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Not Your Average Joes THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
Two Local Houston Doctors Refusing to Ignore the COVID-19 Plight in the African American Community
By Jeffrey L. Boney, Associate Editor, Houston Forward Times New Haven I ndependent
An “average Joe” is often described as “an ordinary person without anything exceptional about them.” When it comes to two Houston-based doctors – Dr. Joseph Gathe, Jr. and Dr. Joseph Varon – referring to them as “average Joes” should be considered a huge slap in the face, because when it comes to these two gentlemen, they’re not your “average Joes” by any stretch of the imagination. So many doctors, nurses and members of medical staffs across this country are putting their lives on the line to help save the lives of others and are doing their part to help make a difference in the lives of patients that have been impacted by the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Gathe and Dr. Varon are both infectious disease doctors and have been on the frontlines addressing the COVID-19 epidemic. Their stellar work has been highlighted by many major news outlets, elected officials and even celebrities. Dr. Gathe, who was born in St. Louis, Missouri, has a storied history in the Greater Houston area. Not just because of the impact his family has had in the area of medicine generationally in the Greater Houston area, but because of his own personal reputation as being one of the only specialists in the Greater Houston area to tackle and treat the HIV/ AIDS virus from the very early days of it becoming a major epidemic in the U.S., particularly amongst Black people. Because Dr. Gathe is no stranger to dealing with unprecedented infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, when the CO-
VID-19 pandemic began to heighten, he wanted to jump right in and figure out how to address it. After the virus began to spread across the Greater Houston area, Dr. Gathe connected with Dr. Varon in order to work collaboratively to address the pandemic. Dr. Varon, who is originally from Mexico City, Mexico, has dual citizenship between Mexico and the United States, and has extensively practiced medicine in both countries over three decades and is also one of the leading infectious disease doctors in the Greater Houston area. Dr. Gathe, who serves as the co-director of the COVID-19 Dedicated Care Unit at the United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), said he got a call one day from Dr. Varon, and they began discussing patients they had recently seen that had been getting sick with this unusual new virus. After comparing notes and experiences with patients, the two men decided to come together to see if they could make a difference. They knew they needed to have a base of operations, so Dr. Varon, who serves as UMMC’s Chief Medical Officer, suggested that there was available hospital space at UMMC to specifically deal with COVID-19 patients. Another reason that Dr. Varon suggested they function out of UMMC was because the CEO of UMMC, Syed Mohiuddin, was not afraid to reach out and care for this population. Dr. Gathe decided to join Dr. Varon to work collaboratively to address COVID-19 patients, and within a week after the phone call, the COVID-19 Dedicated Care Unit was operational. “My goal is, and has always been, to
Dr. Joseph Gathe, Jr. and Dr. Joseph Varon
be part of an organized effort in our community to address this significant public health emergency,” said Dr. Gathe. “In the midst of an environment that is so full of confusion and misinformation, as well as a lack of an organized effort from a national perspective to address this pandemic, I felt I had to be a source of appropriate information relative to things we do know and we don’t know. It was important for me to do something at the local level in order to mitigate the damage that this infection is doing in our community.” Since they began working together after establishing the COVID-19 Dedicated Care Unit at UMMC, none of the COVID-19 patients under the care and
treatment of Dr. Gathe and Dr. Varon at UMMC to date have died. They have a unique and innovative COVID cocktail that they have created that they state is a difference maker and game changer when it comes to helping positive COVID-19 patients recover from the virus. Dr. Varon and UMMC have gone even further in their commitment to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, as they have opened up numerous drive-thru testing sites across the Greater Houston area to tackle the virus and provide FREE testing to the community. “We saw a need to detect COVID-19 early in February and we wanted to help people by finding the best options to do so,” said Dr. Varon. “We tried to approach
a variety of people, but no one wanted to help. So, we decided to open up drivethru testing sites, which Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee found as an appealing idea. Once she listened to our vision, she decided to become a major spokesperson of this endeavor. We immediately bought testing kits, made arrangements with a laboratory, and created a system that works like clockwork – ALL at no charge to the patient.” Dr. Varon states that when the pandemic began, he reached out to Dr. Gathe because he had worked with him previously on special occasions, and he knew that Dr. Gathe was the right person to have a conversation with about how the virus should be addressed in the Greater Houston area. “The COVID-19 pandemic gave Dr. Gathe and I the best opportunity to put our minds together and address this virus and it has allowed us to be real doctors working together again to save lives and make a difference,” said Dr. Varon. Dr. Varon is deeply concerned about the community spread of this virus, especially amongst young African American males. “I know that I am not African American, but I am still a minority and I cannot stand to see young African American people dying,” says Dr. Varon. “Statistics are showing that COVID-19 is impacting young Black males significantly and they are dying because of it.” Dr. Varon is emphasizing the need for African Americans to get tested and treated for the virus. “COVID-19 is here to stay and is not Con’t on page 08
OP-ED | The Sudden Interest In Race In America . . . And Our Backyards by Jonathan L. Wharton Ct. News Junkie
Within the last couple of weeks, several former students and individuals I have mentored have expressed interest in discussing and reading more about racial issues. As an educator studying and teaching on the subject matter, I am glad I can serve as a resource. But as a Black American, I am curious why it took so long for many white Americans to understand race in our country. Support authentic, locally owned and op-
erated public service journalism! I often taught racial politics at Stevens Institute of Technology, an engineering and science-centered institution. At the time, students were required to complete subject areas beyond their majors including humanities and social science classes. This did not mean that students always enjoyed classes I taught, including Black Studies, East Asian Studies, and Urban Studies. But years later, former students are asking for resources related to racial politics and history in America. Even at my current SCSU institution, some former and current students want to know more about the subject. In fact, nationally there has been a recent surge in sales of books on topics related to race in America. Americans, particularly
white Americans, have a sudden interest in learning more about racial politics, and there are plenty of reading suggestions. This should not be shocking amid a racially stratified pandemic, racial protests, and significant economic loss. But does it take a trifecta for Americans to have an interest in racial politics? There is so much to learn, but we should begin in our backyards. Many forget that in New England, our racial issues remain significant and problematic. We may profess to be a progressive place, but we are largely divided based on where we live, work and socialize. Even in education, our schools remain highly segregated. What many former students want to know is this: What can be done to address the racial and economic divisions right now?
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Integrated residential housing options, vocational housing and affordable housing policies have been coded words for many since they could help address stringent local zoning laws that set the table for discriminatory development practices. But these approaches often raise NIMBYism (Not in My Backyard) concerns. Many Connecticut homeowners cherish home rule or sovereign local power structures. But do we recognize whom we shut out with those policies? Maintaining character and charm are ongoing concerns in various towns, but the same level of concern should also be applied to creating economic and racial diversity. Understanding the damage done by redlining and steering practices is integral to Connecticut’s progress here. The very
act of insuring – or not insuring – mortgages in some neighborhoods (redlining), and sections where some families are shown – or not shown – homes (steering) remain longstanding issues, especially in suburban Connecticut. The unfortunate reality is that few people know that these practices create racially and economically divided localities. Amending zoning laws and reading books are not the only ways to recognize our racial divisions. Race and class can be such abstract concepts that we often forget to look within our social circles. As a state and region, we need to connect with each other as well as respect our history. This moment is long overdue, but I wonder how long the interest will last. Con’t on page 11
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
Covid Kills Craft Beer Bar by THOMAS BREEN
New Haven I ndependent
A Court Street craft beer bar has shut off its taps and closed its doors for good — becoming downtown’s latest small-business casualty of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Beer Collective’s co-founders and co-owners Craig Sklar and Taurean Davis announced in a Facebook post this week that the gastropub they’ve run for the past three and a half years at 130 Court St. has permanently closed. “This Covid-19 crisis has hit the world hard, and especially the service industry in ways for which we could not predict or prepare,” their Facebook post read. “Together, we will hopefully get through this crisis. This new world will sadly be without The Beer Collective. We have considered different strategies, but we are unable to keep the doors open any longer.” On Thursday afternoon, Davis and Sklar met up with the Independent to talk through why they ultimately decided to close up shop. They spoke about the slim margins and economic precarity of running a small business even when a pandemic has not closed most of the economy. About the challenges of navigating the federal Paycheck Protection Program designed to prop up small businesses during the pandemic. About the rent and utility and insurance bills that kept piling up even after they stopped service and laid off staff in March. And about the pride they feel in having built a craft beer-rich community space that thrived for as long as it did. “It is going to be a rough time,” Davis predicted. “We might have come out and been one of the first people to say that we’re closing, but I don’t think that we’re going to be the last.” He said this economic shutdown has been particularly tough on bars, which rely on in-person gatherings and cannot easily transition to takeout. Some of his favorites bars around the country—such as Holy Grale in Louisville and Armsby Abbey in Worcester, Mass.—have closed indefinitely, if not permanently, during the current crisis. David also offered a glimmer of hope. “The service industry is resilient,” he said. “At the same time, I think there’s going to be a lot of people who will find ways to make it through. Some way.” The Beer Collective’s closure comes roughly a month and a half after the longtime Whitney Avenue diner Clark’s announced that it too would be closing for good because of the pandemic and associated economic shutdown. “The Definition Of A Small Business” Davis, 34, and Sklar, 35, opened the craft beer bar on Court Street in September 2016. Click here to read about their business’s early days, how the two coowners met, and the concept for their bar. Open seven days a week, The Beer Col-
THOMAS BREEN PHOTOS Beer Collective co-owners Sklar and Davis.
lective had 20 beers on tap, 15 in cans, and a cellar bottle list. They focused on craft beers from throughout the state — and the country. (When asked for the favorite beers they served up on a nightly basis, Davis pointed to Fox Farm’s Layers IPA, and Sklar to Hoax’s Sleight of Hand sour Berliner Weisse.) They also had a food menu and a wine list. But, Davis said, the business operated primarily as a bar. Over 70 percent of its monthly revenue came from alcohol sales, and the rest from food. The bar employed 15 people, including Davis and Sklar, who spent nearly every day working at the bar they co-founded and co-owned. “We were very much the definition of a small business,” Davis said. “We were owners that were they every day. We loved what we were doing.” They hosted trivia nights, promoted local brews, and even hosted a few weddings and wedding receptions. On March 15, they closed their doors for what the co-owners thought would be a temporary amount of time. Maybe a month? Maybe a little longer? The state had just announced that all indoor dining establishments and bars had to close in order to stem the spread of the novel coronvarius. Davis and Sklar said they thought about trying to transition to a take-out business model, as many other restaurants did. But they were first and foremost a bar centered around bringing people into the same physical space to drink, talk, and build community around craft beer. Sklar said they laid off their staff relatively early on into the closure. He said that, fortunately, everyone who used to work at the bar was able to qualify for unemployment compensation. After the passage of the $2.2 trillion federal CARES Act towards the end of March, Sklar said that they applied for the first round of funding for the Pay-
check Protection Program (PPP). That’s the federal small business support program run by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and funneled through private banks that provides eligible small businesses with loans worth two months of payroll. Those loans became forgivable if the recipients spent over 75 percent on payroll. Sklar and Davis said they also applied for one of the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs). “We didn’t end up getting anything,” Sklar said. Their bank turned down their PPP application. They never heard back about the EIDL. They then watched the money in the first round of PPP funding fly out the door towards businesses that, for the most part, had significant pre-existing relationships with banks. Davis said that The Beer Collective coowners, like many small business owners around the country, did not have any special relationship with financial institutions that they could lean on. They had a bank account that they regularly deposited money in. And they had taken a loan out towards the start of the business’s life that they were still paying off. That was about it. By the time a second round of PPP funding came through, Davis said, the two co-owners decided that it wasn’t worth applying again and potentially taking on a loan that might throw them further into debt. They still had quite a few expenses. But with their former employees all on unemployment, those expenses weren’t necessarily payroll. They still had to pay rent to their landlord, Olympia Properties. And they still had to pay utilities and a raft of insurance plans that are required to run a bar. “Access To Money” “It was a really tough decision for us,” Con’t on page 08
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DONT LET THEM COUNT YOU OUT!
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
Black and Puerto Rican Caucus Says Agendas Don’t Conflict by Christine Stuart
single platform or single bill can right centuries of wrongs.” However, McGee said what they’ve done is “honed in just a little bit more on some of those very, I would say, lowhanging fruit opportunities that would provide again, a larger conversation for policies that we’ve been working on so long, to be able to be passed, supported by our governor.” Meanwhile, McGee said caucus members are working with Sen. Gary Winfield, who co-chairs the Judiciary Committee, on a police accountability bill for the upcoming special session. The details of that bill are still being negotiated. A special session isn’t expected to be held until later this month. And a public hearing will be held on any proposals before that time, House Majority Leader Matt Ritter said. McGee acknowledged the short window a special session offered, but wants to take advantage of the momentum.
Ct. News Junkie
HARTFORD, CT — Standing on the steps of the state Capitol Tuesday the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus outlined their agenda for the upcoming special session. The agenda expands upon the police accountability legislation being drafted by the Judiciary Committee and the no excuse absentee ballot issue. Support authentic, locally owned and operated public service journalism! It calls for “true economic justice” in the form of a workers’ compensation presumption for workers who contract COVID-19, paid sick leave and increased PPE. It also calls for housing equity, equal access to technology and environmental justice. Rep. Brandon McGee, D-Hartford, said the agenda does not conflict with the one the Senate Democrats released on Juneteenth. He said the caucus supports a call for a special session and “recognize that no
CTNEWSJUNKIE PHOTO Rep. Brandon McGee
Firefighter Retires After Racist Text by LAURA GLESBY
New Haven I ndependent
After sending an image to colleagues making fun of the police killing of George Floyd, a 25-year veteran city firefighter retired on July 4 — averting discipline from commissioners who said they could do little more than condemn his behavior. The now-retired firefighter in question is Bob Crisco, a 25-year veteran who worked at the Dixwell Station on Goffe Street. The Board of Fire Commissioners met virtually via Zoom Tuesday afternoon to discuss and rebuke Crisco for a text message that he recently sent to colleagues. That text message included a doctored image of NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling on the neck of police brutality victim George Floyd. The image was captioned, “Look who’s taking a knee now.” Crisco sent the message to a group of other city firefighters via text message, according to the commissioners. The commissioners unanimously condemned Crisco’s behavior, and voted to add a report on the incident to Crisco’s official departmental record. They were unable to take any further disciplinary measures because Crisco retired last Saturday. “The photo that was circulated by Firefighter Crisco reflects so poorly on the city and is something that I condemn with every ounce of my body,” Mayor Justin Elicker said during Tuesday’s virtual meeting. “Is there no other recourse that we have?” Elicker asked his fellow commissioners. “The idea that firefighters can retire and avoid consequences is offensive
and wrong.” “The only recourse we have is that we still have the personnel file,” Cathleen Simpson, the city’s director of labor relations, answered. And so the firefighters put a report about the incident into his file. “I just find it heartbreaking that one of our firefighters—given the population of the community that we serve—that he would find it appropriate to send that type of picture out,” said Fire Commission Chair Steven Cousin, who is also a pastor at one of New Haven’s historic Black congregations. Crisco did not attend Tuesday’s meeting, and could not be reached for comment by the publication time of this article. The image Crisco sent out made light of a fictional violent interaction between Floyd and Kaepernick, both Black men who have become national symbols of the Black Lives Matter movement. In late May, Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin suffocated Floyd by holding a knee to his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, igniting protests against police brutality across the globe (including here in New Haven). In 2016, Kaepernick protested police brutality by kneeling, rather than standing, during the national anthem at football games. This wasn’t the first time that Crisco, who did not attend Tuesday’s meeting, was reprimanded by the fire commission during his long tenure working for the city. In 2014, he was suspended for 15 days after being linked to tens of thousands of dollars worth of illegal fireworks. Crisco retired three days before the Board of Fire Commissioners met over Zoom on
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DIXWELL STATION FACEBOOK PAGE Now-retired veteran city firefighter Bob Crisco.
Tuesday. The Board is required to notify firefighters facing disciplinary proceedings four days in advance of the meeting. On Tuesday, fire commissioners voted to keep the Internal Affairs investigation’s findings in Crisco’s file, where it can affect the future of his career with the department should he choose to apply for reemployment. Cousin said he wished the commission could do more. “We’re setting a dangerous precedent here,” he said. “We’re saying that if they beat out the clock, there is nothing we can do. I find that very disheartening and discouraging.” Crisco retired after spending most of his career working at a station in the majority-Black neighborhood of Dixwell. Patrick Cannon, the newly elected union president of Local 825, also condemned
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Crisco’s text. “That was one person, and unfortunately it was a 25-year career that he walked out of,” he said. “I can vouch that 99.9 percent of my members are in 100 percent agreement that this is terrible.” At the meeting, Commissioner Paul Nunez implored firefighters who witness racist remarks or actions to come forward. “They should feel that this board is gonna support them if they do come across any acts of this,” he said. On July 4, Crisco posted about his retirement on Facebook. “25 + years today its official retirement from the FD,” he wrote. “Leaving the best job in the world. Going to miss it. Lots of good times and sleepless nights.” He received a stream of “congratulations” from Facebook friends in the comments.
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
Fire Investigator Tackles Covid, Fireworks by KO LYN CHEANG
New Haven I ndependent
It was Friday night before the fourth of July, and Douglas Wardlaw was hoping he would not need to investigate any fires. The 55-year-old fire investigator sat in his white Ford outside the New Haven Police Academy on Sherman Parkway, where he was on call as part of the city’s firework detail. Just across the street, a man in a red Tshirt was firing professional-grade fireworks into the air. With 16 years of experience as a line firefighter, Wardlaw knows that one faulty fuse, and someone could lose an hand or even their life. “If we go all night with nothing, it’s a blessing,” he said. The city’s acting captain supervisor of fire investigation, he is back on the job after surviving a month-long bout of Covid-19. He is concerned that there might be a closer connection between fires and the pandemic than most people might think. Wardlaw has seen an unusually high amount of firework-related incidents this summer. Across the state, reports of illegal firework activity and sales have soared. “People are so socially starved because of Covid that they’re doing interesting things to entertain themselves,” he said. In New Haven, fireworks complaints have shot up tenfold from a year earlier. From Friday through Sunday on July 4th weekend, 518 fireworks-related calls were made to 911. The New Haven skies crackled with fireworks; everyone heard them. Just last week, Wardlaw investigated a fire set off by a group of 5-to-10-year-old kids
who were playing with cigarette lighters. They had ignited a bundle of recycling. “These kids are so deprived of seeing their buddies,” he said. “They were robbed of school and summer camp. They’re not arsonists. These are curious kids.” Days before, Wardlaw saw two young men lighting fireworks in broad daylight right next to his car. He was wearing his fire investigator’s uniform. Instead of scattering upon seeing him, the men asked him, “You want to light the next one?” He knows that citizens see him as a benign presence. Standing six feet three-anda-half inches tall, with thick shoulders and muscular forearms to match, Wardlaw carries a badge, not a gun. He doesn’t have powers of arrest. “They don’t see an authority figure in me,” he said. “They don’t see us as as big of a threat.” Message: Don’t Play With Fire “This is my office,” Wardlaw said as he stood in the parking lot on Friday night, gesturing to the trunk of his car. Inside were a pair of thick black Honeywell rubber boots, his turnout gear —bunker pants and a sturdy coat gloves, a helmet, in case the structure was unstable, and an N95 mask to filter out carbon monoxide and dust. Cardboard boxes of documentation sat in the back seat. Wardlaw speaks with a deep, reassuring voice. He considers it his mission to educate the city’s residents about the dangers of fire. He knows that the youth of color in the neighborhood are far more comfortable communicating with firefighters than with the police. “Our aim is to educate, not intimidate,” said Doug’s coworker, Jerry Rynick, the
KO LYN CHEANG PHOTO Douglas Wardlaw outside the Goffe Street firehouse.
other fire investigator on call Friday night. Wardlaw said he hopes to educate the city’s many latchkey kids on how to safely cook their meals and to teach the public tips on fire safety. (“You’d be surprised how many people think you can put out a grease fire with water that just spreads it,” he said.) Wardlaw said that many property owners in New Haven are “all about the buck”. He has seen how people have lost their homes because the building’s fire safety standards were not up to standard. Some landlords don’t check whether electrical wiring is done safely, endangering tenant’s lives, and others illegally block of emergency
exits in subdivided apartments. “With so many folks in rental homes, it’s an everyday, overwhelming task,” he said. Wardlaw grew up in Newhallville, on Division Street, in the 1980s. Back then, fights didn’t end with someone getting shot, he recalled. He lived in public housing with his grandmother. “We had no idea we were poor,” he said. When he was a child, he played with fire crackers and sparklers, and got hurt trying to light them. Back then, professionalgrade fireworks were far less accessible than they are today. He could not buy them in a Walmart or a gas station; he would
wait for a buddy to buy fireworks from the South, where they were legal, and bring them back. Part of Wardlaw’s job now is to apprehend people who set off fireworks illegally and to get the contraband off the street. On the eve of Independence Day, he watched as the man across the road launched roman candles into the leafy canopy. He called the police to come down and check on the violators. The squad car arrived and headed down West Ivy Street and West Hazel Street where, just before, the fireworks were exploding in the sky. For a few moments, the display stopped. The police drove off, flashing lights fading into the distance. As soon as the cop car was out of sight, the fireworks started up again, bursting into every color in the dark night. Wardlaw called the police back again. The fire investigators never directly engage with people who commit fire safety violations if there is a possibility for a confrontation. They wait for the police to arrive and then approach the violators with the police. “But we can educate,” he said. From Kitchen To Firehouse As a young man, Wardlaw tamed a different kind of fire. In the kitchen of the famous Robert Henry’s restaurant on Chapel Street, which is now Union League Cafe, he learned to cook classical French cuisine. He moved into the world of corporate restaurants, working for General Mills At 35, he decided that he had had enough of opening Red Lobsters and Olive Gardens. He decided to become a firefighter. He liked that young people in the city ofCon’t on page 13
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
Coalition Asks Schools To Broaden Approach to African American Studies by Karena Garrity
New Haven I ndependent
The creation of African American and Latin American and Puerto Rican studies curriculum for high schoolers won’t be finalized until December and classes will be optional in 2021. But that’s not good enough for some parents. Support authentic, locally owned and operated public service journalism! The newly formed Coalition for Educational Justice and a Culturally Responsive Curriculum wants the curriculum to reach a broader, younger audience and is writing letters to school superintendents throughout the state to ask for a “more inclusive curriculum.” The first of these letters were sent this week to Region 4 Superintendent of Schools, Brian White. “If we can make changes in schools and education, then there will be real change throughout society,” said Nikki Poulard, who is in a bi-racial marriage to her husband JP who is originally from Haiti. The
couple have five bi-racial children and are in the Region 4 School system. Poulard and her husband, in collaboration with several others, including Kristen Alexander, who is also in a bi-racial marriage raising a bi-racial daughter, started the Coalition for Educational Justice and a Culturally Responsive Curriculum at the end of June. Their first course of action was to pen a letter asking for change. “We really want this Coalition to be a collaborative effort and a resource for people to turn to when they need information, are seeking support from others, or are looking to find other like-minded people within their districts and the state, who want to make a change in their schools. The eventual goal is to see major changes statewide,” Poulard said. The group wants the state to re-evaluate and revise how the current curriculum presents American history. They also want it to address ongoing racism in America, including issues of redlining and mass incarceration. They also want
“Big Dog” Returns To Stetson For CD Release Party by PAUL BASS
New Haven I ndependent
“Big Dog” stared down death. And discovered a new groove. “Big Dog” — international producer and touring and recording artist Chris Davis —returned home to Stetson Library Thursday afternoon to spread that news. There was much to celebrate: Davis beat stage 4 lymphona, and came back strong. He turns 60 this month. And, after producing chart-topping recordings for other artists, he has put out his first album of his own, drawn from originals he composed during his cancer treatment and recovery. Called Focus. Friends whose work he has arranged and produced over the years, like jazz saxophonist Gerald Albright, return the favor by popping in on the album’s
various tracks. In Dixwell Plaza’s parking lot Thursday, Stetson Branch Librarian Diane X. Brown hosted a CD release party for Brown, who makes it a point to hit the neighborhood in between tours to check in with the kids. While Davis autographed copies of the CD and friends and family mingled, Focus filled the air with positive vibes from a sound system set up for the occasion. The new album, like all of Davis’s work, taps an optimistic them, affirming life, with a newfound appreciation for it. “This is a big day for me. Focus came out last week. I wanted to do something else in the community to showcase what you can do in life if you believe in yourself,” Davis told the gathering.
PAUL BASS PHOTO Chris “Big Dog” Davis signs his new CD at Thursday afternoon’s release party.
to make Africa- American studies a graduation requirement for high schoolers. It will only be an elective when it’s offered this winter. The group is also asking for more black authors in the English curriculum at all levels. White already started the conversation last month when he sent a letter to parents about the Black Lives Matter protests. “The protests about racial equality and social justice that have taken place across our country these past several weeks have given us reason to pause and reflect on our own lives and communities,” White wrote. “As parents and educators, we must ask ourselves the question; ‘Do all of our students and families feel accepted equally as members of our school communities?’ Especially during these times, I, standing with the Chairs of our Boards of Education, remain committed to ensuring educational equity for all of our students in every aspect of their school experience.” White also said that the district is in a multi-year process of revising its K-12 curriculum. “Additionally, we will begin the process of developing specific course offerings in African-American and black studies,
CTNEWSJUNKIE FILE PHOTO Black Lives Matter protest in May at the state Capitol
Puerto Rican, and Latino studies at Valley Regional High School for the 20222023 school year. We will be forming a district-wide Equity Committee this fall that will include representation from all stakeholders in our school system,” White said. The new Equity Committee will be in charge of recommendations to the administration.
Poulard praised the administration for its proactive approach. “This is an important issue and a timely one that needs to be addressed,” Alexander said. “Black people and black culture are an integral part of the history of this country. They literally put their blood sweat and tears into building this country and we need to be teaching their history as well the history of indigenous people.”
New Haven Supports its Sister City – Freetown,
Sierra Leone, West Africa by Althea Norcott
New Haven I ndependent
This spring, the Ambassador of Sierra Leone, Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai, wrote to Al Marder, president of the Amistad Committee and Althea Norcott, president of Freetown-New Haven Sister Cities Program to request medical and/ or financial assistance to help the people of Sierra Leone through the coronavirus pandemic. On Tuesday, June 2, at the Amistad Statute in front of New Haven’s City Hall, members of several organizations and Mayor Justin Elicker presented Mohammed Barrie, a representative of the Sierra Leone government, checks totaling $7200. These funds will help purchase Personal Protection Equipment for hospitals in Sierra Leone and help feed the food insecure. New Haven’s relationship with Sierra Leone goes back to 1839 and the Amistad Incident. Its relationship and support has continued to the present through the work of the Amistad Committee and FreetownNew Haven Sister Cities program. The good citizens of New Haven supported Sierra Leone during the recent Ebola Crisis (4,000 deaths) and terrible mud slides (1000 deaths) by raising about $150,000 to purchase four vehicles to be used as ambulances and medical supplies. New
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Haven was the only city in the United States to help in this way. This current donation will help resupply some of the PPEs needed during the current Covid-19 pandemic. We are proud that once again we have been able to continue to assist our brothers and sisters across the ocean. Picture, left to right - Thomas Thur-
ston, Gilder Lehrman Center; Roslyn Hamilton, Amistad Committee; Mohammend Barrie, Sierra Leone Representative; Althea Norcott, New Haven Sister Cities Program; Jacqueline Randolph, Freetown-New Haven Sister Cities Program; Justin Elicker, Mayor of the City of New Haven.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
Blumenthal Plugs PPP For Black-Owned Businesses by SAM GURWITT
New Haven I ndependent
With the printed red flames from a fiery chicken wing visible on the glass storefront behind him, as if protruding from his head, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal delivered a message for the state’s small businesses: there are still federal dollars waiting to help them. Blumenthal gave that press briefing in front of Bomb Wings and Rice on Whitney Avenue in Hamden Friday morning. There is still $130 billion left in the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), he said. PPP loans are designed to help businesses weather the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, and were a major component of the $2.2 trillion stimulus the federal government passed in March. On Wednesday, the U.S. House extended the deadline to apply to Aug. 8, after the Senate had voted to do so a few days earlier. In particular, black-owned businesses should seek the assistance, Blumenthal said. “This paycheck protection program ought to be focusing on black-owned businesses that have faced really tough times,” he said as cars rushed by, nearly drowning him out. Blumenthal chose a business Friday that exemplified what he said he hopes other businesses will do. Bomb Wings and Rice is one of Hamden’s newer black-owned restaurants, and has used a PPP loan to get through the pandemic. Jason Teal, the owner, and the second vice president of the state NAACP, stood next to Blumenthal as the senator plugged the now extended program. “Jason Teal and his business is a real American success story,” Blumenthal began. “Nothing could be more American than free enterprise that does good by helping people. This kind of small business is really what makes America great.” Bomb Wings and Rice opened last year, but Teal was in the business of feeding people before. In 2013, he started a nonprofit organization in Meriden called Change the Play, which provides career, educational, and other programming for at-risk youth. In 2017, Teal said, he started to see that many of the kids he served were hungry. So he started a meal program to feed the students who came to the organization’s programming after school. When he figured out he would need a kitchen to prepare the meals for Change the Play, Teal said, he decided it would make sense to create a restaurant out of the kitchen. He said he and his partner were considering just doing wings, but thought wings alone wouldn’t carry the business. They were thinking about the most successful types of restaurants in America, and thought Chinese restaurants probably take the cake. The AmericanChinese favorite? Fried rice. Thus, Bomb Wings and Rice was born. Now, cooks use the kitchen at the res-
taurant before and after business hours to make food for kids in Hamden, Meriden, and Wallingford through Change the Play. Teal said the non-profit started its summer meals program on Monday, and has served about 1,000 kids breakfast and lunch every day so far. In Hamden, Change the Play distributes food at St. Ann’s Soup Kitchen at St. Ann’s Church on Dixwell Avenue. Teal said the restaurant lost about 50 percent of its business at the beginning of the pandemic. He applied for a PPP loan and got $22,500, which helped him keep his 13 employees on payroll. Luckily, Bomb Wings and Rice is set up well for a pandemic. Teal said he and his business partner designed the restaurant around third-party delivery apps like Uber Eats, Grubhub, and Doordash. “They’re really robbing the industry, how much they take,” he said of those apps, which often draw as much as 30 percent of the proceeds from a restaurant’s sale. He and his partner factored that into the financial design of the restaurant, which has virtually no seating and just a front counter, because he figured those apps would be the future even if they do harm restaurants. Business has picked up again, he said, thanks to the PPP and increased exposure. “Honestly, we have really good food,” he said, explaining the restaurant’s recent success. But with so much uncertainty ahead due to the pandemic, another PPP loan would definitely help, he said. PPP loans are forgiven if businesses use 60 percent of them on paychecks, down from 70 percent in the original program. But while there may be $130 billion left, it’s not always so easy for businesses to get them. In the first round of PPP loans, small businesses often did not fare well. Loans often went to large corporations. Loans of over $2 million accounted for a quarter of
the money spent in the first round, NPR reported in May. Small businesses were often left behind. While the federal government provides the funding for the program, it is up to local lenders to actually offer the loans to businesses. Lenders might be hesitant to offer loans to small businesses that have never taken a loan from a bank. In this next round of loans, said Blumenthal, the government needs to ensure that small borrowers have access to the program. In many cases, small business owners don’t have the tools, the bandwidth, or the know-how to apply for a PPP loan. Scott Dolch, executive director of the Connecticut Restaurant Association, said that many restaurant owners he has spoken to are hesitant to apply. They have never had to take out a loan, he said, and he has to reassure them that PPPs are fully forgivable. “I’ve been screaming from the rooftops: ‘What do you mean you haven’t gotten a PPP?’” he said. In a period of such uncertainty, when restaurants may not be able to operate normally for a long time yet, restaurants need to think long-term, he said, and get all the help they can. State Sen. George Logan, echoing Blumenthal,urged his constituents to take advantage of the program. He told them to reach out to local lawmakers like him if they need help. Business owners can also contact Blumenthal’s office or their other federal representatives, or the Connecticut Restaurant Association for help. At that point, it was approaching noon, when the restaurant would open, and the smell of wings and rice was beckoning. The two senators followed the smell into the kitchen, where they stood and talked to Teal for a few minutes. By the time they left, there were brown paper bags waiting for them. Lunch Friday for the two senators was a Peruvian rice bowl and wings.
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Covid Kills Not Your
Sklar said. They ulitmately decided that closing up for good was the best thing to do. They said they’re still negotiating with their landlord around how to get out of their five-year lease, which ends in a year and a half. When asked what would have helped them keep The Beer Collective, Davis and Sklar had the same answer. “Access to money.” That is, easier access to some kind of grant or other financial assistance that would not have thrown them into further debt and that would have allowed them time to adapt their business model to the new realities of the service industry. “We were open for three and a half years, and it was bittersweet to close, but I very much think we accomplished what we wanted to do,” Davis said. “We served fantastic beer from great brewers that otherwise didn’t get as much recognition. We gave them a platform to be able to display their beer. And we gave a lot of people who were as passionate about beer as us a good place to be able to drink and gather and nerd out about beer.” Sklar said that he plans to stay in New Haven and try to open a new restaurant called Haven Hot Chicken. Davis said he plans to move back to his home state of Colorado and potentially open a new food service business in Denver. “More Than Just A Bartending Gig” In the days after The Beer Collective co-owners announced that the bar would be closing for good, former staff and customers flooded Facebook with fond memories and words of praise. “Working at The Beer Collective was much more than just a bartending gig,” wrote Austin Scott. “This place became my home away from home and the staff was my second family. To lose a job permanently due to a virus has to be the most unfair thing in life I’ve ever had to experience. That being said, life isn’t fair and we have to keep moving forward and looking towards the horizon. “I want to give a huge thank you to Craig Sklar and Taurean Davis for the job opportunity of a lifetime that ultimately lead to me starting my own business. Without this job I would have never moved to New Haven and made friendships with so many people that are going to last a lifetime.” Michael Sneed agreed. “Hands down one of the best environments to work in with amazing people,” he wrote. “Taurean Davis and Craig Sklar, thank you guys for everything.” “I owe ALL my beer knowledge to Craig Sklar and Taurean Davis,” wrote Amy Nelson, “hands down most knowledgeable beer connoisseurs I’ve ever met. Sad to see the doors close for good.”
going anywhere,” says Dr. Varon. “We need to be smart about it. Testing is a priority in identifying where it stands. We do have treatment options, so if you have any symptoms, you need to contact your healthcare provider or come see us. We are not afraid to care for any COVID-19 patient. We want you to live!” Dr. Gathe admits that the COVID-19 pandemic is unlike anything he has ever seen in his lifetime and believes that there must be an appropriate prevention message targeting communities that are the most vulnerable and impacted by the virus. “We have to ensure that adequate FREE testing is available for every member of our community,” says Dr. Gathe. “More importantly, we must provide some interpretation to those who get tested, about what the results of that test actually means. We must also provide members of the community with appropriate outpatient therapy, inpatient care and an assurance that every individual is truly well enough to return to their home or work setting in a safe manner.” Dr. Gathe has one message for the African American community. “COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting our community as far as percentage of those infected, the percentage of those going into the hospital and the percentage of those who are dying. For our community, there are only two possibilities: Either you have it or you are at high risk of getting it…PERIOD. The difference between the two is getting tested to know your status. Once you get tested, if you have it seek medical treatment. If you don’t have it, do everything in your power not to get it, such as social distancing and wearing a mask until this public health emergency is under control, which will not be in the near future.” In order to further help address the disproportionately affecting the African American community, Dr. Gathe and Dr. Varon have also formed a new nonprofit organization called the Cure COVID Consortium (CCC), which will use 100% of the funds they receive to offer a state of the art, comprehensive program for COVID-19 prevention efforts, a comprehensive testing program, and direct inpatient and outpatient medical care for those infected with the virus and for treatment that will be needed for vulnerable communities across the greater Houston area. Not all superheroes wear capes, but in the case of these two Joes, they do wear white coats. Dr. Joseph Gathe, Jr. and Dr. Joseph Varon are both infectious disease doctors and have been on the frontlines addressing the COVID-19 epidemic.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
Low-Interest Loan Program Launched by KO LYN CHEANG
New Haven I ndependent
Audubon Street barber Divy Geli knows his shop would benefit from a cash infusion provided by a newly-announced lowinterest loan program targeted at helping minority- and women-owned small businesses in New Haven. What he’s not so certain of is whether it’s worth tapping into the program and taking out a loan he may not be able to pay back. The new $1.5 million low-interest loan program in question is The Partnership Loan Program for Minority and Womenowned Businesses in New Haven and the Lower Naugatuck Valley, which was created through a partnership among The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, HEDCO, Inc., the Amour Propre Fund and The City of New Haven. City and state political leaders and nonprofit heads celebrated the launch of the new loan program Tuesday afternoon outside of the Community Foundation’s headquarters at 70 Audubon St. The program itself offers low-interest and partially-forgivable loans for local minority and women-owned businesses in New Haven and the lower Naugatuck Valley cities of Derby and Ansonia. Eligible businesses can apply for a loan of up to $25,000 with an interest rate of 4 percent. The program aims to address an urgent need felt by small businesses in New Haven who found themselves unable to ben-
Cathy Graves speaks outside The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.
efit from the first round of the federal Paycheck Protection Program, created to deal with the Covid-19 economic shutdown. Because of the complicated application process and the fee structure, many of the funds ended up going to larger businesses or white-owned businesses like Shake Shack. New Haven small business owners have called for the city government to work with more of them to ensure they do not get excluded from financial support. “So many [small businesses] have been deeply threatened by Covid-19, and so
many of them have been bypassed by the support that’s come from Washington,” said Mayor Justin Elicker during Tuesday’s event. Just 12 percent of Black and Latino business owners who applied for PPP loans reported receiving help, according to a survey by Global Strategy Group. Many of the small businesses that this new loan program aims to benefit do not have accountants or access to lawyers needed to apply for federal aid. Others do not have credit lines to banks, and suffer from a badly-hit credit rating due to the pandem-
Advice you need for the mortgage you want.
ic-related economic crisis. “Many are ineligible for the financial programs offered to the more privileged,” said Amour Propre Fund President Lindy Lee Gold. “It is predicted that up to 40 percent of women and minority-owned businesses will not survive the losses,” she continued. “Many lack access to credit making it harder to survive these financial emergencies. Many are micro-enterprises providing a livelihood to the sole proprietor and a few employees at most. Profit margins are thin while other financial savings are often meager, making them vulnerable to sudden downturns.” A Struggle To Repay Loans Now, money is available to help specifically those small businesses that got left out. But some businesses owners like Geli, who runs Phil’s Hair and Spa, worry that they will not be able to repay the loans, given how badly affected they are by the pandemic and the economic shutdown. Geli said his business has taken a hard hit as barbershops and hair salons were forced to remain shut until June 1. Sales have more than halved as customers are still afraid to come out, he explained. If he got the loan, Geli said he would use it to pay rent and his employees, whose earnings have dwindled to as low as $80 a week. When asked how the program will help small businesses who struggle to repay the loans, city Deputy Director of Economic
Development Cathy Graves pointed to the terms of the loan, which she said are more favorable than traditional bank loans. For the first year, businesses only have to pay interest on the loan, and interest is only 4 percent. “If someone took out a $25,000 loan, if you’re New Haven-based, the first $4,100 is forgivable,” explained Graves. New Haven businesses in good standing after 12 months are eligible for loan forgiveness of up to 16.67 percent of the original loan amount. Graves also highlighted free training provided by the City of New Haven’s small business academy that will help new entrepreneurs develop a business plan and visit a bank to get a loan. She described the loan fund as a “revolving fund” and emphasized the advantage of a loan program over a grant program, where businesses would not have to repay the money given to them. “We have a fund that will self-perpetuate,” she said. “Because these loans are not grants, every dollar our partners give is leveraged, three times, and then its recycled over and over again for the life of the fund.” To qualify, the businesses must have been around for at least one year, they must be for-profits, and they must have 20 or fewer employees. They must also be minorityowned or women-owned, be located in the City of New Haven or the lower NauCon’t on page 11
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
Indigenous Ritual “Cleanses” Wooster Park by SOPHIE SONNENFELD New Haven I ndependent
On Independence Day, 15 indigenous people gathered in Wooster Square Park by the stone pedestal that until 11 days earlier had supported a statue of Christopher Columbus. Norman Clement, who is a member of the Penobscot Nation and a confederate member of the Quinnipiacs, helped organize a morning “purification ceremony” at the spot to cleanse the negativity and hatred he said he encountered when the statue was taken down. “Today is for us to have a ceremony to re-bless this ground, give it back to the Quinnipiac ancestors who it belongs to and move on,” he declared. To begin the purification, Clement and Rick Looking Crow Mazzadra, a city housing inspector who is from the Passamaquoddy tribe, undertook a spiritual practice called “smudging.” They burned white sage in bowls in front of the stone pedestal. They directed the smoke and accelerated the fire with a ceremonial fan of feathers. Mazzadra made his own fan with the feathers of the first turkey he hunted in 1982. The feathers are attached to a section of antler from the first deer he hunted and held together by tree sap. Two black beads and one white bead representing his two sons and daughter hang off the end of Mazzadra’s fan so he can always carry them with him in spirit. After cleansing the area around the pedestal, everyone in attendance lined up for individual smudging. As each person stepped forward, arms outstretched and feet spread apart, Clement and Mazzadra held up the smudging bowls and used the ceremonial fans to outline every body with smoke. Once every person was cleansed, all were invited to a standing circle where
people were encouraged to pray, play music, sing, and share thoughts or stories. Afterwards, Lion, who is a Connecticut liaison officer of the United Confederation of Taíno People, walked around handing out dried tobacco as an offering for people to place at the foot of the pedestal. Many raised the tobacco in one hand to the sky before reaching through the iron fence, sprinkling it around the stone. At first, Marisol Oliveras’s daughter Lilian Negron was hesitant to join in the ceremony. Oliveras and Negron, who moved from Arizona to Waterbury in 2003. said they were never fully aware of their role in the indigenous community. While she was growing up, Oliveras said, her grandmother practiced some Taíno customs and traditions. The Taíno are indigenous people from the Caribbean who were the first natives Christopher Columbus encountered in 1492. “She did things that were a little bit odd and off to me, and my mother used to tell me, ‘Well, that was Taíno.’” Oliveras said she never fully explored her roots. She felt there was always “a drum beat in my life that was missing.” It wasn’t until after her mother passed away four years ago that Oliveras decided to have her DNA tested. It turned out she was 17 percent Taíno. After the test she said she got more interested in exploring Taíno history and culture. She then attended a UConn rising powwow where she met Lion Heart. When he was introduced holding the Taíno flag, Oliveras said she was overwhelmed with pride. After the ceremony, she introduced herself to Lion Heart who right away welcomed her with open arms. Since then, he has invited Oliveras to powwows and introduced her to other people in the indigenous community. “They’ve been very welcoming and very
supportive.” Saturday morning was the first time 18-year-old Negron came to an indigenous ceremony. “I just saw everyone was having a good time, it was very open, and there wasn’t any negativity so I decided to give it a try!” What Next For years, Norm Clement has pushed to take down or rename monuments, buildings, and the national holiday celebrating Columbus. “We fought for years to get this taken down, and why was it taken down? Because a little white girl wrote an essay. So her voice was heard, but not ours.” Clement said he has not yet had the chance to speak with rising Wilbur Cross High School junior named Rhea McTiernan Huge who wrote that piece and created a petition calling for the statue’s removal. He said it was “a great thing she did.”
Clement said Mayor Justin Elicker should have included indigenous people to serve on the committee exploring how to replace the Columbus statue. As a vocal activist, Clement said he was also disappointed that Elicker has not even reached out to him at all. “We’re still not respected. Our treaties aren’t respected, our voices aren’t respected.” Mazzadra also said he would like to see more Native American representation in New Haven. “Invite us more and love each other more” he said. Mazzadra said he doesn’t think the Columbus statue should be replaced with another statue or any monument at all — just grass. Motioning to the ground, Mazzadra said, “Without her, you and me can’t even exist. Keep her face beautiful.” Lion Heart said he might not be opposed to the Wooster Square statue committee replacing the statue with a different Ital-
ian-American hero. “We’re not against the Italian community replacing the statue with one of their personal heroes, as long as they’re not connected to the same principles that Columbus represented like the genocide and the slave trade.” Lion Heart said it was important to take down the statue in order to teach children and future generations the truth about Columbus. “We want the Italians to be happy, enjoy life, celebrate their culture, celebrate their people, but do it the right way.” Mazzadra, who attended the statue removal, said he stayed on the outskirts because of the hatred and violence from prostatue protesters. “We don’t believe in the devil, just negative energy. Today we’re looking for a cleansing for everybody so we can start anew,” he said Saturday. “It’s a purification for all to just make calm waters again.”
State-Local Pols Team Up For Census Canvass by MAYA MCFADDEN New Haven I ndependent
Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz and Board of Alders Majority Leader Richard Furlow paired up to knock doors on Ramsdell Street—not to get out the vote for an election, but to encourage Amity residents to fill out the 2020 Census. The state and local political leaders started their Census canvassing at the corner of Ramsdell Street and Whalley Avenue in Furlow’s Ward 27 on Tuesday morning. They distributed a census handout with information on what the once-a-decade headcount is and why it’s important, along with Census lanyards and chip clips. The pair informed residents that com-
pleting the Census will help provide data of community populations to the federal government, which in turn will help determine the amounts of federal funding sent back to states and cities for daily services like healthcare, fire departments, schools, roads, and community initiatives. Furlow joined Bysiewicz as a familiar face to his ward residents. As of Monday New Haven has a response rate of 49 percent according to 2020census.gov. Bysiewicz said she hopes to see that number increase, particularly in areas with hard-to-count populations around New Haven. Connecticut has a total Census response rate of 65.35 percent as of Monday. Bysiewicz has much of her first term
as lieutenant governor getting out the word about the importance of the Census. That advocacy effort has continued throughout the pandemic. On June 18,
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she joined community leaders in Bridgeport to knock doors much like she did in New Haven on Tuesday. Furlow was greeted by many familiar faces who said they have already completed the Census. “I knew you would,” Furlow said with a smile to a neighbor. Bysiewicz asked that the residents who completed their Census pass along the handout to friends and family who haven’t yet. One neighbor named Marcus told the pair he had already completed his household’s Census. He then spent a few minutes chatting with Bysiewicz and Furlow about the sculptures on his home’s front lawn. For a few, the neighborhood walk led to conversations beyond the Census.
An elderly woman shared that only a month ago she battled Covid. “Now I’m feeling much better. Thank you for coming by,” she told the two politicians. Federal funding for highly used programs throughout the state like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Medicare, Medicaid, The School Breakfast Program (SBP), The National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Pell grants and more all hinge Census data to determine federal dollar amounts. “Every family in our state relies upon it,” Bysiewicz said. “Its so important each person stand up and be counted. It’s safe and easy.”
Tracey: “We’ll Make It Work” THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
by EMILY HAYS
New Haven I ndependent
Connecticut wants every student at school every day in the fall — albeit wearing masks and eating lunch in their classrooms. This is the latest guidance from the state for local school districts during the Covid-19 pandemic, Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Thursday. “I was not expecting five days a week, all day with all the students,” said New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Iline Tracey after the announcement. “But at least when it comes to transportation, that alleviates some of our concerns.” Tracey’s “Tiger Team” has been working on plans that cover instruction, operation, student wellness and more as the Covid-19 pandemic continues. Tracey decided to start planning before getting official guidance from the state so teachers could help plan before their summers start. She knew the plan would need tweaking. But Thursday’s news presented a whole set of new questions: Which classrooms have room for students to spread out? Will schools need to provide masks for students? How many parents will simply opt not to send their child in? “We’ll make it work,” Tracey vowed. Contingent On Virus (And People) Behavior The state plan to reopen is based on current data that shows an ongoing decline in new Covid-19 cases in the state, said Education Commissioner Miguel Cardona. Cardona pointed to the relatively slow spread of the virus in Connecticut compared to many other states that have reopened their economies. (The total
Superintendent Tracey at Riverside Academy graduation.
COURTNEY LUCIANA PHOTO
death tolls in New Haven, Hartford and Fairfield County over the course of the pandemic are still among the highest per capita in the country.) If the spread of Covid-19 picks up again, districts will be asked to switch to partial in-person — “hybrid” — or fully remote learning, Cardona said. The state plans to finalize the number of cases that would trigger those partial or complete shutdowns and publish them at a later date. In other words, Connecticut residents
must continue to wear masks and social distance for the next few months for schools to reopen fully in the fall, Cardona said. Some parents may not feel comfortable sending their children back to school yet. Cardona said that districts should give those families opportunities to continue remote learning. The number of families who take this route in the fall could be quite high, according to a survey NHPS conducted recently. Tracey said that nearly half of the 9,800 parents responding to the survey said that they would prefer to keep their children home in the fall. “If we have 4,000 or 5,000 families stay home, we may be able to practice proper social distancing. But will unions allow teachers to teach double time?” Tracey said. She said that she will send out another survey to gauge parent plans now that the governor has declared it safe to send children to school. New information about Covid-19 and how it spreads has convinced the state that some safety measures are less important than previously thought. Temperature checks and Covid-19 testing are among these strategies, Cardona said. A child might get sent home because a thermometer implies that they have a fever, when they have just been waiting outside in the heat for the temperature check. Or a student might be exposed to the virus a day after being swabbed for the disease and become Covid-positive before the initial results come back. Instead, face masks, social distancing
and student cohorts are the key strategies the state is encouraging school districts to take. Students and staff would cover their noses and mouths at all times inside the building. Desks would be spaced as far apart as classrooms would allow. Gyms and auditoriums may need to be converted into learning space to help. Students would interact with only one relatively small group of peers as much as possible. These social distancing measures could be difficult for pre-kindergarten classes, Tracey said. Preschoolers often sit in groups at tables rather than at desks. Tracey said that the district is considering whether to purchase new furniture. Similarly, space will likely be a constraint in the district’s most populated schools. Fair Haven School, Conte West Hills Magnet School and Wilbur Cross High School are already at capacity, Tracey said. “At Cross, when students transition between classes, it’s like on Broadway,” Tracey said. Bus capacity will not be as much of an issue as NHPS administrators had anticipated. Previous guidance suggested that the state would require buses to halve or more than halve the number of students allowed on at any one time. Cardona said that the state is hoping districts will consider the plan and respond within the next month about what kind of financial gaps districts need to close to make reopening happen. At the moment, Tracey sees shortages of custodial staff and face masks as key challenges NHPS would face during reopening. Because it would be important for
NFL Will Play Black National Anthem at Games
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
When Colin Kaepernick took a knee during the playing of the national anthem to bring awareness to social and other injustices faced regularly by Black and Brown individuals in America, the National Football League, President Donald Trump, and others wrongly associated the quarterback’s actions as a protest against the U.S. flag and the nation’s military. In the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd, protests and demonstrations have awakened America and most of the world to the plight of African Americans who long have suffered injustice, inequality, and an overall lack of understanding. The NFL remains at the forefront of the new understanding, and now they’ve taken that knowledge, and, in an unprec-
edented decision, the league announced it would play Lift Every Voice and Sing – the Black National Anthem – before every opening day game this year. The performance of the song will occur before “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the NFL said. The league’s season opener is scheduled for September 10, with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans. “The league taking the opportunity to play “Lift every voice and sing” (the Black national anthem) is sweet. It’s a great way to honor those who started this movement year and years ago,” tweeted Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Chris Conley. “For those who aren’t familiar with it, this song seeks to remind us of our past as a country and to strive to be better. It speaks to all of us, not just Black people, even tho it became a rallying cry for Blacks in the Jim Crow era. It is a beauti-
ful message birthed from pain,” Conley added. “To those claiming the song is derisive, I ask which part? Much like America the Beautiful is played to honor, this song is the same. It’s isn’t for “just Black people” it’s for all who acknowledge the past and press toward a better future.” As noted in Sports Illustrated, Lift Every Voice and Sing has an extensive history since its first inception as a poem in 1899. According to the NAACP, its lyrics were penned by writer and NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson (a Jacksonville native). It was eventually adopted for music by his brother, John Rosamond Johnson. Years later, it was adopted by the NAACP as the organization’s official song. According to the NAACP, the song was first performed in Jacksonville at a school where James Weldon Johnson was
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the principal. As part of a celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12, 1900, Lift Every Voice and Sing was publicly performed by 500 school children at the Stanton School. The NFL has recently acknowledged it was wrong in how it handled Kaepernick, who has mostly been black balled from the game. Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he now would encourage teams to sign the former Super Bowl quarterback. Because Goodell has reversed course and said he would allow kneeling, the league came under enormous criticism from President Donald Trump, who now is calling for a boycott of the NFL. Sen. Ted Cruz called the decision to play the Black National Anthem “asinine,” further fueling racial tensions that have already boiled over since the Floyd killing.
schools, particularly school bathrooms, to be cleaned regularly, schools would need more custodians working, she said. The district would encourage families to provide students with face masks from home, but schools would need extras just in case a student arrives without one, Tracey said. Similarly, classrooms would need extra hand sanitizer. From her experience at graduations this year, Tracey expects students to be very happy to be back in schools. She recalled students hugging her despite her requests to practice social distancing. “Students can’t wait to see their teachers. It’s a long time to be away from social interaction,” Tracey said. Con’t from page 09
Low-Interest Loan
gatuck Valley, and they must be in good standing with the Department of Revenue Services (DRS). “We don’t want to turn anyone away,” said Kim Hawkins, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of HEDCO, Inc. If businesses are not in good standing with the DRS, Hawkins said they will work with them to address outstanding tax issues and allow them to still work with the loan program. The program is a public-private partnership created through collaboration among The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven and HEDCO, Inc., who contributed $500,000 each, as well as the Amour Propre Fund and The City of New Haven, which contributed $250,000 each. The city’s portion comes from its federal CARES Act funding. “We’re talking about [helping] 75 small businesses in neighborhoods New Haven, Derby, Ansonia, each of which employ a dozen, 15, up to 20 people, each of which has families who depend on it,” said The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven President and CEO William Ginsberg. “In the vast scheme of things, it’s a small number, perhaps. But in terms of the life of this community and the neighborhoods in our community, and our region, we think it can make a big difference.” Con’t from page 02
And Our Backyards
As an educator, I am hopeful that more students and residents will question and want to learn about racial issues. But as a Black New Englander, I sense that this moment is another flash in a pan. Jonathan L. Wharton, Ph.D. is an associate professor of political science and urban affairs at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven. He is also a frequent guest on WNPR’s Wheelhouse radio show.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
Black Entrepreneur Reveals How She Conquered Poverty and Homelessness to Become a Millionaire Real Estate Investor By BlackNews.com
The reviews are in and it’s official: Poverty Curse Broken – The Roberta Hoskie Story is a huge success! In this riveting memoir, Dr. Roberta Hoskie wants readers to understand that nothing is impossible. It is her mantra and way of thinking that she wants those reading her book to adopt and apply to their lives. She recently led an intimate online discussion speaking about her powerful life story, her life’s work, and first publication hailed as “a powerful and life-changing read.” The free event empowered listeners with the knowledge & tools needed to break the “Poverty Curse”. “If my story can help inspire and have someone believe IT is possible, whatever IT is, then, to me, that’s fulfilling,” she explained in a recent interview about her book. Dr. Hoskie’s revelatory first publication seeks to show readers how anyone can rise above circumstances to achieve greatness. Mission accomplished! The reviews are in and readers have expressed how powerful and life-changing Roberta’s story has been in their lives. The book has truly proven to be a gamechanger. Known worldwide as “Ms. Millionaire Mind$et”, Dr. Hoskie is a real estate investor, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and community activist. Her many accolades and accomplishments include numerous awards from hometown organizations such as New Haven, Connecticut’s Chamber of Commerce, African American Affairs Commission, the New Haven Register, and many others. She has also been the subject of numerous news segments both locally, nationally, and even internationally. Dr. Roberta has also hosted radio programs to teach others how to break what she’s dubbed the “Poverty Curse” and the mindset that
holds too many from reaching their full potential. It isn‘t a struggle she studied in Sociology 101 but lived like millions of others. Poverty Curse Broken details Dr. Hoskie’s journey from bullets whizzing through her project window while her son slept, to working up to a 6-figure salary, to becoming independently wealthy through real estate investment. In the book, she recalls standing in church holding her son in the prayer line her mother encouraged her to jump in, and remembers the pastor pointing to her young son saying: “Look at your son. His life is directly linked to yours…directly linked to what you do.” He laid hands on her and she passed out. That was one of several turning points in her life discussed in the deeply personal memoir. It was enough to make this single mother on welfare who dropped out of high school ask: ‘What is MY life?’ She looked at her condition and recognized she was surrounded by generational poverty and questioned what his future would be. She thought about the statistics surrounding black men, her son’s father’s drug dealing, being a high school dropout, and having 22 family members in the same housing projects. ”What do I have to offer this kid?” Hoskie asked herself. She changed her mindset to think about what future she wanted for her son & family. “It’s a matter of believing that it’s possible. The minute you believe it’s possible and don’t give yourself a Plan B, then only A can happen. My plan A was that my son will not have generational poverty, be a drug dealer, or be lost to these streets,” she explained. Hoskie focused her energies and worked hard to break the curse of poverty and the mindset that enabled it. The road ahead wasn’t going to be easy; but for Hoskie, the road behind lead nowhere.
Dr. Roberta Hoskie
Exposing her traumas and her impoverished beginnings was as deeply personal as it gets. Talking about physical and sexual abuse, being poor, uneducated, and a teen mother & dropout wasn’t easy. Her tears stained the pages of her notes recalling the many struggles she had experienced in her young life. But while she was the subject of numerous stories in print, television, radio, and podcasts, she felt HER story had yet to really be told. So five years ago she began writing companion journal entries to accompany her 21-day Ms. Millionaire Mind$et cards. Initially avoiding the prospect of sharing the deeply personal pain of her experiences, she found she couldn’t help but interject her own life experiences. At times, the writing process stagnated – even for a woman who teaches others that procrastination is the enemy of progress. “I was beating myself up for procrastination,” she recalled, “My son said: ‘Mom,
maybe the part that you need in the book hasn’t happened, yet…” Then Hoskie’s Facebook Live post, meant to show that there are good, honest people, went viral. She’d lost a $10,000 check getting out of her car. A man named Elmer Alvarez found the check and called her office to return it. What Hoskie didn’t know was that Alvarez was homeless. Posting the meeting on Facebook took a local story internationally and would change both of their lives. And despite this chance happening, Roberta does not actually believe in chance or coincidence in favor of divine intervention – that things happen when they happen for a reason. Submitting to a higher power and putting oneself in position for those blessings is key. Helping the homeless Good Samaritan, Alvarez was relatively easy for Roberta. Elmer Alvarez now has a home, car, attends church regularly, and is on a path to becoming a pastor. However, it showed her the potential to change someone else’s life in a really substantial way. And with that, it became the thing that her book needed. She went back through her emotional journey of drudging up the past, as painful as it was, Hoskie knew it would help someone Newly inspired, she returned to writing – sometimes typing on tear-stained keys. But her desire to share her story took over despite the pain of digging up the past and potentially angering family members. “I can’t be selfish…That’s why I was very transparent. There are plenty of people that have been in abusive situations, and couldn’t come out, or let the past haunt them…The things I put out there are the things your momma tells you never to discuss in public,” Hoskie explained, referring to a chapter in the book called “Shush, Don’t Tell Nobody.” Yes, it gets that real.
And while some may look at this book as the culmination of the journey, Dr. Hoskie sees much more down the road and a part of a larger process to help people become the best versions of themselves – finding their own personal success and freedom from the curse gripping millions around the country and world. Register online to see what CNN, ABC, FOX, CBS, NBC, and others are calling “an amazing story of how perseverance, bravery, resiliency, and faith in God can take you beyond places you dreamed.” For more information and/or to order a copy of the book, visit RobertAHoskieStory.com Here’s what readers have said about Dr. Hoskie’s inspiring memoir: “Powerful read that will leave you inspired and hopeful. This book is very real, honest, and relatable. As I read this book I was able to relate to many of Roberta’s life experiences as my own experiences…Reading her life story gave me hope that if she can break the poverty curse so can I. And so can everyone else who reads this book. It is possible.” — Sharon “A must-read! The book is amazing, a blueprint for breaking the curse of poverty in our lives. I loved how Roberta’s story allowed us to meet her prior to her massive success, showing us that all things are possible with God. That he knows our end at our beginning and what and who we are to be if we trust him manifestation will occur.” — Cynthia Harrison “Powerful! Captivating and inspiring! A must-read!” — Amazon Customer “Hope exemplified! This is a book that will transform the world!” — Leshonda Campfield
Greenleaf: OWN Network Hit is the Number One Cable Telecast for Women 25-54 By Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., NNPA Newswire Entertainment and Culture Editor
The fifth and final season premiere of OWN’s hit megachurch drama “Greenleaf” (6/23/20) delivered 1.9 million viewers and ranked as Tuesday night’s #1 cable telecast in OWN’s key demographic of women 25-54, which is up +2% from last season’s premiere. The acclaimed drama from Lionsgate, award-winning writer/executive producer Craig Wright (“Lost,” “Six Feet Under”), and executive producers Clement Virgo (“Empire”), Kriss Turner Towner (“Black Monday”), and Oprah Winfrey was also the night’s #1 telecast across all broadcast and cable for African-American women. Greenleaf stars Merle Dandridge as Grace Greenleaf; Keith David as Bishop James Greenleaf; Lynn Whitfield as Lady Mae Greenleaf; Kim Hawthorne as Kerissa Greenleaf; Lamman Rucker as Jacob
Greenleaf; and Deborah Joy Winans as Charity Greenleaf-Satterjee. In addition, the season premiere of “Greenleaf” ranked as the #1 most social scripted series across all of broadcast and cable, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, on Tuesday night (nonsports). OWN was Tuesday night’s #2 cable
network among women 25-54 with “Greenleaf” the #1 cable telecast in the key demo. OWN was Tuesday night’s #1 network on all of television, including broadcast and cable, for African American women and total viewers. Currently, OWN has four of the Top 20 original scripted series (“The Haves and the Have Nots,” “Greenleaf,” “If Loving
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You Is Wrong,” “Cherish the Day”) on ad-supported cable among women 25-54, which is more than any other network. In the second episode of the fifth and final season of “Greenleaf” tomorrow night (Tuesday June 30 at 9:00 p.m. ET/ PT), Noah (Benjamin Patterson) returns to Memphis to help Grace (Merle Dandridge) with A.J (Jacob Gibson), offering her stability in a world that’s upsidedown and spinning out of her control. Bishop (Keith David) and Lady Mae (Lynn Whitfield) take a walk through their history when they visit Mavis’s club as a potential venue for their future. Jacob (Lamman Rucker) continues to dig into the past and uncovers a shocking revelation about the history of the Greenleaf family home. Source: The Nielsen Company; Nielsen Social Content Ratings. Ranked by total interactions. “Greenleaf” has garnered ten NAACP
Image Award nominations, including wins for Outstanding Drama Series in 2020, and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2019 and 2020 (Lynn Whitfield). The “Greenleaf” Soundtrack Volume Two was named Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album (Traditional or Contemporary) by the NAACP Image Awards in 2018. The series has also been recognized by the Alliance for Women in Media’s Gracie Allen Awards and by the Black Reel Awards for Television. “Greenleaf” is produced for OWN by Lionsgate in association with Harpo Films and Pine City. Executive producers are Oprah Winfrey, Craig Wright, Kriss Turner Towner, and Clement Virgo. A “Greenleaf” spinoff, currently in development with Lionsgate, was announced in May 2020. Viewers can now catch up on the show’s complete four seasons on Netflix.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020 Con’t from page 05
Fire Investigator
ten look at firefighters as heroes. Unlike his younger colleagues today, who often enter the service already armed with degrees in fire science, Wardlaw didn’t know a thing about fires when he took the entry-level exam. It took three tries before he passed. But he had one advantage: he could cook. And the lieutenants and captains of the firehouses knew it. They enlisted him to cook special meals for them — white wine pasta, grilled salmon with cream sauce, sautéed seafood, and more. He worked as the pump operator of Engine 6 on Goffe Street, known to be the busiest company in the city. His job was getting the water from the hydrant, through the hose, and to the scene of the fire. The work was physically gruelling and mentally demanding: he had to do quick math, calculate friction loss, and know how much pressure was needed to get the water upstairs. Even today, 19 years later, Wardlaw can still smell his first fire. It was a double fatality — a mother and her baby. He was in the front window, holding the water pipe. Firefighters on the aerial ladder had to lift the roof of the burning house. Smoke billowed out. He looked down and saw them at his feet. The baby was the same age as his son. He bawled his eyes out. Then, he went to help with the bodies. The mother and child were victims of a landlord who had subdivided the building and converted it into a rooming house. In doing so, the landlord closed off one of the only two exits, in violation of legal requirements. When the fire broke out, blocking the only means of egress, the pair could not escape. Today, Wardlaw sees himself as having come full circle in his work. He inspects apartment buildings and reports those that are not up to standard. “Now, we are trying to stop fires before it even happens,” he said. “A Living, Breathing Thing” Three years since he joined the fire marshal’s office, Wardlaw has grown attuned to all the possible ways a fire can start. There are electrical fires, stovetop fires, car fires, and propane fires. Some have natural causes, like thunder and lighting. Some have man-made causes, like arson. When he enters a movie theater, he always looks for the exits. When he visits friends’ homes, he listens for the chirp of a smoke detector. When he sees a power outlet, he checks if it is overloaded. Electrical fires are among the worst and most common fires that he sees. They develop insidiously, hidden behind the walls. The only tell-tale sign might be the faint smell of smoke. But give it a couple of hours and the fire is circling through the home. “When it peeps its ugly head out, it’s a scary fire,” said Wardlaw. In New Haven, there have been 129 fires since the year began and 31 fires in the month of June, as of Friday. Wardlaw has dealt with a dozen calls in one night. In his
career, he has fought more fires than he can count. After a while, the fires start to blend together. The people are harder to forget. He has seen people on the worst days of their life, connected them to the Red Cross, and checked in with them for weeks after. He has walked through a hollowedout home, stepping over beautiful family pictures scattered on the ground. He has fought fires while around him, parts of the building would fall and the ground would give way. Recently, he met a woman whose home caught fire while she was at work. Not long before, she had lost her son to a shooting. The little bit of money that people raised for her to fund the memorial service was burned in the fire too. “To see folks lose their possessions, their pets, sometimes, their lives, it’s terrible,” he said. But he chose this profession to provide for his wife and two children, who enjoyed an upper-middle class upbringing, unlike him. “Dad chose a profession where he runs into burning buildings for them to have a better life,” he said. While fireworks filled the skids this past weekend, fortunately, fires did not. In that sense, despite the noise, it was quiet weekend, exactly as Wardlaw had hoped.
Legendary Singer Deniece Williams Join Other Big Stars at NNPA Virtual Conference By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
Iconic four-time Grammy Award winner and 12-time nominee, Deniece Williams, will sit for a live interview with BlackPressUSA at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, during the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s (NNPA) virtual convention. Williams, whose transformed R&B, pop, and gospel music over her extraordinary five-decade career, joins Stephanie Mills, Anthony Hamilton, Carlos Santana, and Salt-N-Pepa in a star-studded lineup of musical talent appearing at the first virtual conference in the 193-year history of the Black Press and the 80th anniversary of the NNPA. The sports, race, and culture expert, Jemele Hill will also appear live during the conference. Supremes legend Mary Wilson will appear via a special pre-recorded performance, and Raggae Icon Ziggy Marley has also provided a pre-recorded musical treat. Williams has produced No. 1 pop and R&B hits like “When You Love Somebody,” “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle,” “Free,” “Black Butterfly,” and “Let’s Hear it For the Boy.” During a recent “Black Lives Matter” demonstration, Williams’ “Black Butterfly,” earned selection as one of the Top 10 Black Empowerment Songs of all-time by veteran music writer Chuck Arnold. A Gary, Indiana, native, Williams was
Deniece Williams
weaned on the late, great Minnie’s soul stylings. Riperton, who would later become a trusted mentor and friend to Williams, according to her biography posted on Williams’ website. Williams took a circuitous route to musical stardom. She attended Morgan State University in Baltimore to become a registered nurse and also worked as a ward clerk at Mercy Hospital in Chicago. Later, Williams worked for a telephone company while singing part-time in clubs. “It was when I landed a part-time job singing at a club at the Casino Royal, that I realized how much I enjoyed singing and performing, this was the pivotal moment in my life and where my music career began,” Williams explained. In a 2019 review of her early smash album, “This is Niecy,” the late and great
music columnist Rashod Ollison wrote that Williams was one of the best female singer-songwriters to emerge in the mid’70s with a classic approach that generally sidestepped trends. “She became a pop star in the ’80s with the era-defining ‘Let’s Hear It for the Boy,’ a catchy number from the ‘Footloose’ soundtrack,” Ollison wrote. “But long before that, she poured womanly intelligence into beautiful music,” he proclaimed. The musical roots on “This Is Niecy” snake through jazz and gospel, an irrevocably black approach, Ollison noted. But Williams’ unflinching look at the wonder and disillusionment of romance makes it universal, all rendered in a flutelike soprano that evokes very little, if any, gutventing pain. Even songs of soured love beam a ray of sunlight, Ollison continued in his praise. With only eight songs averaging about four minutes each, Ollison proclaimed that “This Is Niecy” is a concise musical portrait. The opener, “It’s Important to Me,” is one of those zesty numbers with exclamatory horns found on Earth, Wind & Fire albums with White shadowing Williams on lead vocals. “‘That’s What Friends Are For,’ not to be confused with the Dionne Warwick charity hit of the ’80s, is a charmer with shifting tempos that mingle girl-next-door sweetness with womanly allure, a Williams hallmark,” Ollison wrote.
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Pre-registration required. Visit rwater.com/hazwaste to register and for more information, or call 203-401-2712. 13
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
Minority-Owned Miestro.com Paves Faster, Simpler Path for the Massive E-Learning Space Industry
As social distancing and shelter at home became the newest challenge for burntout seasoned professionals to surmount in the era of COVID-19, one small company had already been helping frustrated corporate executives turn their expansive knowledge into robust revenue in the multi-billion-dollar e-learning industry. Headquartered in Atlanta, Miestro.com is a small, minority-owned, but fastgrowing player in the massive open online course (MOOC) industry and has been carving out its own space as a viable online course creation platform for authors, speakers, industry experts and entrepreneurs with small businesses. “It’s never been a better time for professionals to leverage their knowledge and expertise and build recurring revenue through the development of online courses,” says Justin Burns, the 33-yearold founder of Miestro.com. “Our platform was created to allow users to easily create comprehensive online courses and broadcast their expertise to the world in a
Justin Burns, the 33-year-old founder of Miestro.com
matter of minutes,” he said. As a result of his own success as a trained e-learning and education consul-
tant, author and speaker, Burns is becoming known as the go-to authority when it comes to online selling success in the digital age. The author of the best-selling digital marketing book, “ExpertCode,” Burns has been instrumental in helping hundreds of course creators fulfill their dreams of building and launching successful online courses. Burns, who has built Miestro into a seven-figure earning company that incorporates the online course platform and personal success coaching in a few short years, had to overcome many personal and professional challenges and setbacks himself. However, he continues to leverage those lessons for the success of his own company, as well as the success of his course creation customers and coaching clients. “There was a time when I was perceived as unlikely to ever achieve professional success because I was uninterested in education when I was younger, to the point where my family thought I might have a
learning disability,” says Burns. “However, after a mentor taught me about the financial opportunities involved in online training and I began study it and leverage my natural speaking and selling abilities, my life and financial prospects started to change,” he shared. “I learned that when it comes to overcoming challenges, you have to learn to build your own boat and that’s what I’ve done with Miestro,” Burns said. Enhancing user experience stays at the forefront of Miestro’s operation, so Burns recently revamped his branding and site offerings to increase ease of use, incentive badges and gamification and even allows course creators to record their screens. Miestro.com is also a very costefficient option compared to some competitors, as its member programs provide the blueprint to walk course creators through specifically how to create their own customized courses. Prices range from $49 for basic program and opportunity to create three courses, to $199 for
unlimited course creation opportunities and coaching features. The company also hosts online course education summits a few times a year, with one scheduled for July 31 to August 2, 2020. Burns who was approached to be acquired by another company, says he’s in no rush to sell his company and is determined to build Miestro.com into a top tier learning management system (LMS) company and make his mark as the only black founder in the e-learning space. “We live in a world where people need to have a great user experience and I’m excited that we have been getting great feedback on our revamped site that makes it easier, faster and more efficient for our members,” says Burns. “Minorities are not really big players in this space, but Miestro.com is well-positioned to grow quickly and we’re excited about where we are and where we’re going as we continue to attract new members, including some very well-known industry leaders,” he said.
Star-Studded Lineup Planned for First Black Press Virtual Convention By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
The coronavirus pandemic has forced the cancelation and rescheduling of many events. For the first time in the 80-year history of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and the 193 years of the Black Press of America, the pandemic has resulted in the first virtual conference. “This year, we are excited to celebrate 80 years of this powerhouse of an organization, the National Newspaper Publishers Association,” NNPA Chair Karen Carter Richards declared in a statement. “We must continue to build upon our strong foundation by educating, equipping, and empowering our publishers while making them stronger as we march towards celebrating 100 years as an organization and more,” Richards encouraged. “The world is getting to know the Black Press of America through digital capabilities. As part of this Virtual Conven-
tion, we will discuss different ways we, as Publishers, and as an organization, can solidify a brighter future for the Black Press.” NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., added that the Black Press of America appreciates all of the support it received during these trying times. “The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on African Americans and other people of color throughout the United States. Yet, coupled with that viral pandemic is the continuing epidemic of racism in America that is unabated with the fatal realities of racially motivated police killings of African Americans,” Chavis pronounced. He noted that the convention’s theme is appropriately titled, “The Black Press – The vital Voice of Black America: TRUST, HOPE & RESILIENCE …. Overcoming COVID-19.” “Our long struggle for freedom, justice, equality, and empowerment continues. Each generation has to rise to the occa-
sion with ever-increasing determination to keep pressing forward even in the face of formidable challenges,” Chavis uttered. He said the Black Press is thrilled with the line-up of the presentations and awardees at this year’s national convention, which occurs on Wednesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 9. “This will be another historic step for the Black Press,” Chavis announced. The schedule for this unprecedented Black Press convention includes a presentation by Wells Fargo about navigating finances during Covid-19; webinars titled, “Technology and Innovation: The Challenges and opportunities,” and “Black Millennial Voices and Visions for Transformation.” The conference will include a specially recorded performance from legendary Supremes singer Mary Wilson and iconic Reggae artist Ziggy Marley.
It will also include live interviews with singers Stephanie Mills, Anthony Hamilton, Deniece Williams, Salt-N-Pepa, and the legendary Carlos Santana. Actor and entertainer Leon, and the Atlantic’s Jemele Hill also will sit for live interviews. During the conference, Marley will receive the NNPA 2020 Global Icon Award, while Wilson will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Congressional Black Chair Karen Bass (D-Calif.) will receive the NNPA 2020 Outstanding Congressional Leadership Award, while Attorney Benjamin Crump will receive the Freedom Fighting Legal Achievement Award. MC Lyte will receive the Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award, and entertainer Ice Cube gets the Artist of the Century Award. NNPA partners and sponsors include General Motors, Pfizer Rare Disease, Wells Fargo, RAI Services Company, the National Football League, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Facebook Jour-
Supremes singer Mary Wilson
nalism Project, AARP, Hyundai, Molson Coors, Volkswagen, The U.S. Census, Comcast and NBC Universal, Compassion & Choices, API, Ascension, UAW, and Nissan. Registration is free, and those interested can sign up at http://www.virtualnnpa2020.com.
NNPA Salutes Attorney Benjamin Crump and The Crump Law Firm in Memory and Honor of the Family of George Floyd
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) will pay tribute to civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump and his law firm while honoring the family of George Floyd, during the NNPA’s Annual Convention scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 9. Registration for the NNPA virtual conference is free. All can register at http://www.virtualnnpa2020.com. The Virtual Convention marks the 80th
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump
anniversary of the NNPA and 193 years of the Black Press of America. Crump has earned recognition as a freedom fighting lawyer who doesn’t hesitate to defend the life and legacy of African Americans harmed by police violence and racially motivated acts. He currently represents the families of Ahmad Arberry, George Floyd and other Black men and women unjustly victimized by law enforcement. “I salute the Black Press of America and the NNPA on the 193rd anniversary of the Black Press and the 80th anniver-
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sary of the NNPA,” Crump states. “The family of George Floyd and the families of all the Black American victims of racist police murders and violence appreciate the support the Black Press has provided. I thank you for this award.” The NNPA plans to present Crump with its Trailblazer Award for his work fighting for freedom, justice, and equality. Floyd’s family will also be honored at the virtual conference. “When you are on the front line fighting for the rights of our people in the
courts and in the streets of America, it means a lot for the Black Press to always be there as the strong, trusted voice of Black America. Thank you NNPA Chair Karen Carter Richards and NNPA President Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.,” Crump says. In addition to Crump, the Black Press will present Trailblazer Awards to Chuck D of Public Enemy, MC Lyte, legendary Supremes singer Mary Wilson, and Reggae Icon Ziggy Marley. Wilson and Marley plan to deliver virtual performances at the conference.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020 INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016
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Heavy Equipment Mechanic
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Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years or equivalent experience as a heavy equipment/truck mechanic repairing and maintaining Diesel and Hydraulic excavation equipment including hydraulic excavators, dozers, dump trucks, etc. Experience in welding and a CDL license are preferred but not required. C.J. Fucci, Inc. is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employMACRI RENTAL PREAPPLICATIONS AVAILABLE ment VALENTINA without attention to race, color, HOUSING religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
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deliveries for days and weekends. Previous experience required. Competitive wage, 401(k) and benefits. Send resume to: HR Manager, P. O. Box 388, Guilford, CT 06437.
********An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer**********
HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apSeeking to employ experienced individuals in the foreman, operator and teamster trades for a ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TOlabor, 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have license required. To apply please call at (860) 621-1720 or send resume to: Personnel P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, been received the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be Department, mailied upon re-
Construction
DOT Certified Welder
Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years or equivalent experience as a CT DOT Certified Welder. Please email resumes to lreopell@cjfucci.com or fax #203-468-6256 attention Lee Reopell. C.J. Fucci, Inc. is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
quest by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preCT06410. applications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Floor, New Haven, CT 06510. Drug Free Workforce
REQUEST FOR BIDSNOTICIA - NEW BID DUE DATE AND PROCEDURES
Seeking qualified condidates to fill numerous vacancies to include,Publiac Health Nurse, Deputy Tax Collector, For information and detailed application instructions, visit WWW.ci.milford. ct.us Click on SERVICES, JOBS and JOB TITLE.
Air Rights Garage Repairs
HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está New Haven,deConnecticut aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en laNew calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos Haven Parking Authority Project #20-002 máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) Bids due Julyde9,HOME 2020 at 3:00 P.M. en las oficinas INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición (Note: This is a new bid due date, with new bid opening procedure.) llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esasahoras.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 . Bid Documents will be available beginning June 18, 2020 at no cost by downloading from the BuildingConnnected FTP system website. Contact Maryann Bigda of Turner Construction Company at 203-7126070 for BuildingConnnected FTP system access information. Note: there are new bid procedures using the BuildingConnected FTP system to submit bids, and a Zoom Link for the opening of the bids; see full Invitation for Bids - Revised per Addendum #2, which is available on the BuildingConnnected FTP system, for details.
Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
DELIVERY PERSON
NEEDED
2BR Townhouse, BA, 3BR,a list 1 level 1BA Subcontractors, including the Bidders must submit with their Bid on1.5 forms provided of their,Intended
All new apartments, new appliances, newOwned carpet,Business close toEnterprises I-91 & I-95as subcontractors for a goal use of Minority Business Enterprises and Women of at least 25% of thehighways, total valuenear of the Bidder’s bus stop &subcontracts. shopping center New Haven Parking Authority is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Must Have your Own Vehicle If Interested call
(203) 387-0354
Tri-Axle Dump Truck driver
tomassini@yahoo.com
Job Type: Full-time Salary: $60,000.00 to $70,000.00 /year
Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice
The work mainly includes concrete repairs, waterproofing, 242-258 Fairmont Aveand plumbing/drainage system repairs.
APARTMENTS FOR RENT
Steel Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay.
needed with min. 2 years’ experience. Reliable, honest, and respectful a must. Class B, valid medical card, Osha 10 card, clean driving record, pass a drug screening, and have reliable transportation to and from work. The job is full time, Monday thru Friday (some OT and night shifts), hourly pay. Equal Opportunity Employer. A Best Buy Premium Fuel & Trucking LLC Located in New Haven, please contact via email nancy-
NEW HAVEN
CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster
APPLY NOW!
Part Time Delivery Needed One/Two Day a Week,
CITY OF MILFORD
VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES
Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties contact Maria @ 860-985-8258
QSR STEEL CORPORATION
ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Request for Proposals
SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE
Brokerage/Agent of Record Consulting Services for Insurance Benefits Old Saybrook, CT (4 Units) The HousingBuildings, Authority 17 of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Proposals Brokerage/Agent of Record Taxfor Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Consulting Rate ProjectServices for Insurance Benefits. A complete copy of the require-
ments may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Monday, July 6, 2020 atSelective 3:00PM Demolition, Site-work, Cast-
in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Building Superintendent 241 Quinnipiac Avenue, New Haven Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. St. New Haven, CT Spacious 2 bedroom townhouses with hardwood floors. 1.5 baths. Select with basements and washer/ Property Company seeking a hands-on individual This shopping contract is subject to stateManagement set-aside and contractiscompliance requirements. who is capable of performing minor repairs dryer hookups. On-site laundry facility. Off street parking. Close proximity to restaurants,
and duties as well as supervising maintenance operations of the facilities. Must be computer literate and should communicate verbally and via email to coworkers, vendors and tenants. Works with co-workers to improve Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 facilities. Operates and maintains sophisticated mechanical and electrical equipment, performs miscellaneous repairAugust work as15, needed, Anticipated Start: 2016 performs cleaning and other related duties as required. Project documents available via ftp link below:
centers and on bus line. No pets. Security deposit varies. $1,425-$1,450 includes heat, hot water and cooking gas. Section 8 welcome. Call Christine 860-985-8258.
SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY
Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour APARTMENTS FOR RENT until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Qualifications: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage Seymour, CT 06483Avenue, for ConcreteNew Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the A combination of experience, education, and/or training which substantially demonstrates the following knowl258 Fairmont Haven edge, skills and abilities. Principles and practices of installing, operating, maintaining and repairing building Smithfield Gardenstownhouses. Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Seymour. Spacious 2 bedroom $1,225.00. Tenant pays Street all utilities including gas for heat,hot water, Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com
equipment and systems. Operation maintenance and repair of various pumps, motors, air conditioning equip-
elec.stove, balcony and private entrance, off street parking. Close proximity to restaurants,HCC shopping encourages the participation all Veteran,control S/W/MBEvalves & Section Businesses ment, boilers,of blowers, and3 Certified switches, and instruments related to HVAC, and to the digital control Haynes system. ConstructionAbility Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 centers and on bus line. Section 8 welcome. Call Christine 860-985-8258. A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith to trouble shoot and repair lighting, plumbing, fire protection, security systems and energy man-
Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
254 Fairmont Avenue, New Haven
Spacious bedroom townhouses. $1,400.00 paysHousing all utilities including Bidding3 documents are available from theTenant Seymour Authority Of-gas for heat,hot water, elec.stove, balcony and private entrance, off street parking. Close proximity to restaurants, shopping fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. centers and on bus line. Section 8 welcome. Call Christine 860-985-8258.
The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any
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AA/EEO EMPLOYER agement systems normally found in an office building environment. Identify Hazardous materials encountered in the work environment and knowledge of their treatment. Should be able to promote safety in the workplace and be vigilant concerning visitor safety. Excellent benefits include medical, dental and 401k. Please send resume to openjobs.mgmt@fusco.com. Phone calls will not be accepted. Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer.
THE INNER-CITYNEWS NEWS July - July , 2020 - July 14, 2020 INNER-CITY 27,082016 - August 02, 2016
Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:
NOTICE
Commercial Floor Renovations
Phone: 243-2300 HOME INC, on behalf of860Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, Email: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develThe Glendower Group is currently seeking Bids Women Minority Applicants are New encouraged to apply income opment & located at 108 Frank Street, Haven. Maximum limitations apfor commercial floor renovations at Charles T. McAction/ Opportunity Employer ply.Affirmative Pre-applications willEqual be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) Towesrs. have Queeney A complete copy of the requirebeen received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be ment mailiedmay upon be re- obtained from Glendower’s Vendor quest by calling HOME Reclaiming, INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preGarrity Asphalt Inc seeks: Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing. applications must be to HOMEwith INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Reclaimer Operators andreturned Milling Operators current licensing cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Haven, CTbe06510. andFloor, cleanNew driving record, willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits
NOTICIA
Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300
HAMDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
THE GLENDOWER GROUP
Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory Invitation for Bids training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Charles T. McQueeney Towers VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Contact: Tom Dunay
Monday, June 8, 2020 at 3:00PM.
Town of Bloomfield
Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/deEqual Opportunity Employer HOME INC, en nombre la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está
Finance Director
The Hamden Public School System (HPS) located in Hamden, Connecticut seeks Connecticut certified teachers who have a passion for working in diverse and dynamic school settings. The ideal candidate has experience working in culturally, socioeconomically, and racially diverse learning environments. HPS has approximately 5,000 students attending 8 elementary schools, 1 middle School, 1 high school, and 1 secondary alternative program (HCLC). Our demographics are as follows: 32% Black/African-American students; 33% White students; 22% Hispanic (Latinx) students; 8% Asian students; 5% Two or more races; and less than 1% Native American and Pacific Islander students. We are seeking candidates for multiple positions, including but not limited to:
. Special Education (pre-K thru 12) . Mathematics . Social Studies . Spanish . Social Work
Full Time - Benefited $96,755 to $149,345
While we are seeking candidates for these positions specifically, we encourage holders of certificates in other areas to apply as well. It is also important to note here that the Hamden Board of Education is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse teaching staff. Interested candidates can access Hamden.org, click on the Personnel tab, and then click on Online Applications. Anyone seeking additional information can contact Hamden Public Schools Human Resource Director Gary Highsmith via email at ghighsmith@ hamden.org. It is the policy of Hamden Public Schools that no person shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or otherwise discriminated against under any program including employment, because of race, color, religious creed, sex, age national origin, ancestry, marital Large CT fence contractor seeking experienced paintstatus, sexual orientation, past or present history of mental disorder, learning disability ers. Must have at least 5 years’ experience staining and/or or physical disability. Invitation to Bid:
aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipjulio,Must 2016have hastaacuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes ment. CDL License, clean driving record, capable of(aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas operating heavydeequipment; be willing to travel throughout the por correo a petición Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, llamando&a NY. HOME 203-562-4663 horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse Northeast We INC offeralexcellent hourlydurante rate &esas excellent benefits visit our a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510 . website – www.bloomfieldct.org
Union Company seeks:
Contact Dana at 860-243-2300
Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer
HELP WANTED: 242-258 Fairmont Ave NEW HAVEN
STAIN/PAINT CREW:
painting wood and cellular products. Work available 10-12nd 2 Notice months per year. All necessary equipment provided. Mediholiday, sick and vacation pay provided. Must pass a Townhouse, BA, for 3BR, 1 level cal, , 1BA Large CT2BR guardrail company 1.5 looking Laborer/ physical and drug test, have a valid CT driver’s license and All new apartments, new appliances, new carpet, close to I-91 & I-95 Driver with valid CT CDL Class A license and able to Old Saybrook, CT highways, busto stop & shopping center be able to obtain a DOT medical card. Rates from $18.00 get a medical card. Must near be able pass a drug test (4 Buildings,Performs 17 Units)a variety of stockroom/warehouse duties in the storage of material and $22.00 per hour plus benefits. OSHA 10 training required. equipment for an electric utility. Requires a H.S. diploma or equivalent and 1 year of and physical. Compensation based on contact experience. Pet under 40lb allowed. Interested parties Maria @ 860-985-8258 Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project Email resume to dmastracchio@atlasoutdoor.com Please email resume to gforshee@atlasoutdoor.com AA/ employment in a stockroom, warehouse, office, maintenance or construction environEOE/M-F ment. Must have a valid State of CT driver’s license. Pay rate: $23.09 to $28.18 AA/EOE M-F CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Certificate Program. This is a 10 month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates in response to the Church’s Ministry needs. The cost is $125. Classes start Saturday, August 20, 2016 1:303:30 Contact: Chairman, Deacon Joe J. Davis, M.S., B.S. (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster
NOTICE OF INVITATION FOR BID HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DANBURY St. New Haven, CT Plumbing Services IFB No. B20001
SEYMOUR HOUSING SCOPE: AUTHORITY
The Housing Authority of theby City Danbury and its affiliates hereby issue InvitaSealed bids are invited theofHousing Authority of the Town of this Seymour tion for until 3:00Bidpmfrom on professional, Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, qualified, licensed plumbing companies.
Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26RETURN: Smith Street Seymour. Housing Authority of the City of Danbury, 2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Envelope Must be Marked: IFB No. B20001 Plumbing Services
A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday,OPENING July 20, 2016. SUBMITTAL DEADLINE/BID
July 9, 2020 at 10:00am (EST)
Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority OfCONTACT PERSON FOR IFB DOCUMENT: fice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.
Ms. Devin Marra, Director of Procurement,Telephone: 203-744-2500 x141 E-Mail: dmarra@hacdct.org The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to [Minority- and/or women-owned businesses are encouraged to respond]
reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the Housing Authority.
SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE
Stockperson
New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Cast- package. Applications can be printed from hourly plus Demolition, an excellentSite-work, fringe benefit Town’sVinyl Webpage in-place Concrete, AsphalttheShingles, Siding, http://www.wallingford.ct.us/Content/Personnel_Department. Centrally Located aspAppliances, Fax (203) 294-2084, (203) 294-2080. The closing date will be that date Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, ResidentialPhone: Casework, the 30th application form/resume is received, or July 15, 2020, whichever occurs first. Construction Company Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing EOE and Fire Protection. in This Connecticut positions available contract has is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.
for experienced project managers, laborers and truck drivers. Bid Extended, Due This company is an Affirmative Action / Date:
ROTHA Contracting Company August 5, 2016 Equal Opportunity Employer M/F.Anticipated Females and Start: August 15, 2016 ROTHA Contracting Company, Inc. is a Union contractor that has various job openings Minorities are encouraged apply. Projecttodocuments available via ftpthe linkyear below: throughout for Bricklayers, Carpenters, Laborers, and Operating Engineers. We Please fax resume to ATTN: Mike to have contracts with the following Unions: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage 860-669-7004.
· United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, New England Regional CounFax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com of Carpenters 24,Businesses 43 and 210 HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran,cilS/W/MBE & SectionLocals 3 Certified Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers AFL-CIO Local 1 AA/EEO EMPLOYER · Connecticut Laborers’ District Council of Laborers’ International Union of North America, AFL-CIO Large CT guardrail company looking for
HELP WANTED
Laborer/Driver with valid CT CDL Class A license and able to get a medical card. Must be able to pass a drug test and physical. Compensation based on experience. Email resume to dmastracchio@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE M-F
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· International Union of Operating Engineers Local 478 and its Branches AFL-CIO
Please contact your Union Local to apply for open positions. ROTHA Contracting Company, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and welcome minorities, woman, and trainees in our workplace.
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
Voter Suppression Goes to College
A GDN Student Engagement Exclusive A GDN Student Engagement Exclusive By Cash Michaels and Peter Grear, Greater Diversity News
If preliminary data estimates on the recent 2020 primaries in North Carolina are accurate, student voters on HBCU campuses must raise their turnout game come the general election this November. So says Dr. William Busa, founder of EQV Analytics, a ‘North Carolina-focused campaign consulting firm serving Democratic candidates with advanced campaign analytics. Dr. Busa served as digital director to NC Associate Justice Anita Earls 2018 campaign to the state’s high court. Cautioning that his numbers right now are “95% accurate” because all of the 2020 primary data has not been released yet by the NC Board of Elections, Dr. Busa says they are close enough to being conclusive for him to draw worthy conclusions. Busa analyzed student voter turnout from ten North Carolina campuses, three of them HBCUs – N.C. A&T University, in Greensboro, Winston-Salem State University and North Carolina Central University in Durham. All of the campuses analyzed were in precincts dominated by undergraduate students, generally 18 to 22. Dr. Busa broke his analysis of college voting into early voting (February 1329th) and voting on Primary Day (March
3rd). Traditionally, the bulk of college student voting occurs during the twoweek early voting period. According to the data, statewide early voting was at 11.4%. At least seven of the ten NC universities tracked for student early voting did much better, with six of the top schools coming in with two to three times the state’s overall voter turnout (Duke was at 34%, for instance). Winston-Salem State University yielded only an 11.7 student voter turnout, .3% more than the state turnout. North Carolina Central University, however, could only muster 7.9% student voter turnout. When the numbers are crunched for Primary Day, Dr. Busa noted that student voting dramatically drops because college students generally find it more difficult to vote then and prefer the more flexible 15-day early voting period. As a result, because 66% of North Carolina voters vote on Primary day, and college students don’t, they effectively caught up percentage-wise with the high college voting, leaving only Duke University (34.3%) to exceed both groups (NC was at 30.6%) in total voter turnout percentages, Busa says. NCCU came in at the end of the university list at just 8%. NC A&T came in fourth overall at 20.6%. WSSU was at 13.4%. Busa says his analysis proves several things – college students are early voters.
Either they vote early, or not at all. Second, the analysis also shows why Republican lawmakers try to keep polling places off university campuses, hoping that by making getting to a polling place more difficult, it would dissuade students from voting. “It’s a very potent voter suppression tool,” Dr. Busa says. All ten of the campuses analyzed had a campus polling place. Busa says ultimately, college and uni-
versity administrations must put more resources behind their campus GOTV (get out the vote) efforts, like Duke University, to get the same stellar results that Duke is getting. However, students are not sitting still. They’re fighting back against the agents of voter suppression and they are being helped by the NC NAACP, offering guidance and resources and Greater Diversity News, offering publicity. The results of Busa’s analysis reveals a
failure to effectively mobilize Black students to educate, organized and mobilize as voters. However, blame for this failure must be borne by Black leaders and leadership organizations. The leaders and organizations include HBCU Alumni Associations, elected officials, Divine Nine and the always present Black church community. Also, to be included, are Black civil rights leaders and organizations of the past and present. Also, we must recognize leaders and organizations that are stepping up and trying to make a difference. There are many that recognize that the failed status quo cannot and must not be accepted. One response that is in the works, is a series of conference calls with student leaders on HBCU and Primarily White campuses (SGAs and BSUs). This call is being coordinated by the NC NAACP and Greater Diversity News. Its purpose is to give the student leaders an opportunity to discuss voting rights and their efforts to resist voter suppression. The students at NCCU have developed a voter mobilization model and are offering it as a guide to other campuses, while at the same time seeking feedback and ideas on strategies that other students are using. It is important to note that the efforts of the NCCU students are fully supported by the NCCU National Alumni Association. A student/alumni collaborative is being urged as a consideration for all HBCUs.
Frederick Douglass’ Descendants Deliver His July 4th Speech Nearly 150 Years Later by BlackDoctors.org Nearly 150 years ago, Frederick Douglass gave a groundbreaking speech, “What is a Slave to the 4th of July?” Now, as the U.S. is in the middle of celebrating this Independence Day, there is a newfound nationwide unrest that calls for systemic reform across the board. Voices have been rising up in the form of protests from every ethnic group with a resounding voice that challenges the system to finally say, “yes, Black Lives do matter.” Some of these new voices are the descendants of Douglas himself. In this short film published by NPR, five young descendants of Frederick Douglass read and respond to excerpts of his famous speech: “…Fellow-citizens; above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions! whose chains, heavy and grievous yesterday, are, to-day, rendered more intolerable by the jubilee shouts that reach them. If I do forget, if I do not faithfully remember those bleeding children of sorrow this day, “may my right hand forget her cunning, and may my
tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth!” To forget them, to pass lightly over their wrongs, and to chime in with the popular theme, would be treason most scandalous and shocking, and would make me a reproach before God and the world. My subject, then fellow-citizens, is AMERICAN SLAVERY. I shall see, this day, and its popular characteristics, from the slave’s point of view. Standing, there, identified with the American bondman, making his wrongs mine, I do not hesitate to declare, with all my soul, that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this 4th of July! Whether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting. America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future. Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the constitution and the Bible, which are
disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery — the
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great sin and shame of America! “I will not equivocate; I will not excuse;” I will use the severest language I can command; and yet not one word shall escape me that
any man, whose judgment is not blinded by prejudice, or who is not at heart a slaveholder, shall not confess to be right and just….”
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
SOCIAL DISTANCING As a public facility, this establishment is actively encouraging Social Distancing 6 Feet
To support public health, please maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet from others during your visit. For more information and the latest updates about COVID-19 in Connecticut, please visit: Portal.CT.Gov/Coronavirus If you have any questions regarding the Novel Coronavirus, you can call: 833-ASK-YNHH (833-275-9644) 19
THE INNER-CITY NEWS - July 08, 2020 - July 14, 2020
Inaction is not an option. Complete the 2020 Census to shape the next ten years for your community. The power to change your community is in your hands. We can help inform funding every year for the next ten years for public services like healthcare, childcare programs, public transportation, schools, and job assistance. And our responses determine how many seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives. But time is running out, so complete the census today online, by phone, or by mail.
Complete the census today at:
2020CENSUS.GOV Paid for by U.S. Census Bureau.
2019_Census_Community_DM_Size O.indd 1
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7/6/20 4:50 PM