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THE INNER-CITY NEWS NEWS - AugustJuly 15,27, 2018 - - August INNER-CITY 2016 August 21, 02, 2018 2016

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

Birks Picks Deputy, Assistant Superintendents by CHRISTOPHER PEAK NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Superintendent Carol Birks wants two outside hires to take top positions in her administration. In a new personnel report, Birks recommended hiring Ivelise Velazquez, New London’s chief academic officer, as her second in command and Paul Whyte, Waterbury’s instructional leadership director, as one of three supervisors for the district’s principals. The Board of Education is scheduled to vote on whether to approve those appointments at a Monday meeting, along with the promotion of six administrators, the hiring of 21 teachers and seven security guards, the reshuffling of 42 teachers and three administrators, and the layoffs of 33 counselors, librarians and teachers. Velazquez, who goes by “Evie,” would become deputy superintendent. A classroom teacher for almost 12 years, she traveled throughout Connecticut as a consultant for the quasi-public State Education Resource Center from 2006 to 2011 and worked as director of reading and social sciences in Windham from 2012 to 2014. Most recently, Velazquez oversaw academics in New London since 2015. There, she implemented new teaching techniques, like “cognitively guided instruction” that tries to tap into children’s go-to strategies for math problems, and oversaw an expanded preschool pilot. Whyte, a friend of Birks who graduated from the Columbia University Teach-

ers College’s Urban Education Leaders Program right after her, will be one of three assistant superintendents for instructional leadership. Similar to the current directors of instruction but with a higher title, they’ll manage a portfolio of principals. Whyte started his career by founding the Young Voices Initiative, an education and athletics program for 200 New Haven teens, in 1992, then went on to teach math in New York City public schools from 2000 to 2003. Whyte spent most of his career at New Beginnings Family Academy, a Bridgeport charter school with an extended-day and extended-year model that kept kids in school for as long as nine hours a day, eleven months a year. Two years after it was founded, from 2004 to 2008, Whyte solicited donations and wrote grants as its development director. From 2008 to 2013, as its principal, he instituted datadriven decision-making and revamped teacher evaluations. Most recently, in Waterbury, Whyte served as turnaround supervisor from 2013 to 2015, where he developed a plan for extra teacher training and a longer school day at Walsh Elementary and a summer pre-orientation at Crosby High. (The state still lists Walsh as a “focus school” for its achievement gap in language arts and Crosby as a “turnaround” for its low performance overall.) Whyte was promoted in 2015 to supervise principals in a portfolio of schools. For the other two assistant superinten-

dents, Birks promoted Keisha ReddHannans, a sorority sister who’s been one of her closest advisors during the transition and the principal at Celentano Biotech, Health and Medical Magnet School, which remains a “focus school” for its achievement gap in English, and kept on Gil Traverso, a director of instruction. Iline Tracey, another current director of instruction, will also move up as assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment. She’ll report to Velazquez, along with another assistant superintendent for early childhood education who hasn’t been hired yet. The deputy superintendent will earn $175,000, and the four assistant superintendents will earn $165,000. Behind Birks, who has a $235,000 contract, the school administrators will all be New Haven’s top-paid employees, just ahead of Police Chief Anthony Campbell and Corporation Counsel John Rose, Jr. The last current director of instruction, Abie Benitez, will make a lateral move to a newly created role: director of English-language learners. She’ll manage Pedro Mendia and Carmen Rodriguez, two “supervisors of bilingual education” who Birks asked to reapply for their positions and now plans to reinstate as “supervisors of English learners.” Collectively, Birks’s team of administrators is projected to have 27 employees, at a cost of $4.1 million in salaries. Birks plans to have at least four fewer employees than her predecessor Garth Harries.

CHRISTOPHER PEAK PHOTO

Superintendent Carol Birks.

She plans to eliminate a spokesperson, two curriculum supervisors, an evaluation supervisor, and a school finance resident, while adding a college and career director. Several other roles are changing ranks. Altogether, Central Office roles account for $14.93 million in spending from the general fund, plus $4.58 million in special funds. Mike Crocco, the former talent supervisor whose position was funded through a federal grant that expired last year, will become the principal at Metropolitan Business Academy, a high school known

for its progressive pedagogy. Grace Natham, the principal at Quinnipiac Real World Math STEM School, one of only 16 schools in the state to exit from its status as a “focus school,” will fill Redd-Hannans’s vacancy at Celentano. Nicholas Perrone, the assistant principal at John C. Daniels Magnet School, is to be promoted into her spot. The district is hiring new teachers for bilingualism, special education, chemistry and engineering, and elementary-school grades, while laying off school counselors, library media specialists and highschool teachers.

Puerto Rican Fest Beats The Thunderstorms by ISIS DAVIS-MARKS NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

At the third annual Puerto Rican festival, members of the New Haven community gathered for dancing, eating, and of course playing a couple games of dominoes. “I won!” Wilson Reyes exclaimed, slamming down a domino. Wilson and his group of friends sat huddled around a wooden table painted with the words “Puerto Rico” while playing a game of dominoes. They took the score and cleared the table to prepare for another game. “Even though it was raining, we decided to come out with the dog, some drinks, and “ Reyes waved his hands, gesturing to the table littered with dominoes, “the table.” “We saw that the location of the event was changed on Facebook, and we decided to come anyway.” The third annual Puerto Rican Festival was originally supposed to take

From center: Wilson Reyes, Ruben Anilla, Jose Bargas, Luis “from Puerto Rico” Rodriguez.

Edwin Martinez (in black) and staff at the festival.

place Saturday from 1 to 9 p.m. on the Green. Then came the thunderstorms. Puerto Ricans United Inc. moved the event to Bregamos Community Theater at Erector Square from 6 to 9 pm. “This isn’t my event, but I was happy to have people come,” said Rafael Ramos, the founder and President of Bregamos Community Center. “They asked for someplace to come because of the rain, and of course I said yes. I founded this theater for everyone in the community, and anyone who wants to come is welcome.” The event at Bregamos Community Theater still had food trucks with foods like empanadas and platanos and musical performances from artists including Oscar Serrano, Movimiento Cultural, and Orquesta Afinke. The venue was able to accommodate up to 150 people at one time; people were allowed to enter as others left for the night. “We said that the event was rain or

shine, and everyone was expecting this to happen because it’s our biggest event of the year,” Edwin Martinez, the Vice President of Puerto Ricans United Inc., said. “In the end, everyone pulled together to participate in the event.” And, indeed, everyone pulled together. Vendors and food trucks parked in the parking lot outside of the Bregamos community theater. Inside the venue, people were able to dance and enjoy the music of the DJ and the live band. People danced together and snapped photos of performances. Outside, there were also arts and crafts tents and an informative display of information about the animals of Puerto Rico. It was a celebration of culture in all forms. “We’re one big family,” Reyes said. “We’re all from the same island.” .

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

Kids TV Gets The Story At Newhallville’s Polls by ALLAN APPEL

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

The results of the first exit polls Tuesday came from four energetic 8-to-10year olds, members of Newhallville’s Kids TV Network, at their neighborhood’s polling place at the LincolnBassett School. The kids, Aneissa Beam, Kareena Service, Jahsai Johnson, and Spirite Watson, were engaged in learning the speaking and listening skills to be be reporters as well as future voting citizens as well as being researchers into what Newhallville residents want to see develop in their neighborhood. They are taking part in a project called Kids TV Network as part of a summer camp, under the tutelage of Harris & Tucker School and One City Initiative’s Kim Harris. Taking turns being behind the camera and in front, the kids followed a script they devised, asking exiting voters two questions: What would they like to see in Newhallville in the months and years ahead? And: Whom did you vote for? The kids quickly learned that many people like to keep the secret ballot, well, secret. Of about eight exiting voters the young reporters interviewed, only three would reveal their choice. It turned out out Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ned Lamont had a significant single-digit lead, two to one, over challenger Joe Ganim. What interested the kids more was their respondents’ ideas for Newhallville improvements, which they dutifully marked on a circular chart. Melinda Douglass told reporter Aneissa Beam that while Newhallville has improved over the years, she would like to see more of it, especially new opportunities and programs for kids. When Aneissa asked her whom she voted for, Douglass was quite explicit: “I’d like not to say.” Next up was 10-year-old interviewer Karrena Service, who goes to King-Robinson Inter-District Magnet School. Kim Harris set the video camera up and got Jahsai Johnson behind it. He enjoys being behind the camera more than in front of it, Harris said. She also was clear that she was not going to let him hide. “Make your ‘V,’” Harris coached Karrena, meaning to form that triangle of intimacy interviewer, interviewee, and that micorphone in between. Get close enough to your interviewee. “No, don’t begin. Not yet,” the coaching continued. “Make them feel com-

ALLAN APPEL PHOTO

Kid TV reporter Beam presses Douglass on who she voted for.

Kid TV reporters Service, Jahsai, Watson, and Beam with some of their results.

Reporter Spirite Watson interviewing Sheila Gatison.

fortable,” Harris said. Kareena’s interviewee, longtime Newhallville resident Jane Swint, offered what she wants to see in Newhallville:

“More things for the kids to do.” “May I ask you who you voted for?” Kareena continued. “No, you may not,” Swint replied, but

good-naturedly, and then went on her way. Kareena went to the chart the kids had been keeeping and added a check mark to “programs for kids.” That was becoming the most called-for item by interviewees. While the focus Tuesday was on catching people to talk to as they exited voting, the reporters had nabbed 31 people already last week at a National Night Out event. They also put in a stint in the morning at Lincoln-Bassett before going to Edgewood Park for some tennis. By lunch they had spoken to 17 interviewees. That makes a total of 38 people so. The goal for project is 100, Harris said. Spirite and Aneissa debated whether 10-year-olds should vote; of course, they agreed, 8-year-olds shouldn’t. Nor should 5-year olds, who would just mark and draw all over the ballots, they agreed. Meanwhile Kareena nabbed one voter, who also called for more teachers and more programs for young people so they wouldn’t be on the street. This person also was happy to tell Kareena she had voted for Joe Ganim for governor on the Democratic line. Kareena followed up with the next question: “Why?” “I like his ideas,” said the interviewee, another longtime Newhallville resident, Jean Crockett. “He’s been through a lot and he deserves a second chance.” “Like God said: forgiveness,” Kareena responded. “And I like what he’s doing in Bridgeport.” Other top answers for neighborhood goals included “clean streets,” followed by more “black-owned businesses,” and then “affordable housing.” “They don’t know it yet,” said Harris during a break in the flow of interviewees,“but they’re going to present the results in front of the [Newhallville] management team when it reconvenes in September.” “If they get this,” Harris said of the TV interviewing, “these are marketable skills. They can go outand film someone’s event, a wedding. You don’t necessarily need a degree. This makes you marketable. Most of our kids don’t get these skills.” Then some new folks began to come down the steps from the polling place, and the kids hustled to set up their equipment, recall the script of their interview, and not forget to form their ‘V’.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

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Laid-Off Educator Makes A Final Request by CHRISTOPHER PEAK NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

When Kevin Staton first first flicked on the lights in the Hillhouse High School library, only five worked; the other 25 stayed unlit. The computers malfunctioned. The chairs wobbled. A brown stain in the ceiling stared back at him. As Staton settled into his job as a library media specialist, repairmen came in with new lightbulbs. A grant funded new computers that he helped install. And he tried to do his part to bring the library into the current century, teaching the students how to sift through all the information that’s currently at their fingertips. Now Hillhouse’s library is working fine. But Staton is no longer working there. Staton learned two weeks ago that he was one of the 14 library media specialists whose positions were being eliminated. Eight were reassigned to teaching jobs, but six received lay-off notices. In total, three-dozen full-time employees received pink slips, in the latest round of cuts that Superintendent Carol Birks has recommended to close a $19.4 million budget deficit. Some of those employees will return to work, filling any positions left vacant by retirements or resignations. Three classroom teachers, two in English and one in social studies, are already being rehired, after interviewing for the job. Yet even among those being called back, several of the laid-off employees decried the late notice that has left them scrambling to find a job next year. Staton, for his part, doesn’t begrudge anyone in the administration. He said he knows that the new superintendent had to make a tough call about whom to keep on the payroll next year. He also knows that in other cities across the country, library media specialists are usually the first ones out in a budget crisis. But Staton does have one ask. He wants a commitment from the district that the board won’t let the money saved from his position go to waste. He said that teachers constantly have to find workarounds when they don’t have materials for their classes or try to deal with broken equipment. He hopes that any leftover savings go toward providing that support, rather than handing contracts out to consultants. Like Staton, other teachers interviewed for this article, including several who asked to remain anonymous, didn’t demand their jobs back. Instead, they too asked just that decision-makers keep the students’ best interests in mind. They said they want the school year to start without a hitch. They want classes to remain small. They said they want their colleagues to stick around, despite all the uncertainty. And they said they want children in New Haven to feel that this city still values their education. Thinking Of Tradeoffs A New Haven native, Staton started working in the classroom 22 years ago as a history teacher. Despite seeing school libraries

shuttered in Chicago and Oakland, he decided to become a library media specialist when he arrived at Hillhouse in 2016. He made the switch because he wanted to have “more of an impact on students.” Staton felt he could be a bigger help by helping teachers enrich their curriculum and by guiding students to eye-opening information. Overall, he said, he set out to “expose kids to what they wouldn’t normally see.” “I say, ‘What do you need?’ Just to be a resource,” he said. Across disciplines, Staton helped other Hillhouse teachers put together units that they didn’t have time to create alone. For instance, after AP Literature students practiced writing argumentative essays, Staton arranged for the students to try out their newly refined argumentative skills on U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, who led a back-and-forth on gun control in the high school auditorium. One student said she left the event confident that she wasn’t “too young” to make a difference. Staton also assisted in setting up 650 newly ordered Chromebooks. He planned to install software like Edmodo and train teachers on how to use its databases in their lesson plans. After the notice that he’d no longer be in Hillhouse’s library, there’s now only one person in the building who’s in charge of storing and repairing all the hardware, software and electronics, on top of training teachers how to use the laptops in their lessons. Staton said he became a librarian because he wanted to help students prep for life outside of school, too. He collected applications for New Haven Free Public Library cards, hand-delivered them to Stetson branch, and then passed out the cards. Those memberships gave students access to a wider selection of books and online resources, including driving safety classes that they needed to get a license and practice exams for the SAT and AP exams. And he reached out to theaters and galleries, organizing field trips for students to go to the Yale Repertory Theater and the Beinecke Library. Staton did all that on top of his day-today responsibilities, which included teaching students research skills, finding compelling literature to stock the shelves, and collaborating extensively with the instructors for AP Literature, AP U.S. History and African-American History classes. Staton said that he hopes the libraries don’t sit empty after he’s gone. Now more than ever, students need help wading through all the information they can find online, he argued. With his position being eliminated, Staton said, he hopes there’s some money left over to fix up the library: Hillhouse’s library needs a hole in the ceiling patched, and it needs sturdy chairs and a working copy machine. He said students notice when things are broken. Will Clark, the district’s chief operating officer, said that the district’s staff has filled hundreds of work orders at Hillhouse

CHRISTOPHER PEAK PHOTO

Kevin Staton: Please maintain Hillhouse library when I’m gone.

in recent years, while investing in capital improvements like increased Wi-Fi access, among many other upgrades. He said any maintenance concerns that Staton pointed out will be resolved by the start of the school year. Staton said he hopes that the district continues to respond to the “immediate problems that teachers and students have to deal with on a regular basis,” rather than hiring top-dollar consultants. “We always tell the students that we value them, but that’s not always reflected,” he said. “If we’re doing this for the students and teachers, that’s what I hope to see.” Readying To Return Other teachers who’d been laid off said they just want stability for their kids. The decision to send out notices in late July has not only sent teachers scrambling to find new jobs, but also derailed preparations that were already underway for the first day of work, as educators are still being shuffled around to their final assignment for next year. Superintendent Birks and Dave Cicarella, the teacher’s union president, both said it hadn’t been easy to pick out the right time to tell teachers: Send out a notice too early and employees start fretting about whether they’ll be laid off or bumped to a new assignment. Send it too late and of teachers, counselors and librarians might have to apply for unemployment insurance. Cicarella said that the district had faced the possibility of layoffs almost every year since he’d been elected union president, but each time enough teachers left to avoid cuts.“Could we have done it earlier? It’s a judgement call,” he said. “We’ve tried to be respectful in a bad situation. We didn’t want them to sit around and worry, but we also didn’t wait to tell them when we tell them.” While several employees said they understood there just wasn’t enough money

in next year’s budget, they said they wished they’d been given time to find other work. They said they felt disrespected by the late dismissal, and they predicted that in-demand graduate students won’t try out New Haven if there’s a risk they’ll be stuck in the same situation. Nearby districts usually err on the side of sending out letters early, giving teachers a heads-up in spring about potential cuts, without formally issuing layoff notices until later. Cicarella added that the process took longer in New Haven because they wanted to give administrators and teachers choice in where they ended up next year. Unlike some districts that automatically bump teachers based on seniority, the union worked with human resources to conduct a wide-ranging interview process to fit teachers into the right spot. Birks apologized to any teachers who felt hurt by the mid-summer turmoil. “I’m sorry that people feel that way, I really do,” she said. “It saddens me that people feel that they were disrespected. I think we were very intentional. We’ve said, since I started, that we’re facing this shortfall. We tried every way to secure jobs, and I have to commend the teachers union for going through everyone’s certification. Generally, districts just place teachers, but we really went through a serious process.” She added, “I believe in the power and strength of people. I value people and the work they do. It’s unfortunate that we’re here with the city, the state and others in the situation we’re in.” Other educators said they understand why the administration had waited, even though it had left them in a tough spot. “Unfortunately, lots of teachers don’t submit their resignations until the middle of summer when they get new jobs. So even though it felt like they waited, I know their goal was to avoid unnecessary stress,” said Nicholas Torres, a social-studies teacher at

Engineering & Science University Magnet School. Torres said that he was “obviously not happy” to receive a layoff notice, but he said that the union has given him regular updates since then as positions have opened up. He added that Birks and Cicarella seemed to be working collaboratively, “not wasting time fighting over a situation that can’t really be changed.” He said that was especially important to make sure that schools are staffed by the time kids arrive. “Layoffs are terrible, regardless of the profession. But in teaching, they are especially tough because students will end up asking lots of questions, and they often don’t have enough life experience yet to fully understand the purpose of a layoff,” Torres said. “I’m trying to grit my teeth and get through it. I really appreciate that the callbacks have already begun, and I’m optimistic that I’ll be back in the classroom as soon as possible.” Waiting For More So far, Birks has closed a little over half of next year’s projected deficit, but it’s unclear what further cuts might come in the next few weeks to make up the remainder. So far, the district has saved approximately $10.95 million out of the $19.4 million it needs, Darrell Hill, the part-time budget director, told the Finance & Operations Committee on Monday. Most of that money came from personnel reductions, totaling $6.18 million. Through attrition and layoffs, the district no longer employs 14 administrators, 63 teachers and 6 non-certified support workers. Closing buildings also saved a big chunk of money, totaling $4.76 million. The closure of Creed eliminated 24 roles, while the consolidation of the alternative high schools and pre-kindergarten programs Con’t on page 10

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

Landslide Lamont Offers Mayors A Deal by PAUL BASS & THOMAS BREEN NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Accepting his party’s gubernatorial nomination with a crushing victory over a felonious opponent, Ned Lamont Tuesday night unveiled his first plan for getting the state’s economy back on track. In an acceptance speech from the stage of New Haven’s College Street Music Hall, Lamont offered leaders of Connecticut’s cities and towns a deal to help stabilize both their own and the state’s finances: regionalization in return for support on municipal aid and local property taxes. Lamont offered the deal after claiming a landslide victory over challenger Joe Ganim, the Bridgeport mayor who served seven years in federal prison for accepting kickbacks. Early returns showed Lamont with 84 percent of the vote statewide; the Associated Press declared him the victor soon after the polls closed. Susan Bysiewicz won the lieutenant governor primary, William Tong the attorney general primary, and Shawn Wooden the race for the state treasurer nomination. Lamont addressed the state’s fiscal crisis in his remarks at the New Haven victory party. (He takes the stage 13 minutes into the Facebook Live video at the top of this story.) “We’ve got tough times. We have a budget crisis. The way we solve that is by working

together,” Lamont said. One of those ways: Having cities and towns deliver some services together rather than with 150 or 169 different local departments. In other words, regionalism. “I can’t afford to subsidize inefficiencies any longer,” Lamont declared. “We can save hundreds of millions of dollars by working together on shared services.” “I’ll make you a deal, mayor,” he continued, addressing Connecticut’s collective mayoralties and first selectmanships in the first person singular: In return for their working together, Lamont won’t join Republican calls to eliminate the income tax, which provides up to half of state government’s annual revenue. He’ll protect urban aid, which has been cut recently; and he’ll look to shift the state’s reliance on local property taxes to pay municipal bills. “I’m going to invest in education and I’m going to reduce the property tax year one,” Lamont vowed. “The middle class has paid enough.” Lamont also vowed to press for a $15 hourly minimum wage in Connecticut and pay equity for women. In contrast to Republican candidates blaming state unions for the fiscal crisis, in some cases calling for abrogating agreements, Lamont promised to honor collective bargaining and to treat labor with “respect.” He also vowed to make Connecticut a

bulwark against the Trump administration’s policies on workers’ rights, gun control, the environment, immigration, and abortion. “They give Donald Trump an A,” he said of the Republican gubernatorial primary candidates. “I give him an F. He’s wrong. We’re going to draw a line in the sand.” New Haven Mayor Toni Harp noted New Haven’s support for Lamont in the primary. “New Haven led for Ned Lamont,” Harp said in a speech at the Music Hall before Lamont himself spoke. “Just like Ned believes that we’ve got to get guns out of the hands of our children, New Haven believes the same. Just like Ned believes that we should have great paying jobs for everyone, New Haven believes the same. And just like New Haven knows, all of Connecticut knows that if cities are going to prosper in this state, we have got to have Ned for our next governor.” About a quarter of New Haven’s registered Democrats turned out to vote Tuesday, roughly similar to the turnout eight years ago for the last contested Democratic gubernatorial primary. Lamont crushed Ganim 3-1 in the city, based on results from the voting machines, 6,593 (74 percent) to 2,242 (26 percent); up to 956 absentee ballots remained to be counted.

Lamont onstage at the College Street Music Hall. Lamont onstage at the College Street Music Hall.

Underestimated From The Start, Stefanowski Pulls Off Primary Win by Jack Kramer and Christine Stuart

Six hours before the polls closed Tuesday Madison businessman Bob Stefanowski told a group of supporters in Branford, “I think we are going to win this thing.” Stefanowski turned out to be a great prognosticator. When the numbers finally were totaled Tuesday night, he’d won the Republican nomination for governor over Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton the party’s endorsed candidate and three other challengers by a comfortable margin. “I think it’s fair to say this campaign has been underestimated from the start,” Stefanowski said as he reached the microphone. “I don’t think anyone would think we’d be standing up here right now.” None of the Republican establishment thought he would pull it off, said Peter Lumaj, a former candidate for governor who gave his support to Stefanowski, said. Stefanowski hadn’t voted in 16 years. He registered as a Democrat months before switching back to Republican and announcing his run for governor. He didn’t vote for Republican President Donald Trump because he didn’t vote in 2016. He shunned the Republican nomination process by skipping the convention and collecting signatures of registered Republicans to gain ballot access. “The Republican establishment is out of touch with reality,” Lumaj said. “We need an outsider with some fortitude and a backbone.”

Bob Stefanowski Shortly after voting in his hometown of Waterbury, Boughton, who was trying for Madison Tuesday, Stefanowski stopped the third time to capture the nomination, into his headquarters in nearby Branford conceded before a group of supporters who just before 2 p.m. to give campaign workwere much louder and boisterous earlier ers a pep talk. He told them he “thought in the evening before the numbers went we are going to win this thing,” and addagainst their man. ed: “Who would have thought that a year “I would have liked a better outcome,” ago?” Boughton said. “It is not an easy thing to Stefanowski had the backing of a Super stand here and lose an election.” PAC. Protect Freedom Political Action Boughton said he would back Stefanowski Committee, a Virginia based PAC that’s in his November run against Democrat spent more than $1 million on four televiNed Lamont. sion advertisements and digital media. “I want to congratulate Bob Stefanowski About 10:30 p.m. at the Ponte Club in on a strong win. In the end it’s about the

CHRISTINE STUART / CTNEWSJUNKIE

team. We will stand tall with him,” Boughton said. Boughton noted that a year ago at this time he had just left a hospital “after facing death” having had a lemon-sized benign tumor removed from his brain at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. “Sure it’s important (losing), but it really doesn’t matter. I’ve got a great city to lead. I’m excited to go to work tomorrow,” Boughton said. Former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst, Westport Businessman Steve Obsitnik, David Stemerman, a former hedge fund founder, also unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination. In a five-way primary, with 96 percent of the vote in, Stefanowski had 29.3 percent of the vote, or 41,824 votes; Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton had 30,384 votes, or 21.4 percent; David Stemerman had 26,214 votes or 18.3 percent; Tim Herbst 25,035 votes or 17.6 percent; and Steve Obsitnik 19,080 votes or 13.3 percent. Stemerman and Stefanowski both petitioned their way onto the Republican ballot bypassing the party’s convention process. Boughton, Herbst, and Obsitnik received enough support at the May convention to automatically earn a spot on the Republican primary ballot. Stemerman said: “I just got off the phone with Bob Stefanowski to offer him my support as the best chance to fix Connecticut.” “Thank you to our supporters, to our team and to the people of Connecticut,” Stemer-

man said. “Let’s unite and save Connecticut.” Herbst had nothing positive to say about Stefanowski or his other opponents. But he had a lot of positive words for himself, for his staff, and for the stands they took against Connecticut’s Democrats who raised taxes from the governor’s mansion and who kneel during the Pledge of Allegiance. He had lots of biting words to say about the “eight years of ruinous leadership by Gov. Malloy,” about his “job-crushing” agenda and his attacks on “law-abiding gun owners.” Stefanowski has vowed to eliminate the state income tax in eight years, among other tax cuts he promises, but hasn’t given any specifics on how he plans to replace the billions of dollars in funding the tax cuts would create, other than saying he believes in zero-based budgeting. During his afternoon trip to Branford, Stefanowski told supporters: “Let’s go win this thing and then beat the pants off Ned Lamont in the general election.” Stefanowski didn’t vote in the 2016 presidential election. He did vote in the Nov. 7, 2017 municipal election, but before that he hadn’t voted in his hometown since Nov. 5, 2001. In addition to not voting, Stefanowski was also registered as a Democrat in his hometown until July 27, 2017 when he changed his registration and announced his candidacy for governor.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

Strategic Outreach Bridging Racial Gap In Pregnancy-Related Health Outcomes by Elizabeth Heubeck NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

New Haven resident Kimberly Streater was pregnant with her third of six children when she called her friend for a ride to the hospital after sustaining a hit to her stomach by her then-husband. When she reached the hospital, Streater, not yet 28 weeks pregnant, alerted personnel that her baby was coming—now. “They said, ‘No, no, he’s not coming,’ after I told them he was,” she recalled. Minutes later, Howie was born at 3 pounds and 1.5 ounces in the admitting area of the hospital, just as Streater had predicted. Statistically, the preterm birth of Streater’s baby does not come as a surprise. In Connecticut and nationwide, black women and their infants suffer disproportionately worse pregnancy-related health outcomes than white women. The March of Dimes’ 2017 Premature Birth Report Card for Connecticut revealed that between 2013 and 2015, 8.4 percent of all (live birth) infants born to white women were premature, compared with 12.4 percent of infants born to black women. Statewide, after a complicationfree delivery, black women are twice as likely as white women to be readmitted to a hospital within 30 days, according to a 2015 study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, which drew from statistics maintained by the Connecticut Department of Public Health. These racially disparate outcomes mirror persistent racial gaps nationwide. Babies born to black women are more than twice as likely to die in the first year of life than babies born to white women, and black women are 243 percent more likely than white women to die from pregnancy-related complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These statistics aren’t new. What’s new is how some professionals throughout Connecticut from psychiatric researchers to community activists to medical doctors and progressive health centers—are reframing the way racial disparities are addressed: by re-examining their root causes and coming up with new solutions. This close examination of racial disparities in pregnancy-related outcomes coincides with a recent push to address the nation’s discouraging overall maternal death rates, which increased by more than 25 percent between 2000 and 2014, while those in other developed countries declined, according to a study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. New Haven Healthy Start (NHHS), a community-based program, has been working for three decades to identify and eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes. The organization has examined several factors as possible culprits in the racial divide, including poverty, health insurance, and access to prenatal care.

CARL JORDAN CASTRO PHOTO

Kimberly Streater with her youngest daughter Nevaeh Lewis, 14, and son Howard Lewis.

Ultimately, they homed in on one factor. “Racism. Discriminatory practices based on race. That’s what we’ve been focusing on,” said Kenn Harris, president of the board of directors of the National Healthy Start Association and project director at NHHS. In response, they offer a program where women, regardless of their race, feel truly supported throughout their pregnancy. Meeting Moms Where They Are At the heart of NHHS’s simple yet highly effective strategy is its care coordination service model, recruited from places including libraries, laundromats and beauty salons within the communities they serve. They do outreach at strategically located places where pregnant women in the program’s target population are likely to visit, including community health centers and homeless agencies. Every participant is assigned a care coordinator, who provides an array of support—from helping them sign up for state Medicaid to arranging transportation and childcare to reaching out to them if they miss a doctor appointment. The key to these care coordinators and other employees at NHHS? They look like the women they serve, and, in many cases, they’ve been through similar situations. Natasha Ray, a 49-year-old resident of East Haven, had her first of four children at 16; all her infants were born premature. Now she’s the core service manager at NHHS. “My interest in the program was personal. Here was a program whose focus is on prematurity, health disparities and

strengthening the fragmented system that families must navigate. I feel that this was an opportunity to be the person for so many mothers-to-be that I did not have. When you know better, chances are you will do better,” Ray said. The approach works. In 1987, one in every 50 infants born in New Haven died in the first year of life. Today, only one out of every 222 infants whose mothers are enrolled in NHHS dies in the first year of life, according to the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, which runs the Healthy Start program in New Haven. In 2017, 1,402 women were enrolled in NHHS. Of these, 43 percent were black, 38.5 percent were mixed race, 16 percent white, and 2.5 percent Asian. Another program making a difference in the health of black moms is The New Haven MotherS (MOMS) Partnership. This community–academic partnership, founded in 2011 by Yale associate professor of psychiatry Megan Smith, DrPH, MPH, seeks to improve maternal mental health among low-income women through a community-driven approach. “We know that depression co-occurs with trauma and anxiety disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress disorders, and that they can increase a woman’s chance of preterm birth,” said Smith, who is also the program’s director. Smith said she started the MOMS partnership because of increasing racial inequities she observed related to mental health care among New Haven residents.

“They’re more likely to drop out of mental health care programs, and less likely to receive high quality mental health care,” Smith said of the women targeted by the MOMS partnership. Since its inception, the program has reached more than 500 low-income moms and pregnant women from New Haven, about 70 percent of whom are women of color. The program provides outreach to mothers and pregnant women in targeted neighborhoods of New Haven, requesting that they complete mental health assessments. Those who demonstrate need receive cognitive behavioral therapy in familiar settings, including the second floor of the city’s Stop & Shop grocery store and other citywide locations. The treatment setting is non-threatening; so too are the community mental health ambassadors (CMHAs), employees who recruit participants and accompany them to treatment. CMHAs are mothers from the local community trained to focus on target population outreach and, when deemed necessary, to support mental health treatment. They work alongside traditional mental health clinicians. Most possess customer service experience; they all empathize with the participants’ struggles. Smith attributes the program’s overwhelming success largely to the ambassadors and the community settings where they serve women. To date, over 70 percent of participants registered for cognitive behavioral therapy through the partnership have adhered to treat-

ment, and more than 50 percent report decreased depressive symptoms. Streater, who gave birth prematurely to two of her six children, is a CMHA. She learned about the job when taking a free stress management class about five years ago. Streater says she didn’t have much of a support network as a pregnant or new mom. “It was pretty much me,” she said. Implementing simple, common-sense practices within existing healthcare systems also lends support that can help close racial gaps in pregnancy outcomes. At Southwest Community Health Center in Bridgeport, about 80 percent of the patients that advanced practice midwife Janet Spinner sees are women of color. She’s pleased about the decisions the center makes to accommodate its patient population’s health needs. For instance, instead of waiting to see patients at the typical six-week postnatal visit, Spinner has new mothers come for a checkup between one and two weeks after delivery, then again at the six-week mark. “That’s when scary post-pre-eclampsia can rear its ugly head,” Spinner said of the dangerous medical condition that occurs more frequently among black women and can happen during or shortly after pregnancy. Spinner also uses the initial postnatal visit to check in with patients about breastfeeding, social support, and intimate partner violence, which she refers to as “the elephant in the room.” And, Spinner says, the Bridgeport health center provides strong diversity training to its employees, a trend she sees becoming more prevalent throughout the state. “We really need to talk about this as a community,” she said. Black women might be more likely to go to the doctor’s office when the doctor looks like them. Marcia Tejeda, MD, a black OB/GYN who works in Waterbury, acknowledges that she probably sees 5 to 7 percent more black patients than the other physicians in her group practice—a choice based on her patients’ preferences. Although Tejeda says she feels all the physicians with whom she works make a “tremendous effort to give all women excellent care,” she does suggest that, in general, doctors and other medical professionals could benefit from education and training that focuses on how to improve their interactions with black patients, including learning how to better understand their culture and improve ways of communicating with them. Tejeda also proposes that race-specific research initiatives occur more routinely. “Now that we see the mortality rate is higher for black women, we need to do research that’s specially geared toward black women,” Tejeda said. “That will be the key to decreasing mortality for black women and improving outcomes for their babies.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

Bad Drug Batch Causes 22 ODs by PAUL BASS

NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

“How much did you smoke?” an emergency medical tech asked as a crew prepared to bring the 19th drug overdose victim in four hours from the New Haven Green to the hospital. “A nickel bag of K2,” the victim said. “Did you buy it from the person you normally buy it from?” downtown police beat Officer Jenna Davis gently pressed. “On the street” was all the victim could offer. So went another round of double-tasking for cops, firefighters and ambulance workers on the New Haven Green Wednesday: hurrying to revive and get medical help for victims of close to two dozen overdoses and finding out the cause of what Fire Chief John Alston Jr. termed a “mass casualty incident.” Emergency crews responded to 22 reported overdoses between 8:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. None proved fatal. Nineteen of them occurred on the New Haven Green. Two overdoses were reported during the same time in Fair Haven, one on the west side of town. Officials would have to wait for toxicology reports to determine the definite cause for the overdoses. But they had some clues,

according to Alston and city emergency management chief Rick Fontana: None of the victims responded immediately to the application of Narcan, which usually works for people who have primarily injected an opiate like fentanyl. Once in the hospital, they did respond to larger doses of Narcan. The cops also recovered a marijuana-style

cigarette by one of the victims. “My street sense tells me this was all the same bad batch” of a synthetic form of marijuana, such as K2, laced with an opiate, said Alston In one case, the same victim overdosed a second time after being revived at the hospital and released, according to Alston. In

rence’s longtime Monday night stand at Lily’s Pad at Toads, to Cafe Nine’s regular jazz jams. Except Sunday Aug. 19, there’s something scheduled every night of Jazz Week. In other words, it’s a schedule that seeks to be as inclusive as Jazz Haven could make it, with a mix of local and outof-town acts, straight-ahead bands and avant-garde groups, and lots of ways for audiences and other jazz musicians to get involved. The schedule has been finalized just as Di Maria himself who leads his own band is about to hit the road for a mini-tour squeezed in just before Jazz Week starts. “I’d rather be known as the fifth-best trumpet player, but the number one guy that brings people together,” Di Maria said. Di Maria grew up in Waterbury, studied music at Western Connecticut State University, and spent a little time in New York City, but has planted his flag in the New Haven music community since arriving on the scene over 10 years ago. During the school year, he’s is the general music teacher at Truman School on Truman Street in New Haven, where he instructs kids from kindergarten to eighth grade. As a board member of Jazz Haven, he has found a vehicle for even greater community-oriented ambitions

the “musical socialism” that he thinks of as an outgrowth of the ethos he developed as a punk kid and has carried forward to this day. “Everything I learned” about playing music professionally, he said, “I learned by making mistakes.” He also learned that “there’s a vast ocean of excellent musicians” all around him. “Why not go back and nurture the local scene?” To Di Maria, that means a lot of things. With Thomas Duffy, Yale’s director of bands, he’s organizing brass band workshops with the Funky Dawgz Brass Band. He has plans to organize outdoor New Orleans-style parades with willing horn players. He’s hoping to broaden Jazz Haven’s reach across the genre, encompassing more Latin music, more jazz inflected by rock and funk. He’s working to increase the diversity of musicians across race and gender lines. And he’s hoping to be able to organize music shows in which jazz bands share the bill with non-jazz bands even punk bands. People may say they don’t like certain genres of music, he said, but “everyone likes live music.” Making those kinds of things happen, he continued, involves tearing down some of the barriers that musicians themselves put up. “Ninety-nine percent of the world listens to music for relief,

another case, the same person overdosed three times in six hours. That put a strain on his firefighters. Concerned about “compassion fatigue,” Alston and Assistant Chief Mark Vendetto said, they decided to rotate six firefighters off OD duty after they’d responded to six cases within the first two and a half hours of their shift. The overdoses also strained fire resources: “We had to pull three to four different engine companies and medical units” in addition to the AMR ambulance crews working the cases, Alston noted. Victim #19, who appeared disheveled and weakened, at first begged the crews not to bring him to the hospital. “I just got to go to work,” he insisted. “You’ve got to go to the hospital my friend,” an AMR EMT softly responded. “You can’t go to work like this. You’re not in good shape.” Seated near the flagpole on the Green, a woman from East Haven and her nephew watched the crews work. She said the nephew had been smoking the same batch of drugs Wednesday and “stopped” when people started dropping. The nephew declined comment and rode away on a biCon’t on page

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Final Request

eliminated another 23 roles. Those put the school system halfway toward ending the year in the black. Hill said that the district plans to make up another $1.5 million by maximizing grants, $850,000 by slimming down on operational costs like utility bills, $750,000 by reducing instructional costs like supplies and materials, and $500,000 by limiting bus rides and other transportation costs. If the district can hit those goals throughout the year, it will have saved $14.55 million. That’s still well short of the cuts by about $4.9 million, about the same amount that alders redirected from the mayor’s proposed increase in school spending to public employee medical benefits. Birks hasn’t said how she plans to make up the rest. She met with leaders from all the employee unions on Monday to brainstorm ideas. She presented the idea of furloughing every employee for two days, which would require a vote by the unions’ membership and would get only halfway there on finding the last batch of dollars. Cicarella said that the consensus at the meeting was that no single solution could close the gap. He said that any package of savings will include reduced spending at central office. He added that, at the moment, no further layoffs of full-time teachers are being considered.

Jazz Haven Swings For The People by BRIAN SLATTERY NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT

Nick Di Maria has set his musical organizational skills to a socialist beat. Or so he said, with a sense of humor, in talking about Jazz Haven‘s upcoming Jazz Week, which features 15 jazz events all around New Haven from Aug. 17 to Aug. 25. Jazz Week will kick off with the Dr. Eddie Henderson Quartet at Lyric Hall on Whalley Avenue in Westville on the evening of Aug. 17. Across town, the Phil E. Brown Trio will set up shop at Amoy’s on Orange Street in Ninth Square. Those two concerts are harbingers for what is to come in the days afterward, whether it’s the Morris Trent Duo at the Anchor Spa on College Street (Aug. 20), Jazz Haven Fusion Night at Stella Blues on Crown Street (Aug. 23), or Joe Morris and the New Haven Improvisers Collective at the State House (Aug. 23). The main event, on Aug. 24 at Temple Plaza, is a triple-header of the Alec Rice Quintet, the Andrew Beals Quartet, and Adam Rogers Dice. These events add to and amplify what Di Maria, a board member at Jazz Haven, pointed out are ongoing events in the Elm City, from the Hawkins Jazz Collective’s ongoing Wednesday night residence at the Owl Shop, to Rohn Law-

Eddie Henderson.

enjoyment, and fun,” he said. “It’s musicians who are overthinking it.” As he thought more about bringing people together across all kinds of societal and musical lines, he said, he realized it had something in common with a political campaign and a certain avowed socialist’s campaign in particular particularly in the way it embraced lots of small donations and volunteer efforts. But for now, he has a short stint of shows to perform, and then a week

of events to help run. He sees some of what he envisions already in Jazz Week’s programming for this year. In the main event’s afterparty on Aug. 24 featuring Kelly Green and George Coleman, he said, “you get the future, you get equality, and you get a pillar of the jazz community” in Coleman himself. “Because the city deserves it,” he added. “The city deserves to have excellent music and an excellent festival.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

27-Year-Old Woman Saves 15,000 Girls From Genital Mutilation by Derrick Lane, BlackDoctor.org

When Nice Nailantei Leng’ete was age 8, she hid with her sister in a tree to escape female genital mutilation (FGM)–a common practice in her culture of cutting a young girl’s genitals without anesthesia. Now, almost 20 years later, Leng’ete has helped nearly 15,000 girls escape “the cut” and the child marriage that usually follows soon after. This year she was honored for her work by being named one of Time’s most influential people, and she has given a TEDx talk about her experience. Yahoo News explains that it has been a hardfought battle for Leng’ete, particularly in the male-dominated Maasai community where she grew up, but Leng’ete has helped introduce alternative rites of passage to the community and is working toward the goal of ending child marriage and FGM in Africa by 2030. But don’t think that this is mutilation happens only in Africa. A new report revealed that over half a million women and girls in the US were at risk for “female genital mutilation/ cutting or its consequences” in 2012. That figure is more than ‘three times higher’ than a 1990 estimate, when 168,000 girls and women were thought to be at risk, according to the report from the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-

vention (CDC). For the purpose of the analysis, the CDC defined ‘at risk’ as potentially having undergone FGM in the past or at risk for undergoing FGM in the future. The World Health Organization and

United Nations define FGM as “all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural, religious or other non-therapeutic reasons”.

Female genital mutilation is the practice in which some or all of the female genitals are removed, typically with a blade or a razor and many times without anesthesia. This includes removing the clitoral and the fold of skin above it, and removing labia – the inner ‘lips’ of the vagina. In the most severe form, the inner and outer labia are removed and the opening of the vagina is closed with a small hole so the woman can pass urine and menstrual blood. “Female Genital Mutilation, for Maasai, is a rite of passage from girlhood to womanhood. Women are not considered women unless they have gone through FGM,” Leng’ete tells Yahoo Lifestyle about the origins of the centuries-old custom of female circumcision. “FGM in my community connects to girls ending their education, with child marriage, and with teenage pregnancies. A girl is 10 or 12 years old when she undergoes FGM. Then she’s told she’s a woman, and that means she’s ready for marriage, and that means she has children. They all go together.” Leng’ete understood this at a young age and wanted a different future. “I saw pain. I saw death. Since I was 7 years old, I used to attend these ceremonies in my community with girls undergoing FGM. I saw my friends… … leave school and get married. And I wanted to continue my education,” she

says. Leng’ete ran away from the ceremony twice. When she returned the second time, her grandfather, a respected village elders, pressed her on her aversion to the ritual. “‘I’m only 8,’” she told the New York Times she remembers telling him. “‘Wait until I am 9.’ She added, ‘I was trying to bargain.’” Eventually, she told her grandfather that she would rather run away forever than endure the cut. Not wanting to lose her, he allowed her to forego the ritual. Even though she had her grandfather’s permission to forego the ritual, Leng’ete was ostracized by the community. “Families wouldn’t let me play with their daughters,” she told the New York Times. “Everyone saw me as a bad example; someone who disrespected her family and went against the ways of the community.” Without the pressure of marriage, Leng’ete became the first girl in her village to go to high school, and her school uniform intrigued the other women in her village — her unique clothing acting as a bridge that brought her back from exile. Women and girls in the Maasai community began to see Leng’ete as an inspiration — a point of hope — and to seek her out for help avoiding the cut themselves. While she hid those who asked for assistance, this made her a wanted woman in her village. So she decided on another tactic: bargaining.

Black Entrepreneur Takes College Care Packages to the Next Level With a New Freshman Fun Box

Aventura, FL — While care packages are no stranger to the college market, Florida-based Freshman Fun Box is the first Black woman-owned care package and subscription box service specifically geared toward college and boarding school students. Designed to help students adapt to being away, this box is different from the norm. Dubbed “a hello from home,” the box is filled with name brand and niche products parents trust, know and love. Unique in that every month, the contents are different, students will have something to wear, eat, something for school, something for personal care and other life skills training tools that will help them as they navigate through the school year. Giving back to the community, a portion of the proceeds from every box is donated to an educational non-profit to support boxes for boarding school and college students in need. “We’ve created something that will help keep parents worry free,” says Peachi Williams, VP of Brand Development. “Most care packages focus on food, with one or two additional items

that may or may not be used. Being away from home can be hard, and we wanted to make sure students have the things they need, and more. This box isn’t just for freshmen. It’s helpful for all students in college, whether they live in a dorm or apartment. Everything is carefully hand-selected and evaluated by students to ensure we have the best selections each month so that everything is used throughout the year.” Considering inclusivity, there are three box colors to choose from. Green for energy and vitality, Pink for playfulness and a charming nature, and Blue for confidence and intelligence. The company also acts as a resource for parents through their active social media, including the Freshman Fun Box Parent Community on Facebook where they have guest speakers to provide tips and advice for both parents and students. “This box was what I didn’t know I needed until I found it. I love the element of surprise that comes with each box, and I love the attention to detail the Freshman Fun Box staff uses in

About Freshman Fun Box Freshman Fun Box is a subsidiary of Fun Box Spot, Inc. Based in Miami, FL their mission is to help both students and parents survive and thrive. order to create what goes inside each one,” says Natalie Harris, Fresh U. The Freshman Fun Box ships during the second week of the month, and orders must be placed by the 20th of

the previous month. Available for onetime purchases, monthly subscriptions, or a full-year package, each box is valued at over $110 each month. Birthday boxes and gift cards are also

available. For more information or to purchase, visit the website at www.FreshmanFunBox.com.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

Why Are Blacks Suffering Disproportionately From AIDS? by Jasmine Browley, BlackDoctor.org

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been afflicting our country for more than three decades and is a disease that severely affects marginalized communities. It’s a well-known fact that Black people account for more than 13% of the population and 43% of new HIV infections, the majority being gay and bisexual men and transgender women. But the question remains, why are so many black people disproportionately carrying the disease? Unfounded theories usually attribute this to black people engaging in riskier behavior, leading to contracting the disease. While not dismissing the fact that personal responsibility should always be taken into account, there has been no substantial evidence that has found that black populations engage in risk behaviors at any higher rates than other races and ethnicities. With that being said, it’s time to have a conversation about the REAL reasons behind why black people suffer more at the hands of this pervasive disease. Here are three factors that impact black people in the struggle with HIV:

Through policies and procedures, institutionalized racism creates a system that implicitly and sometimes explicitly targets black people, leaving them severely disadvantaged. Socioeconomic status 28.1% of black people are living in poverty compared to the national average of 15.9 % according to the 2012 Census findings. These numbers reflect the fact that these black people that are living in poverty are, in part, a result of the limited opportunities for upward mobility afforded to them. Often living in poverty means lack of education, lack of access to proper healthcare, increased risk of substance use, homelessness, mental health issues and heightened likelihood of participating in sex work for their main source of income. Obviously, all of these are factors that can dramatically increase the risk of contracting HIV. For those living in poverty who become HIV-positive, priorities are skewed. Their survivalist mentality only lends itself to concerns on a day-to-day basis are finding and maintaining income, finding their next meal and ensuring a safe place to sleep at night.

Systemic Racism Changing laws haven’t done enough to upheave a harmful system of oppression and almost 400 years of racism that have lead to countless disadvantages that black people battle to overcome on a daily basis. HIV impacts black populations disproportionately because the majority don’t have adequate access to the resources needed to learn about, prevent and treat the disease.

Lack of Support Communities Although interracial dating is a practice that’s starting become more widely embraced in the United States, black people remain the minority group that has relationships outside of their race the least at 19%. This means that the majority of black people have sexual partners who are within their race and more than likely have the same limited experiences and localized view of life. And given the smaller population size, once the black community was exposed to HIV it spread quickly and the nega-

tive impact was and continues to be greater. This means that black people who choose other black partners are more likely to come in contact with someone who is HIV-positive than other people who date within their race and have the same stunted knowledge of health. This is especially true in the gay LGBTQA communities as the Center for Disease Control has reported findings that more than 1 in 4 black gay and bisexual men and 1 in 2 black transgender women have tested positive for HIV, compared

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cycle. “The ones that dropped right there, I know them,” the woman said. “It was K2. They all had death wishes. “God answered their prayers.” Meanwhile, a mobile vendor did brisk business in acai “life bowls” and smoothies at the weekly CitySeed New Haven Green farmers market steps away. Responding to 20-odd overdoses in a single day is hardly unusual in New Haven these days, Alston observed. What made Wednesday’s wave unusual was the high number in such a short period of time, concentrated in one location. At 7:30 just the evening before, ambulances, police cruisers and a fire engine pulled onto the Green to respond to three overdoses. A regular on the Green, who said he’d gone into a coma after a fentanyl overdose, watched as paramedics took the three people to the hospital. He suspected they’d been on K2, which he compared to “smoking potpourri.”

to .06% of the general population. With that being said, although these are challenging realities, there are resources available for those in need. Please visit Aids Source for more information. Jasmine Browley holds an MA in journalism from Columbia College Chicago, and has contributed to Ebony, Jet and MADE Magazine among others. So, clearly, she knows some stuff. Follow her digital journey @JasmineBrowley.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Makes Historic Visit to the U.S. to Build Economic and Cultural Bridges By Marie Y. Lemelle, Wave Newspapers/NNPA Member

When the word spread among the hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians scattered across the United States that Dr. Abiy Ahmed, the newly-elected Prime Minister of Ethiopia, would visit Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Calif., and Minneapolis, Minn., the expatriates prepared to travel to those cities by plane, bus, train or car. Just as the election of President Barack Obama lit a spark in the imaginations of the hundreds of thousands of Americans that traveled to Washington to take part in his 2009 inauguration, the rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed not only excited the Black community and Africans living in the U.S., it also inspired them to see and hear the charismatic leader in person. Much like President Obama, who was 47 when he won the presidential election, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also rose to power at a young age (41 years old), with the swag and attire of a rock star. Ethiopia happens to be the oldest independent country in Africa. But young or old, Abiy’s message of hope has connected to a nation of many people, who lost hope and never considered returning to their homeland. As the proverb goes, “If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain.” That’s why Abiy traveled to America to speak directly to Ethiopians living in the U.S., to let them know that change is coming and that they were not forgotten. Ayuko Babu, the executive director of the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) said that members of the Ethiopian Business Association asked him for permission to distribute thousands of tickets on the parking lot connected to the Pan African Film Festival office to ensure everyone could attend the free event with the prime minister at the Galen Center on the University of Southern California campus. Babu added that, with the support of Los Angeles Council President Herb Wesson, he was able to provide operational unity for the historic visit. At 6 a.m. on Sunday morning, July 29, thousands of Ethiopians from the western region of the U.S.—from Seattle, Wash., to Denver, Colo., and beyond—lined up to get their tickets to come together and see and

hear the words of the forward-thinking, young leader who represents change for Ethiopia. The throngs that assembled at the Galen Center, celebrated the unity, peace and a new beginning for Ethiopia; many wore the country’s colors, enthusiastically waved flags, danced with joy, and sang songs while awaiting the appearance of their leader. Babu attended the event and remarked on the energy in the USC Galen Center. “The prime minister’s trip to the U.S. is symbolic, because people now know that their leadership is in tune to the issues that caused many Ethiopians to leave their homes,” Babu said. From the moment the prime minister stepped into the arena, a thunderous sound of approval rose to the ceiling. Ahmed’s speech was preceded with prayers from religious leaders and other dignitaries. The crowd began to chant, “Ahmed! Ahmed!” The crowd was ready for his words of hope. “Tear down the wall, build bridges,” Abiy said. “Ethiopians need to tear down the walls of ethnic division, sectarianism, distrust, ill-will, lack of civility and respect, selfishness and conflict that has separated them for decades and build bridges across ethnic, religious, linguistic and regional lines to construct the New Ethiopia, the future Ethiopia.” Abiy continued: “The key to Ethiopia’s future success is not the politics of recrimination of the past, but dialogue, collaboration and unity in a common purpose.” Abiy repeated the rallying cry “Medemer!” in his native Amharic language and the crowd cheered. “Lasting solutions to Ethiopia’s problems can be obtained only if Ethiopians take the paths of love, reconciliation, and peace,” Abiy continued. “We have tried war and conflict, which has bankrupted the country and left the country in poverty.” Abiy added that Ethiopians can learn from the American experience. “Americans, in less than 250 years, have been able to be in the forefront of nations, because they uphold the rule of law and know how to work together for a common goal,” Abiy said. “Ethiopians in America need to bring the values of hard work, co-

A woman drapes herself in the Ethiopian flag during an event featuring Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed, at the Galen Center at the University of Southern California on July 29. (Ken Jones/Alano Montage Photography/Wave Newspapers) operation and teamwork [back] to Ethiopia and share.” The crowd listened quietly as Abiy said that Ethiopia has always been a beacon of freedom and pride for Africa historically and when nearly all of Africa suffered under colonialism. “Ethiopia should spread the flame of PanAfricanism which she has done since the establishment of the Organization of African Union in 1963,” Abiy said. Abiy said he foresees a time when all Africans can travel freely without visas. “Diaspora Ethiopians in America can play a critical role in the economic life of their country by increasing remittances and contributing to a special diaspora trust fund which will be independently managed to meet specific community needs,” Abiy said. “Ethiopia needs the skills and resources of its diaspora citizens more than their money. Diaspora Ethiopians can play a central role in capacity building in all areas.” Abiy repeated his invitation to Ethiopians living abroad to come home, to spend time teaching, training and inspiring young people in Ethiopia.

“Change can only come, if we are only able to change ourselves. We must examine our consciences and deal with each other in good faith and good will,” Abiy explained. “It will take time to drop old habits, but we must start now. Each diaspora Ethiopian must decide to make [his or her] own contribution.” Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) expressed support for the Ethiopian prime minister, issuing a congressional proclamation recognizing his historic visit. “I am honored to take official note of the visit of Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed to the United States in order to engage Ethiopian Americans in the new direction he plans for his country,” said Bass who represents a district that is home to thousands of Ethiopian Americans and includes the Little Ethiopia neighborhood in Los Angeles and USC’s Galen Center. Bass said that from the time of his acceptance speech, Abiy has made his desire for political reform clear; expressed the need for unity among all Ethiopians; advocated for a resolution of the long-standing border conflict with Eritrea; and encouraged engagement with opposition groups both

inside and outside of Ethiopia. Bass continued, “These priorities resonate strongly with the Ethiopian diaspora in the United States, as well as his work to act on those priorities. He has announced political reforms, released thousands of political prisoners, negotiated guarantees for the release of Ethiopian prisoners in Saudi Arabia, and earlier this month he became the first Ethiopian leader to meet with an Eritrean counterpart in more than 20 years.” Los Angeles has the second-largest concentration of Ethiopians outside of Addis Ababa, behind only Washington D.C. “Those constituents have told me that they hope the Prime Minister’s presence, and his message, will inspire renewed interest in learning about, visiting, and investing in their country of origin,” said Bass, a who is the ranking member of the Africa Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “I have worked to promote economic ties between the U.S. and the many nations on the continent, including Ethiopia.” July 29 was declared “Ethiopia Day” in Los Angeles.

Scarred and Battle Tested from Heart Disease, but Still Fighting By Rhonda E. Monroe

(Incoming Board Chair-elect, WomenHeart)

Rhonda E. Monroe, the incoming Board Chair-elect for WomenHeart, says that the sense of sisterhood and friendship that she found in the organization are truly priceless.

WomenHeart (the first and leading voice for the 48 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease) story begins in February of 1999, when three women, united by heart disease, formed an organization that was destined to become a lifeline for women across this nation. And at the same time, in February of 1999, a young mother in Charlotte, N.C. suffered a stroke while she was pregnant with her second child. Fortunately, she suffered no long-term deficits, but was horrified by her temporary left

side paralysis. Five years later, this size six, 36-yearold woman would suffer the first of three heart attacks just five days after giving birth to her third child. It was May of 2004. She was misdiagnosed for an entire week despite an EKG showing an acute myocardial infarction. She sought treatment six of seven days before someone finally listened. On that sixth night, she laid on her bed with one foot on the ground for the entire night, afraid to relinquish

her physical attachment to earth, because she felt her body shutting down. She prayed. And she vowed that if she lived, she would raise her voice so that no other woman suffered her fate. After this week-long heart attack, she returned to the emergency room. She was rushed by ambulance to another hospital and taken to emergency bypass surgery. She had five coronary artery dissections, and she underwent an emergency quadruple bypass. Her heart was so remarkable that the sur-

geon literally held it in his hand and had someone capture a photograph. Eight months later, that same young mother learned that her bypass grafts had shut down. Her rejection fraction was only 21 percent. She was advised to call a family meeting, get her affairs in order. Her prognosis was grim. t was then that I became intimately acquainted with her. I marveled at her strength and resolve as we walked this journey together. She became a force of nature, moving heaven and Con’t on page 22

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

OP-ED: We Have to Get Real about the Achievement Gap between Black and White Students By Nate Davis, CEO and Board of Directors Chairman, K12 Inc.

Our nation’s graduation rate is at an alltime high. The national figure shows 84 percent of young people, overall, graduating from high school within four years after first entering the 9th grade, a trend that has been on a consistent upswing since the 2010-2011 school year. Still, despite much progress with that indicator, major gaps still exist. And there is great concern that the graduation rate hype not only masks those gaps, but distracts us from what must be our ultimate goal: ensuring all students earn a high school diploma and are college and career ready. Even as overall graduation rates improve, Black and Hispanic students continue to lag behind that curve. Graduation rates for African American students are 76.4 percentage points—8 percentage points behind the national average—and Latino students are at 79.3 percent. Native American students fare even worse at just 72 percent graduation. Meanwhile, White and Asian students are anywhere from four to six points higher than the national average. None of us can reasonably expect the closure of inequality gaps, if we’re simply satisfied with overall graduation rates while resigned to stubborn achievement gaps. Yet, it seems as if we’re in a phase whereby these disparities are being treated as normal—“the way it is”—as opposed to addressing a larger parity problem. We have to ask ourselves: are we having a responsible and responsive conversation about high school graduation? The most recent “Building a Grad Nation” report from America’s Promise Alliance says that, “Twenty-three states have Black-White graduation rate gaps larger than the national average, including five

states—Wisconsin, Nevada, Minnesota, New York, and Ohio—where the gap is more than 20 percentage points…Twentyfour states have Hispanic/White graduation rate gaps that exceed the national average, and in two states – Minnesota and New York—the gap is more than 20 percentage points.” The persistent normalcy of lower achievement among certain disadvantaged student populations is deeply troubling. Closing those gaps should be as important—if not more—than simply raising overall graduation rates. At the same time, graduation rates can be used to unfairly malign schools that are serving underprivileged youth and, in fact, helping at-risk students earn a high school diploma. Alternative schools are singled out for having four-year cohort graduation rates that are generally lower than the national average, but left out of the conversation is how these schools are intentionally designed to serve credit-deficient transfer students and former dropouts at risk of never earning a diploma at all. Measuring how well schools are graduating students is important, but it should be done right, and must not create disincentives for schools to serve credit-deficient students or dropouts looking for a second chance. After all, what is more important for these students: graduating or graduating “on-time”? It’s why graduation rate calculations should be reformed altogether so schools are held accountable for students’ annual progress toward graduation every year, not just in the fourth year of high school. Sadly, the drive to meet on-time graduation has led to recent cases of manipulation and fraud, which, of course, is wrong, but it also misses the primary purposes of high school altogether: preparing stu-

dents for higher education, careers, and the workforce. The linkage between these goals—graduation and college and career readiness—is crucial for broader national competitiveness. Graduating students is meaningless if they are not prepared. The number of high school students heading into remedial courses in their first year of college are staggering, and the gaps between varying demographics are even more troubling. Nearly 60 percent of African American students are forced to enroll in non-credit remedial classes in college, according to the Center for American Progress, compared to 45 percent of Latino students and 35 percent of White students. This means that Black, first-year college students, already burdened the most by ris-

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ing college costs and loan debt, are taking on a greater share of the $1.3 billion wasted on non-credit remedial courses. There is no one silver bullet that will solve our nation’s graduation problem, but we can start by realigning graduation standards to the expectations of colleges, career training programs, industries and jobs, and developing competency-based, personalized learning paths for students unconstrained by four-year cohorts. And we must finally address funding gaps that exist for too many alternative schools working to eliminate achievement gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged students. Addressing this complex challenge requires a mix of other solutions, too; improved learning models and instruction,

greater support for our teachers, innovative technology, and increased services to disenfranchised students groups are just a few that we should be working on. But none of this can happen without educators, policymakers and business leaders willing to engage in honest and constructive conversations, and then pledging to act. A rising graduation rate is worth celebrating, but let’s not become complacent. Learn more about improving the educational outcomes for the students in your life at nnpa.org/essa. Nate Davis is the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors at K12 Inc., an online education provider for students in pre-K through 12th grade.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

“Why We Went To Therapy”– Black Men Speak Out by Daunte Henderson, founder of the MADEMAN Foundation,

It’s hard getting Black men to go to the doctor. PERIOD. Dr. Michele Reed gave us tips on how to fix that, but now we have another giant we are facing. The fears run deep for many of our brothers, and it’s killing us. The anxiety of being told you have a potentially life-threatening disease is heightened when you also have personal stuff on your chest. There are some issues that you can’t discuss with your regular doctor, wife, brothers, parents, barber or yourself for that matter. Mental health has been a hot and necessary topic for our community. Black men are starting to wake up and address their mental health as well. Rappers have spoken candidly about their time in therapy, but what about those brothers who don’t have an album who benefited the same? I got an awesome opportunity to speak with other Black men who tried therapy and here’s what they had to say. Why did you choose therapy? McGee: When I was younger my mom took me to therapy after my parents got a divorce. I don’t really remember, but she said I used to act out a little bit afterward. I always remember it as a positive experience. It really encouraged me to write out my feelings and process how I felt about things. I started again recently because a friend of mine passed away suddenly, and I really had a hard time processing it. My feelings tended to be in flux and sometimes I would get teary and upset for no reason. I also had never experienced grieving before and since I was starting my first job, I really

needed to get my emotions in check.

Hardy: As a full-time Black man trying to navigate this world and its many challenges, therapy has saved my life. I’ve been in therapy for a few years, and it has been a revelatory, calming, reassuring journey with lots of growth and insights along the way. I first entered therapy after returning home to Virginia after dealing with then-unnamed depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations while living and working in Panama. Jolla: I chose therapy because I had been struggling with certain life issues primarily within the confines of my own mind for years on end, with no true resolution, when I finally decided to go. Marshall: I made the decision to start going to therapy simply because I want to better understand how my life experiences are affecting my present lifestyle, thoughts, and actions. Even further, I don’t want to carry traumatic stress with me every day, the body remembers the stress and passes it on to descendants. I don’t want to impair my future children with such a burden. What were your misconceptions about therapy prior to attending? McGee: It’s really funny, I always thought about therapy (of all kinds regardless of why you’re there) to be kind where you sit in a chair and talk about your mother or your past. But it’s not necessarily like that. it kind of depends on why you’re there. Hardy: My misconception going in was that she would be able to look at me and know how many sessions and doses of medication I would need to be better. I was

hoping for an easy fix and that doesn’t exist.

Jolla: My misconceptions about therapy were few, yet still potentially off-putting. Because I was studying psychology at the time, there were plenty of things that I was well aware of, prior to attending. But one major misconception that I had was that I looked at therapists much like one would lump together doctors who practice & treat physical ailments, to say that any Ear, Nose, & Throat doctor can handle any patient that has Ear, Nose & Throat issues. That is not necessarily the case with therapists, they are not one-size-fits-all. Marshall: I shared a lot of the general misconceptions around therapy. Most notably, that to be in therapy means that there is something fundamentally wrong with me and the things I think, feel and believe.

McGee: Therapy definitely has helped me express myself to an unbiased third party that can help me process my thoughts. I think sometimes people get lost in their own mind and need an extra person to guide them. For myself, I usually like to keep stuff in (emotional stuff) and it can sometimes hurt me or my relationships with people. This has really taught me about speaking out my problems, and just expressing myself in a healthy way.

and paradigms, and being patient with myself through transition has helped me significantly over the past few years. Talking openly with my therapist and my community about my experiences and feelings has made thriving with these challenges less shameful and harrowing. Therapy gave me tools to work through challenges and reframe self-defeating behavior and the way I talk to and about myself. Even though I still struggle, therapy helped me become far more aware of opportunities for improvement.

Hardy: It showed me that having mental and emotional challenges doesn’t make me an ancestor-disappointing scumbag and that it’s okay to not be okay. Going through therapy, being open to new perspectives

Jolla: Therapy has benefitted me in a multitude of ways. It has allowed me to better break down & unpack traumatic events in life without taking all of the shame & blame that may be attached. Also, I feel that

How has therapy benefited you?

my ability to be empathetic towards others increased three-fold. Marshall: One word, mindfulness. I am much more in tune with my self and am now able to process traumatic and stressful moments in a healthy way. What do you recommend for Black men who are on the fringe about therapy? McGee: A lot of black men will avoid therapy because they think that it is only for weak or crazy people. Reaching out for help doesn’t make you weak. It means you recognize that you want to solve a problem, and you’re doing everything you can to do it. Con’t on page 22

She’s Still Not Invited to the Cookout. Omarosa’s Tapes Continue to Rain on Trump’s Parade the most important decisions that impact our country. I was complicit and for that I regret,” the former reality star said. In the recording played, Manigault Newman is heard speaking to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who uses vague dismissive language to fire her from the White House. “It’s come to my attention over the last few months that there’s been some pretty, in my opinion, significant integrity issues,” Kelly is heard saying. The Chief of Staff implies that Manigault Newman had possibly used government vehicles, but said that “there’s some money issues and other things.” “From my view the integrity issues are very serious,” Kelly said.

By Micha Green, AFRO Washington, D.C., mgreen@afro.com

Omarosa Manigault Newman went on NBC’s “Meet the Press” August 12 and spilled a lot of tea on the President and his current administration, sharing recordings and even telling host Chuck Todd that, “This is a White House where everybody lies.” Somehow after being fired three times on “The Apprentice,” hearing all of the President’s insensitive comments about women and people of color and the worst hit- being disinvited from Black cookouts by Twitter’s African American delegation- it took Manigault-Neman to be terminated from the White House to finally speak out against Trump and his allies. ““I was complicit with this White House deceiving this nation,” she said. “They continue to deceive this nation by how mentally declined he is, how difficult it is for him to process complex information. How he is not engaged in some of

Reality TV personality and former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman is on media spree while promoting her book Unhinged. (Zach Pagano/NBC via AP)

Then Kelly appears to threaten Manigault Newman. “I think it’s important to understand that if we can make this a friendly departure we can all be, you know, you can look at your time here in the White

House as a year of service to the nation, and then you can go on without any type of difficulty in the future relative to your reputation,” he said on the tape.

When Manigault Newman asks Kelly to speak with the President he shuts her down. “We can talk another time. This has to do with some pretty serious integrity violations. So I’ll let it go at that. So the staff and everyone on the staff works for me, not the President,” Kelly said. Now that Manigault Newman is speaking out and playing tapes the President is none too pleased. As he does so often, The Tweeter in Chief took to Twitter Tuesday morning to reply to Manigault Newman. He claimed Manigault Newman begged for a position in his administration. “Wacky Omarosa, who got fired 3 times on the Apprentice, now got fired for the

last time. She never made it, never will. She begged me for a job, tears in her eyes, I said Ok.” He insulted her intelligence and said that Manigault Newman’s colleagues were not fans. “People in the White House hated her. She was vicious, but not smart. I would rarely see her but heard really bad things. Nasty to people [and] would constantly miss meetings [and] work. When Gen. Kelly came on board he told me she was a loser & nothing but problems. I told him to try working it out, if possible, because she only said GREAT things about me – until she got fired!“ Manigault Newman, who once told Frontline, “Every critic, every detractor will have to bow down under President Trump” is doing everything but saying “GREAT things” about the President, all in service of her new book, Unhinged: An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

Ice Cube’s “Big 3” League First Professional Sports League To Allow CBD Use by Daunte Henderson, founder of the MADEMAN Foundation from BlackDoctor.org

The effects of consuming marijuana by smoking can yield unwanted effects for some people. The “stoned”, hazy, or cloudy feeling that some get isn’t a must for everybody. The active agent inside of marijuana THC or tetrahydrocannabinol produces this effect. CBD or cannabidiol is a cannabis compound that gives you a host of medicinal qualities without the psychoactive effects that come with smoking marijuana buds. You can consume CBD in a number of ways: smoking it, vaporizing, and topically to name a few. Cannabidiol is highly becoming an alternative choice for traditional medicine. It’s been known to treat conditions such as anxiety, arthritis, inflammation, and seizures. CBD still isn’t legal nationwide, but it’s very easy to come by even on sites like Amazon. What is the Difference Between CBD and Hemp Oil? CBD and hemp oil are made from different parts of the cannabis plant and serve different purposes. CBD oil is used for medicinal purposes like sleeping conditions, pain, inflammation, and seizures. Hemp oil is used for cosmetic and dietary purposes. You can find it in lotions, creams, toothpaste, shampoos and in food as a supple-

ment. Hemp oil is known for its restorative qualities. This oil is made from pressing hemp seeds. CBD oil is found in hemp flowers and extracted later for purification. How Can You Consume CBD?

There are four different ways to consume CBD oil: ingesting, topical, inhalation and sublingual. The most common way to consume CBD is oil is orally (ingesting). When you consume this oil orally it goes through your digestive system, metabolized by your liver and sends the compound directly into your bloodstream. This process is the exact same one undergone by vitamins and supplements. CBD oil comes in beverages, edibles, and capsules. The next time you’re in Las Vegas be sure to try the CBD-inspired coffee at one of the many dispensaries and shops. The second way to consume CBD is sublingual. When you consume it this way you hold the oil under your tongue for up to 90 seconds while the mucous membranes absorb all of the good stuff. This is a direct way to consume the oil because it skips all of the steps in the ingestion method by going into the bloodstream quicker. Many people take tinctures and concentrate while applying the sublingual method. No, you’re not going to get high off CBD being applied to your skin, but it will give you relief. Topical application of CBD is

used to treat skin conditions, pain, and moisturizing. CBD is absorbed through the skin cells but never interact with the bloodstream. There are tons of lotions, salves, and body washes out there. Amazon is a great place to check. If you’ve noticed people are starting to get a little boojee and investing in vape pens. CBD can be consumed by vaporizing and inhaling. During the process of vaporizing CBD is heated and releases the active compounds without all the other harmful gunk inside of it. When you inhale this refined smoke it enters your bloodstream faster because it doesn’t have to go through the digestive system; just through your lungs. There is still research going on in the field of CBD. Some say it works, while others believe it’s hogwash. What’s cool is that our own community is getting on the train for CBD’s healing properties. Ice Cube’s “Big 3” league is the first professional sports league to allow players to use CBD. Many cite it’s soothing and healing powers to be especially helpful for injuries or postgame. Time will tell if CBD becomes the new go-to for medicine. In the meantime let us know what you think if you come across CBD-inspired products. Daunte Henderson, founder of the MADEMAN Foundation, author, and educator based in Chicago. You can follow him at @ brotherhenderson on IG

Magic Johnson to Invest in the City of Baltimore

to Create More Jobs and Economic Growth

Former NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson continues to make a name for himself in the business world. Not only does he aim to make his investments grow, but most importantly, he wants to make an impact in underserved communities. He is now planning to invest in the city of Baltimore to create more job opportunities and contribute to its economic growth. Just recently, Johnson reportedly met with Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh to discuss long-term investment opportunities in the city. He hopes to bring more employment opportunities by bringing some of his franchises in the area, according to The Baltimore Sun. Other potential projects considered are adding one of his movie theaters at the Mondawmin Mall, improving tax breaks for investing in underserved neighborhoods, and revitalizing the Perkins Home housing development.

We bring a retail and a housing option, which we call mix-use. That really jumpstarts the redevelopment of urban corridors. And then others will come in, big boxes and others, will come in and invest in the city,” he said in an interview with WBAL-TV. Moreover, Johnson plans to return to the city to know more about it and to continue the discussions about possible investments and developments. For over 10 years, he has already spurred growth and development to several urban communities such as Harlem and Brooklyn through his company, Magic Johnson Enterprises. Now, the company is valued at an estimated $1 billion. Johnson’s latest investment is expected to improve the Baltimore’s economic situation. And he aims to do just that. He said, “Baltimore, you’re the magic city. Here comes the magic man.”

TORONTO, ON – JULY 27: Ice Cube takes in the BIG3 three on three basketball league at Scotiabank Arena on July 27, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/ BIG3/Getty Images)

Former President Barack Obama

Announces First Wave of Midterm Endorsements By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Contributor Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama were recently caught on video dancing at a Beyoncé and Jay-Z concert in Landover, Md. Now, the Obama’s are back to business, announcing that they’ve endorsed dozens of candidates in advance of November’s all-important mid-term elections. This large, diverse contingent comprises 81 candidates from across the country in federal, state and down-ballot races. “I’m proud to endorse such a wide and impressive array of Democratic candidates—leaders as diverse, patriotic, and big-hearted as the America they’re running to represent,” Obama said in a statement. “I’m confident that, together, they’ll strengthen this country we love by restoring opportunity that’s broadly shared, repairing our alliances and standing in the world, and upholding our fundamental commitment to justice, fairness, responsibility, and the rule of law.” Obama continued: “But first, they need our votes—and I’m eager to make the case for why Democratic candidates deserve our votes this fall.” Obama said he and his wife believe the country’s long-term challenges can be addressed best when all Americans take a more active role in democracy. That’s why he is dedicating his post-Presidency efforts to identifying and elevating the next generation of leaders, he said.

In issuing this first round of endorsements, Obama said he also hopes to help current and aspiring Democratic leaders establish themselves, build their profiles, and lead their communities. This fall, Obama promises to prioritize supporting redistricting targets recommended by the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), taking back control of the U.S. House of Representatives, and growing the U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus. The round of endorsements also includes several promising Obama Administration and campaign alumni who heeded the former president’s call in his farewell speech to “grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself,” Obama said. Both Barack Obama and Michelle Obama said they expect to campaign in several states this fall and to issue a second round of endorsements in advance of November 6.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

YOUR TICKET TO FAMILY FUN!

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Friday, August 24 • Kids in superhero or princess costumes get in for free! • High School Day • WTA matches

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MEN’S LEGENDS RETURN TO NEW HAVEN! Thursday, August 23 – James Blake vs. Tommy Haas Friday, August 24 – John McEnroe vs. Todd Martin

Host Sponsors:

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INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 -- August 02, 2016 THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 August 21, 2018

The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

Dispatcher

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

NOTICE Invitation for Bid Pest Control and Preventative Maintenance Services

Galasso Materials is seeking a motivated, organized, detail-oriented candidate to join its truck dispatch office. Responsibilities include order entry and truck ticketing in a fast paced materials The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven manufacturing VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLEand contracting company. You will have daily ind/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Bids teraction with employees and customers as numerous truckloads for PestINC, Control and Preventative Maintenance of material cross our scales daily. We are willing to train the right HOME on behalf of Columbus House and theServices. New Haven Housing Authority, individual that has a great attitude. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. A is complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develReply to Hiring Manager, PO Box 1776, East Granby, CT 06026. Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal opment located at 108 Frank Street, New https://newhavenHaven. Maximum income limitations apEOE/M/F/D/V. housing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway

ply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y Monday, 6, 2018 at 9:00AM.(approximately 100) have 25,beginning 2016 andon ending whenAugust sufficient pre-applications been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours.Our Completed pretree service company is looking for a laborer Common Ground is hiring a part timeoffices Grants As-Orange Street, applications must be returned to HOME INC’s at 171 Third to assist the Shop manager. Basic mechanic knowlsociate. ForHaven, a complete job description and directions Floor, New CT 06510.

Shop Assistant

on how to apply, please visit http://commongroundct. org/2018/07/common-ground-seeks-part-time-grantsNOTICIA associate

edge a must Responsible for filling in where needed around our garage and yard. Doing minor repairs and maintenance on equipment and vehicles, loading mulch and/or firewood

is seeking to fill the position of Director of Gift Planning. Please refer to our website for details: http://www.cfgnh. org/About/ContactUs/EmploymentOpportunities.aspx. EOE. Electronic submissions only. No phone calls Laboratory Technician

Responsible for the sampling and laboratory analysis of domestic and industrial water and wastewater. Requires an A.S. degree in biology, chemistry or related field and 2 years experience in laboratory analysis. Experience and training may be substituted on a year for year basis. Must have a valid State of CT driver’s license. $26.96 to $32.41 hourly plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply: Human Resources Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492, (203) 294-2080, Fax #: (203) 294-2084 The closing date will be that date the 50th application form/resume is received, or September 11, 2018, whichever occurs first. EOE

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Waste Treatment

Candidate is subject to a drug check.

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator (AttendantHouse III): Operates and maintains Email resume to mclellantree@comcast.net equipment andpre-solicitudes processes in a municipal sewage treatment plant. a aceptando para estudios y apartamentos deRequires un dormitorio en este desarrollo H.S. diploma or GED. A State of CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Or Fax: 860-261-7755 ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos Protection (DEEP) Class III Operators License or higher certification plus We are a medium sized 30+ year company that offers máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 three (3) yrs. of experience in the operation of a class II or higher wastewater treatment facility, with one (1)seyr.han in arecibido supervisory capacitypre-solicitudes of foreman level(aproximadamente julio, 2016 hasta cuando suficientes 100)and dental benefits as well as 401K plan medical or higher. possess and maintain validpre-solicitudes driver’s license serán enviadas por correo aAffirmative en las Must oficinas de HOME INC.a Las petición Action/Equal Opportunity Employer $ 28.77 to $ 32.83 hourly / $ 26.69 to $ 32.83 based on certifications & exllamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse perience oficinas fringe de HOME INC en 171Apply: Orange Street, tercer piso, New plusa las an excellent benefit package. Department of Human Re- Haven , CT 06510 . sources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. 1907 Hartford Turnpike North Haven, CT 06473 The closing date will be that date the 50th application form/resume is received, or August 28, 2018 whichever occurs first. EOE

KMK Insulation Inc.

The Glendower Group, Inc

NEW HAVEN Request for Qualifications Land Use Zoning Attorney Services 242-258 Fairmont Ave

Mechanical Insulator position. Insulation company offering good pay and benefits.

Town of Bloomfield

Part Time Foster Care Family Support Worker $18.00 to $20.00 hourly – non-benefited Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE For details and how to apply go to www.bloomfieldct.org

DELIVERY PERSON NEEDED

Please mail resume to above address.. MAIL ONLY This company is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer.

Part Time Delivery Needed SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE One/Two Day a Week,

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice Common Ground High School is hiring a Full Time Grade 10 In-

2BR Group, Townhouse, 1.5ofBA, 3BR, 1 levelterdisciplinary , 1BA Lab Instructor, a Full Time Teaching Assistant and The Glendower Inc an affiliate Housing Authority a Part visAllNew new Haven apartments, newcity appliances, newiscarpet, close to I-91Time & I-95certified Social Studies/History Teacher. Please City of d/b/a Elm Communities currently Oldjob Saybrook, CT it http://commongroundct.org/get-involved/join-our-staff/ for seeking proposals for Land Use Zoning Services.center A descriptions and how to apply. highways, near bus Attorney stop & shopping (4 Buildings, 17 Units) complete theallowed. requirement may be obtained from Elm@ 860-985-8258 Pet copy underof40lb Interested parties contact Maria Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing. cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Monday, August 6, 2018 at 3:00PM CT. Unified Deacon’s Association is pleased to offer a Deacon’s New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Cast-

Must Have Own Vehicle

QSR STEEL CORPORATION

Electric

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. Steel (203) 996-4517 Host, General Bishop Elijah Davis, D.D. Pastor of Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. Church 64 Brewster

Distribution Engineer – The Town of Wallingford Electric DiviSt. New Haven, CT

APPLY NOW!

in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding,

If Interested call

Fabricators, Erectors & Welders Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Top pay for top performers. Health Benefits, 401K, Vacation Pay. Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. Email Resume: Rose@qsrsteel.com Hartford, CT

(203) 435-1387

sion is seeking a highly technical individual to work in the design and This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. development of overhead and underground power distribution lines. The AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER utility serves 23,000 customers in a 50+ square mile distribution area with a peak demand of 130 MW. The position requires a B.S. degree in Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 electrical engineering plus 2 years of responsible experience in utility Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 engineering, or an equivalent combination of education and experience Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour substituting on a year-for year basis. Salary: $73,999$94,676 annually Project documents available via ftp link below: plus an excellent benefit package. Apply Human until 3:00 pmfringe on Tuesday, August 2, to: 2016 at itsResources office at 28 Smith Street, Requesthttp://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage for Proposals Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the CT 06492. Fax #: (203) 294-2084. Closing date will be September 11, Material Testing Services Smithfield AssistedisLiving Facility, 26occurs Smithfirst. Street Seymour. 2018 or the dateGardens the 50th application received, whichever Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com EOE. all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses The Glendower Group, IncHCC anencourages affiliatethe ofparticipation Housingof Au-

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Town of Bloomfield

The Glendower Group, Inc

Full Time Building Official $78,100 to $120,552 Pre-employment drug testing. AA/EOE For details and how to apply go to www.bloomfieldct.org Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 City of New Haven d/b/a Haynes Elm Construction city CommuniA pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority thority Office 28 Smith

Common Ground is looking for an Assistant Manager of Fa-

ties is currently seeking proposals for Material Testing Street atthe 10:00 am, on with Wednesday, July and 20, 2016. cilities andSeymour, Grounds to CT assist Site Manager the care, upkeep maintenance of Common Ground’s site and facilities in order to ensure Services. A complete copy of the requirement may be they effectively meet all of Common Ground’s programmatic needs. obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration PorBidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority OfClick here for a full job descrtipion and how to apply: http://commongroundct.org/2018/07/common-ground-is-seeking-an-assistant-managfice, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579. tal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/ gateway beginning on Monday, July 30, 2018 at 3:00PM er-of-facilities-and-grounds/

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

AA/EEO EMPLOYER

Property Management Company is seeking a Resident Services Coordinator in New Haven, CT. Part time- 16 hrs/wk. Must have experience working w/ senior and disabled community. Social Services background preferred. Please call (860) 951-9411 x238 for inquiries.

July 2016 -- August THEINNER-CITY INNER-CITY NEWSNEWS - August 1527, , 2018 August02, 21,2016 2018

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport (HACB) d/b/a Park City Communities (PCC)

will be opening itsMACRI Low Income Public HousingPREWaiting Lists for 1BRAVAILABLE Elderly/62 and VALENTINA RENTAL HOUSING APPLICATIONS over individuals and our 2BR & 3BR family units beginning Monday, August 13 through Friday, August 2018. of ToColumbus qualify forHouse Elderly, youthe must 62 years or older; for 2BR HOME INC, 31, on behalf and NewbeHaven Housing Authority, & 3BR units a family size MUST be a minimum of two (2) AND the annual gross income is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this develmay not exceed the income limits shown below for the household size. Pre-Applications opment located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apmust be picked up at Gary Crooks Community Center, 301 Bostwick Ave. Pre-Applicaply.can Pre-applications will befrom available from www.parkcitycommunities.org. 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday tions also be downloaded our website OnlyJu;y one 25, 2016 and (approximately 100) have pre-application perending family when will besufficient accepted; pre-applications duplicate pre-applications will be disqualified.

been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 those hours. Completed preApplications must be returned toduring Gary Crooks ONLY. applications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third This housing does have a preference point system: disabled, homeless, elderly, Floor, Newauthority Haven, CT 06510.

working, displaced, domestic violence, veterans, elderly congregate and witness protection. A waiting list with preferences means that applicants who qualify for the preference will receive

NOTICIA

Household size VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES 1 3 Income Limits

HOME INC, enVery nombre de (50%) la Columbus House y de la$38,750 New Haven$43,600 Housing Authority, está Low $33,900 aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo Extremely LowStreet, New $26,15 de ingresos $20,35 $23,25 ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Haven. Se aplican limitaciones 0 0 0 máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hastaLow cuando se han recibido suficientes (aproximadamente 100) (80%) $64,75 $50,35 pre-solicitudes $57,55 en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán 0 0 enviadas0 por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse If youde require a reasonable this process, helpHaven line will, be a las oficinas HOME INC enaccommodation 171 OrangeforStreet, tercera designated piso, New CT 06510 . available to receive your requests at (203) 337-8804 PCC Does not discriminate based upon race, color, disabilities, religion, sex or national origin.

NOTICIA PUBLICA NEW HAVEN

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport (HACB) d/b/a 242-258 Park City Communities (PCC) Fairmont Ave

2BR Townhouse, 1.5 BA, 3BR, 1 level , 1BA

abrirá sus listas de espera de viviendas públicas de bajos ingresos para 1dorm. para personas de edad avanzada, y mas y nuestras familiares 2BR &close 3BR comenzando el Lunes, All new62apartments, newunidades appliances, newdecarpet, to I-91 & I-95 13 de Agosto hasta el Viernes, 31 de Agosto de 2018. Para calificar para ancianos, usted debe highways, near bus stop & shopping center tener 62 años o más; para las unidades 2BR & 3BR un tamaño de familia debe ser un mínimo de dos (2) el ingreso anual Interested no puede exceder límites de ingresos que se muestran a Pety under 40lbbruto allowed. parties los contact Maria @ 860-985-8258 continuación para el tamaño del hogar. Las pre-solicitudes deben ser recogidos en el Centro Comunitario Gary Crooks, 301 Bostwick Ave. las aplicaciones previas también se pueden descargar desde nuestra página Association web www.parkcitycommunities.org. CT. Unified Deacon’s is pleased to offer a Deacon’s Sólo se aceptará una pre-solicitud por Certificate This is a 10duplicadas month program designed to assist in the intellectual formation of Candidates familia; las Program. pre-aplicaciones serán descalificadas. 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. deben serBishop entregadas a Gary CenterChurch solamente! (203)Aplicaciones 996-4517 Host, General Elijah Davis, D.D.Crooks Pastor ofCommunity Pitts Chapel U.F.W.B. 64 Brewster St. New Haven, CT

La Autoridad de Viviendas tiene un sistema de preferencias: personas sin hogar, discapacitados, mayor de edad, empleados, víctimas de violencia domestica, veteranos, ancianos congregados y protección de testigos. Una lista de espera con preferencias quiere decir que personas que cualifican con su preferencia recibirán asistencia antes de personas sin preferencias.

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Sealed bids areTamano inviteddelbyhogar the Housing1 Authority2 of the Town of Seymour Los limites de ingresos 3 until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Muy Bajo (50%) $33,900 $38,750 $43,600 Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Extremademente Bajo $23,25 $26,15 Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living$20,35 Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour. 0

Bajo (80%) $57,55 $64,75 A pre-bid conference will be held at$50,35 the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith 0 0 0 Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Si necesita un ajuste razonable para este proceso, una línea de ayuda designada estará disponible

para recibir sus peticiones (203) 337-8804 Bidding documents are available from thealSeymour Housing Authority Office, Smith Street, CT 06483 (203) religión, 888-4579. PCC 28 no discrimina basadoSeymour, en la raza, color, discapacidad, sexo u origen nacional.

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

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Invitation for Bid (IFB) CF Greene & Trumbull Gardens Parapets Solicitation Number: 112-PD-18-S The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport d/b/a Park City Communities (PCC) is requesting sealed bids for CF Greene and Trumbull Gardens Parapets. A complete set of the plans and technical specifications will be available on July 16, 2018. To obtain a copy of the solicitation you must send your request to bids@ parkcitycommunities.org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. A MANDATORY pre-bid conference will be held at 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06605 on July 31, 2018 @ 10:00 a.m., submitting a bid for the project without attending conference is not in the best interest of the Offeror. Additional questions should be emailed only to bids@parkcitycommunities. org no later than August 9, 2018 @ 3:00 p.m. Answers to all the questions will be posted on PCC’s Website: www.parkcitycommunities.org.All bids must be received by mailed or hand delivered by August 16 , 2018 @ 2:00 PM, to Ms. Caroline Sanchez, Director of Procurement, 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. No bids will be accepted after the designated time.

EXP, welder for structural steel, misc. metals shop Send resume: hherbert@gwfabrication.com

FENCE ERECTING CONTRACTORS

Field Engineer

BA/BS in Civil Engineering or Construction Management. 2-5 yrs. experience. OSHA Certified. Proficient in reading contract plans and specifications. Resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 10 Northwood Dr., Bloomfield, CT 06002; Fax 860.218.2433; Email resumes to info@redtechllc.com. RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

Project Manager Environmental Remediation Division 3-5 years exp. and Bachelor’s Degree, 40-Hr. Hazwoper Training Req. Forward resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 10 Northwood Dr., Bloomfield, CT 06002;

Fax 860.218.2433; or Email to HR@redtechllc.com

RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc

seeks: Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact: Dan Peterson Phone: 860- 243-2300 email: dpeterson@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc

Large CT Fence & Guardrail Contractor is looking for seeks: Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators Fence Installer foreman and helpers. Foreman must have at with current licensing and clean driving record, be least 5 years’ experience. Helpers-no experience required, willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. will train the right person. Work available 10-12 months per We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Invitationand to Bid: year. Valid Ct. Driver’s license required must be able Contact: Rick Tousignant to get a DOT Medical Card. All necessary equipment pro2nd Notice Phone: 860- 243-2300 vided. Medical, vacation & other benefits included. Must be Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com able to pass a physical and drug test. Foreman rates from Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Saybrook, CT $16 to $22 to $28.10/hour plus benefits,Old helper rates from Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer $18.10/hour plus benefits. OSHA 10 training required. (4 Buildings, 17 Units) Please email resume to pking@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Union Company seeks:

VanNew Driver to transport w/disabilities Construction, Woodindividuals’ Framed, Housing, SelectivereceivDemolition,Tractor Site-work,Trailer Cast- Driver for Heavy & Highway Coning services according to assigned schedule/destination. HS struction Equipment. Must have a CDL License, in-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, diploma/GED plus 3-12 months exp/training. Current CT PSL/ clean driving record, capable of operating heavy Flooring, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Medical Card a Painting, must. Split shift 20-25 hrs/week. Pay rate $11.85/ equipment; be willing to travel throughout the hr. Apply to: GWSNE, Recruitment Mgr., 432 Washington Ave, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. North Haven, CT 06473/fax (203) 495-6108/ hr@goodwillsne. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements. Northeast & NY. org EOE/AA – M/F/D/V We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits Contact Dana at 860-243-2300. Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com Waste Treatment

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Wastewater TreatmentProject Plant Operator (Attendant II):via Operates documents available ftp link and below: Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer maintains equipment and processes in a municipal sewage treathttp://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage ment plant. Requires a H.S. diploma or GED. In addition, must possess a State of Connecticut Department of Energy and EnviFax or Protection Email Questions & Bids Dawn Lang 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com ronmental Class II to: Operator or @higher certification; or encourages the participation of allcertification. Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses a Class IIHCC Operator-in-training or higher Must possess Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 Large CT Fence & Guardrail Contractor is looking and maintain a valid driver’s license. $25.38 to $30.24 hourly / $22.59 - $30.24 on certifications AA/EEObased EMPLOYER for experienced, responsible commercial and resi& experience plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply: Perdential fence erectors and installers on a subcontracsonnel Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, tor basis. Earn from $750 to $2,000 per day. Email Wallingford, CT 06492. The closing date will be that date the 50th resume to pking@atlasoutdoor.com AA/EOE application form/resume is received, or August 21, 2018, whichever occurs first. EOE

FENCE ERECTING SUBCONTRACTORS

THE INNER-CITY NEWS - August 15, 2018 - August 21, 2018

Black Men Speak

Con’t from page 17

Questions about your bill? Yale New Haven Hospital is pleased to offer patients and their families financial counseling regarding their hospital bills or the availability of financial assistance, including free care funds. By appointment, patients can speak one-on-one with a financial counselor during regular business hours. For your convenience, extended hours are available once a month. Date: Monday, August 20 Time: 5 - 7 pm Location: Children’s Hospital, 1 Park St., 1st Floor, Admitting Parking available (handicapped accessible) An appointment is necessary. Please call 203-688-2046. Spanish-speaking counselors available.

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TO BECOME A SPONSOR, PLEASE EMAIL ALICIA CARABALLO AT ALICIA.CARABALLO@JUNTAINC.ORG OR CALL 203.787.0191

hip-hop for advice. People like Jay Z, Kid Cudi and others who all talk about depression and therapy and how it helped them are really inspirational. They think about their lives and their problems on a whole different level because of it. It’s good for you, make the step man.

Also, in further learning & acknowledging my own needs for health & wellness, I have given myself the space for silence. Being quiet during a time where I don’t have to serve any masters, respond to anyone, or take care of anything unless I truly see fit has been a necessary recharge tip.

Jolla: What I recommend for Black men who are on the fringe about therapy is this: determine how much that happiness, a lighter heart & peace of mind mean to you. If it means as much as it should, then consider therapy a necessary step in unlocking more or all of that within yourself. Understand that the journey is very much worth it, even if it’s a long & winding road.

Marshall: I schedule in time during my week for myself, just to be myself and debrief. Daily debriefs with me, giving myself three glows( good things) and three grows( areas of improvement. Prioritizing my health and wellness, i.e. eating right, attending church, working out, etc.

Marshall: Go to a consultation, find a Black Woman Therapist, talk to your homies about it.

McGee: I go once every other week, on Thursday

McGee: Like I said, I try to be more open with my feelings, specifically with my girlfriend or my family. I think the biggest example probably has to be with my girlfriend. With my ex, I was really bad about telling how I felt and letting problems really sprout up until it became a bigger issue. A small thing would bubble up inside and explode during a bigger argument. It left me feeling shitty. Both of us feeling shitty. With my current girlfriend, and with therapy, I really am more open with her about how I feel about things. I talk about it with my guy. I know how to approach the discussion. My feelings are more thought out and less at the moment. And problems are solved easily because it’s not just a heat of the moment like knee-jerk thing. It’s easy to be like, “Hey this has been on my mind I feel kinda like XYZ, I wanna do ABC to solve it” Jolla: There are a few lifestyle changes that I have taken on & implemented into my day-to-day living. Seemingly simple steps such as remembering to put effort towards breath control during moments of anxiety, as it can considerably lessen he level of stress at the moment.

How often do you go?

Jolla: I haven’t gone in some time, mainly due to recently moving & needing to find a better fit, therapist-wise. In trying to find a good match prior to meeting with a therapist, because comfort is very important to me when it comes to the safe space of therapy. Marshall: I try to go to at least one session a month. I want to go to more but cannot afford it right now. Thank you to our contributors for all of their insight: Calen McGee, Ronnie Jolla, Julian Marshall and Alexander Hardy. Hopefully, this provides a little more insight into what other brothers have experienced. You never know what can come from one 60 minute consultation. Call your insurance and find out how much your copay will be for counseling services. I’ve personally gone to therapy for as cheap as $40 each session. Your mental wellness is just as important as your reps in the gym. Until next time, be well, be whole. Peace. Daunte Henderson, founder of the MADEMAN Foundation, author, and educator based in Chicago. You can follow him at @ brotherhenderson on IG

Con’t from page 15

Heart Disease

earth in her fight for life. She underwent a repeat bypass, had part of her heart cut off, 15 laser holes drilled in her heart, a pericardial window cut in the sac around her heart, three defibrillator implants, stents, angioplasty, and then some. She’s flatlined four times, and suffered from congestive heart failure. She’s experienced more heart issues than generations of a family. But I am happy to share with you that she is still with us. This is my story, and WomenHeart has been a lifeline for me. I became a WomenHeart Champion in 2007 and it changed my life. The sense of sisterhood and friendship are truly priceless. WomenHeart is the nation’s only patient-centered organization solely dedicated to advancing women’s heart health through education, advocacy and patient support. At its core are WomenHeart Champions—women living with heart disease—who are trained to be community educators, support network leaders and advocates for women’s heart health in the communities in which they live. WomenHeart is a friend to many WomenHeart Champions like me. Today, I speak to audiences of women living with heart disease and medical professionals. I’m a little scarred and battle tested, I am no longer 36, I am no longer a size six, but I am still here. And I am determined more than ever now, to keep the vow that I made 14 years ago in May of 2004, so that not another woman suffers my fate. I, along with WomenHeart, am fighting for every heart with the same tenacity and vigor that saved my own. As an African American woman, I know that this disease impacts women differently than men, especially minority women. Heart disease claims the lives of nearly 48,000 African American and 21,000 Hispanic women annually. Which is why I am asking other women of color who are heart disease survivors to join the fight and become a WomenHeart Champion at the 2018 WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium. It’s the nation’s only free volunteer program that trains women with heart disease to be community educators and support network coordinators in their communities. They are real women living with heart disease, who share their stories and important messages about heart health—all in the mission to save lives. Join me.

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