristolhousing.org

Apply at Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming 22 Peters Rd Bloomfield, CT 06002 Phone: 860-243-2300 Fax: 860-243-3100 Send resumes & salary requirements to : Email: garrity.careers@garrityasphalt.com

Listing: Senior Accountant

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

2+ years public accounting or 4 + years corporate accounting experience. CPA preferred.

Monthly tax prep, assist w/monthly closing, account analysis/reconciliation, maintain subledgers, assist managing network and system projects. Must be able to work independently with little/no supervision. Report to Dir. of Acctg. w/heavy exposure to CFO. Strong Excel and analytical skills a must. Great growth potential! Benefit package. Petroleum industry experience a plus. Send resume to: Human Resource Dept. P O Box 388, Guilford CT 06437. **An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer** VNA Community Healthcare is searching for Certified Home Health Aides (HHA). Must have 6 months – one year of experience as a HHA. Several opportunities for full and parttime flexible schedules. Submit resume and cover letter to jobs@vna-commh.org. Visit our website www.connecticuthomecare.org for other opportunities. EOE/M/F

VNA Community Healthcare is searching for Certified Home Health Aides (HHA). Must have 6 months – one year of experience as a HHA. Several opportunities for full and part-time flexible schedules. Submit resume and cover letter to jobs@ vna-commh.org. Visit our website www.connecticuthomecare.org for other opportunities. EOE/M/F

KMK Insulation Inc.

1907 Hartford Turnpike North Haven, CT 06473

Mechanical Insulator

Insulation Company offering good pay and benefits.

Please forward resume via REGULAR MAIL only.

This company is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

Class A CDL Driver

with 3 years min. exp. HAZMAT Endorsed. (Tractor/Triaxle/Roll-off) Some overnights may be required. FAX resumes to RED Technologies, at 860.342-1042; Email: HR@redtechllc.com Mail or in person: 173 Pickering Street, Portland, CT 06480.

RED Technologies, LLC is An EOE.

24

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

***HELP WANTED***

DEEP RIVER HOUSING AUTHORITY OPENING WAITING LIST FOR SENIOR/DISABLED

Total Fence LLC currently has an opening for a fence/guardrail installer. We offer competitive wages, medical, and a Simple IRA plan. Must have 5 years minimum fence/guardrail installation experience and a valid CT Driver’s License.

Applicant must be fluent in English.

Please apply in person to:

TOTAL FENCE LLC 525 ELLA GRASSO BOULEVARD NEW HAVEN, CT 06519

The Deep River Housing Authority will open it’s waiting list for Senior/Disabled Housing on June 1st, 2017.

This list will remain open until July 31st, 2017. To request an application, please call 860-526-5119. Applications will be accepted by mail (must be postmarked by 7/31/17) Housing is available to anyone over 62 or handicapped/disabled that meet the income guidelines. Monthly rates are based on income with a minimum base rent requirement of $697.

***No phone calls*** Total Fence LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Deep River Housing 60 Main Street Deep River, CT 06417

***HELP WANTED***

J & S General Contractors LLC currently has an opening for a fence/ guardrail installer. We offer competitive wages, medical, and a Simple IRA plan. Must have 5 years minimum fence/guardrail installation experience and a valid CT Driver’s License. Applicant must be fluent in English.

Please apply in person to: J & S GENERAL CONTRACTORS LLC 525 ELLA GRASSO BOULEVARD NEW HAVEN, CT 06519

The GUILFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY is currently accepting applications for COUPLES ONLY for its one bedroom apartments At Guilford Court and Boston Terrace in Guilford CT. Applicants must be age 62 and over or on 100% social security or Federal Disability and over the age of 18. Applications may be obtained by calling the application line at 203-453-6262, ext. 107. An information packet will also be provided with the application. Applications will be accepted until June 30th , 2017.

Credit, Police and Landlord checks are procured by the authority. Smoke Free Housing.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY HOUSING

***No phone calls*** J & S General Contractors LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer

LEGAL NOTICE The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven (ECC/HANH) is proposing to amend its Low Income Public Housing Admission and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP) and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Administrative Plan.

The proposed revisions to the ACOP and the Administrative Plan are available as of June 6, 2017 online at www.elmcitycommunities.com or at ECC/HANH’s main office at 360 Orange Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06511. You are invited to provide written comments addressed to ECC/HANH, Attn: Maza Rey, P.O. Box 1912, New Haven, CT 06509-1912. ECC/HANH will hold a public hearing to review comments and recommendations. The hearing will be held on Monday, June 5, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. in the Board of Commissioners Conference room at the Housing Authority of the City of New Haven, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Any individual requiring a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hearing may call the Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator at (203) 498-8800 ext. 1507 or at the TDD Number, (203) 497-8434.

AVISO LEGAL La Autoridad de Vivienda de la Ciudad de New Haven propone hacer cambios al plan de Admisión del programa de Sección Ocho y a la Póliza de Continuo de Ocupación (ACOP) del programa de Vivienda Pública y al Plan de Administración del Programa de Sección 8.

Las revisiones propuestas están disponibles el 6 de junio en línea en www.elmcitycommunities.com o en la oficina principal de ECC/ HANH en el 360 Orange Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511. Los invitamos a que proporcionen comentarios escritos a ECC/HANH a la atención de: Maza Rey, P.O. Box 1912, New Haven, CT, 06509-1912. ECC/ HANH tendrá una audición pública para revisar comentarios y recomendaciones. La audición se llevara a cabo el Lunes, 5 de junio del 2017 a las 4:00 p.m. en la sala de reuniones de los Miembros de la Comisión localizada en el edificio de la Autoridad de Vivienda de la ciudatrd de New Haven, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, Connecticut, 06511. Cualquier individuo que requiere una Acomodación Razonable para tomar parte en la audición puede llamar a la Coordinadora de Acomodación Razonable al (203) 498-8800 ext. 1507 o al número de TDD (203) 497-8434.

25

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

“I Bike Harlem” Owner Uses Airbnb to Grow Her Business

By Maxine Daniels, Founder of “I Bike Harlem”

For decades, many travelers to New York City have limited their excursions to Manhattan neighborhoods south of Central Park. Moreover, those who do choose to go beyond the traditional tourist hotspots often see neighborhoods like Harlem—my home for nine years—from the top floor of a tour bus.

This experience cannot possibly impart the “real” Harlem—a vibrant and historic community with worldclass cuisine, soulful music and a rich artistic scene that continues to breathe new life into an area whose cultural exports have been changing the world for over a hundred years.

I want visitors to see the Harlem I know up close, not from behind the plexiglass of a tour bus window.

My business, “I Bike Harlem,” gives travelers the opportunity to discover our handsome brownstones and vibrant small businesses. It’s a business I am incredibly proud of and it’s a business that would not exist were it not for the economic opportunity provided by Airbnb.

I began sharing my home on Airb-

nb as a way to earn a little extra money while starting I Bike Harlem. Through Airbnb, I was able to raise the funds I needed to start my business—investing in the bicycles, helmets, storage, and insurance that brought it from an idea on paper to reality. Now, my business is growing — with customers from all around the world including right here in Harlem. In fact, many of my customers are Airbnb guests. In that way, I am part of an “Airbnb busi-

ness cycle”: I started my company with income earned as an Airbnb host, and in turn, Airbnb guests have helped my business grow and thrive.

Our elected officials often talk about fostering a “startup” culture in New York City, with millions of dollars invested in tech campuses, incubators, and tax credits throughout the Empire State. Important as these investments are, the truth is that our public policy must recognize that entrepreneurship and the economic

activity it generates, comes in many different forms, now more than ever.

For example, I cannot count on an angel investments or incubators to help my business grow. Rather than relying on “startup” culture, my business is grounded in Harlem’s culture and the desire of travelers to experience a new place from a local’s perspective. And the investors who helped my business get off the ground aren’t venture capitalists; they are everyday people who chose to stay with me on Airbnb.

Hosting on Airbnb gave me the opportunity to start my business. And guests on Airbnb helped build my business. Now, Airbnb has launched a new tool that will take my business to the next level.

Dubbed “Airbnb: Experiences,” this new service allows visitors to partake in offerings of hundreds of local entrepreneurs—everything from a multiple-day dance immersion to a tour of local pubs. I am proud to be an “Experience” host, bringing the Harlem I know and love within reach of millions of Airbnb travelers.

In addition, Airbnb helps visitors identify and patronize authentic lo-

cal businesses by publishing neighborhood guidebooks and partnering with local business associations, such as the Harlem Business Alliance, to hold “Small Business Socials” and “Merchant Walks.”

The impact of these initiatives are two-fold: saving businesses money otherwise spent on marketing, while drawing visitors to neighborhood businesses off-the-beaten-path.

In fact, 76 percent of restaurants in guidebooks appear outside of traditional hotel districts. With these services, it’s no wonder that Airbnb guests spent $470 million at NYC restaurants in the year ending September 1, 2016, and more than $1.5 billion in restaurants over the same period in America’s 19 largest cities.

Airbnb is more than just a shortterm rental website, it is a dynamic platform that is proving to be an engine of economic opportunity. It helps neighborhoods that have long been ignored by the traditional tourism industry, brings in new customers to local shops, and gives New Yorkers like me the chance to forge a new livelihood by sharing my home and building my business.

Why Talking about Mental Health Is So Important

By Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson During the month of May, we recognize Mental Health Month, and raise awareness for the millions of Americans living with a mental health condition. Since 1 in 5 adults, or approximately 43.8 million people, will experience mental illness during their lifetime, it is safe to say that everyone is affected by this issue. Approximately 20.2 million adults in the United States experience a substance use disorder each year and 50 percent of them have a co-occurring mental illness.

Quite often people are alarmed when you begin discussing mental health, but there is only one way to overcome that fear and that is through transparency and aware-

ness. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel and act.

This year, Instagram launched a #HereForYou campaign, which encourages users of the social media platform to open up about their mental health. Since the launch, teens and young adults have been taking to social media to share their stories of overcoming the obstacles of mental health and leaning on each other in a safe space by offering friendship, support and collaboration. As a result of this campaign, Instagram has become a social media platform where users can post about feelings and mental health as a coping mechanism and get support from those who share their experiences and those who don’t.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) also provides several forums for individuals with mental health issues or substance

use disorders to speak freely and without judgment. I believe it is vital for individuals with mental health issues to be able to talk openly and without facing unnecessary stigma. However, communities of color do face higher levels of stigma, receive less access to treatment, and are less likely to receive treatment. In fact, even though the prevalence of mental illness by race is similar between White adults and Black adults, the use of mental health services among these adults differs. According to NAMI, White males use 11.3 percent of mental health services and White females use 21.5 percent of mental health services while Black males use 6.6 percent and Black females use 10.3 percent. This may be due to a culturally insensitive healthcare system, less health insurance coverage, racism in health treatment settings, or general mistrust of healthcare providers.

Unfortunately, there are serious consequences for a lack of treat-

26

ment. Untreated mental illness can cause further emotional, behavioral, or physical health problems. We have seen the impacts of mental illness gone untreated in our veteran and homeless populations. Far too often, our veterans and the homeless are ignored and do not receive proper treatment.

When they go without treatment their livelihood is affected tremendously—broken relationships with family and friends, loss of financial stability, or feeling they have no purpose in life.

Serious or severe mental illnesses, which are schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, major depression, or bipolar disorder, cost America about $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year. Individuals living with serious mental illness die 25 years, on average, earlier than others. Not to mention, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S, and the second leading cause of death for individuals aged 15-24. In Texas, one person commits suicide every

three hours on average and 44,193 Americans commit suicide each year. In many cases, it is common for those who attempt suicide to have a mental illness.

We must do more to support individuals who suffer from mental illnesses and be willing to involve ourselves in programs that support them. As we continue to have open conversations about mental health, with respectful language, we can abandon the social stigma associated with mental illness.

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson is a Texas native, serving her 13th term representing the 30th Congressional District of Texas.

She was the first nurse elected to the U.S. Congress. In December 2010, Congresswoman Johnson was elected as the first AfricanAmerican and the first female Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology – a position she still holds today. You can follow her on Twitter at @RepEBJ.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

You Otter Be Outside.

Spend the day a world away!

BRIDGEPORT, CT

50% OFF BEARDSLEY ZOO CHILD

ADMISSION (ages 3-11)

with purchase of adult ticket and this coupon. Limit 1 discount ticket per household. May not be combined with other offers. EXP: 12/31/17 INRCTY517

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR FUTURE AT GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Summer 2017 Classes Begin

Session I: Session II: Session III:

May 31 - June 16 May 31 - June 29 July 5 - August 3

Fall & Summer Registration

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Fall classes begin August 29th

GatewayCT.edu • (203) 285-2010 • 20 Church Street, New Haven, CT 27

THE INNER-CITY NEWS May 31, 2017 - June 06, 2017

Presenting Sponsor:

The Official Chamber of Wallingford and North Haven

b o j a r o f g n i k o o l ? e t Are you a d i d n a c e v i t c e p s o r p a or Event Sponsors:

Media Sponsors:

FOR MORE INFORMATION GNHCC.COM 28