Detroiter Chi Walker
Launches Unique Supper Club in Honor of Detroit’s Black Bottom City.Life.Style. B1
UpNext:
September Hargrove Banks on Philanthropy for Stable, Sustainable Living for Detroiters Money. A5
Michigan Chronicle
Vol. 84 – No. 23 | February 10-16, 2021
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A Month in the Making: Metro Detroit Black History Month Activities Bring Generations Together
By Sherri Kolade Who loves Black History Month? We do! And these local and area events and activities are a great way to feel the love all month long. We have the opportunity for our history to be front and center as we celebrate our people in a way that the whole family can take part. We’re talking multigenerational fun for everyone. And during this special month, take time out to gather together or (for those still quarantining, virtually) and celebrate all that’s melanated with several upcoming events in the area. This non-exhaustive list highlights several diverse events happening that people can celebrate from near or far. The Southfield Public Library is proud to host a bevy of Black History Month activities and to “remember, educate and celebrate it.”
From Left To Right: Sonya Mays, Roderick Hardamon, Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges
Building Detroit:
Black Developers Are Key To Detroit's Comeback By Donald James Special to The Chronicle
The library is highlighting distinguished African Americans on their website, https:// southfieldlibrary.org/, and social media page each day with a link to a library resource to learn more about that individual and what role they played in history. They recently kicked off the celebration earlier this month highlighting Rosa Parks and Oprah Winfrey. As an extension of that program there are markers up at the Southfield Civic Center, located at 26000 Evergreen Road in Southfield, of distinguished Black people. Visitors can walk around and learn about national figures both historic and modern-day as well as local officials. “We encourage families to learn together about Black History,” Kelly Ireland Rembert, outreach librarian at Southfield Public Library, said. “When you know your history, you can expand on it and grow. We know COVID makes learning different. We encourage families to go back to the basics by reading together, acting out a play of someone you admire and this can be done together or over FaceTime. Students get a chance to see the Black Lives Matter movement
See BLACK
HISTORY page A6
WHAT’S INSIDE
I
t is almost impossible to drive on any main street in Detroit or through any neighborhood without seeing development or redevelopment projects, either in its early stages, nearly finished or recently completed. Unbeknownst to the average person, many of the projects – rehabilitation, new construction, mixed-use or single/ multifamily housing developments - are being spearheaded by Black developers. One such developer is Dennis Archer Jr., who is leading a development team to build a small-format Meijer store which will be located at 1475 E. Jefferson, near downtown Detroit. When completed later this year, the 42,000-square-foot store will be called Rivertown Market. Archer is also leading a development project in the new Paradise Valley Cultural and Entertainment District in downtown Detroit. From the 1920s through the 1950s, the District was home to numerous African American owned businesses and entertainment venues.
“There are two buildings that we acquired in January of last year on Randolph St.,” said Archer, who points to this spring for development activities to begin. “The buildings will be redeveloped into mixed-use, where there will be space for offices and hospitality usage.” Another noted Black developer is Emmett S. Moten Jr., founder, president and CEO of The Moten Group LLC. Once called Mayor Coleman A. Young’s “economic guru” and “development czar”
in the 1970s into the late 1980s, Moten has moved exponentially into the private sector of development. In 2007, he engineered the $82 million development deal that renovated the abandoned downtown Fort Shelby Hotel into a Double Tree Suites by Hilton featuring 203 guest suites and 56 apartments. While Moten doesn’t like to speak about his ongoing or future projects, he did talk about the current renovation of the downtown historic United Artists Building. When completed in late 2021 or early 2022, the $56 million project, said Moten, will feature 148 apartments, 20 percent of which are designated “affordable.” According to Moten, project partners are Roy Roberts, Tom Goss, Jim Thrower, Larry Brinker, Robert Charles and Richard Holsey. The late O’Neil Swanson was also a partner. “We all have equal ownership,” said Moten. “And we all have the same idea to do something constructive in the community and hire our people.” Doing something constructive to make communities better in an overwhelmingly African American city is paramount for many local Black developers. Yet, in many cases their paths to pursue development and redevelopment projects in Detroit are far more difficult than those of white developers. What Black developers find, for the most part, are challenges unique to them, which include, but are limited to the lack of access to capital and difficulties in acquiring land. As for access to capital, Marvin Beatty, civic leader and developer of
Gateway Marketplace, which when opened in 2013 was the city’s first major retail center built in four decades, had an interesting perspective about banks and Black developers that he shared in a 2017 interview with The Michigan Chronicle. “If banks and institutions don’t loosen the way they do business with us, the way they do business with others, we’ll continue to struggle in our communities to see ourselves develop,” Beatty said. “We have the skills and the intellect to do exactly the kind of thing that Dan Gilbert is doing. But if we don’t have the same access, we will not have the same opportunity.” Sonya Mays, president & CEO of Develop Detroit Inc., agrees. “For banks, there’s a long history of Black people being seen as high risk for financial opportunities that would provide capital for Black developers,” Mays said. “It leaves many Black developers in a place where we have to bootstrap it or not do the project at all. We really do need to rethink, as a community, about equity impairment and how Black people can better access capital to do this work as developers. And lending institutions need to reexamine the disparities and rethink their business models regarding Black developers.” Mays said America is littered with examples of programs that offset risks, shift risks or mitigate risks for the pursuit of a greater social good. Archer agrees that not having access to capital presents major problems for
See BLACK
Life or Death Could Depend On Your Zipcode By Sherri Kolade
Breaking the Generational Curse:
The History of Poverty in Black Detroit Roots. A3
$1.00
DEVELOPERS page A2
What is your zip code? That could be a determining factor of your life expectancy and what kind of healthcare you receive, says Dr. Asha Shajahan, a family medicine specialist and medical director of the Community Health Program for Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe. Some zip codes show a life expectancy of 76 years of age while another anticipates life expectancy of 86 years of age. Some of the contributing factors according to Shajahan could be poor housing, poor education, violence-filled neighborhoods, and more. “Grosse Pointe’s average life expectancy is 83 years of age. Detroit’s different zip codes have a different life expectancy. One particular life expectancy drops to 63 years of age.” Many are well aware that
high poverty and disparity rates in healthcare have resulted in the tragic deaths of many Black Detroiters particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of January 28, the U.S. had surpassed more than 25.6 million
total cases and 429,000 deaths due to the pandemic, according to a report from the non-profit organization Kaiser Family Foundation. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion study, Blacks, Latinos, and Native Americans are dying from COVID-19 nearly three times the rate of white people. Shajahan has published work on how implicit bias training done correctly can improve healthcare. “It appears in general with the COVID-119 pandemic we did see a lot of the disparities really focusing on the African American community,” Shajahan said. “Having worked in this space we know structural racism plays a big part in the African American communities (and how they perceive healthcare systems).” She added that a deeper look into social determinants of health, like where a person lives, their transportation situation and beyond, “plays a role in determining if you get good
See POVERTY page A2
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February 10-16, 2021
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Black Developers
From page A-1
African American developers – emerging and established. He adds that African American real estate developers also face the lack of access to information, deal flow and input into influencing policies that impact development in Detroit. Helping to level the playing field for local Black developers is Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), a private, non-profit entity devoted to supporting Detroit’s economic development initiatives. Rendering leadership to many Black developers and their projects is Kenyetta Hairston-Bridges, DEGC’s executive vice president of Real Estate and Investment Services. In her executive role, Hairston-Bridges and her Real Estate Development team, represent the city of Detroit’s one-stop shop for economic development. Hairston-Bridges says her team, on behalf of the city of Detroit, assists Black developers in areas such as construction management, negotiations, financing, land assembly, real estate and incentives qualification and application. Much of the team’s success comes from partnerships with external organizations like Detroit Regional Partnership, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Detroit Invest and other stake holding entities. “Some developers come and talk with us about what they want to do. A dream is fine; we can start to entertain it, but there has to be more of a plan,” said Hairston-Bridges. “When a Black developer, or any developer for that matter, comes to us, we are going to help execute on their vision or their plan, but we need to have something as a baseline to begin helping them.” On the receiving end of such help are Black developers George N’Namdi and Roderick Hardamon of The N’Namdi Holdings and URGE Development companies. Last October, N’Namdi and Hardamon broke ground on the future Osi Art Apartments at West End, located on Grand River, just west of Trumbull. The colorful complex will consist of 30 apartments, half of which will be designated as affordable housing. As part of the West End Gallery District, the complex will have retail space, restaurants and galleries. “We are doing development projects that make a statement,” said N’Namdi. “We want to do something that people will say - Wow!” The Osi Art project was the first development launched under the new Detroit Housing for the Future Fund, which was unveiled last September. The fund, with the City of Detroit as a collaborator, is comprised of private investments for affordable housing development and preservation projects in the city. Hairston-Bridges said when deemed ideal, DEGC seeks to match Black developers and white developers together on projects. “We look for opportunities to partner Black developers with larger, majority developers,” said Hairston-Bridges. “A classic example is the partnership development project which connects Queen Lillian with The Platform to develop a $60 million mixed-use project.” When completed in the summer of 2022, the project will boast 204 apartments and almost 25,000 square feet of retail space. Queen Lillian is a Black-owned development company based in Detroit. Christopher Jackson is co-principal and managing partner. The
Platform is a private, white-owned development company in Detroit, where Peter D. Cummings is executive chairman and CEO. Black developers shaping the renovation and new construction landscape of Detroit is of utmost importance to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan. “We are experiencing a period of development in this town we haven’t seen in generations, and the highest priority of my administration is to make sure that Detroit’s Black developers are able to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity,” said Duggan. “As our city continues to come back, we are seeing more and more that it will be Detroiters rebuilding Detroit.” While most Black developers in Detroit are males, there’s lots of room for Black women in the industry. One African American woman that’s making great strides as a developer is Sonya Mays, Develop Detroit, Inc.’s top executive. The company is currently working on two projects that Mays chose to speak on at this time: Sugar Hill Mixed-Use Development (Garfield St. at John R) and North End Homes (along Woodward Ave. between Marston and Philadelphia Streets). According to Mays, Sugar Hill when completed will feature 84 luxury apartment homes, 11,000 square feet of retail space, and an on-site preschool. The North End project will feature 19 homes classified as single family and townhomes. The $4.2 million investment calls for both constructed and rehabbed homes. Mays said that she wants to see more Black women become developers in the city. She said she knows of only a half-dozen African American women working as developers in Detroit. “I’m trying to train more Black women to do this work,” said Mays. “I have a couple of really phenomenal Black women developers on my team. I’m always making time and space to counsel and mentor African Americans.” “The pool for Black female developers is small,” said Hairston-Bridges. “DEGC is taking a hard look to determine how to get more Black women into the fold.” An organization that’s helping to train and educate Black women and Black men to excel as Black developers is Capital Impact Partners. While headquartered in Arlington, Va., the organization has had a serious impact on development and redevelopment projects in Detroit. Since 2009, Capital Impact – through its multiple philanthropic and financing partners – has invested more than $100 million in development and redevelopment projects in Detroit communities. One of the organization’s key objectives is to remove barriers that have hindered African American developers in Detroit from participating in the city’s revitalization experiences. Through Capital Impact’s Equitable Development Initiative (EDI) African Americans are learning the ins and outs of local real estate development. “We are excited to continue providing opportunities and increasing capital to ensure equitable development in the communities we serve,” Ellis Carr, president and CEO of Capital Impact, said in a statement. “This allows us to further grow this effort and support Detroit’s minority developers who are working to stabilize communities.” Another organization that’s helping to support Black Develop-
ers is Invest Detroit. The 20-yearold Detroit-based organization is a mission-driven “lender, investor and partner” that supports business and real estate projects. As part of its public-private-philanthropic partnership with the City of Detroit, Invest Detroit is currently involved in facilitating new construction and renovation development projects in strategic neighborhoods in the city. A major way of supporting development in the neighborhoods is through the Strategic Neighborhood Fund (SNF) investments. Invest Detroit is the fiduciary of SNF and administers and deploys the funding. Through its collaboration with the City of Detroit, 10 neighborhoods’ commercial corridors are receiving SNF, which has been allocated in two phases. SNF’s initial investment was $42 million for projects in three neighborhoods (Southwest/Vernor, Islandview Villages and Livernois/ McNichols). SNF 2.0 has added an additional $130 million for development projects in seven neighborhoods (Northwest Grand River, Warrendale/Cody Rouge, Russell Woods/Nardin Park, Campau/ Banglatown, Gratiot/7 Mile, East Warren/Cadieux and Jefferson Chalmers). “We all know the much larger names in development, but these strategic neighborhoods are also being developed by local Detroiters, with a significant number being Black developers,” said Keona Cowan, executive vice president of lending, Invest Detroit. “Because we are the type of lender that creates an environment that other lenders aren’t able to create, a number of Black developers come to us as a lender for their real estate development projects.” Cowan said Invest Detroit is supportive of emerging Black developers who are entering the development arena through training programs. Building Community Value, a nonprofit organization headquartered in Detroit, offers a program that’s preparing Black developers to take on real estate development projects in underserved Detroit neighborhoods. “We are very supportive of Building Community Value programs and Capital Impact’s Equitable Development Initiative,” Cowan said. “Those are two programs of opportunities for aspiring real estate developers to gain real knowledge of how development works, and in the case of Capital Impact’s EDI program, its development training is geared towards minorities and minorities only.” Cowan said Invest Detroit is so impressed with Capital Impact’s EDI initiative that Invest Detroit has selected two developers from the program to be developers on the SNF’s Livernois/McNichols projects. While it’s important to help today’s Black developers in every aspect of development, both Cowan and Mays believe there’s great value in preparing the next generation of Black developers. “I would like to see more real estate developing programs offered to high school students who may not want to go to college,” Cowan said. Mays, who is a Detroit Public Schools board member, agrees. “I think the more we can put real estate development on the list of careers for our young people to explore,” said Mays, “the better the pipeline can be for building future Black developers in our city.”
Black History From page A-1 and how they are a part of the Civil Rights Movement and how they can be a part of the change.” Learn more about Black History at www. southfieldlibrary.org. The annual STEM Genius Black History STEM Festival is on tap February 18-19 from 8:30 a.m.to 2 p.m. at STEM Genius Design Studios, 8425 West McNichols Road in Detroit. The festival will be adhering to CDC COVID-19 guidelines and will feature daily discussions on careers led by Amazon professionals. The festival will feature programming for middle and high school students. For more information find “STEM Genius” on Facebook.
Poverty From page A-1
healthcare.” She added that based on a report (from the President Lyndon B. Johnson era) after the 1968 Detroit rebellion, Johnson wanted to find out what started it all. The Kerner Commission identified three things that were the root of the cause: injustice in the criminal justice system, housing and education. ”That all has to do with social determinants of health and we were living in (the Kerner Commission) quoted, ‘Separate but unequal societies.’ Fifty years later this is still happening with COVID-19.” She added that some people might push back and say, why don’t some Detroiters move out. It’s not always that easy. “In the past housing loans were denied for people of color. Even though that may not be happening today it was happening so recently that it’s going to affect people generationally because housing equity is how you can build wealth. So, it is like a domino effect; that is the thing people miss. These social circumstances affect your health,” she said. “If we don’t fix the social circumstances in an equitable fashion, communities for people of color will continue to have bad health.” Many times, unconscious bias can impact residents looking for care, too. “Everyone has unconscious bias. Some medical schools are beginning to touch upon this during training but that’s rare. The need for this training is now being designed by health systems across the nation and it’s about time,” stated Dr. Maria Hernandez, president and COO of Impact4Health, a multidisciplinary team of psychologists, public health researchers, phy-
From 2-6 p.m. on February 20 at The Ultimate Craft Studio, 28370 Joy Road in Livonia, there will be a Black History Month Pop Up Shop. The event will highlight local Blackowned businesses within the community. Find out more information on www.eventbrite.com. For those looking to join in on the virtual fun, Detroit’s Black History Series (through November) is on tap from 6-8:30 p.m. February 22 online through the Black Scroll Network History & Tours. The virtual tour showcases the important places, events, and people of Detroit from the Underground Railroad to Motown. The fee is around $30. More information can be found at www.eventbrite.com. sicians, and health educators who promote health equity. To help diminish unconscious bias, Impact4Health tools help train healthcare boards, administrators, physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers. This approach has been demonstrated in a variety of healthcare settings and can be implemented in stages. The first step is identifying where problems exist in a healthcare system. The best way to identify “pain points” is to collect and analyze data. Data reveals disparity, according to Impact4Health. Tracking healthcare metrics in the context of race, ethnicity, languages and other factors produce actionable intelligence to improve outcomes. That’s why Impact4Health developed the Inclusion Scorecard for Population Health, a free, customizable assessment that helps break the cycle of unconscious bias while meeting the goals of healthcare providers. Then comes changing perspectives regarding cultural education to teach C-suite administrators the direct link between inclusion and better outcomes. “Achieving health equity is tremendously hard work, but it can be done. It needs to be a priority on the frontlines, at the doctor’s office and in the boardroom. Those leaders who want to improve healthcare outcomes, augment their staff and improve productivity by embracing inclusion and health equity have to be committed to the work, and it requires a sea change in our healthcare culture to get there,” Hernandez said. How can Healthcare systems increase healthcare equity, improving patient outcomes? For more information, visit www.Impact4Health. com.
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| February 10-16, 2021
Voices Lifted:
Roots.
michiganchronicle.com
Mosaic Youth Theatre Wins Lewis Prize for Music Grant
By Sherri Kolade Their gifts have made room for them time and time again. This time it’s no different for the multi-talented Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit who recently won a $500,000 grant from The Lewis Prize for Music, a philanthropic music arts organization that helps cultivate creative youth. Detroit-based We Are Culture Creators, a media arts collective and label, received a $25,000 grant from The Lewis Prize. Founded in 2018 by philanthropist Daniel R. Lewis, The Lewis Prize for Music aims to help young people have greater connectivity to high-quality music learning, performance, and creation opportunities that will help them in the long run. Awardees for The Lewis Prize for Music, which is split into three categories and includes both long-term and single-year support, were was formally announced in January. Mosaic was founded by Rick Sperling in 1992 to address gaps in Metro Detroit arts education. The Theatre Group’ s Executive and Artistic Director DeLashea Strawder said that the grant will do great things for Mosaic. And as a Mosaic alumna she knows how vital music is and all that it offers, and that she was able to participate in music programs growing up without a second thought. “I didn’t know that wasn’t everyone else’s experience,” she said, adding that when she joined Mosaic in her high school years it was the first time she was encouraged to push past the boxes she was put into as an academically advanced student and explore who she was in full. “I was very, very shy when I joined Mosaic. … It was the first time I was encouraged to really speak my mind and share and explore all of the different (variations) of myself.” Strawder blossomed there, and in 2018 became Mosaic’s music director, helping make music accessible to different communities. That is also where she learned that a person living down the street could have a very different experience than her own. “It opened my eyes and gave me a passion for making sure that everyone had the opportunity to pursue whatever it is they wanted regardless of where they came from or their background,” the 2002 Detroit School of Arts graduate said. Mosaic plans to use the grant funding toward transportation support for the program as well as offer increased mentorship and training by professional artists. “Our goal with The Lewis Prize is to be able to expand our music programs and deepen the services that we are able to provide young people so they can take full advantage of (what) Mosaic has to offer,” she said. Strawder added that a person’s barriers might not only be finances when joining Mosaic and a “myriad of things” come up in young people’s life. “We want to be a part of making sure young people have what they need to feel completely successful ... through various stages of their life and development.” Mosaic members Joi Arrington
See MOSAIC page A-4
Breaking the Generational Curse:
The History of Poverty in Black Detroit By Sherri Kolade *The Michigan Chronicle is discussing generational poverty in Detroit, and its history at large in America, in this fourpart series during Black History Month. Stay tuned for the second and subsequent parts to learn about poverty in Detroit, its impact on families, finances, business barriers, gentrification and how we move forward. When poverty transcends generations of Black families and seeps into every facet of life, what solutions could be found to break its devastating cyclical impact? Kofi Kenyatta, director of Policy and Practice at non-profit Family Independence Initiative (FIL-National), has some ideas. He said that to have a meaningful conversation about generational poverty in the Black community, people must first understand wealth and the root causes of the racial wealth gap in America.
“Since America’s inception, enslaved Africans and their descendants have been violently denied access to opportunities, resources and, frankly, the freedom to be left the hell alone,” he said, adding that some studies estimate that over $14 trillion in today’s dollars were extracted from enslaved Africans during American chattel slavery. “Unfortunately, the 246 years of slavery was just the beginning of the wealth extraction. The brutality of slavery was replaced by sharecropping, convict leasing, black codes, Jim Crow laws, housing discrimination, employment discrimination, education funding inequities, mass incarceration, redlining and hundreds of other policies and practices that stifled economic mobility for Black Americans.” Kenyatta added that from having policies that roadblock economic progress for African Americans to the acceleration of wealth for white Americans it has culminated into the present- day wealth gap where African Americans have approximately one-tenth the wealth of white Americans.
“Wealth is the measure of an individual’s or household’s net worth, and a key indicator of economic well-being. Wealth The Road to Zero allows people to pay Wealth report pubtheir bills when inlished by Prosperity come stops coming Now and the Institute in,” he told The Michifor Policy Studies gan Chronicle. “Wealth states that the median provides the capital to wealth of black Ameristart a business, study cans will fall to zero by abroad or leave school 2053 if things continue debt-free. Wealth pays as they are, he said. for expensive medi“The lack of wealth Kofi Kenyatta, director of Policy and Practice at non-profit Family Indepencal procedures, trandecreases the chances dence Initiative (FIL-National) – Photo provided by Kofi Kenyatta sitions between jobs of sustained economic and the ability to withmobility across generations. Even if incomes rise, the racial stand emergencies. Wealth is also passed down between genwealth gap leaves many African Americans in a vicious cycle erations.” of economic struggle,” he added. “African Americans have alAccording to the U.S. Department of Health and Human ways had to swim upstream in the shark-infested waters we Services, about 40 million people in America live in poverty. call America. Presently and throughout history we have creAccording to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, in 2019, the pov- ated our own opportunities and overcome the constant roaderty rate for the United States was at 10.5 percent, the lowest blocks put in our way by a country and society we have givsince 1959. COVID-19 has no doubt changed those statistics. en everything to. However, our ability to overcome seemingly The poverty rate has shown that from 1959 to 2019 Blacks and insurmountable odds should not deter us from demanding Hispanics have outpaced other races in poverty levels. systemic redress for the systemic issues caused by systemic Kenyatta said that it is crucially important to make the con- racism. nection between the historical denial of wealth-generating op“The barriers to African American economic mobility at portunities for African Americans and the prevalence of poverty in the Black community. See BREAKING THE CURSE page A-4
Social Justice Starts at Home: Michigan Liberation Grows a Local Movement for Prison Reform By Sherri Kolade
also involved in grassroots organizing, leadership development, lobbying; and supports candidates that share their vision for Michigan.
Their phone rings constantly. Calls come into Michigan Liberation from concerned mothers, fathers, spouses, siblings, friends and others -- all seeking justice for someone they love who is behind bars, especially those wrongfully convicted. “It’s amazing how people call us at all times of the hour about their relatives,” Marjon Parham, public relations manager for Michigan Liberation, said. Michigan Liberation, a nonprofit organization, is a statewide network of people and organizations banding together to end the criminalization of Black families and communities of color in Michigan, their website stated. They “envision a state without mass incarceration or mass policing.” Parham said something new coming forth this year with Michigan Liberation involves a
Michigan Liberation organization is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving social justice and lowering incarceration rates in the community through grassroots organization. – Photo provided by Michigan Liberation participatory defense program in Wayne, Oakland and Kalamazoo counties. This particular work involves dealing with returned citizens [formerly incarcerated residents] and their families to familiarize themselves with the law. “The whole goal of the program is if you have a loved one
who is arrested what is the process especially with COVID,” Parham said. “You don’t know what happens from the time when your loved one is arrested to when they go on trial. It is helping people to understand what goes through the booking process or arresting process.” She added that the organiza-
tion has 25 staff members and a good number of them are returning citizens. The group, formed in 2018, also envisions a state with the best public education in the nation, single-payer healthcare, and thriving Black and Brown communities, their website added. Michigan Liberation is
Parham said that Michigan Liberation has made great strides in obtaining justice last year for a Michigan teenager named “Grace” (full name withheld to protect her identity) who was unjustly held at a detention center for skipping out on homework. Parham said that Michigan Liberation organized a 200-car caravan from her school to a Pontiac detention center where she was and held an event there in her honor. The event garnered major media attention. Later, when Grace was released, Michigan Liberation hired her at the end of last summer. “[She] did such a fabulous job,” she said, adding that the organization is trying to do more community engagement
See REFORM page A-4
Page A-4 • michiganchronicle.com •
February 10-16, 2021
Breaking the Curse From page A-3
scale do not lay at the feet of the individual. These barriers are structural in nature and demand structural remedies.” To address generational poverty in the Black community, structural roots must be addressed he added. “We must work to end resource deprivation and begin direct cash investments for people,” Kenyatta said. “We must se-
cure proper and adequate forms of reparations, including cash. We must demand an end to all forms of discrimination and denial of opportunity that are littered throughout every facet of American society. We must demand living wages and mechanisms for the acceleration of economic mobility. Lastly, a racial equity lens must be applied to every conversation centering [on] poverty alleviation
and economic mobility.” Kristin Seefeldt, associate faculty director of Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, has done much work with families in Detroit, and her book, “Abandoned Families,” explores the ways various institutions are failing low- and moderate-income families, particularly families of color. Seefeldt said that the issue of poverty needs to be centered within what public policies should be doing to help families in need.
The Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit offers its members opportunities to excel in music while helping them find their voice in more ways than one. – Photo provided by DeLashea Strawder
Mosaic From page A-3
and Mia Arrington, (10th graders in the South Redford School District) have been involved in Mosaic’s programs for four years. “Since joining Mosaic I have become more confident in my talents and become more professional,” Joi Arrington said. “I think The Lewis Prize is a good thing. It will help young artists get more opportunities and will raise awareness
Reform From page A-3
to get youth involved now because of Grace. She added that for this year they want to ensure people “who won are held accountable.” Rev. Kevin L. Harris, senior pastor at Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit, said that Nazarene is one of the most progressive churches in Detroit and is “on the front lines of community service and action.” “The two premier works that have been established at Nazarene are criminal justice reform work and food distribution,” Harris said. Har-
about the great things going on here.” Mia Arrington thoughts.
similar
“Being in Mosaic has made me more confident in skills,” Mia Arrington said. “They have helped me with technique. I have become more confident overall, and better able to talk with people. I’ve also improved my social skills. It’s great that we got The Lewis Prize Award. I think it will give more opportunities for young people to get involved with Mosaic.” For more information on Mosaic visit https://mosaicdetroit.org/.
ris also worked with and helped develop Nation Outside and Michigan Liberation. “I am the former director of Nation Outside, an organization of formerly incarcerated individuals, families, friends and supporters. Nazarene was the headquarters where it started as a small organization. Nation Outside. dedicated to ending mass incarceration, is one of the most respected criminal justice organizations in the country now,” he said, adding that he is Michigan Liberation’s chairman of the board. “I did a lot of the early development from the basement of Nazarene. Michigan Liberation is the force behind prosecutorial accountability campaigns,
Black History Facts of The Week Week of February 7-13
The sanitary pad was developed by a Black woman named Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner. She also co-invented, with her sister, the bathroom tissue holder. Diahann Carroll was the first Black woman to win a Tony award for her performance in “No Strings” musical which premiered in 1962 at the Fisher Theater. John Pickering is known for his creation of the first patent for a blimp powered by an electric motor. Fashion designer Dapper Dan was the father of Logomania which takes the logos of brands and puts them on clothing, furniture and more. This style is still evident with the luxury clothes and design items found today with well-known name brands displayed throughout. Valerie Thomas is a NASA scientist and inventor who developed 3D movies. February 13 is Black Love Day. Founded in 1993, the day is a 24-hour celebration and display of things tied to Black love, whether familial or romantic. Patricia Bath, an ophthalmologist, received a patent in 1986 for laser probe used in cataract surgery. WGPR-TV was officially acknowledged as a historic location by the National Register. It was founded in Detroit as the first independently owned and operated African American TV station in the United States. The station first went on air in September 1975 and ended in the mid-1990s. Do you know the name, Claudette Colvin? She preceded Rosa Parks in refusing to give up her seat to another on the bus. She was 15 at the time in 1955 and was arrested for her actions. Ester Jones was the original Betty Boo. The character, in-
echoed
troduced by cartoonist Max Fleischer in 1930, is an icon known for her sex appeal, dress, curvy figure and voice. Jones was known for performing regularly at Harlem’s Cotton Club during the 1920s. The Michigan Chronicle newspaper, a historic weekly Black newspaper based in Detroit, was founded in 1936 by publisher John H. Sengstacke and is celebrating decades of writing timely and culturally-relevant stories about the Black community and beyond. It is owned by Detroit-based Real Times Media, with headquarters in Midtown Detroit. Detroit, codenamed “Midnight,” was considered one of the final stops along the Underground Railroad, a network of safe passages and houses that helped African American slaves escape to free states like Michigan and on to Canada. Michigan’s first African American congregation was founded by 13 former slaves in 1836 at the Second Baptist Church in Detroit. Detroit native Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records and put groups like the Supremes and The Temptations among many others on the map into an otherworldly level of stardom. These performers went on to become household names that people around the world cherish to this day for their famous songs and their larger-thanlife personalities. Phillis Wheatley (also spelled Phyllis) was the first African American, and one of the first women, to publish a book of poetry. Her book, “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral,” was published in 1773. Born in Gambia and sold to the Wheatley family in Boston when she was around seven years old, Wheatley was emancipated a short time after her book was released.
abolishing cash bail which disproportionately impacts poor and minority communities and the bailing out of mothers in jail on Mother’s Day campaigns.” He added that the recent changes in laws such as the Raise the Age legislation for juvenile offenders being tried as adults from 17 to 18, abolishment of driver responsibility laws and the recent expansion of expungement eligibility all had strong connections to Nazarene Baptist Church. “It is important to give back to the community because we are the community. If the community is not healthy, we are not healthy,” he said. “We are blessed to be in the position to be a blessing.” HUM00191585 Michigan Liberation is constantly looking for those interested in helping them, including: • Attorneys, lawyers, paralegals, returning citizens, family members of the incarcerated; and • Individuals and groups with a passion for social justice and equal opportunity. • Monetary donations are also accepted in lieu of volunteerism. For more information email info@miliberation. HUM00191585 org, call 313-451-4392 or visit https://www.mlaction.org.
“I try to talk about social policy as benefitting everybody -- even if a policy like food stamps is directed to households of certain income, we all benefit as a society making sure everyone has enough food to eat,” she said. “We benefit when people are able to put money into the economy to buy food.” Seefeldt added that poverty that persists throughout generations is a “failure of policy.” “A lot of the reasons that we see that it is economic mobility isn’t what we’d like it to be because of policy -- longstanding efforts to keep maintained residential segregation,” she said, adding that when the whole community doesn’t have economic resources to support schools, robust transportations systems or stable employment, poverty is bound to happen. Redlining, refusing someone a loan because they live in a poor-financial risk area, still occurs today, she said. “I think it still happens today, although we now put in place a policy that would help mitigate this -- Detroiters end up paying much more in property taxes relative to what folks who reside in suburban communities would pay given comparable values of their property,” she said, adding that these issues could be fixed with sound policy tackling economic and racial justice and not devaluing certain neighborhoods. “Policies that would lead to more equitable funding of our school systems and make investments in the areas where we have for decades not put in the resources that children really need to thrive. “Families are doing what they need to do -we’ve legislatively put up a lot of road blocks in folks’ faces.”
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The National Caregiver Survey SEEKING BLACK FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA The University of Michigan School of Nursing seeks African American/Black men and women aged 55 and older who usually care for spouses, parents, and other older adult relatives (55+) who have regular forgetfulness or confusion. The person being cared for may have a diagnosis such as: Parkinson’s Disease The National•Caregiver Survey • Vascular Dementia • Alzheimer’s Disease SEEKING BLACK FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA The National Caregiver Survey • Frontal Temporal Dementia •
Dementia
Lewy Body Dementia The University •of Michigan School of Nursing seeks African American/Black men and women aged 55 and BLACK older who usually care forSEEKING spouses, parents, andFAMILY other olderCAREGIVERS adult relatives (55+) who have regular forgetfulness or confusion. The person being cared for may have a diagnosis such as: We would like you to complete a survey
OF PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA
•Dementia •Lewy Body Dementia •Vascular Dementia Time required: Approximately one hour - Compensation: $30 Gift Card •Alzheimer’s Disease •Parkinson’s Disease •Frontal Temporal Dementia The University of Michigan School of Nursing seeks African American/Black men and Wewomen would like you to complete a survey – Time required: Approximately one hour – Compensation: $30 Gift Card aged 55 and older who usually care for spouses, parents, and other older adult For more information, please contact: relatives (55+) who have regular forgetfulness or confusion. The person being cared for Sheria Robinson-Lane, Ph.D., RN For more information, please contact: Sheria Robinson-Lane, Principal investigator may have a diagnosis such as: Ph.D., RN Principal investigator Email: umsn-caregiverstudies@med.umich.edu Email: umsn-caregiverstudies@med.umich.edu • Parkinson’s Disease • Dementia Phone: 734-764-9280 Phone: 734-764-9280 Survey Link: https://umich.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2bhgvqZH9CtWLxr Survey Link: • Vascular Dementia • Alzheimer’s Disease
https://umich.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ • Frontal Temporal Dementia • Lewy Body Dementia 2bhgvqZH9CtWLxr
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Celebrating Black History Month By Kevin Johnson In February, we celebrate Black History Month and honor Black activists who led the Civil Rights Movement -- powerful Black men and women who have made significant contributions in the fields of science, politics, law, sports, the arts and more. Paying tribute to the generations of Black Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society is a central theme of the annual recognition. While it is encouraging to see broad participation in this recognition, we need to expect more from Black History Month than just education and celebration. Given the violent events of racial injustice in 2020, it is no longer enough to use the month of February for awareness only. We must also take action. According to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it is our duty to adopt a strateKevin Johnson gy of nonviolent direct action to bring about social change. This action can take many forms. One powerful action is supporting Detroit-based Black-owned businesses. These businesses provide neighborhood jobs, much needed goods and services, and stability to local communities. Only two percent of Black American spending is actually spent in Black neighborhoods; we have a responsibility to circulate our dollars in our communities more than once. Because Black-owned businesses have been disproportionally hurt by the continued economic impact of COVID-19, we have an obligation to take an active role in their success. Supporting these businesses with our spending dollars is only the first step. To be truly committed to the success of our small business communities we must coalesce around practices that eliminate inequities that hamper Black entrepreneurial success. Access to capital is a significant impediment to success for Black business owners. According to an October 2020 McKinsey report, Black entrepreneurs struggle more to secure capital and gain access to credit than their white counterparts. Even with strong personal credit, Black business owners are about half as likely to receive full financing and three times as likely to have that shortfall hurt their bottom line. The State of Michigan, City of Detroit and various economic development and philanthropic organizations – including Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) - are addressing the issue of racial injustice on a number of fronts. By the end of this month, DEGC will have administered roughly $15 million to more than 2,000 Detroit small business owners since the start of COVID-19 – the majority of which represent diverse populations. Other resources, such
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History page A6
Where Are They Now? Local Black Motor City Match Businesses Are Still Thriving No Matter the Odds
By Sherri Kolade
They are your local learning centers, lounges, hair salons, favorite eateries and more -- and they’re still open for business despite the year that was 2020. And, as a matter of fact, last year was their year because they opened back then (when others closed) with the help of Motor City Match (MCM). Fourteen of these MCM businesses are Black- and/or women-owned. Four out of five businesses helped by MCM are minority-owned. “They are hiring local residents, providing stability to the community, attracting other businesses and giving back,” one MCM official told The Michigan. MCM is a partnership among the City of Detroit, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC), the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Detroit (EDC) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Competitive financial assistance is supported by a broad partnership of Southeast Michigan community development financial institutions, foundations and corporations. Also, as of late, due to the state easing pandemic-related restrictions, restaurants and some businesses have been able to reopen under certain guidelines and at reduced capacity. In particular, the Black-owned Detroit restaurants (who are MCM awardees) reopened when Michigan’s indoor dining restrictions were lifted on February 1 after being closed and then partially reopening. They include:
ChaVonne McGowan, owner and director of Seeds of Knowledge Creative Learning Center in Detroit. – Photo provided by ChaVonne McGowan Norma G’s, 14628 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit MCM Grant award amount: $60,000 The Kitchen by Cooking with Que, 6529 Woodward Ave., Suite A, Detroit MCM Grant award amount: $60,000 Yum Village, 6500 Woodward Ave., Detroit MCM Grant award amount: $50,000 Lance McGhee II, owner of Detroit-based Playa vs. Playa Gaming Lounge/Storm Cigar and Hookah
UpNext:
September Hargrove Banks on Philanthropy for Stable, Sustainable Living for Detroiters By Alan Hunt II UpNext is an editorial series highlighting eight burgeoning business and real estate developers in the city. Presented by the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, the series highlights Detroit professionals who are leaders, innovators, and influencers in their industry and community. This week’s UpNext professional is September Hargrove. Hargrove is the vice president, head of Detroit philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase & Co. In 2014, the company announced a $100 million commitment to investing in Detroit’s workforce, neighborhoods, and community development. Initially, on an interim basis, Hargrove worked on a team that allocated where funds were dispersed. “I think that has been a guiding light of my career trajectory--being in a position where I can direct where resources are deployed to help people have access to economic opportunity and mobility,” said Hargrove. Hargrove, a native of California, began her work for the city before making it her home. While she
did not foresee journeying to Motown in her career path, the deeper Hargrove dove into work, she found herself establishing roots. “I got to work really closely with the team that was here in Detroit, and in the midst of that, we had a vacancy. I stepped in as an interim [lead] for a few months. As I was on the ground, learning more about the city of Detroit, the people, the neighborhoods, and what the opportunity was, I think it made a lot of sense for me to continue that role full time,” said Hargrove. “I was thankful management had that vote of confidence in me and gave me what I thought at the time was a stretch opportunity.” Hargrove maximized that opportunity to the fullest. On the fifth anniversary of JP Morgan Chase’s initial 2014 investment, Hargrove led the strategy in securing an additional $50 million for the motor city, an achievement she holds close to her heart and garnered national attention from 60 minutes. The total investment has helped more
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HARGROVE BANKS page A6
Lounge, and an MCM recipient of $60,000, said that his businesses were negatively impacted due to COVID-19 shutdowns. His cigar and hookah lounge has been closed since November. His game lounge was allowed to open a little more than three weeks ago. Storm Cigar and Hookah reopened on February 1. “2020 rendered both of my businesses paralyzed but we did what we could to be as agile as we could given
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CITY MATCH page A6
Page A-6 • michiganchronicle.com • February 10-16, 2021
Government of The Bahamas Appoints Dr. William F. Pickard First Honorary Consul in Detroit The Government of The Bahamas for the first time ever appointed an Honorary Consul in Detroit. That person is entrepreneur, author and philanthropist William F. Pickard, Ph.D., executive chairman of GAA Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management. According to the Bahamian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an Honorary Consul represents the interests of the government in Detroit as well as acting as a liaison with the Government when its citizens in Detroit are in trouble or when they are facing misfortune.
An inside look at Playa vs. Playa Gaming Lounge – Photo provided by Lance McGhee II
Motor City Match From page A-5 the governor’s restrictive orders,” he said, adding that being flexible allowed Storm Cigar and Hookah to now start a cigar delivery service. “(We) will deliver cigars and Hookah supplies to customers for purchases of $30 or more.” Cigars and other items can be shipped online at stormcigarandhookah.com. “For my Cigar and Hookah lounge, we only made a fraction of the revenue on carryout sales that we were making on in-store sales since opening in October. It has been difficult, but we are still holding on,” he added. McGhee added that the MCM grant, which he received in 2018, assisted him in rehabbing the building that houses both of his businesses. “I was elated once I found out that I’d be receiving assistance with my building rehab, which sat vacant at 15850 Wyoming for 20 years before my ownership. It needed a complete rehab from the ground up,” McGhee said. “The funds were used for labor and materials for new walls, heating, cooling, electrical, painting and equipment for my business.”
ers develop a sustainable plan, locate a storefront, create a welcoming design and provide cash that can be used for gap financing. In addition, the program provides a variety of technical assistance like legal aid, marketing, accounting and navigating the City’s zoning requirements. Especially during economic downturns, programs like Motor City Match help Black-owned businesses to open and stay open.” ChaVonne McGowan, owner and director of Seeds of Knowledge Creative Learning Center in Detroit, closed on March 16, 2020, and re-opened with limited enrollment on June 15, 2020. “My business has had to pivot because I had to reduce the number of children that I could enroll,” she told The Michigan Chronicle. “I also had to change procedures to our health and wellness policy to ensure that my students, my team and myself were taking the proper precautions against COVID-19.” McGowan’s business received $50,000 in MCM funding in September 2019 which she used to complete renovations and purchase inventory.
“The first impact MCM made was that the MCM team believed in my vision and mission to provide a quality academic program for children in Detroit. Motor City Match “Also, through also provided valumy participation, Lance McGhee II stands outside of his able resources and Storm Cigar and Hookah Lounge. – I’ve been able to connections to help connect with a Photo provided by Lance McGhee II support my transicommunity of other tion into the busismall business owners and organiza- ness world,” McGowan said, adding that tions that have helped and provided asher customers should know that I take sistance. The experience with MCM has pride in ensuring a safe nurturing and been beneficial to me,” McGhee added. academically rich environment is proPlaya vs Playa Gaming Lounge is a vided “before, during and after the chalgaming facility that can be reserved for lenges of COVID.” private events, tournaments and esports McGowan also said that as a Black practices that are closed to the public. business owner during a pandemic “it They offer memberships for $25 has been a struggle.” and $50 a month which includes mem“I have made many sacrifices to open bers-only hours, free guest invites and my business. It is not easy, but I have more. Non-members and the public can faced so many challenges that I can’t reserve private space for $125 per hour succumb to the pandemic. I take pride with a two-hour minimum. in contributing to the local economy.” Since reopening, Storm Cigar and Fourteen Motor City Match-awarded Hookah will be allowed to take customsmall businesses opened in Detroit in ers with minimum capacity inside. They 2020, many of which are Black-owned have outdoor features, too. businesses: “We will have heated igloos for our customers on our outside patio to ex- Seeds of Knowledge Creative Learning tend our capacity and offer a unique ex- Center, 15101 W. McNichols, Detroit perience in our neighborhood,” McGhee MCM Grant Amount: $50,000 said. Fahrenheit 313, 20114 Livernois Playa vs Playa Gaming is opened on Ave. Detroit a reservation-only basis and will also MCM Grant Amount: $25,000 have reduced capacity hosting, about 10 gamers max, until the restrictions are reexamined in a couple of weeks.
Greenwood District Company, 17221 Mack Ave., Detroit MCM Grant Amount: $25,000
“We take the health of our patrons and employees seriously and contract with a minority-owned COVID-19 remediation company called Coronaforce1, which provides electrostatic cleaning (such as what the airlines use) to clean our facility. We also conduct temp check, contact tracing and regular disinfecting practices.”
Yes We CAN, 8810-18820 Woodward Ave., Detroit MCM Grant Amount: $30,000
Pierre Batton, vice president of small business services for Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, said that the playing field is not level when it comes to business ownership. “Black entrepreneurs are at least twice as likely to be denied capital to start a business, and such experiences make Black entrepreneurs more hesitant to seek financing to launch a new business venture or to expand an existing business,” Batton said. “That’s only one hurdle Black entrepreneurs face and that’s why programs like Motor City Match are so important, especially in Detroit – a majority-minority city. The program helps potential business own-
Textures by Nefertiti, 6525 Woodward Ave., Detroit MCM Grant Amount: $70,000 Playa Vs. Playa, 15850 Wyoming Detroit MCM Grant Amount: $60,000 Lush Yummies Pie Co., 520 Adelaide St., Detroit MCM Grant Amount: $25,000 Bronzed N Glow Beauty Boutique, 19327 Livernois Ave., Detroit MCM Grant Amount: $45,000 Pedicure and Shoes 2 Go, 9517 E. Jefferson, Detroit MCM Grant Award: $50,000 MCM Awards are presented four times a year in four categories: a matching cash grant, business plan, business design or business location selection. Motor City Match applications are available quarterly.
“I am honored and humbled that the Government of The Bahamas has asked me to be Honorary Consul in Detroit,” said Dr. Pickard. “Michigan and Detroit have a strong Bahamian community and I will do my best to help support them and assist in their progress. “ Dr. Pickard joins four other Honorary Consuls of The Bahamas in the United States; they are located in Studio City, Ca., Chicago, Ill., Aurora, Co. and Houston, Tx. Since gaining independence in 1973, The Bahamas has appointed only 36 honorary consuls around the world; Dr. Pickard’s appointment is the 37th. The Government of The Bahamas presented Dr. Pickard with his commission in December of 2020. It will be official when he shares the necessary credentials to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas in March of 2021.
According to the Bahamian government website, an honorary consul is often a private citizen or permanent resident of the country where he or she resides. The primary purpose of these appointments is to support The Bahamas with its interests and its citizens in areas where the government does not have official representation. According to Dr. Pickard, one of his first duties will be to promote business, industry, tourism and education, which has been one of his lifelong commitments. Dr. Pickard’s stewardship of interests both private and public have spanned a career of more than 45 years. He started out as a social worker before pursuing his entrepreneurial dreams which began as a McDonald’s franchise owner in Detroit. Since that time, he started and successfully ran Global Automotive Alliance, one of the country’s largest African American-owned businesses. Pickard doubled down on his success becoming a co-managing partner of MGM Grand Detroit Casino, CEO of Bearwood Management Company and co-owner of Real Times Media, a national multimedia company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan that also owns five black newspapers across the country. He is the author of “Millionaire Moves: Seven Proven Principles of Entrepreneurship” and serves on numerous business and non-profit boards.
September Hargrove Banks From page A-5 than 5,100 businesses access capital and technical assistance, created or preserved over 2,100 jobs, and helped more than 13,500 Detroit residents receive job skills training. “While a lot of our work was targeting the Black community here in Detroit, to be able to specifically say this $50 million is going to prioritize investments that would really help Black families have access to homeownership, entrepreneurship through additional lending, as well as financial education through our partnerships that was really important,” said Hargrove. A lot of Hargrove’s passion for increasing economic opportunity for families is fueled by not growing up in the best of circumstances. She and her brothers were in an unstable home where their mom battled drugs, and Hargrove spent time in the foster care system. “I think having that lived experience of being in a situation that was out of my control and recognizing how transformative it would have been if my mom was able to have a job that created that economic stability for our household. It would have altered my life and my brothers’ lives just to have that stability in being in a community that was stable,” said Hargrove. Now, Hargrove is building a stable home for her own family in a community with a rich history. “Stevie Wonder lived a few blocks over. I’m a block away from where Big Sean grew up. My neighbors to the left of me have been in their house since the
Black History From page A-5 as access to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), personal protective equipment and re-opening assistance is available through Detroit Means Business (DMB). Over the course of the past year at the national level, we’ve seen multiple corporations set up multi-million-dollar funds and grants to support Black-owned small businesses. DEGC and DMB are working to communicate these opportunities to eligible business owners. COVID-19 shined a light on a long-standing inequality within our small business community. Our challenge is to utilize the current economic crisis, as well as Black History Month, to eliminate the racial bias Black entre-
60s. Being able to understand what’s really valuable and important to my neighbors and folks in the neighborhood has helped me be better with my investment strategy in what I get to manage for the firm,” said Hargrove. “I was very intentional when I took this role with JP Morgan in moving to Detroit that I wanted to live in the neighborhoods. Downtown would have been super convenient, but it wouldn’t have helped me get a better understanding of a city that I was really a stranger to.” A stranger no more, Hargrove aims to pull together unlikely partners for her adopted hometown to create programs, some of which are expected to be announced this year, solving some of the most difficult challenges that Detroit residents face. She wants to push past what partners may even think is possible. “It goes beyond just writing a check, but how can we maybe help you with your infrastructure? How can I leverage the talents of my colleagues in an advisory role? How can I maybe identify other philanthropic partners that can come to the table?” Hargrove adds, “I would love if folks could look at me and see she’s not from Detroit, but she’s of Detroit. She understands the challenges and didn’t come in and try to make us a watered-down version of somewhere else. She really saw the uniqueness of our city and was opportunistic in being able to lift up those things that would best position the city for future success, and she did it in partnership with the long-term residents.” preneurs face when establishing a small business. We can all agree that tremendous progress has been made in racial equity in the U.S. in the areas of earnings, employment, education and politics. Unfortunately, the gaps in racial wealth, healthcare, wages, corporate leadership and access to capital remain. There are no easy solutions to institutional poverty, disproportionate unemployment or overall financial inequality faced by Black Americans. We can, however, take the energy of this moment to create an equitable, thriving environment for Black entrepreneurs. Through this action we can drive job creation, build vibrant neighborhoods and create opportunities for Black Detroiters to create generational wealth. It is our time to make history by creating economic justice for all Black Americans.
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February 10-16, 2021 | Page A-7
Race and Data Discrimination in America
The industry’s growth is driven by a By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. unique business model, which provides a President and CEO, National Newspaper P ublishers dual revenue stream from consumer data. Association Businesses pay credit bureaus to collect employee information and manage verToday there is a welcomed breath of ification requests, like those generated fresh political air in Washington, DC even when an individual seeks to obtain a loan amidst the unprecedented spread of the from a bank. global COVID-19 pandemic throughout the Agencies then charge requesting parUnited States. According to the Biden-Harties for the personal information, generris Administration the issues of racial justice and equity are now top priorities in ally on a per-request basis, which is frea “whole of government” commitment to quently passed onto the consumer. Equifax, despite its 2017 data all Americans, and in particular to African Americans and other people of color com- breach that impacted 147 million people, continues to be the largest player in the munities. Most recently the National Newspa- space. The company claims to have reper Publishers Association (NNPA) had a cords on over 222 million U.S. consumers and receives weekly payroll special on-the-record briefing data on a third of the U.S. popfrom the White House Office ulation. of Public Engagement directEquifax’s Work Number has ed by The Honorable Cedric benefited from the spike in Richmond who is also Seunemployment caused by the nior Advisor to President Joe Coronavirus pandemic. With Biden. millions of Americans out of As we heard Richmond work, demand for verification strongly reaffirm the Adminisservices has surged as creditration’s urgent push to have tors seek to determine employthe U.S. Congress to enact the ment status of loan holders $1.9 trillion American Rescue and potential loan candidates. Plan that promises to respond We all know that African to the nation’s pandemic and Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. Americans have the largest economic crisis respecting the principles of equity, I thought reflec- increase in unemployment before — and tively about all the various racial dispari- even more after the beginning of — the ties, discriminations, and inequities that pandemic. African American-owned busidaily have a negative impact on Black nesses have had the greatest financial losses amidst COVID-19. The more unAmerica. Yet, in 2021 we live in the age of data employment in Black America, the more where the aggregation, control, and own- Equifax’s Work Number data is purchased ership of data continues to have enormous by a wide range of financial status verifisocial and economic consequences for ers. But who is monitoring or challenging those who are poor and marginalized. One the accuracy of the Equifax Work Number preexisting condition that has not gotten data especially when it is about African enough public attention and debate is the Americans? According to Equifax’s quarterly finanissue of the intersection of race, data discial reports, The Work Number generated crimination, and inequity in America. Data discrimination is a covert form of nearly $377 million in revenue during the racism that is having a devastating overt third quarter of last year, a 57% increase impact on the quality of life of African year-over-year and the second consecutive Americans and others who continue to quarter of more than 50% growth. Between 2012 and 2020, The Work Numbers’ verface systemic inequity. ification services revenue jumped nearly It is relevant to note that the largest 400%. credit reporting agency in the U.S. is EquiLargely driving The Work Number’s fax. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Equifax actually has become more profitable at growth is its dominance in the mortgage the expense of millions of Americans who lending market, which accounted for 31% are struggling to survive to make ends of the division’s revenue mix throughout meet. As a consequence, we must begin to last year. The Work Number controls over 380 raise questions about the apparent linkage of the expanding credit reporting industry million current and historic consumer to the growing financial inequities espe- data records, including 100 million added between 2019 and 2020. That scale procially in African American communities. As credit reporting booms while most vides immense leverage over the mortgage Americans are experiencing financial lending industry. “We have real scale in the business, hardship, Equifax’s “Work Number” workforce division is turning in record profits which provides a competitive advantage,” by raising costs on consumers. The Work Equifax CEO Mark Begor said on the comNumber is a user-paid verification of em- pany’s earnings call last October. “We’re ployment database that was acquired and now having a billion companies deliver now owned by Equifax. This database al- data to us on a period basis. That makes lows credentialed verifiers to receive in- this data set very, very valuable and tough stantaneous electronic confirmation of an to replicate. And if you’re one company, individual’s employment data and income then you’re likely not going to give the data to two companies. You’re going to for verification purposes. Today Equifax’s Work Number give it to the company that’s been in it for is charging $49.95 for the cost of an In- long time.” I ask Mark Begor a simple but serious come and Employment Report that is nearly three times what the cost of the re- question: “What verifiable safeguards are in place at Equifax Inc. that prevent raport was six years ago at ($18). The U.S. credit reporting industry gen- cial and data discrimination with respect erated over $12 billion in revenue last year, to African Americans and other people of according to research from IBISWorld, and color?” Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. is President the market size is expected to grow another 3.7% next year. The three largest agen- and CEO of the National Newspaper Pubcies—Equifax ($EFX), Experian ($EXPGY) lishers Association (NNPA) and Executive and TransUnion ($TRU) —accounted for Producer/Host of The Chavis Chronicles, PBS TV Network. more than 50% of the total revenue.
It is time to Invest in Working Families: Increase Michigan’s EITC By Eric Davis Workers and their families need relief right now, and state leaders can provide it by restoring the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This is about more than pandemic relief. The economic impact COVID-19 has had on workers and their families has been felt across the country. But while the financial challenges so many are grappling with have been exacerbated by this crisis, we know it is not the root cause. Before the first case of COVID-19 even hit Michigan, 43% of households in our state were not earning enough to cover the basic cost of food, housing, healthcare, childcare, technology, transportation, and taxes. This is a failure not of individuals, but of our systems not Eric Davis setting people up to succeed. This is well documented in the ALICE report, a study produced by the Michigan Association of United Ways which compares actual household earnings to the basic, no-frills monthly cost of living. Contrary to popular belief, the overwhelming majority of those struggling to get by are working. They are individuals and families, young and old, who are playing by the rules and doing what they’re supposed to do, but still can’t make ends meet. As we begin to climb back from the pandemic, we need meaningful public policy change, not just to get us back to where we were, but to truly lift people out of poverty and create a path to financial stability. The EITC is a readily available tool to help us take a significant step in that direction. Not only is it impactful, but prior to its gutting in 2010, it has traditionally enjoyed broad bi-partisan support.
In 2010, the state legislature cut Michigan’s EITC by 70 percent as part of a reform package designed to lower business taxes. The impact was immediate as working families saw their tax bills go up and their ability to pay for essentials like food, clothing and transportation go down. Now is the time to correct that mistake and restore, if not increase, Michigan’s EITC. This credit benefits working people across every county and community in Michigan. If doubled, the state EITC would put more than $200 million in tax refunds back in Michigan workers’ pockets each year. If restored to the pre-2010 level, it would mean over $450 million in refunds. This isn’t just good for working families, but it would drive dollars into small businesses and local economies that need it the most. In fact, studies show that for every $1 brought into a community through the EITC, $1.67 is generated in new economic activity. An increase to this tax credit would provide a vital boost to households and businesses that would help alleviate the economic hardships created by COVID-19, and provide lasting and meaningful impact beyond the pandemic. We know the economic effect of this crisis is far from over and working families need increased support as we get through this together. The EITC can play a key role in stabilizing family budgets and helping small businesses both in the near and long-term. We encourage Governor Whitmer and lawmakers to put the EITC at the top of their priority list this year and invite members of the community to share messages of support for increasing the EITC by visiting StandWithUnitedWay.org.
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Back to Normal? What’s Normal?
By Julianne Malveaux
Let’s start with education and the achievement gap. Students who come from low-income families don’t have I got my first COVID vaccination the same academic support that othlast week. No big deal, an achy arm, ers do. They often don’t have the techbut otherwise, just like a flu shot. The nology to do virtual learning or the young lady who administered the shot support to work through their assignsmiled and said, “after you get your ments. Too often, their parents are second shot, you can get back to nor- essential workers—nurses, bus drivmal.” I wanted to ask her what was ers, grocery store workers. Do we ever normal, but the man in line behind take a look at the people who serve me seemed impatient, so I smiled and us and notice that they are disproportionately Black and Brown? When we made my way out of the store. see them do we wonder about their I thought about it all the way home, facts of life, about their challenges, or though. What’s normal? I don’t think do we know the status quo as “norcrowding thirty or forty young people mal”? into a classroom is normal. I don’t beIs it normal for teachlieve that food lines snakers’ unions and mayors to ing for blocks is normal. I be so far apart? If we want don’t think that high Black students back in their unemployment rates are classrooms, why can’t we normal. I don’t think the vaccinate every teacher and wealth gap is normal. school worker? But the I don’t think that more conflict between teachers than 400,000 people dead and elected officials, espeis normal. The inability to cially in Chicago, calls for formally mourn our departa national conversation ed loved ones isn’t normal. with educators, students, Crazy white people stormand parents. We’ve heard ing the Capitol surely isn’t Julianne Malveaux from everyone but students normal. And conspiracy in this conversation. What are they theorist, Marjorie Taylor Green, is so thinking and feeling? Is any of this far away from normal that she is on normal? the insanity spectrum. We never saw mask-wearing as In the ten months since the panstandard, and even now, with more demic hit, we have seen changes in our than 400,000 dead, some fools refuse communications, our employment, to wear them. But here’s the real deal our economy, and more. Many of us, –vaccine or not, I’ll likely be wearing reasonably, yearn for the “normal” double masks until the end of the days when we could sit at a restaurant year, and so should you. People who and have a meal, go to a play or a conhave had the vaccine have still tested cert, invite a bunch of folks over to positive. They still need to wear masks gather. But we should ask ourselves and wash their hands frequently. But what was normal about our normal. too many have made mask wearing a In other words, were we so comfortpolitical statement. Our non-maskable in our world that we didn’t look wearing former president contracted outside our world? We can’t miss the COVID and got priority treatment and food lines now, but there were food had access to the drug Regeneron, lines, too, a year ago. We are focused which is not available to the generon disparities now, but those disparial public. And he still won’t wear a ties aren’t new. Does back to normal mask, emboldening his sycophants. mean accepting the inequities and abI really don’t know what is normal surdities of life as it was? anymore, but I am sure that if 2019 Somebody tweeted that “Rona was normal, we must embrace the abwas a disruption, and she is an opnormal. Or we need to define the new portunity.” I embrace that sentiment normal as safe, fair, and equitable. As (though I had to do a double-take at my anonymous tweeter said, “Rona” “Rona” and pray that nobody chooses is an opportunity for us to check ourto name their child after this virus). selves and maybe get it right. This virus is an opportunity for us to Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an econscrutinize what we consider normal omist and author. She can be reached and how we need to change it. at juliannemalveaux.com NNPA Newswire Contributor
Where We Go from Here
By Ray Curry
Secretary-Treasurer, UAW
A month into a tumultuous start of a new year, a new year following the most chaotic year in America that any living person can remember, I am seeing signs that the work in the streets and in our hospitals and at our voting booths far and wide, are saying even in states no one thought we would have captured after 2016, that even though we have been hit hard on so many fronts, it’s our front line that is now advancing for the greater good. It is divisiveness and hate that must retreat; it is science that will now confront COVID-19. And it is Americans of color who overcame at the polls to deliver the House, the Senate Ray Curry and the Presidency. Contentious as it was, more Americans voted in the 2020 election than in any other election in 120 years. And look at what we did together. An historic start We elected the first Black, female, Asian Vice President in Kamala Harris. We elected in a historic runoff election, the first Black Senator from Georgia in more than a decade in Reverend Raphael Warnock. Rev. Warnock, the pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church — where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once was pastor — has dedicated his life to service and ministry. And we tipped the U.S. senate for hard working men and women by also delivering his fellow Georgian Jon Ossoff. Out west, Wyoming elected their first female senator; Missouri sent its first Black Congressperson to DC; Delaware elected its first transgender Senator. The voters of New Mexico became the first state to send a delegation to the House of Representatives made up entirely of women of color. And this 117th Congress is the most diverse in our country’s history just as President Joe Biden’s cabinet promises to be. So, for me, 2021 is about hope and about working for a better life for all and a better nation together as we rise from the terrible test that 2020 has been. It is about recommitting to one another and to good works to help our brothers and sisters in need. And even before we voted for inclusion, we were already making good trouble. White, Black and Brown nationwide took to the streets this past spring and summer to ask our nation — to demand of our nation — that we address the systematic racism that has plagued this
country since its founding. That has torn the very fabric of our country and created so much pain and loss. With one voice, all were saying: “Please, at long last, fix this.” Our path is clear It is time to think not of ourselves, not of what divides us, not of our differences, but of our common good. It is time once again to remember that there is much, much more that unites us than divides us. Those that would seek to divide us, do not want us to see this truth. But it is here and it is powerful. And we must embrace it. We must together reform policies and institutions and thinking where injustice resides and restore people to the status of neighbors, not opponents. The great UAW president Walter Reuther, who was a close friend and supporter of Dr. Martin Luther King summed it up like this: “There is no greater calling than to serve your fellow man. There is no greater contribution than to help the weak. There is no greater satisfaction than to have done it well.” President John F. Kennedy famously put it just a bit differently. “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your county.” With those words, he inspired a generation of Americans. So, this is our time. It is time for our generation. Our historic moment. There are Americans who need our help. COVID has ravished us as nothing we have ever experienced. But here too I see hope ahead. I see President Biden moving quickly to put battling COVID front and center and to put good practices and science and the federal government back in the driver’s seat. I see us recommitting to our better angels, to help fellow Americans who are suffering and struggling. In this vein we must also support our veterans. Those brave men and women who make the greatest sacrifice to protect all of us and our great nation. And we must participate in this democracy of ours, just like we saw in this past election. We must stand strong and united against bigotry and hatred and heed the call we saw this past year as hundreds of thousands of Americans took to the streets to demand a fundamental change. So, there is real work ahead, but I believe we are up to the task. Let us meet 2021 head on and with Solidarity. We are more than ready to bring our A game. Are you all in?
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After-H(ours)
Access Equity and Opportunity in a 24-Hour Economy By Adrian Tonon, Jabari Jefferson and Andre Reed Photo Lil Monsterr Musicians play a crucial role in a 24-Hour Economy. As stages were mandated to close, touring came to a halt. Artists were forced to pivot, oftentimes not knowing where to focus their music or brands. Join us for the eighth series to hear from six Detroit emerging artists who ‘blew up’ and grew their audience globally in 2020.
Chi Walker
The artist was asked the following: how has your line of work adapted to the current state of the world and what have been the biggest challenges you had to overcome? Coming into 2021, what advice would you give to artists pursuing careers?
Pariiis Noel “In my honest opinion, this current state of the world is about perspective and learning to adapt. As a multi-dimensional creator it’s a true bittersweet situation because it forces individuals like myself to do what we do best, and that’s create! It gave us time to sit back and reflect and dig deeper, especially being from Detroit. We are bred differently, so it’s like being boxed in and forced to trigger some real change. The biggest challenge has been the mass shut down and observing all that the world has been harboring, but it allowed me to create and not take things for granted. For example, it’s like we spend money because we know how much we have but we waste time not knowing how much we have, so think about it? Why waste it, so I decided to use it better and keep that same energy moving forward and get things done RELENTLESSLY! And balancing better spiritually, mentally, and physically... Best advice I give is to create something that outlives you to help others live on. If you’re not doing that then you’re not living right. Become a pipeline, live for a legacy, be legendary. Keep GOD first”
Forever Golden “Our line of work has adapted in the sense that we’ve been able to use the internet to optimally connect with people. Connecting with one another due to our mandated social distancing rules.” “Embrace the failures fearlessly because with that you can accomplish ANYTHING within your own misery.” Jay Squared “We work better when we’re together so we had to figure out how to work better remotely in doing so, our creative thresholds have been pushed and ultimately this will make us better especially when we come together as a unit.” “Where there is chaos, there is opportunity. Failures are to be used as lessons, not lesions’’ - Whyandotte “The way the world is going currently has created a different approach to the type of music we want to portray with all of the things that are happening at this time, we want to make sure that what we create is impactful and connecting.” Build your catalog as much as you can, stack up on content and learn trends. Social media is your greatest resource to advertise not only your music but yourself so don’t be scared to showcase who you really are” - Santana Davinci “The condition of the world forced us to become innovative. One of the
See AFTER H(OURS) Page B-2
Detroiter Chi Walker Launches Unique Supper Club in Honor of Detroit’s Black Bottom By Megan Kirk Detroiter Chi Walker is introducing a unique food experience and making history during a month that celebrates Black excellence. The Black Bottom Supper Club is the city’s newest way of exploring local and delicious Black cuisine while getting a lesson in Detroit’s rich history. Named after the city’s historic Black Bottom neighborhood which has been lost to urban revitalization, the dinner club is a quarterly food experience that couples Black-owned businesses, specialty curated menus from Black chefs and crafted cocktails for a dinner party like no other. The Black Bottom Supper Club is a piece of personal history for its founder. “My mom was born in Black Bottom and I said, ‘you need to do something that is representative of who you are and where you’re from,’” Walker says of herself. Strongly influenced by the Harlem Renaissance era and paying homage to luminaries of that time such as Langston Hughes, James Baldwin and Zora Neale Hurston, the launch of the dinner club brings a taste of that era to present-day Detroit. “I am 1000 percent also obsessed with French salons and the Harlem Renaissance. So, I’m like ‘oh I’ve
See BLACK BOTTOM SUPPER CLUB Page B-2
Chef Nik R. Cole and Chi Walker
“Judas and the Black Messiah” Set to Hit Theaters By Megan Kirk “Judas and the Black Messiah” is an autobiographical drama that tells the story of Illinois Black Panther Party’s revolutionary Chairman Fred Hampton and the betrayal that led to his murder at the hands of an FBI informant. Starring Daniel Kaluuya of Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” and Marvel’s “Black Panther” as the radical visionary, “Judas and the Black Messiah” dives deep into love -- love of people, love of community and love’s ultimate sacrifices. Premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in 2021, the film takes viewers on an emotional ride of the icon’s rise in political power as the leader of one of the most revered organizations of modern history and the powers that wanted him stopped. Directed and produced by Shaka King, the making of the film, written by the Lucas Brothers Keith and Kenneth, was motivated by the Chairman’s own words. “For me, the thing that sealed the deal was his words. Reading his words, they were incredibly profound, always relevant. He was able to take these concepts and his ability to reduce, this incredible ability to take incredibly complex ideas and put them in plain English, but in a very clever way,” King says. Chairman Fred Hampton was the subject of FBI scrutiny and his organization was infiltrated by a man who would ultimately usher the leader to his demise. Arrest-
ed on charges of impersonating a federal officer and car theft, William O’Neal exchanged his conviction to go undercover on behalf of J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI to bring down the Black Panther Party in 1967. He later became one the party’s heads of security. Moving to liberate Black people in Illinois and nationally, Fred Hampton’s gift of speaking and rallying the people made him a target. However, led by his love for the party and the community it serves, Hampton continued to be a voice for the people and erected programs and established community missions. “He had an internal revolution. He was free within his own mind, within his own spirit, within his own soul and wanted to give the people the tools to be free within themselves,” Kaluuya says. “To free themselves with education, with food, with legal aide, with all these tools they put in place and strategies they put in place to promote individual internal liberation as well as community unity is really what I took from him.” Murdered as a part of the FBI’s illegal Counterintelligence Program, or Cointelpro, created to infiltrate and discredit political movements and organizations, Chairman Fred Hampton died at just 21 years old. The revolutionary would also never see the fruits of his labor or the birth of his only child, a son, Fred Hampton Jr. Born just three weeks after his father’s untimely murder
See JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH Page B-2
Page B-2 • michiganchronicle.com • February 10-16, 2021
Black Bottom Supper Club From page B-1 always wanted to host a salon and I want it to be all chic and have artists and great food and great drinks and incredible thought,’” Walker says. For the second-generation Detroiter, small business is embedded in her DNA. With both parents owning and operating successful small businesses in the city, launching her business venture seemed to be a natural next step. “Walkers Heating and Cooling, we’ve been in business for about 30 years now. My mom has Pinky’s Shuga Shack bakery in the Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood,” Walker says. With a background in corporate America Walker, a self-taught cook and self-proclaimed foodie, used her time to explore food and flavor from different areas. Working closely in low-income housing and community development, the job often required trips to train other organizations. The interest in food and flavors grew with each city. Charged with finding the best eateries and local shops during work trips, the food connoisseur soon had an arsenal of flavor profiles at her disposal. “One of my little projects was to plan out all the different little restaurants that we would go and visit,” Walker says. “We would go anywhere and everywhere. Of course, I would always try to find the smallowned Black businesses, and it turned into a thing.” Later parting with the company, Walker returned to Detroit and began laying the groundwork for what would be the ultimate dinner club experience. Wanting to ensure that Detroit will be on the list of cities for her former employer to
travel to, the native Detroiter, she wanted to do something special to showcase the city in its best light. Grabbing the reins, Walker organized a list of hotspots in Detroit for her former colleagues. “Even though I wasn’t with the organization, I still stayed in contact with a lot of the people,” Walker says. “So, when they came to the city, I kind of did the same thing that I did when I worked there and kind of engineered a local bar crawl and put out an agenda, an itinerary of different little spots because I lived there now.” Walker’s love of food led to the launch of an Instagram microblog, Slightly Burnt. The food blog depicts Walker’s different restaurant and food experiences in the city. “My intent with that was to focus, again, on small locally-owned businesses and chefs, restaurants [that were] primarily Black- and women-owned and/or operated,” Walker says. Now, on a grander scale, Walker looks to continue highlighting local Black chefs through the supper club. “I’m creating this supper club as a platform for these cooks who are in these restaurants that everybody wants to go to, the hot restaurants, the people who are actually in there doing the work,” Walker says. “There is some absolutely unrecognized talent and I want to get them out here and get them exposure on a small scale.” Hosted at a different Blackowned business every quarter, each supper club dinner event will have a different menu featuring the culinary talents of some of Detroit’s best chefs. To accompany dinner, cocktails are created to add an additional flair. The goal is to bring the community together to begin
Chi Walker and Mixologist Alexis Akridge having necessary conversations about their neighborhoods.
son on the iconic Detroit community.
“I pair a chef with a cocktail alchemist, as I like to call them, and that’s one of the premises of it. They get together and create a menu. So, it’s going to be dinner and cocktail pairing, like the full gambit, but over some dope conversation. The goal is to get other community leaders, activists, artists, educators, community members at a table that they may not otherwise be able to sit at.”
“With it being called The Black Bottom Supper Club, there will be a portion of [the experience] dedicated to educating people about Black Bottom because I don’t think enough people know about it. I don’t think people really think about it,” Walker says.
Never forgetting the city’s history and the neighborhood that housed her mother, dinner club participants will not be able to leave without a brief les-
“This is absolutely my love letter to Detroit,” Walker says. In addition to the Black Bottom Supper Club Walker has launched another project in partnership with local chef Nik R. Cole of What Nik Ate and The Speakeasy Detroit, Fried Chick-
en and Caviar. “Of course, February again, one because of Valentine’s Day and then Black History Month because I’m Black and the goal is to support and promote Black businesses and Black creatives,” Walker says. “There wasn’t, I didn’t think, a better time to do it.” Launching with full pandemic precautions, The Black Bottom Supper Club is planning for it’s first intimate gatherings within the coming months. In the interim, you can partake in ‘Fried Chicken and Caviar for February 13 and February 14. Visit www.friedchickenandcaviar.com by Feb. 11 to order.
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After H(ours)
you see it coming you just got to bob and weave it, with confidence!” - B Free
From page B-1
biggest challenges we had to overcome was truth of self and character. “What do you believe in? What do you stand for? What is your message?” Were questions we often faced both in and out the studio. The best part of it all was we got a chance to express and build an even stronger connection with our fans better than before.” “Take risks and don’t be afraid to be yourself! Stay vigilant and always challenge yourself creatively. Go beyond and don’t live in fear of failure, we all got to bump our heads once or twice. When
“The current state of the world gave us room for space and innovative change creatively” “Be your authentic self. Don’t worry about numbers or opinions. Treat your art like a flower. There’s no rules to how you make your art just have as much fun and be free with it.” -Curtis Roach In order to look back on these historical times, it is crucial to have those who document and champion the stories and the people who are leading change and shaping the culture. In the ninth series, meet four story tellers and change makers who are preserving and championing moments that will live on in history.
Judas and the Black Messiah From page B-1
and now president of the Black Panther Party Cubs, Fred Hampton Jr. is learning from history what his father meant to the people. “I learned lessons from [his] legend on what a man was supposed to be,” says Chairman Fred Hampton Jr. “I was fortunate enough to hear war stories of how the Chairman organized and everything.” In addition to harvesting Black power, “Judas and the Black Messiah“ explores the love story between the Chairman and Deborah Johnson, now known as Akua Njeri, or Mother Akua. Played by actress Dominique Fishback from “The Hate You Give” and “Project Power,” the cast created a tight family atmosphere while shooting for the film.
“I would just watch as Daniel (Kaluuya) took up space,” Fishback says. Now, bringing Hampton’s story to the big screen, producers of the movie wanted to be sure to capture the essence of who the leader was and bring it to audiences. Although no longer in the fight for liberation, equality and sustainment, the Chairman’s lesson and legend lives on. “He had a gift that no one else has. So, it’s rare that you see that combination of someone who’s both relatable and almost feels superhuman,” King says. The film opens in theaters February 12 and will be available for streaming on HBO Max mid-March.
City ity.. Life ife.. Style.
Throughout Black History Month and beyond, we celebrate Black Joy. My Brothers’ Keeper: The Journey of Three Generations Featuring former Ambassador Andrew Young, Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, college student Will Bishop and Dr. Jean Accius of AARP. February 25
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Black-Owned Lingerie Shops Gear Up for Valentine’s Day By Megan Kirk Grab the roses, chocolates and candles as love is in the air this Valentine’s Day. Some local Detroit lingerie shops are offering treats you and your mate will be sure to enjoy. Local- and Black-owned, these specialty shops across the city are not only celebrating the holiday of love, but making sure customers look their best while doing so. Busted Bra Shop is a partially Black-owned specialty shop catering to women of all sizes. With three locations in Michigan, including two in Detroit and one in Ann Arbor, Busted Bra Shop is an inclusive one-stop shop for all your bare necessities. “We have ordered in a ton of lingerie. We have lingerie in every size from extra extra small to 4X,” Lee Padgett, majority owner of Busted Bra Shop says. “We’re very inclusive. We have great quality and great prices as well. We have some that are modest and some that are not. There’s something for everybody.” Keeping it local, the shop enlists the city’s help for campaigns and ads. Being sure to create full-circle moments, the bra shop provides opportunities for budding artists to work hand-in-hand with the company in creating the perfect visuals. “We use local models and local photographers for a lot of the things we do so you may be able to see one of your neighbors,” Padgett says. Urging customers to set up an appointment, the bra shop is also taking walk-ins. The LWord, an online store owned and operated by Detroiter London McNeal, not only offers lingerie sets, but also adult games and accessories. For Valentine’s Day, the shop is introducing new items from nighttime wear to boardgames. “Right now, I have over 15 new pieces and I also sell those kinky things you need to add some spice to the bedroom,” McNeal says. Originally launched to make ends meet, The LWord continues to grow into a lucrative business providing adult goodies to women across the city. “I’ve been in business a little over three years. I started it for extra income. I like to travel, and I have a 10-year-old who likes to eat,” McNeal says. Although the shop is exclusively online, the owner does offer local pickup for shoppers in the Eastpointe area. Breakfast at Six, a lingerie shop that specializes in made-to-order collections is also preparing its customers to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Owned by entrepreneur Sarah Waston, items are available at the brick-and-mortar store inside Twelve Oaks Mall in Novi as well as online. For Valentine’s Day, Breakfast at Six is also celebrating its four-year anniversary. Using the opportunity to showcase the intersection of hip-hop and fashion, the creator presented pieces inspired by hip-hop legendary group Outkast. In an Instagram Live video dedicated to customers, the wife and mother shares the motivation behind the latest collection. “To talk about inspiration, I love music. I’m a romantic, so I love romantic music. But there’s something about when hip-hop and romance and a little bit of flavor and soul can come into that, I’m all for it. Whether it’s new or old. So, I was super inspired by ‘The Love Below’ by Andre 3000 and his song ‘Pretty Pink.’” Although pieces are available instore, the shop collectively services a tailor-made clientele with a flair for custom fits. According to the brand’s website: “While aphrodisiacs encompass things like foods, potions or sensual agents that bring out one’s physical desires – for Breakfast at Six lingerie, aphrodisiacs come in many forms too. We draw our design inspiration from lyrics, feelings, environments, textures, sexy foods -- the ties to lingerie are limitless. It is anything that creates an intimate moment with your lover.” Another Black-owned lingerie shop getting in on the action is BareNkd Intimates. Located on the city’s west side, this intimates store accommodates slender and curvy women with sizes ranging from small to 4X. According to the brand’s Facebook page, the store is offering special deals and pricing ahead of Valentine’s Day. February 12 and 13, the shop will also host a pop-up shop just ahead of the lovers’ holiday. Although Valentine’s Day is once a year, these shops are open all year to help Detroiters feel fine and turn up the romance.
Cupid Breaks Quarantine At A Socially Distanced Dinner Michelin Star Chef Hosts Saint Valentine’s Day Gala Experience and Fashion Show Darius Hamilton Executive Chef at some of the hottest restaurants in Michigan including, Townhouse Birmingham, Prime and Proper, and Dirty Dog Cafe launches Darius and Associates LLC. During the Pandemic Hamilton had to get creative and pivot his business to bring the experience of the gourmet meals to quarantine by catering. As Michigan slowly begins to open up DNA will host the First Annual Saint Valentine’s Gala Experience. Hamilton Stage’ with Osteria Francescana and was one of the selected few to cook for the James Beard Association in New York. He’s studied and cooked all over the world. Mastering the fusion of European cuisine, midwest favorites and comfort foods like soul food. Over 16 years of experience and cooked for celebrities like Anita Baker, Drake, Migos and Lebron James to name a few. A celebration of Love and Black Excellence the Gala is the first ever fine dining experience with a Fashion show, 6 course meal for 2, dessert, divine mixology, live music and much more. Taking you on a journey inspired by land and sea, right here in the beautiful City of Detroit, located in the eastern market. The attire is black tie and for the grown and sexy. Masks are required and The highly anticipated event will be social distancing will be enforced. Due to extremely high demand and COVID-19 held Saturday, February 13th, 2021 at 6pm early bird special offer of $150 OFF pre-cautions space is very limited. WITH DISCOUNT CODE: V.DAY2021 tick-
ets available at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/saint-valentines-day-gala-experience-tickets-136497099499
How to Spice Up Your Quarantine Valentine’s Day: Single, Together and Socially Distanced By Megan Kirk Ladies, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner and no matter the stage of dating, the day should be special. Stephanie Taylor, managing director for intimacy health company Kegel8, has created a survival guide for every stage of together to help make this lover’s holiday one to remember. With COVID-19 restrictions still in play, the standard Valentine’s Day dinner and movie date are a distant memory. As if dating could not get any harder, wearing a mask conveniently blocks potential suitors, not to mention that distancing measures keeps you more than an arm’s reach away. Single girls: Valentine’s Day is not the day to reminisce and destroy evidence of a recent ex. Although not traditionally celebrating with Cupid, singles can still enjoy the benefits of the holiday without any of the burden of the morning after. According to Taylor’s survival guide, being single is a time to re-establish the most important relationship, with one’s self. Treat yourself to your favorite dinner. A girl has got to eat, and do not forget the martini, please. There are no rules against having a nice, romantic, solo dinner. What’s best? This dinner doesn’t come with the need for any dinner conversation. A good circle of girlfriends can make you forget Valentine’s Day even exists! Or at least take the sting out of being single. Use Zoom to have a virtual Galentine’s Day with your closest girlfriends. If it were not for your tribe, this holiday could be worse. Sacrificing the Valentine’s Day big-O just because it is not a team sport is not necessary this day. Use this time to explore self-intimacy.
Enough said. For the ladies who have found their special person, spending an abundance of time together could put a strain on couples during quarantine. What started off as an excuse to get extra snuggles has quickly turned into confinement. Using Valentine’s Day can help remind a couple of their spark, or bring them a Scorpio surprise. For couples, the survival guide suggests activities that bring couples closer together. Making dinner together can be an intimate experience with instant gratification. Taylor suggests creating an entire dinner menu, add cocktails to the fun and have a romantic indoor dinner party. Party attire to be determined. Another suggestion is using the night as a game night. Not Monopoly, but a steamy adult game of Connect or Mr. and Mrs. for a long night of fun. To help further steam things along, the survival guide suggests couple’s massages with an at-home hot stone
massage from kits available online. Long distance relationships can be hard due to the extended time apart. Valentine’s Day in different locations add an extra level of difficulty when planning the perfect day. According to Taylor, distance does not have to get in the way of true love. There are ways to celebrate from respective corners of the globe. For couples with some space between them this Valentine’s Day, video apps like Zoom and Apple’s Facetime feature is bringing couples together. Though outside of the norm, Taylor suggests still getting dressed and having a virtual dinner. Whether individually cooking the same recipe or ordering takeout, sharing a meal with your main squeeze is being made easier. If dinner is out, keep the traditional date night alive and catch a flick. Amazon Prime has introduced a feature called watch party where parties of watchers can all watch the same film at the same time. The feature also allows a chat to keep conversation rolling throughout the show. To combine gifts and intimacy from separate locations, sending some romantic packages in the mail with some adult party favors can really help to spice up the day. Toys have become more advanced and remote-control gifts are welcome. No matter the plan for this first quarantined Valentine’s, be sure to think outside the box and create some unforgettable memories to last as it is a mystery when dating will return to normal. With Taylor’s survival guide handy, Valentine’s Day is sure to be the gift that keeps on giving.
Page B-4 • michiganchronicle.com • February 10-16, 2021
ed Velvet for Your Valentine (Culinary.net) On the sweetest day of the year, a day full of flowers, love and sweets, Valentine’s Day is the ultimate opportunity to try a different dessert meant for two. It’s hard to resist a perfectly blended, rose-red, luscious Red Velvet Mug Cake. It’s the perfect size, with just a handful of instructions, and it’s easily cooked before your eyes in the microwave. That’s right, the microwave. This mug cake is a simple way to make something delicious and keep the portions small. Whether you have a small party, just you and your loved one or just simply want something easy and small, this quick treat is designed just for you. Start by mixing all the dry ingredients into a large mug, including flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Then add milk, melted butter, vanilla and red food coloring. Use a spoon and stir the ingredients together until blended. Mix powdered sugar and cream cheese then drop the mixture into the cake batter and mix once more. Microwave the mug for up to 3 minutes until your cake is baked. Valentine’s Day means sharing with someone how much you care, and it’s difficult to find a better way than to share something sweet. This dessert has Valentine’s Day written all over it, however, it can be enjoyed anytime throughout the year and is perfect for a late-night snack if you’re craving something sugary-sweet. Find more recipes and dessert ideas for every celebration at Culinary.net.
(StatePoint) As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, celebrations may include romantic dinners, Galentine’s Day plans or even family fun. The experts at Dollar General have provided a few budget-friendly decor ideas that everyone will love. Romantic Night in for Two Make a night in special by adding a few romantic details around the home. Spruce up the dining table with a vase of fresh roses, candles and a decorative tablecloth—all of which
is available at your local Dollar General the week of Valentine’s Day. Also consider filling the room with colorful heart-shaped balloons and bowls of sweet candies. Dress up a wall or mantle with a banner and some of your favorite photos. Pitch a blanket fort in the living room for a fun indoor movie night. Decorate it with a holiday-themed blanket and pillows to help create a unique and memorable Valentine’s Day. Be Mine, Galentine For those spending the holiday with friends, incorporate all the fun Valentine’s Day decor into a Galentine’s Day celebration. Assemble a picture-perfect balloon arch by taping or stringing together pink, white, red and heart-shaped balloons. Create another space for photos by hanging streamers and a heart-shaped garland from windows or walls. Fill glass vases with red and pink candies for a charming coffee table centerpiece. Lastly, a message board could provide a fun opportunity for gathering gals to express appreciation or positive quotes. This can easily be celebrated digitally by distributing Galentine’s Day kits to friends, so everyone can that share in the decorating and celebrating. DIY Valentine Crafts For a fun family night in, set aside time to create crafts with the kids. Crafting can be a great way for kids to express themselves, plus their creations can serve as cost-effective decorations. One example is to hang a paper heart chain, like a garland, above a fireplace or along kitchen cabinets. For this easy and adorable craft, gather red and pink craft paper, ribbon or string, scissors and tape. Cut out hearts and a small hole in a corner to string ribbon or string through. Another fun option is to gather the family to paint glass jars with hearts or sayings. Place tasty treats like cookies or candies inside or use the jars as a vase for flowers. Don’t forget front door decorations! Find the directions to craft an easy DIY Coffee Filter Wreath for the door on DG’s crafts web page.
Red Velvet Mug Cake Servings: 1 6 tablespoons flour 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon cocoa powder 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup milk 2 tablespoons butter, melted 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 30 drops red food coloring 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 tablespoon cream cheese, softened
For more holiday decoration inspiration and ideas, visit dollargeneral.com and browse under the Inspiration tab. By planning ahead and seeking out decoration tips and tricks, anyone can be ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day with less stress and hustle.
In 12-ounce mug, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Add milk, butter, vanilla and food coloring; mix until blended. In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Drop cream cheese mixture into cake batter. Press into batter until covered. Microwave up to 3 minutes until cake is done.
The Perfect Pancake for Your Valentine (Culinary.net) Finding something unique and special to do on Valentine’s Day for your significant other can be a challenge. Every year, the day to celebrate love rolls around and every year it may seem like you’re out of ideas. Many people feel the same way. However, with just a couple bowls, a cookie cutter and a skillet, your Valentine’s Day could start off a lot sweeter. Try these Red Velvet Heart Pancakes, which are one of a kind and a delicious way to spend your morning with your loved one. Celebrating the day of love has never been easier. Start by combining flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl, whisk an egg and add buttermilk, butter, vanilla extract and a few drops of red food
coloring. Whisk everything together and pour it into the first bowl of dry ingredients. Prepare a skillet and grab a heartshaped cookie cutter. Pour a small amount of batter into the cookie cutter in the skillet, let it cook for 2 minutes then remove the cookie cutter and flip. Let it cook for 1 additional minute. Add your favorite pancake toppings like butter, syrup, powdered sugar or raspberries. In the end, you will have yourself a scrumptious breakfast, made with love and as sweet as can be. Kids also love the fun shape and color of this breakfast. It’s a neat way to have them help in the kitchen and make a meal for the whole family. Valentine’s Day is a big reason to celebrate. You don’t have to stick to the same flowers and chocolates as last year. Mix it up with this delectable recipe meant to spread some love on a significant day. Find more breakfast recipes and sweet treat ideas at Culinary.net.
Red Velvet Heart Pancakes
In large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
1 cup flour 1/4 cup sugar 3 tablespoons cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1 cup buttermilk 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus additional for garnish 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 30-40 drops red food coloring nonstick cooking spray syrup, for garnish powdered sugar, for garnish raspberries, for garnish
In medium bowl, whisk egg. Add buttermilk, 2 tablespoons butter, vanilla extract and food coloring; whisk until combined.
Servings: 8-10
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir to combine. Spray heart-shaped cookie cutter with nonstick cooking spray and place in skillet. Add enough batter to fill heart. Cook 2 minutes. Remove heart cutter. Flip pancake and cook 1 minute. Serve with butter, syrup, powdered sugar and raspberries. Note: If mixture is too thick, add water until desired consistency is reached.
Classifieds
February 10-16, 2021 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-5 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Allen Lee Cushingberry November 12, 1958 - January 22, 2021
On Friday, January 22, 2021, loving brother uncle, entrepreneur, philanthropist , mentor and kind friend Dr. Allen Lee Cushingberry (affectionately known as Al) of West Bloomfield Michigan entered into eternal peace at the age 63. Born November 12, 1958 to the union of George C. Cushingberry Sr. and Edna L. (James) Cushingberry, both of whom preceded him in passing. Al accepted Christ at an early age at The New Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church and was baptized by the Rev.John L Webb. Al remained a member at New Mount Vernon before moving his membership to The Detroit Unity Temple. He graduated from Henry Ford High School (Detroit). Eastern Michigan University (BA), University of Michigan (MS) and Southern California University (PhD.) Dr. Cushingberry served as a professor for many years at the Wayne County Community District, before starting his own business Amir and Associates of Southfield Michigan. His love for the arts prompted him to form and direct The Michigan Theater Troop, where many aspiring artist developed their skills. Al will remain in the hearts and memories of his three brothers Rev. George C. Cushingberry Jr. (Maria) Carey W. Cushingberry (Cheryl), Dennis B. Cushingberry and a host of relatives and friends. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Andrews funeral home in Detroit. Memorial donations can be made to: Allen Cushingberry Scholarship Fund 19789 Santa Rosa Detroit, MI 48221 The celebration of life will be planned at a later date. Please share a memory with the family on Al’s online guestbook.
Horatio Donald Peso
December 11, 1941 - January 24, 2021 “A Soldier Grandfather, and Role Model” Horatio Donald Peso of Romulus Michigan, Later Detroit Retired from GM After 35 Years Made His transition January 24, 2021 I Will Love You Forever Don, Your Wife
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Request For Proposal Barber Preparatory Academy is seeking proposals for School Bathroom Renovations. A copy of the RFPs can be viewed at www.barberprep.com. Bids are due on February 25, 2021 at 4PM and any late submissions will not be considered. Bids will be opened and read aloud on February 26 at 5:30PM at 45 E. Buena Vista, Highland Park, MI 48203. Each bid must include a sworn and notarized familiar affidavit. Questions can be submitted to rfp@barberprep.com.
Academy of Warren, a Tuition-Free Public School Academy, announces its Open Enrollment Period for the 20212022 school year for grades K-8. Applications may be picked up at the Academy (586- 552-8010) or online at www.academyofwarren.net. Hours to pick up applications will be March 1, 2021 thru March 22, 2021 from 8 am to 4 pm Monday- Friday; Saturday March 20, 2021: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm; March 17, 2021: 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm. If applications exceed the number of available spaces, a random selection will be held at Academy of Warren, 13943 E. 8 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48089, on March 29, 2021.
PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED Senior Software Engineer General Motors, Detroit, MI. Dvlp Application cmpnts using Microservice Architecture (MSA) to support Query-Only &Query-plus-Reflash firmware operations in psgr vehicles. Engr, dvlp &perform OTA Reflash in Central Gateway/Center Stack Modules, &Telematics Communication Platform, using open mobile alliance device mgmt protocol in current &future conventional, electric, &autonomous psgr vehicles for firmware updates using MSA &message driven architectures. Dvlp &provide user features, such as data collection, internal data publication, &SW for remote reflash apps, in main &all subsys modules in psgr vehicles, using Java, Spring Boot, Jenkins, ActiveMQ, Kafka, Angular, Cloud Foundry, Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), Akamai Net Storage, Maven &Oracle database. Implement MQTT communication for cmpnts relying on JMS. Dvlp &deliver OTA SW to QA Engrs for validation, UAT, &support UAT &production deployments in Pivotal Cloud Foundry cloud platform &Static servers. Master, Computer Sci., Software Engrg, Computer Apps or Engrg, or related. 24 mos exp as Engineer or Developer, dvlpg Application cmpnts using MSA, &dvlpg user features, using Java, Spring Boot, Jenkins, ActiveMQ, Kafka, Angular, Cloud Foundry, &Amazon S3, or related. Ref#1873-204, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32-C66, Detroit, MI 48265.
HELP WANTED
PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED VP, Corporate Finance VP, Corporate Finance in Troy, MI: organize, plan, direct and evaluate financial functions; work through subordinate directors and provide administrative oversight and direction to the following functions: treasury & taxes, budgeting, internal operational audits, financial analysis and business operations projects; develop, monitor and evaluate overall corporate strategy with the CEO and executives with emphasis on bottom line performance, working capital and the enhancement of shareholder value, among other duties. Send resume to H. Boden-Carr, Dayco Products LLC, 1650 Research Drive, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48083. No phone calls please.
DEI Consultant The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments has issued RFP #21-001 for a DEI Consultant. See more information at www.semcog.org/vendors.
Warren, MI, General Motors. Create &update test specs &validate psgr vehicle CAN bus &Automotive Ethernet serial communication protocols &Vehicle Cybersecurity Message Authentication (CMA) in psgr vehicle ECUs using Vector CANoe &VSpy tools &neoVI FIRE2, RAD Galaxy, RAD Plasma, VN1640 &VN5610 HW. Dvlp CAPL dynamic link library to use C# platform. Perform Secure Diagnostics testing according to NextGen psgr vehicle architectures. Dvlp &maintain Vector CANoeDiVa tool for ECU cmpnt level, using CAPL &VSpy for testing of CAN &Ethernet communication protocols. Dvlp &maintain window-based app using C# &.Net to verify AUTOSAR Extensible markup language file, Vehicle CMA &parse to generate user defined input file for Sys Message Authentication Counter Health Checker. Master, Electrical, Computer, Automotive Systems Engrg, or related. 12 mos exp as Engineer, Developer or related, creating &updating test specs &validating psgr vehicle CAN bus &Automotive Ethernet serial communication protocols &Vehicle CMA in psgr vehicle ECUs using CANoe &VSpy tools or related. Mail resume to Ref#37162-98, GM Global Mobility, 300 Renaissance Center, MC:482-C32C66, Detroit, MI 48265.
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Department of Public Works Ferndale Department of Public Works $23.03 to $25.43 Non-Exempt Full Time
The City of Ferndale is looking for an addition to our mechanic crew. We are now hiring for the position of General Mechanic. The ideal candidate will have thorough knowledge of automotive mechanics for both gas and diesel vehicles, a high mechanical aptitude, and experience working in a fast-paced environment that requires attention to detail, accuracy, and the ability to prioritize multiple assignments. Salary range is $23.03 - $25.43 commensurate with experience, Visit www.ferndalemi.gov/jobs for more information and to apply.
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(StatePoint) With the roll-out of the vaccine taking place slowly, it may be awhile longer before life returns completely to normal. However, if you have been working remotely, it may be a good idea to reincorporate some of the elements of your regular routine into your schedule now.
• Rise and shine: Have you let your morning schedule slide into chaos during the pandemic? Now is the time to get back to your regular hours. Get to sleep each week night at your pre-pandemic bedtime and set your alarm for your regular wake hour. With no commute, you may find yourself with some extra time in the morning. Use it to get organized for the day, exercise or check items off your to-do list.
HELP WANTED Department: Location: Salary Range: FLSA: Employment Type:
Maintaining a Sense of Normalcy While Routines Stay Disrupted
Not only will maintaining a sense of normalcy help you to feel more productive and more like yourself again, it could also help make the transition to the workplace smoother when it does occur. Here are a few ways to go about it:
Engineering Specialist Serial Communication Validation
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• Get dressed: Dress as though you are heading into the workplace. Wear pants that don’t have an elastic waistband, do your hair and wear accessories. Regain your sense of style and feel good about how you look. • Structure your day: When working remotely, it’s easy to feel like the workday has no clear beginning or end. For better work-life balance, try to structure your day as you once did, setting regular business hours. Be sure to include breaks so you don’t experience burnout. And, if your weekdays once included time for socializing with colleagues, make time for it now. Set up a virtual coffee meeting, lunch or happy hour. • Use tech tools: Stay accountable to your new schedule as well as your fashion goals with wearable tech, such as the Casio Edifice Watch. With full-time Smartphone Link technology, this timepiece enables you to stay up-to-date and on time. When paired to a compatible smartphone via Bluetooth, you can access the correct time in your current location and for up to 300 cities worldwide, as well as your calendar, receiving notifications for tasks, meetings and events. Featuring five alarms, a stopwatch, countdown timer and a two-year battery life, this water-resistant timepiece can be a highly functional tool as you transition back to a regular schedule. If working from home long-term has you feeling sluggish and unproductive, get back to your regular schedule. Maintaining a sense of normalcy can help get you out of the rut.
Classifieds
February 10-16, 2021 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-6 ANNOUNCEMENTS
NOTICE of AIR PERMIT COMMENT PERIOD and PUBLIC HEARING
Voice of the Community at your fingertips.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is holding a public comment period and virtual public hearing to allow the public the opportunity to comment on the proposed conditional approval of an air permit. Public comment period from February 10, 2021, to March 22, 2021, with a virtual public hearing on March 16, 2021 for: Company: FCA US, LLC (FCA) - Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) located at 2101 Conner Street, Detroit, Michigan. What FCA wants to do: PTI Application No. 33-20 is for the proposed installation of a new coating line and changes to existing equipment at JNAP. This application originally went through public comment in 2020. This second public comment period is necessary because FCA has proposed changes to the application. Changes made to the draft permit are: 1. The addition of updated conditions for four existing emission units. 2. Additional recordkeeping and reporting requirements. 3. To allow 12 months after installation for the average amount of volatile organic compounds per job to decrease from the current 4.8 pounds per job to 4.4. It has been preliminarily determined the proposed request will not violate EGLE’s rules nor the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The facility’s impact will not exceed the available increments for nitrogen oxides, particulate matter less than 10 microns, and particulate matter less than 2.5 microns. • This request requires a modification to Renewable Operating Permit (ROP) No. MI-ROP-N2155-2017 (SRN N2155). This public comment period meets the public participation requirements for a future administrative amendment to the ROP.
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Provide comment in any of these ways by March 22, 2021: • By email: EGLE-aqd-ptipubliccomments@michigan.gov • By voicemail: Call 517-284-0900 • By mail: Ms. Annette Switzer, Permit Section Manager, EGLE, AQD P.O. Box 30260 Lansing, MI 48909-7760 • At the virtual Informational Session and Public Hearing: March 16, 2021, starting at 6:00 p.m. The public hearing will be held after the end of the virtual informational session. The purpose of the public hearing is to take formal comments on the record. Links to attend the virtual meetings and more information regarding the proposed permits can be found at: https://www. deq.state.mi.us/aps/downloads/permits/PubNotice/NSR_PTIs_Open_for_Comment.pdf Get technical reports about this project: • Online: Michigan.gov/Air choose “Public Notice” • EGLE’s Air Quality Permit Section: Call to request (517-582-5095) • EGLE’s Detroit office: Call to request (313-456-2761) DETROIT: City Clerk’s Office, 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1126 (313-224-3400) All statements received by March 22, 2021, will be considered by the decision maker prior to final permit action. Contact Cindy Smith at 517-648-8404 one week in advance of the meeting if you need accommodations.
Voice of the Community at your fingertips michiganchronicle.com
DQE
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY Ms. Annette Switzer, Permit Section Manager HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
Senior Software Engineer, SSE-HCS-M-17; 01 position, Novi, MI: Dev production ready SW defined SW dev process. Analyzing req specs, dev SW arch & design, create UI rich apps debug issues & write test cases for unit test. design review & clarify specs doc. Lead communication b/w Customer & Harman, inclu report & identify priorities, Dev & track KPIs for each SW release, ensure meets acceptance criteria. Keep abreast new tech & methods, bring changes to benefit current & future programs Requirements: Bachelor’s deg (or foreign equal) ComSci/Electric/Electronic Eng or IT or equal or rel with 4 yrs of exp in IT. Alternate: Master’s deg (or foreign equal) in ComSci/Electric/Electro Eng or IT or rel with 2 yrs of exp. Exp: SW des & dev of GUI apps in Automotive domain, UI des Action Script/C++/QT/ QML program lang, QNX/Linux Auto info p’form, Shell Script, Lua Script, embedded sw dev, system analysis, debug & performance optimizations, Navigation, Connectivity & Media.
Harman Connected Services: Software Engineer; Job ID SE-HSC-M-20: 01 Position; Location: Novi, MI: Dev SW component C++ & Java of high standard & fine qual. Analyze prod & customer req doc specs & write SW code to implement lowest defects. Test SW code at unit & system level ensure req met & expected result achieved. Analyze exis SW code add new features, modifications, fix defects & integrate multiple operating sys like Android, QNX, Linux etc. ownership of design modules, mentor juniors. Analyze & debug using standard scoping tools. Req: Bachelor’s deg (or Foreign Equival) in CompSci, InfoTech, Electro/Electri Eng or rel with 3 yrs of exp in IT Industry. Exp: 3 yrs exp in SW dev in C, C++ & Java; 2 yrs SW design exp using object-oriented prin. 2 yrs Automotive Info SW dev exp in Android/Linux/ QNX. Exp adding audio/multimedia feat to embedded p’form. peripheral commu protocols I2C,SPI,UART,GPIO. Automotive CAN Protocol, Git, Android Debug Bridge, GDB, Android Studio, Visual Studio, analyz use cases, defects with HW scope, signal generator, oscilloscope. Android FW & Android HAL dev. Automotive Radio Tech AM/FM/DAB/SXM. Apply: send CV’s to Harman Connected Services, C/O Mahesh GM; (Job Code SE-HSC-M-20); to 2002 156th Ave NE Ste 200, Bellevue, WA 98007.
Apply: send CV’s to Harman Connected Services, C/O Mahesh G M; (Job Code SSE-HCS-M- 17); to 2002, 156th Ave NE Ste 200 Bellevue WA 98007.
Test Engineer: 1 Pos; Novi, MI; Analyz req & test case on specs. trace of req test cases. Dev automation FW, perform test on Infotainment P’forms & write test scri to test inter & cust specs both unit & sys level info feature. validate/qualifying SW mult infotainment prod for var car manuf. Perf sys valid on infot modules both vehicle & bench setups Vehicle interface, M’media, BT-WiFi & connect feat. Phone Proj like Carplay & Android Auto. test setup func test & automation test Infot mod. Create simulation using CAN tools replicate vehicle envi. infotainment safety feat test critical chimes, collision & emergency call using simulation/tools. Cre simulation mod & test ADAS feat like Collision warn, Lane sens, Auto-park assist, traffic alert. defects, verify fixed/resolved issues. Iden test scen based on func & busn req, cre & maintain test case. Req: Bachelor’s deg (or foreign Equal) in CompSci, Eng, IT, Electro/Telecom / rel & 3 Yrs of exp in IT. Alt: Master’s deg (or foreign Equal) CompSci, Eng, IT, Electro/Telecom / rel & 1 Yr of exp in IT. Exp in func & non-funct SW test, SW life cyc, test meth. CAN prot, CAN anal tool & CAPL script. Android P’form, Android Apps test. Analy prod req from cust. automation with CAN, infot test automation, script lang. Program with Python & C#. Unittest of APIs. Test case dev, test exec, test mgmt, test status repor, defect mgmt tools, log tools. MS Office, Android test, Wi-Fi, BT, CAN, Neo VI, Vehicle Spy, CANoe. Apply: send CV’s to Harman Connected Services, C/O Mahesh G M; (Job Code - TE-HCS-M-16); to 2002 156th Ave NE Suite 200 Bellevue, WA 98007.
Principal SW Engineer: Job ID: PSEHCS-M-11: Novi, MI; U’stand cust concepts, req & design Specs, key I’face inter/exter cust & global tech team. Specify architecture for complex embedded audio sys & dev incl Risk/Issue anal & mitigation/reso plan. guide tech & proj issue & continuous integ & monthly sw rel. Linux & Android Arch, Android FW layer & Internals of OS & App dev using C / C++ & Java. Embed sys, Intel, IM6, IMX8 processor, CAN/Vehicle diag & Audio proces in Automotive Amplifier. dev of arch design for auto audio module mult HW interface as head unit, amplifier, ARM. Dev of comp audio modules core dev & control path b/w amplifier & Head unit. Req: Bach’s deg (or Foreign Equal) in Comp, Electro, Electri /rel with 6 Yrs exp in IT Or Master deg (or Foreign Equal) in Comp, Electro, Electri /rel with 4 Yrs exp in IT Exp: embed C,C++,QNX,Linux,Android,CAN,Vehicle diagnostics,UDS using ISO 14229-1, SW download using CAN. debug & anal using CS+, Oscilloscope, eclipse, GDB tools & logic anal & Audio tools like Audacity, Audio Mulch. audio amp dev & audio proces incl commu from head-unit. Android Architecture, Android F’work layer & Internals of OS & App dev in Android. SW dev proc ASPICE compliance Apply: Send CV’s to Harman Connected Services, C/O Mahesh GM, (job ID- PSE-HCS-M-11), 2002 156th Ave NE suite 200 Bellevue WA 98007.
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Walker-Miler Energy Services is hiring! Several Positions Are Ready to be filled by Extraordinary Individuals! Energy Engineer – Detroit, MI Energy Advisor I – Jackson, MI Energy Specialist – Detroit, MI Executive Assistant – Detroit, MI IT Manager – Detroit, MI IT Systems Administrator – Detroit, MI IT Helpdesk Technician II – Detroit, MI Business Development Manager – Detroit, MI Marketing Manager - Detroit, MI For a full list of qualifications please visit https://wmenergy.com/careers-2/ **Please note the location of the position when applying.**
Help stop coronavirus 1 HANDS Wash them often 2 ELBOW Cough into it 3 FACE Don't touch it 4 SPACE Keep safe distance 5 HOME Stay if you can
How to Stay Safe During Your Remodel Amid COVID-19 (Family Features) Many homeowners still find themselves stuck at home due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With all the extra time spent indoors, some homeowners are re-evaluating the space they occupy and turning to remodelers to help them safely and effectively complete home improvement projects. However, the pandemic has changed the way homeowners and remodelers communicate even before stepping foot on site. Doing as much pre-service consultation as possible over the phone, by video meeting or through email is recommended. “I’ll have customers take pictures and have them forward me that information to pre-qualify them and see if we’re a fit before I actually go on site,” said Andy Apter, president of Apter Remodeling/Craftsman. “In today’s environment, people are enthusiastic to provide those photographs. If they want to take the next step then I meet them in person.” Like any remodeling project, communication between the homeowner and service provider is key. “Communicate any concerns you may have,” Apter said. “I can’t address concerns if homeowners don’t open up.” Despite concerns over health and safety, members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) like Apter are equipped to get the job done safely and ethically. Members pledge to adhere
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to a strict code of ethics that observes the highest standards of honesty, integrity and responsibility. One code is taking appropriate action to preserve the health and safety of employees, trade contractors and clients. Once on site, the remodelers adhere to all safety protocols when entering a home. As with any remodel, portable restrooms are brought on site for the remodeling team. The team also masks up before entering any household. Apter takes it a step further by designating entrance and exit paths for his team to maintain social distancing. Homeowners can also do their part to maintain a safe work environment for the remodeling team. If you’re working from home, try to set up your workstation in an area other than the one undergoing renovations. It is also important to limit interactions with the remodeling team. In instances where communication is necessary, homeowners should always
wear a mask and remain at least two arm lengths away from the contractor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends maximizing ventilation in the household while service providers are on site, such as opening a window or turning on the air conditioner. The CDC also recommends using touchless payment options or paying over the phone, if possible. After any visit, remember to clean and disinfect any surfaces the remodeling team may have come in contact with. Despite the precautions both homeowners and the remodeling team take, the timeline and budget of your remodeling project doesn’t have to be affected. Apter said COVID-19 safety measures have not delayed any of his projects. If you’re ready to start your home improvement project in 2021, visit remodelingdoneright.com.