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Michigan Chronicle

Vol. 82 – No. 39 | June 5-11, 2019

It’s time to show Detroit teachers the respect they deserve Nikolai Vitti, Ed.D. Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District

I am often asked what is the most important strategy that can be leveraged to improve Detroit Public Schools Community District, or public education in general. My response is: make teaching and teachers the most important priority in educational reform. By doing so, you immediately improve the outcomes and experiences of all children, because teachers have the most consistent interaction with children outside of families. As we know, for some children, this consistency is vital due to home life challenges. Despite this reality, we often hear leaders and elected officials honor the hard Nikolai Vitti work and sacrifice of teachers without emphasizing and prioritizing budgets and policy to enhance teacher status as one of the most important professions in our society. This is why we are seeing fewer undergraduates enter the teaching profession and others leaving it. This country, despite its rhetoric for honoring teachers, does not respect traditional public education — including teachers and their students — enough to put their money where their mouths are. It’s empty talk. As a result, our children, community, and the future of this country continue to suffer. We allow the ideology of choice, lower taxes and weak government to dictate elections and education policy. We ignore what works — best practice and research — for silver bullets and quick fixes. There are few examples that better reflect the disrespect toward traditional public education — and toward teachers and their students — than what occurred in Michigan, and namely in Detroit, through emergency management. One example is the current state of our facilities. We have buildings that are in dire need of repair due to years of neglect. This would have never been tolerated in any of the surrounding suburbs but yet it became the status quo in Detroit under emergency management. Another is the lack of systems and processes that “normal” organizations have in place. Something as simple as a customer service response process was missing. Basic payroll systems, accountability metrics and inferior curriculum are just some of the basics that created the corrosion I witnessed when I

See TEACHERS page A4

WHAT’S INSIDE

PHOTO: Andre Smith

PART II

Detroit Divided: Don’t Call It a Comeback

By Trevor W. Coleman I asked longtime Detroit activist and radio host Sam Riddle if Detroit is divided and he laughed at the absurdity of the question. “Of course, it is!” he says almost shouting. “You’ve got almost 40 percent of the population living in poverty, nearly 60 percent of the babies born into poverty, one of the highest infant mortality rates in the nation, neighborhoods that have been abandoned, schools struggling and one of the highest homicide rates in the country.” Riddle is the host of popular afternoon radio show Riddle at Random on 910 am Superstation. He is also a senior fellow of the Pulse Institute, which is a Detroit think tank that focuses on anti-poverty initiatives. “Of course, there are two Detroits,” he said. “The have and the have nots!” Like many long-time Detroiters, Riddle, who also serves as political director for the Michigan chapter of the National Action Network, agrees there has been a significant improvement in Detroit’s overall economy and development in downtown and midtown. However, he objects to what he believes has been a public relations campaign that promotes successful downtown development projects by big corporations, wealthy developers and new affluent residents. He believes there are poverty issues and other social ills and challenges faced by long-time residents of the city that remain hidden in plain sight.

“The Detroit mayor and his buddies say, ‘This is the Detroit comeback story,’ but it’s not a comeback for the long-time residents who stayed here when everybody else left and now must live in ignored and abandoned neighborhoods,” he said. The question of whether there is “two Detroits” — one that is prospering with a vibrant downtown and newly minted developments spread along the Woodward corridor and midtown, and another that is under siege by high poverty rates hovering near 40 percent, struggling schools and floundering neighborhoods — has been driving much of the debate over the nature of progress in the region for the past ten years. While it is almost universally accepted that the city is much better off than it was during the depths of the recession from 2007-2009, it is the

contours of the recovery that remain in question. Mayor Mike Duggan conceded as much during his State of the City presentation in March, when he noted unemployment is down 50 percent, but that Detroit still has the highest unemployment rate in the United States. He noted that 35,000 Detroiters have been lifted out of poverty, but the city still has the highest poverty rate in the country. It was also explained that crime is down, but the Motor City is still the third most violent city in the country. Edward Lynch, a planner with Detroit Future City, a Detroit think tank, agreed and said the painful dichotomy confronting Detroit is a common phenomenon among most major urban areas these days.

See DETROIT

DIVIDED page A4

$3 Billion to “Fix the Damn Roads” and Bridges: 10-year Plan would bring 90% into good or fair condition

By Patreice A. Massey MANAGING EDITOR

Teach For America Detroit’s 2019 “Detroit Writes Detroit” showcases writings and voices of outstanding students across the city

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Wayne County has released a baseline report that will be used to develop and implement its first-ever 10-year asset management plan (AMP) for roads and bridges. According to the report, Wayne County would need to invest more than $3 billion over the next decade to execute goals. The objective is to have 90 percent of its roads and bridges in good or fair condition by 2029 as well as all bridges in critical condition. “An increasing number of our roads and bridges are in poor to critical condition and they are going to deteriorate faster without significant investment,” said Wayne County executive Warren C. Evans. “Developing an asset management plan will help us get more out of our money through preventative maintenance, but there’s no way we can address our infrastructure crisis without a massive infusion of cash.” The next steps include developing appropriate solutions, analyzing the impacts of different funding options and preservation strategies, and developing a rolling 10-year asset management plan to guide investments

in the system moving forward. This puts an emphasis on preventative maintenance, which keeps good roads in good condition longer and is less expensive than rehabilitation or reconstruction. According to the baseline report, approximately 58 percent of the roads in Wayne County are in poor condition, 34 percent are fair and only 8 percent are in good condition. The road inventory covered a total of 897 miles of federal aid roads and non-federal aid non-subdivision roads. It did not include the 773 miles of local subdivision roads. In regard to bridges, the county has 310 structures, of which 231 are inspected and maintained according to the National Bridge Inventory (NBI) federal guidelines. Of these NBI bridges, 69 percent are in good or fair condition, 20 percent in poor condition and 11 percent are in serious or critical condition. Of those 231, 35 of them are open but have reduced weight loads and ten are closed. Three additional non-NBI bridges are closed

as well, and the county has 11 “big” bridges with replacement values exceeding $10 million. “The average age of bridges in Wayne County is nearly 70 years old, but we count on them daily to get to work or the doctor or sports events for our kids,” said Beverly Watts, director of the Wayne County Department of Public Services. “It’s the oldest, largest and most unique set of local bridges in the state. There are 18 different types of bridge substructures, three movable bridges and 12 bridges that are on the National Register of Historic Places. Fixing and maintaining them is costly.” The county expects to have the 10-year AMP ready in November. It will be updated and revised routinely as new information becomes available. The plan is committed to a data-driven approach to infrastructure based on regular system assessments. “We can’t just wait for things to shake

See ROADS

AND BRIDGES page A2

Page A-2 • michiganchronicle.com •

June 5-11, 2019

DETROIT SEVEN-DAY FORECAST

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Teachers

with the University of Michigan, where aspiring teachers will learn to teach before becoming the teacher of record.

first came to the district almost two years ago.

No different than doctors, teachers must be given the time and resources to learn from veteran teachers before entering the classroom full time.

From page A-1

Let this low point in history always serve as the extreme governance model that should never be imposed again in any state or school district. Over the past two years, we have worked deliberately to rebuild DPSCD from the debacle of emergency management while placing our focus on improving the conditions of teachers. We have not achieved victory but we are improving. We have raised teacher salaries and are committed to doing so through reoccurring and one-time bonus increases in the future. We must put as much money in teachers pockets as our budget will allow while being fiscally responsible as a district under state financial review. We returned TIP funding to teachers before retirement. (Under emergency management, the incentive plan took money from teachers on a bi-weekly basis and held it to pay them when they left the district. There was doubt that this funding would be returned. Last year, we made an agreement with the union to pay the teachers back and we did that last year.) We have enhanced teacher voices through the selection of curriculum, reduced testing, lowered class sizes, revised the evaluation tool, and funded additional school-based positions to address chronic absenteeism, discipline, and academic intervention. Additionally, we expanded paid professional development opportunities and provided a new career pathway for strong teachers through our master teacher role. We provided all teachers with a laptop and the opportunity to complete a survey about their experiences at their school. The survey results are used as feedback to coach and develop principals as instructional leaders and talent managers. We are most excited about the opportunity to develop the next generation of teachers through our Marygrove initiative

Despite this work, the legacy of our school board and my leadership will rest on making Detroit teachers the highest paid in the state and country. Detroit teachers deserve to be the highest paid because our children deserve the best teachers in each of the classrooms they enter and leave every day. To accomplish this goal, we must demand equitable funding in Michigan where property tax revenue, which is included in the state’s foundation allowance along with state per pupil funding, does not imbalance the scales of equal opportunity for students. On average, school districts in Grosse Pointe, Southfield and

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Farmington generate $130 million dollars more in annual revenue than DPSCD. This allows these districts and countless others to offer teacher salaries and school facilities that are superior to ours. Although DPSCD typically receives more federal funding than many other districts due to the concentration of low income families, those funds are restricted and cannot be used at scale for districtwide salary increases, but instead for additional school-level support positions, creating more vacancies that are difficult to fill. If we are truly committed to all children and we reject the notion that the greater likelihood of success is afforded to those in higher income zip codes, then we need to provide equitable public school funding. This will allow us to retain our veteran teachers and develop a new generation of teachers who will live in the city and see teaching as a career, not an experience. This is how we will rebuild the city, communities, and even our country.

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Detroit divided From page A-1

“If you were to go to any major city you would get a litany of stories about this same kind of inequity,” he said. “Places such as New York, Washington, Baltimore — everywhere.” Over the last 20 years, Detroit has suffered from a massive loss of its Black middle class, which in turn has contributed to the destabilization of its neighborhoods, schools and political strength, said Lynch. “In 2000, about 28 percent of the African-American middle class lived in the suburbs of Detroit. About 54 percent do now,” he said. “So, the new is what you tend to hear about. But there is the other end of the spectrum, and a lot of people who are not doing well and not necessarily benefitting from what’s going on.” “Going forward, city leaders must be really deliberate in making sure that development projects underway downtown and midtown

[are] “a positive for everyone,” Lynch said. “And find a way to connect what is going on in the city and to make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate and benefit from this.” Riddle agrees. However, the Superstation radio host also said there must be safeguards in place that explicitly ensure that Black Detroiters — the overwhelming majority of city residents — directly benefit from not just investments in neighborhood development and infrastructure repair, but in business opportunities too. “We do not have a community benefits agreement with teeth in it. That has resulted in the majority of the population of this city not sharing in the corporate welfare granted [to] the big developers, with all of their tax breaks and other benefits granted to them by city officials,” he said. “That’s unacceptable and [is] at the root of the inequities that created conditions that have led to this ‘two Detroits’ problem in the first place.”

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Roads and Bridges From page A-1 out at the state level, we need to get the most out of every penny we have now,” said Wayne County executive Evans. “And if something gets done in Lansing, we’ll have that much better of a plan to put additional funding to use.” The full preliminary report will be available online and data will be updated as new information becomes available. The additional investment forecasts are preliminary in nature and based on forecasting models and software such as Roadsoft

and the Bridge Condition Forecasting System that have been used by transportation agencies in Michigan for many years to help guide system investment planning. “We are the birthplace of the modern road system and we are one of the most significant economic regions in the country, but our roads are falling apart,” Evans said. “We need about $3 billion over the next 10 years and that’s not even counting our subdivision roads. We can’t put BandAids on our roads and bridges forever; it’s time to pay the piper.”

June 5-11, 2019 • michiganchronicle.com • Page A-3

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Eric Sabree: Serving with dignity Russian Election 2016 and 2018 Trolling By Rev. Jim Holley In the late 1950s to the early ‘60s, there was a television series that aired on ABC called ‘The Naked City.” It was a police-themed drama set in New York City, which presented outlandish stories that occurred in America’s largest city. At the conclusion of each episode, the voice-over commentator would said… “There are eight million stories in The Naked City…this has been one of them.” So it is with Detroit… “There are eight million stories in the Motor City, my column today presents one of them.” Earlier this year, local and regional print and electronic news outlets carried Rev. Jim Holley stories about Wayne County Treasurer Eric Sabree. The stories centered on allegations and accusations that Sabree somehow betrayed the public’s trust by violating county ethical guidelines. Multiple media outlets reported that members of Sabree’s family violated the Auction Policy of the Office of the Treasurer by participating in the 2011 auction. Sabree expressed regrets that he didn’t direct his family’s real estate business away from the auction, but said no policies were broken. “I have been consistent in stating there was no policy violation, due to the fact that the Treasurer’s office did not conduct the public auctions in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013,” Sabree said in a statement. “It was conducted by an independent private company that supervised the entire auction process. The policy in force today, did not apply in 2011.” Eric Sabree, who took office in 2016, has offered full transparency pertaining to this matter, and has welcomed the Wayne County Commission’s expedited audit review and County Executive’s ethics review. As I’ve looked at the attacks on Sabree, most of which have called for him to step down from office, I must speak up and speak out on his behalf. I’m compelled to speak because there seems to be a “silence of the lambs” from the community, particularly African Americans to stand on his behalf. In my opinion, Eric Sabree has served

his high-profile position with integrity, dignity and transparency. And amid “accusations” of wrongdoings, all of which are not prosecutable, we should champion the positive things Sabree has done in office. Since assuming his leadership role, the Wayne County Treasurer Office has reduced foreclosures by 85%. In addition, more than 40 payment kiosks have been installed across Wayne County, making it more convenient for taxpayers to pay. He has also implemented a text message alert system to remind more than 30,000 taxpayers about their payment plan due dates. And, Sabree serves honorably as chairman of the Wayne County Land Bank. Sabree has pledged to find additional ways to help individuals and families who are struggling to avoid foreclosures in the 43 municipalities that comprise Wayne County. Eric Sabree is a really good man. He’s a devout Muslim who has lived his personal and professional lives beyond reproach for decades. And, maybe I missed the news stories about Eric Sabree’s predecessor, because I don’t remember anyone questioning the ethics of the man that held the Wayne County Treasurer Office for almost 40 years. If I recall correctly, taxpayers could make their tax payment checks out to him. Imagine that being done in other city, county, or state offices. Yet, no one said a mumbling word. As a community of African Americans, we have to understand that we are all in this thing together. And people will take us apart if we let them. We have to stand up for each other. Eric Sabree, like all of us, is not perfect. He’s entitled to make mistake like anyone else. However, any mistakes made pertaining to these matters are not unethical or prosecutable. I believe what has been reported about Sabree has been done to embarrass him, to tarnish the excellent reputation he has built as a longtime public servant with and for the City of Detroit. Lastly, there are people in high places in Wayne County who are throwing rocks at Eric Sabree and hiding their hands. My message to them, especially our African American leaders: Today it’s Eric Sabree under attack, tomorrow it could be you. And if folks aren’t careful, while they’re trying to uproot someone today, tomorrow someone maybe trying to uproot them. And that’s…The Gospel Truth!

Out-of-state Solar Profiteers May Be Wolves in Sheep’s’ Clothing By Rev. Horace Sheffield When we see wolves coming to attack the sheep, we have a responsibility to sound the alarm. For months, out-ofstate-interests have been targeting our communities with Facebook ads and now TV commercials designed to capture the attention and wallets of people in our communities who may not realize what they are being sold is too good to be true. People have been harmed by these schemes across the country, and we need to call them out here before Michiganders get hurt. Don’t be deceived when you see ads that claim “Michigan Rev. Horace Sheffield Launches Its No-Cost Solar Program” or “Free Solar Panels for Middle Class Families.” It’s just a sales scheme that comes with too many false promises, and Michigan is only their latest target market. The Detroit Association of Black Organizations is dedicated to educating and empowering the communities we serve – and clean, affordable, reliable energy is fundamental to helping every community thrive. But how we achieve that matters. It’s important that we understand the motives, business model, and track records of the business interests that are peddling these schemes and not just sign on the dotted line at the mere promise of saving on our energy bills. Their motives are clear: they recognize a good money-making opportunity when they see one. Michigan’s energy system is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Our state is retiring older, coal-fired power plants and replacing that energy with cleaner sources like natural gas and renewables. If fact, Michigan’s two major utilities have announced massive investments in wind and solar energy, which has gotten the attention of out-of-state solar developers looking to capture market share and thus profits. Their business model is the greater concern. Solar developers from places like North Carolina are using ads that collect potential customer leads

from information individuals may share through online forms. One ad (geared toward luring some of Michigan’s local solar installers) actually referenced a “never ending supply of customers” and another said “sold 5 deals in the first month – and went on vacation.” These ads are the sheep’s clothing behind which the wolves are hiding, and they are targeting middle and low-income communities in an effort to lock unsuspecting homeowners into long-term contracts for rooftop solar panels before those homeowners fully understand the hidden costs of what they’re signing up for. Private rooftop solar panels typically cost $20,000 - $30,000 to purchase and install. However, they may also be financed, much like buying a car or a home. That means there can be “zero cost” up front, but homeowners will still end up paying the bill eventually—and with interest the tab adds up quickly. These deals lock homeowners into contracts that can last decades, with some folks offering up their home as initial collateral. The promise on lowering energy bills is also suspect. A simple Google search of customer reviews produces example after example of how overzealous salespeople overstate the savings. Out-of-state solar developers don’t have to worry about that, though, because their profits are tied to tax credits and other incentives offered by the federal government. The more they sell, they more they collect, regardless of whether customers actually see the ROI they’ve been promised. No wonder these profiteers can offer $0 out-of-pocket deals. States across the country are realizing this fact too late. The list of Attorneys General that felt compelled to take action against predatory rooftop solar developers is piling up, including New Mexico, Mississippi, and Massachusetts. Michigan’s already enjoying a transformation to cleaner energy—an inclusive, cost-effective transformation that will serve every household and every business long term. Let’s stay the course on that journey together and not listen to the voices that would lure us down a different road lined with false promises and inequity. Rev. Horace Sheffield is Executive Director of the Detroit Association of Black Organizations.

Suppressed African Americans:

National Urban League State of Black America Annual Report By Robert Weiner and John Black At the National Press Club on May 6, National Urban League President Marc Morial reported that Russian election “trolling” by the millions of hits was far worse than reported in suppressing African American voting in 2016 and since. Roles played by the supreme court and state legislatures in voter suppression have been a known entity for years, but Russian interference has flown “under the radar,” including in the Mueller report, Morial said in releasing the Urban League’s Annual Report on The State of Black America. “The extent has not been reported.” According to the National Urban League’s re- Robert Weiner port, Russians operated on a platform of racism designed to manipulate the 2016 presidential and 2018 midterm elections. Much of Russian interference stemmed from a St. Petersburg-based troll factory, the Internet Research Agency (IRA). Their goal was to distract and divide American voters, demobilize the electorate and depress the vote. The IRA used social media as a weapon. They created 3,841 Twitter accounts, posting more than 10 million with 73 million engagements, 470 Facebook pages that reached 126 million people,133 Instagram accounts posting more than 116,000 posts reaching over 20 million users, and over 1,000 videos posted to 17 different Youtube accounts. “I was stunned by the magnitude and breadth of these activities,” said National Urban League President Marc Morial. He wasn’t the only one shocked, the room full of Union League leaders gasped when they learned about the atrocities enacted against black people. The numbers themself are telling, but the content produced by Russia is damning. They created a campaign termed “Blacktivist” and used Facebook and Twitter to amplify racial tensions. Russia capitalized on the integrity of the Black Lives Matter campaign to gain trust and support for their insidious campaign of voter suppression. The IRA developed internet personalities that functioned off the trust of the Black Lives Matters hashtag, most famously “Woke Louisa” who exploited the NFL take a knee debate. The account gained so much traction that it eventually appeared in more than two dozen news stories from BBC, USA Today, Huffington Post, and others. There were many other accounts similar to “Woke Louisa” that focused on issues related to police brutality. In all, the IRA put out 1063 videos across

10 different channels focusing on Black Lives Matter and police brutality. 571 of these videos had keywords related to the police and focused on abuses. “They played both sides of police shootings,” Morial said. “They played both sides against the middle.” They suppressed African Americans, and pushed up right wing advocates. By playing both sides “against the middle” the Russians intensified political and racial division, destroyed trust in democratic institutions and spread disinformation. In an interview with us after the release of the report, Murial said Russia’s attacks on American democracy are “central to the intentions of Vladimir Putin. They did John Black it to hurt Hillary Clinton and help Donald Trump.” Morial showed ads in the massive trolls during the 2016 presidential race where IRA falsely told Black Americans in convincing posts that looked real from supposed but fake Hillary Clinton sites that they could “Vote from Home” via text message or tweet or Facebook post -- all not allowed. “They did everything in their power to stop African Americans from voting to hurt Hillary Clinton and help Donald Trump.” Even less known, in addition to social media, Russia was able to hack into 21 different states’ actual voter systems and voter lists. Russia may have been able to further purge African American voters, more so than the states already had. “We’re facing a new problem. It’s Russia today, but could be China or Saudi Arabia tomorrow. Russia acted on suppression. While the courts and legislatures are in the open and known, the Russian suppression is operating in subterfuge.” For the first time since the 1960s, voting rights are under attack. At this pivotal juncture in history, where in 2020 one-third of the voting body will be comprised of people of color, protection of voting is more important now than ever before. Morial demanded that officials and agencies tell Putin, “NEVER AGAIN.” “We have no voice without the right to vote, but they will not suppress our vote ever again,” Morial declared. Robert Weiner is a former spokesman for the linton and Bush White Houses, Cong. John Conyers and Charles Rangel, the House Government Operations Committee, and former Coordinator of the Democratic National Committee’s National Youth Voter Registration media drive. John Black is a policy analyst at Robert Weiner Associates and Solutions for Change.

Dear Community Members: We are not certain as to whether or not you’ve heard of Focus Hope’s decision to close the Inkster facility, but the FOR SALE sign is on the lawn. As a volunteer which works out of this facility and for Open Door Ministry in Canton, Michigan; I can tell you that this event will be detrimental our community, and it will impact thousands of low income Senior Citizens in Wayne County, that depend on this food supplement to help them make it through the month. It’s imperative that we do all that we can to keep this facility open. It allows seniors to choose what they’d like to eat, provides pertinent information regarding senior assistance programs, and additional food choices from Forgotten Harvest and Open Door Ministry! We ask that you please address letters to: Focus Hope 1200 Oakman Blvd Detroit MI 48238 Regarding your concern and commitment to keeping this center open! If additional information is required regarding the closing of this facility, you may contact Ms. Debbie Coleman, Focus Hope Manager at 313-494-4822 or myself, Stanley Davis at 313-220-6521! Let’s not sit and regret that we allowed this facility to close without doing what we can to keep it open. Sincerely, Stanley O. & Parthenia Davis Concerned Residents/Volunteers

The Chronicle Cares... Do you have a news tip, opinion piece, firsthand account, information or photos about a news story to pass along to our editors? Well we want to hear about it. Submit to newsdesk@michronicle. com | Attn: Patreice Massey The fine Print: We’re not only interested in policy, politics or government. We’re interested in everything, if it’s opinionated and we believe our readers will find it worth reading. The Michigan Chronicle accepts opinion articles on any topic, for the Viewpoints page. Articles typically run from 300 to 600 words, but submissions of any length will be considered. All submissions must be original, and exclusive to The Michigan Chronicle. Submissions may be sent by email to newsdesk@michronicle.com.

June 5-11, 2019 • michiganchronicle.com • Page A-5

NATIONAL NEWS

National Advocacy Groups & Civil Rights Leaders Applaud Harris’ EQUAL Defense Act

After U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) introduced the EQUAL Defense Act, legislation to support the nation’s public defenders and ensure that every American has access to counsel, national public defender advocates and civil rights leaders released statements in support of the bill. The EQUAL Defense Act would establish a new $250 million grant program to establish workload limits for public defenders, create pay parity between public defenders and prosecutors, fund additional training for public defenders, and provide loan repayment assistance to public defenders.

“Public defenders have largely been ignored in the national conversation around criminal justice reform. At Gideon’s Promise, we recognize that this omission has been detrimental to the broader effort to realize equal justice. The right to counsel is a constitutional obligation, which means the federal government must make a commitment to ensuring states and localities live up to this promise. The EQUAL Defense Act of 2019 is a recognition that public defenders must be an important part of our criminal justice reform thinking. It recognizes that the promise of equal justice requires that public defenders have meaningful workload controls. It recognizes that we must retain good public defenders by providing them fair compensation and educational debt relief. It recognizes the importance of comprehensive training, mentorship, and leadership development to build client-centered public defender organizations that tackle difficult cultural challenges. The Sixth Amendment establishes effective counsel as the lynchpin to justice in our courts. I am hopeful that this Act prompts us to continue to understand public defenders as a critical piece of the criminal justice solution, and to build on its important foundation to ensure marginalized communities have the advocates necessary to fulfill our democratic promise of equal justice.” – Jon Rapping, President & Founder, Gideon’s Promise “The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law applauds Sen. Kamala Harris’ introduction of the EQUAL Defense Act of 2019, a bill designed to promote the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of the right to a fair trial and the right to an attorney for every individual charged with a crime. “The warning signs of crisis are clear, yet the provision of counsel for indigent defendants has been an afterthought in the fight to secure criminal justice reform. This bill helps bring us closer to the day when the promise of Gideon vs. Wainwright is fully realized and all defendants receive the effective assistance of counsel who have the capacity and resources necessary to zealously represent their clients’ interests during each critical phase of trial,” – Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights

“Just outcomes start with making sure that each side of our adversarial system is adequately funded and resourced. That public defenders should earn as much as their counterparts in the prosecutor’s office is beyond question. So too must court-appointed attorneys receive fair compensation rather than the absurdly low rates utilized in many jurisdictions, where private lawyers are essentially subsidizing the state’s constitutional obligation. NACDL is pleased to support the EQUAL Defense Act of 2019, which would help move us closer to securing the foundations of the Sixth Amendment by assuring everyone accused of a crime has a skilled, effective, and zealous advocate by their side.” – Drew Findling, President, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers “The National Association for Public Defense (NAPD), an organization comprised of 20,000 public defense employees, supports Senator Harris’ Public Defense bill. NAPD appreciates Senator Harris’ recognition of the country’s thousands of public defenders who toil daily in the criminal justice system on behalf of its poorest and most marginalized participants.” – Paul DeWolfe, Chair, National Association for Public Defense “The EQUAL Defense Act would make a historic investment in our nation’s fundamental promise of equal justice under law. The right to counsel is enshrined in our constitution, but this means little if the public defenders tasked with protecting due process and ensuring that every person receives a fair trial are denied the time and resources they need to provide effective representation. A quality public defense with adequate resources not only makes it less likely that a person will be wrongfully or unnecessarily incarcerated, but it can also reduce recidivism by helping to resolve the problems that led them to justice system involvement in the first place. The unprecedented federal support for public defense in this bill would directly and meaningfully impact the delivery of the right to counsel. It also makes a powerful statement about the role of effective public defense as an equal and indispensable component of our justice systems by creating incentives for implementing pay parity and reasonable workload limits. We strongly commend the leadership of Senator Harris in introducing this legislation and we urge Congress to pass the EQUAL Defense Act.” – Jo-Ann Wallace, President & CEO of National Legal Aid & Defender Association “The right to counsel is guaranteed in the Constitution because the founders recognized its vital role in preventing government abuse and overreach in our system of justice. The EQUAL Defense Act appropriately seeks to even the playing field in courts across the country so that justice is meted out evenly and fairly, and not dependent upon whether the accused has enough money to afford a lawyer.” – Sarah Tuberville, Director of the Constitution Project, Project on Government Oversight

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June 5-11, 2019

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Detroit Almighty Contest Aims to Empower DPSCD Youth to Create

By Branden Hunter Detroit Vs. Everybody (DVE) founder Tommey Walker was a student within the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) all his life. He attended Chrysler Elementary, Burton International and Cass Technical High School. Now he is giving current DPSCD students the opportunity to follow in his footsteps with the launch of the “Detroit Almighty” contest. DPSCD elementary, middle and high school students will have the opportunity to design a DVE t-shirt that best represents Detroit through their own eyes. Winning shirts from each grade level will be sold on the DVE website and inside its

flagship store located in Eastern Market. The student with the most sales wins $2,500 for themselves and another $2,500 for their school. “The whole scheme of this project is to let the kids of Detroit Public Schools know how feasible it is to have a career in fashion design,” said Walker, who founded DVE in 2012. “I want them to see the process from A-Z and get a feel for what it’s like to view financial reports…and see how their work is being accepted by the customers.” Participants will have to pitch their designs to the DVE team, explaining why they chose their design. The win-

ning students will have a oncein-a-lifetime opportunity to engage with Walker, who will walk them through the entire process of design, manufacturing, shipping and retail of their respective shirt. Winners will also participate in the store display of their t-shirt and receive weekly sales reports. “We have this platform and are able to open doors for others,” said Walker. “I want the kids to see that it is very real for them to have an idea of theirs materialize and actually make money [from] it. Once they see that, they will know that things are more obtainable for them.” Walker credits his educational upbringing in DPSCD as

well as the fact that his mother has been an advocate and educator for his success to this day. As a student at Cass Tech in 2002, someone offered him the opportunity to break into the world of graphic design, which propelled him to start his international DVE brand a decade later. The next best Detroit brand could be waiting in the wings through the “Detroit Almighty” contest. “When you have some type of success, it’s kind of your duty to give back and lift up others,” added Walker. “But I didn’t want to do that in a cliché way. I wanted to give them something that they can remember. I wanted to give them the money so that they can spend it the way

they want. This is a project that I would have wanted to do as a DPS student.” All artwork submissions for elementary, middle and high school students are due June 21. The pitch stage begins June 22, with finalists announced June 25. Customers will be able to purchase the shirts July 1 until September 6 when the contest ends. The grand prize winner will be announced September 10. Detroit Public Schools (DPS) was established in 1842 with the first high school (Central) opening in 1858. DPSCD replaced the original DPS in 2016. It is comprised of 106 schools and more than 50,000 students.

From left, Jasmine H. (8th Grade), Mubashira W. (8th Grade) and Jianna H. Madison R. (1st Grade), Micah Wright (Teacher) Detroit 2017 Corps Member and (6th Grade) Sameir M. (1st Grade)

Teach For America Detroit’s 2019 “Detroit Writes Detroit” showcases writings and voices of outstanding students across the city By Patreice A. Massey MANAGING EDITOR

More than 85 K-12 students, representing 13 Detroit schools, contributed to Teach For America (TFA) Detroit’s 2019 Detroit Writes Detroit (DWD), a publication that gives students a platform to voice their ideas, criticisms and dreams, as well as recounting their experiences living and learning in Detroit. Since its inception in 2012, more than 500 Detroit students have been printed in DWD, becoming published authors for the first time. This publication brings together a diverse population of students from across the city of Detroit and exposes them to the creative aspects of storytelling as authors and illustrators, while developing confidence to share their thoughts and perspectives. Excerpt from 2019 DWD written by Ja’Mese W. (8th Grade): “As a member of Detroit community, I believe in motivation and improve-

ment. Our city has its ups and downs, but it takes one person to help make a difference in society. The downtown site has brought a lot of attention to my eyes. Here in Detroit, it is very unique. Our foods and traditions are not the same as everyone else. Visiting Detroit will be a huge amazement and experience. Our educational offering system is mind blowing. Many middle and high school students take advantage of these opportunities to get a head start on their future. Many people who put their mind to what they really want slowly but surely get a big “blessing” or positive in return for what they did, such as Big Sean. This particular artist was born and raised in the city of Detroit. Now that he has continued his mindset of fulfilling his dreams. He is wealthy, and constantly giving back to his city. Detroit has a lot of personality, unique cultures, and creative ways people express themselves.” The presentation was held at Cass Technical High School on May 23, 2019 Ja’Mese W.(8th Grade)

Page B-2 • michiganchronicle.com • June 5-11, 2019

DMC expands DLIVE program to serve more trauma patients Medical literature shows that once someone is injured as a result of interpersonal violence, they are at increased risk of being involved in a similar-type incident. However, hospital-based violence intervention programs have emerged as effective strategies to prevent violence re-injury and retaliation.

For more information, visit: www.dmc.org, Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/dmcheals, Twitter at @dmc_heals or YouTube at https://www. youtube.com/user/DetroitMedicalCenter.

To combat this issue the Detroit Medical Center has announced that its Detroit Life is Valuable Everyday (DLIVE) violence intervention program has been expanded to now serve trauma patients at Detroit Receiving Hospital. Developed at DMC’s Sinai-Grace Hospital, DLIVE was borne out of the recognition that violence is a pervasive, cyclical disease process that continues to be a major public health crisis in the city of Detroit, where homicide is the number one cause of death for residents ages 15-34.

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For young people brought to the trauma center after sustaining acute, traumatic injury from interpersonal community violence, DLIVE provides health-centered, community-focused solutions. is aimed at providing crucial crisis intervention to reduce a trauma patient’s risk for repeat injury and death. Executive Director Ray Winans notes the need for DLIVE’s service currently outweighs their capacity, and so the intervention team continues to grow and leverage resources to meet the city’s need. “DLIVE has had tremendous impact in the community around Sinai-Grace Hospital, and we’re proud to expand the program to Detroit Receiving Hospital and the surrounding area,” said Dr. Anthony Tedeschi, chief executive officer of the Detroit Medical Center. “Violence prevention is one of our biggest concerns in the city of Detroit, and

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Willie Brake From left to right: Calvin Evans, Dr. Tolulope Sonuyi, Ray Winans. PHOTO: Courtesy of Detroit Life Is Valuable Everyday

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DMC will continue its endeavors to make sure our young men and women have a means to cope with the consequences of this public health crisis.” DLIVE’s highly-trained Violence Intervention Specialists are uniquely qualified transformative agents who immediately engage with trauma victims to provide crisis intervention and mentorship with a goal of forging new pathways and strategies that can lead to that young person’s health and wellness. “The biggest predictor of a violent injury is the fact that you’ve had one before,” said Dr. Tolulope Sonuyi, Medical Director of DLIVE. “This is a public health crisis that continues to impact our city’s young people in a devastating way - it’s a no brainer for us to bring this program to Detroit Receiving Hospital.” This

comprehensive,

holistic approach is supported by professionals from multiple disciplines and leverages resources and proven strategies to shape a healing journey with that individual. DLIVE’s main goals are to: ■ Eradicate the future morbidity and mortality predicted by the initial injury ■ Prevent retaliatory violence ■ Prevent entry into the cycle of incarceration

that may impact survivors of Community Violence ■ Build a culture of total health around Community Violence Launched in April 2016 at Sinai-Grace Hospital after rigorous study of evidence-based literature, DLIVE has made a significant impact on the young people it serves. Examples of this impact range from guiding the housing relocation of a family to guiding sever-

al young people through substance abuse to facilitating numerous employment opportunities. DLIVE has enrolled over 100 members since its launch and has seen a less than 1 percent re-injury rate – significantly better than the typical 3045 percent. DLIVE continues to grow to meet the burden of trauma seen at Sinai-Grace Hospital and now Detroit Receiving Hospital.

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June 5-11, 2019 • michiganchronicle.com • Page B-3

Detroit native and Morehouse grad promised to have students loans paid off by billionaire By Branden Hunter When recent Morehouse College graduate Kristopher Mathis moves to Chicago July 15 to start as a sales consultant at Amazon, he will not have to worry about student loans. That is because billionaire Robert F. Smith told the all-male Morehouse class of 2019 that he would pay off the student loans for the entire class of 396. The total amount Is estimated at $40 million. Mathis, 21, who hails from the East English Village neighborhood on Detroit’s east side, and graduated from University of Detroit Jesuit High School in 2015, was looking at roughly $57,000 in student loan debt prior to Smith’s commencement speech May 19. Debt that could have taken him years to pay off was gone with 11 words from Smith’s mouth. “I was shocked, and I had to take a double take,” said Mathis, who graduated cum laude, with a degree in business administration, with a concentration in marketing and a minor in sales. “I honestly couldn’t process what he had just said. Immediately after he said that, my mom texted me and told me to thank him. And that’s just what I did.

part in deciding which college to attend. For Mathis, he took the advice of his Midnight Golf Program mentors and others to get as many scholarships as he could. In the end, he took out a loan to cover part of his $50,000 per year costs for tuition, room and board at Morehouse. He credits that experience with helping him get serious his senior year of high school and is still close with his Midnight Golf friends and mentors. The Midnight Golf Program was founded in 2001 by Reneé Fluker, a social worker and single mother who noticed the impact golf had on her son’s life. Today, the program serves 250 Detroit area high school seniors annually, participating in a 30-week curriculum to learn the game of golf, build relationships with mentors, and develop life skills required for college and career success. Midnight Golf helps seniors enter college and continues mentoring throughout college and into the graduates’ professional careers. “Kris is one of our stars of Midnight Golf,” said Winston Coffee, College Liaison and College Success Coach for Midnight Golf. “You could tell early in our program that he was a determined

Kris Mathis was the only Detroiter to graduate from Morehouse College’s class of 2019. PLUS loan program. It is not clear what all will be covered under Smith’s promise, but Mathis and his parents, Derrick and Printess, were all smiling after the news. “A month or two from now, I was expecting to receive a bill from the government for my student loans,” said Mathis. “Now I can save more of my money and begin into invest in things that will make my money work for me. Ultimately, Mr. Smith has put me in a better financial situation, as well as my family.” Mathis said he is proud to be a Morehouse man now and wants to reciprocate the gift Smith gave to him to future Morehouse graduates, maybe not in terms of money but through mentorship. But first, he wants to see Smith follow through with his own promise.

Billionaire Robert F. Smith announced during Sunday’s commencement speech at Morehouse College in Atlanta said that he and his family would pay off the entire graduating class’s student debt. “When I was getting my diploma on stage, Mr. Smith was there. I shook his hand and told him that he was a true blessing, not only to myself, but to the other 395 brothers who were in my gradutiaon class.” In the fall of 2015, 750 males started off as freshmen at Morehouse College, which has produced icons such as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Spike Lee, Julian Bond, Herman Cain, and many others. By graduation day Sunday, only 396 walked across the stage in Atlanta. Mathis believes many students left because they could not afford the $50,000 per year it takes to study at Morehouse College. “I know I couldn’t 50,000 a year,” said Mathis. “But my first year, I took that leap of faith, understanding that Morehouse was where I wanted to be. I created a plan for how I was going to get things paid for and in the end, God blessed me to where I don’t have to worry about that now, thanks to Mr. Smith and his generosity.” Finances play a vital

“

young person and his choice of Morehouse made perfect since. We’ve been proud of his matriculation and watched as he seized opportunities in Atlanta. When we heard about the generous gift to the Morehouse graduates, we were thrilled for Kris and his family.” Student loan debt has become a national crisis. Over 44 million borrowers owe more than $1.5 billion collectively and the student loan delinquency rate remains relatively high at 11.4 percent. Worse, more than 609,000 people owe more than $200,000 on their student loan, and 1.3 million owe between $100,000 and $150,000. It is a scary reality for many Americans, having to payback money for college they do not have. For Mathis, he said he was blessed to only owe about $57,000 and not the six figures that others in his class owed prior to Smith’s gift. He comes from a middle-class working family and a large majority of his loans were taken out by his parents under the Parent

When I was getting my diploma on stage, Mr. Smith was there. I shook his hand and told him that he was a true blessing, not only to myself, but to the other 395 brothers who were in my gradutiaon class.”

“I’m very curious to see the terms and conditions of Mr. Smith’s promise. I want to see the fine print,” said Mathis. “I know that he has the means and power to wipeout all the student loans debts and the Parent PLUS loans, but I’m hoping he follows through. That was a big statement to make and I’m looking forward to see how the process will play out.” Morehouse College provided a statement on Smith’s financial promise. He received an honorary doctorate from Morehouse during the ceremony and had already announced a $1.5 million gift to the school. “We, at Morehouse College, would like to thank Vista Equity Partners founder, Chairman & CEO Robert F. Smith, our honorary alumnus, for the surprise gift that he offered to the graduating class at Morehouse’s 135th Commencement ceremony. To be free from the financial burden of paying off student loans will be life-changing for the Class of 2019. Our Office of Business and Finance, as well as our Office of Enrollment Management, have been working diligently to calculate the student loan debt and other details of this gift. As soon as we have a final figure, we will share it with our new graduates so that they can continue on the path to careers and top-tier graduate schools student loan debt free.”

Kris Mathis was raised by his parents Prentiss and Derrick in the East English Village neighborhood of Detroit.

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Page B-4 • michiganchronicle.com • June 5-11, 2019

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Page B-5

Community Foundation announces nearly $19 million in grants The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan announced nearly $19 million in grants to organizations and initiatives primarily within southeast Michigan’s seven counties in areas including health, education, the arts, environment, youth and housing and human services. “From support for music education to a learning program in Detroit laundromats and a counseling program for people affected by dementia, our goal is to create permanent, positive change for residents in south- Mariam C. Noland east Michigan,” said Mariam C. Noland, President, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. “We accomplish this by partnering with communities, nonprofits, foundations and stakeholders to implement solutions to complex issues.” Grants announced include: Arts: ■ $250,000 over two years to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to attract new audiences to the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center. ■ $30,530 to the Regents of the University of Michigan for a resource program for dance artists. ■ $250,000 to the Sphinx Organization Inc. for support over two years for the Sphinx Arts Education & Access Programs: Overture after-school music education, and Sphinx Artist Residencies/Arts Enrichment programming. Civic: ■ $250,000 to Invest Detroit Foundation for the expansion of the Hacker Fellows Program, which will grow the availability and quality of entrepreneurial talent in the competitive-edge technology sectors in Michigan. Education: ■ $35,000 to Brilliant Detroit for a robust data management system to improve cli-

ent services and reporting. ■ $10,000 over two years to the Detroit Food Policy Council for educational programming focused on urban agriculture and the raising of livestock chickens at Oakland Avenue Farms. ■ $35,000 to Detroit Public Library to expand the Wash & Learn program, which provides early learning opportunities in Detroit laundromats. ■ $54,000 to The Roeper School for a program that trains teachers to identify and serve high potential students through a partnership with Detroit Public Schools Community District. Environment: ■ $75,000 over two years to Detroit Riverfront Conservancy Inc. to build organizational capacity through the implementation of a new database system. ■ $65,000 over two years to the National Wildlife Federation – Michigan for Sacred Grounds, an interfaith program to create native wildlife habitats and engage surrounding communities with sustainability education. Health: ■ $75,000 over two years to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association for in-home, person-centered care counseling to people affected by dementia. ■ $50,000 to Community Living Centers Inc. for the positioning needed to bridge financial gaps and enhance the quality of life of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. ■ $50,000 to Fair Food Network to provide healthy produce to southeast Michigan families and sharing best practices. Human Services/Housing: ■ $75,000 to the Chaldean Community Foundation to establish a program that provides free legal services to low-income individuals with civil legal matters that pertain to the family unit. ■ $60,000 to Motor City Grounds Crew for a community tool library that gives

Detroit residents affordable access to common tools and equipment, as well as safety and skilled trades workshops. ■ $50,000 to Restaurant Opportunities Centers United Inc. for the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Michigan to expand a workforce development program. ■ $25,000 to South Oakland Shelter Support for a merger exploration process between South Oakland Shelter and Lighthouse of Oakland County.

and policy advocacy.

Youth: ■ $52,415 to the University of Michigan-Dearborn for a summer program designed to train youth in environmental community-based science

Grants were also approved for the New Economy Initiative, Detroit Parks and Public Spaces, and other special grant programs.

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE • Page B-7

Loren Monroe, first black State Treasurer of Michigan, dead at 87 By Branden Hunter Loren Eugene Monroe Sr., the first African American State Treasurer of Michigan, under former Gov. William Milliken, passed away May 29 at the age of 87, according to his family. Monroe was appointed by Gov. Milliken in 1978, after former state treasurer Allison Green retired after 12 years. At the time, Monroe was only the second African American to hold such a position in the country.

at age 12. After being honorably discharged in 1955, Monroe migrated north to Detroit with his mother in search of better opportunities, like millions of other African Americans. His first job in the city was as a bicyclist for Western Union, delivering telegrams downtown. Education

He attended Wayne State University (then Wayne University), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1958, his Juris Doctorate in 1970, and his Master of Laws deGov. Milliken nomgree in 1980. Monroe inated Monroe August was admitted to the 18, 1978 for a term to be- Loren Monroe Michigan State bar in gin September 5, 1978. 1970 and received his He was formally confirmed October 31, Certified Public Accounting (CPA) certi1979 and served as state treasurer until fication in 1974. 1982. During his tenure, Monroe managed over 1,700 employees in his depart- Family ment, overseeing Michigan’s $5.8 billion Monroe married Annie Duncan budget. He was the highest-ranking Af- (d.2008) and to their union were born rican American ever appointed by Gov. five children; Loren Jr., Dawn, Claire, Milliken, who had been criticized for not John, and Michael. Loren Jr., his eldest, including more diversity in his cabinet. preceded him in death in 1971. Mon“I remember him specifically tell- roe leaves to cherish 10 grandchildren, ing me that he had a meeting with Gov. 25 great-grandchildren, and his wife, Milliken at the Hyatt Regency in Dear- Lei’Wan Monroe. born for the job,” said his granddaugh- Duties ter, Brandyce Monroe. “He said, out of Monroe held a number of titles 18 people, Gov. Milliken personally selected him. I felt that was a big deal that throughout his storied life. He was a Gov. Milliken came down to Detroit just field auditor for the Michigan Department of Treasury from 1959-1970 and a to meet with him.” tax specialist at Coopers & Lybrand InMonroe’s principal duties as state ternational CPA firm from 1970-1976. He treasurer included depositing and in- joined in the formation of the law firm vesting state funds and serving on of Mosley and Monroe in 1976 and after boards and commissions dealing with leaving state office, joined Phil Pierce to state money. In 1980, Monroe signed form Pierce, Monroe & Associates, LLC. a deal with then Chrysler Corporation in 1985. In 2006, Monroe was appointed CEO Lee A. Iacocca to loan the troubled Auditor General for the city of Detroit automaker $150 million. To date, there by former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. He has only been one African American retired in 2013 due to health complicaTreasurer of Michigan since Monroe left tions. Prior to that, he unsuccessfully office, and that is the current treasurer, ran for Detroit City Council in 2004. Rachael Eubanks. In 2013, Monroe was featured in the “During that time, when black people third edition of the book, “Black Firsts: were fighting for basic rights, for him to 4,000 Ground-Breaking and Pioneering be hand-picked by the governor to han- Historical Events” as the first African dle the state’s money, that’s a big deal American State Treasurer of Michigan. for a black man,” Monroe added. “I think He was also included in a list of the that speaks volumes that he made histo- “100 Most Influential Black Americans,” ry here in Michigan and it means a lot to alongside the likes of Supreme Court our family.” Justice Thurgood Marshall, Judge DaMonroe was born April 5, 1932 in mon J. Keith, Judge Wade H. McCree Jr., Hillsborough County, Florida to parents Louis Martin, and Coretta Scott King, Eugene and Leona Monroe. Shortly af- among others. He was also an avid chess ter he was born, the family moved to champion, piano player, and runner. Thomasville, Georgia, where he received Visitation is scheduled June 3 from his education through the public school 9-9 p.m., at the James H. Cole Home for system, graduating from Frederick Dou- Funerals’ Boulevard Chapel (2624 West glass High School. In 1953, Monroe was Grand Boulevard). A funeral service drafted into the United States Army, will take place Tuesday, June 4 at Monserving in the Korean War as a Morse roe’s home church, Chapel Hill Baptist Code Interceptor, a hobby he mastered Church (5000 Joy Road) at 11:30 a.m.

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Team Wellness Center Launches Psychiatric Urgent Care Unit By Miranda Hartley Team Wellness Center (Team) recently expanded its crisis services by opening a 16-bed Psychiatric Urgent Care Unit at the agency’s Team East clinic located at 6309 Mack Ave. Detroit, MI 48207. Team, which serves to more than 13,000 Wayne County residents, opened the unit in response to the growing community demand for 24hour emergency mental health and addiction crisis response. Services on the unit are provided by a multi-disciplinary team and include evidence- based practices, such as psychiatric assessments and clinical therapy for depression, anxiety, trauma, and other behavioral health issues. The goal is to stabilize the symptoms of acute mental illness and substance abuse and to engage or re-engage the individual in treatment services to address the problems that led to the crisis. The individual is placed under continuous watch and evaluation until the episode has passed.

“We strive to be a one-stop shop.” said Pamela Jastrabek, President and CEO of Team Wellness Center. “Individuals can receive the treatment they need and be linked to other services, such as primary care, dental care, and employment while on site.” Team is able to dispatch a mobile outreach team to emergency departments at various hospitals following a mental health crisis or overdose. Once the hospital has medically cleared the individual, they are transported to Team to immediately began treatment. The unit will also be used to divert individuals with mental illness from emergency departments or jail and into the appropriate care. Hospitals, emergency service personnel, law enforcement, and court officials can make direct referrals to the unit. Team Wellness Center accepts Medicaid and most commercial insurances. Walk-ins are also welcome. For more information call Team Wellness Center at 313-331-3435.

TRINITY INAUGURAL CELEBRATION You are invited to the celebration of Bishop Fletcher Bland, Prelate of

RIGHT HANDS OF FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES on Saturday, June 15th, 2019 4 p.m. at Greater Northwest Church, 15811 Rosa Parks (south of Puritan) Detroit. Bishop’s celebration included 1) elevated to the position of Presiding Bishop 2) consecration to Office of Bishop June 21, 2014 and 3) conferred Doctorate of Humane Letters from Union Baptist Seminary School. Tickets are $30 per person.

Mary Sheffield, Keynote Speaker

Call 313-515-2635 to R.S.V.P. and more information.

Page B-8

• michiganchronicle.com •

June 5-11, 2019

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City. Life. Style. C1 | June 5-11, 2019

Where City Meets Life and Life Meets Style

BravoBRAVO! Celebrates 20th Anniversary with

michiganchronicle.com

ichigan Opera Theatre’s (MOT) premier soirée, BravoBRAVO!, returns to the Detroit Opera House on June 7. This year marks its 20th anniversary with a theme celebrating the connection between the theater, the city and its residents: yOUR City. yOUR Stage. yOUR Story. The black tie event invites guests to participate in a variety of experiential attractions throughout the evening with interactive activities exploring Detroit’s history and architecture. Per tradition, BravoBRAVO! features music, dancing and refreshments courtesy of the area’s most popular restaurants and musicians. The pinnacle of the event will be a special performance by Richard Leech, renowned tenor at the Metropolitan Opera House, and local beatboxer Stevie Soul. “BravoBRAVO! has become one of Detroit’s most anticipated events, and we are honored to mark its 20th anniversary with a soirée that celebrates guests’ personal connections to the theater and city,” said MOT Chief Development Officer Frankie Piccirilli.

Interactive activities will include a Detroit history walk-through exhibit where participants will explore the Detroit Opera House to find historical markers, displays and props that showcase the history of Detroit, MOT and the theater itself. It will also feature a participatory painting exhibition led by Maker Trice Clark and Artist Candace Dove of Paint Party, as well as an improvised poetry slam by Reyes Poetry. Additional activities, including unique photo stations, will be stationed throughout the theater. Leech will perform a special techno rendition of Eduardo di Capua’s “O Sole Mio” with Stevie Soul and an electric violinist from NuClassica. The performance will include ballet, contemporary and Jit dancers for a unique experience that blends classical opera with a modern twist. VIP ticketholders will also have the opportunity to enjoy a silent disco by Urban Fêtes presented by NerdsXpress. The experience provides headphones to participants, allowing them to choose their own music while dancing in a private lounge. The VIP lounge will include VIP food bites catered by Vertical Detroit and a private bar. VIP ticketholders will also enjoy Sky Deck photo opportunities, complimentary make-up touch-ups from EV Artistry and premium entrance into the event. All ticketholders will have free entry to the official BravoBRAVO! after party at 3Fifty Terrace with DJ Godfather. Proceeds from the event will go towards MOT’s Create and Perform program, a twoweek summer workshop where students ages 8-12 use improvisation to create their own stories, music compositions and dances, culminating in a final performance. “BravoBRAVO! is a staple of the Detroit Opera House, but it also an important fundraiser for Michigan Opera Theatre,” Piccirilli said. “While enjoying an evening dancing and mingling throughout the Detroit Opera House, guests support the opera company’s outreach efforts to bring arts into the community.” The event takes place from 8 p.m. – midnight at the Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St. Detroit. General admission tickets are $160; VIP admission is $250. Tickets may be purchased online at www.MichiganOpera.org

5 Quick Tips

To Instantly Improve Your Health By AJ Williams – City.Life.Style. Editor Health is a precious currency that we, especially in Western cultures, tend to trade for quick pleasures like junk food or smoking. But what if we could become more conscientious about how we’re treating our bodies and take steps towards improving our habits? 1. Quality in = quality out – what you put into your body really matters. It’s a cliché, but you are what you eat! It’s all too easy to sabotage your health by simply neglecting to feed your body a nutritious and well-rounded diet, especially with our busy lifestyles.

2. Adopt a positive mindset – just as it’s true that you are what you eat, it’s also true that ‘you are what you think’. You create your own reality in every second and positive thoughts will lead to positive actions–and ditto for negative ones. 3. Educate yourself – a lot of obesity (especially childhood obesity!) can be blamed on a lack of education around correct nourishment or knowledge of how to cook. Don’t neglect these basic survival skills. After all, education and learning is power! 4. Exercise – giving yourself a safe and enjoyable way to exercise will improve your figure, re-move stress, and boost your overall wellbeing. Combining it with some positive social interac-tion will work wonders for your mood too. 5. Stay natural–ever ready, artificially colored, synthetically flavored, deliberately addictive food is all too available,and may seem like the perfect option on a busy day. But, these addi-tive-ridden foods are not nourishing our bodies in the right ways. Stick to natural foods to see long-term health.

Page C-2 • michiganchronicle.com • June 5-11, 2019

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A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY. of education in the city of Detroit and surroundinig areas.

| June 5-11, 2019

Game.

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Is Howard the Right Man for Michigan? By Kory Woods

The emotions in the Crisler Center were overflowing when Juwan Howard was introduced as the 17th men’s basketball head coach for the University of Michigan Wolverines. With his family, friends and a host of important university figures in attendance, Howard was reduced to tears and speechless as Michigan’s athletic director Warde Manuel brought him to the podium. Before that moment, the last time Howard had a press conference in the building was in 1994 when he declared for the NBA draft. While the emotions of the “feel good” moment were flowing, Howard’s press conference failed to address several key details about the current state of the team as well as a plan of action for the future. The state of the coaching staff is one topic on which Howard didn’t offer much feedback but reports from media outlets have already detailed which assistants would be retained from former coach John Beilein’s staff. Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports has reported that Texas’ Shaka Smart has officially brought former Michigan assistant Luke Yaklich on to his staff. Yaklich will assume the role of associate head coach. Yaklich, who joined the Wolverines staff under Beilein in 2017, reportedly interviewed for the vacant spot at Michigan. DeAndre Haynes, who was also a part of Beilein’s staff, announced his departure from the program via Twitter stating that his time at Michigan was “nothing short of a dream.” Saddi Washington joined Beilein’s staff in 2016 and is reportedly the only assistant retained. When asked about the current state of his staff, Howard offered short remarks. “I’ve been talking…doing a lot of communication about those candidates. At this moment I’m not ready to answer that question,” Howard said. “I’m working hard to make sure I get the right staff in place to help lead those young men back there.”

WeRun313

dominates Detroit Grand Prix 5000 5K race By Branden Hunter When the newly created “WeRun313” run club finished its weekly 5K and 10K practice runs along the Dequindre Cut May 23, they had no idea they would be running an official 5K race days later. That Sunday, WeRun313 competed in its first race as a run club, crossing the finish line 20plus strong at the inaugural Detroit Grand Prix 5000 5K on Belle Isle. “They were, by far, the largest race club on the island for the inaugural Detroit Grand Prix 5000 5K,” said Richard Swor, race director and co-owner of Trivium Racing. Why was it a big deal that WeRun313 was the largest group in a field of 441? Because the run club is predominately African American, in a sport that is dominated participation wise by white people in the city of Detroit and around the country.

PHOTO: KORY WOODS

The young men that Howard was referring to were the several members of the Michigan basketball team that were in attendance to hear their new coach. Howard was also short on his plan to recruit All-American athletes to the program. It was an issue brought to attention by his former teammates and “Fab Five” members Jalen Rose, Chris Webber and Jimmy King. While Though all three men praised the work that John Beilein did while coaching at Michigan, they all mentioned the lack of All-American players that the university landed. With Michigan’s new coach being a former All-American and two-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat, they all expressed, in their own way, how it will give Howard an advantage in landing those recruits. When I asked Howard how he planned to bring those recruits in after what his former teammates professed, Howard gave a pretty generic answer. “I’m all eyes; I’m all ears to talent,” said Howard. “I haven’t just pinpointed exactly if I’m going after 5-stars — “one and done’s” — or I’m going to recruit 3-star kids. As a staff, we will meet, and we will figure out what is the best solution moving forward to give us the best chance to win.” Whether Howard is the right fit for the job remains to be seen, and Manuel knows that this hire is a gamble. “I’mma gamble with people who love this place the way he does,” said Manuel. When former coach John Beilein abruptly left the program in the fashion that he did, Michigan had to begin their search for a replacement coach immediately. Beilein, the winningest head coach in the program’s history, shockingly left to accept a five-year contract as head coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to Manuel, he said Beilein called to inform him that he accepted the position, and in Manuel’s eyes, there was nothing else to discuss. “That is what has us here celebrating Juwan today!” said Manuel. The verdict is out on whether Howard will be the right person to lead the program to prosperity. Without the experience as a collegiate head coach, there are looming questions about his course of action moving forward. One thing is for certain, with the unexpected departure of their previous coach, bringing someone onboard whom the university feels will be dedicated to the job is the appropriate decision. Howard reassured the Michigan fanbase near the end of the discussion as he expressed his dedication, and the dedication of his family, to the program. “We’re all in. We’re a Michigan Family.”

WeRun313, we wanted to bring others that looked like us along the journey of running.” Robinson shared the same story as Woods. He, too, would run by himself and even tried to start a running club of his own a couple of years ago — to no avail. But now that he has connected with someone with similar goals, in Woods, WeRun313 is the fastest growing run club in the Detroit area. The club runs three times a week during “2 Mile Tuesdays” in midtown Detroit; “5K or 10K Thursdays” along the Dequindre Cut; and for the stronger runners, 8-15 mile runs around Belle Isle. “One of my favorite runners, Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, says that he can’t run a world record without his team,” said Robinson, who

in life.” For runners who may not be as dedicated or decorated as Williams, WeRun313 has something to offer them as well. The group’s slogan is “Connect, Run, & Build.” Not only does running help build your physical state, but your mental state as well. Competing for medals gives the members a sense of accomplishment and connecting with other young black professionals is always a plus. “It’s given me a boost of self-confidence. The whole experience has made me realize what I’m capable of when I really push myself towards a goal,” said Jones, who ran her first 5K race with WeRun313. “This mindset has spilled over to running my own art studio and my personal projects. There have

WeRun313 not only came and saw, but they conquered the course that IRL racers in the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix will race this weekend. Its top finisher was Mike Berry, who ran the 3.1 miles in 19:12 minutes, good for 8th overall. Right behind him were co-founders Lance Woods, finishing WeRun313 members Lance Woods, Joe Robinson, and Mike Berry were the top three in 19:27 (9th over- finishers for the group on Belle Isle. all), and Joe Robis the co-founder of APX Manage- also been a lot of great women that inson in 21:46 (32nd overall). ment. “I figured that I was going I’ve been able to make solid conBerry, Woods, Robinson, and to be as fast as I was going to be nections with that I may not have Aaron Barnett each reached the po- by myself and I needed to run with made otherwise.” dium, finishing in the top three of a group. But I needed to get with “It has pushed me to never give their age groups. Barnett finished the right person; somebody who up,” added Asia McMikel. “When I 35th overall in a time of 22:02. The was just as enthusiastic as me set goals, I hold myself accountbest finisher amongst the wom- and had just as much influence to able to reach them and this run en was Carman Jones, coming in bring people out. Lance was that club has given me that mindset 311th overall in a time of 38:13. person.” to complete the challenge I set for “We wanted to get people intune with the sport of racing, which is why we all registered for the race,” said Woods. “Winning medals together and feeling that sense of accomplishment together is something I haven’t seen around here.” Starting line WeRun313 was launched May 4 by Woods, 30, and Robinson, 28. The two had been avid runners for years, but did not know each other prior to a few months ago. They connected through a mutual friend, Ashley Wheatley, and begin to run together at the Lexus Velodrome in Detroit and around the city. The two connected instantly and decided it was time to bring other black runners together. “We noticed that it was an open market for black runners in the city of Detroit,” said Woods, who is a Dream Director with the Future Project at Detroit Cody High School. “I’ve been running for four years now, but I had been doing a lot of that running by myself. With

Making strides

myself.”

Over the past month, WeRun313 has garnered a lot of interest from black runners in the Detroit area. The day of its launch, over 80 people showed up to participate in the run fun along Woodward Avenue. That number has since dwindled, but they still average 20 or more runners of all levels throughout the week.

Finish line

Doug Williams is the veteran of the group. The 49-year-old has been running consistently since 2012, averaging 3 miles per day. A Navy veteran, Williams is a member of a number of run clubs, including Black Men Run and Run This Town Detroit, and was intrigued by what WeRun313 had to offer. “I like to run with groups of people,” said Williams, who has won close to 100 medals running. “The more groups I’m in, the more knowledge I get from all walks of life and networking. I was looking at the personal social media pages of the WeRun313 members and they are doing all kinds of things

After each run, the WeRun313 team patronizes a black-owned business. On Tuesdays, they mingle at the Griot Music Lounge in midtown Detroit or the Three Thirteen store along the Livernois Avenue of Fashion. The club is only a month into the race, but they have big plans for the course ahead. Instead of meeting at someone else’s establishment, Woods and Robinson wants WeRun313 to have its own clubhouse, equipped with gear, shoes, dieticians, nutritionists,masseuses, physical therapists, and so much more. “We aren’t really trying to make ourselves different, we are just creating a unique culture here at WeRun313,” Robinson said. WeRun313 can be found on all social media platforms: Twitter: @ WeRun313, Facebook: WeRun313, Instagram: WeRun313, and by email: WeRun313@gmail.com.

Page C-4 • michiganchronicle.com • June 5-11, 2019

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PERSONAL SERVICES

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BUDGET HEARING

ATTENTION QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS

“Hope Academy, a public charter school, will hold its Budget Hearing on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at Hope Academy, located at 12121 Broadstreet, Detroit, MI 48204, (313) 934-0054. The budget will be available for public inspection at Hope Academy.”

BORN GIFTED READER The 7th Daughter without asking you a single word. I will tell you what you want to know. Tell your present, past and future. Tell you who your friends and enemies are. Why you’re so unlucky. If your loved one is true or false.I will advise you all problems of life, such as love, marriage, business and health, etc. Why suffer, you can be free from all troubles. I guarantee Sucess where others failed. I am superior to any other reader you have seen. Don’t let distance keep you away from Health and Happiness. Hrs. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Daily and Sunday.

No Mail Answered 2742 Monroe St., Toledo, Ohio 1-419-248-2145 1-419-973-9058

ANNOUNCEMENTS LEGAL NOTICE COVENANT HOUSE ACADEMY EAST 7600 Goethe Street Detroit, Michigan 48214 NOTICE IS hereby given that the Covenant House Academy East Board of Directors will hold its Annual Budget Hearing on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 12:30 p.m. The Budget will be available for public inspection at the hearing location at 7600 Goethe Street, Detroit, Michigan 48214. The meeting will be conducted in accordance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act. LEGAL NOTICE COVENANT HOUSE ACADEMY SOUTHWEST 1450 25th Street Detroit, Michigan 48216 NOTICE IS hereby given that the Covenant House Academy Southwest Board of Directors will hold its Annual Budget Hearing on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 12:30 p.m. The Budget will be available for public inspection at the hearing location at 1450 25th Street, Detroit, Michigan 48216. The meeting will be conducted in accordance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act. LEGAL NOTICE COVENANT HOUSE ACADEMY CENTRAL 2959 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Detroit, Michigan 48208 NOTICE IS hereby given that the Covenant House Academy Central Board of Directors will hold its Annual Budget Hearing on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 12:30 p.m. The Budget will be available for public inspection at the hearing location at 2959 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Detroit, Michigan 48208. The meeting will be conducted in accordance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act.

Insurance: General Liability and Auto Liability with Holy Cross Services. and The City of Detroit named as Additional Insured. Workman’s compensation insurance is also required.

PROCLAMATION I, MinorEL, whose address is 535 Grisworld St. STE 111-200 Detroit MI 48226 proclaim my free National name as Moorish Science Temple of America according to the rules of such Moorish Science Temple of America. The Moorish Science Temple of America deriving its power and authority from the Great Koran of Mohammed to propagate the faith and extend the learning and truth of the Great Prophet of Ali in America. To anoint, appoint and consecrate missionary of the prophet and to establish the faith of Mohammed in America.

Bid packets will be available at: Holy Cross Services, 5555 Conner Ave., Suite 2230, Detroit, Michigan 48213. Contact: Mike Alm, Facilities Manager [313-579-4402 (phone), 313-579-4169 (fax), malm@hccsnet. org (e-mail)] with questions regarding project specifics as found in the bid packet.

RFQs are due by 3:00 PM ET, June 28, 2019.

A mandatory pre-bid meeting and examination of the premises will take place at the project site (17200 Rowe St, Detroit, Michigan, 48205) on June 11, 2019 at 11:00 AM.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Sealed bids will be accepted until 2:00 PM on June 20, 2019 at Holy Cross Services, 5555 Conner Ave., Suite 2230, Detroit, Michigan 48213. No bids will be accepted after this time. All bids must be submitted by trade and line item.

Academy of Warren will hold a public hearing June 18, 2019 at 5:30 pm at 13943 East 8 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48089, (586) 552-8010 to review the proposed 2019-2020 operating budget.

All bids will be publicly opened on June 20, 2019 at 2:00 PM at Holy Cross Services, 5555 Conner Ave., Suite 2230, Detroit, Michigan 48213. All interested parties are invited to attend. Samaritan Center., will award a contract to the lowest, most responsive and responsible bidder – however, Holy Cross Services reserves the right to waive any irregularity in any bid or to reject any or all bids should it be deemed for its best interest.

A copy of the proposed budget is available for public inspection at the above address. New Paradigm College Prep Board of Directors is conducting its annual budget hearing...

The contracts will be executed under the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund administered by the City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department, Community Development Division. The successful contractor(s) will be required to comply with federal laws governing equal employment opportunity, with the prevailing wage requirements of the Federal Labor Standards Act, which also incorporates Davis-Bacon Act requirements; will have to be cleared and approved by the City of Detroit.

TIME: 6:00 pm DATE: June 25, 2019 LOCATION: GVSU Detroit Center 163 Madison St. Detroit, MI 48226

Bidders are required to furnish a bid guarantee equal to (5%) of their bid. The Bid guarantee shall be in the form of either a bid bond or a certified check, made out to Holy Cross Services.

The successful bidder is required to furnish payment (Labor and Materials) and performance bonds in the amount covering the faithful performance of the contract and the payment of all obligations arising thereunder, in the amount of 100% of their contracts, executed by a surety, which is licensed to do business in the State of Michigan.

School Administrator at: (313) 406-7060

The contractor will be required to comply with the federal government Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 3 Act (24 CFR Part 135). All contracts (subcontracts) shall include the “Section 3 Clause” found on the City of Detroit’s website, https://detroitmi.gov/departments/ housing-and-revitalization-department#Hud-Programs-and-Information. You will find this link near the bottom of this webpage.

New Paradigm Glazer-Loving Board of Directors is conducting its annual budget hearing… TIME: 6:00 pm DATE: June 19, 2019 LOCATION: New Paradigm Glazer Academy 2001 LaBelle Detroit, MI 48238

MICHIGAN CHRONICLE Published Every Wednesday

The meeting will be conducted in accordance with the Open Meeting Act. The Academy shall comply with subtitle A of Title II of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, Public Law 101-336, 42 USC 12101 et seq or any successor law. Should you require specific accommodation(s) please contact: School Administrator at: (313) 852-1500 University Yes Academy Board of Directors is conducting its annual budget hearing… TIME: 5:30 pm DATE: June 24, 2019 LOCATION: University YES Academy 14469 Curtis St. Detroit, MI 48235 The meeting will be conducted in accordance with the Open Meeting Act. The Academy shall comply with subtitle A of Title II of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, Public Law 101-336, 42 USC 12101 et seq or any successor law. Should you require specific accommodation(s) please contact: School Administrator at: (313) 270-2556

ll en’s basketba WCCCD wom AA District wins first MCC ship Champion Game. C3

ronicle Michigan Ch Real Times Powered by

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13-19, 27 | March

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the was named Roy Wilson of Wayne When M. in the history I can recall 12th president in 2013, if the State University hoping that, hadn’t fiuniversity sethad at least inits man, it keep the nally found who could the right tled on someoneand headed in stitution stable direction. WilNow, as son’s presidency sixth nears its clear year, it’s been that he has more so much than a caretakstate’s er for our reurban largest search universiWilson ty. Indeed, himhas proven vision- Hiram E. Jackson self to be to and not just ary, smart tedly committed Detroit. wholehear but to all of s acWayne State, university’ a few of the watch: Consider his ents under rate complishm graduation the nt in State’s six-year • Wayne fastest improveme of the Afrihas had the a tripling including rate nation — graduation Coleman its largcan American welcomed By Trevor W. the school fall, City address,a • Last State of the class in history In his sixth Mike Duggan made est freshman its commitits’s has deepened a provost to reclaim Detroit Mayor for Detroit • The school by creating chief difor job opportuspirited call a leading city progress made ment to inclusion oversee diversity;of Multiculspot as a much praised the position to and an Office nities. He goal already but said versity officer;Engagement toward that to be done. highly tural Student himself a room work remains crowded , Wilson, to pursue before a Meanwhile PreparatoSpeaking access surgeon, continues the English Village trained eye aimed at boosting African at the East Duggan said among for a strategy forward l sciences ry Academy,the city has moved of color. students to the biomedica of $10 million and other areas where a coalition plans to invest Americans he formed Police Departwas in its colleges more Detroit and officer), For instance, universities and to hire 70 ed (civilian Building InfraDetroit-bas programs personnel NIH-funded (BUILD) ment training the job for Diversity to launch Promise to decline $4.5M more Leading to the Detroit structure the drastic prior and expanding the cost of numerous Galled by students Program. estabmed school include covering skilled trades. ns for the in minority arrival, Wilson also certificatio program, unemployt Chrysler to his 2013Wayne Med-Direc while noting 50 percent Ford, and lly talented However, lished the exceptiona out of central more than ly it is General Motors, ment is down he acknowledged from traditionalto which guarantees success in shifted their production 1957, while students of recent 1945 and admission from its peak, bly high. high school ring plants groups to as examplesforward. Detroit between sented new manufactuBut not one still unaccepta Detroit five years underrepre medical school. everyone building 25 an area. ways we made“If you look moving of underWayne State's he stressed of the city in the metropolit itself. “In many However, of Duggan said. it has been ahead tly, the number the city Consequen in the School of progress,” of them in focus what’s has been done. ent rate d minorities dismal seven in to 8.5 per- should what’s already been we’re up against at the unemploym a represente “So, what for a long time,” Duggan un- and not from 20 percent 60 last goal for our rose from arrival, to cut in half still have the highest Medicine a central to be in the making after Roy’s we States.” “We’ve got “We want cent. But the United 2014, a year Duggan said. job oppor- said. nt rate in he was defor pov- future,” employme to creating for strateyear. Duggan saidnarrative that However, copattern follows have a city committed deputy director the large The same The former to change and program on “35,000 Detroiters planning the years that city admin- termined the last tunities.” erty he said.out of poverty in he said the reverse the had taken root over best bets were to gic scientific the National Institute a good at To that end, Disparities d to ring plants rural communibeen moved you can say that’s ordination and Health Health, he was determine manufacturers, manufactu in highest and Health the years istration of five Minority of major new facilities areas. to avoid union we still have Institutes States.” of health dis70-year trend locating in rural Pro- openmainly in the south, record. Except of the National auto, in the United ties related the challenges ITIES page A2 poverty rate increasing has tackled from con- especiallyhow New York University native, partDetroit by See OPPORTUN a Detroit said He noted city residents forging newof our parities in Sugrue, Duggan and Warning Three; s, Tom “Big dollars the themselve hments fessor well-being research wrote that gratulating improve the other accomplis point and historian nership to there are manycity officials could y. communit he and other

COMMENTARY

Going After the ss Jobs" -Cla it to Reclaim e of Midn dle Calls for Detro therlod es "Mo ss Mayor Dugga Job Opportuniti ng City for SOTC Addre In

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Perform moderately complex non-standardized clerical, technical, and/or public service library activities. Minimum Qualifications: High School graduation or equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Two years library experience, including some bibliographic verification and/or public services experience, as well as understanding of specific library policies, rules, procedures, and organization. Position works: Tuesday-Saturday – 3:00 p.m. - Midnight. Refer to online posting for additional qualifications and requirements. Salary is $38,375 annually. First consideration will be given to those who apply by June 17, 2019. Must apply on line for this position to: https://jobs.oakland.edu

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Seeking

OFFICE ASSISTANT III AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Tutoring Center

Provide specialized office assistance, coordinating procedural business or service activities for a complex program area involving processing, implementing, advising on, and reporting specialized subject matter. Minimum Qualifications: High school graduation or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Four years progressively responsible office experience, including direct experience in office coordination, prioritizing work assignments and maintaining work flow to meet deadlines. This is a full time, clerical-technical position. Salary is $42,861.00 annually. See online posting for additional position requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by June 17, 2019. Must apply on line for this position to: https://jobs.oakland.edu

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Career Services Department

Research, analyze, plan, and implement information technology initiatives supporting the strategic goals of Career Services. Efforts include documenting, maintaining, and improving business processes within technology platforms such as Handshake and creating complex reports to showcase Career Services data. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in management information systems, information technology, business or related field or equivalent combination of education and work experience. One year experience working with data collection, management, analysis, and reporting and providing general office IT support. Demonstrated ability to support business processes through information technology solutions. Experience in Windows and Mac operating systems and basic troubleshooting. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. Refer to online posting for additional position requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by June 12, 2019. Must apply on line for this position to: https://jobs.oakland.edu

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

www.MichiganChronicle.com

Design Engineer In Southfield, MI

Coleman

page INDEPENDENCE

HELP WANTED

LIBRARY ASSISTANT II AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

to Detroit recent visit the Federal During a of Chairman (FDIC), the former Company the , praised Deposit Insurance Gruenberg of the state’s Martin J. nt and role controlled manageme American only African , First Indepen-d institution underserve financial in helping ed much-need dence Bank, ies gain communit capital. access to in serving critical role who Citing its residents oods and obtaining neighborh have difficulty otherwise most commercial banks, SVP GovcomPatricia Herndon, loans from Financial nce Bank; said as a designated instiski , VP, Chief Gruenberg Chairnt financial “misFirst Independe Kenneth Kelly, of Directors, Elizabeth Zuchelkow nce is a munity developme on Noel, Board Bankers Association; , Board Director, FDIC, First Independence Independe tution First institution focused FDIC (L-R) Dr. Phares Directors, Michigan ” Martin J. Gruenberg , Board of Development Banking, sion-driven Detroit. nce Bank; ernment Relations, y people of Earl Newsome Independe miserving the Group nce Bank; Minority and Communit Officer, First is no question Independe Montez Miller s play a crit- man & CEO, First “I think there FDIC. PHOTO: National Director, institution J. Rudolph, Deputy to the Director, oods nority deposit Bank; Betty serving neighborh Shively, Acting ical role in A3 and Philip

See FIRST

New Boston, MI, Brose North America. Supervise, lead, &mentor Production Team incldg Industrial Engr, Qlty Engrs, Material Planner, Production Supervisors &Assy Operators to assemble psgr vehicle door modules &seat adjuster syss, delivered to OEM vehicle makers. Set engrg &technical objectives of engrg team analyzing 6-10 assy lines incldg Overall Equipment Efficiency, First Time Quality, customer qlty &warranty claims, production performance efficiency, &to reduce technical downtime. Plan, prepare &validate industrial production schedules for high volume assy of proprietary, Brose door modules incldg carrier plates &window regulators, &seat adjuster syss, using TiCon Material Time Management (MTM) software, for psgr vehicles. Control &coordinate all aspects of production of seat adjusters incldg 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-way seats &shoulder pivot mechanisms &door modules. Responsible for the profit &loss of 9 Cost Centers. Supervise, set technical &production objectives &goals, &mentor subordinate workforce (~97 subordinates) incldg 1st, 2nd &3rd Shifts. Bachelor, Industrial, Mechanical, or Production Engrg. 36 mos exp as Engineer, planning, preparing &validating industrial production schedules for high volume assy of psgr vehicle electronic motors, window regulators, door modules, or seat adjuster systems, using TiCon MTM software. Mail resume to Ref#13476, Human Resources, 3933 Automation Ave, Auburn Hills, MI 48326.

We maintain a drug-free work place & perform pre-employment drug & alcohol testing. Qualified applicants should send resume & verification of reqs. to Kristy Summers, Human Resources Assistant, Dürr Systems, Inc., 26801 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, MI 48033.

HELP WANTED

helping pendence for ses First Inde access to capital gain FDIC leader prai communities underserved

By Trevor W.

WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM

Production Team Manager

Contractors desiring to bid shall demonstrate the following qualifications: At least 5 years experience in their relative trade, licensed as required by state and/or local law.

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) is soliciting RFQs for Technology Upgrade Connector Services, Control No. 19-2953. RFQ forms may be obtained beginning May 30, 2019, from http://www.mitn.info.

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PROFESSIONAL HELP WANTED

Holy Cross Services is seeking qualified contractors to renovate exterior finishes the Bowman House located at 17200 Rowe Street, Detroit, 48205. Work includes exterior masonry repairs, lintel replacement, sidewalk replacement and wood ramp repairs.

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

MRS. LINN

June 5-11, 2019

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

Seeking

OUWB SOCIAL WORK AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY School of Medicine

Reporting to the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Associate Dean for Student Affairs, the OUWB social worker provides mental health counseling and health resource support to our diverse population of 500 highly educated medical students as they seek support for their wellbeing throughout the medical education process. Minimum Qualifications: Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling or other closely related field or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Counselor or Psychologist with at least four years of experience working as a mental health counselor. Experience should include suicide prevention education and programming and community crisis response. This is a full time position, some late afternoon/ evening and weekend hours may be required. Salary is commensurate with education and experience. Refer to online posting for additional requirements. First consideration will be given to those who apply by June 10, 2019. Must apply on line for this position to: https://jobs.oakland.edu

WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM

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June 5-11, 2019

POWERING POSSIBILITY The DTE Energy Foundation is proud to support partners who create opportunities for those in Detroit and throughout Michigan. As a force for growth, we partner with local leaders to promote initiatives in communities where we live and serve.