NEW HAVEN NEWS by INNER-CITY NEWS

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

Next Stop: Springfield! 12 Times A Day Financial Justice a Key Focus at 2016 NAACP Convention INNER-CITY NEWS July 27, 2016 - August 02, 2016

New Haven, Bridgeport

INNER-CITYNEWS

Volume 27 . No. 2256 Volume 21 No. 2194

Denzel

Delivers

“DMC”

“BroVember” Campaign Encourages Black Men Around the World to Grow Beards to Raise Money to Empower Young Black Boys

Malloy Malloy To To Dems: Dems:

Ignore Ignore“Tough “ToughOn OnCrime” Crime”

Color Struck? Coworking 2.0 Blooms

ACA Enrollment Surging, Even Though It Ends Dec. 15

Snow in July?

Merieta Bayati and Randi McCray at the Urban Collective, one of six new coworking spaces around town.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

Hillhouse Educators’ Cool Heads Saved Bus Trip by MARKESHIA RICKS

New Haven Independent Three Hillhouse educators were honored at City Hall Thursday night for their level heads and tenacity in getting a busload of high schoolers through a college tour despite bus trouble. Dixwell Alder and Hillhouse alum Jeanette Morrison recounted at the meeting how on Oct. 29 she, three educators from the school (her alma mater), and 28 students were stranded in Maryland on a broken down bus. It was pouring rain. They hadn’t reached their destination. The students were headed south to North Carolina to visit historically black colleges and universities and to get a taste of what it might be like to attend school outside of Connecticut. The trip was supposed to wind its way from North Carolina, through Virginia, to Maryland and Delaware. They waited three hours for a mechanic who ultimately couldn’t get the part needed to fix the bus. So there they sat. “We sat with 28 hungry kids for seven hours,” Morrison recalled. That’s when Hillhouse Guidance Counselor Olafemi Hunter, Home Economics teacher Demetria McMillan and Spanish teacher Adesina DeYounge kicked into action, working the phones and keeping

students calm. The bus company, Kelley Transit Services of Torrington, refused to provide another bus so the trip could continue. “These three individuals worked and worked with the mayor, our superintendent and our lovely transportation director,” Morrison said. “We got a new bus, a new company and we continued on this trip.” Because of the level heads of the educators on the bus, she said, the students weren’t thrown off their game as they met administrators at the colleges on the trip. In fact, Morrison said, the students came back with 42 onsite acceptance to the universities they visited. “When we got on that bus, there were four adults and 28 kids,” Morrison said. “When we came back on the seventh, we had three educators, an alder, and 28 young adults.” Alders Thursday night presented the three educators with a citation and thanked them for their efforts. “It’s really important the type of role models we have for our children, and you’re around our kids sometimes more than the parents because they have to work,” Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers said. “You always step up. You were on a bus full of kids and you stayed level-headed and made sure the kids were safe.”

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO

Morrison, who went on the trip: The three Hillhouse educators made all the difference.

Care4Kids Reopens Following Budget Allocation by Christine Stuart CT. Junkie News

HARTFORD, CT — A program that subsidizes the cost of daycare for working families is reopening and accepting new applications for the first time since August 2016. Care4Kids, a joint state and federal program, was closed to new applicants in 2016 because the federal government instituted new costly mandates. State officials felt it was best to restrict the number of children in the program, rather than changing eligibility criteria, which meant closing the program to new applicants. However, thanks to $31 million in funding over the next two years as part of the recently approved state budget, the program will begin accepting new applicants today. There are currently 5,769 families on the wait list in Connecticut. “For thousands of Connecticut’s hard working families, Care4Kids is a lifeline,” Office of Early Childhood Commissioner David Wilkinson said. “Care 4 Kids is a two-generation program that enables parents to work while providing piece of mind that their children are safe and in quality care. Our highest

CTNEWSJUNKIE FILE PHOTO

Rally to save the program back in Nov. 2016

priority is to reach and enroll as many working families in need of this support as our budget responsibly allows.” Families who registered on the wait list will begin to receive requests to apply in phases starting Wednesday. Consistent with state rules, enrollment begins with the highest-need families defined by priority groups and those families who have been on the wait list longest. The federal requirements that elevated state costs also increase stability for families on the program, reducing burden and complexity for working families. The OEC will closely monitor enrollment rates to ensure the program serves the maximum number of families possible while staying within budget. “After fighting tirelessly to secure funding for the Care4Kids program in the state budget, today it gives me great pleasure to see the program being rebooted to include more families,” Sen. Marilyn Moore, D-Trumbull, said. “Because child care is often one of the biggest monthly expenses families will face, sometimes working parents are forced to quit their jobs to care for their children. This program helps keep parents at work and their children in good care.”

Coworking 2.0 Blooms THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

by MARKESHIA RICKS New Haven Independent

Randi McCray and Merieta Bayati were like a lot of entrepreneurs young in their businesses and in need of a place to work. Instead of renting from someone else, they ended up launching one of a new wave of coworking spaces popping up around town. The two women, who became friends during their time working at Yale University, had found traditional office space that didn’t fit the flexible, urban vibe they had in mind. They also found coworking space where there just weren’t very many people who were like them: women who also happened to be black. So they decided to create what they were looking for about 1,225 feet of open space with an urban loft feel. The Urban Collective, New Haven’s first blackowned coworking space, was born. “We thought we could do our own projects and then open it to other small businesses like ourselves that don’t want the overhead of their own space but they need space periodically, whether it’s a couple times a week, or a couple times a month, or it was just for an event, ” McCray said Open since August, The Urban Collective has played host to workshops, a women’s conference, networking events and a quarterly curl bar where people gather to talk about natural hair. Right now, events like the upcoming Passion to Product: Side Hustle 101 workshop are drawing people into the space. Bayati said The Urban Collective has bookings through March. Eventually she and McCray would like to hire an onsite manager who can be responsible for showing the space to prospective coworkers. Located at the Marlin Business Center in the East Rock section of the city, The Urban Collective is just one of several collaborative spaces for entrepreneurs blooming throughout the city as New Haven builds its reputation as the state’s home for startups and technology-driven businesses. The first wave of coworking started a decade ago with the establishment of The Grove in the Ninth Square, which then spun off Baobab Tree Studios. A second wave of of creative and coworking spaces have sprung up in different corners of the city, including: • The Range at Lotta Studios in Westville. • Hub55 downtown, geared to Brazilian entrepreneurs. • A new Church Street space called DeskCrashers, a possible launch to a

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO

Merieta Bayati and Randi McCray at the Urban Collective, one of six new coworking spaces around town.

chain created by Jacob and Josef Feldman, one of the teams building new apartments in town. • Make Haven on State Street. • A planned coworking space in the under-construction “DISTRICT” tech campus in Fair Haven. The city has gotten in on the action, too. It has coworking space in the Small Business Center on Dixwell Avenue for entrepreneurs who go through the Small Business Academy. It also is looking to provide more incubator space for those in the food-based businesses. “The rise of coworking is part of a national trend driven by a couple of things: Corporations that are looking to make their working spaces more efficient and less expensive, but also by needs and interests of millennial workers in particular who need a very different kind of work style in their employment situation,” city Deputy Economic Development Administrator Steve Fontana said. Fontana said more businesses see an advantage to having employees working in an environment that fosters collaboration rather than individual employees in

a closed-door office all day. The Harp administration has been supportive of creating such synergies, he said. “As you can see from the success of The Grove, this is going to be part of a huge national and international trend that I think will transform corporate office structure and office culture,” Fontana said. “Obviously the market is developing much more quickly than we can keep up with and people are taking it upon themselves and we think ‘Let’s let a million flowers bloom.’ “I think it’s great that we’ve got this kind of energy because it’s that kind of energy that the cities are going to need to survive and thrive in the 21st century. When you think about it we’re going to have communities built around shared interests, shared industry, shared backgrounds. In the case of Hub55 it’s people from Brazil, The Grove is focused on tech ... It’s great to try all these different models, different concepts and see what works. It’s the future.” Developers Jacob and Josef Feldman of Mod Equities called their new coworking venture DeskCrashers . They cre-

ated the space in an 89,625-square-foot, eight-story brick building downtown that they bought two years ago at 129 Church St. On the first floor, they’ve built out a space that features accommodations for individuals and groups. The building has a casual common area for eating and lounging designed to help coworkers collaborate and build community. There’s a shared gym. If DeskCrashers succeeds on Church Street, Jacob Feldman said, he and his brother might try to scale it up to a chain in Connecticut and beyond. Feldman said the idea for the venture grew out this and his brother’s own experience of trying to find places to crash and work. He said in the early days of their budding New Haven real estate business, he and his brother were back and forth between New York and New Haven. They had no dedicated office space in New Haven. So they spent a lot of time at the library, Claire’s Corner Copia and Starbucks. So when they bought 129 Church St. they saw an opportunity to create

the kind of workspace they could have benefited from at the beginning of their business. “A lot of coworking spaces have a mix of sort of closed office options and hot desks,” he said. “DeskCrashers is going to be a hot desk space with options of having a permanent desk in 129 Church St.” He also described an option for people who don’t need a desk but simply want a place where they can go work every day without the noise or hassle of working in a coffee shop. DeskCrashers has memberships that offer lounge-only access for $120 a month, hot desk access at $220 a month, and dedicated desk access for $350 a month. Day passes cost $30. The Feldmans also hope ventures the begin in the coworking space can grow into more permanent digs elsewhere at 129 Church. “The end game is to open up DeskCrashers throughout Connecticut,” Feldman said. “That way if somebody has a membership to DeskCrashers they can use it at multiple locations. It’s the ultimate convenience. And New Haven is a great place for it because there are so many entrepreneurs looking for a place to crash. We were one of them at one point.” Another communal space is planned for a portion of the the new tech and innovation campus known as DISTRICT. DISTRICT is being built in the Fair Haven section of the city by developers David Salinas and Eric O’Brien on James Street. “When done well, coworking space is both a tremendous value to the property itself as well as the businesses it supports,” Salinas said. “Our project is much bigger than, say, someone slapping a coworking space in to fill in some dead space. It’s really a function of a much larger ecosystem that allows us to play across a variety of different stages of the life of a business from inception to established.” “It allows people to connect and create bigger and better opportunities in the area,” he added. “It’s really about economic development.” Salinas envisions “collision” points throughout the nine-plus acre campus for people to create community through work or play. The campus also will boast a food hall and beer garden, a kayak and paddleboard launch, walking trails, athletic club, and an amphitheater. “It’s about the entire campus,” he said. “You’re going to meet people not just in coworking spaces but when you go for a morning kayak or paddleboard sessions, or when you go to the gym. There will be all these opportunities for community, for growth, for economic impact.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

Newhallville’s ‘Godmother’ Turns 100 by MARKESHIA RICKS New Haven Independent

It was only fitting that Lillian O. Brown’s 100th birthday fell on Election Day and that a Kennedy would come to kiss the brow of the Godmother of Newhallville. Known for her years of activism and commitment to the political well-being of Newhallville, Brown received well wishes at a birthday party held for her Tuesday at Hamden Health Care. At one point, a booming voice entered the room. “I hear there’s a party going on tonight,” the voice said. “Am I in the right spot?” Brown looked around. The voice didn’t seem very familiar, but the face seemed to spark some recognition. It belonged to State Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. In honor of Brown’s birthday and her dedication to the Democratic Party, Kennedy had made the trip from the shoreline to personally deliver a citation signed by him, Senate President Martin Looney and State Rep. Josh Elliott from the Connecticut General Assembly. “Now we know that you have been a good Democrat your whole life,” he said. “Now, is that true?” “I have,” she said. Youngest daughter Diane, who serves as the beloved branch manager at Stetson Library, said having a political mother meant she didn’t learn about civic responsibility from a book. She learned it from her mother. “It’s a blessing to have a mother who has had such important impact on the African-American community and society as a whole,” Diane said. “For me to sit and talk through different things with her, she’s been through a lot. She’s seen a lot.” “Just to know that my mom has left a legacy that has impacted lives,” she added. “It means a lot to me and it’s what helps to drive me every day doing what I do at the library.” Brown was a mainstay in city politics for decades. She served as city treasurer under former Mayor Bart Guida for two terms and served on the following boards: Newhallville Restoration Corporation, United Newhallville Organization (UNO), League of Women Voters, State Women’s Democratic Federation, City of New Haven Housing and Development under former Mayor Biagio DiLieto, New Haven Federation of Democrats, The Elected Black Officials. She was

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO

Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr.

Brown receives a proclamation from her surprise guest, State

Brown had many friends from Newhallville like Thelma Jackson stop by to wish her happy birthday.

a co-founder and chairwoman of the Women’s Democratic Caucus. Brown has received community service awards from the United Newhallville Organization, The New Haven Women’s Democratic Club and Community Baptist Church where she was an active member for more than 60 years and served on the Board of Trustees. On Tuesday, she received citations from the General Assembly, the New Haven Board of Alders and Mayor Toni Harp. “How are you feeling ma?” asked Diane Tuesday. “Good,” the centenarian replied as she

watched from her bed that had been wheeled into a small reception area. Friends Thelma Jackson, Lorraine Lopes, and Annie Lougher, women she’d had as neighbors in Newhallville, some of whom now also now live at Hamden Health Care, also were on hand to help Brown celebrate. The women had all raised their children together and are now ranging in age from 85 to 103. They said Brown was a dynamo in their day, as well as a friend. “I just love her,” Jackson said. Brown didn’t have a lot to say about turning 100. She appeared to be qui-

etly taking it all in. But she has experienced a lot in 100 years of living. Born on Nov. 7, 1917, in Clinton, N.C to the late Sallie Birchett Jackson and Willie Birchett she would move with her family to Lawrenceville, Va. at the age of six, according to a biography provided by her family. She attended St. Paul’s Normal and Industrial School, now St. Paul’s College. At 16, she moved to Petersburg, Va where she lived until the age of 18. She then moved to New Haven, where she worked as a domestic for several years. She married Frank W. Brown in 1940. Out of that union, she had six children: Frank Jr., Thomas, Carol, Lillian, Sally, and Diane. She started working at Winchester Repeating Arms in1945 and retired in 1982 after 37 years of service. Sally became an alderwoman and city/town clerk. Carol was a successful attorney. And Diane is an award-winning librarian. “She was an outspoken and respected community activist and politician in New Haven,” according to the biography. She served as chairperson for Ward 21 for a decade. And many local politicians, community activists, and leaders reached out to her advice throughout the years. “She became known as ‘The Godmother’ of Newhallville for her commitment and courage to speak out against any injustice that adversely affected her constituents as well as the Black community at large.” Her great-great niece and namesake, Olivia Kelley, said it was profound to her to grow up with a relative as politically active as Brown. “She truly was the godmother of the ‘Ville,” she said. “She’s my only greatgreat aunt still here and that means a lot to me.” Diane said that her mother’s legacy gives her the strength and courage to speak out when others are fearful. “I definitely got that from her,” she said.

John P. Thomas Publisher / CEO

Babz Rawls Ivy

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

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

Editorial Team Staff Writers

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

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

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

_______________________

Contributors At-Large

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

Memberships

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

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

Make Her (Pay)Day by PAUL BASS

by MARKESHIA RICKS

New Haven Independent

Big banks rip off millions of low-income depositors with fake accounts or unnecessary fees or mortgage redlining or higher rates . Payday lenders prey on the “unbanked” with loanshark interest rates they can’t meet. On the other hand, New Haven now has Samantha Savvidou. Can she come to the rescue? Savvidou, a social worker fresh off receiving her masters from University of Connecticut, has set up shop as a first-ever “Bank On Fellow” to help the 20 percent of New Haveners who don’t have conventional bank accounts obtain accounts and learn techniques that keep money in their hands. A team of such “Bank On Fellows” have begun work in spots across the country. The national not-for-profit called Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund set up the program through five state-level. The Connecticut Association for Human Services (CAHS) is its partner for our state, and CAHS hired Savvidou for the two-year gig in New Haven. Her mission is to connect low-income and working-class people avoid having to go to check-cashing services that end up keeping an extra $500 of their money on average each year (or to payday lenders that advance money for paychecks and then take usurious cuts in exchange). And working with START Bank and other local lenders, Savvidou will connect people with training that helps them budget better, save more money, avoid financial trou-

Q House Breaks Ground New Haven Independent

Samantha Savvidou bles. Her organization presses banks to meet certain standards for access to “safe and affordable accounts,” such as allowing people to open accounts that require $25 or less up front to open or $10 minimum balances to maintain. Major banks here do often have such accounts available, but they don’t people know about them, Savvidou said during an interview on WNHH FM’s “Dateline New Haven” program. She said she sees her mission as social work, even if people don’t always think of banking access as a traditional social-work issue. “I feel like I’m serving a greater purpose” by doing community organizing and helping people avoid financial perils and by developing progressive public policy.

The dream of new Dixwell Community “Q” House rising again moved closer to realization with a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday morning. With the sun shining overhead and cold air nipping at their noses, 300 people gathered at the site of old Q House to celebrate the journey that had led them to that moment. Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison said she usually isn’t an emotional person, but looking out at the crowd as the band and cheerleaders of her alma mater Hillhouse High marched by, she grew little misty-eyed. “I’m emotional,” said Morrison, who helped the lead the years-long effort to obtain state money to demolish the empty old Q House and build a new one. The old Q House closed its doors in 2003. A group of concerned citizens pushed city and state officials to prioritize the rebuilding of the center that had been the heartbeat of the neighborhood since the 1920s. Not everybody who helped push for a new Q House got to see it through to the groundbreaking. Morrison Saturday made sure to acknowledge people like Frances C. Russell, a member of the Concerned Citizens for the Dixwell Q House who passed away in May. “She was the calm,” Morrison said. “Even in her sickness she never missed a meeting.” The passing of architect Regina Winters also was recognized. Winters designed the new Q House.

For more information on ACES schools, programs and services, please visit our website.

(203) 498-6800 | www.aces.org 5

Janet Parker (left) with women who fought for a new Q : Carroll Brown, Curlena McDonald, and Jackie Bracey.

The firm of her mentor, Ken Boroson, will carry the project forward. A special presentation was made to Jan Parker by former Board of Alders President Jorge Perez and the Black and Hispanic Caucus. Construction is scheduled to being in spring 2018, city Engineer Giovanni Zinn said. It is expected to take 12 to 18 months. “The sun went down on the old Q House,” Mayor Toni Harp said. “Today we celebrate that the sun will soon rise on the new Q House.” Alder Morrison made an appeal to people to support an endowment that has been established for the new Q House that she said will ensure that it will never be closed again. Supporters

can “Buy a Brick, Build A Legacy,” through the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Bricks start at $100. Morrison said the goal is to raise $3 million to seed the endowment. Elsie Chapman, president of the New Haven Free Public Library Foundation, made a pitch for people to also support the Stetson Library, which will be an anchor tenant in the new Q House along with Cornell Scott Hill Health Center. The library is looking to raise $2 million to outfit the new library with furniture and new technology and is more than halfway to its goal. She reminded attendees Saturday that any gift from $50 to $10,000 would be matched by the Seedlings Foundation.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

Alders OK BIMEC Lot Purchase by MARKESHIA RICKS New Haven Independent

Believe in Me Empowerment Corp. will finally get a shot at giving a threestory building in Newhallville a new lease on life. During its bimonthly meeting at City Hall Thursday night, the Board of Alders approved a land disposition agreement that will allow the city’s anti-blight agency, the Livable City Initiative, to sell a building to 320 Shelton Ave. to the not-for-profit agency for $1,000. Believe in Me has been seeking to buy two pieces of property in the city’s portfolio with hopes of providing more supportive housing and a youth center in the community. Plans for purchasing a vacant lot at 53 Shelton Ave. have stalled but the property at 320 Shelton Ave. cleared a major hurdle Thursday. The property at 320 Shelton Ave. has been an eyesore for years and the city and neighbors to the building have been worried that it might fall down. But the agreement allows Believe in Me, once signed, allows the work that needs to be done to get the building stabilized, possibly before the first big snow. The plan for 320 Shelton Ave. is to restore the building to its former

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO

BIMEC’s James Walker at 320 Shelton Ave.

glory, keeping two affordable residential units on the second and third floors. Believe in Me will expand its youth services programs that now run out of the organization’s 423 Dixwell Avenue headquarters to 320 Shelton Ave. and provide more job and entrepreneurial training for young people. Such a move allows Believe in Me to

keep its adult service programs in one place and services for young people in another. The agreement would give BIMEC 18 months after closing on the 320 Shelton Ave. deal to do the work on the property; otherwise, it would revert to the city.

State’s Obamacare Races To Sign Up People Sooner by PAUL BASS New Haven Independent

Not only are the reports of Obamacare’s death premature— in Connecticut, the health care insurance effort is thriving. But now the people who make it happen have to dance twice as fast to keep it that way. The state agency in charge of carrying out Obamacare — aka the Affordable Care Act, which expanded Medicaid and offers insurance through an exchange to uninsured people who make too much for Medicaid—is called Access Health CT. For five years it has earned a reputation for signing people up for the program more effectively than its counterparts in other states. It usually has a three-month annual enrollment period in which to do that. Declaring he wants to weaken Obamacare, President Donald Trump has authorized his administration to cut back on marketing the

PAUL BASS PHOTO

Jim Wadleigh at WNHH radio.

program. And it has shortened the annual enrollment period. Connecticut’s Access Health has only seven weeks this year to sign up people, as opposed to the usual three months. The seven-week race began a week ago. One week in, the agency so far

is on pace with last year’s effort, in which it enrolled 110,000 people into private insurance plans, according to Access Health CEO Jim Wadleigh. “We are cautiously optimistic” that it can keep up that pace, Wadleigh said Wednesday during an appearance on WNHH radio’s “Dateline New Haven” program. To get there, the agency has made changes this year to try to sign up ore people faster, Wadleigh said: • It has opened 10 offices throughout the state for people to come register. It previously had just two. The New Haven office is at 2 Howe St. • It has improved its website, making it easier both to sign up and to find out information about the available plans (including which doctors are covered). • It has hired a three-person outreach team to work year-round. Wadleigh Con’t on page 7

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

Roth “War Chest” Going To Charity

ellington jazz series

Cécile McLorin Salvant THOMAS BREEN PHOTO Abby

Roth at a neighborhood management team meeting.

by STAFF CT. Junkie News

A newly elected alder who raised thousands of dollars to run against nobody is turning over much of the money to charity. The alder-elect, Democrat Abby Roth from Audubon/East Rock/ Downtown’s Ward 7, is returning to a seat she used to hold before retiring two years ago. She ran unopposed in Tuesday’s election. She ended up raising $8,660 for the quest, she said. And she ended up not needing most of it. She reported Wednesday morning that she expects to have $6,025.05 left over, which she plans to split among four charities: New Haven Reads, Liberty Community Services, Artspace, and New Haven Land Trust. She sent the following email message Tuesday night to supporters: “Hello! I want to again thank everyone who donated to my campaign for alder and happily report that I won the election today. After the incumbent dropped out in late July, a write-in candidate entered the race. I won the election against him by a count of 419-8. As I have said to some of you previously, your generous donations played a critical role in this campaign.. They demonstrated I had strong support, was organized, and was serious about campaigning hard. I am almost positive this played an important role in the incumbent dropping out. Your donations also enabled me to create campaign materials including fliers, yard signs, and mailers. Postage is expensive, but critical to reach folks in some of the apartment buildings downtown that have prohibitions on going door to door to meet folks.. So again, thank you! While I purposefully raised a lot of money as a show of strength, I only

spent what I needed to spend. Therefore I am happy to report that I expect I will have over $5,000 leftover which, per campaign finance rules, I can distribute to nonprofits. I am going to distribute the money to four local nonprofits doing high-impact work in critical areas for New Haven, including addressing homelessness, education, the environment, and the arts. Specifically the organizations are Liberty Community Services, New Haven Reads, New Haven Land Trust, and Artspace. I am very excited to become Ward 7 Alder as of January 1, so that I can be strong advocate for residents and businesses in Ward 7 and work hard to address challenges and take advantage of opportunities for all of New Haven. Again, my sincere thanks for your support of and belief in me! Abby

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Con’t from page 6

State’s Obamacare Races To Sign Up

has been criss-crossing the state, meeting with local elected officials as well as church leaders to enlist their help in getting the word out. Between a quarter and third of all Connecticut residents either obtain insurance or get help signing up for the expanded Medicaid program through Access Health, Wadleigh said. Connecticut’s agency has weathered the D.C. fights over Obamacare storms over the past five years better than some other states in part by planning ahead and in part by achieving independence. It doesn’t release on the federal or even state government for its budget. Its $30 million budget comes completely from fees from the insurance companies that participate in the program.

Next Stop: Springfield! 12 Times A Day THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

by THOMAS BREEN

New Haven Independent

New Haveners appeared so pumped to start taking more trains to Hartford and Springfield that no one showed up to complain about the fares. At least that could be one takeaway from a public meeting Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) staffers held Monday night at New Haven’s Hall of Records at 200 Orange St. The DOT didn’t end up hearing much public feedback. But what it did hear was that New Haven is ready to start taking advantage of increased rail service to the north. The hearing concerned proposed service schedule and fares for the longawaited New Haven-Hartford-Springfield (NHHS) Rail Program. Starting this spring, New Haven commuters will pay less for more frequent train access to Hartford and Springfield, thanks to a $1 billion state and federal rail project that has been 15 years in the works. The CT DOT expects to launch the Hartford Line service in May 2018. The new train line will increase New Haven’s round trip service to Hartford from six to 17 trains per day. Twelve of those daily trips will also continue on to Springfield. The DOT’s proposed fare is $8 for a one-way trip from New Haven to Hartford, and $12.75 for a one-way

62-mile New Haven-Hartford-Springfield line.

trip to Springfield. Amtrak service along this route currently costs between $12 and $25 for a one-way trip to Hartford, and between $17 and $46 for a one-way trip to Springfield, depending on the time and day. CT DOT Chief of Public Transportation Richard Andreski led Monday night’s hearing, which was the first of three meetings that the DOT has scheduled to solicit public feedback on the proposed train service and fares. The next hearing will be in Hartford on Tuesday night, and the third hearing will be in Spring-

field on Wednesday night. John Bodnar, a 52-year-old New Havener in an electric wheelchair, was the first to take the microphone to share his thoughts, and praise, for the new proposed Hartford Line. “I would like to thank everyone on the DOT for doing something right,” Bodnar said. “Because, unfortunately, I’m not accustomed to the state using common sense.” Bodnar spoke about how he recently paid $18.70 for an Amtrak ticket from New Haven. But, upon getting to the station, he found that the train doors were only 30 inches wide: a good four inches less than his wheelchair, and six inches less than that required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). “I hope to god that your doorways will be 34 inches, or maybe even 36,” Bodnar said. “I really look forward to using this train to get to Hartford.” Andreski later assured Bodnar that all Hartford Line trains and stations would be fully ADA-compliant. Bodnar praised the DOT for the imminent launch of the service, for their adherence to the ADA, and for setting the proposed train fare at a reasonably low price. “Why should we have to sit at home and watch TV all day when we could be out enjoying life?” Bodnar said about the deterrent that poorly designed public transit has on peo-

ple with disabilities. “Everything that changed for the better with the ADA happened because we first made people feel uncomfortable.” AJ Brundidge, a 21-year-old railroad engineering student at Gateway Community College, also expressed his enthusiasm for the new train service, and said that the DOT should make sure to let college students use the new U Pass on the Hartford Line. Anthony Ray-Hall, a 28-year-old from Norwalk who spends much time traveling the state by train to visit family and friends, said he hoped that the new train line would further encourage people to leave their cars at home and travel by public transit. “We need to have a clean, safe environment,” he said. “People need to start taking the train a lot more because I-91 in downtown Hartford gets very congested.” After the handful of speakers had shared their comments, the DOT staffers spent the vast majority of the meeting browsing the poster boards, explaining the new rail line’s service to a few lingering members of the public, and watching the clock for 8 p.m. to come. New Haven economic administrator Matt Nemerson stuck around until the end of the meeting, talking with Andreski about how the Hartford Line was a major, long-term state and federal investment that would further enhance New Haven’s status in the region as a

major transportation and economic hub. “These kinds of huge investments are all about thinking about the future,” he said, noting that a thousand new apartments are scheduled to be constructed along the State Street corridor in the coming months. He said that those apartments will be occupied by people who want to live in New Haven and work both in the city and throughout the region. He said that this rail line will help facilitate easier access not just to Hartford and Springfield, but also to New York and the rest of New England. “This is about a culture change,” he said. According to the NHHS website, the state first started researching building a new commuter rail between New Haven and Springfield in 2003. According to a factsheet provided by the DOT on Monday night, the state has invested $564 million in the project, and the federal government has invested $204 million in the project. The state will be applying for another $403 million in federal aid to complete expansions to the rail line that are scheduled to be finished by 2030. Interested residents can submit comments to the DOT in person at the hearings, or via mail or email by 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 27. At the end of the month, Andreski and his team will conduct a review of the public feedCon’t on page 14

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

Why Black Faith Leaders Must Lead the Fight for Healthcare Access

First of all, despite the Trump Administration’s efforts to kill (“repeal and replace”) the Affordable Care Act (ACA), it is still the law of the land, and because of the federal mandate, everyone is required to have some form of health insurance. However, since “45” and his team have declared it all but dead, they have shortened the enrollment period from three months to a mere six weeks, from November 1-December 15, 2017. Additionally, the United States Department of Health and Human Services has drastically cut the budget for outreach. This time last year, there were television and radio announcements, billboards on buses, and other reminders that people should enroll for healthcare, if they didn’t already have healthcare through their jobs. The Trump Administration hopes that, without outreach, people will not enroll for healthcare through the ACA, so that they can then crow that people “don’t want” healthcare. Some faith leaders, however, have pledged to use their pulpits to remind their congregations to get enrolled for healthcare through the ACA. Rev. Dr. Barbara Williams Skinner, the first Executive Director of the Congressional Black Caucus and an activist who melds faith with public policy, who is also a spiritual advisor to many Black leaders, has developed a toolkit for communities of faith to help them do the work that our government won’t: encouraging people to sign-up for affordable healthcare. You can follow the faith leaders’ conversations about open enrollment and healthcare on social media using the hashtags #SOULSTOENROLL or #SOULS2ENROLL, and by liking the Facebook page, Facebook.com/FaithinPublicLife, where you can find the toolkit adopted from the government page, GetAmericaCovered.org; instructions for the weekend campaign that will begin November 12, suggestions for faith leaders; a sample bulletin announcement; a PSA; and social media tips. In other words, the faith community is being encouraged to treat healthcare enrollment like any other grassroots organizing campaign and get involved in it. Back in the day, before social media, we used to talk about “the drum,” how

Con’t on page 16

OV 24-DEC

A R T & D E S I G N B Y P A U L E VA N J E F F R E Y | P A S S A G E D E S I G N

By Julianne Malveaux, NNPA Newswire Columnist

we shared information in the Black community; many of our radio stations, or public broadcast programs, and newspapers were our drums. Now, faith leaders are taking the drum viral to ensure that people who don’t get the word, because of lack of government outreach, will get it through churches and through the Internet. We will rely on these methods of communicating more and more, as this administration attempts to contract, not expand, the information people need to get essential healthcare (and other services). The toolkit and other resources are proof that our community has the ability to out organize the evil that is seeping out of Washington. “Woke” members of Congress are working with Rev. Skinner and others to get the word out. Congressman Jim Clyburn (DS.C.) had his PSA up before the enrollment period opened on November 1, and some members of Congress have PSAs posted on their webpages; but everyone won’t log on to a congressional website to get access to the PSA. That’s where the churches and community organizations come into play. Once upon a time, we were great at mobilizing. Without any Internet, 250,000 people managed to get to Washington, D.C. for the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. Mimicking that effort, and using both word of mouth and the Internet, more than a million women made it to Washington D.C. for the post-inaugural Women’s March. Now we have the opportunity to rally millions to participate in the benefits of the Affordable Care Act. There are consequences to not enrolling. If you don’t enroll by December 15, you may have to wait a whole year before getting access to affordable healthcare and the subsidies available under the ACA, and you may have to pay a fine for not enrolling. Some states (California, Washington, Minnesota, Colorado, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C.) will allow enrollment until January, but most will close enrollment on December 15. Even with a longer enrollment period, the best thing to do to ensure that the people who need health insurance get it is to encourage them to enroll early. Helping people enroll for ACA benefits is not only a public service, it is also an act of resistance to “45’s” pernicious attempts to undermine President Obama’s signature piece of legislation. To be sure, the ACA is not perfect, but it is responsible for expanding the

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

Supe Candidates Spalit On Charters by CHRISTOPHER PEAK New Haven Independent

While hundreds got an up-close look at the three finalists for schools superintendent, candidate Gary Highsmith vowed not to work with charter schools, while Carol Birks embraced them as a needed alternative and Pamela Brown offered a middle-ground position. The starkly different approaches to the “school choice” movement the nationwide push to open more charter schools that compete with traditional public schools, and to have traditional schools work with them were the clearest policy distinction at a community forum Tuesday night with the three finalists for the open New Haven schools superintendent job. Highsmith, the human resources director for Hamden schools and former New Haven principal; Birks, the chief of staff in Hartford; and Brown, the head of elementary schools in Fontana, Calif., are all competing for the top job. Tuesday’s forum marked the first chance that the public had to meet the candidates in person, to get a sense of their personalities and hear why they envisioned themselves in New Haven. At 5:30 p.m., the three finalists worked the room at Betsy Ross Arts Magnet School for a half hour, fielding questions from small groups. There was no other opportunity for audience members to answer questions. Worried about personal attacks, coordinators from the Citywide Parent Team instead pulled prompts from the online survey comments. Filled with acronyms, some questions read like ciphers that the candidates interpreted in their own way. By 6 p.m., when the candidates took the stage, more than 200 people had filled up the auditorium. Wearing red, sorority sisters sat handed out sheets out with Birks’s résumé. A busload of students, meanwhile, took spots in the bleachers to root for Highsmith. The district has been without a permanent superintendent for more than a year, after the board pushed out Garth Harries in October 2016. Former Superintendent Reggie Mayo came out of retirement to lead the district in an interim capacity. Since then, the board has stumbled through a chaotic search process that led some top candidates to withdraw their applications. In a straw poll on Tuesday, Highsmith a candidate rejected by the search firm

CHRISTOPHER PEAK PHOTO

Brown, Birks and Highsmith ready for questions.

but added later to boost representation of local candidates — emerged as the crowd’s favorite, snagging over half the votes. In total, Highsmith claimed 121 votes, running up the score with support from 49 students, 25 teachers and 24 community members. Birks came in second with 56 votes, aided by a voting bloc of 25 community members. And Brown placed last with 32 votes, her best showing among 17 parents. Dolores Garcia-Blocker, head of college and career programs and a semifinalist in the search, also earned one write-in vote. The final decision, however, will be up to Board of Education members, who will conduct one last round of interviews on Thursday and then vote to authorize a background check and contract negotiations for their top pick on Monday. As the search process nears its end, the school board is split over the most important qualifications: administrative experience to handle the mix of schools and their tenuous funding; rigorous pedagogical training, particularly on dealing with trauma; Spanish fluency to engage the fastest growing demographic in a district that’s already 43 percent Latino; or intimate knowledge of New Haven to institute necessary changes without running afoul of city politics. With the recent appointment of Jamell Cotto, Mayor Toni Harp has an advantage in numbers on the board to see her choice through. As she left the fo-

rum, Harp said, “I think it’s time for a woman in New Haven.” In response to a parent question about charter schools, the three candidates articulated different opinions about their place in the public school system. Highsmith said that the data showed that most charters don’t do any better than traditional public schools. “They’ve made public schools the boogey-man in everything,” he said. “They talk about being ‘trapped,’ like they’re the answer. [Traditional public schools] might have the answer if you didn’t have to be transparent, didn’t let anybody know where the money comes from, suspend kids for having the wrong color socks or not raising their hand in class.” He added, “Charter schools are not the magic bullet they pretend to be. … Take the most difficult kids, start a charter school for them, and let’s see what the results are.” That’s why Highsmith said he’d fought the attempts by New Havenbased Achievement First to expand its network of charter schools in New Haven and engage in more joint projects with the New Haven public school system. He vowed that he would continue to do so as superintendent. Birks, who sits on Achievement First’s board in Hartford, said that charter schools serve an important function in identifying “promising practices to support students and their achievement.” In fact, her schools have adopted some new ideas about discipline and guidance counselors from what they’d seen in charters, she

said. “We took the best practices. I say we shouldn’t fight charter schools; we should learn from them,” Birks said. “Bottom line: All the students are our students. All the students belong to us. Why fight?” She said that when charter schools do well, they’re more than happy to add their numbers in to the district’s test scores. “Charters give parents another choice opportunity. In urban districts, there’s not enough great schools. Not all of them have the same data points as ESUMS and Hooker and John C. Daniels and Career. Others are not doing as well. Parents need other choice opportunities,” Birks added. “As superintendent I would do that and work to build a more coherent relationship and partnerships with these schools so that we continue to take all of our schools on the path to improvement.” Brown agreed with Birks that charter schools function best when they’re “incubators of innovation,” the reason they were established in the first place, but she cautioned, “The intent, I believe, was not to replace traditional public schools.” Her approach, she explained, would be to hold all schools accountable. “I’ve had experience with both, and as superintendent I would work to make sure that all schools serving children within this district are [providing] a great education.” Aside from their disagreement on charters, the three candidates generally voiced similar answers. (They appeared to hold slightly different views

about the place of vocational training as an alternative to college, but their answers didn’t get fleshed out.) All three spoke about the need to articulate a clear plan for where the district’s headed, to maintain high standards in the classroom despite students’ tough upbringing, to hold administrators accountable, and to better engage parents. To be sure, the candidates presented distinctive ideas: Highsmith advocated post-natal home visits to begin education even earlier than pre-K. Birks promised to hold open office hours and quarterly forums to review progress. Brown suggested offering more afterschool enrichment programs to get parents into schools. The evening’s biggest contrast took a less tangible form in the three candidates’ personalities. Brown, speaking in her Southern drawl from Liberty, Mississippi, “where everything was separate and nothing was equal, and people who looked like us did not have very many opportunities at all,” walked through the nuts-and-bolts of building functional school systems. “We can talk about the pie-in-the-sky dreams and visions and plans, so many plans,” she said, “but they can end up put on a shelf.” With a catch in her throat, Brown admitted she’d probably mistakes, perhaps a reference to her tenure in Buffalo where a Tea Partier on the school board plotted to remove her. “I can’t promise that I will be perfect,” she said, but “my purpose in life is to make sure that I’m doing my best to make sure that every child will meet high standards.” Birks, citing her doctoral research on student’s socio-emotional development, fired up the room by speaking of the ways she’d empower those around her, even asking the audience to repeat the conclusion of her speech with her. Birks said she’d focus on freeing the now-“handcuffed” instructional directors, “elevating parent voices” and educating the whole student. She said her trajectory — from a young woman who grew up in poverty in Bridgeport’s East End to a finalist for New Haven’s superintendent — was a “testament” to the uplift that can be earned through education. “I’ve spent several years combating inequality, more than 20 years of my life, and I want to continue to do that in New Haven,” she said. Highsmith, recounting growing up in Con’t on page 12

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

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Podcasters Board The Dream Train

Tracine Allen and Duha Yeroz are linking arms at the top of a wall when they decide to jump for it. They are wordless, exchanging wide-eyed glances, weighing the chance of falling. Each has short legs, not made for wall-hurtling. But if they don’t do it, a whole future may be at stake. They close their eyes and bend their legs. “It’s a long way doooowwwwn!” they cry in unison, bodies dropping several stories. Somewhere, in another not-sofar-away universe, their feet squarely hit the ground. So unfolds one chapter of Dream Train, a new-old podcast by Imaginary Theater Company (ITC). After writing, workshopping and producing the play earlier this year, ITC Founder and Director Starry Krueger has transformed the show into a radio play, to distribute it to wider audiences and give it a longer life span. Dream Train was originally written as a somewhat visual play, with bright costumes and flower-crowned heads punctuating a minimalist set and musical interludes. It’s a play that brings forest magic, folky, homespun vocals and an otherwise straight-talking script to life, passing on a powerful moral about walls, xenophobia and environmental preservation. But after the show premiered at the New Haven Free Public Library and Lyric Hall last July, Krueger kept hearing from families who hadn’t been able to see the show, either because their timing wouldn’t allow it or they were far away. One of the young acCon’t from page 10

Supe Candidates

New Haven’s Hill neighborhood, said he couldn’t care less about politics. “No politician in this city has made me. No political activist in this city controls me,” he said. “I owe none of them anything.” Instead, he said he’d empathize with Elm City students, sitting in the same desks he once sat at, in a way no other superintendent could. “It all boils down to one thing: Do you care? If you care, you’ll do anything,” he said. “I can care for 21,500 students. I can care for each and every one of them.” His message resonated with students seated in the auditorium’s back bleachers, who cheered him on. (His daughter, a sophomore at Co-Op High School, held up a sign, reading, “Hire my dad!”) After the forum, they cast dozens of votes for Highsmith in the straw poll.

The cast and crew. ITC Photo.

Krueger works with actor Aija Covington before recording. ITC Photo.

tors, Duha Yeroz, has extended family in Turkey. Krueger started thinking about how to get it to them and others in similar situations. That form, she realized, was audio. An educator by day, Krueger uses podcasts to unwind; she said that Brian Reed’s viral series S-Town is a recent favorite. Late last summer, she sat back down with the script, adding new lines and new ways to illustrate certain characters’ motions. She reached out to Baobab Tree Studios as a possible collaborator. As Kevin Ewing jumped onboard, she reassembled the cast and got them ready to go into the studios. “I felt really, really excited about it,” she said in a recent interview. “It was a new medium for the kids, so they got to work with characters that they already knew, but in a way that was new for them.” Ewing was excited to work with them, she said. She recalled the moment they made it into the studio to record, and how Ewing calmed the actors, then congratulated them when

they’d delivered a line just-so. He also rolled with some last-minute changes, like the scene where Allen and Yeroz give a preface to their act of jumping. Or a different narrator where actor Nicole Dankowski had done a quick change of clothes to transition from one character to another. No one could see that on radio, Krueger said. So she had to get a little more inventive. Now, Krueger said she feels that it’s almost meta—she too has moved far away from New Haven, to support her partner’s nursing career in San Diego. The couple left in September, just as recording was coming to its end. Now, she said she’s thinking of taking ITC on the road—at least until she and her partner move back here next May, when his contract has ended. In the meantime, having Dream Train close at hand has inspired her to think of scripting her own radio drama. “I don’t know what will come next,” she said. “I’m trying to build Imaginary Theatre Company up to have year-round programming, and this [podcast] is part of it.”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017 Con’t from page 8

Next Stop:

Springfield! 12 Times A Day

Caregiving Around the Clock The theme for National Family Caregivers Month November 2017 is “Caregiving Around the Clock”

Caregiving can be a 24-hours a day/7-days a week job. Caring for a senior with Alzheimer’s or a child with special needs can be non-stop. Providing care around the clock can crowd out other important areas of life. And you never know when you will need to rush to the hospital or leave work at the drop of a hat. What challenges do family caregivers face, and how do they manage them day and night?

Morning: Getting off to work. The average family caregiver is a working mother of school-

aged children. Mornings become a tricky balancing act of getting the kids ready for school, making sure your loved one has what they need for the day before getting yourself out the door for work.

All Day Long: Managing medications. Up to 70% of the time, the family caregiver – not the patient –manages the medications. The more serious the condition, the more likely it is that the family caregiver manages the medications for the patient. This means ensuring your loved one is taking their medication correctly and maintaining an up-to-date medication list.

During the Workday: Juggling caregiving and work. Six out of 10 family caregivers work

full- or part-time in addition to juggling their caregiving responsibilities at home. And most of them say they have to cut back on working hours, take a leave of absence, or quit their job entirely.

Evening: Family time and meal time. Ensuring that you get proper nutrition will help you

maintain strength, energy, stamina, and a positive attitude. Nutrition is as important for you as the caregiver as it for your loved one. Caregiving affects the whole family.

Late at Night: Taking time for yourself. Late at night might be the only time you get a few minutes for yourself. Make sure you take time to rest and recharge. The chance to take a breather and re-energize is vital in order for you to be as good a caregiver tomorrow as you were today.

The Middle of the Night: Emergency room visits. Have you ever had to take your loved one to the emergency room in the middle of the night? Be prepared ahead of time with what you need to know and what you need to have with you. During National Family Caregivers Month, we recognize the challenges family caregivers face when their loved ones need

Caregiving Around the Clock!

back received, and then submit a final proposal on train schedules and fares to DOT Commissioner James Redeker. Those schedules and fares will go into effect by the Hartford Line’s launch in May 2018. A dozen DOT staffers filled the Hall of Records’ basement conference room on Monday night with poster boards, fact sheets, brochures and troves of other information about the upcoming rail service. Andreski began the hearing with a brief overview of the scope and proposed schedules and fares for the new rail line, which he referred to later in the night as the “great missing link” in the state’s public transit system. Amtrak currently operates six daily round trip train routes between New Haven, Hartford and Springfield. The new Hartford Line will increase that number to 17 round trip trains between New Haven and Hartford, 12 of which will continue on to Springfield. Weekday service will run from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the trains will operate at speeds of up to 110 mph, putting the New Haven-to-Hartford commute at around 45 minutes and the New Haven-to-Springfield commute at around 85 minutes. Andreski said that the project includes a number of train station improvements, including new stations in Wallingford, Meriden and Berlin, and new elevated platforms at Hartford Union Station and New Haven State Street station. Commuters will be able to purchase Metro North and Hartford Line tickets at the same CTrail ticket vending machines at these stations, and CTrail and Amtrak are working on a joint ticketing program that will allow passengers to ride on most Amtrak trains with a CTrail ticket. The proposed fares, Andreski said, were based on current prices for Shoreline East and non-peak Metro North trains. One-way tickets from New Haven to Hartford will cost $8, and one-way tickets from New Haven to Springfield will cost $12.75. Senior citizens, persons with disabilities and individuals on Medicare can purchase discounted tickets at 50 percent off. Frequent passengers can also buy ten-trip and monthly passes instead of just the one-way tickets.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

ACA Enrollment Surging, Even Though It Ends Dec. 15 by Cash Michaels Special to the NNPA

The enrollment period to be covered by the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) began Nov.1, and is scheduled to end Dec. 15th, for those hoping to qualify for health care coverage beginning Jan. 1, 2018. The Trump Administration, which has made no secret of its wish to “repeal and replace” President Barack Obama’s signature legislative achievement, has done everything it can to force the ACA to whither on the vine by cutting the enrollment period from the previous three months, to just 45 days. And it has also cut the $100 million Obama Administration budget to both advertise the open enrollment period, and slashed grant funding efforts for state and community organizations across the nation that reach those in dire need of all that the ACA offers through education and mobilization, by an estimated 90 percent to just $10 million for the entire nation. And yet, according to recent published reports, Pres. Trump’s efforts

to strangle the ACA to discourage participation are coming up short. In fact, based on available numbers, people

City of Charlotte, NC Welcomes Its First Ever Black Female Mayor Nationwide — Vi Lyles has just made history as the first Black woman mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. She ran an aggressive campaign, and her victory was confirmed by local and national news outlets on November 8th. Prior to becoming mayor, she was was an at-large representative on the Charlotte City Council. She was elected in 2013, and served two terms. Lyles worked for the City of Charlotte for almost 30 years, starting off as an analyst in the city’s budget department before becoming budget director. She was assistant city manager for the city from 1996 to 2004. During her time with the city, she helped create the city’s first capital budget and led the restructuring of government programs to evaluate and assess performance audits for city programs. She also led and presented the community safety plan and helped develop the city’s affordable housing plan and Mecklenburg County’s Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise Program for small businesses. She has a bachelor of arts in political science from Queens University and a master of public administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a trained facilitator

Vi Lyles and executive coach, completing programs at the Institute of Government, North Carolina State University and the Lee Institute’s American Leadership Forum. She says her proudest accomplishment is being mother to her two children Kwame and Aisha, 36 and 34, and grandmother to Aryah and Hailey.

are enrolling at a higher, faster pace than last year at this time, and there’s every reason to believe that pace will

continue the closer Dec. 15 comes. While no official numbers have been released by the administration yet, The Washington Post reports that, “More than 200,000 Americans chose a plan on Nov. 1st (first day of open enrollment). That’s more than double the number of consumers who signed up on the first day of enrollment last year. More than 1 million people visited HeathCare.gov, the official federal website, the official said, which amounts to roughly a 33 percent increase in traffic compared with 2016.” This doesn’t account for over a dozen states that have their own health insurance exchanges. However, several states, like California, New York and Connecticut, all say they are seeing more signups over last year as well. Indeed, those wishing to enroll should go to healthcare.gov to qualify for federal tax subsidies to offset the rising cost of health insurance premiums. Those subsidies, better known as APT (Advanced Premium Tax Subsidies), make monthly premiums more affordable for most Americans who apply.

Premiums on some health insurance plans can be subsidized as low as $87 per month from a high of $662, depending on the type of plan an applicant needs and signs up for. To make sure Pres. Trump’s efforts to squash the ACA signup period fails, several advocacy groups across the nation, including the NNPA, have stepped forward, making sure that their constituencies are properly informed about all ACA deadlines and requirements. Some states are stepping up to cover the cost of open enrollment education too, like California, adding $5 million to its efforts. The question now is, though it’s clear that many Americans are ignoring Trump’s efforts to kill the ACA, just how many of them are young people. There is concern in the health care community that most of the new signups are people who are older and have afflictions, versus young, healthy people who are needed in large numbers in order for the ACA to work properly.

Democrats, Black Candidates Win Historic Victories on Election Night By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Contributor The blue wave that swept the country last week wasn’t just a victory for Democrats, but a resounding win for African American candidates, who defied the odds—and Trumpism—to make history. In Charlotte, N.C., voters elected the first female African American mayor in the city’s history, choosing Democrat Vi Lyles over Republican Kenny Smith. In St. Paul, Minn., Melvin Carter became that city’s first Black mayor, earning slightly more than 50 percent of the vote in a field that featured 10 candidates and a write-in opponent. In Virginia, Democrat Justin Fairfax trounced Republican challenger Jill Vogel in the race for lieutenant governor. In January, Fairfax will become only the second African American to hold statewide office in Virginia. Doug Wilder was the first, serving as lieutenant governor from 1986-1990, then as governor from 1990-1994. Fairfax said his and other Democratic victories could “be the match that sparks the wildfire of progressive” change all across the country. “All across the world. This is a battle

for the nation’s soul,” Fairfax said. “Since I announced my candidacy, this campaign has been about the future, about building a Virginia where all of us have the opportunity to rise.” Most saw victories by Democrats as a referendum on President Donald Trump, whose record low job approval rating has shrunk to 39 percent according to various reports. Republicans lost races for governor in Virginia, where Ralph Northam easily beat Trump-backed Ed Gillespie, and in New Jersey, where former U.S. Ambassador to Germany Phil Murphy won election as governor, defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno. Also, in Virginia, attorney general Mark Herring, a Democrat, won reelection over Republican John Adams while Democrats gained at least 10 seats in the House of Delegates. The party also won key mayoral races in New York, Charlotte, Stamford, Conn., and St. Petersburg and, in a direct rebuke of Trump and Republicans who have tried to repeal the Affordable Care Act, voters in Maine approved a ballot measure to expand Medicaid under former President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law.

On Twitter University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato wrote that the results were a “backlash to Trump and Trumpism, pure and simple.” Results may have been helped by a strong get out to vote campaign launched by the NAACP. The legendary civil rights organization and its approximately 500,000 adult and youth members around the country were on the frontlines committed to raising awareness for political, educational, social and economic equality of minorities in the electoral process, the organization said in a statement posted on its website. “The NAACP is actively engaged in increasing the African American responsiveness of citizens to be fully engaged in the democratic process,” the statement read. Terry McAuliffe, Virginia’s outgoing Democratic governor, told reporters that the election night victories were indeed a springboard for future elections, including the 2020 presidential race. “This was a spark plug,” McAuliffe said. “This is the revitalization of the Democratic Party in America.” Former Vice President Joe Biden Con’t on page 16

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

NAACP Set to Change Tax Status to Engage More Politically

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor After being eclipsed in recent years by Color of Change, Black Lives Matter and other younger, more tech savvy and politically-pointed groups, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization will change its tax status. The group’s leaders said that the new tax status would allow them to be more aggressive politically. During a call with reporters, NAACP officials announced that the civil rights group will transition from a 501(c)(3) to a 501(c)(4) designation. The change will allow the organization to be more partisan and politically focused. However, the tax designation does not allow political work to be the “primary activity” of the organization. Even though the NAACP is 108 years-old, the organization is struggling to modernize and stay relevant

in a rapidly-evolving, social mediadriven landscape that requires speed and strategic communications skills. In October, the NAACP named Derrick Johnson as its president; Johnson was elected by the NAACP’s board to serve for three years. In a statement announcing Johnson as the new president, Leon Russell, the board chairman of the NAACP said, “As both a longtime member of the NAACP, and a veteran activist in his own right—having worked on the

ground to advocate for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, along with championing countless other issues—Derrick also intimately understands the strengths of the Association, our challenges and the many obstacles facing Black Americans of all generations, today. I look forward to continuing to work with him in this new role.” Russell continued: “In his time serving as our interim president and CEO, Derrick has proven himself as the strong, decisive leader we need

to guide us through both our internal transition, as well as a crucial moment in our nation’s history. With new threats to communities of color emerging daily and attacks on our democracy, the NAACP must be more steadfast than ever before.” Johnson is a native of Detroit, Michigan who lives in Jackson, Mississippi. He is a long-time member of the NAACP, who was elected Vice Chair earlier this year and served as the interim president after Cornell Brooks was forced out. Johnson attended Tougaloo College before earning a juris doctor degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston. The NAACP ousted Brooks in the spring of this year, a few months before the group’s annual convention in Baltimore. Lauren Victoria Burke is the White House Correspondent for the NNPA Newswire, author and political analyst. Lauren is a frequent guest of “NewsOne Now” with Roland Martin. Connect with Lauren by email at LBurke007@gmail.com and on Twitter at @LVBurke.

Tyrese Apologizes For His Bizarre Behavior — Says, “I Don’t Have A Mental Illness… I Am in the Clear Now!” Nationwide — Tyrese has an explanation for all the recent erractic posts on his Instagram account. The actor and singer says his weird behavior is to be blamed on a new medication he’s been taking. His newest video on Instagram shows him apologizing to his friends, family, and fans. Noticeably, Tyrese is driving without his seatbelt on while delivering his speech. He posted the following on Instagram as a caption for the video: Today here’s my public apology – FYI contrary to false reports and narrative I don’t have a mental illness, it was meds that was suggested to deal with the trauma of losing my daughter this way…. everything just changed. I want you guys to know that to this day I don’t drink, smoke or on any level do I do drugs……… because of this high stress and very traumatic experience I was advised then ultimately connected with multiple therapist and psychiatrist I had a few private meetings and this particular drug that was

suggested although maybe helpful to others had an adverse effect on me and this is the reason I had a complete meltdown online. He continues:

I’m in the clear now, this is being flushed out of my system and I’m ready to get back to 100% – please don’t chalk this up as “oversharing” a lot of people were effected by what these meds did to me over these last

2 months and this is my public apology a few I will make personally. I’m so very sorry guys – please guys just know again this is not the Singer, actor this is Shayla’s father……….. This will NOT compromise my case…. This is transparency and honesty and more of a suggestion, please seek professional opinions when it comes to drugs especially psychiatric meds. We all need to be still and preset in the Lord and he will deal with our fights and realities ”. Praying for you guys, and Pray for me and my family ! Love You TYRESE. Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. In some of his recent rants, Tyrese harshly criticized his ex-wife for not allowing him to see his 10-year old daughter Shayla. He has also called out his Fast & Furious co-star Dwayne Johnson for signing on to do another movie without him. But he later said the two had made peace.

Con’t from page 15

Democrats, Black Candidates Win Historic Victories on Election Night said voters clearly sent a message to Trump. “A resounding defeat tonight for President Trump,” Biden tweeted. “Voters across the country rejected the ugly politics we have seen this past year. Instead, they chose candidates who unite and inspire us.” Members of the Congressional Black Caucus also engaged voters. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), urged everyone to vote. “The vote is precious, almost sacred,” Lewis said. “It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a democratic society [so] use it.” And, if that admonition wasn’t enough, the legendary civil rights leader reminded voters why participating is so important. “I was beaten, left bloody and unconscious so that every American has the right to vote,” Lewis said. “Friends of mine gave their lives. Do your part. Vote.”

Con’t on page 9

Fight for Healthcare

base of people who can get affordable health insurance. This example of “Faith in Action” may be a template for other ways to use the church to organize resistance. The novelist Dr. Daniel Black (author of “Perfect Peace: A Novel”) recently gave a talk in which he described our churches as the backbone of the Black community. Disagree with your pastor, or with the sermon if you will, he said, but still get to church for the sense of community that can only be found there. While the Black church is less impactful than it was in 1963, when most of us could be reached through church announcements, it is still a place where we gather and share information. If you don’t usually go to church on November 12, when the #SOULS2ENROLL weekend campaign kicks off, consider making your way there to check this campaign out. If you do go to church, encourage your pastor to participate. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Founder of Economic Education. Her latest book “Are We Better Off: Race, Obama and Public Policy” is available via amazon. com. For booking, wholesale inquiries, or for more info, visit www. juliannemalveaux.com. Follow Dr. Malveaux on Twitter @drjlastword.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

There’s nothing more vital to health than the vitality of community. When you see a row of neatly trimmed yards and children happily playing, it’s a sign of a healthy community. Yale New Haven Hospital is committed to helping more families own a home where they can grow and prosper in a stable, supportive environment. Through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity, nearly 500 Yale New Haven employees helped to build 10 Habitat homes – all sitting proudly in The Hill neighborhood. Additionally, the hospital’s Home Ownership Made Easy (HOME) program has enabled close to 150 employees to become first-time homeowners in the City of New Haven. Our neighborhood programs are another example of our commitment to caring beyond the bedside. ynhh.org/community

Homeowner Ana and her son with William Casey, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity and Michael Holmes, Senior Vice President, Operations, Yale New Haven Hospital.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

Ohio’s Education Leaders Lean on Strong Literacy Programs to Close the Achievement Gap

By Dr. Elizabeth Primas, Program Manager, NNPA/ESSA Public Awareness Campaign While education officials in Ohio have identified six components for rating schools on their school report cards, they are giving more attention to making sure students don’t fall behind to begin with. Over the last four years, education leaders in Ohio have tripled their investments in the “K-3 Literacy component” and its corresponding preschool program. Ohio has also increased access to high-quality education programs for children living in poverty and low-income families. This investment is aligned with

the state’s birth to third grade support system, that is designed to ensure that students enter school with the skills necessary to be successful and reach third grade with skills needed to read proficiently. In December 2011, Ohio began using Early Learning and Development Standards that address five essential domains of school readiness for children from birth to five years-old. Those same standards will continue with the state’s ESSA plan. The five domains include: social and emotional development; physical well-being and motor development; approaches toward learning; language and literacy development; and cognition and general knowledge. These standards have been expanded to provide a continuum of learning for children from birth to five years of age; that implies that there are different expectations for children depending on their age and develop-

Here's What Really Cuts Black Lives Short!

The American Heart Association just released new information that explains why black people do not live as long as white people. Their life expectancy is 3 years shorter than for white people. Why? A recent study showed that higher rates of heart disease and stroke may be a major reason why. According to researchers, heart disease and stroke contributed to more than 2 million years of life lost among black people between 1999 and 2010. In addition, heart disease and stroke risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes also start at an earlier age among black people than white people. Even children are affected Even among black children, 14 percent of black children have high blood pressure, compared to 8 percent of white children. Twenty percent of

black children aged 2 to 19 are obese, compared to 15 percent of white children. The differences among adults is 58 percent of black women and 38 percent of black men are obese, compared to 33 percent of white women and 34 percent of white men. The solution A major contributing factor to the higher rate of heart disease and stroke among blacks that cuts their lives short is poverty and a lack of healthcare coverage. African-Americans are also more likely to have persistent economic stress and to face concerns about maintaining their health, according to the study. To read the full report by the American Heart Association, visit http:// newsroom.heart.org/news/africanamericans-live-shorter-lives-due-toheart-disease-and-stroke

ment. Once parents and caregivers understand that children develop on a continuum, or with skills built upon what was previously learned, educators and parents can begin to work in tandem with each other; ensuring that children are learning and developing appropriately. Ohio’s Early Learning and Development Standards provide parents with information and expectations for each of the five domains; allowing them to get a jumpstart in preparing their child for school readiness. Standards are organized by topic and age: Infants (birth to around 8 months); young toddlers (6 months to around 18 months); and older toddlers (16 months to around 36 months). The guides are organized to allow parents to easily identify where their children should be, developmentally. For instance, the Social and Emotional Development Domain chart for aware-

ness and expression of emotion, states that infants should express sadness, fear or distress by crying, kicking legs and stiffening the body; by pre-K, children should be able to recognize and identify their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. In 2003, Betty Hart and Todd R. Risley, two researchers at the University of Kansas, published a report titled, “The Early Catastrophe: The 30 Million Word Gap by Age 3.” They found that exposure to a rich vocabulary in a child’s early years is critical and the disparities in that exposure result in an achievement gap. It is important for parents to speak to their children, all of the time, using “standard” English. Parents can introduce their children to new words by explaining things in the child’s environment. Reviewing the names of items in the grocery store, the names of animals they see in the neighborhood, and the style and color of their clothes are

simple ways to make a big impact. If we are to close the achievement gap, we must start before the child arrives at the schoolhouse doors. From birth, parents should sing songs and repeat nursery rhymes. Reading rhyming books and alphabet stories promote language acquisition and literacy. Parents are a child’s first teachers. It is up to us to give our children the exposure necessary to close the achievement gap. To find out more about ESSA and its opportunities in literacy visit www. nnpa.org/essa. Dr. Elizabeth Primas is an educator, who spent more than 40 years working towards improving education for children of diverse ethnicities and backgrounds. Dr. Primas is the program manager for the NNPA’s Every Student Succeeds Act Public Awareness Campaign. Follow Dr. Primas on Twitter @ElizabethPrima3.

Restaurant Staffed By Only HIV-Positive Chefs To Breakdown Myths by T. R. Causay, Social Reporter

Would you eat from a restaurant that had an HIV-positive chef or if the people that served you had HIV? The logical thing would be to say yes, since you can’t catch HIV from casual contact, but there are many stigmas still out there that would have a lot people say not to eating food from a HIV positive chef. Some others still say they don’t want to shake hands or shower with someone who’s HIV positive. But that’s the type of stigma that HIV/AIDS hospital Casey House is trying to tackle with their pop-up restaurant. For two days — Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 — people who dined at June’s HIV+ Eatery were served food cooked only by those who have the virus (with a little help and training from chef Matt Basile of the Lisa Marie bar in Toronto). The purpose of the restaurant was to show people that HIV is not as easily transmitted as some may think — and especially not through food. The most important players responsible for bringing the campaign to life are the 14 HIV-positive chefs who will be preparing the dishes. “Everything we did had to take into consideration what they had gone through to get to this point,” says Joseph Bonnici, executive creative director and partner at ad agency Bensimon Byrne that partnered with Casey’s House. “Our HIV-positive chefs, who come from all walks of life, bravely came forward to show they have nothing to

be ashamed of, and more importantly, cook a meal for hundreds of people in Toronto who have nothing to fear from them.” The 14 chefs wore aprons with phrases like “Judge the cooking, not the cook” and “Think you can get HIV from food? Bite me.” “For many people living with HIV, it’s the stigma that hurts the most,” the

press release reads. “June’s HIV+ Eatery is an opportunity to fight stigma with every bite. To come together in a show of love, support and acceptance, and to dispel the myths about HIV that condemn so many to suffer in silence.” So now what do you say? Would you sit eat from HIV positive hands? Start the conversation.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

RP inner city news oct 23.qxp_Layout 1 10/24/17 10:00 AM Page 1

THE RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE

Christian McBride

“Remembering Ray Brown” with Benny Green & Lewis Nash Special Guest Steve Clarke Trio

October 28

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Winners of America’s Got Talent!

November 15

Vanessa Williams in Concert

Martha Davis & the Motels and Bow Wow Wow ft. Annabella Lwin November 1

Meet and greet tickets available!

A Darlene Love Christmas: Love For The Holidays November 18

Tim Currie’s Merry Motown Review December 7

November 4

203.438.5795 • RIDGEFIELDPLAYHOUSE.ORG 19

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

“BroVember” Campaign Encourages Black Men Around the World to Grow Beards to Raise Money to Empower Young Black Boys

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE. ON YOUR TIME. IT’S WHAT WE DO. Make an appointment online. Call us. Walk-in. Visit us on the weekends. We’re open when others aren’t.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY. PPSNE.ORG • 1 (800) 230-PLAN

Nationwide — This November, Lite it Up Beard Oil is putting a new spin on BroVember by donating money to organizations that support the healthy physical, emotional and spiritual development of young black boys. Typically in the month of November, men raise money for Prostate Cancer Research. However, in the United States, Black men are 25% more likely to develop prostate cancer than their white counterparts, yet are less likely to receive treatment due to access to care or financial resources, and benefit even less financially from mainstream campaigns. “We’ve decided to take a spin on the month-long campaign that runs in November to focus on our youth instead,” notes Valerie Augustine, owner of the Lite It Up brand. The BroVember campaign aims to support organizations that enhance

the life skills of young black boys and build the community by giving them access to new opportunities. This, in turn, gives them the ability to choose their own paths so they don’t feel limited. The initiative will start November 1st and continue until the end of the month. Lite it Up Beard Oil will be donating $2 of each bottle sold to the initiative. Lite it Up will also be accepting donations for the initiative and providing more information to anyone interested in getting involved. The following organizations will benefit from the month-long campaign: Black Daddies Club, Cave of Abdullah and the Black Health Alliance to name a few. About Lite It Beard Oil Lite it Up Beard Oil is a subsidiary of Lite it Up Candles, Body, and Spa

specializing in scented, self care, and body maintenance products using allnatural products ingredients. Lite it Up is located at 73 Kensington Avenue in Kensington Market in Toronto, Canada. To learn more, visit www. liteitupbodyspa.com or contact us at 647-704-3009 About Mappdom International Mappdom International is a privately owned boutique marketing company specializing in profit generating social media, digital marketing, virality and growth hacking for small businesses, celebrities and top name brands. To learn more, visit www.mappdom.com or contact us 1-866-826-1126 Offical Website Address and Social Media for BroVember: @BlackBrovember and www.BlackBroVember.com

Accepting the Challenge to Ensure Future Leadership By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO, NNPA I once asked the first African American billionaire, Reginald F. Lewis, what single word best defined the most determinative

factor that led to his monumental financial success? Mr. Lewis answered, “Preparation.” To accept or to meet the challenges of life, one must first be prepared. Attaining a quality education is one of the best methods for self-development and self-preparation. The long history of African American progress is inextricably linked to our access and attainment of a good education. From Frederick Douglas to W.E.B. Du Bois to Booker T. Washington, the goal of education for Black people was paramount to achieving freedom, justice and

equality in America and throughout the world. Today, in 2017, that goal is still a top priority for 47 million African Americans across the nation. It is important to recall lessons from our history to continue the struggle against the forces of racism, oppression and economic inequality. Shortly after the slave insurrection led by Nat Turner in southern Virginia in 1831, the states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi all passed laws making it a felony to teach a Black person how to read and write.

Educating and preparing Africans in America to meet life’s challenges was once against the law. It was illegal to educate our people in those states. It was against the law in the South for Black people to be educated before the Civil War in America. My great, great, great grandfather, the Reverend John Chavis, defied those terrible laws in 1838 and was beaten to death, as a result. This subject is personal, but not limited just to my family’s legacy. While those laws no longer exist, the issues of education for millions of African Americans are

still essential and life-advancing. Thus, it is important to assert and to rearticulate the critical importance of supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). I proudly serve on the Board of Directors of the National Association for Equality Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) that represents all of the HBCUs and PBIs (Predominantly Black Institutions. There is no question that these educational institutions continue, with Con’t on page 25

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

NOTICE OF INVITATION FOR BID HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF DANBURY CHIMNEY CLEANING & REPAIR SERVICES IFB NO. B17005

CONTACT PERSON

Ms. Devin Marra, Director of Procurement Telephone: 203-744-2500 x141 E-Mail: dmarra@hacdct.org

HOW TO OBTAIN THE IFB DOCUMENTS:

Contact Ms. Devin Marra, via phone or email.

BID SUBMITTAL RETURN

Housing Authority of the City of Danbury 2 Mill Ridge Rd, Danbury, CT 06811 Envelope Must be Marked: IFB No. B17005 Chimney Services

BID SUBMITTAL DEADLINE/BID OPENING

December 12, 2017 at 10:00am (EST)

[Minority- and/or women-owned businesses are encouraged to respond]

Experienced Construction Laborer Position requires a minimum of 2 years experience in general construction work. Competitive salary and benefits available. Must hold a current OSHA 10 certificate to apply for job and a current valid CT driver’s license. Position requires taking and passing a drug test/ background check. To apply send resume to TadeMarkLLC@att.net. Women & Minority applicants are encouraged to apply. Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer

Office or General Help: Immediate opening in the Contract Department, in a fast-paced petroleum environment. Strong computer skills (ie: Excel, Microsoft Office) and analytical skills a must. Candidate must possess a high level of accuracy, attention to detail and be able to research and work independently. Petroleum and energy industry knowledge experience a plus. Send resume to: Human Resource Dept., P O Box 388, Guilford CT 06437. **An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer**

Public Notice The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) hereby announces its 49 CFR Part 26 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) plans related to FAA-assisted contracts for professional services and construction projects for federal fiscal years 2017-2019 for Bradley International and federal fiscal years 2018-2020 for the five General Aviation Airports. The proposed plan, which includes the 3-year goal and rationale, is available for inspection between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday at Bradley International Airport, Administration Office, Terminal A, 3rd Floor, Windsor Locks, CT 06096 or on CAA’s website http://www.ctairports.org, the Bradley International Airport website http://www. bradleyairport.com for 30 days from the date of this publication. Comments on the DBE goal will be accepted for 45 days from the date of availability of this notice and can be sent to the following: Laurie A. Sirois Manager of Grants, Procurement and Insurance Programs Connecticut Airport Authority Bradley International Airport Administration Office Terminal A, 3rd Floor Windsor Locks, CT 06096 lsirois@ctairports.org

Mr. Thomas Knox DBE & ACDBE Compliance Specialist FAA Western-Pacific Regional Office Los Angeles, CA 90009-2007 thomas.knox@faa.gov

TRANSFER STATION LABORER Off load trailers, reload for trans/disp. Lift 50 lbs., operate industrial powered trucks and forklift. Asbestos Worker Handler Training a +. Resumes to RED Technologies, LLC, 173 Pickering St., Portland, CT 06480; Fax 860-342-1022; or Email to lkelly@redtransfer.com RED Technologies, LLC is an EOE.

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.

Class A CDL Driver

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

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

Mechanical Insulator position.

Insulation company offering good pay and benefits. Please mail resume to above address.. MAIL ONLY This company is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Housing Authority of the City of Norwalk, CT is requesting proposals for the painting of interior vacant units.

Proposal documents can be viewed and printed at www.

norwalkha.org<http://www.norwalkha.org> under the Business section RFP’s/RFQ’s Norwalk Housing is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Curtis O. Law, Executive Director.

Common Ground High School seeks a PART TIME Special Education Teaching Assistant (TA). The TA is responsible for supporting the Special Education teachers in general education and special education classes. Support will include individual and small group instruction, facilitation of on-task behavior, and implementation of students’ IEPs, including accommodations, goals, etc. Click here for more details and how to apply http://commongroundct. org/2017/10/cghs-seeks-a-part-time-special-educationteaching-assistant/.

Wait list Coventry Housing Authority is accepting applications for its Section 8 Elderly/Disabled housing until November 30, 2017. To qualify, you must be either 62 years of age or disabled. Annual income limit is $19,250 (one person) & $22,000 (two people). Interested parties may pick up an application at the Coventry Housing Authority, 1630 Main St., Coventry, CT, or have one mailed. Completed applications must be returned no later than 3 p.m. on November 30, 2017. For more information call 860-742-5518.

Wait list Coventry Housing Authority is accepting applications for its State Elderly/Disabled housing until November 30, 2017. To qualify, you must be either 62 years of age or disabled. Annual income limit is $47,600 (one person) & $54,400 (two people). Interested parties may pick up an application at the Coventry Housing Authority, 1630 Main St., Coventry, CT, or have one mailed. Completed applications must be returned no later than 3 p.m. on November 30, 2017. For more information call 860-742-5518.

Certified Police Officer

The Town of Wallingford is currently accepting applications for current Connecticut P.O.S.T.C Certified Police Officers. Applicants must be active P.O.S.T.C Certified Police Officers in good standing with their current department, or have retired in good standing, still having a current certification status with P.O.S.T.C. This Process will consist of Written, Oral, Polygraph, Psychological, Medical Exam, and Background Investigation. The Town of Wallingford offers a competitive pay rate $62,753.60$ 74,963.20 annually. Application deadline will be November 9, 2017 Apply: Personnel Department, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main St., Wallingford, CT. phone: (203) 294-2080; fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE.

Listing: Receptionist/Office Assistant

Petroleum Company has an immediate full time opening. Previous experience in a very busy office handling multiple telephone lines and dealing with customers required. Excellent customer service skills a must. Previous petroleum experience a plus. Applicant to also perform administrative/clerical tasks as assigned. Please send resume to: H.R. Manager, Confidential, P O Box 388, Guilford CT 06437.

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

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

Assistant Facilities Manager

FIREFIGHTER / EMT / PARAMEDIC Firefighter - Paramedic 63,759.27 EMT-D 60,809.27 Annual Salary The West Haven Fire Department will be conducting an Entry Exam on Saturday December 16, 2017 at West Haven High School 9:00am. This exam will be for entry level Firefighter-Paramedic/EMT. This is a Fire Police Selection Inc. (FPSI) exam. The fee for this exam is $65.00 and shall be submitted on line with the application and certification documents. Application documents and fee must be submitted through www.FireﬁghterApp.com.

Application deadline is December 1, 2017. Qualifications to sit for the exam: 18 years of age (by date of the exam) United States Citizen or legally authorized to work in the U.S The West Haven Fire Department is a progressive Class II Department providing fire suppression, fire rescue, hazardous materials intervention/protection, emergency medical care and mutual aid, responding to more than 6500 calls per year. The WHFD/ Center District has four twelve-person platoons, which rotate four 24/72 hour shifts. The department offers a competitive salary/benefit package. Health and dental benefits, annual health and fitness program and a retirement plan. Applications can be submitted on www.FirefighterApp.com after November 4, 2017

The West Haven Fire Department is an equal opportunity employer.

The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport Invitation for Bid (IFB) Three Tab Roof Replacements at Various Sites Solicitation Number: 093-PD-17-S The Housing Authority of the City of Bridgeport d/b/a Park City Communities (PCC) is requesting sealed bids for Roof Replacements at Various Sites. A complete set of the plans and technical specifications will be available on October 23, 2017. To obtain a copy of the solicitation you must send your request to bids@parkcitycommunities.org, please reference solicitation number and title on the subject line. A MANDATORY pre-bid conference will be held at 150 Highland Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604 on November 8, 2017 @ 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 November 20, 2017 @ 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 December 7, 2017 @ 2:00 PM, to Ms. Caroline Sanchez, Sr. Contract Specialist, 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.

Common Ground seeks an Assistant Facilities Manager/Custodian to be responsible for the care, upkeep and maintenance of Common Ground’s facilities. The Assistant Facilities Manager/Custodian will supervise part time custodial staff. This is a full time, year round 40-hour per week position with benefits. Work hours will generally run from noon until 8 pm with some weekend hours required. For a more detailed job description and how to apply, please visit http:// commongroundct.org/2017/10/common-ground-seeks-an-assistant-facilitiesmanager/Common Ground seeks an Assistant Facilities Manager/Custodian to be responsible for the care, upkeep and maintenance of Common Ground’s facilities. The Assistant Facilities Manager/Custodian will supervise part time custodial staff. This is a full time, year round 40-hour per week position with benefits. Work hours will generally run from noon until 8 pm with some weekend hours required. For a more detailed job description and how to apply, please visit http://commongroundct.org/2017/10/common-ground-seeks-an-assistantfacilities-manager/

Construction Truck and Equipment Head Mechanic

Large CT based Fence and Guard Rail contractor looking for experienced, self-motivated, responsible Head Mechanic. Responsibilities will include maintaining and repairing all company equipment and vehicles, updating asset lists and assuring all rolling stock is in compliance with state and federal regulations. Must have extensive diesel engine, electrical wiring and hydraulic systems experience. Top wages paid, company truck and benefits. AA/EOE

Please send resume to Mpicard@atlasoutdoor.com

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

Mechanical Insulator position.

Insulation company offering good pay and benefits. Please mail resume to above address.. MAIL ONLY This company is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer.

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Invitation for Bids

Snow Removal ServicesWestville Manor and 295 Wilmot Road The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking Bids for Snow Removal ServicesWestville Manor and 295 Wilmot Road. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at 3:00PM

The Manchester Housing Authority is pleased to announce the opening of the State of Connecticut Congregate Housing Program. Westhill Gardens Congregate consists of 37 one bedroom units. Applications are available in person and on the MHA website at http://manchesterha.org and will be accepted by mail or in person at 24 Bluefield Drive Manchester, CT 06040. Applications will be accepted October 1, 2017- December 29th, 2017 at 4PM. The Congregate Program offers housing, a daily meal, and supportive services to frail elders, age 62 or older.

FY 2017 State of Connecticut Low-Income (80%) Limit (LIL) 1 person

2 person

3 person

4 person

47,600

54,400

61,200

68,000

The Manchester Housing Authority does not discriminate based upon race, color, disability, familial status, sex, or national origin.

Union Company seeks: Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipment. Must have a CDL License, clean driving record, capable of operating heavy equipment; be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent beneﬁts Invitation for Bids Phone: Contact: Dana Briere Email: Snow860-243-2300 Removal ServicesValley dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com and Waverly Townhouse Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply The Housing Authority ofAction/ the City ofEqual New Haven d/b/a Elm City ComAffirmative Opportunity munities is currently seekingEmployer Bids for Snow Removal Services-Valley and Waverly Townhouses. A complete copy of the requirement may be obtained from Elm City’s Vendor Collaboration Portal https://newhavenhousing.cobblestonesystems.com/gateway beginning on Wednesday, November 1, 2017 at 3:00PM

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES

GARRITY ASPHALT RECLAIMING , INC Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks: Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current licensing and clean driving record. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent beneﬁts Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860243-2300 Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming Inc Employer

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

Union Company seeks: Tractor Trailer Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction Equipment. Must have a CDL License, clean driving record, capable of operating Union Company seeks: Tractor Trailer heavy equipment; be willing to travel Driver for Heavy & Highway Construction throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer Equipment. Must have a CDL License, excellent hourly rate & excellent beneﬁts clean driving record, capable of operating Contact: Dana Briere Phone: heavy equipment; be willing to travel 860-243-2300 Email: throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com excellent hourly rate & excellent beneﬁts Women & Minority Applicants are Contact: Dana Briere Phone: encouraged to apply 860-243-2300 Email: Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com Employer Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

ARTS FUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURAL VITALITY GRANT

RDS GRANT AWA 00 $2,500-$5,0

grant DEADLINES Letter of Intent: November 22 | Application: December 20 MORE INFO/APPLICATION: 203.946.7172 UPCOMING INFORMATION SESSIONS Nov. 1 - Mitchell Library. 5:00pm. Nov. 8 - Wilson Library. 5:00pm. Nov. 9 - Fair Haven Library. 5:30pm. Nov. 13 - Ives (Main) Library. 5:30pm. Nov. 14 - Stetson Library. 5:00pm.

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, November 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.

10652 (06/16)

CITY OF NEW HAVEN, TONI. N. HARP, MAYOR

Discover Foote School An Independent K–9 School Where Students Love to Learn

Admissions Open Houses November 5 & 18

50 Loomis Place | New Haven | CT | (203) 777-3464 | footeschool.org

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10/17/17 11:09 AM

Black Love:

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

Black Celebrities, Athletes and Politicians

Must Respect the Black Press

By Rosetta Miller-Perry, The Tennessee Tribune/NNPA Member Throughout history, the Black Press has been the best friend that Black celebrities, athletes and politicians have ever had. The Black Press often covers Black public figures from the very start of their careers, before they’re “discovered” by the mainstream media, all the way through to their ascension to star or leadership status. Before they became household names, had hit records, secured multi-million dollar contracts or became leaders in the United States Congress, it was the Black Press that was always there for their press conferences and events, often giving them extensive coverage when the mainstream media might only give them a brief mention in the B-section of their newspapers or 15 seconds at the end of an evening news segment. When the mainstream media finally “discovers” these same Black celebrities, athletes and politicians and they attain a certain degree of fame and success, suddenly, they think it’s okay to snub the Black Press. Now they don’t have time to give interviews to Black newspapers or magazines; there’s no time to make the visits to Black radio stations, where they once made regular appearances; their (usually) White public relations and management staffers guard their time and appearances carefully, and shun Black-owned media. These same public relations firms often discourage their Black clients from working with Black-owned media companies and advertising with the Black Press. This is a disgrace, because when things go bad and these Black celebrities want to get “their” side of the story out, the first place these folks run to is the Black Press. If there is a story about political corruption, infidelity or other alleged crimes involving a Black public figure, the mainstream media’s attitude is usually “guilty until proven innocent.” It’s the Black Press that usually takes the “innocent until proven guilty” approach, urging fairness and caution, telling readers, listeners and viewers to wait until all the evidence is in, frequently reminding folks of all the great things that their favorite hero did in the past. The Black Press remains the advocate for Black celebrities, athletes and politicians, even now, despite the fact that so many of them seem oblivious to our existence. That is why, increasingly, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the trade group that represents over 200 Black-owned media companies, that reach more than 20 million readers in print and online every week, is reminding

these Black public figures that Black newspapers are their champions and defenders 24/7, and that we have backed them in good times and bad. While the classic case of a Black superstar, who ran away from the Black Press for years and then returned at the eleventh hour, remains O.J. Simpson, it is instructive to see how mainstream media is covering the NFL in the wake of Donald Trump’s garbage claims that the players are somehow “disrespecting the flag and the military” if they kneel during the playing of the national anthem, a claim that was and continues to be absolute nonsense. The Black Press backed Colin Kaepernick’s protest against oppression and police brutality from the beginning, and continues to do so. The Black Press supports Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett and other players who have responded positively in the wake of criticism. Black newspapers have printed the entire StarSpangled Banner, including its verses supporting slavery, while many mainstream publications have bought into the Trump idiocy. When conservative newspapers and publications attacked ESPN commentator Jemele Hill for her tweets about Trump, it was the Black Press that offered unqualified support. We’ve been there through decades of attacks on Black leaders, and we remain vigilant to the constant character assassination and innuendos lodged against Black public figures at the local, state and national levels. What the Black Press wants from Black celebrities, athletes and politicians is respect, fairness, transparency and the same access provided to mainstream media outlets. Don’t just advertise in The New York Times or The Washington Post; also do business with NNPA member publications; continue to make appearances at Black radio stations; order subscriptions to Black publications, in print and online. Our subscriptions and advertising rates are more reasonable than those of the big corporate newspapers, and despite what some advertising firms say, we’re more trusted in the Black community than “general” market publications. It’s time for the Black celebrities, athletes and politicians who say they value entrepreneurship and economic empowerment to do business with the Black Press. Why should Black public figures financially support our mainstream competitors, exclusively, who have very few connections to the Black community? The Black Press was there for our Black entertainers and politicians passionately sharing their stories with our readers, listeners and viewers when no one knew who they were, we celebrate their success and we won’t assume guilt if something goes wrong, or desert them when they’re wrongfully accused and dragged through the gutter by the mainstream media. So, to the Black celebrities, athletes and politicians that think that they’re too big for the Black Press: recognize and support us as we’ve recognized and supported you all along.

Couple Shares Secret To nearly 70 years Of Marriage! By BlackDoctor.org Staff

You always hear people say, “Black Love is beautiful,” but with the divorce rate being so high and so many single women commenting on the shortage of husband material, is Black love a thing of the past. Well, not according to Oprah. Black Love is a series on Oprah Winfery’s OWN network that highlights love stories from the black community and seeks to answer the burning question, What is the secret to making a marriage work? Husband-and-wife filmmakers Codie and Tommy Oliver present real, honest, emotional and sometimes cringeworthy love stories from some of the most successful people in business and entertainment as well as everyday couples. Featured couples include Oscar® winner Viola Davis and Julius Tennon, Hollywood power couple Meagan Good and DeVon Franklin, Twin sister actress Tia Mowry-Hardrict and actor Cory Hardrict, Actor & dancer Flex Alexander and Grammy®-nominated recording artist Shanice, gospel singer Erica Campbell and music producer Warryn Campbell, NAACP Image Award nominee Vanessa Bell Calloway and Dr. Anthony Calloway, and many more—each offering a unique take on love. But it’s one particular couple that caught our eye: Arthur and Reva. Just your run of the mill every day couple who happens to be married for 68 years as of August 2017! That’s over half a century to the same person. That’s more than love! And the couple has the cutest story too: It only took Arthur three times seeing and meeting Reva that he asked her to marry him. “Everyday for a whole year I received a letter. So I got a letter from him every single day. He had these sparkling eyes and” That’s right, this man wrote and sent his wife-to-be a letter EVERY SINGLE DAY for a whole year before he married her. Now, it makes you think about when a guy doesn’t answer your texts doesn’t it? But that’s a whole ‘nother subject.

Back to Arthur and Reva. In the Black Love video, you can tell that they both are happy with each other–you have to be if you want to be married that long! So the interviewer asks what it really takes to be married nearly 70 years. “Teamwork and I think you have to continually be interested in different things,” Reva smiles as she chimes in. “We’ve learned to respect each others talents and likes and dislikes. You can’t stay stagnant and you have to change as the world changes. We’ve learned to respect each others roles.” “And you need to have faith in one another too,” explained Arthur. “She knows what I like and I know what she likes. We work as a team.” Mental note: “Teamwork makes the dream work!”

When asked how long it took the couple to get to a place where they trusted one another and worked as a unit, they didn’t hesitate and laughed. With that laugh, Reva’s answer was, “A while.” LOL. So even if your relationship may be rocky or you don’t feel as strong you could be as a couple, Arthur and Reva give us all hope! So what keeps the retired loving couple going now? “Right now, we’ve switched roles. For the first part of our marriage, he took excellent care of me. So I didn’t have any worries or responsibilities. But now in his senior, challenging period, we’ve reversed roles and I’m taking care of him.,” Reva says.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

The Blind Boys of Alabama

Christmas Show

featuring Preservation Hall Legacy Horns

November 17–18, 2017

December 2, 2017

TICKETS: shubert.com • 203-562-5666 Box Office: Monday–Friday 9:30–5:30. Extended phone hours 800-745-3000. Con’t from page 20

academic excellence, to provide the majority of Black college graduates in science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM). At a recent national conference of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) in Washington, D.C., Koch Industries reaffirmed its contribution of more than $26 million to the TMCF. The support of HBCUs cuts across the partisan political divide in America. The fact is Koch Industries “accepted the challenge” and stepped up to the plate and gave an unprecedented amount of financial support to both the United Negro College Fund ($25 million) and to the TMCF. Accepting the challenge of providing more funding for the higher education of Black Americans should not be reduced to partisan politics. This is about improving the quality of life for Black America and for all communities who yearn for freedom and equality. As a graduate of Howard University, I know that HBCUs deserve the support of corporate America. Let’s hope that other corporate leaders will also accept the challenge of financially supporting HBCUs. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org. You can follow Dr. Chavis on Twitter @ DrBenChavis.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017 Ghanian Native, Boxing Sensation Dodzi Kemer will get a chance at the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight Title this upcoming Friday, November 17th.

Roman J. Israel, Esq.a Film Review by Kam Williams

Kemer, age 26, recently left his homeland earlier this year to train in Frederick, MD. Kemeh, 19-1 (17 KO’s), has since worked with some of the best in the area, in preparation for his U.S. debut. This boxing sensation will make his U.S. debut at the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario, California, on November 17 versus undefeated WBO NABO welterweight champion Giovanni Santillan (22-0, 12 KO’s). Santillan’s title will be on the line in this 10 round bout. The 25-year-old southpaw currently resides in the San Diego area and is rated no. 7 by the WBO. The winner of this bout will take a major step toward battling for the world title, currently held by Manny Pacquiao’s conqueror, Jeff Horn. “I’m excited about this fight and to be frank, my target is that in less than two years, we hold a world title...that is my dream,” said Dodzi Kemer. “So, I’m working very hard to reach that. It’s been a very long time since Ghana has held a title. So, I’m praying for that because we need a world title for Ghana.”

Kemeh is managed by Alex Kotei, whose uncle, DK Poison was the first boxer to bring a world title to Africa in 1975. “This is a big deal, not just for Ghana and all over Africa but for those in the Frederick community that have adopted Dodzie and been supporting him along the way,” said manager Alex Kotei. “Dodzie has been working hard to prepare for this fight, running 13.5 miles a day, sparring with other boxers in the region and training around the clock. If anyone deserves this win, he does!” He is trained by the team at Bowerhouse Boxing Gym and is frequently found training at their Frederick facility. They will be in his corner the day of the fight. Nov. 17 will mark the first time he hardhitting Kemeh will be fighting outside his native Ghana. He has won his last three fights, all by knockout. Four preliminary bouts are scheduled to round out the card prior to Kemeh & Santillan’s fight which will be the main event.

Denzel Delivers Oscar-Quality Performance as Attorney with Asperger’s Roman J. Israel (Denzel Washington) is a high-functioning savant on the autism spectrum who has been practicing law in L.A. for the past 36 years. The brilliant attorney has spent most of his career under the radar, writing legal briefs in a rear office for indigent criminal defendants, while his partner, William Henry Jackson, served as the face of the firm, whether cultivating clients or arguing their cases in the courtroom. This unorthodox arrangement worked well for Roman who, besides his disorder, is a longtime political activist dedicated to a progressive agenda, namely, to assist downtrodden individuals unfairly ensnared in the net of the prison-industrial complex. And because of that commitment, he’s been willing to work for far less pay than colleagues of his caliber. Consequently, the highly-principled lawyer has had to scrape by on a modest salary, living in the same dive for decades, where he subsisted on a steady diet of peanut butter sandwiches and jazz classics played on an old-fashioned turntable. Everything changes the day William Jackson suffers a heart attack and the two-person firm is forced to dissolve. Roman first applies for a position with a public interest non-profit that shares his values. But when the empathetic director (Carmen Ejogo) explains that

she doesn’t have the money to hire an attorney, he resigns himself to joining a corporate firm where he’s soon teamed with a young associate (Colin Farrell) interested only in maximizing profits. This leaves Roman sitting on the horns of an ethical dilemma. Should he abandon his morals to keep a roof over his head? That is the question at the center of Roman J. Israel, Esq., a compelling character portrait written and directed by Oscar-nominee Dan Gilroy (for Nightcrawler). The legendary Denzel Washington is quite convincing as well as moving, here, as a beleaguered soul afflicted with Asperberger’s syndrome. His powerful performance might very well be remembered at Oscar time, given the Academy’s recent history of rewarding thespians playing impaired characters, including Eddie Redmayne

(2014) for wheelchair-bound Stephen Hawking (ALS); Colin Firth (2010) for stuttering King George VI; Geoffrey Rush (1996) for mentally-ill David Helfgott; Tom Hanks (1994) for dimwitted Forest Gump; Tom Hanks (1993) for AIDS patient Andrew Beckett; Daniel Day-Lewis (1989) for cerebral palsy victim Christy Brown; and Dustin Hoffman (1988) for mathematics savant Rain Man. Win, lose or draw, Roman J. Israel, Esq. deserves accolades aplenty in its own right for its touching treatment of such a sensitive subject. Excellent (4 stars) Rated PG-13 for violence and profanity Running time: 129 minutes Production Studio: Bron Creative / Cross Creek Pictures / Escape Artists / FZ /Macro Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Black Millennial Launches App to Discover & Review Black-Owned Businesses

Nationwide — The next generation digital platform, Official Black Wall Street, is making it even easier to find and support Black-owned businesses with the launch of their highly anticipated new app. Making its mark as the first of its kind to alert users when they’re near a Black-owned business, the app combines social impact and tech, allowing users to seamlessly circulate the Black dollar. Founded in 2015 by millennial entrepreneur, Mandy Bowman, Official Black Wall Street became known as the largest global directory of Blackowned businesses. With the launch of their app, Mandy hopes to give quality Black businesses the exposure and sales they deserve. “I believe it’s due time for us to make a conscious effort to buy Black. We’ve heard the

stats that we have a $1.2 trillion dollar buying power yet a dollar only stays in our community for 6 hours whereas in Jewish and Asian communities, their dollar circulates for 20 days and a month, respectively. With our current political state it’s becoming more evident that supporting Black-owned businesses will allow us to vote with our dollars while strengthening the local economy in the Black community,” said Mandy. Some of the app’s most notable features include the ability to submit Black-owned businesses, search by category, location, open status, and keyword, view all Black-owned businesses around your current location on a map, leave reviews, and more. Black entrepreneurs are also able to message their followers from the app, get pre-

major step to creating a wealthier and stronger Black community. We’ve gotten feedback from so many Black business owners who saw positive effects from listing their business on our webbased platform. We’re excited to see the app take things to the next level.” You can download the Official Black Wall Street app now on both Android and Apple devices. If you’re a Black entrepreneur, you can also list your business for more exposure.

mium search placement, and analytics amongst other features designed to maximize exposure and bridge the gap between the consumer and the busi-

ness. When asked about the potential impact of the app Mandy exclaimed, “I believe the OBWS app is our first

To download the app, visit http://onelink.to/obwsapp Follow the app on social media: Twitter – www.twitter.com/TheBlackWallSt Facebook – www.facebook.com/officialblackwallstreet/

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

BUSHNELL.ORG â&#x20AC;¢ 860-987-5900

Cynthia Erivo and the cast of THE COLOR PURPLE on Broadway. Photo by Matthew Murphy, 2016.

DECEMBER 5-10

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 15, 2017 - November 21, 2017

The Blind Boys of Alabama Christmas Show featuring Preservation Hall Legacy Horns

Saturday, December 2, 8 pm

SAVE 25%–Buy 4 tickets for the price of 3! TICKETS: shubert.com • 203-562-5666 Box Office: Monday–Friday 9:30–5:30. Extended phone hours 800-745-3000. 28