Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
by Rob Taylor Jr.
Courier Staff Writer
When it was time for Derrick Wilson to speak, the CEO of The Wilson Group, a Black-owned company with its home offices just feet from Pittsburgh in O’Hara Township, didn’t have to say too much.
In effect, he let the media and other members in attendance, including Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor and Pa. Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary, look around and smell the $27 million in revenue the company generated in 2023.
Wilson is the leader of the company that focuses on being the premier provider of document workflow solutions in the region. Need a copy machine, or printer, or scanner? Wilson’s got it. Best Records Management? Wilson’s got it. Securi-
ty systems? Wilson’s got that, too.
The Wilson Group is an example of a successful minority-owned business.
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and DCED Secretary Rick Siger want to see more historically disadvantaged businesses have success, which is why they announced at The Wilson Group’s offices on Delta Drive the opening of the Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program.
Community nonprofits, economic development organizations and educational institutions have until Jan. 22, 2025, to submit a funding application to the state. The organization must have a plan to open a Business Assistance Service Center, which would then be accessed by, among other groups, Black-owned businesses, for empowerment and support. That support
Historically Disadvantaged
could mean anything from technical assistance to access to capital and boosting the overall number of diverse small businesses. For Lt. Gov. Davis and DCED Secretary Siger, they felt it was important that the state “sub-grant” the funding dollars to local organizations “that really know their communities well,” Siger said during the Dec. 16, 2024, news conference at The Wilson Group.
“When we support small diverse businesses, we are supporting economic growth and job creation here in the Commonwealth,” Lt. Gov. Davis said. “We’re supporting revitalization in our commu-
nities that have been often left behind for far too long and we are helping Black and brown families create generational wealth.” Lieutenant Governor Da-
by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
The former home of famed Pittsburgh Courier photographer Charles "Teenie" Harris is one step closer to becoming a museum. The Courier has learned that the Pittsburgh Land Bank acquired the vacant Mulford Street home in a sheriff's sale on Dec. 2, 2024, for $26,000 via a bid process. The total cost for the Land Bank, including recording fees, quiet title, cleanout and sealing of building envelope and holding costs, was $51,597, paid with ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds. Without the Pittsburgh Land Bank stepping in, the vacant home could have been sold to anybody or any entity, who could have demolished it, or fixed it up and sold the home or used it as a rental property. More than likely, the person or entity that would have acquired the home wouldn't have honored the legacy of the man who lived in the two-story property for so many decades, "Teenie" Harris.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AUSTIN DAVIS, left, announces along with DCED Secretary Rick Siger the state’s new
Business Assistance Program. (Photo by Rob Taylor Jr.)
This Week In Black History A Courier Staple
• JANUARY 8
1866—Fisk University is founded in Nashville, Tenn., for recently freed slaves by the American Missionary Association. The college grows to become one of the leading Black institutions of higher learning in America by graduating several figures that played major roles in Black cultural, political and entertainment life.
1961—Calvin Smith , hall of fame track and field athlete, was born in Bolton, Miss. Smith ran track at the University of Alabama and in 1983 broke the 15-year-old world record in the 100 meter race. He went on to win a Gold medal as part of the United States 4 x 100 meter relay team at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and a Bronze medal in the 100 meter race at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
• JANUARY 9
by Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) celebrated a historic milestone with its largest membership ever, as 62 Black lawmakers were sworn in ahead of the 119th United States Congress. Among them were groundbreaking figures, including two Black women Senators and two Black U.S. House members from Alabama serving simultaneously for the first time.
Democrats Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware made history as the first two Black women to serve together in the U.S. Senate. Their elections were met with enthusiasm and optimism, signaling progress in representation. “I am honored to serve the people of Maryland and am ready to get to work,” Alsobrooks shared, while Blunt Rochester expressed
“If
Notably absent from the ceremony were the five Black Republican members of Congress—Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida, Wesley Hunt of Texas, John James of Michigan, and Burgess Owens of Utah. As supporters of President-elect Donald Trump, they have pledged allegiance to his future policies, diverging from the CBC’s priorities.
her excitement, saying, “Let’s get to work.” Both Senators took their oaths of office from Vice President Kamala Harris. The CBC also celebrated the historic election of Shomari Figures, who joins incumbent Rep. Terri Sewell as Alabama’s two Black U.S. House members. Figures represent Alabama’s newly created 2nd Congressional District, which emerged following a landmark 2022 federal court ruling mandating a second “opportunity district” for Black voters. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the decision in
icans. “We renew our pledge to fight racism where it exists, to weed out inequities in health care, the criminal justice system, education, voter access, and so many other areas,” said Rep. Terri Sewell. Notably absent from the ceremony were the five Black Republican members of Congress—Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida, Wesley Hunt of Texas, John James of Michigan, and Burgess Owens of Utah. As supporters of President-elect Donald Trump, they have pledged allegiance to
1906—Poet and novelist Paul Lawrence Dunbar dies. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Dunbar rapidly gained national recognition as a poet. Although he only lived to be 33, he was prolific—writing short stories, novels, plays and songs. In Dayton, he was a classmate of the Wright brothers of aviation fame. In fact, the Wright brothers helped Dunbar finance his newspaper— the Dayton Tattler.
1935—Black Enterprise magazine founder and publisher Earl Graves is born on this day in Brooklyn, N.Y.
1946—Poet Countee Cullen dies at age 42 in New York City. Cullen was one of Black America’s greatest poets and novelists. One of his most controversial works was “The Black Christ & Other Poems.” He was born in 1903. But some mystery surrounds exactly where he was born with both Baltimore and New York City being given as his place of birth. Cullen also taught high school. One of his best known students was the great writer James Baldwin.
1967—The Georgia legislature finally seats Representative Julian Bond. In an amazing anti-democracy display of arrogance, Georgia legislators had refused to allow Bond to take the seat he had duly won because of his opposition to the U.S. war in Vietnam. But a 1966 U.S. Supreme Court ruling declared their action unconstitutional. Bond later became chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors.
• JANUARY 10
1924—Legendary Jazz drummer and composer Max Roach is born in New York City. He was perhaps the greatest drummer-composer of the Jazz era performing with some of America’s best known Jazz musicians and singers. He formed Debut Records in 1952 with bassist Charles Mingus.
pologists) announce the discovery of the “African Eve”—the mother of all humankind. Based on research in East African involving mitochondrial DNA, the researchers from the Welcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics in Oxford, England, conclude that the original woman evolved in East Africa approximately 200,000 years ago and that all of humanity can ultimately trace their ancestry to this woman. However, some more recent studies suggest that humankind first evolved in Southern Africa.
• JANUARY 12
1890—Educator Mordecai Wyatt Johnson is born in Paris, Texas. Johnson became the first Black president of Howard University and presided over the prestigious Black institution for more than 30 years. He died in 1976.
1920—Civil rights leader James Farmer is born on this day in Marshal, Texas. During the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s he was among the top three or four most prominent civil rights leaders. He helped organize the “Freedom Rides” to help desegregate public transportation and founded the Congress of Racial Equality. He died in 1999.
• JANUARY 13
1869— On this day in 1869, one of the earliest post-Civil War attempts at organizing Blacks on a national level occurs. The National Convention of Black Leaders is held in Washington, D.C . Frederick Douglass is elected president. Also, the first Black labor union convention takes place. It was called the Convention of the Colored National Labor Union.
1913—The sorority Delta Sigma Theta is organized on the campus of Howard University by 22 coeds. It develops into one of the most prestigious and influential Black Greek letter organizations in the nation.
1953—Don Barksdale becomes the first African-American to play in an NBA All-Star game.
1966—Robert C. Weaver becomes the first Black member of a presidential cabinet. Lyndon B. Johnson appoints him Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
1987— In what many considered a racist decision, Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham rescinds the gubernatorial decree, which had established the birthday of civil rights legend Martin Luther King Jr. as a state holiday. The decision sets off protests and a national Black boycott of Arizona.
2023, paving the way for greater representation in the state. Established in 1971 with just 13 members, the CBC has grown significantly and now includes seasoned leaders such as Rep. Alma Adams of North Carolina, serving her sixth term, and notable newcomers like Janelle Bynum, Oregon’s first Black member of Congress. The swearing-in ceremony, held at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., was attended by family members, supporters, and prominent figures, including Maryland Governor Wes Moore, New York Attorney General Tish James, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. While the CBC remains nonpartisan, its Democratic members reaffirmed their dedication to advancing policies that protect the rights and opportunities of Black Amer-
his future policies, diverging from the CBC’s priorities.
Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland expressed concerns about potential abuses of power under the incoming administration, particularly within the Department of Justice. “Protecting the rule of law is what we’ve got to make sure happens now and going forward,” he said. Ivey also voiced optimism about future elections, declaring, “A setback is a setup for a comeback.”
Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, spoke fervently about the CBC’s advocacy despite the hostile political climate the upcoming administration has wrought. “If your plan is to administer solely to your MAGA base, we will lead the resistance,” he said.
1957—The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is founded in New Orleans, La., by a group of Black ministers led by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The SCLC goes on to become one of the premier leadership organizations of the Civil Rights Movement. Among the original founders were Ralph Abernathy, Joseph Lowery, Fred Shuttlesworth and C.K. Steel. Washington, D.C., Min. Walter Fauntroy was chairman of the board of directors and one of the leading women of the Civil Rights Movement, Ella Baker, became executive director. In 2009, King’s daughter Bernice was elected to head the organization.
• JANUARY 11
1965—The extraordinarily talented author and dramatist Lorraine Hansberry dies. Deeply committed to the Black struggle, Hansberry’s brilliant career was cut short by cancer. She was only 35. Her primary works included “A Raisin In The Sun” and “To Be Young, Gifted and Black.” “A Raisin In The Sun” became the first play written by a young Black woman to be produced on Broadway. 1971—Popular R&B singer Mary J. Blige is born on this day in the Bronx, N.Y. Blige starred in the Lifetime movie “Betty and Coretta” alongside Angela Bassett, Malik Yoba and Lindsay Owen Pierre. She played Dr. Betty Shabazz, the widow of Malcolm X. The film premiered in February 2013.
1988—Scientists (paleo-anthro -
1989—Poet Sterling Brown dies. Brown, a middle-class Black, born into one of Washington, D.C.’s, most prominent Black families, has probably never received full credit for the power, thought-provoking and even revolutionary nature of his poetry. He was a professor at Howard University for nearly 40 years.
• JANUARY 14
1895— A group of African-Americans organized the National Steamboat Co. in Washington, D.C. The group sailed the luxury steamer “George Leary” between the nation’s capital and Norfolk, Va., during the waning years of steamboat popularity in America. The George Leary was a triumph for Black entry into business.
1930—Ernest Just becomes vice president of the American Association of Zoologists. Just was perhaps the most noted Black zoologist in American history. He accomplished pioneering research in fertilization and cell division while also publishing more than 70 scientific papers and books. Born in Charleston, S.C., he was a brilliant student who graduated from Dartmouth magna cum laude. He taught at Howard University in Washington, D.C., for years and helped a group of students organize the Black Greek letter fraternity—Omega Psi Phi. Just died in 1941 of pancreatic cancer. 1972—“Sanford and Son” starring Redd Foxx and Demond Wilson premiers on NBC. The sitcom gains almost immediate popularity among Blacks as well as develop a large following of Whites. The name “Sanford” came from John Sanford—Redd Foxx’s real name.
'Teenie' Harris' home preserved Next; Turn home into a museum,
A1
In September 2024, the Courier was there as a state historical marker was placed in front of the home. Andy Masich, president and CEO of the Heinz History Center, said at that event that "everyone at the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission believes that Teenie Harris is of national significance."
But Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, at that September event, announced that the home was eligible for a sheriff's sale beginning Oct. 7, 2024. The mayor proclaimed that "we're gonna save this house. We're gonna make this a monument to the history of Teenie Harris."
The Pittsburgh Land Bank, which has been in operation since 2014, returns unproductive properties to beneficial reuse in an effort to revitalize neighborhoods within the City of Pittsburgh. It has its own Board of Directors and is affiliate entity with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. Preservation Pittsburgh's Matthew Falcone told media outlets like the Tribune-Review and WESA (90.5 FM) that plans are in the works to preserve the home and
create a museum-like atmosphere and education center inside the home at 7604 Mulford. Eventually, the ownership of the home would be transferred to the Teenie Harris Foundation. Harris is a person who will always be remembered in Pittsburgh. So much of Pittsburgh's Black history, from its social societies to its civil rights marches, were captured by Harris, known as "One Shot." Many of Harris' family members were on hand back on Sept. 27, 2024, when his historical marker was unveiled. It reads: "Charles "Teenie" Harris (1908-1998) — A photojournalist who chronicled Pittsburgh's African American community from the 1930s to the 1980s, taking more than 80,000 photographs. Many were published in the Pittsburgh Courier, a leading Black newspaper, and documented life and culture in the city's Hill District, including celebrity jazz musicians who performed there. His darkroom was located in the basement of his home at 7604 Mulford Street."
HARRIS FROM
ABOVE: THE STATE HISTORICAL MARKER FOR TEENIE HARRIS IS UNVEILED. BELOW: MAYOR ED GAINEY WITH TEENIE’S SON, LIONEL HARRIS.
Jack & Jill 2024 — The Presentation Ball
CardFest is a celebration of library cards and library resources designed especially for PPS students!
This card unlocks unlimited access to all of the Fine Free resources that the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has to offer!
• Books, magazines, movies and videogames
• eResources like digital eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines
• On demand tutoring, test prep, and homework help
• Vetted sources for reports, projects and assignments
Join the celebration! Because when students get excited about libraries and everything they can find there... they enter a world of unlimited learning.
DEBUTANTE SHELBY STEVERSON, WITH BROTHER TYLER, DAD JASON, AND MOM BIBIANA.
JACK AND JILL 2024 — THE BIG EVENT WAS HELD, DEC. 28, 2024, AT THE OMNI WILLIAM PENN HOTEL. (PHOTOS BY GAIL MANKER)
JACOB HUFF, PRESENTED BY HIS MOTHER, LISA HALEY AND HIS GRANDFATHER. (PHOTOS BY GAIL MANKER)
JALILA JEFFERSON BULLOCK, ESQ., WITH SON ELIJAH BULLOCK,
Davis announces program to assist local businesses
vis, a Black man from McKeesport, has continuously made announcements that directly affect the Black community in a positive manner. Last month, in December 2024, the state’s first Black Lieutenant Governor announced the state won a $4 million federal grant to combat gun violence, called the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initia
tive grant. He was in New Castle in November 2024 announcing $3.04 million in grants were earmarked for local law enforcement agencies to help them attract high-quality recruits. And in September 2024, Lt. Gov. Davis was instrumental in announcing that organizations could apply for grants to combat violence and offer enriching after-school learning opportunities, called the BOOST Program.
“BOOST” is an acronym for “Building Opportunity through Out of School Time.”
“We’re adopting a comprehensive strategy to tackle the root causes of violence and make our communities safer,” Lt. Gov. Davis said in Harrisburg in a statement, Sept. 12, 2024.
Others who spoke during the December 2024 news conference specifically about the new Historically Dis -
advantaged Business Assistance Program included Siger and the new president of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania, Barata Bey. Bey said for local entrepreneurs, oftentimes it’s hard to “figure everything out.”
“It’s a tough lift to figure out what you want to get into and how you can help your commu -
nity thrive,” Bey added, “so I think that these resources going into these organizations, that are going to work with these individuals to help them figure it out, it’s going to create a ripple effect.” That ripple effect includes more successful Black businesses in Pittsburgh, more jobs being created, and more generational wealth for Black and other minority families.
Siger said at least one Business Assistance Service Center would be created by a local organization or educational institution in the Pittsburgh area through this initiative. Nonprofit community-based organizations who wish to apply for the funding to create such a center must have at least three years of operating experience. A nonprofit economic development organization, such as the local African American Chamber of Commerce, must also have at least three years of operating experience. That’s no problem for the local Chamber—they’ve
been in existence for 27 years. Interested organizations who wish to apply for the funding can call the DCED’s Southwest Region telephone number at 412-565-5098 or visit dced.pa.gov, search “Historically Disadvantaged Business Assistance Program.”
“Our goal in the Shapiro/Davis administration is to support an economy where every single Pennsylvanian has the freedom and opportunity to get ahead, no matter what they look like or what zip code they’re from,” Siger said. He then mentioned that of the 1.1 million
businesses in Pennsylvania, 169,000, or 15.3 percent, are minority-owned firms, which is 8 percentage points lower than the minority share of the state’s population.
“When a member of a historically disadvantaged community opens a business,” Siger said, “they deserve the same degree of support as everyone else. And though we’ve come a long way, there’s still a measurable level of inequity when it comes to business ownership.”
TOWNSHIP, DEC. 16, 2024.
DERRICK WILSON, CEO OF THE WILSON GROUP. (PHOTOS BY ROB TAYLOR JR.)
DCED SECRETARY RICK SIGER, THE WILSON GROUP’S DESEIA ELLIOTT.
Take Charge Of Your Health Today. Be Informed. Be Involved.
Fatherhood
This month’s health focus is on Fatherhood, including harmful and untruthful stereotypes about the lack of presence of Black fathers in their children’s lives. We asked Carlos T. Carter President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, to address the importance of dismantling these harmful falsehoods.
Carlos: There’s a damaging stereotype that all Black fathers are absent or neglectful, but it’s not true. Many Black fathers are deeply committed to their children and families. This belief is rooted in historical oppression and continues to fuel ste-
reotypes. It runs counter to research that shows when Black fathers are involved, they’re more engaged than fathers from other racial groups.
Labeling people this way is dangerous and perpetuates the dehumanization and criminalization of Black fathers, contributing to systemic discrimination. Our youth need to know they and their fathers deserve dignity, respect, and love, so they can grow up to be strong, responsible fathers themselves. Challenging and dismantling the stereotype is essential for the well-being of Black families.
Q: How does the Urban League help Black fathers provide for and support their children, financially and developmentally?
Carlos: Each of our Family Support Centers has developed a Men’s Support Group that encourages men to come together and discuss issues. The groups are guided by the men themselves, ensuring that discussions are relevant and reflective. While the overarching themes are similar across centers, each group tailors topics to address the specific needs of their community.
Examples include the
Duquesne Group whose members come together to share a meal and discuss how they can make an impact in their community. They are also planning an event around Father’s Day.
The Northview Group discusses topics like the challenges of being a single father and political engagement, including
helping people get to the polls. There are moments of deep emotion, laughter, and even debates (including who’s the greatest basketball player of all time).
The common thread among all the groups is trust! These men have created a space where they can be vulnerable—something we’re not often allowed to be as Black men. As these groups grow, we aim to explore what good health looks like for Black men and develop plans to help them achieve it.
The Urban League also provides parenting workshops and early childhood development resources that offer the tools and knowledge fathers and mothers need to nurture their children’s growth and de-
velopment from a young age.
Our Opportunity Broker Program assists parents in overcoming barriers to access jobs and training opportunities, helping them achieve economic self-sufficiency. We offer financial education through our Moving On’ UP (MOU) program.
We’re also investing in our young Black men through the Black Male Leadership Development Institute (BMLDI). In partnership with institutions like Slippery Rock University, TriState Capital, and other community mentors, we build on their strengths. Our goal is to empower these young men to become career-ready, civically engaged, and transformative community leaders.
New book celebrates how Black fathers and communities build good health, resilience, and joy together
Fathers perform a fundamental role in the healthy development of their children and families. However, the story of Black fatherhood has been shaped by systemic racism that’s excluded them as fathers and partners. This removal has contributed to Black fathers’ social and health disparities—and to the health and well-being of their families and communities.
In popular culture, Black fatherhood bias and stereotypes continue to appear on social media platforms, in television programs, on movie screens, and in the news. The stereotypes are disrespectful, harmful—and untrue.
According to research from blackdemographics.com, the Institute for Family Studies, and the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, Black men are some of the most deeply and consistently engaged fathers whether they live with their children or not. In one CDC study, Black fathers were most likely to have been involved in activities with their children compared with white and Hispanic fathers.
In short, Black fathers are powerful forces for good in their children’s everyday lives, guiding them emotionally and socially.
Dr. Tasha Alston, University of Pittsburgh Assistant Professor in the School of Medicine and Direc-
tor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Pitt’s Division of General Internal Medicine, has co-edited a new book on Black fatherhood along with Brianna Lemmons of Baylor University (and founder of the Black Female Fatherhood Scholars Network) and Latrice Rollins of the Morehouse School of Medicine. All three editors study Black fathers and families.
The book, which draws on years of research by well-respected academics, is titled Health, Parenting, and Community Perspectives on Black Fatherhood: Defying Stereotypes and Amplifying Strengths. According to Dr. Alston, “The book celebrates and uplifts Black fatherhood by citing research alongside Black men’s lived experiences as they challenge stereotypes and embrace their role as fathers with resilience and joy.”
The book was written for people who are studying social work, public health, and education. It’s also intended for researchers, healthcare providers, policymakers, and community members whose job is to support Black fathers and families. “We hope the book will be used to create programs and processes that champion Black fathers,” says Dr. Alston.
The content is organized within three key areas: Fathers’ mental
and physical health, how they parent, and the community support that’s vital for their well-being and successful parenting. The chapters concentrate on the full range of Black fatherhood, including the ongoing challenges they face as well as their resilience. Through research and essays, readers gain a better understanding of what Black fathers need to not only survive but thrive. “For example, what does it mean to co-parent when fathers live with their kids vs when they don’t?” says Dr. Alston. “How can health researchers engage Black fathers as partners in research projects and in the health of mothers? What about support for Black ‘girl-dads’ and dads whose children are autistic? How do Black fathers form beneficial re-
lationships with in-laws?” The book illustrates the relationship between the health of Black fathers and community support. “The two are deeply interconnected,” says Dr. Alston. “Fatherhood and community reinforce one another, especially fathers’ mental health. For example, we know that fatherhood support groups can help fathers feel less alone. By sharing their experiences with other fathers , they gain emotional support.”
Fathers aren’t the only ones who benefit from community support.
Their kids do, too. “Children with healthy, engaged fathers tend to do better in school, are healthier emotionally, more resilient, and better able to cope with adversity,” Dr. Alston continues. There are economic and social advantages as well. “When communities support and elevate Black fatherhood by offering parenting classes and job training, for example, they improve household stability. That, in turn, creates a healthier neighborhood.” The interconnection between fatherhood and community support also helps to stop harmful stereotypes of Black fatherhood. “One thing I’m most proud of is that our book illustrates the persistence of Black fathers in the face of adversity—in their own words,” notes Dr. Alston. “It makes clear and showcases the strengths, perspective, and contributions Black fathers make in the lives of their children, families, and communities. Their lived experiences raise the voices of Black fathers who love and care for their children in a system that often makes that difficult,” she continues. “We hope their voices serve as resource for well-rounded policies and programs of support.”
Fathers Collaborative Council of Western Pa. drives change for fathers and families
Fathers and their families in our region have a powerful advocate in the Fathers Collaborative Council of Western PA (FCCWPA). The FCCWPA includes organizations and agencies whose members are committed to promoting and supporting the well-being, development, and engagement of fathers and their families. The group envisions a community where all fathers are enriched, engaged, and empowered through comprehensive support and resources. The FCCWPA’s goals are
to: Foster a spirit of cooperation and mutual support among participating agencies. Share resources, information, and best practices to improve the effectiveness and reach of fatherhood programs and initiatives and evaluate if there are additional needs. Present a united front in advocating for policies, funding, and initiatives that support fathers and their role in family and community life, including in its own agencies. Engage with a broader
community to raise awareness about the importance of father involvement and garner community support for initiatives.
FCCWPA values: Continuous improvement and tailored programs that offer guidance for healthy personal and family development.
Creating and sustaining holistic programs that support fathers and strengthen the family unit leading to better outcomes for everyone.
Empowering fathers through a network of knowledgeable and passionate advocates who offer resources, training, and
support.
Uplighting fathers and families by leveraging the strengths and expertise of its member agencies.
Each FCCWPA organization/agency operates individual fatherhood programs that work together to uplift the fatherhood movement. That includes
fatherhood meetings, essential supplies like food and baby items, education and support groups, housing and community access, help with economic stability, and court involvement. For more information about FCCWPA, reach out to Art Terry, Chairman, at aterry@hsipgh.org
CARLOS T. CARTER
DR. TASHA ALSTON
Four African Americans among those killed in New Orleans truck attack
by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer
Among the 14 victims of the New Year's Day truck attack along Bourbon Street were four African Americans, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned: 18-yearold Nikyra Dedeaux, of Gulfport, Miss.; 37-yearold Reggie Hunter, of Prairieville, Louisiana; 47-year-old Latasha Polk, of New Orleans; and 63-year-old Terrence Kennedy, of New Orleans.
and
For rate information, call 412-4818302, ext. 128. We want to feature positive youth from our Pittsburgh church community. Please mail their bio and photo
More than 30 others were injured in the terrorist attack, in which the now-deceased suspect, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a U.S. citizen from Texas, drove a rental truck from Houston to New Orleans, and then drove the truck along the sidewalk and street of the famous New Orleans Bourbon Street area, in an unthinkable attack. He was then met with gunfire by police and was killed in the firefight. It happened around 3:15 a.m. New Orleans time. The FBI believes the killer was
MARIE
Mable Marie Spencer Jackson was born about October 10, 1931, in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Willie John Spencer and Willie Ann ‘Ma Millie’ Bullock Spencer. She passed peacefully on December 30, 2024, in the presence of close family members.
Mable grew up in the Boyd Hill neighborhood of Monroeville, the youngest of five girls with one younger brother. Mable graduated from Westinghouse Memorial High school in Wilmerding in 1949, a notable choral star and orator. In 1951, Mabel married Herman Kendeall and gave birth to three brothers: Herman ‘Andre,’ Clifford and Edward Kendeall. Later, she would remarry, spending her life with Harold Jackson in their home in Swissvale until his death in 2008.
A lifelong woman of God, Mabel grew up attending Bethel AME church on Boyd Hill, where she taught Sunday school and sang in the church choir. She was instrumental in leading her family and friends to the Lord. Her younger brother Willie Spencer, Jr., was the pastor of The Homewood Church of God until his death in 1998 and her son Edward Kendeall is currently the Pastor of Cathedral of Praise Church of God. She was a bible scholar, teacher, church usher, administrator and a faithful prayer warrior.
Mabel—or ‘Granny’ as she was affectionately known—was the matriarch of the Kendeall and Spencer families and a pillar of strength in the community.
In addition to her three sons, she helped raise three generations of Kendeall children to become caring, well-adjusted adults. She organized family gatherings and loved to cook for a crowd.
Preceding her in death are her father Willie John Spencer, mother Willie Ann Bullock Spencer, sisters Bertha Spencer-Saunders, Mildred Spencer-Adams, Bernice Spencer-Tuff, Alberta Spencer-Glaze-Tuff and Rever and brother Willie John Spencer, Junior.
Mable leaves behind sons Andre, Clifford and Edward Kendeall, grandchildren Rosyln Hardy, Carolyn Brown, Clifford Kendeall, Carolyn Brown, Jacqueline Myers, Edward Kendeall, Jr., Aaron Kendeall, Katelyn KendeallandLawrenceKendeall.Shewillbedearly missed by 10 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren—all of whom will be raised alongside the powerful legacy she left behind. Countless nieces and nephews will also be mourning her passing, including her best friend and accomplice Wanda Adams.
In her youth, Mabel was known as the life of any class who loved dancing. She could recite the Gettysburg Address, Shakespeare and various literary classics by memory. We can still hear her reciting the poem ‘Sea-Fever’ by John Masefield by heart: I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking, And a gray mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.
"100 percent inspired by ISIS."
On Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden flew to New Orleans to pay their respects to those who lost their lives, as a memorial on Bourbon grows with each hour for the fallen victims.
“If there’s one thing we know, New Orleans defines strength and resilience—you define it,” the president said at the local St. Louis Cathedral.
LaTasha Polk, her family said, was a hard-working nurse's assistant from the Treme area of town. She went to Bourbon Street to celebrate the new year with her brother. Polk was the mother of a 14-year-old son.
Nikyra Dedeaux, a 2024 Harrison Central High School graduate in Gulfport, was set to start her nursing school program at Blue Cliff College in Mississippi on Jan. 13.
Reggie Hunter was the father to two sons, who was described by family as funny, loving and caring.
And Terrence Kennedy absolutely loved the French Quarter. He went down to Bourbon to celebrate the new year with large "2025" glasses that he wore. He was the type of person who could befriend anyone, his family said.
- Matthew 6:31 & 33
REGGIE HUNTER
NIKYRA DEDEAUX
LATASHA POLK
TERRENCE KENNEDY
THE GREAT PRETENDERS Steelers smart to not pursue moneymakers like Kirk Cousins
Pretender: one that pretends, one who lays claim to something, specifically, a claimant to a throne who is held to have no just title, one who makes a false or hypocritical show.
My definition of a pretender: presenting a false front as well as manipulating and controlling circumstances with no morals or values attached.
As far as fair play is concerned, there are pathogens of misinformation and dishonesty as well as false values that have entered and infected the bloodstream of the sports world. Currently, there is no known vaccine or effective treatment available to prevent or treat the condition known as: “just win baby”—better known as, “just get paid baby.” In 2024, Atlanta Falcons starting QB Kirk Cousins signed a 4-year, $180 million contract in light of his age (36) and having just experienced an Achilles injury during the 2023 season. Cousins was recently demoted.
According to spotrac.com, Cousins' replacement as the starter for the Falcons, rookie QB Michael Penix Jr., “signed a 4-year, $22.8 million contract with the Falcons, including $13.4 million in a signing bonus. It's an average annual salary of $5,720,659. In 2024, Penix Jr. will earn a base salary of $795,000 and a signing bonus of $13,461,916. Talk about “voodoo” economics at its best! A young, upcoming rookie signed for approximately $13,461,916, while in 2024, a grizzled, morethan-likely-finished QB Kirk Cousins was due to rake in $12,500,000 and reportedly received more than a $50,000,000 signing bonus. That is a perverted salary imbalance, don’t you think? Oh, I forgot, Michael Penix signed a "rookie contract."
On September 16, 2024, Dan Treacy posted an article on sportingnews. com titled: "Kirk Cousins' career earnings: Here's how much money Falcons QB has made on NFL contracts." Treacy posted the following: “Kirk Cousins has mastered the art of making money in the NFL. While he didn't make too much on his rookie contract after Washington made him a fourth-round pick in 2012, Cousins bet on himself in 2016 and played under the franchise tag for two seasons with the franchise. All he did from that point was sign three fully
guaranteed contracts with the Vikings. Cousins has cashed in again during free agency in 2024, inking a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Cousins is guaranteed $100 million in his new deal. By and large, Cousins' production has matched the salary. While playoff success still eludes the veteran quarterback, he's continued to produce in Minnesota and entered the 2024 season top-25 all-time in both passing yards and touchdowns. It will come as no surprise that Cousins is among the highest-earning players in NFL history." Prior to his deal this past offseason, there was a significant gap between the 35-year-old and the top of the list. That's not the case any longer. Cousins made $231.6 million from NFL contracts through 2023, the fourth-highest mark in NFL history. The only players with more career earnings to that point were Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Russell Wilson. With his Falcons deal guaranteeing $100 million, Cousins now sits second on that list, just behind Rodgers. Of the top four players on the list, Cousins is the only one without a Super Bowl ring.
Wow, wow, wow! It is sleazy, weezy and peezy to toot a horn about the so-called stellar production of Kirk Cousins because when it comes to victories of substance, those triumphs are far and few between. The great pretenders. They laugh and smirk when the Steelers got Russell Wilson for $2.5 million but the Atlanta Falcons paid Kirk Cousins more than $180 million. You tell me that's not a travesty and injustice. In 2024, Kirk Cousins was paid more than $177 million more than the Steelers paid both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields combined in 2024. The average pay for an NFL QB is $20
million per season. As far as ability is concerned, it may not be too much of a stretch to surmise at this point in his career that Kirk Cousins is below average as an NFL QB. Recently bolavip.com posted this Ben Roethlisberger quote regarding the Steelers as far as the Steelers keeping both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in the QB Room: “I would do everything I could to sign him and also try to keep Justin Fields. That would be my wish list. I would try to keep them both. I would keep Russ at the position and let Fields continue to learn.”
That quote came from Roethlisberger on his podcast.
Is this the same in September of 2024, when Roethlisberger told cbssports.com, "If Russ is healthy, I'm sticking with Justin."
Where is this bipolar analysis of Ben Roethlisberger coming from?
Somebody needs prayer because in the Holy Bible the Book of James verse 8, we are reminded that: “A double-minded
man is unstable in all his ways.“ This is the case, so how can we trust anyone whose opinion may change not only from day to day, but from minute to minute?
Remember the naysayers demanding that Steelers wide receiver George Pickens be benched because of unruly behavior?
If the Steelers coaches had heeded their advice, the Men of Steel would have been at home, waiting for the pizza and hot wings to arrive as opposed to waiting to receive the kickoff at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday night, Jan. 11. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is supposedly being interviewed for a head coaching spot in the NFL. Hopefully, he gets the gig because it will be a loss for the new team and a gain for the Steelers.
STEELERS LEGEND SANTONIO HOLMES LEADS THE TERRIBLE TOWEL TWIRL, JAN. 4, 2025. (PHOTOS BY MARLON MARTIN)
THE STEELERS’ NAJEE HARRIS LEAPS OVER SOME BENGALS DEFENDERS IN THE JAN. 4, 2025, CONTEST...
CINCINNATI’S JOE BURROW DID EVERYTHING HE COULD TO GET THE BENGALS TO THE PLAYOFFS. IT WASN’T MEANT TO BE.
Businesses must stop caving to political pressure and abandoning their EDI commitments
by Simon Blanchette
The Conversation
Over the past year, several major corporations have scaled back their equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives amid shifting political pressures. Walmart is one of the latest major corporations to reduce its EDI programs following conservative backlash and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s re-election.
Ford Motor Company, Lowe’s and Nissan have all announced plans to change their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. In the entertainment sector, Hollywood’s commitment to EDI has waned, with several studios and networks reducing or eliminating diversity programs.
This growing trend reflects a broader corporate retreat from EDI commitments, as businesses navigate the complexities of the current political landscape. So far, many have chosen to respond by negating their commitment to inclusion and diversity.
Given the close economic and cultural ties between the United States and Canada, this troubling shift could spill over into Canada. It would undermine years of progress towards achieving genuine workplace equity. Ultimately, no one will benefit in the long run—not even the people opposed to it—as they will miss out on the benefits of a more inclusive and diverse workforce.
Walmart: From EDI commitment to rollback
As the largest private employer in the world with over two million employees, Walmart has long been at the center of debates about labor practices, workplace diversity and corporate responsibility. For years, the company championed EDI principles. In 2019, Walmart made a public commitment to boost diversity, pledging to increase the percentage of women and racialized people in managerial roles.
Walmart also introduced initiatives to support underrepresented groups in the workforce, including diversity and inclusion training, the Women’s Resource Community, the OneTen Coalition program and partnerships to recruit people with disabilities.
Walmart also tracked workforce representation by gender and ethnicity. Its 2023 report revealed that 20 per cent of promotions from hourly to management position were Black and racialized women. Over 86,000 employees completed race and inclusion training, and nearly 800 participated in Walmart’s Culture, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Institute. However, amid a political climate marked by renewed attacks on corporate diversity initiatives and so-called “wokeness,” Walmart started rolling back its EDI policies and diversity training programs. For instance, the company has decided not to extend its racial equity center, a five-year initiative that was launched in 2020. Additionally, it will discontinue the use of terms such as “LatinX” and “DEI” in official communications, opting instead to use the word “belonging.” But who truly
EDI initiatives should never be reduced to political tools or marketing gimmicks. The true purpose of these policies is to foster an environment where people of all backgrounds can thrive.
belongs if, at the same time, they are cancelling EDI initiatives?
Understand what EDI means
This rollback of EDI initiatives reflects a growing trend within big business to selectively adopt social justice agendas when they are advantageous, then scale them back when the political climate changes. This “diversitywashing” mirrors greenwashing where companies claim to support social or environmental causes but retreat when faced with political or public pressure.
At its core, EDI is about ensuring that all employees, customers and stakeholders have equitable access to work opportunities, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or socio-economic background.
EDI policies and practices are essential for supporting equity-deserving groups —such as women, Black and racialized people, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ communities —who have historically faced systemic barriers to opportunity.
Arguing for a meritocracy without first establishing equity is like trying to lift a sloped playing field instead of leveling it, while ignoring that one side is a mountain and the other is a canyon. It leaves existing barriers and inequities intact on the road to merit, telling people that hard work alone will lead to rewards, while ignoring that they need to work that much
Saving Challenge 2025
In 2021, I received an inbox message from a friend. She informed me about a “Saving Challenge” she was inspired to do. In 2022, on New Year’s Day, she inboxed me again saying Happy New Year. She included a photo of a pile of cash that was at least three-feet high. She said she had saved a total of $4,610 from her saving challenge. After seeing her success with this challenge, I thought it would be a good idea for me to challenge all my readers and followers to a saving challenge. I will participate in this challenge. It has become an annual thing for us. Waking up on New Year’s Day to count a wad of cash is fun! I look forward to it. Many of my Facebook followers participated. There were three stories involving people who attempted the challenge but didn’t complete it. One used the savings to pay for her son’s high school graduation party. Another used the savings to fly her daughter from Atlanta to Pittsburgh to be home for the holidays. The last person used the savings to purchase her grandchildren Christmas gifts. Although they didn’t complete the challenge to the end, the money they were able to save was used for a good cause. There were a few people who completed the challenge. One person used the savings to pay for a vacation. Another person used the savings for a home improvement project. As for me, I saved $100 per pay which added up to $2,400. I gave my wife $300 to spend on whatever she wanted. I took $300 and bought
some personal items. I used $500 to take my wife out on a date. The date included dinner and a trip to the casino. We didn’t win but we had fun. I still have $1,300 left. I haven’t decided what I wanted to do with it as of yet. I simply like the idea of having extra money that is not earmarked for anything.
Saving money is the cornerstone of sound money management. Saving money is how you create financial stability, financial security and financial independence. Sadly, Americans grossly undersave money. We live in a culture and an economy that thrives on spending money. From the moment we open our eyes in the morning until the time we close our eyes to go to sleep, we’re inundated with marketing messages via TV, radio, print media, social media, and podcast with one goal in mind—to extract money out of our pockets into theirs.
understand and practical for all to do.
The main takeaway from this challenge is for all of us to develop the habit of consistently saving money. As we develop our saving habits, we grow our saving muscles allowing us to save more and more. Doing this allows us to eventually grow our savings and investment accounts.
This saving challenge is in addition to money you may be saving or investing at this time including your retirement savings.
Money is the greatest magician. It can disappear before our eyes without us ever knowing. We have to make saving money a priority because saving money is how we flex our money muscles. Having gone through the saving challenge twice, I decided to simplify the challenge. I wanted to make it easy to
Saving Challenge Explained:
• Set A Savings Goal: Put that money on a mission. Establish a reason for why you’re saying this money. Having a goal will create purpose, passion, discipline and consistency to stay the course.
• Purchase Envelopes: Depending on your pay cycle, you’ll need between 12-52 envelopes. Some people asked if they could do this challenge electronically. Sure! Whatever works for you. However, there’s something thrilling and visually appealing about counting and stacking greenbacks. I prefer to save cash for this challenge.
• Count your paydays: How many paydays do you receive in a year? Depressing when you think about it.
Work a whole year and only get 12 to 52 paydays? Quick reference guide for your number of paydays per year based on you being paid monthly, bimonthly, biweekly, or weekly. Monthly: 12, Bimonthly: 24, Biweekly: 26, Weekly 52. Based on your pay cycle, number the envelopes accordingly. Example. 1-12 (Monthly) 1-26 (Biweekly)
•Set a dollar amount to be saved each paycheck: Be realistic with your budget. How much can you realistically save for this challenge each and every paycheck without dipping into it or stopping the challenge altogether? Minimum amount is $25 per pay. I know you can save at least $25 per pay. The key point here is to consistently set aside said amount each paycheck, be it $25, $50, $100, $200 or $500. We will do this challenge annually. Each year, set a goal to increase the amount you save for this challenge.
•Calculate how much you’ll save by the end of the year: Amount saved per paycheck times the number of paychecks received in a year will tally how much you can expect to save by the end of the year. For example, if you were to save $50 per paycheck and you were paid biweekly, you can expect to save $1,300 for the year. $50 X 26 (biweekly) = $1,300. If you were to save $50 per paycheck and you were paid weekly, you can expect to save $2,600. $50 X 52 (weekly) = $2,600. You can also calculate with the end of the year sav-
EMPLOYEES ARE SEEN WORKING at a Walmart in Vaughan, Ont., on July 2, 2024. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov)
EDI IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS and good business: it is both the ethical choice and the smart business decision. (Shutterstock)
Guide to managing your electric costs: Smart savings for your home
High electric bills got you stressed? You’re not alone. Across the region, families are feeling the heat as energy supply rates surge due to shifts in the market. While utilities like Duquesne Light Company don’t control supply costs, they offer practical tools and resources to help you take charge of your energy use and cut costs. Saving money starts with small steps, and we’ve got the breakdown you need to make it happen.
Track Your Energy Usage
Understanding how and when you use energy is the first step to lowering your electric bill. If you have an advanced digital meter, you’re already equipped with the tools to monitor your energy use in real time. Visit the DLC website or download the free DLC Mobile app from the App Store or Google Play to track your energy consumption by day, month, or year.
Here’s the best part: The tool doesn’t just show your energy use— it also tracks temperatures during those same periods, so you can pinpoint how weather impacts your usage. You’ll see which days your usage spikes, identify patterns, and discover where you can cut back.
harder to achieve the same.
The idea that we must create an even playing field first should not be controversial, and yet it is.
The fear that EDI programs compromise competency is both common and unfounded; embracing diversity is about dismantling barriers that have unfairly limited opportunities for talented individuals, not lowering standards.
Why corporations must commit to EDI EDI initiatives should never be reduced to political tools or marketing gimmicks. The true purpose of these policies is to foster an environment where people of all backgrounds can thrive.
Organizations greatly benefit from the creativity, problem-solving and innovation that come with diversity.
When corporations roll back these initiatives in response to political pressures, it signals to the world their commitment to EDI was merely a strategic move to improve their
Get a breakdown of your top energy costs and compare your usage to similar energy-efficient households. Knowledge is power, and in this case, it’s the key to saving money.
Check Your Supply Rate
Did you know you can shop for a better electricity supply rate? Energy supply rates—also called the “Price to Compare”— fluctuate based on market trends, which means rates may rise or fall. But you’re not stuck with the default supply
rate. You can explore other electric generation suppliers and potentially lock in a lower rate. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s site, PAPowerSwitch. com, is the go-to resource for comparing suppliers, understanding contract terms, and making informed choices.
Sign Up for Budget Billing Life throws enough surprises your way; your electric bill doesn’t have to be one of them. Budget billing is a smart solution that smooths
out those unpredictable spikes in your monthly bill.
Instead of paying wildly different amounts each month, you’ll pay a consistent, predictable figure based on your average usage over the past year. Budget billing gives you peace of mind—and makes monthly budgeting a whole lot easier.
Upgrade to Energy-Efficient Products If you’re still using energy-guzzling appliances or old-school thermostats, it’s time for an upgrade. Energy-effi -
brand image during a period when social justice was a trending topic.
This can damage a corporation’s reputation in the eyes of both employees and consumers, particu-
larly those from equity-deserving groups who expect representation, as well as those who value diversity and inclusivity. It is essential for large corporations to recognize
that adopting EDI policies is not just a moral imperative, but also a sound business strategy. The data is clear: diverse companies perform better, including from a profitability stand-
Saving Challenge 2025
ings target in mind. Let’s say you wanted to save $4,000 for the year. Take $4,000 and divide it by the number of paychecks you’ll receive in the year. If you’re paid bimonthly, that’s 24 paychecks in the year. $4,000 divided by 24 (bimonthly) = $166.67 per paycheck.
• Payday/Save: Stuff the envelopes with cash, starting with your first paycheck in January. This envelope should be numbered “1” accompanied with the date of your paycheck. Put the dollar amount you decided to save in the envelope then seal it. Sealing the envelope will make you think twice about opening it during those moments in between pays when the funds get low.
• Place envelopes in a safe, secure location— Preferably inside of a waterproof, fireproof safe.
• We did it! January 2026, we’ll be saying, we did it. Count your cash!!
cient products are designed to reduce energy consumption without sacrificing performance. Think smart thermostats that learn your habits, LED lighting that lasts for years, and Energy Star-rated appliances that lower your energy bills. Plus, DLC’s onlinemarketplace offers exclusive discounts and deals on these products, helping you save even more. A smart investment today can mean major savings down the road. Get Help When
point. Diversity related advantages create a competitive edge that drives growth. A McKinsey report revealed that companies with more diverse executive teams were 36 per cent more likely to have above-average profitability. Giving that up is simply bad business.
As both a scholar and a practicing strategy and organizational change consultant, I have never encountered a well-designed and effectively implemented EDI program that did not yield positive results for the organization.
EDI is good for business and good business: it is both the ethical choice and the smart business decision.
Walking the talk
The way forward is clear: corporations, especially large ones, must make a genuine commitment to EDI—not just because it is the morally right thing to do, but because it is the key to long-term business success. Diversity fosters innovation, and innovation drives profitability.
However, for employees
by Josh Grant
For New Pittsburgh Courier
Social Security programs touch the lives of more than 71 million people. We work hard to ensure critical benefits and other services are accessible to you. Consider the start of the new year as an opportunity for you to engage with Social Security online. This begins with creating your free and secure personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/ myaccount. Once you create an account, you can:
• Apply for retirement, spouses, or disability benefits.
• Apply for Medicare.
• Check your application status.
• Request a replacement Social Security number card.
If you do not receive Social Security benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:
• Get personalized retirement benefit estimates.
• Get your Social Security Statement.
• Get estimates for spouse’s benefits.
• Get instant proof that you do not receive benefits.
If you receive benefits, you can use your person-
You Need It Times get tough, and no one should have to choose between keeping the lights on and other essentials. If you’re struggling to pay your bill, DLC has solutions that can help. Payment arrangements allow you to break your balance into smaller, manageable installments. For income-eligible households, DLC’s Customer Assistance Program provides year-round support. Additional resources like the Dollar Energy Fund and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) are also available to help you catch up on bills. Best of all? Applications are simple and can be done online— no calls or office visits required.
The Bottom Line Your electric bill doesn’t have to break the bank. By taking advantage of tools, programs, and simple energy-saving strategies, you can reduce costs while keeping your home comfortable. Small changes add up— and every dollar saved is a dollar that stays in your pocket. Stay empowered, stay informed, and take control of your energy use today. For more resources, visit Duquesnelight. com and start saving.
of diverse backgrounds to truly thrive in their workplaces, organizations must go beyond surface-level representation and tokenism. They must build inclusive workplaces where diversity is genuinely respected, supported and embraced unconditionally and independent of political trends. By doing so, companies will not only contribute to a more equitable society, but also position themselves for success in an increasingly diverse global marketplace. Achieving this requires leaders who are courageous and prioritize long-term strategic goals over short-term political gains.
Leading through fear is not leadership; it reflects a failure in strategic foresight. Talent is the defining competitive advantage of this century, and business leaders cannot afford to waste it.
(Simon Blanchette, Lecturer, Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University) (This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.)
al my Social Security account to:
• Change your address (Social Security benefits only).
• Set up or change your direct deposit information (Social Security benefits only).
• Instantly get proof of benefits.
• Print your SSA-1099. Your personal my Social Security account has a secure Message Center. You can choose to receive the annual cost-of-living adjustments and the Medicare income-related monthly adjustment amount online. Unless you opt-out of receiving notices by mail that are available online, you will receive both mailed and online notices.
Your personal my Social Security account offers easy access to features that save you time when you do business with us online. Check out our other resources available at www.ssa.gov/ onlineservices for your convenience.
Please share this information with your friends and loved ones who may need it. (Josh Grant is Social
Pittsburgh, PA)
EDI IS ABOUT ENSURING that all employees, customers and stakeholders have equitable access to work opportunities. (Shutterstock)
Guest Editorial
Remembering President Jimmy Carter and his dedication to D.C.
On the afternoon of Dec. 29, James “Jimmy”
Earl Carter Jr., the 39th president of the United States, died at his home in Plains, Georgia, at the age of 100.
The former president had been in hospice care since February 2023, and his last formal public appearance was at Rosalyn Carter’s, his wife of 77 years, funeral in November 2023.
Having been celebrated not only for his long life but for decades of service, Carter enjoyed a post-presidency over 10 times his one-term tenure in the White House from 1977-1981.
“He was one of the best men that I have ever known. And he was the same with his family as with presidents of other nations,” former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, who served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Carter, told The Informer in an exclusive interview.
With the news of his passing, many Americans will reflect on his accomplishments, such as the Camp David Accords, which saw Egypt recognize Israel, or the Panama Canal treaty, which gave that Central American country the right to manage the international passageway.
Others will remember not-so-good events, such as the taking of American hostages at the U.S. embassy in Iran by followers of Ayatollah Khomeini, or the economic crisis in late 1979 and 1980.
“President Carter was intentionally personal in his relationships, even with his enemies, and he dealt with them as friends with a common mission, and that common mission was peace on earth and goodwill toward all women, men, and children,” Young explained.
Like Young, District residents will remember the former president fondly.
Carter shocked the world when he announced that his daughter Amy would attend Stevens Elementary School in Northwest soon after moving to the District from Plains, Georgia.
Children of school-age presidents generally attend private schools in the Washington area that are thought to be equipped for public dignitaries’ family members.
Despite Stevens being the closest D.C. Public School (DCPS) to the White House and DCPS officials fully prepared to do what was necessary to educate Amy and keep her out of harm’s way, the first daughter attending a predominantly Black school in the inner city ignited a great deal of national discussion about safety and quality of education.
Additionally, Carter embraced the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provided for two U.S. senators and a representative in the House based on population. While the amendment wasn’t ratified, the president clearly supported the measure.
Plus, Carter selected District resident Patricia Roberts Harris as his first secretary of HUD. Harris became the first Black woman cabinet officer. She eventually led the Departments of Health, Education and Welfare, and Health and Human Services.
Further, before she became the District’s Delegate to Congress, D.C. native Eleanor Holmes Norton served as the chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the first woman to hold that position, during the Carter years.
After his political career ended, Carter did not end his interaction with the District. He built homes for Habitat for Humanity on Benning Road in Southeast in 1992 and Ivy City in Northeast in 2010.
As the nation and world remember Carter’s legacy, the D.C. Council should name a prominent landmark after Carter to honor his devotion to the city, such as the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on Pennsylvania Avenue NW, next to the John A. Wilson Building, where councilmembers deliberate. Reagan paid little attention to the affairs of local Washington, so it would make sense to name a landmark, such as that building, in honor of a president who cherished the city.
(Reprinted from the Washington Informer)
Rod Doss Editor & Publisher
No one is above the law?
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—All of my life
I’ve heard “No one is above the law.” If you’ve heard that and believed it, you’ve probably done all that you could do to stay out of trouble. There’re others who don’t believe it’s true because they’ve seen too many people who look like them prove that statement wrong and wonder if that law only applies to Black people! When they see many of their buddies in prison for minor crimes, they must be confused.
When they listen to the news and find there’s someone they know who has skated around the law so many times they wondered what the exceptions are when they do something far less harmful cause them to be behind bars. What they ultimately determine is that someone is above the law! That person is never Black!
With good reason, there are some people who actually believe there is someone above the law, and they believe they are the one who is above the law because they’ve always been able to live above any type of punishment because of the color of their skin. It’s always been that way, so I urge any Black person to look at the exceptions before you think about committing a crime. You are not now, and never have been able to use “I am above the law.”
Now look at who has been getting to live above the law all of his life. He has been labeled “the most corrupt and
dangerous president in history”.
Just Look at what this person has repeatedly done to prove he is above the law! Here’s just a smidgen of what he’s done and he’s still adding on, and is confident he’ll never serve a day in prison for the crimes he’s recently committed:
• Unlawfully attempted to overturn the results of the 2020 Election in Georgia. We heard him on the telephone trying to persuade an official to join him in committing a crime.
• Indicted in New York for falsifying business records to cover up “hush money” payments made to Stormy Daniels.
• Indicted for retaining top secret national security documents at his private residence.
• Led an insurrection at the United States Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 election results and wound up wrecking the United States Capitol, causing people to be severely hurt and a few dying—but Trump’s answer is “Pardon them all!” What is it that is holding up a pardon
by President Joe Biden for former Baltimore, Maryland State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby who was prosecuted for doing her job? She didn’t destroy public property. She didn’t kill or hurt anybody as Trump’s cronies that he loves so much did and who will be pardoned as soon as he is back in office in a few days! More than all of those White people, Marilyn Mosby deserves a pardon for being convicted for doing her job. President Biden will be leaving office in a few days. Please sign the petition for him to pardon Atty. Marilyn Mosby at www.justiceformarilynmosby.com. If Trump is above the law after 34 convictions, why should Marilyn be punished for doing her job?
Because he’s gotten away with so much due to his cronies on the Supreme Court giving him sweeping immunity, he thinks he’s totally off the hook! Trump has been convicted of 34 crimes by a unanimous jury, Judge Juan Merchan, presiding judge in Trump’s “Hush Money” case, has said Trump is to report to court January 10th for sentencing” but already added, he will not be receiving jail time!
Those of us who aren’t above the law just shook our heads and wondered what must this man do to be properly punished for his convictions and still be President!
(Dr. E. Faye Williams, President of The Dick Gregory Society.)
Jimmy Carter, 39th president, dies at 100
James “Jimmy” Carter, the peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia, who became the 39th president of the United States and later redefined the role of an ex-president through decades of humanitarian work, died Sunday at his home. He was 100. His son, James E. Carter III, known as Chip, confirmed the death but provided no immediate cause. Carter had been in hospice care since February 2023 after battling an aggressive form of melanoma that spread to his brain and liver.
Carter’s wife, Rosalynn, with whom he shared 77 years of marriage—the longest of any presidential couple— died on November 19, 2023, at 96. The couple’s final years were marked by their enduring love, and Carter’s last public appearance was at Rosalynn’s funeral, where he sat in the front row in a wheelchair.
Born in Plains on October 1, 1924, Carter grew up on a farm, served in the U.S. Navy, and rose to prominence as Georgia’s governor from 1971 to 1975. He was elected president in 1976, becoming the first man from the Deep South since 1837. The victory made Carter the only Democrat to hold the office between Lyndon B. Johnson and Bill Clinton.
Carter’s presidency, defined by ambitious domestic and foreign policy initiatives, faced formidable challenges. During Carter’s presidency, America struggled with stagflation, an energy crisis, and international turmoil.
The 1979 Iranian hostage crisis and the failed rescue mission that followed, combined with economic woes and a Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, led to his overwhelming defeat in the 1980 election by Ronald Reagan.
Despite serving just one term, Carter’s presidency is remembered by historians as one of the most consequential. He brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel in 1978, a milestone in Middle East peace efforts. Carter prioritized human rights in
by Ben Jealous
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—It may be the dead of winter, but when we think about our beaches none of us want to picture them covered in oil. That is true for those of us who live along the water and those who live hundreds of miles from any ocean. Regardless of our generation, we can all picture what it looks like. For some, it is the 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. For others, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill by BP in the Gulf of Mexico. No matter what disaster comes to mind, we can all agree on one thing: we must protect our waters and our coastal communities. President Biden not only agrees, he just took decisive action to prevent future disasters from happening.
This week, in the waning days of his administration, President Biden announced he would use his authority under Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently withdraw 625 million acres from leasing for oil and gas drilling and exploration off our nation’s coasts. The protected waters include the entire eastern Atlantic coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coast of California, Oregon, and Washington, and portions of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska.
This move is the latest chapter in Biden’s historic climate legacy. It safeguards coastal communities and economies, marine wildlife, and ecosystems from the threats posed by offshore drilling. It will protect the health of those living closest to the pollution and other negative effects of offshore drilling. And it will bolster the already-underway clean energy transition that ends our
Stacy M. Brown
Commentary
U.S. foreign policy, advanced environmental conservation, and created the Departments of Energy and Education. His vision for alternative energy led to installing solar panels on the White House, which he called “a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people.”
In his biography “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life,” Jonathan Alter described Carter as “perhaps the most misunderstood president in American history.” In contrast, Kai Bird’s “The Outlier: The Unfinished Presidency of Jimmy Carter” highlighted his moral conviction in tackling issues others avoided, even at political cost.
After leaving the White House, Carter devoted himself to humanitarian work, transforming the role of former presidents. Through the Carter Center, founded with Rosalynn in 1982, he worked to promote democracy, monitor elections, and combat diseases like Guinea worm. The Center has monitored 115 elections in 40 countries and played a key role in nearly eradicating Guinea worm disease.
Carter and Rosalynn’s decades-long partnership with Habitat for Humanity further exemplified their commitment to service. Wearing tool belts and working alongside volunteers, they helped build or renovate more than 4,000 homes in 14 countries.
In 2002, Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize for his “decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote
reliance on fossil fuels, strengthens our economy with family-sustaining jobs, and makes our air and water cleaner and safer.
This latest action marks a major stride in the Biden administration’s America the Beautiful initiative to conserve, restore, and protect 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030 (often called “30 by 30”). It is one more feather in the cap of an administration that has shown remarkable dedication to conservation with the creation and expansion of national monuments, protections for millions of acres in the Arctic, and priority shifts at key agencies like the Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service.
And it is a move that should be popular with Americans of all political stripes. Strong bipartisan majorities oppose offshore drilling. Sixty percent of Americans opposed efforts by the first Trump administration to lift offshore drilling bans. In the 17 states along the coasts that would have been impacted, 64 percent opposed lifting the ban. Coastal communities, business groups, and governors of both parties oppose offshore drilling. Presidents of both parties—including every president in the 21st century—have used their Section 12a authority to remove portions of the US coastline from oil and gas drilling. And bills that would ban offshore drilling have enjoyed bipartisan support in Congress.
Despite propaganda from Big Oil and Gas, this is a major win for all Americans and especially those in communities that depend on coastal waters for their livelihoods and local economies. It is a win for every American, as the
economic and social development.” Gun-
nar Berge, a Nobel committee member, called Carter “the best ex-president the country ever had.”
Carter’s post-presidency also saw moments of controversy. His 2006 book
“Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” drew criticism for its comparison of Israeli policies to South African apartheid. Yet, even in contentious circumstances, his tireless advocacy for peace earned him widespread respect.
“During his presidency, Jimmy Carter advocated to have Medicare cover all Americans. After his presidency, he continued humanitarian works that everyone, regardless of political affiliation, should respect,” said former Congresswoman Nina Turner.
Carter maintained a modest lifestyle, choosing not to capitalize on his presidency. He and Rosalynn lived in the same Plains home they built in 1961, and Carter often said he wanted their gravesite in Plains to benefit the local economy through tourism. In their later years, the Carters celebrated milestones with family and friends, including their 75th wedding anniversary in 2021. Guests included civil rights leader Andrew Young, country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, and former President Bill Clinton.
“Simply put, Jimmy Carter was a good man,” said former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “He was the epitome of a servant leader, changing the world and setting the highest example of what it meant to honor God, family, and country.”
Carter is survived by his four children, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and a legacy of public service that transformed lives around the globe. He will be buried next to Rosalynn under a willow tree near a pond he helped dig in Plains, where his journey began and ends.
(Stacy M. Brown is NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent)
climate crisis increasingly impacts all of us. Prices at the pump will not go up (the cost of gasoline is determined by global oil prices and consumer demand, not changes to federal leasing policy). There is no evidence that expanded leasing and domestic production in federal waters would lower heating bills. And it is a win for endangered marine mammals, fisheries, and ecosystems along most US coastlines.
No matter what propaganda corporate polluters push, the fact remains there will never be a safe way to desecrate our waters to extract fossil fuels. This is why we must keep pushing to protect the central and western Gulf of Mexico as well, where oil and gas drilling is already deeply established. The communities, species, and ecosystems of this region continue to shoulder the environmental and health hazards brought on by widespread fossil fuel development. Indeed, another spill catastrophe in this region could lead to devastating public health, economic, and extinction-level impacts. As we continue our transition to a clean energy economy, we can look forward to a day when all of America’s waters and coasts are protected from the harms of offshore drilling. When that day comes, we will look back on this move by President Biden as perhaps the biggest step that got us there. In the meantime, it is not too early to say: Thank you, President Biden. There are still some crucial remaining days to this president. Let’s encourage the president to keep taking bold action until the very last day.
(Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.)
Jimmy Carter the peacemaker
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Two hours after making his historic remarks on same-sex unions, then-President Barack Obama held a critical conference call with Black pastors to explain his support for gay marriage, according to the New York Times. The pastors who participated on the call told the paper that Obama explained how he struggled with the decision, and that several of them voiced their disapproval. The conference call was a quiet effort by the president to control the potential political damage which could possibly occur from his controversial announcement.
As a result, Black churches were conflicted in their reactions. Some were silent on the issue. At other churches, pastors spoke against the president’s decision—but spoke kindly of the man himself. While some were outraged at the president and his decision, there was a minority of pastors who spoke favorably of the decision while expressing understanding of the president’s change of heart. African Americans were a key voting bloc for the president. During the previous 2008 presidential election, exit polls showed Obama lost to John McCain among White voters, but won more than 95 percent of the African American vote. While African Americans overwhelmingly supported President Obama, traditionally most are socially conservative when it comes to gay marriage. Overall, many Black pastors said they will still support the president in the upcoming 2012 election even though they may not agree with him on this particular issue.
The gay marriage announcement by Obama highlighted a number of things. One, there exists a particular segment within the Black church that is progressive on issues regarding racial and economic equality, justice and fairness while remaining conservative on issues such as abortion and gay marriage. This particular stripe of Christian faith never aligned itself 100 percent politically with conservative or progressive evangelicals. It is a group that is motivated and passionate about racial and economic equality because it directly impacts their personal well-being and safety. It also directly im-
pacts the well-being and safety of their families and communities. Secondly, it showed that the majority of Black Christians who previously supported Obama continued to do so despite their deep disagreement with the president over a major social issue. Despite their conservative beliefs, if a candidate fights for overall equality, justice and fairness which is critical to the day-to-day lives of people of color, it was proven that the candidate’s stance on gay marriage was not the type of deal breaker for them as it would be for the Religious Right voters.
As we reflect on the life of former President Jimmy Carter, we are reminded how he was clearly one of the most religious presidents in modern U.S. history who openly embraced the label “born-again Christian”. As a progressive evangelical, Carter was outspoken about Jesus and justice. His rise to power occurred during a major transformative period in American Christianity. Like the Religious Right, Carter personally opposed abortion and same sex-marriage. Where Carter and the Religious Right differed was on legislation. Conservatives were in favor of specific legislation Carter believed infringed on the separation of church and state, such as a proposed constitutional amendment banning abortion and a legislative attempt to restore prayer in public schools.
He did not campaign to overturn Roe vs. Wade, and he was feminist who appointed more women to his administration than any other president before him. Carter supported the Equal Rights Amendment, a proposed change to the Constitution that would have guaranteed legal equality to women. Many White evangelicals did not believe in women’s equality. As a product of the Deep South, he was a theologically conservative evangelical with a progressive political platform. Carter’s public stance on culture war issues cost him politically when his fellow White evangelicals along with the political advocacy of the Moral Majority abandoned him for reelection. They eventually threw their support behind his Republican challenger Ronald Reagan who received an estimated 56 percent of the evangelical vote in the 1980 presidential election. These voters did not just turn away from Carter –they turned away from part of their own tradition, historians say.
Carter represented a religious tradition where a White evangelical could credibly claim to be a Bible-believing, “I’ve been saved by the blood of Jesus” Christian –and still be politically progressive, says Randall Balmer author of “Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter.” As a White evangelical, Carter didn’t fit in with the likes of Jerry Falwell, who founded the Moral Majority. “He had no problem being identified as a progressive evangelical,” says Balmer, who in his book recounts the story about Carter’s defense of a Black Naval Academy classmate and his refusal to join a White supremacist group. Carter represented what one commentator calls the “road not taken” by many contemporary White evangelicals. He was a peacemaker. He was a global peacemaker both as president and during his post-presidency. Carter won the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of efforts to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts and advancing democracy and human rights. During his post-presidency, he was a peacemaker by promoting racial reconciliation and collective healing within the Baptist church. In 2006, Carter joined with Mercer University President Bill Underwood in bringing together Baptists of different races and ethnicities, regions, backgrounds and theological perspectives to form an informal alliance. A year later, the New Baptist Covenant was formed. According to the Rev. Mitch Randall, CEO of Good Faith Media, “It was President Carter’s lifelong dream to put Baptist together who had been divided.” With his passing, it is our hope his dream is fulfilled.
(David W. Marshall is the founder of the faith-based organization, TRB: The Reconciled Body, and author of the book God Bless Our Divided America.)
Republicans don’t think culture is a problem all of a sudden
In 2004, the NAACP invited Bill Cosby to speak on the 50th anniversary of the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board school desegregation decision. Cosby informed the audience that Black Americans could no longer blame White racism for high unemployment, mass incarceration, and poor academic achievement. Cosby stated that Black America has its own culture to blame for these undesirable outcomes. Cosby’s speech sparked what became known as “the culture argument.” And it goes like this: Black conservatives argue there are negative aspects of Black culture that are barriers to Black advancement.
While Black liberals argue that there is nothing wrong with Black culture, the systematic injustices that Black people confront impede their progress.
Any honest person would recognize that “the cultural argument” is a false dichotomy. Two things can be true simultaneously without contradicting each other.
Instead of Black conservatives and liberals attempting to determine which problems were caused by cultural factors and which were byproducts of “the system,” the opposing camps only wanted to demonstrate why their side was right and the other was wrong.
Republican politicians who believed America was not a racist society reiterated the Black conservative position, preaching that Blacks were held back by cultural issues such as family breakdown, rejection of traditional values, mediocre educational standards, and Black-on-Black violence.
Of course, Democrats and notable leftwing thinkers maintained that the right’s depictions of Black cultural problems were the result of years of slavery, Jim Crow, and structural racism, and that any emphasis on negative parts of Black culture was victim-blaming and racist.
The cultural argument swiftly turned into partisan bickering, with conservatives criticizing Black culture and liberals defending it.
Thomas Sowell, a well-known Black conservative thinker, entered “the cultural argument” in 2005 with his collection of essays, Black Rednecks and White Liberals. Republicans expected Sowell to dis-
J.
Pharoah
Doss Check It Out
mantle the left’s defense of Black culture, but his viewpoint puzzled both sides. Sowell recognized that cultural problems slowed Black growth, but the issue was not “Black culture” per se. It was the “ghetto” subculture within Black culture. More importantly, the “ghetto” subculture was not innate. It was inherited. Sowell explained that “Black ghetto culture originated in the dysfunctional White southern redneck culture that was prominent in the Antebellum South. That culture came from the ‘cracker culture’ of Welsh, Highland Scots, Ulster Scots, and border English, or ‘North Britons,’ who emigrated from Britain’s more lawless border regions in the eighteenth century.”
If Sowell was correct, the difficulties caused by the “ghetto” subculture stood out more among Blacks since they constituted just 13 percent of the U.S. population, but it was also a reflection of flaws within American culture itself.
Both sides rejected Sowell for their own reasons. The right refused to accept that the “ghetto” subculture was an indictment of American culture in general, while the left disputed that there was any connection between the “ghetto” subculture and redneck culture. Unfortunately, “the cultural argument” lasted more than a decade, with each side talking past each other.
Then, in 2023, Vivek Ramaswamy, a 37-year-old tech entrepreneur and first-generation Indian American, ran for the Republican presidential nomination. Ramaswamy remarked that he was not just running a political campaign. He was launching a “cultural movement” to create a new American dream for the next
generation. The year before announcing his presidential run, Ramaswamy, who was virtually unknown, wrote the book Nation of Victims. He stated that the United States was in decline because “America’s inner spirit has been domesticated by a new culture that rejects excellence and embraces victimhood.” Ramaswamy accused both conservatives and liberals of cultivating a political culture of complaint and a social culture of mediocrity.
Since former President Donald Trump was guaranteed to win the Republican presidential nomination, the media paid little attention to the 37-year-old candidate, but Ramaswamy impressed Trump. After winning the 2024 presidential election, Trump appointed Ramaswamy and businessman Elon Musk to lead a new temporary agency, the Department of Government Efficiency. This means Ramaswamy will be in the national spotlight, and the media will closely scrutinize his every word.
Ramaswamy recently remarked that Silicon Valley is hiring more foreign-born engineers since American culture has championed mediocrity rather than excellence. He claimed that the drop in the number of Americans pursuing engineering is due to children growing up in a lazy culture that prioritizes the prom queen over the math Olympiad champion and the athlete over the valedictorian. Ramaswamy argued that America requires a cultural reset, which can only occur when American culture promotes achievement over normalcy and hard work over laziness.
Ramaswamy started another “culture argument,” but this time, Republicans aren’t interested in taking the same stance they did when the “cultural argument” focused on the negative parts of Black culture. Now that the debate has shifted to negative aspects of American culture, Republicans such as Nikki Haley have taken a defensive stance, asserting that there is nothing wrong with American culture. Suddenly, for Republicans like Haley, culture no longer explains undesired outcomes.
Sit this one out, but unlearn White supremacy while you do it
You’ve probably seen the social media comments and videos of Black women telling each other to “sit this one out” regarding involvement in anything not related to Black people or the outcome of the election. I completely agree with this sentiment, but not for the reasons you may think. While I understood the outrage surrounding the election, I was not surprised. However, now that we are here, it’s time to step back and focus on unlearning White supremacy. This is much more than the KKK attacking Black people; it’s an ideology that is embedded in our society through direct and indirect (subtle) biases built into our institutions. This starts as early as elementary school with policing our hairstyles and clothing, and it continues into adulthood in the workplace. Unlearning the stronghold this has on us begins with decentering whiteness in our own lives. This can be achieved through self-reflection, reading, and learning about our culture. The process starts with making a personal inventory of the ways you notice yourself engaging in these behaviors. Since we are not a monolith, this will look different for everyone. Some common ways this comes up include internalized racism and adhering to White standards of beauty. Black people do internalize White
supremacy and direct it toward one another. I have mentioned this before, but it remains true: half the reason this is one of the worst places for Black women to live is because of US and how we treat each other. This comes across as “nice nasty” behavior, hoarding resources, resistance to change, scapegoating and a need for proximity to whiteness. At times this makes it easier to attack one another rather than confront the system.
Another way Black women exhibit this is through our standards of beauty. We are constantly shown positive images of White women in movies and on TV, while Black women are often portrayed as loud, strong, and having an attitude.
I understand that some may feel that they don’t participate in these behaviors and that those portrayals don’t affect them because Black women are DOPE. And truly, yes, Black women are DOPE. However, we’re also stressed and over-
worked. Our suicide rates have increased in recent years. Furthermore, stress is a silent killer, and heart disease is the number one killer of Black women. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but there comes a point where we need to get real with ourselves. Posting self-love content on social media does not mean you truly embody it. I am speaking from experience, as I have had to take steps to unlearn these behaviors. For a truly transformative change, we must go deeper.
The book “Rest Is Resistance” by Tricia Hershey was life-changing. It helped me see how White supremacy contributed to my equating productivity with selfworth. One quote that stands out to me is: “Along with stealing your imagination and time, grind culture has stolen the ability for pleasure, hobbies, leisure, and experimentation. We are caught up in a never-ending cycle of going and doing.” It’s wild to admit, but in 2021, I daydreamed for the first time in a while. I spent over 30 years fighting White supremacy, never stopping to imagine. Unfortunately, my revelation came after I almost lost my battle with endometriosis due to medical gaslighting. I had to wrestle with forgiving myself for not paying attention to my body. Black women, learn from my experience and take this time to unlearn White supremacy. Go deeper, cry, laugh, and just be.
Jimmy Carter—Faith in Action
by Julianne Malveaux
(TriceEdneyWire.com)—As our beloved 37th President’s body makes its way from Plains, Georgia to Atlanta to the US Capitol to lie in state, tens of thousands of words will be published in tribute to him. A renaissance man, a diplomat, a philanthropist, a civil rights icon, and so much more he is most aptly described, in my opinion, as a man of faith. He lived by his faith and spoke openly of it, as far too few do. His faith allowed him to bring Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin together at Camp David in September 1978, and to overcome the obstacles of that fraught communication to reach the Camp David Accord between Egypt and Israel. His faith compelled him to embrace his defeat in 1980 and go on to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work around peace, poverty. He was, in the words of President Joe Biden, “a man of character, courage, and compassion.”
Biden has declared January 9 a National Day of Mourning in Carter’s honor. Federal offices will be closed and postal service suspended. Flags will be flown at half-mast for thirty days, a fitting tribute to a man who was too often underappreciated during his Presidency, garnering more accolades for his post-presidential activism than for his Presidency itself. Even in this mourning, it is more likely to hear President Carter described as “decent” than as outstanding or brilliant, even though he was. Nothing wrong with being described as decent. In fact, in this age of indecency and convicted felons moving into the Oval Office, decent is quite a compliment. But terms
like decent, even outstanding, doesn’t capture the essence of James Earl Carter. His essence is that he was a man of faith, he embraced his faith, and he also publicly struggled with what his faith meant to him and how faith could transform other people.
Faith gave President Carter the impetus to be both humble and helpful. A woman talked on CNN, about how he, at 90. Took a broken chair from her porch fixed it and returned it. I have my own story of Carter helpful humility. I worked for the Council of Economic Advisors while I was working on my doctoral dissertation, and I was always running through the Old Executive Office Building with armfuls of papers. I dropped some of them, running nowhere fast, and had to turn around to retrieve them. The President of the United States stopped his stride thorough the Old EOB to help up my papers. I stammered thanks, and the President was very gracious. Asked my name and where I worked, told me, kindly, to be careful in the halls. His staffers tried to hurry him along, but he took a couple of minutes to talk to me and encourage me. When I said I was working on my dissertation, he was encouraging. The whole encounter could not have taken five minutes, and when I told a friend about it she simply said, “That’s President Carter” Carter believed in diversity, although we didn’t call it that then. He appointed African Americans to untraditional positions. Patricia Robert s Harris first served as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development as the first Black woman to hold a Cabinet position. HUD was a somewhat traditional position for an African American, with economist Robert
Weaver serving as the first HUD Secretary in 1966. Harris was the first Black woman to hold two cabinet positions, serving as the first secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services under Carter. He also lifted up Ron Brown, Ben Hooks, Alexis Herman and many others. Having grown up next door to a Black family who often cared for him, President Jimmy Carter believed in opening doors for the underrepresented, including African Americans and women. His post-Presidential contributions are notable, especially his work with Habitat for Humanity, where the former President took hammer to hand and helped build thousands of homes and encouraged others to do the same thing. But his Presidency was hardly a failure. Carter was not bombastic. Like Biden, he rarely tooted his own horn which perhaps led to his 1980 defeat. He created the departments of Energy and the Department of Education. He worked on nuclear disarmament and sought to contain Soviet aggression with a grain embargo and a boycott of the Moscow Olympics. In his short one-term presidency he made a difference. Notably, in his post-Presidency, he wrote several books, including the important Faith: A Journey for All. In the book, he quotes Dietrich Bonhoffer, the theologian who wrote that “Faith without works is not faith at all, but a simple lack of obedience to God.” That’s an apt summary of Carter’s life. His faith and obedience led him to do great things in helpful humility. He was one of our greatest President because he was, indeed, a man of faith.
(Dr Julianne Malveaux is a DC-based economist and author.)
Fawn Walker Montgomery Commentary
David W. Marshall Commentary
JOB OPPORTUNITIES Help Wanted
Donnelly-Boland & Associates, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, has a Manager – Child Welfare Analytics and Operations Research position in Pittsburgh responsible for leading and managing the data, analytics and operations research strategy for the Office of Children, Youth and Families of the Allegheny County Dept. of Human Services. Apply at: https://www.donnelly-boland. com/careers.
ALLLEGHENY COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT
seeking full-time experienced, Shared Financial Director for the Environmental Finance Collaborative (ACCD, Tree Pittsburgh and UpstreamPGH). Position reports directly to Executive Directors of the member organizations. Position involves high degree of collaboration with finance teams, offering guidance on financial strategies, aligning fiscal plans with organizational goals and ensuring execution of best practices across financial management, reporting, and regulatory compliance. Send cover letter and resume to resumes@accdpa.org.
Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc., seeks a Signaling Validation & Verification Engineer to work in Pittsburgh, PA, and unanticipated locations throughout the United States. The employee will have to relocate, but travel is not required from any particular location. The Signaling Validation & Verification Engineer will be responsible for delivering complex Signaling systems and subsystems that meet signaling system and subsystem requirements, in compliance with project schedule and budget (in terms of number of interfaces and/or contract value). Apply at: https://careers.hitachi.com.
Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc.’s Pittsburgh, PA, office seeks a Principal System Engineer. This is a hybrid position where the employee would be required to work in the Pittsburgh, PA, office three day(s) per week and can work remotely up to two days per week. The Principal System Engineer will provide overall system integration in and across multiple turnkey projects to meet the requirements imposed by the contracts for the tender and backlog projects. Apply at: https://careers.hitachi.com.
Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc., seeks a Senior Signaling Design Engineer to work in Pittsburgh, PA, and unanticipated locations throughout the United States. The employee will have to relocate, but travel is not required from any particular location. The Senior Signaling Design Engineer will design complex and medium national/international railroad signaling functional systems. Apply at: https://careers.hitachi.com.
Hitachi Rail STS USA, Inc. headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, seeks a Senior Signaling V&V Engineer to work in Pittsburgh, PA, and unanticipated locations throughout the United States. The employee will have to relocate, but travel is not required from any particular location. The Senior Signaling V&V Engineer will deliver very complex (in terms of number of interfaces and/or contract value) signaling systems and subsystems that meet signaling system and subsystem requirements in compliance with project schedule and budget. Apply at: https://careers.hitachi.com.
Techstra Solutions LLC, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, seeks a Senior Data Governance Analyst to bridge information technology engineering and business needs for technical requirements, data correlation, and data analyses, primarily for clients in the financial industry. This is a Pittsburgh-based hybrid position with a requirement of 3 days per week in the Pittsburgh office. Specific duties include: (i) consulting with business stakeholders to understand their objectives and data needs; (ii) writing and running standard query language (“SQL”) queries for data analyses, inquiries, and extractions; and (iii) leveraging data models to visualize data structures, physical and logical data models, and complete source data. Please apply at: www.techstrasolutions.com/ openjobs.
APPLICATION DEVELOPER II
F.N.B. Corp. (Pittsburgh, PA) to be rspns. for dvlpng data-drvn sys to asst in data mngmnt, rprtng, & anlytcs; dvlpng intgrtns, rprts/anlytcs, & wbstes w/focus on data tier; prvdng Tier 2 & 3 spprt of apps; dvlpng & mntng intrnl data-drvn web apps. Bchelor in Elctrncs Eng or dir rel field w/5 yrs of prgrssvly rspnsbl wrk exp in pos off or rel. Mst knw (thru acdmc trnng or wrk exp) SQL, Orcle, PowerBI; dvlp SSIS ETL pckgs & SSRS rprts; & tchncl dsgn of BI sys incl ETL, data wrhsng, rprtng & anlys svcs. Mst wrk in PGH offce 3 dys/wk. Resumes to ChandlerS@fnb-corp.com.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES Help Wanted
Job Title: IT Coordinator
Reports To: Director of Operations
Location: Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School
Salary Range: 55k - 65K
Job Summary: The IT Coordinator will oversee and maintain the technology infrastructure at the Urban Academy, ensuring the efficient operation of all systems, devices, and networks. The role supports the Academy’s 1:1 student-to-device ratio, manages technology in more than 20 classrooms equipped with Aqueous Boards and sound systems, and oversees security systems, staff devices, and server operations. This position will also support the technological needs of approximately 350 students and 70 staff members, providing proactive maintenance, troubleshooting, and strategic planning for technology upgrades and security.
Please send emails to wwall@urbanacademypgh.org and jobs@urbanacademypgh.org
APPLICATION DEVELOPER II
F.N.B. Corporation (Pittsburgh, PA) to be rspnsble for dvlpng apps the IT Team spprts; dvlpng intgrtns, rprts & anlytcs, & websts; assistng reqrmnt anlys, sys dsgn, databse dsgn; wrtng code needed to spprt apps; spprtng apps & intgrtns; fllwng stndrds & guidlns in creatn of sftwre & prtct info & wrtng hgh qlty code. Bchlr in Comp Sci or a dir rel field w/5 yrs prgrssvly rspnsble wrk exp in pos off or rel. Mst knw (thru acdmc trnng or wrk exp) creatng UNIX scrpts; creatng CA7 jobs to schdle the Infrmtca wrkflws; migrtng Infrmtca wrkflws to QA & Prod region usng artifctry & Udeploy; Agile mthdlgy; Oracle Databse; Oracle SQL Dvlpr; Oracle DataModlr; SQL Server; & SSIS. Mst wrk in Pttsbrgh offce 3 dys/wk. Resumes to ChandlerS@fnb-corp.com
ENTRY LEVEL POLICE OFFICER
The City of Altoona is now accepting applications for Entry Level Police Officers. Information and applications are available online at www.altoonapa.gov and in the Human Resources Department of City Hall at 1301 12th Street, Suite 400, Altoona, PA. Applications and applicable supporting documentation must be submitted to the Human Resources Department by Noon on Friday, February 21, 2025.
The City of Altoona is an Equal Opportunity Employer
LEGAL ADVERTISING Legal Notices
Estate of LAVERNE T. BATH, Deceased of Bridgeville, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, No. 02-24-08084, Nancy L. Pleasants, Executor, 112 Vista Court, Oakdale, PA 15071 or to ROBIN L. RARIE, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017
Estate of ROBERT TOMKO, deceased of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, No. 0224-07903, Raymond J. Tomko, Co-Executor, 3424 Lockridge Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234 or ot Nancy J. Tomko, Co-Executor, 3424 Lockridge Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15234 ,or to TODD A. FULLER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC., 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017
Estate of KENNETH R. GIANELLA , deceased of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, No. 02-24-07902, Kenneth Patrick Gianella, Administrator, 713 Iris Gardens Court, San Jose, CA 95125 or to TODD A. FULLER, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC., 401 Washington Avenue, Bridgeville, PA 15017
Estate of MARTHA A. ESPER, Deceased of 977 Diane Drive, North Versailles 15137, Estate No. 02-24-07245, Christina Palermo, Executrix, 347 Overbrook Boulevard, Pittsburgh, PA 15210 or to William C. Price, Jr. Price & Associates, P.C., 2005 Noble Street, PIttsburgh, PA 15218
Estate of RITA P. DIROLL, Deceased of 152 Homestead Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218, Estate No. 02-24-07834, Rita C. Hunter, Co-Executrices, 2723 South Drive, Clearwater, FL 33759, Claudia T. Killcrece, 1201 Pocono Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15218 or to William C. Price, Jr. Price & Associates, P.C., 2005 Noble Street, PIttsburgh, PA 15218
ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings
PUBLIC NOTICE
ALLEGHENY COUNTY
SANITARY AUTHORITY
The Green Committee of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority will hold a special meeting for general purposes on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. prevailing time in the Trefz Board Room at its offices located at 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233. Official action on the Committee’s recommendations will take place at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors at a later date. The public may view the meeting via livestream by visiting www.alcosan.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS Meetings
PUBLIC NOTICE ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY
The public meetings to be held by the Board of Directors of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority during the calendar year 2025 will be held at its offices located at 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233 on the following Thursdays at 4:30 p.m.:
January 23, 2025
February 27, 2025
March 27, 2025
April 24, 2025
May 15, 2025
June 26, 2025
July 24, 2025
September 25, 2025
October 23, 2025
November 20, 2025
December 11, 2025
The public is invited to attend and participate. Public comment may be submitted by email at public.relations@alcosan.org, by noon on the meeting date. The public may view the meetings via livestream by visiting www.alcosan.org.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY
AUTHORITY The Professional Services Committee of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority will hold a special meeting for general purposes on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. prevailing time, in the Trefz Board Room at its offices located at 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15233. Official action on the Committee’s recommendations will take place at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors at a later date. The public may view the meeting via livestream by visiting www.alcosan.org.
KILBUCK TOWNSHIP LEGAL NOTICE 2025 MEETING SCHEDULE
Notice is hereby given that the Kilbuck Township Board of Supervisors has established their public meeting schedule for the calendar year 2025. Board of Supervisors Monthly Workshop and Regular Meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month, except for December. Workshop Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and Regular Meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. Workshop and Regular Meeting dates are January 28, February 25, March 25, April 22, May 27, June 24, July 22, August 26, September 23, October 28, November 25, and December 16. In addition there will also be a reorganization meeting held at the Township Building on January 2, 2025. The Kilbuck Township Planning Commission will hold Regular Meetings on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Planning Commission Regular Meeting dates are January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11, and December 9 All meetings are open to the public and will be held in the Kilbuck Township Municipal Building, 343 Eicher Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. Andrew Wright Township Secretary
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HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) FOR ANSWERING SERVICES AUTHORITY WIDE RFP #300-03-25
The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) hereby request proposals from qualified Firms or Individuals capable of providing the following service(s):
Answering Services Authority Wide
The documents will be available no later than January 6, 2025, and signed, sealed proposals will be accepted until 10:00 a.m. on January 28, 2025. The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh will only accept physical proposals dropped off in person from 8:00 AM until the closing time of 10:00 a.m. on January 28, 2025, in the lobby of One Stop Shop at 412 Boulevard of the Allies. Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Proposals may uploaded to the Authority’s online submission site, the link is accessible via the HACP website and within the RFP. Sealed proposals may still be mailed via USPS at which time they will be Time and Date Stamped at 412 Boulevard of the Allies, 6th Floor - Procurement, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Parties or individuals interested in responding may download a copy of the Solicitation from the Business Opportunities page of www.HACP.org.
Questions or inquires should be directed to:
Mr. Brandon Havranek, Associate Director of Procurement/ Contracting Officer Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh 412 Boulevard of the Allies 6th Floor - Procurement Department Pittsburgh, PA 15219 412-456-2890
A pre-submission meeting will be held via Zoom meeting; on January 16, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Please see the meeting information below: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 863 7449 5791 Passcode: 332243 +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)
The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh strongly encourages certified minority business enterprises and women business enterprises to respond to this solicitation.
Caster D. Binion, Executive Director Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh HACP
INVITATION FOR BIDS
Sanitary Sewer Lining Project: Baldwin Township accepting sealed bids until Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 12 PM at the Twp. Mgr.’s Office, 10 Community Park Dr., Pgh., Pa. 15234. Bid Opening on February 4, 2025 at the Board’s 7 p.m. public meeting. 10% Bid Bond required. Successful bidder must post 100% Performance, Labor & Material Payment Bonds. Obtain Complete Bid Instructions & Specifications, at Twp. Office or from Charla Pfeil, Twp. Manager, 412-341-9597 or charla.pfeil@baldwintownship.com.
Thomas P. McDermott, Solicitor
ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION of the SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15213, on January 21,
Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on Friday December 20, 2024, at Modern Reproductions (412488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.
NO. 1817– REPAIR OF ROLL-UP GARAGE DOORS shall be received at the Engineering Department office of the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, 3300 Preble Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233, until 11:00 A.M., Prevailing Time, Thursday, January 16, 2025 and then shall be publicly opened and read via Microsoft Teams Video Conference. To obtain the required link to access the Bid Opening contact Kathleen P. Uniatowski via email at kathleen.uniatowski@alcosan.org. ALCOSAN encourages businesses owned and operated by minorities and women to submit bids on Authority Contracts or to participate as subcontractors or suppliers to successful Bidders. Successful Bidders are to use minority and women’s businesses to the fullest extent possible. Contract Documents will be available via email or may be examined at the Engineering office of the Authority. Contract documents must be obtained directly from ALCOSAN to qualify as an eligible bidder. Bid Security shall be furnished by providing with the Bid a Certified Check in the amount of Two hundred Dollars ($200.00) Any questions regarding the Contract Bid Document Technical Specifications should be directed to Benjamin Heilman, Contract Supervisor, via email benjamin.heilman@alcosan.org. Any questions regarding obtaining the Contract Bidding Documents should be directed to Kathleen P. Uniatowski, ALCOSAN, via email at contract.clerks@alcosan.org. The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive any informality in any bid and to accept any bid should it be deemed in the interest of the Authority to do so.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY SANITARY AUTHORITY Benjamin J. Heilman Contract Supervisor
WESTMORELAND COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR SPECIAL LEGAL COUNSEL
The Westmoreland County Housing Authority (WCHA) is requesting proposals for Special Legal Counsel or Counsels to perform legal services. Special Legal Services will be provided to the Authority and its controlled entities related to all aspects of Affordable Multi-Family Housing, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Development and Commercial Site Development. In addition, WCHA may assign additional PHA-wide legal services as needed. Interested respondents may obtain, at no cost, The Request for Qualifications documents containing: Contractual Service sought, Minimum Qualifications, Evaluation Criteria, Selection Procedure and Contractual Terms from the Westmoreland County Housing Authority, 167 South Greengate Road, Greensburg, PA 15601. Questions may be directed to Mr. Erik Spiegel, COO/ Director of A&E Services at eriks@wchaonline.com or by phone at 724-832-7248 Ext. 3056. An electronic copy (PDF) can be secured from the WCHA website, www.wchaonline.com, “Procurement Module – Current Solicitations” WCHA is an equal opportunity employer and attention is called to all respondents that compliance with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity requirements shall be adhered to. This includes strict compliance with Executive Order 11246, as amended; MBE Nondiscrimination-Executive Order 11625; WBE-Executive Order 12138; Section 3 of the HUD Act of 1968, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The WCHA promotes the utilization of business concerns that are located in or are owned in substantial part by persons residing in the Section 3 Area of Westmoreland County and promotes job training and employment opportunities for qualified, lower income, Section 3 area residents. Interested respondents are required to respond by proposal submission (satisfying the requirements of this RFQ-invitation) on or before Friday, January 31, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. Submission shall be either by certified mail or express carrier (UPS or FEDEX) to the WCHA Administration Office identified above to the attention of Mr. Erik Spiegel, COO/Director of A&E Services.
Michael L. Washowich, CEO/Executive Director Westmoreland County Housing Authority
INVITATION TO BID
Emailed bids for the Multiple Prime HVAC Work for the Thornburg Community Center Building (Historic School Building) at 545 Hamilton Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15205 will be received digitally by the Architect, Martin Powell mpowell@tda-architects.com 412-877-2337 of The Design Alliance Architects, 620 Olympia Road, Pittsburgh, PA, until 1/29/25 at 4:00 pm. Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at that time during a virtual meeting. Bidders will be invited to the meeting by subsequent email. Mailed paper copies of the bids must be received within 3 business days of the date the bids are submitted via email. Electronic copies of Bidding Documents may be obtained from the Architects. Contact Richard Freeman rfreeman@tda-architects.com 412-2512657 or Martin Powell mpowell@tda-architects.com 412-877-2337 Paper copies are the bidder’s responsibility.
Bids must be submitted on the forms provided and completed in strict accordance with the instructions provided. The Borough of Thornburg will enter separate contracts for each of the selected bids for General Construction, HVAC Construction, and Electrical Construction to comply with Pennsylvania construction protocols.
The Borough of Thornburg hereby authorizes The Design Alliance Architects to act on their behalf by opening bids. Bids will be considered by Borough Council at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Borough. A bid bond by acceptable surety or a certified check made payable to the Borough for the project in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the maximum bid amount must be deposited by each bidder with his bid. Performance and Payment Bonds in the total contract amount will be required of the successful Bidder. The Thornburg Community Center is exempt from state and local sales and use tax in Pennsylvania. This project is subject to the Provisions of the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act 442.
Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the Provisions of the Public Works Employment Verification Act (PWEVA) No bid or any part thereof shall be withdrawn by Bidder for a period of Sixty (60) Days after the Bid Opening A pre-bid conference will be held on Wednesday 1/22/25 at 10:00 AM at the Thornburg Community Center Library. Bidder attendance is mandatory. Bid questions must be submitted to the Architect by 4:00 pm 1/23/25 Questions submitted after that date will be rejected.
The successful bidder shall be required to obtain Federal and State background checks and clearances for all employees and subcontractors who will, at any time, be on Borough property in connection with the execution of the Work. The required background checks and clearances shall include the following: Federal Criminal History Record, Pennsylvania State Criminal Record Check, and Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance. Each bidder must be prepared to submit evidence of his qualifications to perform the work, with the contractor’s qualifications statement to accompany the bid proposal.
Bidders should refer to federal and state statutes, rules and regulations dealing with the prevention of environmental pollution and the preservation of public and natural resources pursuant to PA Act No. 1972-247.
The maximum contract time for this project is five (5) calendar months from the contract award date. Bidders are required to submit the projected contract time on the Bid Form.
The Borough of Thornburg reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, in whole or in part, as suits the best interest of the Borough. The Borough reserves the right to reject any and/or all Bids or parts of Bids and to waive technical defects in any Bid.
Vince Coppola, Council President Borough of Thornburg
ADVERTISEMENT
Sealed proposals will be received by the Borough of Avalon of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania through the Quest Construction Data Network (QuestCDN) at www.questcdn.com until 11:00 AM and opened at 11:00 AM prevailing time via virtual conference on January 30, 2025 for:
CONTRACT NO. 25-PK1
AVALON COMMUNITY POOL LINER INSTALLATION
Scope of work generally consists of the removal of existing liner membrane system and installation of a 60 mil RenoSys® PVC Membrane Liner, or approved equal, at the existing Avalon Community Swimming Pool. Work also includes pool surface preparation, installation of 150 mil felt membrane, stainless steel skirt for membrane termination and all necessary appurtenances and restoration for said construction.
The project is being financed, in part, by the Commonwealth Finance Authority via a Local Share Account-Statewide Grant. Bidders to comply with applicable grant conditions. All bidders are required to buy the Bid Documents in PDF format for a non-refundable deposit of $125.00 from QuestCDN using project number 9466699. Contact their Customer Support regarding membership registration, downloading and working with digital project information at 952-233-1632 or info@questcdn.com. Any technical questions regarding the bid documents are to be directed to LSSE. Pennsylvania prevailing wage rates apply. Proposals must be upon the forms furnished by the Borough. The bid must be accompanied by a bid bond in the amount of ten percent (10%) of the bid, made payable to the Borough to guarantee the bidder’s entrance into the contract if given the award. No bid bond shall be waived or returned because the Bidder has failed to or cannot comply with any requirements as set forth in the plans, specifications, or any applicable statutes of the State of Pennsylvania or any applicable municipal ordinances.
The Borough reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive any informalities in the bidding. No bid may be withdrawn for ninety (90) calendar days after the scheduled time for receipt of bids. Attention is directed to the fact that procurement is subject to all requirements of the Pennsylvania “Steel Products Procurement Act, Act No. 1978-3”; and for Contract value exceeding $25,000, the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act (Act of 1961 P.L. 987), and The Public Works Employment Verification Act (July 2012) apply.
The Borough shall (a) award the construction contract to the lowest responsible bidder therefore, or (b) reject all bids received within ninety (90) days of the date of bid opening; provided, however, that the Borough may, in its sole discretion, delay such award or rejection for up to one hundred twenty (120) days from the bid opening date until the Borough has received all required approvals from other governmental agencies. Bidders on this work will be required to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
THE UNDISPUTED VOICE OF BLACK PITTSBURGH.
NOT JUST A NEWSPAPER. THIS IS BLACK HISTORY.
Borough of Avalon
Lorraine Makatura, Manager
Santa's still undefeated! Wins again in overtime!
East Liberty McDonald's home to 'Toys for Champions' Christmas party
To the delight of good little boys and girls from the Pittsburgh communities, THE LEGEND AND TRUE G.O.A.T., SANTA CLAUS, delivered once again. And unlike your Pittsburgh
Steelers of late, did so in convincing fashion and didn’t need George Pickens or Chris Boswell to save them at the buzzer. This one was saved with the help of Toys for Tykes Pittsburgh. Although Santa couldn’t be there in person (he was...you know...kind-of-busy)... he sent his first team to the East Liberty Station McDonald's on Penn Avenue, Dec. 22, to handle the crowd of 500 kids to fulfill all their Christmas wishes.
The “Toys for Champions” Christmas Party and Toy Giveaway was headed by Santa’s First Team Coach Bill Neal... AKA “Ole Black Nick” (and Achieving Great -
ness CEO). He was joined by team captain and former pro basketball star Warren Wilson, who doubles as AGI Senior VP the other 364 days of the year. Also starring were local movie, TV and stage star Rita Gregory, who holds down the annual winter extravaganza for Mrs. Claus, and this year’s special guest elf and future supermodel, Nitiya Wofford and family. Needless to say, all North Pole props to “Brother Claus” for all he does every year, but as is always the case, it takes a village! And this year’s special deliveries would not have been made possible without the 50th consecutive year of Achieving Greatness Inc., heading up the sleigh with “Toys for Tykes of Pittsburgh” and support from UPMC, Pittsburgh Regional Transit, Briggs Transportation Co., State Senator Jay Costa, Judge Dwayne Woodruff, Chris Seneca, Bobby Franklin, Atty. Bill Goodrich, Wings & A Prayer, Atty. Jack Goodrich, Atty. Alexis Cobb, John “Buzzy” Bazari, Frank Fuhrer Wholesale Company, Ron Brown, Lorenzo Boone, AND AN ENOR -
MOUS THANK YOU TO PENN AVE. MCDONALD’S GENERAL MANAGER, “VICTOR” AND HIS TEAM!!!
UNTIL NEXT YEAR, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...HAPPY NEW YEAR...AND KEEP ON TRUCKIN', SANTA!
MOVIE AND TV STAR RITA GREGORY (SECOND FROM LEFT) AND FUTURE SUPERMODEL NITIYA WOFFORD (FAR LEFT) AND FAMILY HELP PRESENT TOYS TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY! AND THANK YOU.
THIS PHOTO SAYS IT ALL!!!
McAuley Ministries awards 30 grants,
McAuley Ministries, Pittsburgh Mercy’s grant-making foundation, awarded 30 grants in 2024 totaling over $3.1 million for capacity building, education, empowerment, essential needs and social services, and whole-person health initiatives in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, Uptown, and West Oakland communities, its three focus neighborhoods, as well as to Southwestern Pennsylvania legacy programs of the Sisters of Mercy.
“These investments are not just financial contributions; they are commitments to fostering resilience, equity, and growth,” stated Marisol Valentin, executive director of McAuley Ministries.
“By supporting these initiatives, we are building stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
This grant cycle, investments in education and housing were prioritized to respond to neighborhood needs. Additionally, McAuley Ministries added
2% to the amount awarded to each organization to help support the mental health and spiritual well-being of the employees that commit to being changemakers every day. Grouped by grant-making priorities, the recipients of the most recent grants are:
Capacity Building Oakland Planning & Development Corporation: $51,000 to support the Community (Re)Connections in West Oakland three-part initiative. Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company: $7,500 for attendance at the 2024 International Black Theatre Festival that afforded their actors, designers, technicians, and playwright opportunities to be seen in a new, elevated context, meet new colleagues, and potentially secure work in other theaters.
Education ACH Clear Pathways:
$204,000 for general operating support to allow ACH to continue to serve
children, families, and community members who have not had the opportunity to thrive in the arts.
A Plus Schools’ A to Z
Fund: $10,000 to support the A to Z fund which distributes funds directly to schools based on needs and opportunities identified by school staff as part of the Circle Our Schools partnership in the Hill District.
Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time:
$51,000 to build an effective intermediary and strengthen out-of-school time organizations in Allegheny County.
Center That CARES:
$204,000 to continue inspiring children and youth from the Hill District to learn and achieve through quality afterschool programs that include unique learning opportunities, innovative programming, and cutting-edge STEM education.
Early Excellence Project: $153,000 to increase access to high quality early childhood education for families in the Hill District, including children
with exceptionalities.
M-PowerHouse of Greater Pittsburgh: $127,500 to launch the Nurturing Opportunities for Workforce (NOW) program that integrates animal and plant therapy with a biomimetics curriculum, preparing students for careers in biomimetics, drone technology, AI, and cybersecurity.
Ozanam Inc.: $63,240 to continue the Hill Legacy Project to inspire children and youth through culturally relevant frameworks, fostering their success through innovative educational experiences that promote STEM and digital literacy while equipping them with 21st century skills.
Schenley Heights Community Development Program: $204,000 to further SHCDP’s mission to nurture, support and develop its community through wholesome year-round programming that addresses the academic, moral, cultural, health and recreational needs of children, youth, and their families in the
Hill District and metropolitan Pittsburgh. Small Seeds Development Inc.: $204,000 to provide interventions and supportive direction to single mothers as they face challenges that can hinder the growth and development of the family. Strong Women, Strong Girls Inc.: $25,500 to continue the Intergenerational Mentorship for Girls in the Hill District program. United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania: $153,000 to develop and implement Welcome Back Summer 2024 with a focus on providing high-quality, in-person summer programming with handson social and emotional learning opportunities for youth in kindergarten through high school.
Venture Outdoors Inc.: $76,500 to continue the Outdoor Learning Lab that connects Pittsburgh residents to the special powers of nature by providing the gear, access, transportation, and confidence to spend time outside.
Empowerment
the Hill District over the next three years. Regional Housing Legal Services: $102,000 to continue to address Pittsburgh’s shortage of affordable housing, housing conditions that are unsafe or unhealthy, and the displacement of poor and working families, particularly Black residents. Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh: $280,500 to launch a community and economic development project to tackle blight and vacancy and rebuild the Forbes and Fifth Avenue corridor into an Eco-Innovation District.
100 Black Men of Western PA Inc.: $10,200 to support their Career Development Initiative that addresses disparity for underserved African American youth.
Amani Christian Community Development Corporation: $244,800 to increase organizational capacity in the real estate department, expand the Amani Landcare Program, and launch the Amani Labor Free Repair Program.
Essential Needs & Social Services
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh Inc.: $153,000 to support critical case management at St. Joseph House of Hospitality, the only year-round men’s residential program of its kind in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Neighborhood Resilience Project: $102,000 for community support as they serve as a sanctuary space for the Hill District.
Legacy Programs
Carlow University:
$80,000 for pilgrimages to Ireland to prepare students, members of the Carlow community, and future leaders to be conversant with and about the Sisters of Mercy mission and values.
Amizade: $7,000 for a piloted expansion of the Puerto Rico-Pittsburgh youth exchange program centered in the Hill District. In the spirit of Roberto Clemente’s lifelong commitment to service, the program aims to unite young people from two communities where Clemente remains a beloved figure to learn from each other and grow together as the next generation of empathetic, community-focused leaders.
NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania: $51,001 for Comprehensive Homeownership Services that will empower residents to pursue their financial goals, including homeownership, and assist existing homeowners in maintaining their assets.
Partner4Work: $51,000 to develop a plan that identifies methods for creating equitable pathways for Hill District residents to access job opportunities in the emerging clean energy sector.
Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh: $244,800 to provide zero-cost home repairs to low to moderate-income households in
The Intersection Inc.: $35,700 to serve individuals and families in McKeesport and the surrounding areas who are economically poor, disadvantaged, and in need. Pittsburgh Mercy: $60,000 for pilgrimages to Ireland to provide the opportunity for Pittsburgh Mercy colleagues to grow in their understanding of the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy and deepen their connection with the social service organization’s heritage through works of service.
Westmoreland Land Trust: $25,500 to gather and record the history of the Pittsburgh Sisters of Mercy, St. Xavier Academy, and the Sisters of Mercy Convent.
Whole-Person Health
American Heart Association: $20,400 to support the Cardiac Emergency Response Readiness program in the Hill District.
Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship: $132,600 to support men and women who work at Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship, veteran participants at Shepherd’s Heart Veteran’s Home, beneficiaries of other Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship programs, or those who are experiencing or threatened by homelessness.