INNER-CITY NEWS

Indy Bookstore Brings New Life To Edgewood

by MAYA MCFADDEN

Middle-schoolers Janeska and Makayla have found a new neighborhood hangout spot and a new hobby, reading inside Edgewood’s Possible Futures.

The two were among the dozens of neighbors and supporters who showed up Wednesday afternoon for an official open ing gathering at the storefront operation, which is a cross between a community reading room and independent bookstore.

Lauren Anderson, who lives in the neigh borhood, opened the store in a renovated space at the corner of Edgewood Avenue and Hotchkiss Street returning com munal activity and books to a vacant spot that, decades ago, served as a neighbor hood public library branch.

The event was hosted by Anderson for the community to discover a future in a love for reading. In the weeks prior to Wednesday’s official opening, neighbors like Janeska and Makayla had already made a practice of hanging out in the space and became regulars.

The shop’s collection of art, adult and children’s books, and goods is predomi nantly made up of works by historically underrepresented authors and/or about social justice topics.

At the Wednesday open house, fifthgrader Makayla, 10, said her favorite part about the shop is that it’s open to the LG BTQ community. Eighth grader Janeska, 13, said she likes how everyone is wel coming and “they talk to you here like they care.” The best friends call them selves the “Sugar Squad,” after the canine who spends its days with owner Anderson in the shop.

The duo agreed they didn’t read much before the shop opened next door to their home on Hotchkiss Street. Now they do.

“I like reading here because a lot of the books are unique,” Makayla said.

Visitors at Wednesday’s event sampled catered noshes from Havenly Food and mocktails from Bloom. They browsed shelves stocked with books on subjects ranging from gender identity, cooking, and sexuality to climate change, educa tion, poetry, and art. Some proceeded to the register with two hands full of books to purchase.

The walls are decorated with children’s drawings, inspirational quotes, faces of historic leaders, plants, works by commu nity artists, and rainbow pride flags. An indoor support post was marked with the growing heights of local kids.

The entrance of the shop welcomes visitors with a sitting space for reading, conversations, working on computers, or simply hanging out on the couches or din ing tables.

Anderson walked community members over to shelves as they asked for particu lar book titles or genres.

The spot was previously vacant. Echoing one of the spot’s previous incarnations,

the words “Chapel on Edgewood Public Library” are painted over in black paint outside the shop, but visible if you look hard enough. The branch library closed three decades ago. A more recent tenant was Miracle Temple Church of God.

Anderson searched dozens of vacant spots citywide before coming across the 318 Edgewood Ave. spot in January. Despite the building’s neglect, Anderson saw her vision in the spot, which “feels like home” and is accessible to the neigh borhood.

The landlord replaced the ceiling and flooring. Anderson needed to go through a lengthy zoning variance process.

Most of the shop’s furniture and deco rations were donated or are rehabilitated free items Anderson found around town. These past months Anderson received help from neighbors and friends with stocking the bookshelves and creating art works on the outside and inside of the space.

Visitors at the open house described the shop as magical, beautiful, supportive, safe, energetic, and stimulating.

Anderson said she looks forward to col laborating with the community on busi ness pop-ups, conversations with teachers and students, book clubs, open mics, and other community events. Possible Futures also plans to participate in this year’s Elm City Lit Festival.

Mary Bunn-Granda brought her grand children Jaylin Cherry, Lei’Lani Diaz, and Dallas Norris to the open house. She works as a supervisor at neighborhood laundromat Coin-op Laundry next door and has lived in the neighborhood for the past 15 years.

“I love her being here. The ambiance is so nice,” Bunn-Granda said. “The books here give my grandkids the history of their lives.”

She said the shop has become a space for her kids not only to read but to play with their peers in an area stocked with Legos, blocks, and games. Jaylin said he loves the shop’s selection of comic books.

Anne Rhodes, mother of 8 year old Flo rian, said Anderson and Possible Futures have helped her and her husband fill their home library with books that help their family to have intentional conversations about topics like social and racial justice.

A favorite book for Anne and Florian is Something Happened in Our Town: A Child’s Story About Racial Injustice. “So many of the books here have given us a way to have conversations with him that we really need to have,” Rhodes said.

Elm City Lit Fest founder IfeMichelle Gardin noted that Anderson has “trans formed” a once-dilapidated boarded up building taken over by drug dealing, where people with drug addictions in the neighborhood would sometimes use or overdose in the alley.

Prior to Anderson winning zoning re lief to open her bookstore, the spot was

zoned for a convenience or liquor store. “We don’t need anymore liquor shops or corner stores,” Gardin said. “This is what we need.”

Gardin was one of many who helped Anderson set up shop in recent months. During that process, they convinced neighborhood residents to agree to send their children to the bookstore.

“Kids are now safe and comfortable on the corner that was taken over for so long,” Gardin said.

A book fund for the shop is in the works to cover purchases by customers who live in the neighborhood. The idea came about from Babz Rawls Ivy, editor-in-chief of The Inner-City News and host of the daily WNNH FM radio show “LoveBabz LoveTalk.” The trio’s effort will help sup port Edgewood neighbors by covering book cost for those in need.

“Everyone can see that there’s a future for them here,” Gardin said. “And it sets an example for the possibilities that transfor mation like this is possible anywhere.”

While searching the shop’s shelves, 13-year-old Mikayla Locke, an eighth grader at Elm City Montessori School, was drawn to the cover of From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks. For weeks Mikayla has been hear ing about the shop from her mom and couldn’t wait for it to open. “I like books with a main character that have an inter esting story and have a cover that calls out to me,” she said. She said she plans to come to the space throughout the school year to do her homework.

Lauren Javier-Jones, mother of 3 yearold Isla, heard that Possible Futures is the place to be from her mother-in-law, whom her daughters calls Nana. Nana, better known as Sheri Richard, has been visiting the shop nearly daily for weeks. A love for Anderson’s dog Sugar keeps Isla coming back along with her love for reading.

Javier-Jones has been reading to Isla since she was in the womb. The duo have set a goal to read 1,000 books before Isla gets to kindergarten. So far they have read about 550, they reported.

Before the Covid pandemic hit, JavierJones and her family were living in Saint Croix. “Where we lived there wasn’t a li brary at all there,” she said.

Over the years Isla has grown to ask more questions, enhanced her vocabulary, and become more inquisitive from read ing, Javier-Jones said. “Books give you a window into so many perspectives,” she said.

In parting advice, Javier-Jones remind ed guardians looking to instill a love for reading in their youth to not be control ling during reading time. “Engagement is more important than how it’s done,” she said. “Sometimes that looks like skipping a page or only talking about the pictures, and that’s OK” and not “worth fighting.”

MAYA MCFADDEN PHOTOS

Properietor Lauren Anderson with regulars Makayla and Janeska.

Mary Bunn-Granda with grandkids.

Visitors at Wednesday's open house. Haven

Alders Accelerate “Safe Routes” Plan

by LAURA GLESBY

The city’s planned overhaul of bike, pe destrian, and transit infrastructure is on a fast track to potential approval, as offi cials race to meet a mid-September dead line for a crucial grant.

It was put on the fast track Thursday evening at a meeting and public hearing held in City Hall by the Board of Alders City Services and Environmental Protec tion Committee.

City Transit, Transportation, and Park ing Director Sandeep Aysola presented on that “Safe Routes For All” plan at the hearing. Aysola along with a dozen sup porters from the public urged alders to “discharge” the plan for review by the full Board of Alders (rather than take a formal vote on it) to speed up the process by en abling the full board to vote on the mea sure at a meeting next week and enable the city to apply for an upcoming batch of federal funding to put the plan into action.

By the hearing’s close at 10 p.m., a dozen New Haveners had testified in support of the plan, and alders unanimously voted to discharge it for a faster review and fullboard vote.

The Safe Routes For All plan, as Aysola explained, calls for the city to expand and upgrade 90 miles of bike lanes and make them “protected” lanes, with a physical barrier between cars and bikers, whenever possible. It advises that the city align car

and pedestrian traffic lights so that pedes trians won’t have to press buttons and wait for four-way red lights before crossing the street. And it proposes that traffic-calming

interventions be implemented at danger ous intersections to reduce car crashes. The plan’s other recommendations in clude adding sheltered bus stops, convert

ing some one-way streets to two-way, and committing to a “Vision Zero” goal of eliminating pedestrian deaths.

The plan identifies seven “priority neigh borhoods” with majority low-income, Black, and/or Latino residents that the city has historically overlooked for tran sit upgrades: Dwight, Newhallville, Fair Haven, the Hill, West Rock, West River, and Dixwell.

The city is applying for funding for the plan from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2022, which offers grants for cities to either design or implement plans supporting “active transportation” like walking and biking through the Safe Streets and Roads For All program. The deadline for an upcoming round of fund ing is Sept. 15.

If successfully secured, the grant could provide $5 million to the city for five years’ worth of upgrades.

While many cities are expected to apply for this funding to develop active transit plans, “we are the only municipality in the entire state that has a plan” already drafted for improving non-driver infrastructure, said Aysola. In order for the city to apply for an implementation grant, the Board of Alders has to sign off on the Safe Routes For All plan and allow the city to both apply for and accept any grants awarded through the federal act.

“There’s no design to it yet?” asked com mittee Chair Anna Festa.

Aysola confirmed that there’s no precise design affiliated with the Safe Routes For All plan yet. She noted that more commu nity input would be solicited during the design process.

As Aysola presented, the Board of Alders chambers were filled with advocates for bike, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure. Members of the Safe Streets Coalition of New Haven waited as the sky grew dark and hours of other agenda items passed by to share testimony in favor of the Safe Routes For All plan.

Safe Streets activist Lior Trestman said an active transit overhaul would help peo ple without cars maintain steady jobs.

“Transportation remains one of the big gest barriers to employment,” he argued. One in four New Haveners do not have a car, said Trestman; in some neighbor hoods, nearly half of residents are carless.

Max Chaoulideer focused on the New Haveners who have died in car crashes: “Every single life that was lost was pre ventable.”

Kai Addae noted that the Safe Routes For All plan would help the city meet its broader climate goals, including ending community-wide greenhouse gas emis sions by 2030, by enabling residents to rely less on cars.

“We have eight years, almost seven … if we want to meet the Climate Emergency goals,” Addae said.

LAURA GLESBY PHOTO Kai Addae (left) and Max Chaoulideer (right) at City Hall hearing.

New Haven Independent

OPINION:

Don’t Let Biden Get Talked Out of Student Loan Forgiveness

cifically from private, for-profit schools.

Schools which follow a pattern — preying on peoples’ dreams, getting them to take out expensive student loans, that only result in debt, no degree, and busted dreams.

ployable the rest of their lives.” Everything was inflated, like a “guarantee of employment pledge” that was never made good.

By Emil Guillermo

Don’t be confused about the student loan forgiveness plan President Biden announced recently. Sure, it wasn’t all student debt. But it did address the most egregious debt foisted on students by for-profit predator “educators.” The plan would also definitely help BIPOC borrowers more than not.

And yet, days after the announcement, people are questioning the idea from the Left and the Right.

The Left wants no limits, all debt relieved. The Right wants none of it, and asks “Who’s going to pay for it all?”

Of course, they don’t ask that when it was mostly the rich who benefited from Trump tax cuts or COVID PPP payouts.

Bottom-line, we can’t let Joe Biden be talked out of student loan relief up to $10,000 for individuals, with an additional amount for those with Pell Grants.

This plan is focused on regular folks, single people with incomes under $125,000, and married folks with incomes under $250,000.

The plan is also ready-made for BIPOC communities who have suffered spe-

That was how many private, for-profit schools like Corinthian College and ITT Technical Institute preyed on unwary borrowers, resulting in massive debt forgiveness plans for their students before the general forgiveness plan was announced.

Just this week, the Department of Education announced another $1.5 billion debt relief package for 79,000 borrowers who attended Westwood College. Closed down in 2016, Westwood left students holding the bag until the feds came up with a debt package on Monday.

“Westwood operated a culture of false promises, lies and manipulation in order to profit off student debt that burdened borrowers long after Westwood closed,” said Education Undersecretary James Kvaal in a statement.

With evidence from state attorneys general in Colorado and Illinois, the Dept of Education described how Westwood “routinely misled prospective students by grossly misrepresenting that its credentials would benefit their career prospects and earning potential.”

Specifically, the school promised students jobs in their fields within six months of graduation that would “make them em-

Sound like any of the for-profit schools that have hooked someone you know to sign up for classes in a business park campus off a highway after taking out a hefty student loan?

Sure, there are schools like the Cal State East Bays and the Laney Colleges, state colleges and junior colleges respectively.

They are solid public-non-profit institutions. There are also the expensive traditional private schools like Stanford where people have loans out. The Biden-Harris plan will cover between $10,000-$20,000 of all those loans (including Parent-Plus loans) from those schools.

But for the most part we are talking about predator “private, for-profit” colleges, not the kind of schools that teach you the humanities like history or poetry.

And they sure took many a BIPOC student for a ride.

A Brookings Institute study in 2018 took a long view on student borrowing going back to 1995-96. It found that for-profit borrowers default at twice the rate of public two-year borrowers (52 versus 26% after 12 years). Overall, it found the forprofit students were more likely to borrow and had a default rate four times that of

public two-year entrants.

The study also found that student and institutional factors determined default rates. And that debt and default rates among Black college students was at a “crisis level.”

Black BA graduates default at five times the rate of white BA graduates and are more likely to default than white dropouts.

As for the institution, out of 100 students who ever attended a for-profit, 23 defaulted within 12 years of starting college in the 1996 cohort compared to 43 in 2004. The culprit is clearly predator for-profit schools. If you know someone in debt to those types of schools, let them know the Biden-Harris plan promises some relief.

This isn’t about the moral failings of student borrowers.

This is more about the moral failings of the for-profit predators and holding them accountable. And yet they’re getting a lot more sympathy than any of us BIPOC borrowers they preyed on.

Emil Guillermo is a veteran journalist and commentator. Visit him on http:// www.amok.com

The post OPINION: Don’t Let Biden Get Talked Out of Student Loan Forgiveness first appeared on Post News Group. This article originally appeared in Post News Group.

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COMMENTARY:

Back to School, Back to Fighting Far-Right Attacks on Education

Paul Bass

www.newhavenindependent.org

By Ben Jealous, president of People For the American Way

Just when you thought far-right attacks on public education couldn’t get any more absurd, we hear about something new.

For the first time in almost 15 years, Sarasota schools this fall are turning down hundreds of free dictionaries from the local Rotary Club. Why? Because the district is afraid of violating a radical new law that’s part of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s crackdown on inclusive curricula. The district can’t buy or accept any new books until it hires someone to make sure they comply with the state’s draconian censorship regulations. So, the dictionaries sit on the shelf.

The idea that dictionaries might be hazardous to kids would be laughable if it weren’t so dangerous. This new school year is starting as more states are passing laws to make it easier to ban books. States are also passing laws to stop teachers from talking about topics like racism; according

to Education Week, 42 states have now enacted limits on what teachers can say about racism or sexism in the classroom. These same political forces want to make schools teach a whitewashed version of our history and our current reality in the name of “patriotic” education. They’re trying to take over school boards to impose their political ideology on teachers and students. That’s bad for our kids. And it’s bad for our country.

The freedom to learn is at risk.

This fall, it’s more important than ever to stand for the rights of teachers to teach, and students to learn, about the full spectrum of the American experience. That means lessons that include and celebrate diverse communities. It means history that doesn’t erase the experiences of Black people, brown people, LGBTQ people, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, and other communities that have been historically marginalized. The director of the nonprofit EveryLibrary warns that the current wave of book bans amounts to “the silencing of stories and the suppressing of information” that will make “the next generation less able to function in society.”

Children learn better when they can see

themselves in others and see their communities as part of the great American story. At the same time, science tells us that learning how to understand and empathize with people across differences is essential to children’s healthy development. Looking honestly at our past helps students develop critical thinking skills that are desperately needed when every smartphone is a gateway to disinformation.

Democracy, too, depends on informed citizens to function. It’s no coincidence that the crowd that stormed the Capitol in 2021, was acting on lies and misinformation.

Authoritarianism feasts on ignorance. Election deniers and censors of history are in the same camp and should get nowhere near our schools.

We cannot begin to heal our divisions until we acknowledge and teach our whole history — good and bad. And we know that standing up for the freedom to learn will be a challenging task. This school year follows one in which reports of book bans and censorship reached record levels according to the American Library Association. Far-right groups and politicians are offering rewards and setting up tip lines to “report” teachers who cover “divisive” topics. School board members are

receiving death threats.

But we don’t shy away from these challenges when we act from a place of love. Loving our children means being advocates for them when political extremists want to limit what they can learn. It means showing up to school board meetings and organizing to make ourselves heard. It means running for the school board.

It means rejecting one of the censors’ most harmful assumptions: that students are too fragile to hear the history our people have lived.

Millions of families are getting ready to send their kids back to school. Let’s also get ready to defend the freedom to learn. Before the dictionary ends up on your district’s banned-books list.

Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and Professor of the Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

A New York Times best-selling author, his next book “Never Forget Our People Were Always Free” will be published by Harper Collins in December 2022.

The post COMMENTARY: Back to School, Back to Fighting Far-Right Attacks on Education first appeared on Post News Group. This article originally appeared in Post News Group.

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Freddy Fixer Gala “Uplifts Community”

by PETISIA M. ADGER

Petisia M. Adger of the Elm City Freddy Fixer Parade contributed this write-up and these photos from the organization’s Sat urday night gala.

On Saturday, inside the ballroom of Omni Hotel in downtown New Haven, the Elm City Freddy Fixer Parade Committee (ECFFPC) held its fifth Annual Gala and Silent Auction, after a two-year in-person respite during the pandemic.

This year’s gala was both a parade fun draiser and an opportunity to recognize those organizations within our New Ha ven community who “Uplift our Commu nity” by addressing the diverse needs of our Black community.

In attendance were 170 individuals who either represented the award recipients or supported the efforts of the parade com mittee. The celebration was an opportu nity for the directors of these organiza tions to recognize the value of their teams’ efforts in accomplishing their respective missions. However, out of the 13 organi zations honored, Lucy Gellman, was the only recipient presented with a singular award for her unwavering balanced jour nalism that covers all aspects of Black lives in the City of New Haven, from culture, to social issues, to the “good and the bad” occurrences that affect our dai ly lives.

The gala’s program was facilitated by our own vivacious Elm City Freddy Fixer Parade Committee’s official mistress of ceremony, Jessica Carl. Jessica has volun teered her oratory excellence to all of our in-person ECFFPC’s galas since 2015. Chanelle’s remarks were followed by Pe tisia M. Adger’s summation of the “Roots of Freddy Fixer” and the acknowledge ment that “paramount to the restoration of the parade, was the Honorable Toni Harp’s steadfast support and faith in the members of the newly formed parade committee in 2015. We truly thank her for believing in us.”

Then came Lucitta O. Adger’s soulful jazzy rendition of the Black National An them, “Lift ev’ry Voice and Sing,” written by James Weldon Johnson. An uproari ous ovation averted her from singing the third verse.

Then the presentation of awards com menced. Each recipient was given a maximum of two minutes for remarks. Noncompliance of this two-minute rule resulted in the ringing of a cowbell, an in dication that time ran out. Only one recipi ent had to be reminded of that strict adher ence to this rule, which brought laughter from the audience when the bell was rung.

The following photos represent those re cipients of the Uplifting our Community awards, and photo credits belong exclu sively to our ECFFPC’s official photogra pher, Rodney Dabney, except where oth erwise indicated:

Immediately following the 50-minute award’s presentation, the Rahsaan Lang

ley Project rocked the house with a unique blend of contemporary and old school R&B hits. Gala attendees danced nonstop.

In solidarity,Greater New Haven St. Pat rick’s Day Parade Committee members joined in our fundraising efforts and our public recognition of the well-deserving community award recipients at this year’s gala and attendance at previous years’ ga

las.

The Elm City Freddy Fixer Parade Com mittee’s Silent Auction Angels included: Urban Grants 4 Us, Inc.; Sergio Rodri guez and Randi Rubin-Rodriguez; Cornell Scott Hill Health Center – Carlah Esdaile; Chanelle Goldson; Jacqueline Glover; Su san Syphrette-Robinson; and Nina Silva (donated backdrop with balloons); and our loyal vendor, Desiree’s Delightful Treats,

LLC., who was on site for the attend ees’ sampling of her scrumptious cakes and cupcakes.

The parade committee is also eternally grateful to our Noble Parade Sponsors, without whom the Sunday, June 4, 2023, scheduled parade would not even be an imagined vision: National Endowment for the Arts; Arts Council of Greater New Haven; ConnCORP; and City of New Ha

ven’s Arts, Culture & Tourism.

For further information on volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, visit our web site or please feel free to contact: Chanelle Goldson, President – Elm City Freddy Fixer Parade Committee, Inc., ecffpc. chanelle@gmail.com, https://www.elmci tyfreddyfixerparade.com.

ECFFPC’s first all-Black-women parade committee members: Petisia M. Adger (Board of Direc tors); Joy Sawyer (volunteer); Chanelle Goldson (president); Diane X. Brown (Board of Directors); Jacqueline Glover (Board of Directors); Nina Silva (member).

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Collab. Haven

Black Lives Matter Spreads Back To School Joy

by Abiba Biao, The Arts Paper www.newhavenarts.org

London Leake has spent all summer ready to dive into fourth grade writing classes at Spring Glen School. Now, she’s doing it with a new yellow bookbag —and a matching burst of self-confidence—in tow.

Last Sunday, London was one of 200 New Haven, Hamden, and West Haven students to come through Black Lives Matter New Haven’s (BLMNH) seventh annual school supply drive, run with help from Greek groups Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Sigma Lambda Upsilon Sorority, and Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity.

The event started at one on Edgewood Avenue and Brownell Street, and lasted for hours, welcoming families with book bags and school supplies for the new school year. BLMNH co-founder Sun Queen, who has led organizing efforts for years, said that events like the drive are meant to ease the burden of a new school year, which can quickly become expen sive for parents.

“Not only does it help the youth here and also help their parents, you know, take away some of the burden, frustration and stress of buying supplies,” she said. “Everything has gone up and so this is one way we can relieve some of the stress off the parents.”

This year, BLMNH had over 400 school bags to distribute. Organizers packed 360 of those bags themselves; the rest came from donations that people dropped off. It represents a steady growth of the event, which started with 100 bags in 2015. Now, BLMNH reliably provides over 200 bags each drive. The largest number of bags the group has distributed is 1,500, when the drive took place just months into the Co vid-19 pandemic in summer 2020.

“You know, we didn’t think we could do that, because like Sun said we started off with 100 bags, and we surpassed that and we did these amazing amount of num bers,” fellow BLMNH Co-Founder Sy Frasier said.

For hours, students delighted in back-toschool bookbag joy. Joaquim Buskey, an incoming fourth grader at Saint Lawrence School in West Haven, said he’s excited to jump into a new curriculum and have new teachers and classmates. As he chat ted eagerly, he fitted a new red backpack over his bright red shirt, the colors melting into each other.

His favorite subject is math, he said, es pecially multiplication. When he looks at a problem, there’s “so much to explore,” he said. He attributed his curiosity in the subject with being able to see his gradual progression and mastery of it.

“I’m getting better every time I go to a different grade, every time I go to a differ ent subject,” he said.

Smiling with the glow of a new back pack and supplies, Joaquim urged anyone struggling with math to seek outside re sources and help.

liked the school supplies drive because she wanted a cute bookbag and a chance to play at the park. Chamere enjoyed the free snacks.

This school year, London will move up the upper floor of her school—something she’s looked forward to for years, she said. Her favorite subject is writing, which she enjoys as a creative outlet. She especially likes writing about herself and past experi ences, she said.

Similar to Joaquim, Chamere’s favorite subject is math because she likes doing basic operations such as multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. “I can do four times eight,” she said and stopped, murmuring to herself and counting on her fingers before blurting out “sixteen!” with a smile.

In addition to organizers from BLMNH, other groups jumped in to help this year. A New Havener and member of UConn’s Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Yashaira Le guisamon said she wanted to give back to her community—and so she rallied her sisters to provide volunteer service.

Before Sunday, she brought together service-oriented Greek groups Sigma Lambda Upsilon and Lambda Alpha Up silon from UConn and New York Greeks Lambda Upsilon Lambda.

In addition to events like the backpack drive, Mu Sigma Upsilon is serving the NAACP this year, while Sigma Lambda Upsilon specializes in reading and literacy support.

Leguisamon said her interest to help with the school supplies drive stemmed from attending the same kind of event as a kid, when her family didn’t have the means to get school supplies.

“You shouldn’t be stressed about if you’re going to have school supplies or if you’re going to have something for the next day or when you go to school that you’re the only one that doesn’t have,” she said. “Things like this is really important to make sure that people feel united and feel welcome.”

This year as in past years, the bookbags contain a variety of essential items that are on school supply lists such as pencils, loose leaf paper, binders, notebooks and glue sticks. There are also sanitation items such as hand wipes, masks, and sanitizer for schools following Covid-19 safety measures.

“My favorite part, honestly, is just the smiles on the kids’ faces,” Sun Queen said. “You know, it’s just like they get to choose their bookbag right. They’re happy about it. So that gives them ... their own power to like say, ‘Hey, you know, I want this book bag for the whole school year or half the school year.’”

Learn more about Black Lives Matter New Haven (BLMNH) here. Abiba Biao is a graduate of the Arts Council’s Youth Arts Journalism Initiative and has stayed on with the Arts Paper as a freelance writ er and photographer. She is beginning her freshman year at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) this fall.

“Ask a teacher or a parent or someone you know to help you,” he said. “You’re not going to get anywhere if no one teach es you and no one helps because you’re

going to have to learn. You can’t just come out and know everything.”

Chamere Carpenter, an incoming third grader at Highville Charter School in New

Haven, and London Leake, a rising fourth grader at Spring Glen School in Hamden, were also enjoying the festivities of the school supplies drive. London said she

Abiba Biao Photos: BLMNH co-founders Sy Frasier and Sun Queen standing besides volunteer members from Mu Sigma Upsilon, Sigma Lambda Up silon, Lambda Alpha Upsilon and Lambda Upsilon Lambda.

Yashaira Leguisamon, president of Mu Sigma Upsilon Sorority, Inc.

BLMNH co-founder Sun Queen helping a student select her snack.

Joaquim Buskey. “I’m getting better every time I go to a different grade,” he said. Chamere Carpenter and London Leake.

Uber Drivers March For Better Pay, Protections

by NORA GRACE-FLOOD

Drivers from across the state broke away from behind their steering wheels Wednesday to march across New Haven to demand better benefits, pay and protections from rideshare companies like Uber.

The drivers, who work mostly for Uber — but also for apps like DoorDash and Lyft — convened at New Haven’s Union Station to gather gig workers for the walk up to City Hall, where they met with legislators to share stories of exploitation and propose some possible paths forward.

“The drivers of Connecticut are suffering,” Carlos Gomez, co-founder of worker-led nonprofit Connecticut Drivers United (CDU), said in Spanish to a crowd of onlookers outside 165 Church St. “We are not something for you to pick up on the streets!” declared Alex Johnson, another member of CDU. Johnson, an Uber driver, focused her comments on protections for women and individuals disproportionately vulnerable to violent maltreatment on the job. “We are workers.”

The pair are two of the lead organizers pushing for Uber and similar services to provide a minimum wage, workers’ compensation, health insurance, and protection from sexual harassment and discrimination. The drivers — who are technically “independent contractors”

rather than “employees” subject to legal protections — said they often less than minimum wage while enduring exposure to dangerous conditions.

“We work 80 to 100 hours a week. We don’t have any kind of benefits, and the

companies take away 70 percent of what you all pay,” Gomez asserted.

Gomez, 48, is a professional piano player originally from Cuba. He started driving for Uber in 2014 as a way to supplement his income; he could get customers

to their destination for several hours in the morning, then work private concerts in the evening. Now, he also relies on Uber to help support his two children, ages 4 and 5. He said he has grown outraged by how

much of his earnings he believes rideshare apps seem to be sharing.

Uber states on its website that it takes 25 percent of driver’s fares. (Uber did not respond to a request for comment for this story.) But the equations which determine how much Uber, its drivers, and its customers are earning and paying are more complex than the company’s site suggests.

Drivers are paid based on how far and how long they drive (65 cents per mile and 20 cents per minute) in addition to a base fare and minimum fare supplement, alongside a 55 cent temporary fuel surcharge in response to gas inflation.

But customers often pay fees on top of those charges. And according to the drivers present at Wednesday’s event, Uber does not inform their contractors the total amount that each customer is paying.

Drivers are also not paid for wait time that is often involved in food pick-up services; Johnson said she has waited for hours outside of restaurants when they are slow to prepare an order). Many apps do not inform drivers how much a customer has promised to tips. Drivers are in charge of paying for gas and maintenance for their vehicles, significant expenses that can almost entirely outweigh any money they’re taking in through their work, they said.

Johnson spoke getting harassed one to

Con’t on page 11

Cox’s Lawyers: Suit Ready To File

by THOMAS BREEN

Richard “Randy” Cox’s lawyers and family put the Elicker Administration on notice that, within the next seven to 10 days, they plan to file a lawsuit in fed eral court alleging that the city violated the paralyzed 36-year-old New Havener’s civil rights.

They delivered that message during a Thursday afternoon press conference held on the front steps of City Hall.

Nationally prominent civil-rights at torney Ben Crump standing alongside Cox’s mom Doreen Coleman and sisters Latoya Boomer and Laquavius LeGrant; local attorneys R.J. Weber, Lou Rubano, and Michael Jefferson; and local and state NAACP leaders Scot X. Esdaile and Dori Dumas held the press conference to let the city and the public know that a longawaited civil lawsuit will be coming soon.

“We think justice delayed is justice de nied,” Crump said. “This is not a com plicated case. This is a simple case. We see the liability, and my God, we see the damages. The only question that remains is if the city’s going to do the right thing. That’s it. It’s that simple.”

Cox’s family and attorneys also said on Thursday that Cox, who suffered severe injuries to his neck and spine after city po lice arrested him on June 19, has recently seen his health take a turn for the worse. He is now back in the hospital battling an infection and a persistent fever. He is para lyzed from the chest down.

The five police officers involved in this incident remain on paid administrative leave. According to Mayor Justin Elicker, state police have passed along information about their investigation into the cops’ ac tions that night to the state’s attorney, who is currently evaluating whether or not to arrest and prosecute the officers.

“Frankly, we had hoped that today, we would have a finding by the state police on their investigation of these New Haven officers,” Weber said during Thursday’s presser. “We had hoped that today Randy would be able to be here with us. He has been working tirelessly with his rehabili tation. He was making some great strides. He has been working very hard until this recent setback.”

“We had hoped those things would have been completed by now so that we could have the federal complaint filed and pre sented to you today,” Weber continued. But, “due to those setbacks and delays, I don’t anticipate the lawsuit will be filed for another seven to 10 days.”

Weber told the crowd that he was holding a draft copy of the pending federal lawsuit in a binder at the press conference. The federal civil lawsuit, he said, accuses the individual police officers of “negligence in operation of a motor vehicle.” It makes claims “against the officers for violating Randy Cox’s civil rights for the way that they handled him, and man-handled him,

when he was in that detention center in the sally port.” And it makes “claims against the City of New Haven.”

“All of these will be filed in a week to 10 days,” Weber promised. After the press conference, Weber con firmed that Cox’s civil lawsuit will be filed against the city and the city police of ficers in federal court, not state court. He declined on Thursday to say what dollar amount the family is seeking in damages before the lawsuit is officially filed.

The case itself, which has sparked na tional outrage, dates back to June 19, when police arrested the 36-year-old New Havener on weapons charges without in cident at a Lilac Street block party. En route to the police station, the driver of a prisoner conveyance van slammed on the brakes; Cox crashed his head against a wall of the van and injured his neck and spine. Rather than wait for a medical crew to attend to Cox’s crumpled and paralyzed body, officers at the police lock-up ac cused Cox of lying, demanded he stand up, pulled him out of the van, placed him in a wheelchair, then dragged him across the floor into a cell.

Throughout Thursday’s press confer ence, Crump and Cox’s family members, attorneys, and civil rights leaders called again and again for “justice” for Cox.

“We implore the mayor and the city leadership to be responsive, to join with the NAACP, to join with the family of Randy Cox, to join with the legal team to say, ‘We’re going to make sure that when

we say Stand with Randy Cox, that it’s not just lip service. That there’s actions with that,” Crump said.

Cox’s sister Latoya Boomer said she would like to see the officers involved fired and arrested for the way that they handled her brother.

“Hopefully the city will engage us to see if we can do right, right this wrong,” Crump said. “If not, you see how it plays out.” He said that is not a threat. Rather, it’s said as “a matter of conviction” of Cox’s family to do right by their relative who suffered such serious injuries while in police custody.

“He Can’t Wipe His Eyes If He’s Crying”

Boomer and Coleman said during Thurs day’s press conference that, while Cox’s health appeared to be marginally improv ing over the past few weeks, he suffered a sudden setback a few days ago that land ed him back in the hospital.

“Randy was making good progress,” Boomer said. “He got off the breathing machine, completely off the trach, got off the feeding tube. And then, a few days ago, he go sick. So now he’s back in the hospital, not feeling well. He has a fever that he can’t get rid of.”

Boomer and Cox’s attorneys said that Cox remains paralyzed from the chest down. “He can’t even scratch his hair

if it’s itching,” Boomer said. “He can’t wipe his eyes if he’s crying. He has no use of his fingers. He has a little bit of use of his arms. No movement from the chest down.”

Coleman said she had spoken on the phone with her son earlier Thursday af ternoon.

“Even though he can’t do nothing for himself, I and his sisters and his friends” have been doing what they can to help him, whether that be sitting and talking with him, giving him something to drink, turning on a fan, or changing channels on the television.

“We are doing our best, but we need ev erybody else to do something,” Coleman said. “Pray. Sing. Say hello. Whatever you need to do.”

Mayor Elicker and Police Chief Karl Ja cobson attended Thursday’s press confer ence outside City Hall, listening from the sidewalk as Cox’s family members and attorneys spoke, then greeting them after it had concluded.

Roughly half an hour later, Elicker and Jacobson offered an update and fielded questions about Cox’s case during a me dia availability on the second floor of City Hall.

The mayor was asked for his response to Cox’s lawyers’ promise that they’ll be filing a federal lawsuit in the next seven to 10 days against the city.

“I think we’re all expecting a lawsuit,” Elicker replied. He said his responsibility as mayor is to “keep the best interests of the entire city in mind.”

That in part means responding to a law suit “appropriately,” he said. It also means doing “the right thing to make sure some thing like this never happens again” and “ensuring we show the kind of compas sion that someone like Randy deserves.” He said that top city attorney Patricia King has been in regular contact with Cox’s lead attorney. He also said that he and city attorneys are open to meeting with Cox’s legal team and family at any time over the next seven to 10 days before the lawsuit is filed.

The mayor notedthat the the police de partment has upgraded its transportation policies and department-wide training on “active bystandership” and deescalation in hopes of avoiding a similar future in cident.

Elicker and Jacobson said that they had visited Cox last week, when he was still at a rehabilitation facility and before his recent readmission to the hospital.

“It was a little bit uplifting, because Randy was improving a little bit,” the mayor said. He said the three of them “talked about sports. We talked about how he was do ing. We talked about how he was doing PT many times a day, and we did some small talk about just how things are going with his family and day-to-day life. And the chief and I again expressed how sad we are for what happened to him.”

THOMAS BREEN PHOTO Ben Crump (center) with Cox's family, friends, lawyers Thursday.

R.J. Weber: Lawsuit will be filed in 7-10 days.

New Haven Independent

IN MEMORIAM: Queen Elizabeth Has Died at 96

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch, who celebrated her Platinum Jubilee earlier this year, has died at the age of 96.

Surrounded by the British royal family and her doctors, the Queen died in her bed at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

The Castle is a vacation home for the Royal family, and it’s where Elizabeth and her late sister, Princess Margaret Rose, spent much of their childhood.

Their parents sent their daughters to Balmoral Castle to help them avoid harm from the German bombing of the United Kingdom during World War II.

The eldest daughter of Prince Albert, duke of York, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Elizabeth marked seven decades of service to the Commonwealth in February.

In 2015, she surpassed the record of 63 years and 216 days on the throne.

Queen Victoria, Elizabeth’s great-greatgrandmother, previously held the record.

Born Apr. 21, 1926, the then would-be Queen’s given name was Elizabeth Alexandra Mary.

Her father, Prince Albert, was the youngest son of King George V, and Albert’s place in the family presumably gave Elizabeth little chance to ascend to the throne.

However, in a stunning move, Albert’s brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in 1936 to marry an American woman, which allowed for Albert’s ascension as King George VI – thus making Elizabeth heir to the throne.

On Nov. 20, 1947, Elizabeth married her distant cousin, Lt. Philip Mountbatten of the Royal Navy.

The former Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, Philip then took the titles of Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich.

The couple’s first child, Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, was born on Nov. 14, 1948, at Buckingham Palace.

On Feb. 6, 1952, King George VI died after a months-long illness, and Elizabeth became Queen – though her coronation took place more than a year later at Westminster Abbey.

Elizabeth also gave birth to Princess Anne in 1950, Prince Andrew in 1960, and Prince Edward in 1964.

With Elizabeth’s death, Charles becomes the first King of England since his grandfather’s death more than 70 years ago.

On 25th Trip To Mauro-Sheridan, Retired Judge Leads Students In “Constitution” Creation

by MAYA MCFADDEN

Retired Superior Court Judge Angela Robinson ordered seventh and eighthgrade students at Mauro-Sheridan Inter district Magnet School Thursday to chase their dreams.

Robinson handed down that ruling during her 25th annual guest visit at the school, this year to honor Constitution Day. She started visiting the school while a practic ing civil law lawyer, then as a New Haven District state superior court judge, and now as a law professor.

Robinson’s first-ever visit was to a sec ond grade class at Vincent Mauro School (which later merged with Sheridan) in 1997 for a read-aloud. Over the years she has visited the school for Constitution Day, Black History Month, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Robinson visited a seventh and eight grade class Thursday morning with school support staffer Sean Hardy, who has ar ranged visits to Mauro Sheridan for years

along with the late social studies educator Lennell Williams.

During the classes Thursday, students learned about the U.S. Constitution and then made their own personal “constitu tions” to keep them on track with achiev ing their future dreams.

In Colin McDonough’s eighth grade so cial studies class and Randy Francis’ sev enth grade world geography and culture class, the students made a list of rules act ing as “laws” that they agreed to abide by to reach their dream careers.

She urged the students to use their handcrafted constitutions to help “hold yourself accountable for getting where you want.”

Students promised to study every day, work hard, appreciate their teachers and mentors, and stay determined to reach career goals like becoming a professional basketball player, a professional boxer, doctor, pilot, and engineer.

“Every year you should review your constitution to make sure you can keep up with your goals,” Robinson said.

The seventh-grade aspiring teacher, bak er, therapist, plumber, senator, police of ficer, and neurosurgeon listed constitution rules such as:

• Try your best.

• Have patience.

• Never stop learning.

• Always act justly and fairly.

• Respect yourself and others.

•Stay humble.

“When you were a judge, did you send any children to jail?” one student asked Robinson. o which she responded: She sent youth to juvenile detention centers.

Meanwhile, a seventh grader asked Har dy, “Why do you always bring the best visitors to our school?”

“To bring the community to you,” Hardy responded “And because you guys de serve the best.” A day earlier, the school was visited by Yale Police Chief Anthony Campbell, who popped in on every class room.

Robinson said after each visit she leaves Mauro feeling “hopeful for the future.”

Report Reveals ‘A Hidden Key to Combating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Juvenile Justice’

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

According to new Sentencing Project research, diverting youth from juvenile court involvement should be a central fo cus in reducing racial and ethnic dispari ties.

It also should improve outcomes in America’s youth justice systems.

The report’s author wrote that getting arrested in adolescence or having a delin quency case filed in juvenile court clearly damages young people’s futures and in creases their subsequent involvement in the justice system.

“Compared with youth who are diverted, youth who are arrested and formally peti tioned in court have a far higher likelihood of subsequent arrests and school failure,” wrote Richard A Mendel, Senior Research Fellow and Youth Justice at the Sentenc ing Project.

“Pre-arrest and pre-court diversion can avert these bad outcomes,” Mendel con cluded.

According to Mendel’s research, Black youth are far more likely to be arrested than their white peers and far less likely to be diverted from court following arrest.

Other youth of color – including Latinx youth, Tribal youth, and Asian/Pacific Islander youth – are also less likely than their white peers to be diverted.

“The lack of diversion opportunities for youth of color is pivotal because the great er likelihood of formal processing in court means that youth of color accumulate longer court histories, leading to harsher consequences for any subsequent arrest,” Mendel asserted.

“Expanding diversion opportunities for youth of color, therefore, represents a

crucial, untapped opportunity to address continuing disproportionality in juvenile justice,” he noted.

The in-depth analysis of the juvenile jus tice system’s unequal and limited use of diversion from court involvement, partic ularly for Black youth, found that in 2019, 52% of delinquency cases involving white youth were handled informally (diverted), far higher than the share of cases diverted involving Black youth (40%).

The report found the glaring disparity between Black and white youth in every major offense category.

“Overwhelming research finds that di verting youth from the court system yields better outcomes for young people’s fu tures and public safety,” Mendel insisted.

“Yet diversion remains sorely underuti lized, especially for youth of color, and unequal treatment in diversion is a key driver for even larger disparities in con finement later in the process.”

Released on Aug. 30, the report, “Di version: A Hidden Key to Combating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Juvenile Justice,” examined decades of research showing how educational, career and pub lic safety outcomes are better for youth diverted away from juvenile courts. It provided a primer on diversion and its impact on racial equity – specifically, the report revealed that:

Compared to youth formally involved in court, youth diverted from court have a far lower likelihood of subsequent arrest.

They also are far less likely to be in carcerated, commit less violence, have higher school completion rates and col lege enrollment, and earn higher incomes in adulthood.

Mendel found that disparities in diver sion result both from subjective biases against youth and families of color and from seemingly neutral diversion rules and practices that cause disproportionate harm to youth of color either by unneces sarily limiting eligibility for diversion or by making it difficult for youth of color to complete diversion successfully.

Many states and localities have recent ly adopted new strategies to expand and improve diversion, many of which show substantial promise, Mendel further dis

covered.

“However, efforts to expand diversion opportunities to date have most often lacked an explicit and determined focus on reducing racial and ethnic disparities – an essential ingredient for success,” he added.

In his conclusion, Mendel said the evi dence leaves no doubt that the justice sys tem “is toxic for youth and should be em ployed only in cases when young people pose a serious and imminent threat to the safety and well-being of others.”

“For most young people, diversion yields better public safety and youth develop ment outcomes than formal processing in juvenile court – and for much less mon ey,” he wrote.

However, youth of color are not being offered diversion in the same numbers as white youth.

“Racial and ethnic disparities at diver sion play a significant role in propelling system-wide disparities and represent a key reason why efforts to improve equity in juvenile justice have achieved so little progress to date,” Mendel added.

For all these reasons, the diversion stage of the juvenile court process should be a top priority for youth justice reform, he stated.

“Advocates should push for, and system leaders should take aggressive action to address the disparities highlighted in this report,” Mendel wrote.

“Combined, the reforms recommended here to expand the use of diversion and to enhance supportive community-led programming for diverted youth offer perhaps the most important and promis ing avenue currently available to reduce disparities and to improve youth justice systems nationwide.”

For the full report

www.sentencingproject.org

Sean Hardy, Angela Robinson, and Principal Sandy Kaliszewski.

Uber Drivers

two times per day by “wasted” or disre spectful customers.

Drivers said they can make less than $10 per hour on long rides, due to inherently problematic math by apps or customer re fusal to tip.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, Hamden Leg islative Council Representative Abdul Osmanu, Mayor Justin Elicker, and New Haven Teachers’ Union President Leslie Blatteau spoke at the rally in support of the drivers and of the idea of unioniza tion.

“Union members earn on average 20 per cent more than those in a non-union work force,” DeLauro stated. She spoke in sup port a bill before Congress, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act; the act would classify rideshare drivers as workers and protects workers’ ability to organize.

Past legislative efforts at the State Capitol have sought to help gig drivers unionize and pursue collective bargaining prac tices, such as Raised Senate Bill 1000: An Act Concerning Transportation Network Company Drivers. Those efforts have since been shelved following blow back from drivers themselves.

While some of the drivers who spoke to the Independent expressed a desire to become full-time Uber employees, most said they would prefer to remain contrac tors with an emphasis on partnership.

They are asking for baseline compensa tion and care that they said Uber is too easily able to skirt around due to their em ployment classification.

For example, Johnson said she would like to see Uber perform background checks on customers and create a human resources office to field complaints. Cur rently, the only actions she can take when a customer violates her she recalled instances of drunk men grabbing either her or her steering wheel, and of verbally assaulting her are to leave them a bad review or report them to Uber customer service. Each time she does so, she is at risk of losing her tip if the customer re tracts it as a form of retaliation.

She said she tries only to report a cus tomer only if she answers yes to the ques tion: “Are they gonna rape the next driv er?”

Johnson said she has gotten concussions and fallen multiple times on the job due to slippery roads, sidewalks and drive ways leaving her both injured and out of work.

The CDU has crafted its own legislation that it hopes to see raised in the 2023 leg islation session. Gomez said the CDU is looking in that bill to give drivers the right to 75 percent of the total customer fee.

“Why do you need a union if you don’t have any benefits? Collective bargaining but for what?” he asked. “We want a base working compensation.”

“We all use Uber, and it’s very con venient for all of us,” he said. “But the drivers are the ones who pay the conse quences.”

Open Enrollment. Open FUTURES.

NNPA Set to Honor Four African American Trailblazers with Leadership Awards

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Keith Ellison emerged as more than just a figurehead during his first term as Attor ney General in Minnesota.

The “People’s lawyer” displayed a firm and steady hand guiding the state through Covid restrictions, settling multi-billiondollar drug cases with opioid distributors and Johnson & Johnson, and protecting tenants’ rights in landlord disputes.

James Winston, President of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcast ers (NABOB), has earned the distinction as the voice representing Black-owned broadcasters.

Together with the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), Winston and NABOB are working to encourage the media and advertising industries to become more proactive and committed to diversity from the C-suites to the decisionmaking managers.

Winston believes more is needed to in crease and enhance the ownership of me dia businesses by African Americans and other minorities.

President of the historically Black Ten nessee State University since 2013 and the international president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Dr. Glenda Glover, has already carved an indelible imprint on Black students at her school and across the nation.

Recently, President Joe Biden appointed

Dr. Glover as vice-chair of the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs.

Meanwhile, Rev. Dr. William Barber II, the architect of the Moral Movement, has remained vigilant in the fight for social justice.

Declaring that “we won’t be silent any more,” Dr. Barber led the Mass Poor Peo ple’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly

Dr. Barber and his large following de manded that policymakers fight poverty, not the poor.

On Thursday, September 29, Dr. Barber, Dr. Glover, Winston, and Ellison will re ceive NNPA National Leadership Awards.

With a guest performance by Grammy

winner Chrisette Michele, the 7 p.m. cer emony at the Marriott Marquis in North west, Washington, D.C., honors individu als who show continuous support of the Black Press and the Black Community. This year’s NNPA Leadership Awards Reception theme is “Saluting Transforma tional Leaders and Ensuring Black Voter Turnout.”

The NNPA’s social media hashtag, #10MillionNewVoters, continues to trend. “I am truly honored to receive this award on behalf of the work we do at NABOB,” Winston told NNPA Newswire.

“I am especially honored to join the high ly distinguished list of former honorees, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Olympic Gold Medalist Allyson Fe lix,” he remarked.

“It has been my pleasure to work closely with Dr. Ben Chavis to further the mutual interests of our organizations. I humbly accept this award with a pledge to con tinue the work of NABOB and NNPA to amplify and enhance the voices of the Af rican American community.”

Ellison, seeking re-election in Minnesota, also expressed gratitude for the award.

“I am honored to receive the National Leadership Award from the NNPA/Black Press of America,” Ellison stated.

“The Black Press has served as a trusted source of information for 195 years. Black media provides an invaluable service by centering Black voices, engaging the community, and pushing for a more just society.”

This is an in-person event and attendance is free. If you plan to be in the Washington, DC area and would like to attend you can register for tickets (tickets are required) at nnpa-events.com.

Change To Penal Code Allows Hiring Firefighters with Criminal Records

By Manny Otiko, California Black Media

After Brandon N. Smith was imprisoned for the ninth time, he found himself at a crossroads. That’s when he learned about the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) conservation campfire crews, which allows inmates to train as firefighters.

Smith initially joined the program to get out of his cell, but something changed af ter working alongside firefighters and sav ing lives and homes. Smith said he found direction and realized he gained satisfac tion fighting forest fires.

Smith is no longer incarcerated and now serves as executive director of the For estry and Fire Recruitment Program, a nonprofit organization that supports for merly incarcerated firefighters, and those currently incarcerated in California’s Con servation Camps.

He said, “This work changed my life.”

Inmates who participated in one of the 44 California Conservation Camps received the same training from the California De partment of Forestry and Fire Protection or CAL-FIRE as it gives to seasonal fire fighters, but inmates are paid $2 to $5 a day in camp and an additional $1 to $2 an hour when they’re on a fire line. But once they were out of custody, former inmates

couldn’t get hired on with fire crews de spite their training and experience because of their criminal backgrounds.

That changed in 2020 when Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2147. The law chang es the penal code so that formerly incar cerated firefighters can file a petition to request their records to be expunged of convictions and gain early termination of probation or parole. This opened the door for their employment in firefighting.

“This legislation rights a historic wrong and recognizes the sacrifice of thousands of incarcerated people who have helped battle wildfires in our state, and I would like to thank the Legislature for passing this bill,” said Newsom in a press release.

Smith says AB 2147 opens opportunities in the fire protection field to formerly in carcerated people.

“Signing AB 2147 into law is about giv ing second chances. To correct is to right a wrong; to rehabilitate is to restore,” said Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes, the bill’s author.

According to Smith, finding employment continues to be a challenge for people with criminal backgrounds. But it’s not just finding work; it’s finding well-paying jobs. He was looking at minimum-wage jobs when he got out of prison, but thanks to the bill’s passing and his firefighter training, he could find a good job.

It’s not just about financial compensation for Smith. He genuinely loves his job and finds the work meaningful.

“The first fire I did, we saved 10,000 lives,” said Smith.

Smith credits retired Chief Betty Ashe for giving him a chance when he got out of prison. He had tried to get a job in the fire protection field but ran into obstacles because of his record.

Professional firefighters initially hesi tated to work alongside former inmates,

but eventually, they were glad for the help.

“They want to find a way to get more people into the program,” said Smith.

Forest fires continue to be a major prob lem in California. The situation has been exacerbated for several reasons, such as climate change, hotter temperatures, drought and mismanagement of forests.

Current climate conditions have created a perfect storm for forest fires, and there is a great need for people with the skills to work in fire protection and prevention.

“There are not enough people to do the work,” said Smith. He admits that fighting fires is dangerous and scary. He said of the first time he fought a fire, “I have never been that scared in my life.”

However, for Smith, being a firefighter allows him to “be a good citizen for the State of California.”

Being a firefighter has allowed Smith’s family to improve their situation. Now his daughter wants to be a wildland fire fighter. And members of his church are interested in getting their family members into the program.

The post Change To Penal Code Allows Hiring Firefighters with Criminal Records first appeared on Post News Group. This article originally appeared in Post News Group.

Rev. Dr. William Barber II, Dr. Glenda Glover, James Winston, and Keith Ellison will receive NNPA National Leadership Awards. and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls in June.

Bank of America Offers Zero Down-Payment Mortgages to Black, Latino Borrowers

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Bank of America announced a new zero down payment, zero closing cost mortgage solution for first-time homebuyers, which will be available in designated markets, including certain African American and Hispanic neighborhoods in Charlotte, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Miami.

According to a news release, the Community Affordable Loan Solution aims to help eligible individuals and families obtain an affordable loan to purchase a home.

“The Community Affordable Loan Solution is a Special Purpose Credit Program which uses credit guidelines based on factors such as timely rent, utility bill, phone and auto insurance payments,” officials stated in the release.

“It requires no mortgage insurance or minimum credit score. Individual eligibility is based on income and home location.”

Prospective buyers must complete a homebuyer certification course provided by select Bank of America and HUDapproved housing counseling partners prior to application.

Officials said the new program is in addition to and complements Bank of America’s existing $15 billion Com-

munity Homeownership Commitment to offer affordable mortgages, industry leading grants and educational opportunities to help 60,000 individuals and families purchase affordable homes by

2025. Through this commitment, Bank of America has already helped more than 36,000 people and families become homeowners, having provided more

than $9.5 billion in low down payment loans and over $350 million in non-repayable down payment and/or closing cost grants.

To date, two-thirds of the loans and grants made through the Community Homeownership Commitment has helped multicultural clients to achieve homeownership.

Bank of America also has a 26-year relationship with the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), through which the Bank has committed to providing an additional $15 billion in mortgages to low-to-moderate income homebuyers through May 2027.

According to the National Association of Realtors, today there is a nearly 30-percentage-point gap in homeownership between White and Black Americans; for Hispanic buyers, the gap is nearly 20 percent.

And the competitive housing market has made it even more difficult for potential homebuyers, especially people of color, to buy homes.

“Homeownership strengthens our communities and can help individuals and families to build wealth over time,” said AJ Barkley, head of neighborhood and community lending for Bank of America.

“Our Community Affordable Loan Solution will help make the dream of

sustained homeownership attainable for more Black and Hispanic families, and it is part of our broader commitment to the communities that we serve.”

In addition to expanding access to credit and down payment assistance, Bank of America said it provides educational resources to help homebuyers navigate the homebuying process, including:

• First-Time Homebuyer Online EduSeries, a five-part, easy-to-understand video roadmap for buying and financing a home, available in English and Spanish.

• BetterMoneyHabits.com free financial education content, including videos about managing finances and how to prepare for buying a new home.

• Bank of America Down Payment Center – site to help homebuyers find state and local down payment and closing cost assistance programs in their area. Bank of America participates in more than 1,300 state and local down payment and closing cost assistance programs.

• Bank of America Real Estate Center – site to help homebuyers find properties with flags to identify properties that may qualify for Bank of America grant programs and Community Affordable Loan Solution™.

For more information, contact Bank of America at 1-800-641-8362.

Black Doctors March Shine Spotlight on Institutionalized Racism

By Solomon O. Smith, California Black Media

The #BlackDocsBelong campaign held a rally in Pasadena last Friday calling on Black medical doctors to join their move ment dedicated to keeping and growing the ranks of Black physicians.

“We actively support and advocate for Black trainees and physicians facing workplace discrimination,” states the website of Black Doc Village, the group organizing the rally. “We aim to expand the Black physician workforce to improve health outcomes in the Black community.”

The national kickoff for the not-for-profit organization Black Doc Village began with a breakfast at the Pasadena Hilton hosted by two Black Doc Village cofound ers: nephrologist Vanessa Grubbs and edu cator and physician Aysha H. Khoury.

About 100 young medical students and staff gathered to march to the Kaiser Per manente Bernard J. Tyson School of Med icine. A wide range of ethnicities came to provide support.

A student who chose to remain anony mous shared the contents of a message about the protest from the Kaiser School of Medicine:

“Students who choose to participate in the demonstration tomorrow will not be penalized or retaliated against for do ing so,” reads an email by senior associ ate dean for student affairs Dr. Anne M. Eacker, “and absence from class or clini cal sites tomorrow morning will be con sidered an excused absence.”

The Kaiser School of Medicine was named the 6th Most Diverse Medical School in the nation and ranked 2nd in California by U.S. News & World Report after the School of Medicine at the Uni versity of California Davis.

With handmade signs and white lab

coats, the rally set off for a two-block march to the medical school. Walking in a single file line, the doctors raised their voices in a shouted call-and-response chant.

“Stop pushing,” they shouted followed by the comeback, “Black docs out.”

Black medical professionals from across the country came to support the Black Doc Village rally.

Dr. Robert Rock, who practices on the East Coast, says he was inspired to go into medicine by his grandmother and the strength she exhibited when she “refused to be disrespected” by medical profession

als during her care. He witnessed a racist act aimed at a patient which he described as shocking.

“We were deterred from talking about it,” said Rock. “It was then that I lost my faith [in the system].”

Jessica Isom is a Boston-based psychia trist and an advocate for equity and justice for BIPOC patients. She has been an out spoken resource and advisor in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs through her company Vision for Equality, which has worked with several major brands and medical institutions. She sees part of the issue as a flaw in the culture of medicine which makes changing it difficult.

Isom says resistance to change is “per

petuated through training” and that peo ple may not be conscious that change is needed. She referred to an article written by Rhea W. Boyd, a pediatrician who has spoken before Congress about racism in the medical profession.

“People see it. The person who serves you your food looks like me. The person who provides you your medical care often does not, and that is an intentional process of segregation,” says Isom.

Doctors are not the only people who want more Black physicians and medical professionals in the industry. Robert Phil lips was looking for a Black nephrologist, a doctor specializing in diseases and func tions of the kidneys and found Dr. Grubbs.

He felt ignored and unheard by white doc tors.

Scores of studies show that health out comes for African Americans have histori cally been among the lowest, according to various metrics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported African Americans have the highest rate of infant mortality of any eth nic group. The number of Black doctors is also disproportionately low, at just 5 %, according to a 2019 survey by the Asso ciation of American Medical Colleges. Some at the rally are in litigation against Kaiser, including Khoury. She is wellknown for a viral thread on Twitter re lating her story of how she was removed from Kaiser Medical School.

Kaiser has released a statement disputing Khoury’s claim.

“Regarding Dr. Aysha Khoury, one of the founders of the Black Doc Village organi zation, the school has been clear that Dr. Khoury was not placed on leave because she brought content related to anti-racism to the classroom or because she shared her experiences as a Black woman in medi cine,” the Kaiser statement says.

Khoury and Grubbs say that issues with Kaiser are a small part of a bigger problem in the medical community and are hoping that their stories can be the jumping-off point for action.

“Kaiser is where we are today, but this is everywhere, not just there,” said Khoury. “This is why we need the whole village.”

The post Black Doctors March Shine Spotlight on Institutionalized Racism first appeared on Post News Group. This article originally appeared in Post News Group.

All-Black Female Crew Observes 100th Anniversary of Bessie Coleman’s First Flight

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

American Airlines celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first Black woman to earn a pilot’s license – Bessie Coleman accomplished that feat in 1922.

With an all-Black female crew, the air lines hosted the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars tour, recognizing how Coleman bravely broke down barriers within the world of aviation and paved the path for many to follow.

To help honor Coleman’s legacy, Ameri can Airlines hosted Gigi Coleman, Bes sie’s great-niece, on a flight from DallasFort Worth to Phoenix.

An all-Black female crew – from the pi lots and flight attendants to the cargo team members and the aviation maintenance technician – took the reins for the special occasion.

“American is being intentional in its ef forts to diversify the flight deck,” airline

officials wrote in a news release.

“Black women have been notably under represented in the aviation industry, espe cially as pilots, representing less than 1% in the commercial airline industry.”

Through the American Airlines Cadet Academy, the airline said it’s committed to expanding awareness of and increasing accessibility to the pilot career within di verse communities.

Coleman earned a pilot’s license in 1921 and performed the first public flight by a Black woman in 1922.

She traveled to France to obtain her license when the U.S. refused her.

Coleman then performed air shows in and around Chicago, according to federal records.

Captain Beth Powell and First Officer Charlene Shortte led the American Air lines flight to observe the centennial of Coleman’s history-making journey.

Lee Rubin, MD

Your joint replacement calls for the greatest of care.

If you’ve been putting off joint replacement surgery, it’s time to stop living with pain and start feeling like yourself again. At Yale New Haven Hospital, our renowned orthopedic surgery specialists offer a comprehensive range of joint replacement techniques, including minimally invasive surgery that uses tiny incisions to help protect soft tissues and ligaments from damage and accelerate your recovery with less pain. Because Yale New Haven Hospital is committed to treating you with the greatest of care.

Find your Orthopedic Specialist today: 888-700-6543

Department of Education Seeking Loan Forgiveness Applications by November 15

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Following President Joe Biden’s an nouncement canceling student loan debt of up to $20,000 for specific borrowers, the U.S. Department of Education said ap plications for relief under the plan should be submitted by Nov. 15.

Department officials said they’ve made the application process simple, and if bor rowers fail to apply by Nov. 15, they’d still have until the end of 2023 to file for forgiveness.

However, by waiting until after Nov. 15, borrowers risk having to resume payments after the federal pause in repayment ends on Dec. 31.

Biden said it’s vital for the more than 43 million eligible borrowers to take advan tage of the loan forgiveness plan.

“All this means people can start to fi nally crawl out from under that mountain of debt to get on top of their rent and utili ties, to finally think about buying a home or starting a family or starting a business,” Biden stated.

And while earlier reports revealed that about 13 states could still tax borrowers on the amount of debt forgiven, Missis sippi and Virginia are the latest to come

off that original list as officials said they would refrain from levying taxes on indi viduals who receive loan forgiveness. How do you know if you’re eligible for debt cancelation? Here are the criteria set forth by the Department of Education:

• Your annual income must have fallen below $125,000 (for individuals) or

Arts Legend Melba Moore Receives

Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award

By Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., NNPA Newswire Culture and Entertainment Editor

Legendary Tony Award-winning and Grammy-nominated songstress, Melba Moore, has achieved many milestones in her dynamic career. From Broadway to television, hit records to high accolades from arts and civic leaders, Moore has overcome personal and professional ob stacles on the road to her iconic status.

Friday, August 26, 2022, Moore received the Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achieve ment Award, honoring her career. The event took place at Morehouse College in Atlanta GA. At the event, she also re ceived the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for her commitment to improve ment within urban communities.

Moore is no stranger to awards for her many talents and service. Moore won the Tony Award for best featured actress for her performance in Purlie (1970) and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Per formance in that same year. Moore has been received several Grammy nomina tions for her songs, “Read My Lips” and “Lean on Me,” and Best New Artist in 1971.

In recent years, the Harlem-born, New ark raised dynamo’s rendition of “Lift Ev ery Voice & Sing” (recorded in 1990) was added to the US National Recording Reg istry by the Library of Congress in 2017 as an “American Aural Treasure.” The rendition was also entered into the Con

gressional Record as the Official Black National Anthem. Moore’s rendition of the national Black anthem was also added to the US National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as an “American Aural Treasure”. Moore recently released her latest album, Imagine.

Moore will also be a part of the 2023 Hollywood Walk of Fame Class, which will include Lenny Kravitz, Sheila E., Charlie Wilson, Ludacris, Garrett Morris and Ludacris. Moore will receive her star for the Live Performance category.

$250,000 (for married couples or heads of households)

• If you received a Pell Grant in college and meet the income threshold, you will be eligible for up to $20,000 in debt can cellation.

• If you did not receive a Pell Grant in college and meet the income threshold,

you would be eligible for up to $10,000 in debt cancellation.

What does the “up to” in “up to $20,000” or “up to $10,000” mean?

• Your relief is capped at the amount of your outstanding debt.

• For example: If you are eligible for $20,000 in debt relief but have a balance

of $15,000 remaining, you will only re ceive $15,000 in relief.

What do I need to do to receive loan forgiveness?

• Nearly 8 million borrowers may be eligible to receive relief automatically because relevant income data is already available to the U.S. Department of Edu cation.

• If the U.S. Department of Education doesn’t have your income data, the Ad ministration will launch a simple applica tion available by early October Please sign up on the Department of Edu cation subscription page if you want noti fication of when the application is open.

Once borrowers complete the applica tion, they can expect relief within 4-6 weeks.

Everyone is encouraged to apply, but there are 8 million individuals for whom the Education Department has data and who will get the relief automatically.

Borrowers are advised to apply before Nov. 15 to receive relief before the pay ment pause expires on Dec. 31, 2022.

The Department of Education will con tinue to process applications as they are received, even after the pause expires on Dec. 31, 2022.

Post Views: 506

13 States Set to Tax Student Loan Forgiveness

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

According to an analysis by the Tax Foundation, as many as 13 states will con sider President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness a taxable event, levying as much as $1,100 in taxes to some borrow ers who receive a $10,000 break.

When announcing plans to forgive as much as $20,000 in student loans, Biden said provisions in the American Rescue Plan would render the forgiven debt nontaxable.

However, the law doesn’t exempt loan forgiveness at the state level.

“As a general rule, a discharge of indebt edness counts as income and is taxable,” Jared Walczak wrote for the Tax Founda tion.

“Under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), however, the forgiveness of stu dent loan debt between 2021 and 2025 does not count toward federal taxable income. States which follow the federal treatment here will likewise exclude debt forgiveness from their own state income tax bases.

“But, for a variety of reasons, not every state does that. There are at least six rel evant interactions with the Internal Rev enue Code (IRC) for purposes of the treat ment of student loan debt cancellation.”

Those receiving $10,000 in loan forgive ness are now facing the following tax pen alties in the following states:

• Arkansas: $550

• Hawaii: $1,100

• Idaho: $600

• Kentucky: $500

• Massachusetts: $500

• Minnesota: $985

• Mississippi: $500

• New York: $685

• Pennsylvania: $307

• South Carolina: $700

• Virginia: $575

• West Virginia: $650

• Wisconsin: $530

Walczak said those amounts double for individuals receiving $20,000 in debt re lief.

He noted that in several other states, tax officials have indicated that there will be no tax on student loan debt discharge de spite ambiguity in state law.

“California, for instance, does not con form to a post-ARPA version of the IRC but has a provision in existing law ex

empting student loans canceled according to income-based repayment programs,” Walczak wrote.

“Legislation expressly conforming to the new federal law failed, but state revenue officials seem to be taking the position that the forgiveness announced by the Biden administration will be covered by the existing law.”

Similarly, Walczak noted that officials in Pennsylvania have announced that the Biden administration’s cancellation of stu dent loan debt is not taxable.

In the coming weeks and months, Wal czak added that it’s likely that additional states would issue guidance on the treat ment of discharged student loan debt and perhaps even adopt legislative fixes, caus ing this list to dwindle.

While the debt – if retained – would have been paid over a period of years, the debt cancellation is included in income in the year it is taxed.

Melba Moore

New Campaign by FEMA and Ad Council Encourages Black Community to “Create a Lasting Legacy” by Preparing for Disaster

FEMA will also visit Howard University for series of events to kick off National

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As National Preparedness Month begins this Septem ber, FEMA and the Ad Council have re leased new Ready Campaign Public Ser vice Announcements (PSAs), developed specifically to target Black and African American communities as part of FEMA’s ongoing approach to advance accessibility and cultural competency in boosting the nation’s preparedness.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Deputy Administrator Erik A. Hooks will also visit Howard University, a found ing member of the HBCU Emergency Management Workforce Consortium, for a series of events kicking off National Preparedness Month and announcing the new Ready Campaign.

Black communities are on the frontlines of climate change and related extreme weather events. A report from the Envi ronmental Protection Agency shows that socially vulnerable populations, including Black and African American communi ties, may be more exposed to the highest impacts of climate change. Specifically, with global warming, Black and African American individuals have a 10% higher risk of living in areas with the highest pro jected inland flooding damages compared to reference populations.

“Black and African American communi ties often suffer disproportionate impacts from disasters. This is something that we must work to change and that starts with how we prepare,” said Administra tor Criswell. “Our 2022 Ready campaign speaks directly to the communities who need our help the most and who deserve equitable access to preparedness resourc es that protect people and property. By continuing to advance accessibility and cultural competency in our preparedness messaging, we can make sure that every one is ready when disaster strikes.”

The Ready Campaign PSAs, entitled “A Lasting Legacy” will run nationwide in both Spanish and English, and are meant to help mitigate these discrepancies by en couraging Black communities to protect the lives they have built and the legacies they will leave behind through preparation and disaster readiness. These new PSAs build upon the work the FEMA is doing to advance equity and ensure everyone gets the help they need before, during and after disaster.

“Preparing for disaster is not just about protecting people and property, it’s about safeguarding the lives we’ve built and the legacy we will leave to our children and the generations to come,” said FEMA Deputy Administrator Erik Hooks. “With this campaign, FEMA reaffirms our com mitment to equity and says loud and clear that every community deserves to be pro tected from hazards.”

FEMA’s Ready Campaign PSAs were developed pro bono by Creative Theo

ry agency in coordination with the Ad Council and are available today in TV, radio, print, out of home and digital for mats. Throughout the month, the Ready Campaign will emphasize unique aspects of preparedness, such as making a plan, building a kit and teaching communities how to engage their families on emergen cy preparedness. “We all want to protect our families,

Preparedness Month and announce the new campaign

whether that’s our grandparents or our grandchildren,” said Ad Council Chief Campaign Development Officer Michelle Hillman. “This latest creative work is grounded in the importance of family and reminds us that preparation can make sure that our loved ones endure whatever disas ters life sends our way.”

This round of creative work for the Ready Campaign builds upon the annual

month-long campaign activities to engage communities and promote the steps to pre pare for disasters. Last year’s theme was “Prepare to Protect” and was designed to resonate with Latino communities. As a direct result of that campaign, the Listo. gov—the Spanish version of Ready.gov— had a 500% increase in visits to the “Make a Plan” page and a 400% increase in visits to the “Build a Kit” page.

This is the latest round of work in 19 years of educating the public about di saster and emergency preparedness. For more information and to get started on your emergency plan, visit ready.gov/plan or listo.gov/plan.

About FEMA

FEMA’s mission is to help people before, during and after disasters.

Follow FEMA at FEMA online, on Twitter @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol, on FEMA’s Facebook page or Espanol page, FEMA’s Instagram and at FEMA’s YouTube account. Also, follow the Ready Campaign’s Instagram account or @ Ready.gov on Twitter and Ready.gov on Facebook.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

About the Ad Council

The Ad Council brings together the most creative minds in advertising and media to address the most worthy causes. Its in novative, pro bono social good campaigns raise awareness. They inspire action. They save lives. To learn more, visit Ad Council.org follow the Ad Council’s com munities on Facebook and Twitter, and view the creative on YouTube.

28-Year-Old Black Entrepreneur Opens $5M Grocery Store in His Old Neighborhood

By BlackBusiness.com

Donta Rose, a 28-year-old engineer and entrepreneur, has opened his own Grocery Outlet supermarket worth $5 million within a new development in his former neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Rose, who studied at Morgan State University, an HBCU, was originally one of the engineers working to design stores for Grocery Outlet, a California-based retailer that has over 400 stores nationwide. Upon seeing that his old neighborhood in the Sharswood section of North Philadelphia is on the list of future store locations, he thought it would be a great opportunity to own it.

That’s when Rose used his savings and secured a loan to buy a franchise of the store, he told The Philadelphia Inquirer. Being conveniently located in the neighborhood where he mostly grew up, he is very familiar with it. He was aware that

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before he opened the store, there has been no major supermarkets since the 1960s and the closest one was nearly a mile away.

Grocery Outlet offers name-brand and private-label products as well as dairy, bread, and fresh produce at low prices. Aside from making necessities more accessible to people in the community, the store also created new jobs.

Moreover, Rose, who started helping in his grandparents’ business when he was just 9 years old, is grateful to his family of entrepreneurs for supporting him in his endeavor.

“My name is on the loan and my face might be on there [in-store signage], but my mom is going to be with me,” he said. “My dad is actually out running right now to go pick up a safe for me and helping to grab stuff for the opening. My sisters are with me. So it’s definitely going to be a family business, for sure.”

70-Year Old Man Earns PhD, Graduates With Honors from HBCU

By BlackNews.com

In 2021, at the age of 70, Joseph M. Grant earned his Ph.D. in Political Science with a focus on American government and Black politics from Howard University, which he says has always been his dream school.

“I always wanted to go to Howard; literally all my life. This is my first HBCU experience,” Grant said during an interview with The Dig.

In 2015, he started his doctorate studies in Howard when he was 65. He said he wanted to further his knowledge of how the Black culture influences political processes after several years of prior experience in working as a lobbyist and serving in the government.

He was initially hesitant to pursue his doctoral but he eventually made up his mind and moved from South Carolina to Washington, DC. He received a lot of support from faculty members including the former dean of the Graduate School at Howard, Gary Harris, Ph.D., and the

director of the Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center, Elsie Scott, Ph.D. as well as his younger classmates and his family.

However, an unexpected tragedy caused him to delay the program for 2 years. He was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma and although he survived after surgery, he suffered some side effects.

“I could not comprehend what I read, nor understand its importance to what I was trying to do. My surgery altered my course of study and seriously threatened my ability to complete my program. I almost died,” he said.

In 2021, he finally earned his Ph.D. from his dream school and his next plan is to teach at an HBCU. He hopes his experience would also motivate others, especially his 2-year-old grandson Mason.

“I want him to know that his grandfather did it and that I completed my program at 70 after facing many challenges. I want him to be really motivated to come to Howard when it’s his time,” he said.

FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC

NOTICE

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

The Wallingford Fire Department is seeking qualified applicants for Firefighter/Paramedic. $1,122.64 weekly plus an excellent fringe benefits package. The written exam and oral exam process will be administered by the Town of Wallingford. To apply, candidates must register through the firefighterapp.com , once on the site go to firefighter jobs and locate the link for Wallingford. The registration/application deadline is September 2, 2022. The registration requires a fee of $35.00 (online with firefighterapps.com). EOE

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

NOTICIA

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510

Town of Bloomfield Director of Building and Land Use $101,455 to $156,599

(expected starting pay maximum is mid-range) Pre-employment drug testing. For more details, visit our website – www.bloomfieldct.org

Deadline: Applications will be accepted until sufficient applications are received

CLERK TYPIST

Performs a wide variety of routine clerical duties requiring excellent computer and interpersonal skills. This position requires 1 year of office work experience of a responsible nature and a H.S., GED, or business diploma. Wages: $21.83 to $26.43 hourly plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request form the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone: (203) 294-2080 Fax: (203) 2942084. The closing date will be that date the 50th application form/resume is received or September 30, 2022 whichever occurs first. EOE

HEALTH DIRECTOR

The Town of Wallingford is seeking a highly qualified individual to direct and manage the Town’s public health programs and services. Applicants must meet the educational requirements of CGS § 19a-200, plus have 5 years of responsible local public health program experience, including 5 years in public health code enforcement. Must possess and maintain a Registered Sanitarian license, CT DPH Phase II Subsurface Sewage Certification, and a valid CT Drivers’ license. Salary: $111,179 to $142,255 annually plus an excellent fringe benefits package. A complete job announcement and application may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page and can be mailed to the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492, or emailed to: wlfdhr@wallingfordct.gov by the closing date of October 3, 2022. Phone: (203) 294-2080; Fax: (203) 294-2084. EOE

Information Technology

Administrative Application Technologist. The Town of Wallingford Public Schools is seeking a highly skilled individual to provide technical assistance in managing its organizational data system needs. The position requires 4 years information technology experience in a K-12 school environment which includes 2 years’ experience with Microsoft Office, PowerSchool, Crystal Reports, or similar reporting software. Must have own transportation to travel between schools in the district. Wages: $32.86 hourly plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Apply to: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone # (203) 294-2080, Fax #: (203) 294-2084. Closing date will be September 30, 2022 EOE

https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/sup/ bulpreview.asp?R1=220908&R2=6297AR&R3=001

Seeking to employ experienced individuals in the labor, foreman, operator and teamster trades for a heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers license required. To apply please call (860) 621-1720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410.

PUBLIC WORKS

Construction

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

MAINTAINER II - Performs a variety of semi-skilled tasks in road and grounds maintenance. Must possess 2 years’ experience as laborer in construction work involving operation and care of trucks and other mechanical equipment used in construction OR two (2) years training in one of the skilled trades and one (1) year of experience in construction operations OR an equivalent combination of experience and training. Must possess and maintain a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) Class B to operate equipment. (Provide a copy of your CDL license with your application) $23.73 - $27.82 Hourly. Applications may be obtained at the Department of Human Resources, 45 S. Main Street, Room 301, Wallingford CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Fax (203)-294-2084 Phone: (203)-294-2080. The closing date will be the date the 50th application or resume is received or September 30, 2022, whichever occurs first. EOE https://www.jobapscloud.com/CT/sup/ bulpreview.asp?R1=220908&R2=6855AR&R3=002

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Drug Free Workforce

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

The Town of East Haven is currently accepting applications to fill the position of Clerk in the Social Services Department. The salary for this position is 42,452/year and the Town offers an excellent benefits package. Information regarding qualifications and job duties are available with the application at https://www.townofeasthavenct.org/civil-service-commission/ pages/job-notices-and-tests The Town of East Haven is committed to building a workforce of diverse individuals. Minorities, Females, Handicapped and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 Start: August 15, 2016 documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage 203-881-8372 the Veteran, S/W/MBE Section 3 Businesses Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the VILLAGE Construction, Wood Framed, Selective Demolition, Site-work, CastAsphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

Ducci Electrical Contractors, Inc. seeks experienced ESTIMATOR to handle multiple large projects in the field of Electrical Construction. Full-time position. 5+ years experience in the following types of projects is preferred: Health care, Data centers, Educational, Industrial, Commercial, DOT, & Railroad. Electrical license E-2 or above preferred. Excellent compensation and benefits package. Send resume to Ducci Electrical Contractors, Inc. 74 Scott Swamp Rd. Farmington, CT 06032 or via email at humanresources@duccielectrical.com.

An affirmative action equal opportunity employer. EOE/M/F/D/V.

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

Construction

NOTICE

Construction Equipment Mechanic preferably experienced in Reclaiming and Road Milling Equipment. We offer factory training on equipment we operate. Location: Bloomfield CT We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

Contact: Tom Dunay Phone: 860- 243-2300

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Seeking to employ experienced individuals in the labor, foreman, operator and teamster trades for a heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers license required. To apply please call (860) 6211720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR ELM CITY COMMUNITIES/HOUSING AUTHORITY OF NEWHAVEN (ECC/HANH) PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE HCV ADMINISTRATIVE PLAN (ADMIN PLAN)

Email: tom.dunay@garrityasphalt.com

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Inc seeks:

Reclaimer Operators and Milling Operators with current licensing and clean driving record, be willing to travel throughout the Northeast & NY. We offer excellent hourly rate & excellent benefits

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Drug Free Workforce

PVC FENCE PRODUCTION

Elm City Communities, the Housing Authority of the City of New Haven (ECC/HANH) is proposing to amend sections of its Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Administrative Plan (Admin Plan).

The thirty (30) days comment period begins on Monday, September 12, 2022, and ends on Tuesday, October 11, 2022.

Copies of the amendment to the HCV Administrative Plan will be made available on Monday, September 12, 2022 on the agency website www.elmcitycommunities.org or via Twitter, www.twitter.com/ECCommunities or via Facebook www.facebook.com/ ElmCityCommunities

NOTICIA

Contact: Rick Tousignant Phone: 860- 243-2300

Email: rick.tousignant@garrityasphalt.com

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

Large CT Fence Company looking for an individual for our PVC Fence Production Shop. Experience preferred but will train the right person. Must be familiar with carpentry hand & power tools and be able to read a CAD drawing and tape measure. Use of CNC Router machine a plus but not required, will train the right person. This is an in-shop production position. Duties include building fence panels, posts, gates and more. Must have a valid CT driver’s license & be able to obtain a Drivers Medical Card. Must be able to pass a physical and drug test. Please email resume to pboucher@atlasoutdoor.com. AA/EOE-MF

You are invited to provide written comments addressed to: ECC/HANH, Admin Plan Revisions; Attn: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 or via email to: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org.

A public hearing where public comments will be accepted and recorded is scheduled for Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 4:00pm via RingCentral: https://v.ringcentral.com/jo in/975943490?pw=2e34ff6769797e68e96a95bb953d0d81

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

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510

Contact Dana at 860-243-2300

Email: dana.briere@garrityasphalt.com

Women & Minority Applicants are encouraged to apply Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity Employer

NEW HAVEN

Construction

Seeking to employ experienced individuals in the labor, foreman, operator and teamster trades for a heavy outside work statewide. Reliable personal transportation and a valid drivers license required. To apply please call (860) 621-1720 or send resume to: Personnel Department, P.O. Box 368, Cheshire, CT06410.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V Drug Free Workforce

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the of funding, and to waive any

Meeting ID: 975943490

Password: yozWY5m3ib

Or Phone: +12679304000 United States (Philadelphia, PA) Access Code / Meeting ID: 975943490

Dial-in password: 9699956342

Any individual requiring a Reasonable Accommodation to participate in the hearing may call the Reasonable Accommodation Manager (203) 498-8800, ext. 1507 or at the TDD Number (203) 497-8434.

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

Legal Notice

Request for Qualifications

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units)

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Labor Relations Specialist. Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions for this position are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?R1= 220815&R2=5256MP&R3=001

Tax Exempt & Not Prevailing Wage Rate Project

The South Central Regional Council of Governments (“SCRCOG”) is seeking qualifications from Consultants with expertise in community engagement and facilitation of discussions and educational forums, which will be designed to address affordable housing concepts and the recently adopted Affordable Housing Plans. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms are strongly encouraged to respond as a prime contractor or to play a significant role within a consultant team.

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection. This contract is subject to state set-aside and contract compliance requirements.

Responses are due by September 20, 2022 (3:00 p.m. local time). The full RFQ document and any potential updates can be viewed at SCRCOG’s website: www.scrcog.org. If you would like to request a copy of the RFQ, please contact Andy Cirioli, Director of Regional Planning and Municipal Services via e-mail at acirioli@scrcog.org.

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Anticipated Start: August 15, 2016 Project documents available via ftp link below: http://ftp.cbtghosting.com/loginok.html?username=sayebrookevillage

Fax or Email Questions & Bids to: Dawn Lang @ 203-881-8372 dawnlang@haynesconstruction.com

HCC encourages the participation of all Veteran, S/W/MBE & Section 3 Certified Businesses Haynes Construction Company, 32 Progress Ave, Seymour, CT 06483 AA/EEO EMPLOYER

Junior Engineer – The Town of Wallingford’s Water Division is seeking a responsible and skilled individual to prepare and maintain permanent utility location records. Requires an associate’s degree or equivalent in civil engineering plus two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in the water/sewer utility field, or an equivalent combination of education and qualify experience substituting on a yearfor-year basis. Salary: $61,909 - $79,210 annually. Plus, an excellent fringe benefits package. Apply: Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from the Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone #: (203) 294-2080 Fax #: (203) 294-2084. Closing date will be October 4, 2022 or the date the 50th application is received, whichever occurs first. EOE. 0

WATER

NOTICE

VALENTINA MACRI RENTAL HOUSING PRE- APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Elm City Communities, la Autoridad de Vivienda de la Ciudad de New Haven (ECC/HANH) propone modificar secciones de su Plan Administrativo de Vales de Elección de Vivienda (HCV) (Plan Admin).

El período de comentarios de treinta (30) días comienza el lunes 12 de septiembre de 2022 y finaliza el martes 11 de octubre de 2022.

Las copias de la enmienda al Plan Administrativo de HCV estarán disponibles el lunes 12 de septiembre de 2022 en el sitio web de la agencia www.elmcitycommunities.org o a través de Twitter, www.twitter.com/ECCommunities o a través de Facebook www. facebook.com/ElmCityCommunities

HOME INC, on behalf of Columbus House and the New Haven Housing Authority, is accepting pre-applications for studio and one-bedroom apartments at this development located at 108 Frank Street, New Haven. Maximum income limitations apply. Pre-applications will be available from 9AM TO 5PM beginning Monday Ju;y 25, 2016 and ending when sufficient pre-applications (approximately 100) have been received at the offices of HOME INC. Applications will be mailied upon request by calling HOME INC at 203-562-4663 during those hours. Completed preapplications must be returned to HOME INC’s offices at 171 Orange Street, Third Floor, New Haven, CT 06510.

Se le invita a proporcionar comentarios por escrito dirigidos a: ECC/HANH, Revisiones del plan de administración; Atención: Evelise Ribeiro, 360 Orange Street, New Haven, CT 06511 o por correo electrónico a: eribeiro@elmcitycommunities.org.

VALENTINA MACRI VIVIENDAS DE ALQUILER PRE-SOLICITUDES DISPONIBLES

Una audiencia pública donde se aceptarán y grabarán los comentarios públicos está programada para el martes 11 de octubre de 2022 a las 4:00 p. m. a través de RingCentral: https://v.ringcentral.com/join/975943490?pw=2e34ff6769797e68e96a95bb953d0d81 de la reunión: 975943490 yozWY5m3ib teléfono: +12679304000 Estados Unidos (Filadelfia, PA) Código de acceso / ID de reunión: 975943490 Contraseña de marcación: 9699956342

HOME INC, en nombre de la Columbus House y de la New Haven Housing Authority, está aceptando pre-solicitudes para estudios y apartamentos de un dormitorio en este desarrollo ubicado en la calle 109 Frank Street, New Haven. Se aplican limitaciones de ingresos máximos. Las pre-solicitudes estarán disponibles 09 a.m.-5 p.m. comenzando Martes 25 julio, 2016 hasta cuando se han recibido suficientes pre-solicitudes (aproximadamente 100) en las oficinas de HOME INC. Las pre-solicitudes serán enviadas por correo a petición llamando a HOME INC al 203-562-4663 durante esas horas.Pre-solicitudes deberán remitirse a las oficinas de HOME INC en 171 Orange Street, tercer piso, New Haven , CT 06510

Cualquier persona que requiera una Adaptación Razonable para participar en la audiencia puede llamar al Gerente de Adaptación Razonable (203) 498-8800, ext. 1507 o al Número TDD (203) 497-8434.

State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

NOTICIA

SEYMOUR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Sealed bids are invited by the Housing Authority of the Town of Seymour until 3:00 pm on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 at its office at 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 for Concrete Sidewalk Repairs and Replacement at the Smithfield Gardens Assisted Living Facility, 26 Smith Street Seymour.

A pre-bid conference will be held at the Housing Authority Office 28 Smith Street Seymour, CT at 10:00 am, on Wednesday, July 20, 2016.

Bidding documents are available from the Seymour Housing Authority Office, 28 Smith Street, Seymour, CT 06483 (203) 888-4579.

The Housing Authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, to reduce the scope of the project to reflect available funding, and to waive any informalities in the bidding, if such actions are in the best interest of the

The State of Connecticut, Office of Policy and Management is recruiting for a Fiscal/Administrative Officer.

Further information regarding the duties, eligibility requirements and application instructions for this position are available at: https://www.jobapscloud.com/ CT/sup/bulpreview.asp?R1= 220831&R2=1308AR&R3=001

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Plant Maintenance Mechanic

Highly skilled mechanic needed in the repair and maintenance of all plant equipment to include pumping station equipment and motor vehicles for the Town of Wallingford Sewer Division. Requires graduation from a high school/trade school and 4 years experience in the repair and maintenance of mechanical equipment. Must obtain a CDL Class B motor vehicle operator license within 6 months of employment. $30.85 to $36.18 per hour plus an excellent fringe benefit package. Application forms may be obtained at the Department of Human Resources, Town of Wallingford, 45 South Main Street, Wallingford, CT 06492. Forms will be mailed upon request from the Department of Human Resources or may be downloaded from Town of Wallingford Department of Human Resources Web Page. Phone: (203)-294-2080. Fax (203)-294-2084. The closing date will be September 27, 2022 or the date the 50th application is received, whichever occurs first. EOE

SENIOR MANAGER, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

FHI Studio is actively seeking an innovative and self-motivated full-time Senior Manager Landscape Architect to join our team. As a manager in the landscape architect team, you are vital to partnering with the firm’s leadership team in the development of a roadmap and implementation of blending our planning and design services. You manage projects and oversee project team members and lead business development efforts and proposal activities that includes guiding preparation of proposal and presentation materials. Strong candidates have strong organizational and planning skills and have experience in landscape architecture and urban design and planning. Candidates must be proficient in AutoCAD and be proficient with MS Office. Experience with 3d modeling is a plus.

Minimum Degree: Bachelor’s Degree in landscape architecture, urban design, or related field with 10+ years of experience. Salary ranges from $120,000 to $145,000 yearly, commensurate with level of experience. Please apply at https://fhistudio.isolvedhire. com/jobs/ or send cover letter and resume to Bonnie Torres, 416 Asylum Street, Hartford, CT 06103. FHI Studio is an EEO/AA /VEV/Disabled employer.

Invitation to Bid: 2nd Notice

Fax resume to 860-282-0424 or mail to Fibre Optic Plus, LLC 585 Nutmeg Road North, South Windsor, CT 06074 Attn: Don Ballsieper - Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer DE AUDIENCIA PARA LAS COMUNIDADES AL PLAN ADMINISTRATIVO DE AVC (PLAN ADMIN)

SAYEBROOKE VILLAGE

Old Saybrook, CT (4 Buildings, 17 Units) Exempt & Not Prevailing Project

New Construction, Wood Framed, Housing, Selective Demolition, Site-work, Castin-place Concrete, Asphalt Shingles, Vinyl Siding, Flooring, Painting, Division 10 Specialties, Appliances, Residential Casework, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing and Fire Protection.

This contract is subject to state set-aside and

POLICE

Request for Proposal – Legal Services –Tenant Related Services dealing with Summary Process

The Housing Authority of the City of Bristol (BHA) invites proposals from qualified attorneys, legal team(s) or law firms to provide tenant related services dealing with Summary Process to BHA.

Bid Extended, Due Date: August 5, 2016 Start: August 15, 2016 - $90,000 salary with full benefits.

All interested firms are directed to obtain a copy of the specifications for Request for Proposal ("RFP") from Carl Johnson, Director of Capital Funds, (860) 585-2028 or cjohnson@bristolhousing.org from Monday, September 19, 2022 through Mon., Sept. 26, 2022.

All proposals should be submitted to Mitzy Rowe, CEO, Housing Authority of the City of Bristol, 164 Jerome Avenue, Bristol, CT 06010 no later than 2:00 p.m., Fri., Sept. 30, 2022. Proposal must be submitted with one original and 3 copies in a sealed envelope, clearly identified as Proposal for Summary Process.

BHA reserves the right, at its sole and exclusive discretion, to reject any and all proposals received, to negotiate changes to submitted proposals based on the needs and available funding, and to award the contract based on the best interest of BHA. Proposals received after the deadline will not be accepted.

Minority and women-owned businesses are encouraged to submit proposals. The Housing Authority of the City of Bristol is An Equal Opportunity Employer

Madam C. J. Walker barbie doll now available

By Brenda C. Siler, Word in Black Special to The Inner-City News, Courtesy of The Afro.com

Madam C. J. Walker’s status as an en trepreneur, philanthropist and activist has long been a model for aspiring Black busi ness owners. On August 24, she became a model too- a doll in the image of Madam premiered as part of Mattel’s “Barbie –Inspiring Women Series.” According to A’Lelia Bundles, Madam’s great-greatgranddaughter and official biographer, the doll sold out on Mattel’s website in less than five hours. Restocking is underway for online purchases at Amazon, Target, and Walmart.

It was a short time from idea to retail shelf success. Bundles said Mattel pre sented the idea to her with conversations beginning just last October.

“I got an email out of the blue from Mat tel Barbie asking if I were interested in a Madam Walker doll,” Bundles said. “Of course, I said, ‘Yes.’”

Bundles shared phenomenal statistics from the first-day launch of Barbie’s Mad am. Coverage on August 24 was extreme ly positive from media across multicultur

al, lifestyle, and toy outlets. Launch day ended with 20 high-quality media place ments reaching over 35 million people seeing information about Barbie Madam through various platforms like social me dia and online media sites. Further, on the day of the launch, Amazon’s data showed that Madam was the #1 best seller in the “dolls” category and #1 as a new release among all toys on that day.

Ida B. Wells’s connection Helpful to Bundles during this process was her friendship with Michelle Duster, the great-great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells. In January, The Wells doll was

launched in Mattel’s “Barbie – Inspiring Women Series.” Madam and Wells knew each other, as both were strong advocates for women’s and workers’ rights. Duster and Bundles posted on Twitter mutual ex citement about their legendary elders be ing together again as Barbie dolls.

“Barbie is a big deal. I watched that pro cess for somebody who went through the same thing I was going through,” Bundles said.

Getting the right look Regarding working with doll designer Carlyle Nuera Bundles continued, “I had early conversations with the designer and the marketing team.”

Bundles sent to Mattel vintage photo graphs and sample tin containers used for Walker’s “Wonderful Hair Grower,” the hair and scalp product she created. A few weeks after those discussions, Bundle was sent approximately a dozen doll heads with different complexions, hair textures, and other features.

“I was able to say, here’s what I think. It is not going to be her exact features, but something in the ballpark,” Bundles explained. “They were very receptive to that.”

Regarding the clothing for Barbie Mad am, Bundles wanted to bring in color, even though the photos from that era were in black and white.

“Some of Madam’s stationery was tur quoise with purple and lavender letter ing,” said Bundles about how she got ideas about the dress worn by Barbie Madam, the finished doll.

Bundles is an award-winning journal ist and author. As the official biographer for Madam, she is the author of “On Her Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker” and “All About Madam C. J. Walker, a book geared to fourth and sev enth graders. “On Her Own Ground” was the “inspiration” for “Self Made,” the fic tional four-part Netflix series starring Oc tavia Spencer. Bundles is also the founder of the Madam Walker Family Archives and is the brand historian for “MADAM” by Madam C. J. Walker, a line of hair care products developed in partnership with Sundial Brands and Walmart.

Keep track of available Madam dolls on Mattel’s “Barbie – Inspiring Women Se ries” at https://creations.mattel.com/col lections/barbie-inspiring-women-series.

Follow A’Lelia Bundles on social media.

Idris delivers action-packed performance in new thriller film, ‘Beast’

By Dwight Brown, NNPA News Wire

If the job of an actor is to scare the day lights out of you, “Beast” –which hit the theaters on Aug. 19– gets the job done.

The success of this film’s eye-catching, ear-grabbing hocus pocus can be traced back to smart direction, near seamless visual and sound effects, tight editing and the supremely talented Idris Elba.

“Cujo as a lion” was the goal.

Screenwriter Ryan Engle (Rampage) set the stage, created the characters, put the story in motion and pitted man against beast and beast against man in a fathom able setting. The movie’s rogue lion may be bigger than life, but the setup is so fea sible, it hooks you.

Awe and bickering breakout on a plane hovering over South Africa’s gorgeous terrain. Dr. Nate Samuels (Elba) and his teen daughters Meredith (Iyana Halley) and Norah (Leah Jeffries) are returning to the motherland where he met his now de ceased ex-wife. The couple’s breakup, her death from cancer and his time-consuming career are the bones of contention.

Upon arrival, the three are greeted by their old family friend Martin (Sharlto Co pley, Maleficent), a wildlife biologist who manages an expansive game preserve.

The happy reunion and a tour of the en virons are cut short when Martin discov ers a village whose citizens have been savagely mauled to death by what ap pears be a large lion. The formidable beast hunts humans not as prey, but for revenge.

Poachers have killed off his pride of li ons, and this ferocious cat wants payback. Danger looms when the four get stranded and radio communications fade. Are they doomed? Martin: “You don’t understand, we’re in his territory now.”

Considering all the tourists who go to Yellowstone and get mauled by bears or bison, the premise seems possible. How ever, a leap of faith is required to believe that this crazed lion is bigger and badder than normal. Its size and sheer brutality will require audiences to suspend disbelief for 93 very succinct minutes (editor Jay Rabinowitz, “8 Mile”). And this “Cujo” on steroids aspect takes the film from action-packed thriller to horror. Those who prefer realism, may be disenchanted. Genre fans who covet gore galore, may feel unfulfilled. But no one can deny the scariness on view.

The depth of emotions and relationship woes between Nate and his daughters feel viable enough to pull you firmly into their family strife. The way the film is written, Martin and Nate are not over-exaggerated superheroes, they’re just courageous.

As Mer and Norah squabble and make bonehead decisions, they exemplify teen angst and become endearing. These char acters make you feel you’re stranded with them, in the middle of nowhere and fear ing for your life.

The deft visual effects team, led by Vic tor Almela, has created big cats that look the part. Production designer Jean-Vincent Puzos (The Lost City of Z) makes dwell ings, truck interiors and abandoned build ings serve as tangible sets.

Costume designer Moira Anne Meyer gives the Samuel family lived-in clothes. The savannahs, valleys and hills appear mesmerizing because veteran cinematog rapher Philippe Rousselot [A River Runs Through It] aptly captures the natural beauty of South Africa. And composer Stephen Price’s score ramps up the drama and intensifies scary moments.

Icelandic director Baltasar Kormákur’s (Everest) task is not easy. Help the actors project fear, coordinate vital visual, spe cial and sound effects, balance sustained moments of dread with scary, credible bone-chilling bursts of violence. But, he gets the job done. You’ll be so engrossed, jumpy and petrified you’ll forget the fakery as tension builds and builds and builds…

The actors who play poachers court dis dain. Copley as Martin seems earnest, while Halley and Jeffries display the right mix of naivete and courage as the atten tion-starved daughters. But honestly Elba is the kingpin. He helps create illusions of animal attacks that feel horrifying.

As the beast bangs down the doors of his truck, eager to maim and kill, fear and emerging bravery is expressed on his face, in his emotions and actions. The guiltridden dad morphs from absentee father to protector, leader and braveheart and that transition is a marvel. The kind of magic only a skilled thespian can deliver.

Beast is a guilty pleasure rife with dan ger, terror and peaked emotions. It will scare the hell out of you. But isn’t that what you want?