INNER-CITY NEWS

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017 INNER-CITY NEWS

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700 Kids Get Coats

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

by CHRISTOPHER PEAK

CHRISTOPHER PEAK PHOTO

Students receive free winter coats at New Horizons School.

request a coat. Jenifer Blemings, the building’s YouthStat coordinator, hangs a folder of paper forms that students can slip under her door.

But Blemings said that after the first round of coats got passed out, more students felt comfortable requesting them.

They were unexpectedly stylish, not the thrift store hand-me-downs that students expect. “It’s what they deserve,” Blemings said.

A few even asked if they could take home an extra for their parents, a request that Blemings had to turn down.

In the past, students at New Horizons got coats from another nonprofit, but now that the city’s involved, Blemings is hoping to ask the other donors to provide hats, mittens and scarves to make sure her kids are fully prepped for the winter chill.

Jepsen Won’t Run Again

The surprise announcement of the day Monday came from state Attorney General George Jepsen, who said he will not run next year for a third term.

Jepsen was considered secure in the job if he had run. In New Haven, he played a key role in negotiating with the new owner of United Illuminating to clean up English Station. In a statement released Monday, Jepsen called it “the greatest honor of my professional life to serve as attorney general for the State of Connecticut. While my love for the work of this office is undiminished, I am ready to pursue different challenges. I do so knowing that the men and women of the Office of the Attorney General will continue to serve and protect our state and its residents with distinction. They are superb public servants in the truest sense, and I am proud of the work we have done

by Christine Stuart CT. Junkie News

New Haven Independent

Last week at New Horizons High School, an alternative school in the Hill, six students tried on coats of varying sizes, zipping them up as far as they’d go and throwing the faux furlined hoods over the heads — a small fix that might reduce the district’s absences.

Those recipients are just a handful of the 700 kids who’ll get coats this year thanks to a donation from the Dalio Foundation. Now in its second year, the coat drive, run by the city’s Youth Services Department, will warm three times as many kids as last year, thanks to the size of the gift from billionaire hedge-funder Ray Dalio’s charity.

The top two priorities are youth who are homeless or are close to dropping out, as identified by YouthStat, the data-driven effort to help the most atrisk students stay in school. Once those groups received their coats, Youth Services extended the offer to every school.

“What we want to do is make sure it’s going to the kids that really needs them,” Bartlett said. “Young people aren’t necessarily asking; teachers and administrators get to us.” On a cold day, Bartlett said, the adults notice, “Okay, you’re wearing the same kind of light sweater,” and they can fill out a form online that sends an order downtown.

At New Horizons, teachers have found kids often don’t want to publicly

Malloy Again Questions General Assembly’s Budget Legislation

Attorney General George Jepsen

together. I do not yet know what my future holds, but look forward to advancing the interests of Connecticut for the remainder of my term and in other capacities.”

Hooking kids up with a new coat isn’t just to add to their wardrobe even though the students at New Horizons spent plenty of time trying to trade in different styles, colors and fits than the ones they’d been assigned. Rather, it removes an obstacle that might keep them from going to school when the temperature drops below freezing, YouthStat’s coordinators have heard anecdotally.

“Especially with the history of trauma our students have experienced [at New Horizons], we like to break down any barriers to get to school,” Blemings said. “Our students are not going to stand out in the cold for 20 minutes and wait for a bus.”

Youth Services sees the coats as just one aspect of the basic needs they try to make sure every kid in the Elm City has, along with food and grooming products.

But while those items are essential, a few students at New Horizons made sure city staffers understood that an extra layer of clothing couldn’t fix the legion of other problems they faced outside of school.

After being told to “cherish” her coat, a girl named Walnaesha pushed back.

She said the outwear wouldn’t help her get to work that afternoon, the hourly job she needed to support her family.

The city staffer, Chance Jackson, said he was already on the clock, and with his work, he was trying to help students like her. Walnaesha replied that handing out coats was easy: She held three jobs, she told him.

That seemed to take Jackson by surprise, when, expecting gratitude, he instead was getting an earful. He switched tactics, trying to joke with her.

Jackson said he’d seen the glimmer of a smile when she tried the coat on.

Maybe so, Walnaesha conceded.

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HARTFORD, CT — Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed the technical changes to the budget that the General Assembly passed last week, but his signature came with a warning letter.

“Unfortunately, I am — once again — requesting that the General Assembly take action to correct a significant flaw when they next convene,” Malloy said in a message attached to the signed bill.

The bill the General Assembly passed last week sought to make changes to the hospital provider tax to address some of Malloy’s concerns about deficiencies in the language that would require the state to make the payments to the hospital, regardless of what action the federal government took.

Malloy said the funding for the Children’s Health initiative, which was part of the legislation, was removed from the general fund and placed in the Insurance Fund, which is supported through assessments of the insurance industry.

“The state can only assess for those activities specifically provided for by statute,” Malloy wrote. “The General Assembly, in transferring the operation of this program to the Insurance Fund, failed to adopt language that authorizes the insurance commissioner to assess to cover the costs of the Children’s Health Initiative. Without the authority to assess to cover this cost, the legislature has created a current fiscal year deficit of $2,935,769 in the fund.”

Legislative leaders are expected to meet next Wednesday to discuss whether they want to return and reverse some of the spending cuts Malloy made to the budget earlier this week. There’s also the possibility they will be asked to return to approve a deficit mitigation plan.

Senate Republican President Len Fasano, R-North Haven, said Wednesday that the legislature didn’t make a mistake when it drafted the technical changes to the budget.

“For a guy who hasn’t balanced a budget in six years, he sure is Mondaymorning quarterbacking a budget we got done without him,” Fasano said.

He said there’s plenty of line items the governor has moved outside the general fund over the years and the legislature was doing something similar by moving this money to the insurance

fund.

A spokesman for Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said Wednesday that they are certainly willing to examine the issue.

At a press conference Tuesday, Looney said legislative leaders planned to speak about all of the suggestions Malloy has made over the past week.

Last week, Malloy announced decisions about what pots of money he planned to hold back as part of the budget and on Monday his budget office announced a $202.8 million deficit.

Looney said he can’t vouch for the accuracy of the deficit projections from Malloy’s budget office, but they will be part of the discussion with legislative leaders.

As for the $91 million in cuts to municipal aid, Looney said it’s an inevitable part of the process that the governor makes a decision and the legislature reacts.

“The budget we passed reflects the area where we had consensus on what to cut,” Looney said. “The default was then left to the unallocated lapses which he is now seeking to address.”

Looney declined to characterize the motivations behind Malloy’s decisions.

The governor’s budget office has projected that the state is already experiencing a $203 million deficit.

On Monday, Fasano accused Malloy of releasing “artificially high numbers” as part of his deficit projections.

“It’s disturbing that Gov. Malloy would purposefully make the state’s finances look worse than they actually are just so he can have a say in how we close the budget shortfall,” Fasano said. “That may be in his best interest, but it certainly isn’t in the state’s best interest.”

Fasano asked state Comptroller Kevin Lembo, who is required to certify the budget deficit on Dec. 4, to confirm the alleged “unbudgeted” adjudicated claims and the additional money the administration said they needed to fulfill a federal court mandate for the Department of Children and Families.

The General Assembly won’t have to return for deficit mitigation if Lembo doesn’t certify a deficit larger than one percent of the general fund.

Tags: Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Martin Looney, Len Fasano, Insurance Fund, deficit, dh Share this story with others.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

Harp Vows To Boost Scores, Rebuild Dixwell In Term 3

by PAUL BASS

New Haven Independent

Enlist businesses in the quest to create more jobs for New Haveners. Up the city’s game in cleaning up neighborhoods. Get more students up to grade level.

Those are some of Mayor Toni Harp’s top goals for her third two-year term as mayor, which starts Jan. 1.

She discussed those goals on her latest appearance on WNHH FM’s “Mayor Monday” program.

She said she believes the city can do a better job involving local businesses in the job-creation push. She also spoke of her administration’s new effort to send crews from various city departments to sweep through neighborhoods together to root out slumlord problems, overgrown trees blocking lights, crime hot spots, traffic-calming woes; then follow up with citizens to stop the problems from recurring.

(Read about that effort here, here and here.) Developing that effort citywide will be a priority in her third term, she said, along with using a new app called “CitiStat” to get all city departments working more collaboratively to address problems at specific addresses.

Perhaps her most ambitious goal, she said, is to get 75 to 80 percent of students in the system performing at grade level in all subjects. In some cases the numbers are half that right now, she said. “That’s going to be the hardest one,” but an important goal to

MARKESHIA RICKS PHOTO

Harp at this month’s Q House groundbreaking.

HUMPHREYS & PARTNERS LP Rendition of 385-apartment Munson St. plan.

pursue.

She spoke as well as a slew of projects taking shape in the Dixwell and

Newhallville neighborhoods: 385 new apartments eyed for a vacant former factory site, a new senior housing

complex, the new Dixwell Q Community House, a new Henry Street artists’ center. So put the “Dixwell-Newhallvilel Renaissance” as well on the list by which to judge her third term.

Also on the radio program, Harp said it’s time to start over in figuring out what to do with the vacant former Strong School in Fair Haven.

Last week an advisory committee recommended rejecting a developer’s proposal to buy the property from the city and build market-rate microapartments. By law the Harp administration can ignore the recommendation and proceed with the sale. But Harp echoed her economic development administrator’s reaction, that the committee’s (and the neighborhood’s) voice should be heeded.

“I would support starting over again.

I’m not as interested in micro-apartments. I’m a little concerned that they might start a whole series if we start approving them,” Harp said.

Mayor Mum on Governor Run Leave Harp off the list of Democrats ruling out a 2018 gubernatorial run, at least for now.

Harp — who two weeks ago won election to a third two-year term as New Haven’s mayor with 73 percent of the vote — formed a committee last year to raise money for a potential statewide run.

She was asked Monday if she is considering running for a statewide run next year.

“Right now I’m not considering it. I’m

going to do whatever is best for New Haven,” she responded.

She offered the same response when asked if she is specifically ruling out a run for governor: “I’m going to do whatever’s best for New Haven.”

Other top elected Democrats who have mulled runs such as Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, Comptroller Kevin Lembo, and Attorney General George Jepsen have decided not to seek the office.

Internal polls are apparently showing strong support for a Republican to win the office, at least for now; a posse of Republicans have already launched campaigns. Democrats who have formed committees include Middletown Mayor Dan Drew and Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim.

Harp said Democrats shouldn’t be scared away by polls this far out: “We don’t know what will happen in the world between now and the next eleciton. By the time we select a candidate as Democrats, it’s quite possible that something may happen to change the way that people view Democrats.”

She said she’s “working with my [Democratic] town chairman, Vinnie Mauro,” to “make sure that New Haven has some sort of impact on the Democratic slate.”

Reached for comment after the show Monday, Mauro remarked: “I think New Haven is the largest Democratic Party in the state of Conencticut. We put up more votes than anybody else.

I think New Haven should be wellrepresented on the ticket.”

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

Cookie Novices Learn From The Pros

A seasoned pie baker looking for some help with cookies. A chef’s sister willing to make the drive from Bridgeport.

A second generation cake maker with dreams for an independent business. A new grandfather, a serial sous chef, and a self-proclaimed anti-cook who hasn’t made a meal since last year.

Friday night, these were the six who gathered for an inaugural baking class at the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT), a job training and teaching incubator in the city’s Newhallville neighborhood. After opening its teaching kitchen in 2016, ConnCAT has continued its mission of teaching unemployed and underemployed New Haveners with its Orchid Cafe, open since April of this year.

The idea comes from public interest in the cafe and its chefs, said ConnCAT Communications Specialist Tammy Chapman. Typically, the cafe is open weekdays only, drawing diners who work in the nearby Science Park and Winchester Lofts buildings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. But a survey three months ago suggested that cafe patrons were interested in two things: increased hours, and a chance to learn cooking from some of the chefs who were learning themselves.

The hours are still tricky: ConnCAT staffs the cafe with its culinary students, of which there have now been three cohorts. But there aren’t enough hours in the day for them to be there for three meals a day, and take their classes.

Getting to know the chefs, though, is an easier feat for the center—so ConnCAT decided to pilot classes a few weeks ago.

The first one came out of a fundraiser that it held, in which baking was one of the prizes.

“We’d love to do more of these sessions,” said Chapman, fixing participants up with name tags and disposable aprons. Chefs Stanley Hair and Joseph “Joe” Williams directed attendees to two sinks, both running taps with water so hot it was steaming.

Eyeing the group, Williams expertly divided attendees in to three teams, strangers who would spend the next two hours bonding as they creamed butter, measured out sugar and vanilla, and piped stiff dough onto their baking sheets.

He directed the group to three glinting KitchenAid mixers accented with silver and red. It was go time. The first assignment: Spritz cookies with berry jam, derived from the Alsatian Spritzgebäck that have become a popular holiday treat.

Teams measured out ingredients carefully, weighing out sugar and butter, salt, vanilla, flour and fruity jams in red and blue. At one station, librarian-turnedbaker Daniel Mugaburu joked to baking partner Tom Breen that he “can’t even cook water without burning it,” hesitat-

Hair, demoing the spritz cookies. The evening included both spritz and chocolate chip cookies. Lucy Gellman photos.

ing as he placed a cup of butter on the scale, and watched it waver between seven and eight ounces.

Two other teams had considerable more luck: Orchid Cafe regulars Kevin Hart and Heather White flew through assembly, ready to pop their cookies in the oven before the other groups had finished, and waiting patiently when they were told it wasn’t time yet.

So did Cameo Johnson and Sharmae Williams, a semi-professional baker and savory cook who is also Hair’s sister. In front of them, Hair and Joe Williams (no relation) bounced from station to station, preheating two industrial ovens as they fielded any rogue questions.

“I told him [Hair] I want learn some of the things he do,” said Williams. “I wanna see him in his world.”

Before teams began to mix their ingredients, all six participants gathered around Hair to watch one of two demos. Standing carefully over a mixer, Hair talked through a process that he said has become a sort of second nature: creaming half a pound of butter and cup of white sugar to become the cookie’s shortbread base.

As he added in unbleached flour, speaking over the mechanized hum of his mix-

er, Mugaburu leaned in, studying how Hair flipped switches off, then on again, as he added the white powder in stages.

Working the stiff dough into a piping bag, Hair squeezed out long, spiral shapes. Mugaburu raised his eyebrows quizzically as a smattering of oohs and aaahhs drifted over the room.

“You ready?” Hair said to the group, showing off two dimples as he grinned.

A murmur of mmmhmmms ran through the group.

But maybe the answer was more complicated. As participants headed back to their workstations, Mugaburu and Breen struggled to switch their mixer on. When they had (an outlet wasn’t working), the two worked methodically, but subbed splenda for sugar, mixing a batter so stiff it would fit in a piping bag, but not make it out of the scalloped nozzle. Declaring the consistency and look similar to “squirrel droppings,” the two pulled Hair over, asking him for help. As he attempted to squeeze the pastry bag, his hands shook, vibrating against the bag’s stiffness.

Not all participants had so much trouble. In the time that piping took, Hart and White had skipped ahead in the directions, and were adding thumb-

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prints to their cookies, into which a small mount of jam would be spooned. As they worked out a system—Hart held the edges of the sheet and White spooned— the two bonded over the Orchid Cafe, at which they both eat several times a week.

As White mentioned that the lesson was her first outing without colleagues she is a new transplant from the Washington, D.C. area she regaled Hart, and then the room, with tales of how famous ConnCAT’s peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwich had become around her office.

A counter away, Williams and Johnson had also worked out a sort of assembly line as they piped. The owner of Cameo’s Crazy Cakes & Treats, Johnson took the lead, laying ribbon-like spirals of cookie dough in her wake. She won entry into the class when someone donated a ticket in her name, and said she felt “lucky to be” there, as her three kids played at home. But Johnson comes from a long line of cooks: she learned by watching her mom, who is now a student in the program. When her mom has finished, they and her aunt plan on going into business together.

The two leaned gingerly over a baking sheet, Johnson squeezing the piping bag as Williams held the sheet still. Fat, buttery dough spirals with scalloped edges appeared on the sheets. Wetting their gloves, they worked together to place a thumbprint in the center of each cookie, spooning jam into the shallow wells as they formed. Williams, who is from South Carolina and makes a semi-famous fried chicken and baked ziti, said she was getting the hang of it—but still might let Hair bake for family gatherings.

That was okay with Hair, still helping Breen and Mugaburu with the last of their spritz cookies. As they added the last doll of blackberry jam, the kitchen transformed again, this time into a line leading to the ovens.

Hair and Joe Williams worked together to lift the trays into the ovens, flicking on a light so attendees could watch them start to sweat and brown. Behind him, the purr of a timer sounded like bated breath.

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

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

A letter CT Students for a Dream has released today

in support of Jayson Negron and demanding justice for his family To Whom it May Concern: Connecticut Students for a Dream (C4D) stands against the criminalization of communities of color. We are a youth-led, statewide network fighting for the rights of undocumented youth and their families. And today we are speaking out against police brutality and in support of Jayson Negron.

C4D demands that the State Attorney Maureen Platt charge James Boulay for his criminal conduct in murdering Jayson Negron, and that video evidence of Jayson’s murder be released to the public. We can no longer remain silent as people and organizations working within racist systems continue to threaten, criminalize, deport, raid and murder our communities.

Jayson Negron was an unarmed child who was unjustifiably shot and killed

by James Boulay. There is video evidence that Jayson Negron was alive after the police shot him. Instead of getting him immediate medical attention, the police handcuffed him as he lay dying, waiting too long to get him emergency medical attention. This alone is criminal. Jayson could still be alive today if the police made an effort to save his life.

Our organization and our youth understand racism through personal experiences of immigration policing racialized bodies and through the deep connections between xenophobia and systemic racism. It is clear that it is systemic racism that has prevented that justice be served for Jayson and his family. The investigation into Jayson’s

Make Her (Pay)Day

by PAUL BASS

New Haven Independent

Jayson Negron murder has been ongoing since March 9th, 2017. The State Attorney does not take such a long time to investigate any other type of crime before deciding to file charges. Yet with Jayson’s murder, a family has been left without answers and without closure for over 6 months.

With the criminalization of immigrant bodies through detention and deportation and the broader criminalization of black and brown bodies through mass incarceration and police brutality, we recognize the intersections of our identity as people of color and immigrants and we are committed to working to working towards a so-

ciety where all can live in safety and dignity - and we don’t stop until we do.

An unarmed child was murdered, and the culprit was an institution that sees all black and brown bodies as threatening. Jayson’s families deserves answers, and our entire communities deserves justice. Which is why we demand that the State Attorney Maureen Platt charge James Boulay, and that video evidence of Jayson’s murder be released to the public.

In Solidarity, Connecticut Students for a Dream

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

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

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-

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.

Joyner, Goldson Issue Apologies THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

by STAFF

New Haven Independent

“Dueling” Board of Education members Ed Joyner and Darnell Goldson issued public apologies Wednesday for their conduct at Monday night’s fractious meeting, where a new superintendent of schools was chosen.

The two hurled accusations and threats at each other at the meeting, ending with Joyner challenging Goldson to a “duel” in Bowen Field, followed by an abrupt adjournment and the escorting of Joyner from the scene by schools security chief Thaddeus Reddish.

Public figures called for the pair to issue apologies Tuesday and called their conduct a dangerous signal to students about how to handle conflict.

Joyner issued a full written apology and promsied not to repeat his behavior. He said he doesn’t deserve to remain as a board member if he fails in that quest.

Goldson apologized for losing his temper and engaging in shouting insults with members of the public during the meeting. He also defended his vote and at length characterized himself as a victim of mistreatment and the attacks on incoming Superintendent Carol Birks as a “public lynching of this extremely accomplished professional African American woman.”

Ed Joyner’s Statement The children are the victim when any of us act inappropriately. I accept full responsibility and regret for my actions and do not deserve to be on the board if I repeat them.

Joyner, Goldson clashing at Monday’s meeting.

When elephants fight, the grass (innocents) suffer. our children are innocent as are the least among us. Our country suffers because of greed and ego. As imperfect as I am, I want to be part of the solution. The community has the duty to hold me and ALL public servants accountable.

If not now, when?

Darnell Goldson’s Statement

I will start with a simple statement, I should not have engaged the audience by returning their shouts of “shame”, I lost my temper and for that I truly apologize, to all of the many people who attended the Board of Education meeting, as well as my fellow BOE members, no matter what side of the debate they supported.

I will not apologize for the way I voted.

I tried to explain my reasons for my support of Dr. Birks, but was shouted down by some in the audience and by the President of the board. I will not use this essay to explain that vote, but will make sure to provide a document at our next meeting to insert into the record.

I will not make an apology for being a

victim of both physical and verbal attacks. No matter your views of me, whether or not you agree with me, or dislike my character or general being, no one has the right to threaten of harass another person. On more than one occasion during that meeting, another board member physically grabbed my arm, and at one point forced me to lean back to avoid their threats of “dueling” with me, at one point asking me if I was scared. This is not funny, it is not “what I deserved”, and was completely out of bounds. I have sat on many boards and commissions, and have had many disagreements with my colleagues and others. There has never been another time other than this where I felt actual fear for my well-being.

This debate has raised some concerns for me which led to my frustration and outburst. I have no issue that some disagreed with my decisions, and that they voice those disagreements. I have almost never had total agreement with most of my choices throughout life, as a son, husband, father, and elected leader.

My concerns and ultimate frustrations rose from the tone and tenor of the debate. There was and still continues to be a public lynching of Dr. Carol Birks, through false mischaracterizations of her professional career and motivations, as well as her membership to African American women volunteer organizations, by a select few very active internet savvy people. They have taken those misrepresentations and sold them as facts, to a larger audience who for Con’t on page 14

Harp Taps Jackson-McArthur For School Board

by MARKESHIA RICKS New Haven Independent

Mayor Toni Harp has made her choice for replacing one of two Board of Education members whose seats expire at the end of December.

Harp has nominated Dr. Tamkio Jackson-McArthur, a pediatrician and owner of New Haven Pediatric & Adolescent Medical Services, to replace long-serving member Carlos Torre.

The terms of Torre and fellow board member Che Dawson, who both hold two of the four seats that the mayor is allowed to appoint under the current hybrid board, both expire at the end of December. The mayor’s most recent appointments have been Frank Redente and Jamell Cotto.

The two other voting members, Ed

Joyner and Darnell Goldson, are elected in citywide elections. The two non-voting student members, Jacob Spell and Makayla Dawkins, are elected by their peers.

Jackson-McArhur’s appointment was communicated to the Board of Alders ahead of its most recent meeting at City Hall Monday and likely will be forwarded to the Aldermanic Affairs Committee for consideration. The full board would then vote on the appointment.

Assuming the alders approve her picks, the naming of two board members gives the mayor the opportunity to have a solid majority on the Board of Education. Until recently Harp opponents had a voting majority on the ed board; her administration recently has had a tenuous one-vote majority.

Jackson-McArthur currently is a com-

missioner of the city’s Board of Health Commission. That appointment is good through February 2021.

If alders approve the appointment to the Board of Ed, that appointment will be good through Dec. 31, 2021.

She also most recently served on the original search committee that selected the new schools’ superintendent.

“I am most confident given Dr. Jackson-McArthur’s credentials and commitment to our City, that she will serve the citizens of New Haven in a most conscientious and productive manner,” Harp wrote in a letter to alders dated Nov. 16.

A suggested replacement for Dawson has yet to be communicated to alders.

LUCY GELLMAN PHOTO

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Jackson-McArthur: headed to the BOE.

T:9.25”

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

A Federal Court has ordered R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Philip Morris USA, Altria, and Lorillard to make this statement about the health effects of smoking.

T:10.5”

• Smoking kills, on average, 1,200 Americans. Every day.

• More people die every year from smoking than from murder, AIDS, suicide, drugs, car crashes, and alcohol, combined.

• Smoking causes heart disease, emphysema, acute myeloid leukemia, and cancer of the mouth, esophagus, larynx, lung, stomach, kidney, bladder, and pancreas.

• Smoking also causes reduced fertility, low birth weight in newborns, and cancer of the cervix.

CRC1-GEN-17-05145-11-StatementA-9_25x10_5.indd 1

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11/9/17 3:50 PM

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

Birks Vows “Open Door”

ellington jazz series

Cécile McLorin Salvant “The finest jazz singer to emerge in the last decade.”

CHRISTOPHER PEAK PHOTO

Birks, at left in photo, at a finalsits’ forum during the superintendent search.

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Fresh from being narrowly selected as the city’s next schools chief amid an outpouring of public opposition, Carol Birks vowed Wednesday to work with her critics.

Birks issued a public statement declaring that her “first action” as superintendent will be to “listen and learn.”

“I recognize that the next few months won’t be easy for anyone. I know there will be challenges as we heal and clear the path forward. I am up to doing the heavy lifting necessary for this challenge,” she was quoted as stating.

The full text of her statement follows: I am excited and humbled by the historic opportunity to lead the New Haven Public School district. I am aware of the emotional display at Monday’s Board of Education meeting, but I see it as an opportunity to listen, learn and empower us to build inclusive partnerships for all of our learners.

I set out on the path towards being New Haven’s next superintendent because of my commitment to service and educational equity. I know it will be an uphill battle to help the community heal and thrive, but I remain impassioned.

My gratitude extends beyond those who voted in my favor, but also to the board members and families who are strategizing next steps. I know everyone wants what’s best for New Haven’s children and I want to work with you to achieve those goals.

I am grateful to have been selected your next superintendent, and I know the success of my work can only be defined by my ability to collaborate, build and improve. That’s why, every step along the way, my administration will work with families, students, educators, and community members to ensure that those who felt unheard are heard, and those who felt unseen are seen.

The first action of my Superinten-

dency will be to listen and learn. Since this moment in New Haven’s story is wrought with disagreement and distrust, building a strong foundation in transition will require honesty, transparency, and cultivating relationships.

So I invite all families, students, educators and community members to work with me, learn more about my beliefs, and help inform my leadership vision and theory of action for New Haven.

My door will always be open, and parents and families will have an opportunity to engage. I will make students’ voices a priority and parent outreach a commitment.

We get better when we work together and we’re going to need the collective strength of everyone in the community, especially educators, keep New Haven on a path of continuous improvement for each student. High achievement is only one aspect of developing an inclusive school system. The other aspect is making sure that students who are in the most need do not fall between the cracks. We must see that they receive the services needed for them to be successful in their school environment. I am wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that every child has a strong opportunity for success.

I recognize that the next few months won’t be easy for anyone. I know there will be challenges as we heal and clear the path forward. I am up to doing the heavy lifting necessary for this challenge. I have an obligation to educate and empower students and to build the capacity of the adults who are entrusted with their care. As we embark on the path towards progress in this district, I ask you to give me feedback, provide me with your input, offer your insights and ideas and work with me to ensure New Haven has what it needs to succeed and thrive.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 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

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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.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

Ban Going Citywide Lifelong smokers Bruce Gatling and Gerald Smith not only puff away at their one and two-pack-a-day Newport cigarette habits in their apartments, they also smoke out on the terraces and benches of their senior public-housing tower on Orange Street.

The Housing Authority of New Haven (HANH)‘s Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last week to adopt the policy, following a federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mandate.

“That means it’s for all residents, staff, guests, vendors too, everyone who comes onto the properties,” said HANH Executive Director Karen DuBois-Walton.

HANH has already instituted no smoking policies at three of its 25 sites: Monterey Place and the Quinnipiac Terrace and Rowe apartents. It will now make the ban citywide in response to regulations issued for all housing authorities by then federal housing Secretary Julian Castro in 2015.

The policy covers all properties and grounds, public as well as tenants’ private apartments to create a smoke-free environment.

To quote from the policy itself: “Tenants, members of tenant’s household and their guests shall not smoke anywhere in the interior or exgterior space rented by tenant. This includes but is not limited to, bedrooms, hallways, kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms, patios, balconies, and unit entryway areas. This shall also include the common areas, community rooms, or adjoining grounds of such building.”

That was both a surprise and not a surprise to Gatling and his friend Smith, who talked to a reporter just before he went out from the lobby of the Charles T. McQueeney Apartments on Orange Street to go buy some Newports.

Smith, who began smoking at age 16, is now a two-pack-a-day man. He said he had heard about the coming rules, including a perimeter area of some 25 feet from the buildings, within which the smoking ban would be implemented according to the policy adopted Tuesday night.

Neither he nor Gatling had yet heard about the penalties to be imposed if the policy is violated: A verbal warning from the property manager for a first violation; a written warning and referral to cessation programs for a second violation; a $25 fine applied to a tenant’s account for a third violation, and a $50 fine for a fourth.

Gatling in a soon-to-end smoking zone.

If the smoker is just not stopping, a fifth violation carries a $75 fine and a formal notice of lease violation that “could result in an eviction proceeding against the household.”

HANH Executive Office Manager Robin Miller-Godwin said the aim is to engage residents in education, cessation programs, and counseling, and achieve the smoke-free goal “without the police.”

Listening to Gatling describe his and his friends’ smoking habits, you may conclude that that goal will be a tall mountain to climb.

“I smoke and I don’t appreciate them telling me I can’t smoke in my house,” said Gatling, who has been living at McQueeney for eight years.

Sitting in the lobby recovering from recent foot surgery, he recalled that HANH officials had come by in months past with flyers alerting folks to the upcoming policy. He said that in general people at McQueeney do not smoke in the lobby, public rooms, or hallways.

“We knew this was coming. We just didn’t know where or how,” he said.

If he can’t continue to smoke on the terrace and on the benches in front of the building, Gatling said, “I’m just gonna take a walk” right beyond the perimeter.

He expressed skepticism about cessation programs. “I quit once for five months,” he said, but permanently giving up smoking will “never happen.”

And he questioned enforcement ‘s effectiveness if someone like himself goes out on his balcony or into his bathroom to smoke. “People that smoke always find a way to duck the system. They get air freshener. They smoke in the bathroom. Then they’re going to say you can’t have air freshener!” he declared.

Con’t on page 16

Divided Ed Board Selects Birks

by STAFF

New Haven Independent

By a 4-3 vote, New Haven’s Board of Education named Carol Birks the next superintendent of schools — at the end of a raucous meeting that signaled that she will begin the job with the challenge of winning over a sizable sector of skeptics.

The vote took place at a tense special meeting held at Beecher School, where it was standing room only and four officers were assigned to keep the peace.

The meeting lasted two and a half hours. The first two hours consisted of parents, students and other members of the public blasting the expected choice of Birks over the two other finalists for the position, Pamela Brown and Gary Highsmith.

Only three speakers supported Birks for the position. (Click here for a story detailing the three finalists’ backgrounds and applications.) Opponents said they didn’t want to see Birks get the job because of alleged connections to charter schools, support for student-based budgeting and emphasis on standardized testing data.

Mayor Toni Harp and fellow board members Jamell Cotto, Darnell Goldson and Frank Redente voted for Birks. Redente, who had been under intense public pressure to change his vote, did not show up in person to the meeting; he phoned his vote in.

Board members Carlos Torre, Ed Joyner, and Che Dawson voted against Birks.

“Shame on you! Shame on you!” members of the crowd yelled when Goldson cast his vote for Birks.

Mayor Harp spelled out her reasons for supporting Birks in an open letter to the community posted Monday afternoon on Facebook.

“In my view, she emerged as the candidate best prepared to be effective in the position beginning on day one; she’ll bring to the district exceptional leadership qualities,” Harp wrote.

“I am drawn to Dr. Birks’ familiarity with New Haven Public Schools: she coached principals in the district, she endorses its commitment to restorative practices in disciplinary matters, and she shares my goal for students to achieve across-the-

10

CHRISTOPHER PEAK PHOTO

Carol Birks.

board at grade level, to maximize their chances to succeed. More than other candidates, Dr. Birks demonstrates a clear grasp of complex public education budgeting and the unique, yet interrelated funding responsibilities of the local, state, and federal governments. As public sector funding continues to shrink, and because of the crucial role financing plays in bridging the state’s achievement gap, every possible funding opportunity must be identified and pursued.

“Finally, my endorsement of Dr. Birks is the result of lengthy, indepth interviews with the finalists, during which I got to know each of them. My choice was determined with the best interests of New Haven Public Schools in mind, solely so it can provide the best possible opportunity for all the students and families it serves.”

During an interview on WNHH radio’s “Mayor Monday” show earlier in the day, Harp said that the other candidates had spoken at least as much as Birks about focusing on student test data.

The school board’s two student members, Jacob Spell and Makayla Dawkins, who don’t get to cast votes but who did sit in on the board’s interviews with the three finalists, publicly supported Brown. They

presented petitions Monday night with over 800 signatures of students supporting Brown.

Birks, who was not present for Monday night’s vote, currently works as chief of staff for Hartford Public Schools. She has responsibility for overseeing administrative services, like labor relations for the 4,000-member staff; assisting with the $417 million budget; and leading a $100 million project to co-locate three academies in a renovated building. The job pays a $170,000 salary. Previously, as Hartford’s assistant superintendent for four years, Birks developed a training academy to support the growth of principals and administrators.

It took the school board a year to pick a new superintendent after it pushed out the previous superintendent, Garth Harries, last fall. Retired former Superintendent Reggie Mayo has been filling in on an interim basis since then.

“Tonight this was a turning point in New Haven public schools,” Torre declared after the vote. “The future of our students’ education is now in the hands not of those who dedicated their lives and careers to education, but in the hands of those who dedicated their lives and careers to politics.”

“This was a done deal,” Joyner added.

He and Goldson proceeded to argue about whether alleged threats were made in the process; Goldson threatened to file a lawsuit.

A poignant moment of the evening came when Mark Gonzalez, the son of the late board president Daisy Gonzalez, spoke in favor Brown during the public-comment session. His mom’s role was to advocate for parents, he said. He argued that that board ignored those parents and students by selecting Birks rather than Brown. Thousands of parents and students expressed a clear preference for Brown in petitions and public meetings over the past week. In an Independent “True Vote” poll, 67.5 percent of the over 1,200 respondents preferred Brown or Highsmith; just 13.7 percent favored Birks.

“We should never let education be political,” Gonzalez said.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 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 actors, 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

12

The cast and crew. ITC Photo.

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

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 29, 2017 - December 05, 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

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.

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017 Con’t from page 8

Goldson Issue Apologies

by STAFF

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!

© Caregiver Action Network • www.CaregiverAction.org • 202.454.3970

14

“Dueling” Board of Education members Ed Joyner and Darnell Goldson issued public apologies Wednesday for their conduct at Monday night’s fractious meeting, where a new superintendent of schools was chosen.

The two hurled accusations and threats at each other at the meeting, ending with Joyner challenging Goldson to a “duel” in Bowen Field, followed by an abrupt adjournment and the escorting of Joyner from the scene by schools security chief Thaddeus Reddish.

Public figures called for the pair to issue apologies Tuesday and called their conduct a dangerous signal to students about how to handle conflict.

Joyner issued a full written apology and promsied not to repeat his behavior. He said he doesn’t deserve to remain as a board member if he fails in that quest.

Goldson apologized for losing his temper and engaging in shouting insults with members of the public during the meeting. He also defended his vote and at length characterized himself as a victim of mistreatment and the attacks on incoming Superintendent Carol Birks as a “public lynching of this extremely accomplished professional African American woman.”

Ed Joyner’s Statement The children are the victim when any of us act inappropriately. I accept full responsibility and regret for my actions and do not deserve to be on the board if I repeat them.

When elephants fight, the grass (innocents) suffer. our children are innocent as are the least among us. Our country suffers because of greed and ego. As imperfect as I am, I want to be part of the solution. The community has the duty to hold me and ALL public servants accountable.

If not now, when?

Darnell Goldson’s Statement I will start with a simple statement, I should not have engaged the audience by returning their shouts of “shame”, I lost my temper and for that I truly apologize, to all of the many people who attended the Board of Education meeting, as well as my fellow BOE members, no matter what side of the debate they supported.

I will not apologize for the way I voted.

I tried to explain my reasons for my support of Dr. Birks, but was shouted down by some in the audience and by the President of the board. I will not use this essay to explain that vote, but will make sure to provide a document at our next meeting to insert into the record.

I will not make an apology for being a victim of both physical and verbal attacks. No matter your views of me, whether or not you agree with me, or

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

HBCUs Generate $14.8 Billion in Economic Impact

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Contributor

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) generate $14.8 billion in economic impact annually, according to a stunning new report by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).

The landmark study titled, “HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” said that public HBCUs account for $9.6 billion of that total economic impact, while private HBCUs account for $5.2 billion.

“The estimate includes direct spending by HBCUs on faculty, employees, academic programs and operations, and by students attending the institutions, as well as the follow-on effects of that spending,” the report said.

The combined economic impact is equivalent to a top 200 ranking on the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations.

“The presence of an HBCU means a boost to economic activity, on and off—and even well beyond—campus.

Stronger growth, stronger communities, more jobs and a more talented workforce,” UNCF authors wrote in the report.

Fact sheets for the economic impact of individual HBCUs are available at https://www.uncf.org/programs/hbcuimpact.

According to the UNCF report, Howard University generates $1.5 billion in total economic impact and 9,591 jobs for its local and regional economies.

“Every dollar spent by Howard University and its students produces positive economic benefits, generating $1.58 in initial and subsequent spending for its local and regional economies.

The study, conducted by the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business Selig Center for Economic Growth, found that Hampton University generated $270 million in total economic impact and 2,249 jobs for its local and regional economies.

“For each job created on campus, another 1.7 public- and private-sector jobs are created off campus because of Hampton University-related spending,” study said. “Looked at in a different way: Each $1 million initially spent by Hampton University and its students creates 11 jobs.”

While Morehouse College generated a total economic impact of $188 Million and 1,580 jobs. Spelman College accounted for $199 million in total economic impact and 1,625 Jobs.

North Carolina A&T State University generated $488 million in total economic impact and 4,325 jobs for its local and regional economies.

“It’s the first time that we’ve had a study conducted by such a professional institution to recognize the importance of HBCUs and particularly the impact on our community,” Miles College President Dr. George T. French, Jr., told the NNPA Newswire. “We’ve talked in general terms, but to quantify this is important so that our partners can understand the value of our institution. It’s a win-win for our region and for government partners who look to partner with us.”

The report revealed that the 1,634-student Alabama school generated $67 million for its local region.

Each $1 million initially spent by Miles College and its students creates 16 jobs, according to the report.

“It’s eye-opening and, in addition to the 730 jobs created, there’s a 1-to1 match for every full-time job at Miles, we create another job in our region,” French said. “So, we have about 377 employees on campus, but because of that, we’ve created 350 off-campus jobs.”

The benefits flow to Miles College’s graduates, who’ll enter the workforce with sharper skills and vastly enhanced earning prospects, according to the report.

As an example, the 196 Miles College graduates from 2014 can expect total earnings of $497 million over their lifetimes—a stunning 77 percent more than they could expect to earn without their college credentials.

“What you’re looking at is, when you round it to 200 students, they already have over $2 million more in earning potential in their careers which increases by $1.1 million, because of having a degree from Miles College,” French said. “I think it’s important to have this conversation for young people, who must decide if college is worth it. At the end of the day, it’s a great economic decision.”

The figures also allow college officials to approach state and local government

officials, when funding for recruitment and other programs are needed, French said.

French said, adding that because of the report he believes the city will be even more cooperative with Miles College.

“With this study, we can go to the government and say we need additional money for cutting-edge programs and recruitment,” he said. “We’ve requested and will have a meeting with the city to compare our master plan with what the city is doing. Here we are, this economic engine with a $52 million annual budget and we can help this city with its master planning and their master plan may intersect with what we’re doing.”

You Better Watch Your Mouth: Dental Care in the Black Community

By Julianne Malveaux, NNPA Newswire Columnist From the time I was a little girl, to just a day or so ago, someone has always told me to watch my mouth. Why? My mouth runs and sometimes it runs unplugged. I’ve been known to flim flam folks with flattery or eviscerate them with evil, sometimes moving from one to the other with just a shrug of my shoulders. But my “mouth-watching” is not the kind of mouth-watching I’m writing about in this column. I’m writing about the healthy mouth-watching that is critical to our health.

Nearly a hundred folks gathered at the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) headquarters at 633 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C., to hear two dynamic women talk about dental health. Dr. Diane Earle, the managing dental director at Kool Smiles, in Lancaster, Texas, talked about dental health and its importance. Your mouth, she said, is the gateway to your body, so it is important for you to take care of it by getting regular checkups, taking care of your mouth and, especially, ensuring that children have early dental care as soon as they have even a single tooth. She was joined by healthy living expert Debra Peek Haynes, who is passionate about the way we eat and how what we eat can transform our lives.

These two women held an audience for an hour, focusing on the many ways we can improve our lives so that we can better resist these oppressive political times. There was talk of the ways we can eat better, ex-

ercise better, and live better, with both Dr. Earle and Mrs. Haynes presenting as great examples of healthy living. Dr. Earle, for example, said she had never had a cavity in her life. Deb Haynes (whose husband, the Rev. Frederick Douglass Haynes, III, has expertly pastored Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas) shared the ways she used healthy eating to turn her health around after a diagnosis of infertility. I was thrilled to bring the women together and to moderate a discussion that had significant meaning for our community.

NCNW, under the transformative leadership of Attorney Janice Mathis (who led Rainbow PUSH’s Atlanta office until she came to Washington), is the only space owned by Black people on Pennsylvania Avenue. It is close enough to the “People’s House” at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that one might walk there, which perhaps means that it is close to the devil. That proximity

15

offers an opportunity for resistance, and while much of our resistance must be political, some of it hinges on our personal commitment to a physical excellence that prepares us to have resilience for the struggle.

Even as we met, the devil was busy. The House of Representative passed the new “tax overhaul” package that they say will create jobs, but we know will create wealth for billionaires; to benefit the top one percent, the bottom 80 percent will be hit hard, but Congress doesn’t seem to care. The Senate has a version of the legislation, and the two houses will have to come up with compromise legislation, but both the House and the Senate agree that corporations should pay less tax.

At NCNW, we talked about Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) and her Action for Dental Health Act (HR 2422). The bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored with Republican Indiana dentist and Congressman Mike Simpson, would make dental care more accessible,

but with issues like these having low priority in this ideologically divided Congress, it is not likely to even make it to the floor for a vote. Instead, the new tax law would weaken, not strengthen, healthcare access.

Dental care and nutrition issues don’t get as much visibility as Russia, or sexual harassment, or jiving Jeff Sessions. But they are also important issues. So when we “watch our mouth” by watching what we eat and how we manage our dental care, we are strengthening ourselves for the inevitable struggle against the inequality that is part of the status quo.

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 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

The First Ever Nigerian Women Bobsled Team is Heading to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games

Nationwide — Visa has announced the addition of three athletes who make up the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team to Team Visa, currently training to become the first ever African representatives, men or women, to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games in the sport of Bobsled. Together, Bobsled pilot Seun Adigun, and brakemen Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga, combine their elite track backgrounds to chase their bobsled dreams.

Without access to proper training equipment or valuable ice time to perfect their skills, the members of the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team started their journey on the snow-less grounds of Houston, Texas, in a wooden sled they nicknamed ‘The Maeflower.’

Once the team set their sights on the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, they established a crowdfunding website hoping to raise the muchneeded funds to get to PyeongChang.

Upon discovering the page, Visa was inspired by their story and determination to carve out a place in history and pledged to help solidify the team’s trip to the Olympic Winter Games.

“When we first heard their story we recognized the collective spirit of these athletes as a perfect fit for Team Visa,” said Chris Curtin, chief brand and innovation marketing officer at Visa. “By joining Team Visa, we hope to provide this group of determined athletes with a global stage to tell their story and inspire athletes all over the world to follow their dreams and never give up.”

The athleticism and determination of each member of the Nigerian Wom-

en’s Bobsled Team is palpable, as they push to rewrite history in their sport: * Seun Adigun (Nigeria, Bobsled Driver): Adigun represented Nigeria in the 100m hurdles at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Wanting to get back on the Olympic stage, she began training for bobsled in 2014. * Ngozi Onwumere (Nigeria, Bobsled Breakmen): Onwumere, a former competitive sprinter, clinched a Silver and Gold medal at the 2015 African Games in Republic of the Congo in the 200m and 4x100m relay, respectively.

Onwumere started training after being recruited by Adigun in 2016. * Akuoma Omeoga (Nigeria, Bobsled Breakmen): Omeoga is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where she was a sprinter for the university’s

track and field team, competing in the 100m and 200m races. The Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 will be the first time she is representing Nigeria “Already the support and encouragement we have felt as part of Team Visa has been a dream come true,” said Seun Adigun, driver of the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team. “We are proud to be part of a team that shares our mission and has connected us with the resources we needed to reach our goal, and hopefully empower others to do the same.”

Since the program began in 2000, Team Visa has supported over 400 Olympic and Paralympic Athletes and hopefuls by providing them with

the tools, resources and support they need to reach their highest potential, regardless of origin or background.

Team Visa features a diverse group of Olympic and Paralympic athletes who embody our core values – acceptance, partnership and innovation – and was cultivated with the global reach of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in mind.

The women of the Nigerian Women’s Bobsled Team joins Team Visa’s diverse roster of athletes, which includes: Mikaela Shiffrin (USA), Chloe Kim (USA), Gus Kenworthy (USA), Hilary Knight (USA), Oksana Masters (USA), Mark McMorris (Canada), Lee Sang-Hwa (South Korea), Kamil Stoch (Poland) and others.

Stetson Library: The Next Chapter HELP STETSON LIBRARY MOVE INTO THE NEW Q HOUSE “We don’t just need a place for books—we need a space for people to learn, to be challenged, to come together.

A library is not just a home for books, it’s a home for the community.” - Diane Brown, Stetson Branch Manager

Thanks to a generous challenge grant from the Seedlings Foundation, you can double the impact of your donation. All gifts between $50 - $10,000 will be matched dollar for dollar!

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16

Con’t from page 10

“You can’t buy incense! Now you’re really getting into people’s lifestyles.”

DuBois-Walton and Miller said tenant councils have been wholly supportive of the policy So are many residents like committed non-smoker Patricia Maybry. She’ has lived in McQueeney for five years. She called the new policy a “good rule.”

“You find cigarette butts in the hallway, on the window sills, and they can cause a fire,” she said.

Maybry’s concern about fire is, in fact, an additional reason offered for the policy in the official document that was approved at last Tuesday’s board meeting: “The purpose is to mitigate the irritation and known health effects of second hand smoke. To decrease the risk of smoking related fires to property and personal safety and also to reduce costs of fire insurance for a non-smoking-free building.”

Miller-Godwin knows there’s a lot of work ahead to meet the mid-summer deadline. Signs need to be put up and perimeter lines created. And, of course, lots of outreach to tenants like Gatling and Smith. “We have January to June” to do the education,” she said.

Con’t from page 9

Why Black Faith

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.

cers often get a bad r Semple noted that the population.” the health and wellne less trauma exposur In essence, [this prog the Cheshire Correct had little to no incide Ivy & Jeff Grant” p nity Justice Insider w est episode of WNHH been a success, Semp Several months in, and the inmates. and respect between well as open lines o ily members of the rests upon active invo Semple said that th further outbursts of v conversation as opp resolve their conflict and people causing bring people who ha “restorative” justice are released. The and what their goals to accomplish throu they are feeling, wha that encourage them conversations with th of Criminal Justice Social workers from young. that they committed serving life senten mentors who are olde young inmates are Through the TRUE rectional Institution f Cheshire, as well as is looking to expand i Because of its early the Cheshire Correct rently in place in on with the governor in J finding visit Semple The program, ins have been released fr ful and productive behind bars, and pre inmates mature into r Elevating) to help 1 Respectfulness, Un (which stands for Tru experiment called the missioner Scott Sem State Department of they’re straightening of Connecticut’s pri tion not just detentio Young inmates a

by THOMAS

New Haven Ind

THEINNER-CITY INNER-CITYNEWS NEWS November 22, 29, 2017 -- December THE November05, 28,2017 2017

Health and jobs.

How we help launch careers.

When it comes to career development, ConnCAT, Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology, is one of New Haven’s most innovative programs. Their mission is to inspire, motivate and prepare youth and adults for educational and career advancement through after-school arts and job training.

Yale New Haven Hospital has played a vital role in developing the ConnCAT curriculum, supplying essential class equipment and even offering employment opportunities to students. Innovative courses in phlebotomy and medical coding are giving young people the skills they need to succeed in some of today’s most in-demand healthcare careers.

The training these students receive is invaluable for their future as well as the future of the community.

Our collaboration with ConnCAT is another example of our commitment to caring beyond the bedside. ynhh.org/community

Carlton L. Highsmith, Board Chairman, Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology and member of Yale New Haven Health’s Board of Trustees with Derrick Reyes, a student in the phlebotomy program and Erik Clemons, CEO & President, Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology.

17

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November November 22, 29, 2017 2017 -- November December 05, 28, 2017 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-

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.

NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH: A Promise Kept.

by The Rev. Dr. Rochelle A. Stackhouse, Transitional Senior Pastor of Center Church Hartford and most recently, Senior Pastor of Church of The Redeemer New Haven

I first dreamt of her the week she gave birth to my son, months before I would know he was destined to become my son. In the dream, I could not see her face, but she had the baby, and I knew somehow that our fates were bound together through this child. When an escort put six-month-old Luke in my arms for the first time at the Philadelphia airport, after a grueling flight from Seoul, South Korea, I told her in my mind that I would love him. Every year around his birthday, we sent a letter and a few photos to our agency to be put in his file in Korea in case she ever wanted to see them.

Though I secretly imagined that someday we might meet, I knew the odds against that happening were overwhelming. The stigma attached to bearing a child out of wedlock in South Korea at that time pushed many birthmothers to keep this secret deep in their hearts. If they revealed the presence of a child, their ability to marry could be compromised, and if revealed after marriage, their ability to continue to parent any subsequent children could be threatened.

Birthmothers also often fear their children will be angry at them for sending them away, even if they could not parent them. Often when adult children reached out for contact, the answer came back as “no.”

We promised each of our three children, all born in South Korea, that when they turned 18, we would provide a trip to their homeland, with the option of a birth family search, if they chose to go.

As Luke approached 19, he decided to

take us up on the offer, and, because I had a sabbatical coming and had time and a grant, I traveled with him. The agency found the woman who had been his foster mother for the 6 months he lived in Korea before coming to our family, and a joyous, boisterous reunion took place between them. We had been told to expect that foster mothers loved to hold hands

or touch the hair and shoulders of their former foster children, and indeed she did! When we went out to eat, she kept putting food on his plate (our translator said foster mother thought he was too skinny!), even feeding him at one point.

He acquiesced and her smile said it all.

I know that not all foster family situations work out well for children, so we

18

feel extraordinarily blessed with the foster families for each of our children (and our other two lived in foster care a year and over 2 years respectively). We owe her a debt of gratitude we can never repay. Luke arrived in this world early, with all the problems of preemies, and she loved and nurtured him into health.

She is one of our family heroes.

Luke also had requested that his agency conduct a search for his birthmother, and, against the odds, they found her. Initially she declined the visit as too risky (as noted above). A social worker asked if they might send her the file with our annual letters and photos. She agreed to have them send it to her office. The day she received it, she agreed to meet him if she could do so without her husband knowing about it. Arrangements were made, and we found ourselves in a small room at the headquarters of our adoption agency in Seoul waiting for her and our translator. Luke would need to tell you his own story, but I can say that I experienced every emotion possible: excitement, trepidation, concern for how he would feel, joy, fear, hope.

She walked into the room, took one look at our handsome, healthy son, and burst into tears. So did I. Over the next 3 hours, we shared photos of his entire life, stories about growing up, his accomplishments, talents and joys. He reassured her that he held no anger or blame for her decision, and that he completely understood why she made that decision.

That left us all crying again. We went to lunch to eat her favorite Korean dish

(one of ours, too!), and then, because she could not bear to leave just yet, over to Starbucks (of all places!) for some coffee and final conversations. Three hours sped by, and she finally had to leave us, and we, her. Further contact between Luke and her would not be possible because of her family situation, so we left knowing this might be the last time they met.

All our lives changed that day. Luke had some questions answered, and now a face and a name to go with “birth mother.” I connected with the woman who gave birth to one I love as a mother. She has a face and a name to go with the child who was taken out of the room so quickly at birth (he was in respiratory distress) that she never actually saw him as a baby. It was surreal for me in so many ways to actually be in the room with her. Oddly enough, I felt it important that she know we had done our best in trying to raise this child who had been entrusted to us by her, by the adoption agency, by Korea, by God. And I was deeply sorry that cultural conventions prevented her from having any kind of ongoing relationship with him, or me.

Every adoptive mother knows that behind her somewhere stands the woman who gave birth to her child. Sometimes the birth mother’s story is well known, and perhaps there is an ongoing relationship with all the complications and pain or blessings that can bring. For most international adoptees, birth mother stands farther back in the shadows. Often all Con’t on page 25

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

Dental Services are now available at our Dixwell Health Center

Call 203-503-3420 to make your appointment today!

226 Dixwell Avenue, New Haven • cornellscott.org 19

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

First Ever Cooking Competition With All Black Chefs to Premiere Online on Thanksgiving Day

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Nationwide — If you’re a fan of shows like Top Chef and Chopped, but wish they featured more Black chefs, you’re in luck! A brand new web series called Bringing It To The Table will be premiering this Thanksgiving, November 23, and it will have all the Black chefs you can handle!

The six-part series will showcase talented African American chefs as they show off their skills and personalities. (Take a bite and view the official trailer on YouTube.

The show’s creator and executive producer, Aminah ‘Chef MiMi’ Robinson-Briscoe, is from Berkeley, California and a graduate of the prestigious (CCA) California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, CA. She was the youngest in her class to graduate at the age of just 19 years old. For over 20 years, she has been a skilled culinary professional who has won numerous awards and has been featured in Ebony Magazine and Cuisine Noir, the first black online culinary magazine.

According to the show’s creator, the intention behind the series is to show the art of cooking from an African American perspective. “Many times when we think of chefs of color, we think of barbecue and fried chicken. And although we love it, it’s not all that we can prepare,” the show creators said. “But it is society’s stereotypes as seen so often in the media food space.”

Bringing It To The Table is described as “an urban reality cooking competition packed with drama and various challenges of obscure and unpredictable tests of taste inside and out of the kitchen.” Combined with reality, the show puts this creative competition into its own arena of cooking.

“This is exactly why we love the digital age of media. If you feel like what you want to see is not being represented by mainstream media, you can create it and easily distribute it through video and social platforms. It is easier than ever to find like-minded people and share your creation,” the show’s creators said.

For some behind the scene clips and show info, visit www.Bitttshow.com and make sure to catch the series when it premieres on November 23rd.

The series will be available on “Vimeo on Demand”.

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 determi-

native 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 Caroli-

20

na, 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 EducaCon’t on page 24

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EXTRA 25% OFF JEWELRY & WATCHES EXTRA 15% OFF BEAUTY (PASS ONLY) EXTRA 10% OFF ELECTRICS/ELECTRONICS, FURNITURE, MATTRESSES & RUGS USE YOUR MACY’S CARD OR THIS PASS 11/30-12/11/2017.

MACYS.COM PROMO CODE FRIEND See macys.com/deals for online exclusions

EXCLUDES ALL: Deals of the Day, Everyday Values (EDV), Last Act, Macy’s Backstage, specials, athletic clothing/shoes/accessories, baby gear, gift cards, gourmet foods, jewelry trunk shows, men’s store electronics, previous purchases, restaurants, services, smart watches/jewelry, special orders, select tech accessories, toys, wine, 3Doodler, American Rug Craftsmen, Anova, Apple Products, Ashley Graham, Avec Les Filles clothing, Barbour, Breville, Briggs & Riley, Demeyere, Dyson, Eileen Fisher SYSTEM, Fitbit, Frye, Global Cutlery, Hanky Panky, Jack Spade, Karastan, kate spade new york, Kenneth Cole men’s shoes, KitchenAid Pro Line, Le Creuset, littleBits, Locker Room By Lids, Marc Jacobs, select Michael Kors/ Michael Michael Kors, Michele watches, Miyabi, Movado Bold, Natori, New Era, Nike on Field, Nike swim, Panache, Rimowa, Rudsak, Sam Edelman, Shun, Spanx, Staub, Swarovski, S’well, Tag Heuer, Tempur-Pedic mattresses, The North Face, Tommy John, Tory Burch, Tumi, UGG®, Vans, Vitamix, Wacoal, Wolford, Wüsthof & products offered by vendors who operate leased departments in any of our stores including: Burberry, Gucci, Longchamp & Louis Vuitton; PLUS, ONLINE ONLY: kids’ shoes, Allen Edmonds, Birkenstock, Brahmin, Chanel, Hurley, Johnston & Murphy, Merrell, RVCA & Tommy Bahama. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer, except opening a new Macy’s account.

SAVINGS OFF SELECT REGULAR-PRICED & SALE ITEMS IN STORE AND SELECT REGULAR-PRICED, SALE & CLEARANCE ITEMS ONLINE

30/25/10%

15% BEAUTY

FRIENDS & FAMILY PRICES IN EFFECT 11/30-12/11/2017. MERCHANDISE WILL BE ON SALE AT THESE AND OTHER SALE PRICES NOW THROUGH 1/2/2018, EXCEPT AS NOTED. N7110001E.indd 1

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11/16/17 12:14 PM

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

Assistant Facilities Manager

FIREFIGHTER / EMT / PARAMEDIC Firefi ghter - 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.

Qualifi cations 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.Firefi ghterApp.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.

22

!

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

s

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 29, 2017 - December 05, 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

or

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.

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.

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.

Assistant Facilities Manager

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/commonground-seeks-an-assistant-facilities-manager/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/

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

ELM CITY COMMUNITIES Invitation for Bids

Snow Removal Services- Valley and Waverly Townhouses The Housing Authority of the City of New Haven d/b/a Elm City Communities is currently seeking 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

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**********

23

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

Trump’s Smear of the King Legacy

by AFRO Editorial President Donald Trump has crossed the line. Trump, who continues to disrespect former President Barack Obama, who is hell-bent on repealing the Affordable Care Act, who shows disdain for civil rights and supports White supremacists, is now dragging Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy through the mud.

Trump recently ordered the National Archive to release all documents relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. A 20page dossier compiled by the FBI on Dr. Martin Luther King, dated three weeks before King’s April 4, 1968 assassination was part of the released documents. Nothing in the King dossier has anything to do with the JFK assassination. The 49-year-old Con’t from page 20

Accepting the Challenge to Ensure Future Leadership tion (NAFEO) that represents all of the HBCUs and PBIs (Predominantly Black Institutions. There is no question that these educational institutions continue, with 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.

Black Celebrities, Athletes and Politicians

Must Respect the Black Press

By Rosetta Miller-Perry, The Tennessee Tribune/NNPA Member

King dossier was filed while J. Edgar Hoover, a well-known anti-King protagonist, was director of the FBI. The 1968 King dossier asserts a number of damaging allegations including, financial irregularities within King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference, King having connections with communist groups, and King allegedly engaging in sexual misconduct and having multiple affairs. None of these assertions about King appear to be verified or have any corroboration by Hoover or the FBI. Thus, at best, they are mere speculative observations from a time and by a Hoover FBI that viewed the entire civil rights movement of the 60’s as a threat to the security of this country. Hoover was wrong and off base then and his jaded observations and opinions are still wrong now!

Neither Trump nor the FBI have offered any explanation as to why the King dossier was included in the documents relating to the Kennedy assassination. Furthermore, no explanation has been offered as to why after 49 years, the Trump Administration felt compelled to make the King dossier public at this time.

We view the Trump Administration’s issuance of this damaging and insulting King dossier to be an intentional and significantly slanderous campaign to discredit Dr. Martin Luther King, America’s most influential and revered civil rights leader.

King died in his attempt to bring peace and unification to a racially polarized nation in the 1960s. Today, America remains deeply divided along racial lines. Given the series of despicable incidents that reflect Trump’s inability to utter the truth

and his support of racists groups like we viewed in Charlottesville; this latest attempt by Trump to tarnish the reputation of one of America’s most respected Black heroes crystalizes, in our opinion, Trump’s unwillingness and inability to improve the racial environment that continues to decline during his leadership of our country.

The blame for this president’s failures, however, must be shared by the Republican party, whose quest for political legitimization causes them to consistently ignore the glaring short comings of Trump’s leadership as the head of the Republican party. Trump’s racist actions and continuing failure to unify America’s diverse citizen populations have cast a negative shadow over the entire Republican group. The recent loses the Republicans have suffered in this week’s elections is an indication of Trumps impact on his party’s political power.

As mid-term elections approach, it is imperative that all of the diverse American communities commit to remove the hurtful Republican domination in Congress. The racist actions of Trump and the Republicans must cease. The collective majority of this country’s citizens deserve to have a leadership that truly reflects, promotes and respects the reality of the unified diverse foundation these united states claim, and were originally intended, to personify.

Trump’s release of the King dossier is clear evidence of his miserable failure to unite America’s citizens.

Trump no longer has our support or respect for his leadership.

24

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.

THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

“Touched by an Angel”

Star Della Reese Dies at 86

Con’t from page 18

A Promise Kept.

25

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as I can remember.”

In a nod to her starring role in the CBS television series, “Touched by an Angel,” Reese’s co-star Roma Downey wrote: “I know heaven has a brand new angel this day. Della Reese will be forever in our hearts. Rest in Peace, sweet angel, we love you.”

According to Variety, “At its height, “Touched by an Angel” reached more than 21 million total viewers a week and remained popular through syndication and DVD releases.”

Chicago jazz composer Ramsey Lewis said, “She really had stage presence, some magic about her.”

BET, CBS and Essence magazine also tweeted out their love for Reese.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family,” Essence magazine posted on Twitter.

Born Deloreese Patricia Early in Michigan on July 6, 1931, Reese started her career recording and performing on tele-

Robert Saulsbury

in

the information known is contained in a paragraph on an agency form. A lifetime, an identity, a story filled with joy and pain, love and struggle, encapsulated in data about height, weight, ethnicity, and a sentence about the circumstances of pregnancy and birth.

Some adoptees don’t even have that. We traveled to Korea with a man who, as a newborn, had been left in a field near a police station with no identifying information. He visited the field, and the police station, to get as close as he could to his birth family. He will live his entire life with a question mark in the distance.

I am grateful we had the chance to meet Luke’s (and subsequently our daughter’s) birth mother. An amazing number of people cautioned me about doing this. “Aren’t you afraid he’ll love you less?” some asked. “What if she asks for money?” said others. “Aren’t you enough of a mother for him; is he so ungrateful that he needs to find the woman who gave him away?” That one cut deeply for its lack of grace, truth and empathy for my son, for me, and for his birth mother. Our relationship as mother and child is not about his needing to be grateful for what I’ve done, as though my parenting existed somehow outside of love and only for what reward I might get from it.

After we parted from her, waving goodbye through the back window of a taxi, I realized she was still a stranger to me, I knew almost nothing about her character or interests, or religion or values, and yet I loved her, as I had loved the little stranger that was put in my arms at an airport, 18 years before.

I loved her because we were connected in the most intimate way possible. We always will be.

al

Della Reese, the legendary actress and star of the classic movie “Harlem Nights” and the long-running CBS drama “Touched by an Angel,” died on Sunday, November 19. She was 86.

From Reese’s memorable appearances in movies like “A Thin Line between Love and Hate” to television shows like “Chico and the Man,” “Sanford & Son” and “227,” fans and friends celebrated her storied career on social media.

“Saddened to hear of the passing of Della Reese,” the Rev. Al Sharpton wrote on Twitter. “I’ve enjoyed her artistry as long

vision variety shows in the 1950s.

From 1969 to 1970, she hosted a TV talk show called, “Della,” and she went on to appear in many other series over the decades including “Sanford and Son” with her good friend, Redd Foxx.

Reese’s TV show, “Della,” made her the first African American woman to host a talk show.

She earned a gospel music Grammy nomination for best female soloist in 1987 and, in the 1990s, Reese landed the lead role in the hit TV drama, “Touched by an Angel.”

However, she never forgot where it all began for her: singing in the church at the age of six, according to Biography.com.

Reese’s talents eventually landed her an opportunity to work with gospel great Mahalia Jackson, when Reese was just 13.

Raised on gospel music, Reese transformed into a seductive secular music superstar with her No. 1 R&B and No. 2 pop hit “Don’t You Know” in 1959.

It was her first single on RCA Records, a ballad drawn from an aria from Puccini’s opera, “La Boehme,” NBC News reported.

Ultimately, Reese revealed a mastery of standards, jazz and contemporary pop through the early 1970s, and over the course of her career she received four Grammy Award nominations.

“She was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and pastor, as well as an award-winning actress and singer. Through her life and work she touched and inspired the lives of millions of people,” Reese’s family said in a statement.

In 1997, Reese told the Associated Press that she achieved many things that others may have thought to be impossible. She explained her ability to succeed in song and in film.

“I had good training for it. I was always a stylist, a lyricist,” she said. “I became acquainted with the words in order to convince you I must believe in what I’m singing.

That’s what acting is: believing. It was just like one thing flowing into another,” Reese said.

Following her memorable performance in “Harlem Nights” in 1989, Reese appeared in a number of TV shows and made-for-TV movies until she landed the role of “Tess” in the television series “Touched by an Angel” in 1994.

CBS cancelled the show after the first season, but fans swarmed the network with letters and calls, forcing them to renew the series.

Reese would go on to portray “Tess” on “Touched by an Angel” for nine seasons, earning seven NAACP Image Awards as best lead actress in a drama.

She also received two Emmys and a Golden Globe nomination.

Reese is survived by her husband, Franklin Lett, a film producer and concert promoter.

coac

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tat i o n

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

Jesse Jackson Not Giving Up Despite Having Parkinson’s Disease —

Here's What Really Cuts Black Lives Short!

Says, “I Will Need Your Prayers” and “Keep Hope Alive”

Nationwide — Jesse Jackson, long-time civil rights activist and the founder of the Rainbow Push Coalition, has publicly announced that he is battling Parkinson’s Disease. He is currently 76 years old, and has been fighting for equal rights since the 1960’s.

Here’s what he had to say in his official statement to the media: “On July 17, 1960, I was arrested, along with seven other college students, for advocating for the right to use a public library in my hometown of Greenville, S.C. I remember it like it was yesterday, for that day changed my life forever.

From that experience, I lost my fear of being jailed for a righteous cause. I went on to meet Dr. King and dedicate my heart and soul to the fight for justice, equality, and equal access. In the tradition of the Apostle Paul, I have offered myself – my mind, body and soul – as a living sacrifice.”

“Throughout my career of service, God has kept me in the embrace of his loving arms, and protected me and my family from dangers, seen and unseen. Now in the latter years of my life, at 76 years old, I find

it increasingly difficult to perform routine tasks, and getting around is more of a challenge. My family and I began to notice changes about three years ago. For a while, I resisted interrupting my work to visit a doctor. But as my daily physical struggles intensified I could no longer ignore the symptoms, so I acquiesced.”

“After a battery of tests, my physicians identified the issue as Parkinson’s disease, a disease that bested my father.”

“Recognition of the effects of this disease on me has been painful, and I have been slow to grasp the gravity of it. For me, a Parkinson’s diagnosis is not a stop sign but rather a signal that I must make lifestyle changes and dedicate myself to physical therapy in hopes of slowing the disease’s progression.”

“I am far from alone. God continues to give me new opportunities to serve. This diagnosis is personal but it is more than that. It is an opportunity for me to use my voice to help in finding a cure for a disease that afflicts 7 to 10 million worldwide.

Some 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson’s every year.”

“I will continue to try to instill

hope in the hopeless, expand our democracy to the disenfranchised and free innocent prisoners around the world. I’m also spending some time working on my memoir so I can share with others the lessons I have learned in my life of public service. I steadfastly affirm that I would rather wear out than rust out.”

“I want to thank my family and friends who continue to care for me and support me. I will need your prayers and graceful understanding as I undertake this new challenge. As we continue in the struggle for human rights, remember that God will see us through, even in our midnight moments.”

“KEEP HOPE ALIVE!”

Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.

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

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 dol-

lar 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 premium search placement, and analytics amongst other features designed

pact of the app Mandy exclaimed, “I believe the OBWS app is our first 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.

to maximize exposure and bridge the gap between the consumer and the

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business.

When asked about the potential im-

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 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

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

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THE INNER-CITY NEWS November 29, 2017 - December 05, 2017

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